Can You Get a Thigh and Arm Lift at the Same Time?
Given the popularity of tummy tucks and breast augmentation, it can feel like much of the focus in plastic surgery is on the torso. Yet, that’s not the reality.
For some patients, the “problem areas” are the limbs. After weight loss, they are satisfied with their midriffs. Yet, the extra fat or saggy skin of their arms and legs is embarrassing. And no amount of diet and exercise seems to help.
This is why there are procedures like the thigh and arm lift that remove unwanted skin and fat while targeting deeper structures to create a sculpted contour. Plus, these procedures can be done at the same time to lessen overall recovery time.
The Arm Lift Procedure
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to an arm lift (also known as brachioplasty). The incision length and pattern will be determined by your surgeon and will depend on the location of excess skin and fat and how much needs to be removed.
Generally speaking though, incisions are placed either on the back or the inside of the arm. They may extend from just above the elbow to the underarm. However, incisions may be more limited – depending on your situation.
Whatever the case, if there is excess fat, it will be removed with liposuction or directly excised. The supportive tissue underneath is then tightened and reshaped using internal sutures, and the skin is smoothed over to create a new contour.
Types of Thigh Lift
Similar to the arm lift, the type of thigh lift performed will depend on your specific situation and your desired goals.
Your plastic surgeon will recommend either an inner (medial) thigh lift or a standard thigh lift. With the former, excess skin is removed to give the top part of the inner thigh a more toned appearance. This is the most common type of thigh lift.
Meanwhile, a standard thigh lift aims to reshape and tone the entire upper leg. This type of thigh lift is more appropriate for those who have excess skin as a result of weight loss.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Thigh and Arm Lift?
A large number of patients who opt for this combination surgery have lost significant weight and are unable to get rid of saggy skin and stubborn pockets of fat through diet and exercise. If this is the case with you, you may be a perfect candidate.
As with all surgical procedures, it’s important that you be in good health with no pre-existing conditions that might negatively impact healing. In addition, you need to be at a stable body weight with no intention of losing or gaining weight in the near future.
What to Expect During Recovery
You’ll likely experience some swelling after surgery so you’ll want to avoid strenuous activity. For an arm lift, you’ll need to keep arm movement at a minimum and avoid lifting anything over your head. You may feel some arm and hand weakness at first. This is normal.
As for a thigh lift, expect compression wraps around the thighs and keep your legs elevated as much as possible in that first week. You’ll be able to shower within the first few days post-surgery.
Depending on the sort of work you do or your activity level, most patients return to basic activities of daily living within two weeks after surgery. Exercise and heavy lifting, however, will be restricted for longer.
You CAN Tone Your Thighs and Arms
If a tightened and more youthful appearance to the inner thighs and arms feels like only a dream, it doesn’t have to be. Contact us today to set up your free consultation. Let’s make that dream a reality.
And when it comes to combining surgeries, you’re not limited to the thigh and arm lift pair. You may decide to combine your thigh lift with breast augmentation instead. Or perhaps a tummy tuck with an arm lift.
Your board-certified plastic surgeon will discuss all of the (nearly endless) possibilities with you.
Avoiding Counterfeit Botox
OnabotulinumtoxinA, better known as Botox, was approved for cosmetic use over 20 years ago. And since that time, it’s been a popular medication used to smooth wrinkles and help patients look younger.
Given that the average Botox injection costs around $530 and multiple injections are required, it’s not surprising that counterfeit versions of this drug have appeared around the country. Unfortunately, the counterfeit version has resulted in illness for those to whom it was administered.
This may sound ominous. And it’s a serious situation. But the reality is that avoiding counterfeit Botox is very simple.
The Story With Counterfeit Botox in 2024
While Botox is highly effective in reducing wrinkles and rejuvenating one’s appearance, the effects of the shot last 3-4 months on average. That means additional shots are needed to maintain that youthful appearance.
Recognizing how lucrative it is to manufacture Botox, some rather unscrupulous folks figured they’d take a stab at creating some counterfeit versions and pass them off to unsuspecting individuals hoping to save a buck.
In every case, the individuals who fell for the ruse were untrained and/or unlicensed providers working in non-healthcare settings. Between November of 2023 and April of 24, a total of 22 people across 11 states reported adverse effects after having been administered with the counterfeit drug.
None of these cases was in Michigan.
Symptoms of Botulinum Poisoning
Every one of the affected individuals was female ranging in age from 25-59 years of age. They had either visited private homes or unlicensed “medical” spas to receive the treatment. Of the women, 95% reported that had received the injections for cosmetic purposes.
While no two women had the same set of symptoms, there were many tell-tale signs of botulinum poisoning. These included difficulty breathing, blurry vision, fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, double vision, slurred speech, and neck pain.
(This isn’t even the first time counterfeiters attempted to peddle fake botox. Also in 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Ohio intercepted counterfeit Botox that had been shipped from Korea, Bulgaria, China, and Spain.)
It’s critical to note here that NOT A SINGLE ONE of these cases was linked to FDA-approved botulinum toxins including Botox and Botox Cosmetic.
The Best and EASIEST Way for Avoiding Counterfeit Botox
If a plastic surgeon comes across Botox treatment that’s quoted at a significantly lower price, they regard this as a serious red flag. After all, as skilled doctors, their primary concern is the safety of the patient. They’re not going to take any chances.
What’s more, they’re able to identify the telltale info on the vial or outer carton that signifies the product isn’t legit. For example, in an attempt to mimic old packaging, the active ingredient may be displayed as “Botulinum Toxin Type A” instead of “OnabotulinumtoxinA”. Or the product may indicate 150-unit doses, which is not a legally manufactured dose.
That’s why it’s essential that you only receive Botox or other injectables from a board-certified plastic surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). He or she adheres to the strictest safety standards.
It’s that simple.
Don’t Settle for Less
Botox at bargain prices is risky. To say the least.
The safest bet in avoiding counterfeit Botox is to stick with a skilled professional in a clinical setting. Period.
So if your future includes Botox, contact us today. Ditch the spa and put your mind at ease. We’ve got you covered.
Who Was the First Female Plastic Surgeon in the U.S.?
There is documentation of women performing surgical procedures as far back as 3500 BCE.
But new regulations issued during the Middle Ages prohibited women from practicing surgery unless they were given privileges by a jury or took over their deceased husbands’ practices.
Fast forward 1400 years or so to the inaugural class of 1057 fellows of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in 1913 had five women in the fields of general surgery, ENT, and gynecology. And the first female plastic surgeon in the U.S. wouldn’t be admitted to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS, later ASPS) until 1948.
The First Female Plastic Surgeon in the U.S.
The first woman to be recognized in the field of plastic surgery in the U.S. was Dr. Alma Dea Morani.
Graduating from the Women’s Medical College in Pennsylvania (now Drexel University) in 1931, she completed her internship at St. James Hospital in New Jersey. She was the sole female physician there so she had to live in the nursing quarters.
Morani went on to become a fellow of the ACS in 1941 after she passed her general surgery boards. Given her passion for art, she was interested in applying her surgical skills to the emerging field of plastic surgery.
It Was No Easy Feat
In 2022, over 86% of cosmetic plastic surgeries were performed on women, while 13.8% were on men. Even so, the field of plastic surgery is still dominated by men. And the journey for Moreni to become a plastic surgeon was not an easy one.
Over the course of six years, she tried six times to apply for plastic surgery training. Each time she was turned down until a surgeon in St. Louis accepted her. There were different rules for her than for the male pupils though. She was allowed only to observe and not permitted to scrub or assist in cases. In addition, she could only operate on Saturdays when the male colleagues had the day off.
Despite this, she completed her training and then traveled the world to learn from other plastic surgeons including Drs. Gillies and McIndoe in Great Britain and Dr. Severino-Roselli in Italy. Eventually she
worked with the first female cosmetic surgeon in France and assisted in training other female plastic surgeons.
Morani Continued to Blaze New Trails
Eventually Morani returned to the United States to the Women’s Medical College in Pennsylvania. There she practiced a wide range of plastic surgery procedures, including general reconstruction, burns, facial trauma, and hand surgery.
She would go on to found The Hand Clinic there and continued to act as an advocate for women in plastic surgery and medicine as a whole. She also remained active in medical societies including the American Medical Women’s Association and the Medical Women’s International Association – and helped found the Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery Society in 1954. It was there that she served as its third president and second historian.
Plastic Surgery for Everyone
To this day, many consider the first female plastic surgeon in the U.S. as the “mother” of plastic surgery for multiple generations of women who went on to practice in the field.
And Morani was just that.
So whether you’re a woman or a man looking to make some adjustments (cosmetic or otherwise) through plastic surgery, don’t hesitate to contact us. Discover what it can do for you.
Can You Reverse a BBL?
If you’re in the know (in the world of plastic surgery, at least), then you’re aware that a BBL is a Brazilian Butt Lift. It was a popular procedure during the reality TV reign of the Kardashians.
With a BBL, fat from one part of the body is harvested, treated, and then injected into the fatty layer of the buttocks. The result is a fuller, more lifted, and just plain perkier butt.
Yet, for patients who opted for an exaggerated BBL or who have gained weight, the size of the buttocks may be noticeably disproportionate to their bodies. It’s at this point they return to the plastic surgeon asking if they can reverse a BBL.
So Can You Reverse a BBL?
The short answer is yes. But there are many factors.
Since a BBL is performed by injecting fat, it would SEEM that simply removing that fat via liposuction would solve the problem. It’s not always that easy though.
For patients with excellent skin elasticity and who are seeking minor to moderate reduction, a board-certified plastic surgeon will likely utilize ultrasound-assisted liposuction to remove the excess fat while sculpting and reshaping the butt. This technique can also stimulate collagen production and improve skin tightening. At least to some extent.
This method isn’t going to work for everyone though. Patients with great elasticity who need a lot of fat removed are still going to be stuck with loose skin. The same goes for those who don’t have much skin elasticity to start with. In these cases, using just liposuction can leave loose skin that appears as a contour irregularity.
Considerations for BBL Reversal
There are three primary concerns your surgeon will address when assessing the proper BBL reversal procedure for you.
First, he or she will need to know how big your buttocks are relative to the rest of your body. If you’re like most BBL patients, you’re probably not looking to go back to your original appearance before getting the BBL. You want an enhanced look that’s not quite as dramatic. It’s the new era of the BBL.
Second, how much reduction do you desire? If you’re hoping to remove a significant amount of fat but you have poor skin elasticity, there’s a good chance the skin may not fully contract and conform to your desired contours. In this situation, a concomitant skin excision or butt lift procedure may be performed to lift the skin.
And third, how much elasticity does your skin have? Typically, the younger the patient, the better the skin elasticity. For them, careful liposuction can be done to deliver the shape and volume they desire without the after effects of loose skin. This is not the case for older individuals though.
The Challenges of Reversing a Brazilian Butt Lift
For patients seeking moderate to significant reduction with poor skin elasticity, the surgeon may take more of a restoration and reshaping approach. This will be the most effective way to reduce, lift, and reshape the buttocks without leaving extra skin.
This same approach is taken if the initial BBL was not performed correctly. In cases where the fat was injected above the muscle and there is good skin elasticity, a standard BBL with liposuction can be performed. On the other hand, if the BBL involved injecting fat into the gluteal muscle, the fat can not be safely removed. This will likely require a butt lift.
Your new surgeon will see this in your medical record and respond accordingly.
Is It Time to Reverse Your BBL?
If you’re no longer happy with the appearance of full buttocks, you’re not alone. This is why it’s possible to reverse a BBL.
So contact us to get those refined contours you’re seeking.
During your free consultation, we’ll sit down with you to discuss the best options available to you depending on all of the above factors we discussed. We look forward to hearing from you!
Are There Procedures That Combine with Rhinoplasty?
Given its popularity, you probably already know that the medical term for a “nose job” is rhinoplasty. It’s one of those trivia questions many people answer correctly.
If you’re considering the procedure for yourself, however, you may not know that there are several procedures that combine with rhinoplasty – should you desire.
So if you suspect an additional surgery might be needed to bring you true facial harmony, consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. You can discuss how a specific combo could be tailored to your facial structure and desired outcome.
Procedures That Combine with Rhinoplasty
Along with insisting upon only a highly experienced surgeon, you’ll also want one who understands facial aesthetics. He or she can offer guidance on the optimal surgical procedure that will best complement your rhinoplasty while enhancing overall facial balance.
Your surgeon may suggest one of the following:
- Septoplasty
Because many rhinoplasty patients have a deviated septum and struggle with the breathing issues that accompany it, septoplasty is frequently combined with rhinoplasty. With septoplasty, the septum is straightened to allow for better airflow.
- Cartilage Grafts
For patients who require more structure or support for their nose, or for those making a significant change to its appearance, cartilage grafts are often recommended. In these cases, the surgeon may take cartilage grafts from the septum, ear, or rib to reconstruct the nose and achieve the patient’s desired aesthetic outcome.
- Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
If you’ve noticed loose or sagging skin around your eyelids due to age or weakening muscles, consider how eyelid surgery with rhinoplasty could both revise and rejuvenate your face. Bringing these two procedures together can result in truly dramatic and impressive aesthetic changes.
- Chin Implant (Mentoplasty)
For patients who are bothered by asymmetry issues with their chins, mentoplasty corrects these. Whether the procedure involves reduction, re-shaping, or augmentation, combining rhinoplasty and mentoplasty can increase and accentuate symmetry to enhance the midline of your face.
- Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)
Okay, the ears are technically not on the face. Plus, abnormalities are easier to hide under hair or headgear than an unusual nose. Even so, some patients decide upon the surgical altering of their ears along with rhinoplasty to create more facial balance. Particularly in cases where the appearance of the ears may detract from positive rhinoplasty results. This would be counterintuitive.
Interested In a Rhinoplasty Consultation?
If you’re ready to take the plunge and bring more harmony to your face, contact us today to set up your free rhinoplasty consultation. During your comprehensive meeting with the surgeon, you can discuss the best procedures that combine with rhinoplasty for your specific situation and whether any is right for you.
At the end of the day, it will come down to both your personal preference and your surgeon’s professional opinion based on your overall health and any risks involved.
So don’t hesitate. It’s time to love your face and everything it has to express.
What Is Avéli for Cellulite Reduction?
If you’re embarrassed by stubborn cellulite around your thighs, buttocks, and abdomen, you may go to great lengths to hide it.
And as much as you’ve exercised and stuck to a strict diet, it doesn’t seem to make any difference. You’ve probably even been told there’s nothing that can be done about cellulite.
For some part of the 80-90% of women who have cellulite, this isn’t what they want to hear. Fortunately though, there’s now Avéli for cellulite reduction.
Is Cellulite a Medical Condition?
First, it’s crucial to note that cellulite is not a medical condition and it’s not dangerous. It IS, however, a common cosmetic concern. Some patients are troubled by the appearance of dimpled and lumpy skin. And this can cause their self-confidence and body image to take a hit.
It’s also important to acknowledge that cellulite affects all body types. This includes folks who are otherwise very lean. While lifestyle choices can contribute to cellulite in some patients, genetics, hormonal changes, and poor circulation can also be culprits.
As such, cellulite was once a frustrating fact of life. Today though, there are some solutions to greatly lessen the presence of cellulite. One of the most effective and longest-lasting is Avéli for cellulite reduction.
How Avéli for Cellulite Reduction Works
The underlying cause of cellulite are septae. These fibrous bands are connective tissue beneath the skin that adhere the skin to underlying structures. This, in turn, puts tension on the skin and causes it to pucker.
To effectively remove cellulite, the tension from septae needs to be released. FDA-approved Avéli does this by targeting and cutting into the fibrous bands. This effectively smooths the skin’s surface and gives it a more even texture. While it does not treat skin laxity, Avéli can be combined with other skin-tightening procedures.
The process is fairly simple. Your provider identifies the specific septae causing the dimple and then uses a specialized Avéli device under the skin to target those bands and cause them to release. Another benefit of this is that the provider can confirm, in real-time, that the bands were released because the skin will be immediately smoother. Plus, one in-office treatment is usually all that’s needed. And it’s typically completed in an hour or so.
Best Candidates for Avéli
As with most procedures – even (and perhaps especially) those that are cosmetic – patients should be in good health. And while Avéli does a great job lessening cellulite, it’s unlikely that there will be a 100% reduction in its appearance. As such, people opting for this procedure need to have realistic expectations.
There is typically little downtime with Avéli. Even so, patients should expect the possibility of some bruising and swelling in the first few days to a week and lay off strenuous activity or workouts until the area heals completely.
You CAN Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
It’s time to give your self image a boost with an Avéli cellulite reduction treatment. You deserve it!
So contact us to schedule a consultation.
And get ready to show off, rather than hide, your smoother skin this summer.
Can You Eliminate a Cleft Chin?
If you have a prominent dimple in your chin that leaves you feeling self-conscious, you may be wondering if you can get rid of it.
Known medically as a cleft chin (and colloquially as a butt or booty chin), this dimple or crease doesn’t pose any threat to your health. But you may be so troubled by its appearance that it DOES impact your confidence.
The good news is, you can eliminate a cleft chin.
What Causes a Cleft Chin?
A cleft chin is a genetic trait. It happens during fetal development when there’s an alteration in the development of the lower jaw bone and the underlying chin muscles. A cleft chin is NOT considered a defect, but rather a natural variation.
As such, some see it as a distinctive feature (think John Travolta, John Mayer, Adele – to name a few). Even so, not everybody is happy with such a ‘feature.’ Plus, not all cleft chins are created equal. Variations in soft tissue structure and facial bone can affect size of the cleft.
So it’s understandable that there will be folks with cleft chins who’d rather go without.
How Can You Eliminate a Cleft Chin?
When it comes to saying goodbye to that cleft chin, there are a few options available.
- Filler Injections
Filler injections are a great option for those who have a fairly deep chin cleft but don’t wish to go under the knife. Not yet, at least.
With this method, hyaluronic acid fillers are injected directly into the indentation or wide space of the chin. This creates a rounder shape and a more contoured chin.
It’s important to note, however, that fillers are a temporary solution. This can be a positive thing because you may find you actually miss that cleft chin once it’s gone. If not though, you’ll need to get fillers on a regular basis. Or you’ll need to opt for surgery.
- Fat Grafting
If having fillers sealed your resolve to eliminate your cleft chin, or you already know you want it gone, then you may want to opt for fat grafting.
With fat grafting, the surgeon first harvests fat from your abdomen or thighs. It’s then purified and carefully injected into your chin – effectively filling the cleft and giving your chin a smooth and round finish. This surgical procedure provides a more natural and longer-lasting solution than fillers.
- Cleft Chin Surgery (Genioplasty)
As we said earlier, not all cleft chins are created equal. Some involve more steps to repair than others.
Genioplasty is more a complicated surgery than fat grafting. This procedure is recommended for those who require a reshaping and adjusting of the chin bone to provide a rounder shape and reduce the cleft’s prominence.
On some occasions during genioplasty, the plastic surgeon may also use a chin implant to change the appearance of the lower jaw bone. Given the often complex nature of this procedure, the recovery time will be longer than with fat grafting.
We All Want to Feel Comfortable in Our Skin
While reading about ways to eliminate a cleft chin, did you start thinking about areas of your body you don’t find aesthetically pleasing? Is this dissatisfaction causing you stress? You have a choice!
Consider taking the next step with a plastic surgery procedure. Contact us today to set up a free consultation where you’ll speak with a board-certified surgeon who can help you achieve your desired aesthetic.
It’s time to feel more comfortable in your own skin.
5 Great Benefits of a Facelift
Once upon a time, a facelift, or rhytidectomy, was a procedure only available to the elite. That is no longer the case. And given the many benefits of a facelift, they’ve become increasingly commonplace.
Plus, you needn’t be a particular age to be an ideal candidate for a facelift procedure. While the most common age range for most patients seeking a facelift is between 50 and 65, they can be performed on anyone troubled by sagging skin or unwanted wrinkles.
And while facelifts are often targeted at women, they’re effective for men as well. So if you’re considering this procedure, now is the time!
What Are the Benefits of a Facelift?
Okay, you may not be ready to jump right in just yet. That’s smart. It’s a good idea to do a little research before you have any procedure. After all, a facelift will change your appearance.
But when handled by a skilled board-certified surgeon with a proven track record, that change will be for the better. A successful facelift can do the following:
- Tighten Skin and Get Rid of Jowls
It is often the 50+ crowd seeking facelifts because of the reduced levels of collagen production that come from aging. They begin to notice their skin has started sagging or wrinkling. In addition, for those who weren’t terribly diligent about using SPF protection over the years, there may be sun damage.
Over-the-counter and prescription creams can help for a while. But eventually, they can’t do the job in tightening and smoothing out those wrinkles. Plus, no cream on the market can get rid of the sagging skin that’s concentrated around the jawline and creates jowls. In all of these cases, a facelift removes that excess skin, tightens the neck and facial muscles, and contours the jaw and upper neck area to provide a more youthful appearance.
- Target Various Signs of Aging
Along with the aforementioned factors of lower collagen production and sun damage, the impact of years of stress, poor eating, and/or smoking can negatively impact your skin.
Facelifts can restore your youthful appearance by targeting various signs of aging, resulting in a tighter appearance of the face and neck. Fortunately, a facelift targets sagging skin, deep wrinkles, and creases that appear between the nose and mouth, as well as those extending from the mouth to chin. In addition, if needed, excess fat is removed – and all in one procedure.
Speaking of excess fat…
- Reduce or Eliminate a Double Chin
Sagging and wrinkles on the skin of the neck come with aging. But for some patients, extra skin or excess fat has formed around their neck giving the appearance of a double chin.
This excess skin on the chin renders them much older-looking than they are. It is also a source of embarrassment or even discomfort when wearing certain clothes. In this case, a neck lift may be added to a facelift to remove that excess fat and tighten the skin.
- Deliver Natural-Looking Results
Facelifts of the past were easy to spot. The patient often appeared to have plastic wrap stretched across their face and everyone knew they had “work” done.
Plastic surgery has come a long way since then. Today’s procedures are far more advanced. Plus, surgeons have learned new skills that allow for a more naturally reinvigorated appearance for their patients.
- Leave No Visible Surgical Scars
While the location and size of incisions will vary from one facelift patient to the next, they are all designed to be invisible. This doesn’t mean non-existent of course. But in most cases, incisions are made behind the ear or along the hairline so as not to be apparent.
Feeling More Confident About a Facelift?
While you can’t turn back the clock, bringing a more youthful glow back to your face is just one of the many benefits of a facelift.
So if you’re ready to smooth out those wrinkles or say goodbye to that double chin, then contact us today.
During your free consultation, you’ll learn about all of the facelift options available to you so you can move forward with confidence – and a smile.
Products to Prolong Your Plastic Surgery Results
When you’ve decided to have plastic surgery, you want the results to last as long as possible.
Of course, being diligent about following your surgeon’s post-op instructions will go a long way toward that end.
But there are also a variety of excellent products from Skin Medica that will help you maintain and prolong your plastic surgery results.
Bring Shine to Your Eyes
TNS Eye Repair® from Skin Medica reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. While not ideal for oily skin, it does wonders for those with normal to dry skin.
Meanwhile, Instant Bright Eye Cream from Skin Medica is appropriate for all skin types. With key ingredients from Lytera® 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum, HA5® Rejuvenating Hydrator, plus other advanced ingredients this cream results in a thoroughly comprehensive eye treatment.
Instant Bright Eye masks add the ultimate boost, ultra-hydrate and visibly improve puffiness to enhance the results of your eye treatment. These premium gel patches are the perfect companion to Instant Bright Eye Cream eye treatment. They work in tandem to provide the ultimate treatment for youthful-looking eyes. And like the eye cream, they are appropriate for all skin types.
Plump Your Lips
The HA⁵® Smooth and Plump Lip System is another treatment that works with all skin types. It’s a two-step treatment clinically shown to plump the appearance of lips while providing the same smoothing and hydrating benefits of HA⁵® Rejuvenating Hydrator. It also enhances rosiness and visibly smooths fine lines.
Protect Your Skin from the Sun
Skin Medica’s Essential Defense Mineral Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 32 (Tinted) is a sunscreen with a touch of color, slightly tinted, lightweight formulation gives you the highest level of UVA protection available, along with UVB coverage in a mineral shield that’s gentle to your skin. Appropriate for post-procedure and sensitive skin types.
Essential Defense Mineral Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 35 does not have a tint, but rather it’s a sheer, lightweight, mineral sunscreen that gives you the highest level of UVA protection available, along with UVB coverage to protect you from damaging rays. Also appropriate for post-procedure and sensitive skin types.
For those with oily and combination skin, Essential Defense Everyday Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 47 is a great choice. This lightweight, sheer sunscreen guards against damaging UVA and UVB rays while offering paraben-free, hypoallergenic, oil-free, and fragrance-free protection.
Tighten and Firm up Your Skin
There are already so many factors that speed up the aging process. So we can use all the help we can get!
Firm & Tone Lotion for Body is a highly effective and dermatologist-tested treatment that improves the appearance of body skin firmness and tone, decreases the look of sagging, diminishes the look of crepey skin, and addresses uneven skin texture.
The non-irritating Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser with clinically proven ingredients gently dissolves makeup, oil, impurities, and dirt to cleanse and purify pores while supporting the skin’s barrier, diminishing the appearance of fine lines and coarse wrinkles, and enhancing skin tone and resiliency.
Prolong Your Plastic Surgery Results
When you decide to get plastic surgery, you’re investing in yourself. Thus, you want to prolong your plastic surgery results to make the most of that investment.
So contact us today to set up a free consultation with our board-certified surgeon to discuss next steps.
And in the meantime, be sure to take a look at the wide variety of Skin Medica products we offer. They’re part of the complete package.
Are There Benefits of Breast Reconstruction After Breast Cancer Surgery?
If you’ve been through breast cancer surgery, you know how frightening the whole experience is – starting right from the diagnosis.
Perhaps you’ve had a lumpectomy that altered the size and shape of your breast. Or if you’ve had a single or double mastectomy, the appearance of your breasts has significantly changed.
It’s an emotional journey, to be sure. If the smoke hasn’t yet cleared, give yourself time to settle into your new reality. You may be quite comfortable with it. If not, you could always consider the benefits of breast reconstruction.
The Benefits of Breast Reconstruction
As horrifying and worrisome as the above-mentioned procedures are, they are often life-saving and most patients are grateful for them. Even so, some women feel self-conscious about how their breasts now appear. For them, breast reconstruction is a consideration.
There are several reasons these patients opt for breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy or lumpectomy.
- Restores Proportion and Balance to the Breasts
One of the biggest laments patients share after a lumpectomy or mastectomy is the perceived lack of symmetry and balance. They feel their appearance is off-center or ‘crooked’. This is especially true if surgery was performed on only one breast. Breast reconstruction reconciles this by restoring balance and proportion to the breasts.
- Eliminates the Need for a Prosthetic
Breast reconstruction isn’t the only option. The truth is, after undergoing surgery to fight breast cancer, some women are not eager to go under the knife again. For them, a prosthetic known as a breast form is a viable solution. And many of them will stay with this option.
The issue with breast forms is that they require the use of adhesives and specialized bras though. So some women begin to miss the feeling of having their breasts as a natural part of their bodies. At this point, they may choose breast reconstruction to attain that.
- Boosts Self-Esteem and Confidence
When you get right down to it, it’s reason #3 here that patients opt for breast reconstruction. While some women are largely unaffected by their new look, confidence and self-esteem take a hit with the loss of breast tissue for others.
At the end of the day, bringing proper balance back and feeling that the breasts are a natural part of the body all lend to increased self-esteem and confidence for these patients.
Breast Reconstruction Surgery Is Not One Size Fits All
Breast reconstruction surgery is customized to meet each person’s specific situation. There are three basic methods:
- Breast Implant
Breast implant reconstruction is the least invasive method. It does not require harvesting tissue from another part of the body and relies, instead, on saline or silicone implants. With this method, the surgeon employs tissue expanders to gradually recreate the natural mound of the breast. Then the implants can be placed.
- Fat Transfer
Fat transfer reconstruction is going to be a better option for patients who’ve had a lumpectomy or partial breast trauma than for those who’ve had a full mastectomy. In this procedure, rather than using implants, fat tissue is harvested from elsewhere on the body (typically hips, thighs, abdomen, or back). It is then purified and transferred to the breast area to restore its/their natural shape.
- Autologous
Autologous breast reconstruction, also known as perforator flap reconstruction, is the most complex of the three methods. Requiring the skills of an experienced plastic surgeon, it also involves harvesting tissue from somewhere else on the body to manipulate a new breast that looks and feels like a natural one. The results are long-lasting.
Still Not Sure?
If you’re not entirely confident about breast reconstruction surgery, there’s no rush. You want to feel ready and right about your decision. No rule says you have to do it. Many women do not.
In the meantime, if you’re curious about all of the many other ways plastic surgery can serve you, keep checking back with our blog. It’s chock full of descriptive, informative, and even fun articles.
And if you come across a procedure that sounds even more beneficial for you, don’t hesitate to contact us!
