Are There Different Breast Implant Placement Options?
If you’re considering breast augmentation, you’ve probably researched different types of implants, and started thinking about the size you want.
But did you know that there are different breast implant placement options too? (Great! Another thing to think about!)
This is a good thing, though. To get the most natural look for your breast implants, the last thing you want is a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Especially when it comes to the procedure.
What Are the Breast implant Placement Options?
You don’t need to stress too much. Fortunately, there are only two options. The breast implant is placed under your breast tissue and over your chest muscles, or under the breast tissue and partially under the pectoralis major.
Both provide great results and which one is right for you will come down to a number of factors that you’ll discuss thoroughly with your board-certified plastic surgeon. He or she will provide you with the choice that will deliver the best aesthetic results.
For the sake of understanding the difference between the two, here’s how they compare:
Over the Muscle
Also referred to as sub glandular placement, the over the muscle option involves placing the implants on top of the pectoralis major muscle but under the glandular breast tissue.
Because this option produces a lifted appearance, it’s often recommended to patients whose breasts tend to sag from having a larger amount of natural breast tissue. The tissue offers support and coverage for the implants. Without proper coverage, the implant can take on the appearance of being artificially inflated.
Another benefit of sub glandular placement is the ability of the implant to move with the breasts over the years as they go through changes. This gives them a more natural appearance for many years. In addition, over the muscle placement is a slightly easier procedure and requires a little less recovery time. Since the chest muscle isn’t altered, there’s no risk of the implants visibly distorting during exercise of daily movements.
That said, there IS a slightly increased possibility of visible folds or rippling with this sort of placement. Especially for patients with less natural breast tissue. In addition, subgladular implants tend to interfere more with mammogram readings and may result in the patient having to incorporate ultrasounds or other modalities.
Under the Muscle
Not to be confused with the term sub glandular, the sub muscular (under the muscle) procedure is a bit more involved. In this case, the implant is placed under the skin, fat, glands, AND the pectoralis major.
Yet, it’s also placed on top of the inner pectoralis minor and serratus muscles. Doing it this way allows for the pectoralis major muscle to cover the top and side of the implant while the natural breast tissue covers the bottom and outer edge. This creates a smoother and more natural looking transition from the chest to the implant.
Sub muscular implants interfere less with mammogram readings and they have a lower incidence of capsular contracture.
Even so, the more complicated nature of the procedure means there is usually a slightly longer surgery time and recovery period. This is because the surgeon has to cut and detach the pectoralis major muscle. There’s also an increased chance of the implants becoming distorted when the chest contracts, and/or migrating upward toward the armpit. Patients usually experience diminished strength in the chest muscles after this surgery as well.
So your plastic surgeon will carefully consider whether this placement option is your best bet.
Are Breast Implants Right For You?
When it comes to choosing between the two breast implant placement options, you can take heart in knowing that you’ll never be alone in that decision.
Contact us today to set up your free consultation and get started.
After an examination, your surgeon will discuss your goals and expectations with you. From there, the two of you will decide which option is right for you.
Can Vaginal Laxity Be Repaired?
Okay. Vaginal laxity may not be the topic of conversation at the dinner table.
But if you’re not familiar with the term, it’s a condition whereby the tissues outside the vagina loosen. This can lead to problems with the tissues twisting or even escaping the labia.
For many women who experience vaginal laxity, it can be an embarrassing and troublesome situation. It can even negatively impact sensation during intercourse. And it’s more common than you might think.
What Causes Vaginal Laxity?
Vaginal laxity is often the result of vaginal childbirth. Especially for women whose vaginal tissues were overstretched from having large babies and/or multiple births. For them, the vaginal tissue simply lost the ability to bounce back. This could have been further compounded by the use of forceps or other delivery instruments.
But aging is also a factor. With aging comes a reduction in collagen production. And collagen is a crucial protein for providing support to the tissues. So even women who didn’t experience childbirth can struggle with vaginal laxity. Plus, vaginal health changes tremendously in the years following menopause which complicates things further.
Can Vaginal Laxity Be Repaired?
In an attempt to avoid surgery, many women engage in pelvic floor training. They engage in isometric exercises such as Kegels to tighten the vaginal muscles. And while most women would not be advised against doing Kegel exercises, there’s currently no evidence to suggest they do anything for increasing vaginal tightening.
Fortunately, there are other options – both non-surgical and surgical. And each of these solutions is fairly simple and straightforward.
Taking the Non-Surgical Route
For women who are planning to have more children (or those who aren’t ready to try surgery yet), laser energy and radiofrequency (RF) treatments can be highly effective.
In both cases, the tissues are heated in order to increase collagen formation. Laser energy heats the vaginal tissues at a more surface level than RF and might be chosen in cases where the laxity isn’t as severe.
Meanwhile, RF takes the heating a bit deeper. A recent study shows the benefits of performing surface cooling after an RF treatment increases vaginal tightening and sexual function while protecting the vaginal skin.
So laser energy and RF could be fantastic options for treating vaginal laxity. Even so, some patients feel more confident in going the surgical route.
Opting for Vaginoplasty
Vaginoplasty is a procedure that falls under the wider umbrella of vaginal rejuvenation and it sounds more daunting than it is. Actually, it’s a minimally invasive procedure that involves tightening the vaginal canal and surrounding muscles. This is achieved by altering the lining of the vaginal canal, as well as the vaginal and perineal muscles.
Another benefit? Vaginoplasty can treat the urinary incontinence that becomes so common among women at later stages of their lives.
While this procedure stands well on its own, some patients choose to combine it with the aforementioned laser and RF treatments to reach optimal tightening as well as increasing natural lubrication.
The Solution Is in Sight
If you’re troubled by vaginal laxity, you do NOT have to accept it as a fact of motherhood and/or growing older. And fixing it is not a huge to-do.
So take the next step.
Contact us today to set up a free consultation to discuss treatment options such as laser energy, RF, or vaginoplasty. You deserve this!
What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
Are you frustrated with excess fat or skin around your lower abdomen beneath your belly button? Have you tried diet and exercise as a solution and they’re not working?
Perhaps you’re already familiar with the tummy tuck procedure and feel like that’s more than you need.
If so, then you’re one of the countless folks who could benefit from a mini tummy tuck.
What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
In a previous post we discussed the difference between a full abdominoplasty (the fancy way of saying tummy tuck) and a mini tummy tuck.
This post will strictly address the mini tummy tuck – a procedure that’s less invasive than a full tummy tuck and aims to lessen or eliminate that troublesome pooch dwelling on the lower belly.
How does it work?
With the ultimate goal of flattening the lower abdomen, a board-certified plastic surgeon makes an incision about 4-8 inches long in the lower abdomen. From there, he or she may tighten loose muscle, remove flabby skin, and/or possibly use liposuction to remove excess fat. The procedure varies from patient to patient depending on their specific situation.
In there is excess skin, it will be trimmed and laid flat. Depending on where and how much excess skin is in the area, this can potentially remove stretch marks. In addition, the lower abdomen muscles may be sutured together in a way that isn’t visible on the outside.
Once the procedure is complete and the patient recovers, he or she will have an enhanced lower abdomen contour.
Who Should Get a Mini Tummy Tuck?
It’s important to understand that the purpose of ANY tummy tuck is not as a weight loss measure. This procedure is used to alleviate imperfections that are confined to the lower belly area.
The ideal candidate for a mini tummy tuck struggles with the above-mentioned pooch, has tried diet and exercise as a solution (but to no avail), is in good overall health, and is at a weight that’s in a healthy range.
Patients most often seek out a mini tummy tuck to do the following:
- Address Age-Related Issues
Many female patients seek the counsel of plastic surgeons during menopause or their later years when weight gain becomes more common in the midsection. Some of this is hormone related.
Often times though, it’s the result of the natural decline of muscles as the body ages. As the body becomes more prone to weight loss, stubborn abdominal fat settles onto the belly.
- Smooth Out Post-Pregnancy Changes
After giving birth, many women feel like they’re living in somebody else’s body. For these women, getting their bellies back to pre-pregnancy shape is impossible. No matter how hard they try.
A mini tummy tuck can go the distance in tightening and flattening that post-pregnancy trouble spot. This is one of the main reasons that it or a full tummy tuck is often part of the whole Mommy Makeover package.
- Correct a Ventral Hernia
Sometimes massive weight loss, an appendectomy, or a C-section can cause a ventral hernia. This is when the intestinal tissue breaks through the abdominal wall and creates a pooch. A plastic surgeon may recommend a mini tummy tuck in this situation to flatten and reshape the belly.
Mini Tummy Tuck Recovery
Compared to other procedures, the mini tummy tuck recovery process is fairly simple. Most patients require an abdominal binder for at least a few weeks to support the abs as they heal.
Fortunately, since the mini tummy tuck is less invasive than the full version, there is minimal swelling and healing happens faster. Most patients see some immediate results. Within six weeks, the full results appear.
And as long as there is no weight gain or pregnancy, the results are permanent.
Are You Considering a Mini Tummy Tuck?
Now that you’ve been schooled on the mini tummy tuck, you may be ready to take advantage of all it has to offer. Of course, you’ll want to explore all your options with a plastic surgeon.
So contact us for a free consultation.
We’ll guide you on the most effective route to a firmer, flatter belly that will help restore your youthful confidence.
What Makes Anesthesia Riskier?
For some people, the idea of surgery is less daunting than the notion of being anesthetized. But the truth is, anesthesia is safer now than it’s ever been.
The vast majority of people react very well to anesthesia. And for many procedures – plastic surgery included – you wouldn’t want to be without it.
That said, there is always going to be some level of risk. And what makes anesthesia riskier comes down to the patient’s age, current medical conditions, lifestyle, and the type of surgery and kind of anesthesia used.
What Are the General Risks?
If you’ve ever had a cavity drilled at the dentist, then you’ve had anesthesia. Of course, unless you requested otherwise, the doctor used a local anesthetic that only numbed a small area of the body. As such, it is the safest anesthetic and plastic surgeons will always opt for it if they can. Side effects are rare and extremely mild.
Regional anesthesia is a little riskier than local in that it numbs a larger area of the body. Side effects are a little more common than they are with a local anesthesia, but they mostly consist of a temporary headache.
General anesthesia is the sort that most patients fear because it renders you unconscious. Even so, it’s very safe. The possible side effects – such as chills, confusion, nausea, or a sore throat (mostly from the breathing tube) are more widespread. But they are also temporary.
What Makes Anesthesia Riskier For Some People?
Although anesthesia is generally safe and technology around it has come a long way, some patients are looking at a higher risk if they have any of the following conditions:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney problems
- Lung conditions
- Seizures or other neurological disorders
- Sleep apnea
- Allergies to or history of adverse reactions to anesthesia
In addition, if you regularly smoke and/or drink two or more alcoholic beverages per day, your risk also increases. If any of these apply to you, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have surgery though.
Find Peace of Mind By Talking to Your Anesthesiologist
You’re allowed to talk with the anesthesiologist who’s scheduled for your surgery. In fact, he or she will need to conduct a health assessment to learn all about your health history, medications you take, reactions to previous anesthesia, and lifestyle choices. This is to ensure you’ll get the safest and most optimal pain management and critical care.
The anesthesiologist may strongly advise you quit smoking, cut back (or eliminate) drinking, or lose weight (if the surgery isn’t urgent) before your procedure to lessen your risk. He/she can also inform you of what medications could exacerbate the anesthesia and advise other medications that will be safe.
Then he or she will create a plan around your specific condition and monitor you closely during the procedure. You can go into the surgery knowing that you won’t be ignored for even a second.
Don’t Let Fear of Anesthesia Keep You From Plastic Surgery!
Now that you know the nitty gritty on what makes anesthesia riskier and how truly safe it is, you can feel confident in opting for that plastic surgery procedure you’ve always wanted.
So don’t hesitate any longer.
Contact us today to set up your free consultation. And get ready for a more confident and self-assured YOU this summer!
What’s the Best Nutrition Before and After Plastic Surgery?
Despite the relative ease with which so much plastic surgery is now performed, it’s important to remember that, yes, it IS still surgery.
How you care for yourself pre- and post-op matters. That also means paying attention to nutrition before and after plastic surgery.
So if you’re planning to have a procedure and are a fast food junkie with a penchant for salt, sugar, and fat, you’ll need to prepare to make some adjustments.
Getting Proper Nutrition Before and After Plastic Surgery
Paying attention to what you eat during this time is crucial. Choosing healthy foods will make a big difference in the success of your procedure as well as how quickly you recover.
There are certain foods before and after plastic surgery that you’ll want to include in your diet, and others you’re better off avoiding.
Preparing For Your Surgery
It’s important to start prepping your body for surgery by avoiding foods that cause inflammation. Your body will be providing enough of that on its own as a natural reaction to the surgery. And this is normal.
Too much inflammation, however, is going to slow down or even halt healing. So it’s best to go into the procedure with as little inflammation as possible. Alcohol and sugary foods are two of the biggest offenders.
You also want to avoid foods that are high in sodium so you can regulate your blood pressure and reduce bloating. That means reading labels for sodium content and ditching the obviously salty snacks for a bit.
- Choose Fruits, Veggies and Whole Grains
Fresh fruits and veggies are always a sure bet. Fruits like apples, oranges, and bananas, and veggies such as carrots, broccoli, and even lettuce are low in sodium, contain only natural sugars, and are loaded with vitamins and nutrients.
Whole grains are also highly recommended. Just be sure that if you’re getting them through bread, you check the sodium content. Some breads are high in sodium.
- Add In Smart Protein Choices
In addition, protein is key. To avoid the risk of increased bleeding during and after surgery, steer clear of red meat and stick with lean pork, chicken, or fish. Unsalted nuts and beans as well as eggs are also excellent sources.
You can also get protein from dairy products. Again, read the labels. You’ll need to stick with low-sodium and low-fat cheeses, milk, and yogurt.
After the Procedure…
Hopefully once you get used to a healthy and nutritious regimen before your procedure, you keep it up while you’re healing (and beyond!). As you heal, continue to avoid sugar, alcohol, and high-sodium foods.
Sticking with low-sodium and lean whole foods is going to help the body heal faster. Since vitamins and supplements are often discouraged post-op, it’s important you keep getting nutrients through natural sources. And just as protein is important before surgery, it’s essential during recovery. After all, it’s the main building block for new tissue.
Another consideration after surgery is any foods that will benefit your gut health. First, ensure that you’re keeping up with a high fiber diet to keep things moving in the intestinal department. Anesthesia can wreak havoc on regularity.
Also, because you’ll likely to be on a course of antibiotics, supplement with probiotics like miso and fermented foods, as well as prebiotics such as onions and garlic. These will infuse the good bacteria that gets eliminated with those antibiotics.
Finally, stay hydrated!!!!! Drinking plenty of water will keep inflammation and bloating down while aiding in slow digestion.
Are You Ready to Commit to Your Procedure?
Whether you’re looking to get a tummy tuck, eyebrow lift, or breast augmentation, attending to proper nutrition before and after plastic surgery is key.
So if you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today to set up your free consultation.
And start feeling better about yourself both inside and out!
Is It Time to Replace Your Breast Implants?
If you had breast augmentation in the past ten years, you may be wondering if it’s time to replace your breast implants.
The truth is, the vast majority of breast implants will never need replacing because of medical reasons. Especially after a decade. Today’s advanced techniques and improved manufacturing practices have allowed for this.
Even so, you may have other reasons for not wanting your breast implants any longer.
How Long Breast Implants Last
Breast implants come with no guarantees. But what in life does, really? Most of the current available implants are very safe and last a bare minimum of ten years – as long as there are no complications.
Of course, how much longer your implant will last after that initial ten years is based on a number of factors. These include your health, the size and shape of your chosen implant, and your surgeon’s expertise.
One of the biggest determining factors, though, is the type of implant you chose.
Silicone
Of the two different types, silicone implants are the more resilient. They have only a .5% rupture rate per year so it’s not unusual for these to last for decades. In some cases, they may even last for a woman’s lifetime.
One of the major drawbacks of silicone, however, is that it’s more difficult to detect ruptures or other damage if they do occur. So while the implants can last a long time, patients need to stay up-to-date on checkups and stay in touch with their board-certified plastic surgeon.
Saline
By contrast, saline implants have a 1% rupture rate per year. Still quite minimal, but they are also more prone to shifting and rippling than silicone implants are. So while it’s possible for them to last for decades, it’s likely they will need some sort of maintenance every ten to fifteen years.
The benefit of a saline implant rupturing is that the body can absorb saline so the rupture is less serious.
So Is It Ever Really Time to Replace Your Breast Implants?
Outside of car accidents, trauma, or needle biopsies, it’s rare for a rupture to occur many years out from the initial surgery. So you likely won’t feel a medical need for replacing them. That said, there are still other reasons you may choose replacement surgery.
Perhaps you’re feeling like the size of the implant you chose is no longer a good fit. You may want to go bigger or smaller.
It’s also possible that as you’ve aged, your skin has become looser, your hormones have changed, and your body weight fluctuated. This can result in your breasts changing as well and the implants may no longer look natural.
Finally, tissue stretching and good ole’ gravity can cause breasts and implants to malposition in a variety of ways. They may be shifting sideways, bottoming out, or moving closer together.
All of these may warrant breast implant replacement surgery.
What Happens During Breast Implant Replacement Surgery?
Unless a longstanding rupture is involved, the replacement surgery is relatively simple and straightforward. And the recovery time will be minimal; usually only a couple of days.
A rupture that’s gone undetected, however, can result in capsular contracture.
Part of the healing process for the body is to form a capsule of fibrous scar tissue around any implanted device. The capsule not only creates a protective barrier, but it also assists in keeping the implant in place so as to avoid slippage.
But when the body goes into overdrive to protect itself from the “foreign” body – in this case, the ruptured implant – the scar tissue tightens around the implant and then constricts it. This is known as capsular contracture.
To treat the capsular contracture, the surgeon would need to perform a capsulectomy. And if there’s already too much inflammation to replace the implant, you may have to wait up to six months before you can get a new one. Recovery will also take longer.
The Choice Is Yours!
If you’ve had implants for more than a few years without complications, the chances are minuscule that you’ll need to replace them for medical reasons.
By the same token, if your current implants are no longer serving you or even making you feel self-conscious, then THAT’S the time to replace breast implants.
Contact us today to talk to our board-certified plastic surgeons. We’ll help you We can answer any questions, address concerns, and put an action plan into place for you.
What Are the Weirdest Cosmetic Surgery Procedures?
If you know anything about cosmetic surgery, you’re probably familiar with the more common procedures such as breast augmentation, tummy tuck, facelift, and liposuction.
All of these surgeries help patients feel better about their appearance and more confident in their bodies. In turn, they experience improved mental health.
That said, you may not have heard of some of the weirdest cosmetic surgery procedures that are much more on the fringe of what’s considered normal or even healthy.
The Weirdest Cosmetic Surgery Procedures
Most (if not all) of the lesser-known plastic surgery procedures below aren’t on the menu at reputable medical centers. Not just because they are more than highly elective. Many of them are downright… strange.
And some are even considered unethical by many standards. We’ll explore six procedures that potentially fall under that umbrella and what they promise.
- Go From An Outie to An Innie
Each of us has a belly button. In same cases, there is protruding skin that makes one an outie. While there is nothing unhealthy about this, fashion represents men and women with innies. As such, there are patients who are willing to undergo an umbilicoplasty and the subsequent healing time in order to remove that skin.
- Change Your Fate
Have you ever had your palm read and weren’t happy with the results? For folks who believe that the lines of the palm have some bearing on how much fortune, fame, success, or happiness they will experience in life, there is now palm line surgery.
Using an electric scalpel, the surgeon creates artificial palm lines that would make a palm reader gush and wax poetic about one’s future. Even if it’s completely fabricated.
- Cushion Those High Heels
Anyone who spends time in high heels (and it’s not just women anymore) knows they do a wicked job on the feet and body. So rather than swap out those heels for more sensible shoes, fashion slaves can now opt for dermal filler injected into the balls of their feet to provide cushioning.
- Get Your Own Indentations
For patients who’ve always envied those with dimples and felt their lives were somehow emptier because they didn’t have them, there are some surgeons who will perform a dimpleplasty. This procedure involves making a small incision on the inside of the mouth and placing a suture between the skin and muscle of the cheek.
- Want to Look Like An Elf? Or a Snake?
For folks who are really serious about cosplay, they may be able to find a plastic surgeon who will perform procedures like ear cropping or tongue bifurcation. The first works by removing tissue from the top of the ear to give one the appearance of an elf. The second involves splitting the tongue down the middle so it looks like a snake’s.
It should be noted that tongue-splitting is particularly risky.
- Get Rid of Your “Tell”
While Botox is a fairly common procedure, there’s a new subcategory known as Pokertox. This is when gamblers use a combo of Botox and facial filler injections to alter their facial appearance. It gives them the ultimate poker face and eliminates those telling expressions of what they’re holding in their hand.
It’s Time to Feel Good About Yourself
Unlike more traditional surgeries that can help boost your emotional wellness, many of the weirdest cosmetic surgery procedures above are more superfluous in nature.
If you’re interested instead in a well-established procedure with board certified surgeons, contact us today for a free consultation. You’ll be amazed at the boost in confidence and self-esteem you experience.
How Long Does Breast Reduction Surgery Recovery Take?
If you’re considering a breast reduction to remove extra fat, tissue, and skin from your breast, you may wonder about breast reduction surgery recovery time.
Also known as mammoplasty, breast reduction surgery will not only decrease the size of your breasts, but it will lift and contour them too.
Breast reduction surgery can be performed on just one breast or on both at the same time if you don’t wish to have mismatched breasts for any amount of time.
How Does Breast Reduction Surgery Recovery Play Out?
Recovery from surgery always has two phases – short-term and long-term. Breast reduction surgery is no different.
The first phase of recovery (short-term) typically lasts about two weeks and is when the most restrictions are in place. The second phase (long-term) typically lasts two to three months following that.
We’ll break down the two phases:
First Week
After your surgery, you will be introduced to a compression bra which you’ll need to wear through the first phase and into the second phase of recovery.
You’ll wear this bra 24/7 except for when you shower. This will ensure you get the desired outcome from the surgery. During this first week, you’ll want to focus on resting and ensuring you eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water to facilitate healing.
Some light movement (like walking around the house) will be encouraged, but you’ll need to avoid strenuous activity and continue to take any prescribed medications.
Second Week
It’s during the second week when you might start to notice the incisions feeling a little tight and itchy as they continue to heal under your compression bra. You can remedy this with Vaseline or other gentle moisturizer. Benedryl can help with the itching.
Your board-certified plastic surgeon may clear you for returning to work at this point, but you’ll still need to avoid strenuous activity and stick with your healthy and hydrating diet.
Three Weeks to Two Months Out
For most, three weeks marks the point when you’ll really start to notice and feel the results of your surgery. You’ll be able to engage in more strenuous activities and return to most of your regular routines. Even so, you’ll need to keep that compression bra on for at least another one to three weeks.
By the end of the second month, the compression bra can be swapped out for your new smaller bra – provided your breasts are not swollen.
Three to Four Months After
Finally, three to four months out from the surgery, your breasts should be fully healed and settled into their new shape. At this point, you can safely start shopping for those smaller tops you’ve always longed to wear!
How Could Breast Reduction Surgery Change Your Life?
Having large, heavy, or pendulous breasts can make it hard to find clothes that fit well. What’s worse, they may be causing you neck and back pain.
Fortunately, smaller and more shapely breasts are just a surgery away. And the good news is, breast reduction surgery recovery isn’t terribly grueling. As we said, you could be back to work after one week, and doing light cardio after just two weeks!
So if you’re ready to remove that extra weight that’s causing you pain and strife, contact us today! And get ready to spice up your wardrobe!
Is Plastic Surgery Ethical?
Given the surge of reality television that exaggerates the horrors of plastic surgery gone wrong, you may be wondering, is plastic surgery ethical?
Obviously, nothing is perfect. There are always going to be crooked people who take advantage of vulnerable populations.
But if you’re considering reconstructive or cosmetic surgery, take the time to research your plastic surgeon and ensure that he or she is board-certified and experienced. That way, you can be almost certain that you’re dealing with an ethical doctor.
Reconstructive Vs. Cosmetic Surgery
Both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery fall under the umbrella of plastic surgery. Almost no one questions the validity of reconstructive surgery. Correcting an abnormality as the result of a birth defect, accident, surgery, or injury has always been socially acceptable. Particularly when it affects the functioning of the body.
The validity of cosmetic surgery, however, has long been debated and discussed. Even though it aims to also fix body imperfections, it is considered elective surgery -regardless of whether the anomaly is congenital or the result of illness.
For many decades, people felt that cosmetic surgery merely addressed vanity. The overriding belief was that people should just accept these imperfections and/or “age gracefully.”
This stance on cosmetic surgery is no longer the viewpoint throughout the medical industry or even society at large.
More Than Just Changing Appearance
In the last decade, psychology has emerged demonstrating that physical appearance can play heavily on one’s levels of self-esteem, confidence, and overall well-being.
Where it gets tricky is that some patients believe that cosmetic surgery will magically transform them to meet a specific criteria as dictated by society. Many don’t understand that these standards need to be adjusted for body proportions, age, and skin color.
An ethical surgeon will disclose this; stating as clearly and fully as possible every risk. Even those that are rare. He or she will also be clear about what the patient can realistically expect from the procedure rather than making false promises in order to get the job.
So Then When Is Plastic Surgery Ethical, And When Is It Not?
One of the biggest factors a plastic surgeon needs to consider is the psychological state of the patient. It’s one thing to help a patient feel better about him/herself by performing a procedure like a tummy tuck or a face lift. It’s another, altogether, to agree to perform a procedure on someone who is clearly in mental distress.
For example, if a patient comes in requesting multiple procedures in order to look exactly like a current celebrity. Or if a patient is clearly struggling with anorexia and is looking for a fat removal procedure.
So it’s clear that ethical plastic surgery involves a quest for complete psychophysical well-being from the patient. The objective is to create a fluid and peaceful coexistence between a patient’s outer and inner beauty. And that’s no easy feat.
If there is question of instability on any level, it is the surgeon’s responsibly to perform a full and careful evaluation. An ethical surgeon (and this includes most plastic surgeons) will do just that. If the patient proves to be mentally balanced, possibilities and limitations will be discussed, along with cost-benefit ratio. Only once the surgeon is confident of the patient’s mental and physical states and the patient has fully consented will the surgery be scheduled.
Cosmetic Surgery Delivers The Whole Package
Are you considering cosmetic surgery but are still struggling to answer the question, is plastic surgery ethical? We understand. Cosmetic surgery has gotten something of a bad wrap for a long time.
Contact us today to put your mind at ease.
During your free consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeons, you’ll see how fully we grasp that there’s a wider notion of health that goes beyond merely the physical. With each patient, we address the whole person so you’ll feel confident and sure about your decision.
Is Combining Plastic Surgery Procedures Safe?
Does the idea of combining plastic surgery procedures sound appealing to you? Well, you’re not alone.
One of the great things about plastic surgery is that combining procedures is not unusual. And if a patient has no contraindications and is healthy enough to remain under prolonged anesthesia, it’s quite safe.
This isn’t to say, however, that just any combination of procedures should be performed. And you want to ensure that you have a highly-skilled surgeon with experience in multiple surgeries.
Popular Plastic Surgery Combos
If you’re thinking you’d like to get a couple (or even three) areas taken care of at once, your plastic surgeon will offer recommendations and counsel you on the best next steps.
There are numerous pairings that can be performed. We’ll take a look at a few of the more popular ones.
- Mommy Makeover
The Mommy Makeover is the quintessential example of a combination of procedures. And it’s also one of the most popular choices among patients.
Pregnancy takes a toll on a woman’s body. Multiple pregnancies even more so. That’s why plastic surgeons developed this smorgasbord of procedures. There are several components and the combination depends on the patient’s unique goals.
For example, most women want to rid themselves of the abdominal flab that comes post pregnancy. In this case, they would choose a tummy tuck. Add to that, women who have lost breast volume may also opt for an augmentation and/or breast lift. In some cases, there may even be requests for vaginal rejuvenation.
Whatever the combination, women come out feeling more confident and better about their post-pregnancy bodies.
- Facelift with Blepharoplasty or Fat Transfer
The facelift procedure is also very popular. In the simplest terms, it’s a surgical reconstruction of the face to render a younger appearance. In cases where excess skin has developed around the eyelids, the facelift may be combined with a blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift. In this procedure, excess skin, fat, and muscles are removed to rejuvenate the appearance of the eyes.
In cases where a patient wants more volume in his or her face, there may also be a fat transfer surgery performed during the facelift procedure. This means that fat is harvested from areas of the body where there is excess fat and it is moved to the face.
(As an aside, fat transfer may also be performed during breast and butt lift procedures.)
- Tummy Tuck with Liposuction or Breast Enlargement
The tummy tuck is a popular procedure that’s often paired with other procedures. When patients are struggling with diet- and exercise-resistant fat, surgeons may recommend both a tummy tuck and liposuction. The tummy tuck creates a smooth contour while the liposuction vacuums out extra fat cells that could potentially become problematic.
Meanwhile, for patients who desire both a flatter belly and more voluminous breasts, a tummy tuck can be combined with breast enlargement. It’s the perfect combination.
Are There Particular Benefits to Combining Plastic Surgery Procedures?
If you stop to think about it, there are many logistics involved in a surgery. These include surgeon and anesthesiologist fees, operating room costs, and other expenses. Combining procedures saves you money.
Plus, going under anesthesia once is always preferred to multiple times as it reduces the risk of anesthesia-related complications. And your recovery period will be markedly shorter too because you’ll be healing from multiple procedures at once. So that means less down time.
Finally, there’s a lot to be said for achieving multiple goals at once. When you come out of the operating room having had multiple procedures, you’re going to notice much more dramatic (and ultimately satisfying) results. And it’s impossible to put a price on that.
Curious About Multiple Procedures?
Combining plastic surgery procedures is safe and highly effective when performed by a skilled and board-certified surgeon.
So if you have a certain combination in mind, contact us today to find out if it’s going to make sense for you.
Even though all procedures can’t be paired with others, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out yours can!
