Q. After nursing, my breasts are smaller and droopy. What can I do?

A. This is a frequent problem after pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is largely due to the stretching of the skin and breast tissue while the breasts are enlarged. The overall breast size can be enhanced with a small breast implant with also tightens the skin. This not only increases the size of the breast, but provides a fill for the the overall lose skin. In severe cases of “droopiness” or excess skin, a breast lift may also need to be performed.

 

Q. Does cosmetic surgery require general anesthesia?

A. Generally, yes. While medical science has many newer advancements allowing for non-invasive treatments that do not require surgery, such as injectable dermal fillers, most major procedures are done under anesthesia. There are some smaller procedures that can be done without full anesthesia, such as small areas of liposuction, laser skin treatments, and even some types of breast lifts can be done comfortably and safely while awake. 

 

Q. My abdomen has never regained shape after having children, despite exercise. What can I do?

A. With pregnancy, the skin and underlying fat layer as well as muscles of the abdomen stretch to allow for increased abdominal girth and do not fully return to their normal position and shape. Exercise and weight loss can certainly help improve the tone and appearance, but frequently it is not enough. 

The abdomen may be reshaped with a combination of liposuction to remove excess far or tummy tuck in severe cases, where excess skin must be removed and the abdominal muscle tightened.

 

Q. How much cosmetic surgery is too much to have done at one time?

A. Surgery in the 21st century is as safe as it has ever been, thanks largely to advances in both anesthesia and in the equipment we use while performing surgery. Longer surgeries and multiple procedures are being done at a much safer rate. While it is difficult to say what qualifies as “too much,” there is or should be a limit. Your individual “limit” depends largely on your health condition, type of surgery planned, and the skill and competence of your surgeon.

 

Q. How do you determine what size incision to make for a tummy tuck?

A. Tummy tucks , also called abdominoplasty, are performed to reshape the abdomen after pregnancy or significant weight gain/loss. Underlying muscle weakness, excess fat deposition, or excess skin all play some role in the shape and appearance of the abdomen. The incision length and position are somewhat variable depending on whether one or all of these needs correction. Generally, though, most incisions, regardless of length, are hidden well within the bikini line.

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Q. Can I still get a tummy tuck if I’ve had a c-section?

A. Most definitely! In fact, a number of women having a tummy tuck do so to help reinforce or tighten the abdominal wall that is frequently weakened after a pregnancy, as well as to remove excess skin.

 

Q. What is the best treatment for stretch marks?

A. Removal. “Stretch marks” are essentially scars within the skin and complete removal with an excision is best. This can be done with breast lifts for marks on the breast or tummy tucks for abdominal stretch marks. Short of this, however, there are not simple solutions for any significant or long term improvements in stretch marks or their appearance.

 

Q. How long does it take scars to heal after surgery and how will they look after the procedure?

A. First, let me tell you that scars are dynamic, meaning they are constantly changing.

The body is continually remodeling scars. That is why sailors hundreds of years ago had scars reopen that had been healed for years when they developed scurvy from a lack of Vitamin C, which is essential in making scar tissue. Scar tissue begins to develop within days of surgery and can keep wounds from reopening within a couple of weeks. It is however, not at its full strength until nearly a year after surgery.

 

The quality of post-operative scars depends on several factors. The most important one being how well the individual’s body makes a scar. With that being said, the technique use by a surgeon and the location of the scar on the body are also important in determining how good or how noticeable a scar will be long term.

 

Q. I’ve been on an exercise program for years, but I still have weight around my thighs and lower abdomen. Help!

A. There are areas of the body that tend to accumulate fat. These particular fat cells in these hard to lose ares typically are less responsive to dieting and exercise. While overall weight loss can help, the problem areas remain. Recent advances in medical technology have allowed for these fat cells to be safely removed with suction assisted lipectomy, also known as “liposuction.”

 

Q. How do you determine who is a candidate for liposuction?

A. Liposuction, whether by suction assisted or ultrasound assisted, is intended to surgically remove fat called that have accumulated in certain areas of the body. These fat cells typically do not respond to diet and weight loss, and can be removed surgically safely, provided you are in overall good health.

 

Q. Do I need to lose weight before any cosmetic surgery of the body or after?

A. In a word, “yes.” Weight loss before or after plastic surgery is generally a good thing. Weight loss before surgery may improve overall outcome. Frequently, however, it is easer to lose weight and exercise after a weight reducing surgery like a breast reduction or tummy tuck.

 

Q. Will I regain the fat that was removed with liposuction if I gain weight?

A. Fat cells or adipocytes have an unusually ability to grow to very large sizes. This differentiates them from say, muscle cells which have limits. Liposuction is intended to remove a certain number of these adipocytes in an area to provide a smoother contour and provide better symmetry with the rest of the body. While a large number of fat cells may be removed, there are still fat cells remaining. These will enlarge with weight gain. The overall distribution, however, seems to be more general rather than localized to the area of liposuction. Your goal, however, should be to maintain or even lose weight after surgery, particularly to look and feel your best.

 

Q. Can liposuction be performed on arms?

A. Yes. Fat in the posterior portion of the upper arm can be safely removed via liposuction. Remember though, that is is an effort at recontouring the arm shape in addition to removing some overall size. I refer to this type of lipo as liposculpture. If a large volume of fat or skin needs to be removed, a brachioplasty with incisions hidden on the inner surface of the upper arm will allow for direct excision of fat and/or skin with much better results. As always, what will work best for you depends on your goals. It’s always best to come in for a consultation.

 

Q. I have small dimples on my outer thighs. Can liposuction help remove them?

A. There are two potential reasons for dimpling of the skin on your outer thighs. First of which, let’s call primary cellulite, is due to an increase in the amount of fat within the individual fat cells that bulge out. the surrounding connective tissue does not bulge and causes dimpling where it is attached to the skin. Secondary cellulite, on the other hand, is due to not only bulging fat deposits, but laxity in the overlying skin causing subtle wrinkles and/or dimpling. This is not great improved by liposuction alone, but may require removal of excess skin with a thigh lift.

 

Q. What areas of the body respond to liposuction?

A. From the face to the ankles, to everywhere in-between. Generally, any area with an excess distribution of fat can benefit from liposuction. Areas with moderate fat (lipodystrophy) and good skin tone are obviously more amenable to liposuction than are ares with significant fat deposit and poor skin tone.

 

Q. You mean my skin affects my liposuction results?

A. Yes.  As your body ages, your skin becomes thinner. While this is typically is a slow process over a lifetime, weight gain with stretch marks can happen with pregnancy and/or extreme ultraviolet radiation exposure with sunbathing or tanning can accelerate the process. As the skin thins, it begins to lose its ability to “tighten” up after liposuction and may require direct excision for the best post-operative results.

 

Q, What are the types of breast implants and how do I decide which one is right for me?

A. Breast implants are categorized by how the outer shell is made–smooth or textured, whether they are filled with saline or silicone, and how they are shaped–round or teardrop. Which ones would work best for your depends on a number of factors relating to not only your breast, but your body type, chest shape, and how you envision your post-operative breast appearance.  Our Breast Resource Blog has helpful information on the implant types we offer. 

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More important than choosing which implant is which surgeon should perform your surgery. You should spend most of your research time on your doctor, who can then help you make the right decision to meet your goals. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, of which I am a member, has a helpful search tool to find board certified surgeons in your area.