How Plastic Surgery Can Help Cancer Patients
Plastic surgery often gets a bad rap. And reality TV only glorifies this by portraying it as purely elective procedures sought after by over-the-top people with insane wealth and vanity.
This portrayal is not accurate. Sure, plastic surgery goes the distance in providing a flatter belly or a younger face. And that’s great. There’s a lot to be said about the positive psychological effects of plastic surgery.
But what many don’t consider is the far-reaching range of issues that plastic surgery can address. This includes how plastic surgery can help cancer patients.
How Plastic Surgery Can Help Cancer Patients
It’s no secret that cancer treatments, while often effective, can be hard on the body. Especially in cases where the treatment is drastic. It can change not only how a person looks, but also how they feel. Plastic surgery can help in the following ways:
- Restoring Tissue Damage from Radiation
The side effects from radiation therapy can be overwhelming. Patients report feeling fatigue and experiencing rashes and thinning of the skin. This is because radiation attacks healthy tissue in its fight to eradicate the cancer.
In situations where a specific part of the body is heavily targeted by radiation, the tissue damage can be significant enough to change both the appearance and function of the damaged area. Plastic surgery can help restore these.
- Performing Breast Reconstruction
The most common and well-known plastic surgery procedure associated with cancer treatments is breast reconstruction. And for good reason. Many women who’ve had a cancer-related mastectomy or tumor removal are understandably distraught with the results and seek plastic surgery as a means to restore something closer to their former appearance.
- Minimizing Scarring
Removing certain skin cancers and soft tissue sarcomas isn’t a matter of simply scraping off the surface of the skin. In more severe cases, the skin cancer is removed along with the surrounding margins. Then, wide resections of the skin may be required. Because board-certified plastic surgeons specialize in repositioning healthy tissue from one part of the body to cover the wound of another, they have the expertise to perform such procedures that result in minimal scarring.
- Correcting Deficits from Tumor Removal
Similar to removing skin cancer, tumor removal often requires taking out more than just the tumor. Surgeons often need to remove the surrounding healthy tissue to eliminate the chance of it becoming cancerous. While this can be a life-saving step, it leaves unnatural deficits in the soft tissue which can, fortunately, be addressed through plastic surgery.
- Repairing Specific Damaged Tissue
Plastic surgeons who are skilled in reconstructive microsurgery can utilize these small procedures that use the patient’s own tissues to repair damaged areas. This can involve repurposing skin, fat, muscle, tendon, and possibly even bone to reduce scarring and promote healing and normal function.
Giving Cancer Patients in Treatment New Hope
Cancer treatments can slow or even stop the spread of the disease. But they can also leave lasting marks on the body.
In these cases, plastic surgeons help cancer patients by repairing and restoring these areas. In doing so, they also extend the ability of other surgeons and specialists to keep treating the cancer, giving patients the best chance for a cure.
If you’re struggling with the appearance of cancer treatment deficits, contact us today to find out how we can help. You have enough to focus on without having to deal with that too.
How Body Contouring After GLP-1 Can Help
Have you recently experienced major weight loss after taking a GLP-1 medication such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro? Congratulations on your achievement!
Yet, while you’ve effectively reduced body fat, you may now be left with loose, excess skin that’s making it difficult to fully embrace the benefits of weight loss.
What’s worse, no amount of exercise or dieting can eliminate excess skin once it has lost its elasticity. But body contouring after GLP-1 can help.
Get the Most out of Your Post-Weight Loss Results
Rapid weight reduction, such as occurs with GLP-1 medications, often leaves behind stretched, sagging skin that doesn’t magically shrink back to fit your new body. Patients notice this phenomenon most frequently in the abdomen, arms, thighs, and face.
Fortunately, body contouring surgery offers a solution. The following procedures carefully remove excess skin and enhance natural curves to achieve a toned silhouette while avoiding an overly tightened appearance.
- Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
A tummy tuck removes excess skin (and fat, where applicable) to give patients a smoother and flatter abdomen. The procedure also involves the reconstruction of the abdominal wall musculature to tighten weak or distended muscles.
Removing excess skin while tightening and toning abdominal muscles improves posture and can also help those who struggle with chronic back pain. So there’s a nice bonus!
- Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to an arm lift. The incision length and pattern will be determined by your surgeon and will depend on the location of your excess skin and how much needs to be removed.
Generally speaking, though, incisions are placed either on the back or the inside of the arm. Excess skin is removed, and the supportive tissue underneath is tightened and reshaped using internal sutures. The skin is then smoothed over to create a new and more toned upper arm.
- Thigh Lift
Also known as thighplasty, a thigh lift is a cosmetic surgery that delivers a contoured appearance by removing excess skin and, where applicable, fat.
Your board-certified plastic surgeon will likely 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.
- Other Body Contouring Procedures
Of course, if you find that your breasts have lost elasticity after weight loss, you may consider a breast lift and/or augmentation to restore their shape and volume. Or if you’re finding excess skin on your face and neck, a facelift or neck lift can deliver an enhanced and more youthful appearance. With body contouring procedures, the possibilities are endless.
Are You a Good Candidate for Body Contouring After GLP-1?
The obvious first condition that makes you an ideal candidate for body contouring is that you’ve lost significant weight after a GLP-1 medication and are bothered by excess skin.
But because a body contouring procedure is a surgery, you must be in good overall health and have no uncontrolled medical conditions. You should also have maintained a stable weight for at least six months before the procedure. If you smoke, you’ll need to refrain from doing so before your procedure, as smoking can negatively impact the healing process and increase the risk of complications.
Two of the most important qualifications, though, are that you are realistic about the results of the contouring procedure and that you are willing to commit to a healthy lifestyle to maintain those results. If all of that checks out, you’re good to go!
It’s Time to Complete Your Weight Loss Transformation
There’s no need to feel embarrassed about sagging skin when body contouring after GLP-1 can help!
If you meet the qualifications that make you a good candidate for one of these surgeries, contact us today.
Our board-certified plastic surgeons will help you refine your figure and achieve a smoother and more sculpted appearance to celebrate your major weight loss victory.
Preventative Aesthetics Treatments to Consider in Your 30s
Many millennials have started noticing the first signs of aging in their skin. That’s because collagen starts declining as early as your 30s and this can lead to loss of skin elasticity, fine lines around the eyes, uneven texture, and/or a duller complexion.
Fortunately, if you’re starting to notice these signs, there are preventative aesthetics treatments to consider in your thirties.
Also known as prejuvenation, preventive aesthetics treatments aim to delay the signs of aging in those where it’s just beginning to show. And millennials are finding success with them.
The Top Preventative Aesthetics Treatments
Preventative aesthetics will help to stimulate your body’s natural regenerative systems now so that it takes longer for deep wrinkles and laxity to form later. It’s about preserving what you have while investing in your future appearance.
Getting these small and strategic cosmetic treatments in your 30s could help you dodge the need for more aggressive procedures in your midlife and later years. The most popular treatments are as follows:
- Plasma-Rich Platelets (PRP) with Microneedling
PRP with microneeding is a minimally invasive skin treatment. A microneedling device is used to create tiny, controlled micro-injuries in the treatment area with tiny needles that puncture the skin. These micro-injuries trigger your skin’s natural healing response, stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin, which are vital for youthful skin.
The PRP, which is derived from a small blood sample you give, is then applied to the skin. The microchannels created by the microneedling allow the PRP to penetrate deeply into the skin, enhancing the healing process and maximizing the benefits of the treatment. PRP is rich in growth factors and helps accelerate healing and enhance results by rejuvenating the skin at a deeper level.
- Dermal Fillers
A dermal filler such as Juvéderm is made with the body’s natural compound, hyaluronic acid. Juvéderm and fillers like it addresses static wrinkles such as nasolabial folds (i.e. laugh lines) and the marionette line folds that develop between the corners of the mouth and continue down to the jaw line.
The gel-like fillers are injected beneath the skin and can stave off the need for facial surgery in younger patients. They smooth lines, soften creases, and restore volume to enhance your facial contours. There is no downtime with fillers, but the results aren’t as long-lasting as surgical options. Therefore, you’d need to return for treatments.
- Botox
Botox contains neurotoxins that temporarily weaken the muscles in your face. Scary as it may sound, it’s really not. A bacterium called Clostridium botulinum comprises the neurotoxins used in Botox. and it’s created in a lab where technicians dilute and sterilize these toxins.
By weakening or paralyzing the muscles that cause laugh lines, crow’s feet, or other wrinkles, Botox effectively reduces those wrinkles and lines to provide younger-looking skin. When the injected muscle is unable to contract, wrinkles relax and soften. Plus, Botox also helps prevent new wrinkles from forming. So it’s a two-fer!
- VI Chemical Peel
There are a variety of chemicals peels, but the VI peel is one of the newest and safest chemical peels on the market. And it’s ideal for a wide range of skin types, including darker skin which typically requires preconditioning for a traditional chemical peel. A VI peel can dramatically improve the skin’s texture and tone, leaving it with a clear and radiant glow.
Using a unique blend of minerals, salicylic acid, vitamin C, phenol, retinoic acid, and TCA, the VI peel works to safely remove damaged layers of skin and promote cellular growth. At the most basic level, this blend will help the skin to build collagen and elastin; tightening the skin, shrinking enlarged pores, and erasing fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also effective on dull or damaged skin as a result of acne, rosacea, sun damage, or melasma and other hyperpigmentation issues.
Plus, it’s packed with vitamins and minerals, making it far more nourishing than a traditional chemical peel.
- HydraFacial
Hydrafacial is perfect for anyone who wants a refreshed, youthful appearance without the downtime of more invasive procedures. The procedure consists of a gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells that reveals a fresh, new layer of skin. This is followed by a painless suction process to remove impurities from clogged pores.
Your skin is then drenched in intensive moisturizers, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and antioxidants, leaving it deeply hydrated, plump, and rejuvenated. Finally, a customized serum is applied to protect your skin from environmental damage and lock in moisture for a lasting, youthful glow.
For optimal results, Hydrafacial treatments should be performed regularly (perhaps once every month or two) to maintain your skin’s health and radiance.
Maintain Results with Stellar Skincare Products and Hydration
No matter your procedure, it’s important to take care of your skin. Ideally, keep your sun exposure to a minimum. If you must go into it, use a sunblock with an SPF of at least 50 and wear appropriate clothing to shield the harmful UV rays.
In addition, use moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid after any face procedures. ALLASTIN Trihex Technology is a solid recommendation.
Finally, don’t forget to drink plenty of water. In general, most adults need five to eight glasses every day. Drinking a minimum of six glasses each day will keep your skin hydrated and healthy for many years to come.
Don’t Let Aging Get the Best of You
There’s no need to feel down about signs of aging. It happens to all of us who are lucky enough to get this far.
And with so many preventive aesthetic procedures to consider in your 30s, you have a much better chance of slowing the signs of the aging process and extending your youthful appearance.
So if you’re noticing new signs of aging and are curious about any of the above procedures, contact us today to set up a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.
The Advantages of Scheduling Plastic Surgery in the Fall
Autumn is a great time to breathe in the cool, fresh air, take a walk among the vibrant leaves, or cozy up to a warm drink and a good book. It’s also a great time to consider a plastic surgery procedure.
This might seem counterintuitive. After all, isn’t summer the season for showing off smooth skin and improved contours? Well, sure.
But if you stop to think about it, scheduling plastic surgery in the fall makes perfect sense.
Why Scheduling Plastic Surgery in the Fall Is Advantageous
If you’ve spent the summer increasingly dissatisfied with your reflection in the mirror, you might be considering a facelift or some rhinoplasty. Perhaps your upper brow could use a lift.
Or maybe after a summer of feeling self-conscious in a bathing suit, you might be pondering breast augmentation or a tummy tuck. No matter what treatment you’re considering, scheduling plastic surgery in the fall offers many benefits.
- Increased Flexibility in Scheduling
Summer is often abuzz with busyness. When fall comes, our circadian rhythms change, and things slow down. Kids are back in school, and vacations are over. This opens up time to schedule surgery and recovery, minus the stress of managing summer vacations, events, and activities.
- Ease in Avoiding Sun Exposure
Cooler weather means wearing long sleeves, pants, and hats. It also means shorter days, more time indoors, and less sun. This is important because protecting your skin from the sun is critical for healing after any surgical or even non-surgical treatment. UV rays can cause scarring and hyperpigmentation, which can delay your recovery and affect your final results.
- A Boost in Healing Facilitated By Cooler Weather
Along with avoiding UV rays, the cooler temperatures can help keep post-treatment swelling and discomfort at bay. The heat of the summer can often exacerbate these symptoms. What’s more, any bruising or temporary swelling is hidden under the cover of sweaters and scarves, so your healing happens more privately.
- Ample Recovery Time Before the Holidays
Even with less sun exposure and cooler temperatures, recovering from a plastic surgery procedure can still take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. So by scheduling your surgery in the fall, you’ll have ample time to rest and recover so you can feel your best (and show off your results!) during the holiday season events and parties.
- Advanced Preparation for NEXT Summer
It isn’t until spring that many people start considering how they’ll look in revealing summer clothes or bathing suits. But scheduling a breast augmentation, tummy tuck, or body lift surgery to contour your curves in the spring may not allow your body time to fully recover by the summer. Getting these surgeries in the fall, however, ensures your results will have plenty of time to settle by the next swimsuit season. Or even spring break!
Achieve a Sense of Renewal This Fall
Fall is the season for reflection and going inward. But there’s also a sense of renewal that comes with the cooler air of autumn.
So if you’re feeling an increased need for transformation and recharging this new season, take advantage of the benefits of scheduling plastic surgery in the fall.
Contact us today to set up a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeons. And cruise into the holidays and the new year feeling rejuvenated and more confident.
Questions to Ask Before Your Tummy Tuck
Do you have excess skin or fat around your abdomen, and dieting and exercise aren’t making any difference? If so, you may have decided it’s time to schedule a consultation for abdominoplasty, a.k.a. a tummy tuck.
Congratulations! It’s a big decision. And it’s a decision that has probably left you wondering what questions to ask before your tummy tuck.
That’s completely normal. Knowing the right questions to ask during your consultation can make all the difference in achieving a satisfying, not to mention safe, outcome. Before you schedule any consultation, be sure it’s with ONLY a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Questions to Ask Before Your Tummy Tuck
Having a tummy tuck can significantly improve the appearance of your midsection. During the procedure, your board-certified plastic surgeon will remove excess skin, tighten weakened muscles, and contour the abdominal area. But most patients want more than that basic knowledge. So here are seven questions you can bring to your consultation:
- Am I a Good Candidate?
During your consultation, your surgeon should evaluate your goals, health status, and general anatomy to determine whether a tummy tuck is in your best interest. He or she should also inquire whether you’re planning any significant weight changes (such as those that come with pregnancy or quick weight loss) in the future, since these can affect the long-term results.
Generally speaking, patients with sagging abdominal skin, diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles), or fat deposits that are unresponsive to diet and exercise are ideal candidates.
- Are There Risks?
Abdominoplasty is generally safe. Of course, all surgery carries some degree of risk. And there is always the chance of complications such as infection, bleeding, poor wound healing, and fluid build-up. He or she will be able to further explain these risks and complications and provide ways they can be mitigated.
- What Should I Do to Prepare?
Before a tummy tuck, you’ll be advised or required to quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, get plenty of rest, and stop taking certain medications. Your surgeon should give you detailed instructions along with clear and personalized guidance that will help you get the best results.
- Which Technique Is Best for Me?
This is a question many patients don’t know to ask. There are actually several different tummy tuck techniques. They are the traditional, mini, extended, and endoscopic. Depending on the factors of your specific situation, your surgeon will choose the best method that will meet your unique needs.
- Will There Be Other Procedures Involved?
In most cases, this will be up to you. It’s not unusual to include liposuction around the hips, lower back, and flanks during a tummy tuck surgery to enhance contouring. If you’re aiming for a more dramatic body transformation, you may opt to add a breast augmentation, breast lift, or lower body lift. You’ll want to know how these treatments will benefit your overall results, as well as how they’ll affect your recovery.
- What Will Recovery Be Like?
Your surgeon should be able to give you an idea of how much time you’ll need to take off work, as well as what your activity restrictions will be and when it will be safe to resume exercise. He or she should also be clear about the use of compression garments, follow-up appointments you’ll need to attend, and ways to minimize discomfort after surgery – including the use of EXPAREL®.
- How Long Will the Results Last?
A tummy tuck should give you a firmer and more contoured abdomen for years, which is thrilling. But it’s important to remember that while this outcome is long-lasting, aging and gravity can affect your skin over time. Plus, you’ll need to maintain a stable weight. Based on all of that, you can discuss with your surgeon how your results might evolve.
Get Informed About Your Tummy Tuck
Are you ready to embark on your tummy tuck journey? Then contact us today to get started!
Knowing the best questions to ask before your tummy tuck will help you feel confident and informed as you head into your consultation. We look forward to sharing this experience with you.
FDA Approval Vs. FDA Clearance: What’s the Difference?
Most people are familiar with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA. But did you know the FDA has a role in evaluating the safety and efficacy of products used in cosmetic procedures?
When researching different cosmetic procedures, patients are often confused by the terms FDA approval vs. FDA clearance. Are they essentially the same thing?
It turns out they’re not.
The Distinction Between FDA Approval vs. FDA Clearance
There’s actually a significant difference between FDA approval and FDA clearance. The two terms refer to different levels of regulatory scrutiny for certain cosmetic surgery devices and products.
Products and devices are sorted by Class I, II, and III. Class I requires the least amount of regulation, while Class III products must adhere to the most stringent regulations. In a nutshell, FDA-approved products are subject to more rigorous testing than FDA-cleared devices.
FDA Approval
FDA approval is assigned only to Class III medical devices and prescription drugs. These are products that have the potential to pose more risks. Therefore, they require extensive testing to prove their safety and efficacy. Breast implants and BOTOX® injectables fall into this category.
Products that are FDA-approved are extensively researched. There’s a five-step process to gain approval that starts preclinical research which is followed by human clinical trials. In addition, manufacturers have to provide comprehensive data that demonstrates the product performs as intended and the benefits outweigh any potential risks. The process is lengthy and typically takes anywhere from eight to twelve years. This ensures that FDA approval is granted to only the most rigorously tested products.
FDA Clearance
By contrast, FDA clearance is reserved for Class I and II devices. These are considered to carry a low to moderate risk. Some of the non-invasive treatment tools used in cosmetic surgery fall into these categories. These can include microneedling devices as well as a handful of laser treatments.
While FDA-cleared items gain faster entry into the market than those that are FDA-approved, they still have to adhere to safety standards. The process is not as stringent though because in this case, a manufacturer has to prove that their new device is substantially equivalent to one that’s already been legally marketed. As such, proving that a device is at least as safe and effective as its predecessor takes considerably less time – typically a few months to a few years.
How Can You Know?
Not every procedure involves the use of a device that requires FDA approval or clearance. If you’re curious about yours, it’s important you verify that anything being used has the proper regulatory status.
Unfortunately, less reputable practices or medical spas have a history of counterfeit devices that can cause a range of problems and health issues. So your first line of defense is to insist on having your procedure performed at only highly respected practices.
A reputable provider will be transparent about the regulatory status of anything they will use for your procedure. Then you can use the FDA’s database to confirm that information.
Choose Only Experienced and Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons
Now that you’re clear on the FDA approval vs. FDA clearance distinction, you can move toward your chosen procedure with a more peaceful mind.
So if you’re looking for a board-certified plastic surgeon who will focus on the highest standards of care, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
We’ll discuss the safest and most effective path for your chosen procedure that will deliver beautiful results while prioritizing your well-being.
What Makes Scars Discolored?
If you’re considering a plastic surgery procedure, you likely know that scarring is inevitable with most surgeries. Fortunately, experienced board-certified plastic surgeons are adept at making these scars far less noticeable or almost invisible.
There are incidents of scars taking on red or dark hues, though, compelling patients to ask – what makes scars discolored?
It turns out that many factors can influence scar color after surgery.
Scarring Is a Natural Outcome of Surgery
The truth is, once you have a scar, nothing can truly get rid of it. But if you end up being unhappy with how a scar looks, scar revision may be an option.
As mentioned above, plastic surgeons are highly trained in minimizing the appearance of scarring in the first place. So for most, this isn’t an issue.
Yet, there are occasions when a scar can become noticeable after surgery because it becomes more darkly colored than the skin around it. This can be normal in the first year to year and a half after surgery when the scar is healing.
But if the discoloration remains after that, there could be several reasons.
What Makes Scars Discolored?
Many factors can contribute to the darkening of a scar. They are as follows:
- Post-Inflammatory Hyperemia
While new scars often appear pink or red, if there is persistent inflammation, this could lead to keloid formation. A board-certified plastic surgeon will be able to determine if this is what’s happening and then may recommend a pulsed dye laser to reduce redness and any discoloration caused by the inflammation.
- Differences in Skin Color
Many patients have a natural variation in skin color depending on the body part. For example, the skin might be lighter in areas like the knees, elbows, armpits, inner thighs, and pubic area. And that’s just to name a few.
In cases where plastic surgery requires grafting of large amounts of skin from somewhere else on your body, the scar may serve as a demarcation between these two different skin variations. It may look quite pronounced along incisions for procedures like a tummy tuck, thigh lift, arm lift, or breast surgery. This is typically treated with a combination of skin lighteners, exfoliative treatments, or lasers.
- Hyperpigmentation
There are occasions where a patient’s skin produces more melanin in the scar area. There’s no way to stop it, and the results can be long-lasting. Using exfoliating peels or skin-lightening creams can help reduce discoloration.
- Bruising (Hemosiderin)
Sometimes, there may be bleeding or bruising under the skin called hemosiderin discoloration. It most often occurs in the lower eyelids, face, and lower legs and is treated with lasers or exfoliation therapy.
- Sunlight
When a scar is still pink and new, the skin is more susceptible to damage from sunlight. That’s why a new scar should be kept out of the sun for six months to one year to avoid discoloration. In other words, it should essentially be covered from sunlight until it becomes a mature scar.
- Lifestyle
Poor nutrition, stress or tension on your incision line, and microbial contamination can all cause scar discoloration. So be sure to always follow the guidelines set by your surgeon for your specific procedure.
Are You Ready to Move Forward With Plastic Surgery?
Now that you know what to expect in terms of scarring and what makes scars discolored after surgery, hopefully you’re ready to take the next step.
Contact us today to speak with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons to discuss treatment options.
And remember, on the off chance that you do experience scar discoloration, there are plenty of treatments to help reduce its appearance. So let’s get started.
What Is Muscle Repair During a Tummy Tuck?
If you’ve been considering abdominoplasty (i.e. a tummy tuck), you might have heard about muscle repair during a tummy tuck as part of the procedure.
Most patients seek a tummy tuck to remove excess fat and loose skin for a flatter stomach. They are a common component of a mommy makeover surgery.
In some cases, however, there’s also a need to repair the muscles of the abdominal wall.
Does Everyone Need Muscle Repair During a Tummy Tuck?
If you’re considering a tummy tuck but have sustained minimal damage to the abdominal wall, you may not need muscle repair.
The most common reason for muscle repair during a tummy tuck is to treat diastasis recti. This is a condition that occurs when the abdominal muscles in the stomach separate from one another. Not only does this leave noticeable physical changes, but it can cause discomfort as well.
One of the leading causes of diastasis recti is pregnancy. The tendon that holds the right and left abdominal walls together becomes overstretched from the growing baby pressing against it. Eventually, there’s a gap between the muscles.
Diastasis recti occurs in more than 60% of pregnancies. Many of these women experience healing within eight weeks after delivery. However, 40% are still experiencing the condition six months after having the baby. For them, muscle repair is a great solution.
It’s not just pregnant women who experience diastasis recti, however. Patients who have experienced excessive weight gain and then rapid weight loss over a short time can also experience a separation of the abdominal muscles.
Factors That Contribute to Diastasis Recti
Though daunting in name, diastasis recti by itself isn’t painful. But the condition of the muscles separating can lead to discomfort or pain in other parts of the body. Patients with diastasis recti speak of difficulty in lifting objects, poor posture, indigestion, urinary incontinence, and pain in the lower back, pelvis, or hips. In addition, there might be visible bulging above or below the belly button and a jelly-like feeling around the belly button.
Along with excessive weight gain and rapid weight loss, other factors that can increase the likelihood of diastasis recti include delivering vaginally, an abundance of amniotic fluid, carrying multiples, having multiple pregnancies in close succession, or delivering a larger-than-average baby.
The Muscle Repair Procedure and Benefits
Correcting damaged muscles during a tummy tuck is fairly straightforward. A board-certified plastic surgeon sutures the band of connective tissue between the separated abdominal muscles to pull them back together. It’s like a corset beneath the skin.
Reconstructing these muscles creates a strong and intact core that’s vital for supporting the trunk and holding the internal organs in place. Without this strong core, it becomes difficult to move correctly. The body gets thrown off balance and the back muscles have to take on more work. Muscle repair restores that stability.
It also provides better posture, improved digestion, reduced pain during intercourse, more effective workouts, a reduction in C-section scars, and, or course, a flatter stomach.
Improve Your Life With a Tummy Tuck
Muscle repair during a tummy tuck is about more than just getting a flatter stomach. (Though it’s a nice benefit!) It will help restore harmony in your body.
But even if you don’t need muscle repair, a tummy tuck can go a long way in boosting your confidence and helping you feel good about yourself.
So if you’re ready to discuss the possibility of a tummy tuck, contact us today. We’ll take the time to walk you through the options that will deliver the best results for you.
Drugs That May Cause Gynecomastia
Just like women, men’s breasts consist of glandular and fatty tissue. Men
typically have less though. But when there is abnormal or excess growth
tissue, men can have breasts that begin to take on a more womanly
appearance.
This condition is known as gynecomastia , which translates from the Greek
for “woman-like breasts.” It’s quite common – with 40-60% of men
experiencing it. And there are quite a few drugs that may cause
gynecomastia.
Men experiencing gynecomastia often feel self-conscious about their
appearance. For many, breast reduction surgery is a great solution.
What Is Gynecomastia?
Simply put, testosterone typically controls male traits such as body hair and
muscle mass. Meanwhile, estrogen is responsible for female traits including
breast growth.
Females produce a small amount of testosterone and males produce a
small amount of estrogen. When estrogen levels are too high in men and
there’s an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone, it can cause
gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia can occur naturally during different phases of a male’s life.
Over half of newborn boys are born with enlarged breasts. This is the result
of being under the effects of estrogen from their mothers while in utero. In
this case, gynecomastia resolves within two to three weeks.
Gynecomastia may show up again during puberty as hormone levels start
to fluctuate in young men. If there is a surge of estrogen that counters the
effects of testosterone, it can result in larger breasts. This usually resolves
within six months to two years of the onset of puberty.
Finally, gynecomastia returns around mid-life and breast enlargement
frequently peaks in men between 50 and 80. It is at this stage of life when
male breast reduction surgery is most warranted.
While the discrepancy in hormones is the most common cause of
gynecomastia, there are other conditions that can cause this condition.
Certain injuries or diseases of the testicles can affect testosterone
production and create an imbalance. And obesity can result in higher
estrogen production. There are also a number of drugs that have
gynecomastia as a side effect.
Drugs That May Cause Gynecomastia
Men who are struggling with prostate enlargement or cancer are often
subscribed anti-androgens . These can disrupt the balance between male
and female hormones and lead to breast enlargement in men. Common
examples include anti-androgens flutamide, finasteride (Proscar, Propecia),
and spironolactone (Aldactone).
Other medications that can cause abnormal breast growth are certain anti-
anxiety medications such as Valium, HAART drugs for HIV, anabolic
steroids, ulcer medications such as Tagment, and even some antibiotics.
For men experiencing gynecomastia because of certain drugs, breast
reduction surgery may be a possible solution.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that excessive use of alcohol or illicit drugs
such as heroin and amphetamines can also cause breast enlargement.
Men experiencing gynecomastia as a result of these are typically not good
candidates for breast reduction surgery.
Don’t Live With the Embarrassment of Gynecomastia
Many men don’t know that certain drugs may cause gynecomastia.
So if you’re experiencing gynecomastia due to the use of certain drugs or
other factors, breast reduction surgery may be a possible solution. You’ll
see how simple it is to restore an appealing, more masculine appearance
to your upper body through male breast reduction surgery.
Contact us today. Our board-certified surgeons and caring staff put your
comfort, safety, and satisfaction first and foremost.
Planning Your Sleep After Breast Augmentation
Planning Your Sleep After Breast Augmentation
Did you know that the way you sleep after breast augmentation matters a
lot? Implants add pressure and weight to your chest, and the surrounding
tissue needs time to settle and recover.
If you don’t sleep in an approved position and perhaps with support, your
implants can be pushed in the wrong direction.
So if you’re planning to have breast augmentation surgery, you may want to
start ‘practicing’ sleeping in the way you’ll need to following surgery. This
will make your recovery that much easier.
How Should You Sleep After Breast Augmentation?
Sleeping is important for the healing process. But after breast
augmentation, there are certain positions that you’ll need to avoid for a
while. And if they’re positions you currently prefer, there might be an
adjustment period getting used to other positions.
In the nights immediately following your surgery, you’ll need to sleep with
your chest slightly elevated. But it’s crucial because sleeping elevated and
supported by pillows, or reclined in a chair, will keep pressure off your
chest, reduce strain on the incisions and swelling, and maintain the
placement of your implants.
Yes, this can feel awkward at first. But there are steps you can take now to
help make that transition easier once the procedure is complete and you
begin healing .
Start Practicing Now
First, start getting used to sleeping on your back if that’s not your normal
position because it’s the only safe position in the weeks following surgery.
Be sure you’re fully supported with stacked pillows or a wedge pillow to
keep your torso inclined. You’ll also want pillows under your arms to
decrease tension across the chest.
It helps to get used to sleeping with these additions before your surgery so
they feel more familiar once the procedure is done and you need to rest.
In addition, you’ll need to wear a surgical bra when you sleep after the
procedure so you can practice by wearing a sports bra to bed. Just be sure
it’s not too tight. And if you normally sleep in a warm room, start getting
used to a cool room, as your body will heal better when it’s not overheating.
Finally, if you tend to enjoy heavy meals and alcohol in the evening, you’ll
need to avoid those right after your surgery. You’ll also need to clear with
your board-certified plastic surgeon any sleep aids you’re taking.
When Can You Return to Your Usual Sleeping Position?
It seems the preferred position for many patients is side sleeping. But going
back to sleeping on your side can be a mistake if done too soon.
Depending on how well your body is healing and the type of implant you
have, your surgeon could clear you in four to six weeks to move back onto
your side.
You’ll need to ease back into that position, keeping a pillow below your
breasts and another between your knees so that your body is aligned and
there is minimal pressure to the chest.
Meanwhile, if you’re a stomach sleeper, you’re likely going to have to wait
longer. It’s typically AT LEAST eight to twelve weeks before you’ll be able to
get back on your belly. This makes sense, given that this position puts the
most pressure on your implants and chest and can affect symmetry, long-
term results, and comfort.
The best way to return to stomach sleeping (once cleared by your surgeon,
of course) is to sleep first on a slight angle or with a pillow under one side
of your torso. If you’re able to eventually go face-down without feeling
tightness or discomfort, you’ll be good to go.
Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Sleep
While sleep after breast augmentation may not have been your first
consideration, if you get your setup right, adhere to safe positions, and
follow all of your surgeon’s instructions, your healing will go more smoothly.
So if you’re considering breast augmentation, contact us today.
Once your procedure is complete, your surgeon will provide a detailed
recovery plan that includes when and how to adjust sleep positions during
your healing and will be based on your own personal progress.
