Maintaining Nonsurgical Body Contouring
When you glance in the mirror, do you immediately see those “trouble” spots? This can be especially irritating when you’re eating well and exercising, but it’s not making a difference. Yet, you may not be ready for surgery just yet.
Fortunately, new and emerging technologies have made it possible to tone muscles, burn fat, and shape your body in the way you desire without going under the knife.
So it’s no wonder that patients are clamoring for nonsurgical body contouring procedures.
How Does Nonsurgical Body Contouring Work?
Body contouring is a relatively new field of aesthetic medicine. Its objective is to sculpt, tone, and contour the body without surgery. Instead, these non-invasive treatments use a range of state-of-the-art technology to achieve results across a wide array of body areas including the thighs, abdomen, arms, and legs.
Patients don’t see a scalpel or a needle. There’s no recovery time. And a series of quick 30-60-minutes sessions can deliver visible and long-lasting results. The only job of the patient is to show up.
Body contouring benefits include building muscle, losing fat, contouring crucial areas of the body such as the abs, and lifting and toning the buttocks. These procedures can even tighten sagging or drooping skin due to aging or stretching.
The ability to achieve all of this without having to do any work may sound good to be true. That said, it’s important to understand that nonsurgical body contouring is not a quick fix. How you choose to live your life after the procedure plays heavily into its long-term success.
Maintaining Nonsurgical Contouring
Once you commit to nonsurgical body contouring, you want to make the most of your investment to get the best results. With that in mind, there are three main factors you’ll need to employ to maintain those results.
- Protect Yourself from the Sun
Keeping your skin protected from dangerous UV rays is always good practice. Even if you’re not having a procedure.
But since some body contouring procedures also address skin issues, it’s important you continue to attend to its optimal upkeep. This includes not only protecting it with a high SPF sunblock and/or sun-blocking clothing, but keeping it hydrated and moisturized.
- Be Done with Child Bearing
If you’ve had a child, you know that pregnancy can leave you feeling like your postpartum body belongs to someone else. Fostering a human life has a way of altering the body! No shock there.
So if you’re annoyed with some aspect of your body but are not done having children, you should probably wait until you are. A pregnancy can easily undo the results of any nonsurgical body contouring procedure. This isn’t to say that you can’t get a revision should the need arise. But if you can wait until you know you’re done, you’ll get the best results by having just one procedure.
- Keep Up a Healthy Lifestyle
While we have this at #3, it’s probably the single most important factor. While nonsurgical body contouring is meant to address trouble spots that don’t seem to respond to diet and exercise, this doesn’t mean you can now regularly camp out on your couch with a bag of potato chips. If you want to maintain results, diet and exercise are just as important after your procedure as before.
But it’s not just diet and exercise. Drinking, smoking, and taking other substances can also affect your metabolism and damage your skin tone – among other things. All of this will negatively impact your results in the long term.
So once you make the healthy choice to have a non-surgical body contouring procedure, keep making those healthy choices to maintain it.
Could Nonsurgical Body Contouring Brighten Your Day?
If you’re feeling hesitant about surgery and are wondering if nonsurgical body contouring is right for you, contact us today.
During your free consultation, you’ll get a chance to sit down with our trained specialists in aesthetic medicine who can guide you on the next best steps.
And soon you can say goodbye to those trouble spots!
What Is Too Young for Dermal Fillers?
What Is Too Young for Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers have been available for over 40 years. Since that time, they’ve been used predominantly by women over the age of 40. These days, however, they’re increasingly used by (mostly) women in their 20s.
Is this really such a bad idea though?
But there are many who feel that your 20s aren’t too young for dermal fillers. And for good reason.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
To be clear, dermal fillers are not the same as Botox. With Botox, the muscles are, in essence, frozen to lessen wrinkles. But a dermal filler is an injectable implant. Injected under the skin with a needle, they serve to smooth the skin and complexion.
The nice thing about injectables is that they’re not a huge commitment. And they’ve come a long way since the early days. At one time, injectables often consisted of collagen that required allergy testing. And in some cases, they contained liquid silicone – though these were never approved by the FDA for cosmetic purposes.
Today, most fillers are made with the body’s natural compound hyaluronic acid that’s found in the skin and cartilage. It typically dissolves within 12 to 16 months. Some injectables contain the mineral calcium hydroxylapatite which is a mineral that’s found in the bones. These fillers last closer to 18 months.
A biodegradable synthetic material called poly-L-lactic acid is also available. These are the longest lasting at two years. Whatever the case, dermal fillers are a safe option for patients who would rather try a more temporary procedure.
When Most Patients Seek Dermal Fillers
For most people, collagen production slows around the age of 40. As such, most patients who seek dermal fillers are in the age range of 40-55.
This makes perfect sense since the injection of hyaluronic acid not only stimulates collagen production, but it also draws moisture to smooth the skin. Once the skin is plumped with moisture, it’s far less prone to dehydration and, in turn, wrinkles.
As we mentioned above, however, there are many younger people in their 20s seeking dermal fillers. Which brings us back to the question:
Are Your 20s Too Young for Dermal Fillers?
It might seem counterproductive to get dermal fillers before the skin is showing signs of aging. Why would you even want them?
Once the skin starts to show wrinkles, folds, lines, and creases, it means hyaluronic acid and collagen production has already decreased. However, research shows that by using hyaluronic-based dermal fillers as part of an anti-aging regimen when in your 20s, you prolong collagen production. This means you may be able to prevent deep lines for longer.
It’s very important that injectables are administered only by a board-certified surgeon though who is aware of the correct amount needed. Patients in their 20s need a far more conservative amount than one in their 50s or older.
Curious About Dermal Fillers?
Every body has a different rate of maturation. While teenagers are considered too young for dermal fillers, it’s increasingly more common for those in their 20s to use them.
Regardless of your age, if you’re interested in how dermal filler injections could smooth and rejuvenate your skin, contact us today. We’ll talk you through the process to ensure you achieve the results you want.
How Long Breast Implants
How Long Breast Implants Last
Are you considering breast implants? If so, you’ll be amazed at how much they can improve your self-image and leave you feeling more confident.
Breast implants are a fantastic investment. Even so, breast implants do have an expiration date.
As such, it’s important to have some idea of how long breast implants last, as well as reasons you might need them replaced before they expire. That way, you can plan appropriately.
How Long Breast Implants Last
While there’s no guaranteed amount of time you can be sure your implant will last, most of today’s implants last a minimum of ten years if there are no complications. Of course, how long yours lasts will depend on a number of factors.
One of the biggest factors is whether you choose silicone or saline implants.
Silicone
Of the two different types, silicone implants are the more resilient. As such, it’s not at all unusual for these to last for decades. In some cases, they may even last for a woman’s lifetime. Again, this depends on several factors.
But one of the drawbacks of silicone 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
Meanwhile, saline implants are 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.
They also have a somewhat higher risk of rupturing. But since saline can be absorbed by the body and silicone can’t, a rupture is less serious.
So clearly each type of implant has its pros and cons.
Reasons For Implant Replacement or Removal
These days, complications during plastic surgery are exceedingly rare. Advances in surgical techniques along with an increased understanding of how patients are likely to experience a procedure have contributed to this.
Still, along with the possibility of a rupture, an implant can get displaced, malfunction, or bottom out. Then there’s also the chance for capsular contracture. This is when the capsule of scar tissue that forms around the implant to protect the body becomes unusually hard and starts to contract around it. This is not common though.
Some patients may experience a change in personal taste or lifestyle over time that leaves them wanting to change the type and/or size of the implant.
Finally, on very rare occasions, a patient may experience breast implant-related illness that warrants a removal. Regardless of the situation that prompts breast implant replacement or removal, the plastic surgeon will always consider every factor at play to recommend the appropriate course of action.
Have Questions About Breast Implants?
At the end of the day, your lifestyle, unique body constitution, and the plastic surgeon you choose will determine how long breast implants last.
So if you’re still left with questions about breast implants, feel free to contact us for a free consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. He or she will assess your situation and give you a more educated estimate as to how long your implants should last.
Yes, Stress Affects Your Skin
We frequently hear about the negative impact of stress on the heart, brain, stomach, and other organs. But what about the biggest organ – your skin?
Given the negative repercussions of stress throughout the rest of the body, it makes perfect sense that stress affects your skin too.
It’s all the result of the brain-skin axis.
What Is the Brain-Skin Axis?
When we’re in a stressed state, the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands produce pro-inflammatory hormones such as cortisol and catecholamines as a line of defense.
The brain-skin axis is the two-way freeway that translates psychological stress from the brain and connects it to the skin through pro-inflammatory skin cells called mast cells.
This response is helpful in fleeting fight or flight moments. But when you experience chronic stress, the steady influx of inflammatories can wreak havoc with your skin.
How Stress Affects Your Skin
Given its increased susceptibility to environmental stressors such as ultraviolet light and temperature, the skin is more frequently battered by stress hormones than other organs. And stress affects the skin in many ways.
In the bigger picture, stress impacts the immune system, causing it to be more reactive. This means an increase in rashes, hives, and redness. The resulting inflammation can also cause flare ups for those with skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
Meanwhile, increased cortisol can lead to overproduction of oil in the glands and cause acne breakouts. Steady exposure to cortisol also puts the kibosh on the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen which keep the skin smooth and youthful.
Furthermore, the stress from having a skin condition can lead people to isolate, leaving them even more stressed. They may skimp on their daily skin care routine – further exacerbating the problem.
No matter how you cut it, chronic stress has a negative impact on the skin. So what’s a person to do?
Reducing Stress Is Your First Goal
There is no doubt these are stressful times. The issues surrounding the pandemic, as well as the fierce political polarity in this country, have left many of us with varying degrees of chronic stress.
At the end of the day though, 90% of our stress does not come from the stressor itself, but rather from how we deal with it.
One of the most effective ways to manage stress is with mindful practices like meditation, yoga, and breath work. Exercise is also beneficial in that it increases antioxidants and lowers cortisol levels.
Your diet is also key in managing stress. Stick with foods high in vitamins A and C, polyphenols, lycopene, and astaxanthin to aid in preventing free radicals and combatting inflammation.
And if life has gotten too overwhelming and you just feel like you need to cry, then do it! Like exercise, crying helps decrease cortisol levels. It’s also a major stress release.
Finally, you can soothe and help heal the skin by looking for skincare products that contain barrier-boosting ingredients like glycolipids, fatty acids, and ceramides.
Feed it what it needs.
Give Your Skin The TLC It Deserves
Now that you understand how stress affects your skin, you can take measures to lessen the stressors in your life.
In the meantime, if your skin could use a little extra care and attention or if you’re struggling with acne scars that won’t go away, contact us.
Our skincare specialists are happy to discuss the many options available to you!
The Extra Importance of AAAHC Accreditation During COVID-19
Everyone expects high-quality and SAFE healthcare.
However, during these pre-vaccine days of COVID-19, the safety concerns are elevated. And rightly so.
So if you’re planning to visit a healthcare facility of any sort, you should understand the importance of AAAHC accreditation. It would be unwise to consider any facility that does to have this accreditation.
The Importance of AAAHC Accreditation
AAAHC stands for Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. With more than 6,100 accredited organizations, it’s the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation.
The association accredits a wide range of outpatient settings including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery facilities, endoscopy centers, medical and dental group practices, community health centers, among others.
AAAHC advocates for high-quality health care through the development and adoption of nationally-recognized standards. Thus, accreditation through AAAHC demonstrates an organization’s commitment to provide SAFE services to its patients.
Requirements for Accreditation
There are certain guidelines and standards that organizations must perform and follow to maintain accreditation from AAAHC and they cover the entire gamut of the patient’s visit.
Before the patient even sets foot into the facility, the organization must pre-screen the patient for symptoms or high-risk exposure. They must also inform the patient to call ahead and discuss the need to reschedule their appointment if they develop any symptoms of a respiratory infection.
Upon arrival but before being admitted, patients are asked about a personal history of fever, sore throat, cough or other respiratory symptoms, as well as similar symptoms in family members or close contacts. They will also be asked about contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or any recent travel to a high-risk area.
Temperature is also taken upon arrival. AAAHC accreditation prohibits ANY individuals, both employees and patients, from entering the facility if they are experiencing elevated temperature or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. This applies to both patients and staff.
Keeping Everyone Safe
In addition, all visitors, including vendors, are actively assessed for fever and respiratory symptoms upon entry to the facility. If fever or respiratory symptoms are present, it is the responsibility of the organization to inform these visitors that they are not to be allowed entry.
Once healthy, non-symptomatic patients and visitors are admitted, they are separated 6 feet apart. The organization is required to provide supplies such as tissues, alcohol-based hand rub, and trash cans. They must also encourage frequent hand washing.
AAAHC accreditation requires the facility’s staff to partake in education and active surveillance consistent with WHO, the CDC and other nationally recognized guidelines for hand hygiene.
Requirements for Healthcare Workers
Accreditation stresses the necessity of keeping healthcare workers protected from biologic hazards consistent with state, federal, and CDC guidelines.
AAAHC accreditation ensures that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, masks, eye shield/goggles, face shields, and gowns are available and worn by healthcare providers.
It also requires that the healthcare provider is educated and trained and has practiced the appropriate and correct use of PPE, including proper application and removal. Safeguards are in place to protect patients and others from cross-infection. Written policies address the proper attire of all persons entering operating or procedures rooms.
Only essential personnel – those authorized to perform or assist – are permitted in the operating rooms.
Continuity of Care
To maintain AAAHC accreditation, organizations are advised to consider phone follow-up for all patients 7–14 days post procedure to ask about the development of symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19. If these have occurred, they must have contingency plans in place.
Finally, in the ongoing battle to stay safe and protected during this pandemic, the organization is required to conduct frequent educational meetings, including refresher training, for staff regarding infection prevention and other related precautionary practices.
Only Consider Accredited Facilities
It’s clear the importance of AAAHC accreditation if you’re planning to have any surgical procedure. It’s very much in line with ensuring you have a board-certified plastic surgeon.
You can feel confident in knowing that we have both, and will always put your safety and care first during this pandemic, and beyond.
So contact us today to set up your free consultation. And move into the summer season with renewed confidence.
The History of Plastic Surgery
If you had to wager a guess as to when plastic surgery began, chances are you’d guess much later than reality.
In fact, the history of plastic surgery goes all the way back to 800 B.C. when physicians in ancient India were using skin grafts for reconstructive surgery.
It’s hard to imagine what that entailed exactly. It’s probably safe to say that the procedure would not have been considered hygienic by today’s standards.
Whatever the case, the practice of plastic surgery continued to grow from its roots in early Eastern medicine practices into what it is today.
The History of Plastic Surgery
The field hardly took off after those early days in India. Advances were admittedly slow in coming.
There were a number of Asian healers who used certain techniques that looked something like modern rhinoplasty to improve upon the shape of noses of royal family members. Over the next few centuries though, the techniques used in India and central Asia were introduced to European countries.
The Greco-Roman Period
The Greco-Roman Period was between 332BC -395 AD. It marked the end of Persian rule over Egypt. It also marked some of the biggest advancements in medicine.
Roman medical writer Aulus Cornelius Celsus wrote De Medicina which laid out surgical methods for reconstructing ears, lips, and noses. Another text entitled Synagogue Medicae, was a 70-volume work that contained numerous passages dedicated to reconstructive techniques to repair facial defects.
The Middle Ages
With the fall of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Europe during the Middle Ages (476– 1453AD), science gave way to mysticism and religion. At one point, Pope Innocent III declared that all surgery was expressly prohibited by Church law.
Later in the Middle Ages, plastic surgery fell further out of favor as it was considered the work of witchcraft.
Despite these limitations and the overall lack of standards for hygiene and cleanliness, minor advancements were still made during this time. A procedure to repair a cleft lip was, in fact, developed in the tenth century.
The Renaissance
The Renaissance occurred from 1300 – 1600AD and saw significant advances in science and technology. During this time, safer and more effective surgical techniques were developed.
An Islamic text from the 15th century, Imperial Surgery, included 191 procedures that included both maxillofacial and eyelid surgery. It also included a protocol for the treatment of gynecomastia and is thus believed to be the foundation for the modern method of surgical breast reduction.
During the 16th century, University of Bologna professor of surgery and anatomy Gaspare Tagliacozzi – whose often referred to as the “father of plastic surgery” – first started nose grafting using skin flaps from the upper arm. He used these techniques primarily to correct saddle nose deformity.
During the seventeenth century, plastic surgery would again decline. But by the late eighteenth and early 19th century, the pendulum would start to swing back in the other direction.
The 1800s
In 1818, German Doctor Karl Ferdinand von Gräefe published Rhinoplastik, being the first to coin the term “plastic” surgery. Originating from the the Greek word, plastikos, and the Latin word, plasticus, it meant “able to be molded.” Since these doctors molded body tissues during their procedures, it was called plastic surgery.
The first cleft palate operation was in 1827 in the United States. It was performed by Dr. John Peter Mettauer using surgical instruments of his own design.
Many women during this time used corsets and brassieres to enhance the look of their breasts. Cosmetic surgeons gradually learned new ways to augment the breast shape and size in women and in the 19th century, surgeons performed the first breast augmentation by using artificial implants made from rubber, paraffin, ivory, and glass.
Finally, the first reconstructive breast surgery was done by Vincenz Czerny in 1895. He performed a successful mammary reconstruction on an actress who had undergone a cancerous surgery and removal of a breast tumor.
The 1900s
At the beginning of the 1900s, the need for plastic surgery was becoming clearer. Its necessity would become ever more apparent with the arrival of World War I.
The casualties of war made reconstructive surgery a necessity for many soldiers. Military physicians were required to treat extensive facial and head injuries caused by modern weaponry – both in the United States and Europe.
Around this time, surgeons began to fully realize the potential influence that one’s personal appearance has on success in life. As such, aesthetic surgery became a more respected aspect of plastic surgery. In 1923, after WWI, the first modern rhinoplasty was performed in the United States.
This progress also brought with it advanced methods of anesthesia and infection prevention so that surgeons could perform increasingly complex procedures.
This fostered the establishment of medical boards and associations to provide continuity of care and research along with a network for medical providers working in the field of plastic and cosmetic surgery.
With board certification in place, plastic surgery became fully integrated into the medical establishment by 1950. And by 1969, plastic surgeons were moving to the forefront of the medical establishment, including Dr. Hal B. Jennings who was appointed Surgeon General that year.
In the 1980s, plastic surgeons and plastic surgery advocates pushed to expand public awareness and improve public perception and growth continued through the 1990s.
Growth continued through the 1990s, and today, plastic surgery is a popular option – whether for reconstructive purposes, health reasons, or to boost one’s appearance and confidence. With so many safe and proven options, it’s no big surprise.
Is Plastic Surgery Right for You?
The long history of plastic surgery demonstrates what a truly viable medical option it is.
So if you’re ready to address a body part that leaves you feeling less than attractive or even makes your life more difficult, contact us today to talk to one of our surgeons.
You’re fortunate to live in a time where you can make such choices.
The Link between Plastic Surgery and Healthier Lifestyles
In our last several blog posts, we illustrated the many health benefits that are the result of plastic surgery.
For example, fat removal from liposuction can help to lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of diabetes.
Meanwhile, rhinoplasty improves breathing while a breast reduction can decrease and relieve back, neck, and shoulder pain.
But did you know that there’s a link between plastic surgery and healthier lifestyles too?
The Link between Plastic Surgery and Healthier Lifestyles
It makes sense if you think about it.
When people feel bogged down by their bodies – be it from excess weight, pain, or difficulty breathing – they are less inclined to engage in physical activity. Once they are relieved of those problems, they feel better about their bodies and can move about more freely.
And that’s a big plus because one of the most effective ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle is through exercise.
The Importance of Exercise
Exercise can, of course, help to maintain weight loss while preventing weight gain. That’s certainly motivation enough for some people to adopt a regular exercise regimen.
But the benefits go beyond that.
- Encourages Healthier Eating
Once patients have completed their surgery and are ready to partake in exercise, many are surprised to find the connection between physical activity and eating well.
Or, more accurately, wanting to eat well.
If they’d previously been consuming unhealthy food on a regular basis, they’d come to accept lethargy and low-energy as the norm. Once they arrive at the gym or fitness center with new-found confidence and self-esteem, it becomes clear that that old diet does nothing to foster their new exercise routine.
It doesn’t take long before they adopt a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and veggies, lean meats, and low-fat dairy to maintain their new appearance and help boost their energy for their workouts.
- Combats Health Conditions and Diseases
Exercise keeps the blood flowing, lowers blood pressure, and decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It also brings down triglyceride levels.
In fact, regular exercise can help to manage or even prevent a range of health problems including:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Many types of cancer
- Arthritis
It can also assist in improved cognitive function and can lower the risk of death from all causes.
- Boosts Mood
When plastic surgery patients feel better about their appearance, it increases their confidence and self-esteem. They want to continue to “do right” by their bodies.
Engaging in physical activity adds to this by stimulating the production of endorphins – the brain chemicals that boost a sense of happiness and well-being. It also decreases stress and improves cognitive function.
Another big plus? The mental health benefits that come as a result of social connection. Many plastic surgery patients forge new friendships and relationships at gyms, fitness centers, yoga studios, running clubs, or whatever group exercise experience speaks to them.
- Increases Energy
One of the most rewarding aspects of regular physical exercise is the ability to see the progress. As patients build their strength and increase their endurance, the natural by-product is a boost in energy. But they’ll also notice positive changes in their bodies that motivate them to continue.
In addition, exercise helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and enables the cardiovascular system to work more efficiently. This also increases energy levels.
Finally, because regular physical activity contributes to longer and deeper sleep, the result is improved energy and more wakefulness throughout the day.
It’s hard to put a price on the value of that.
Are You Ready to Both Look and FEEL Better?
There’s a clear connection between plastic surgery and healthier lifestyles.
Increased confidence and self worth from plastic surgery boosts the motivation to exercise and eat well. It also leads to less depression and anxiety about one’s appearance in private and public spaces, better relationships with partners, and even improved production in the work place.
So if you’re ready to get on board with a healthier lifestyle, contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll sit down with you and determine the best treatment options to get you started on your path.
Plastic Surgery Procedures to Improve Vision
Do you experience puffiness or sagging around your eyes?
Many patients seek out the expertise of a board-certified plastic surgeon to address these cosmetic concerns. And rightly so. Plastic surgery does wonders in addressing these concerns and reversing facial aging.
But there are plastic surgery procedures to improve vision as well.
In fact, if you’ve noticed heavy sagging in your upper eyelids, you could be dealing with decreased vision due to ptosis. If this is your predicament, plastic surgery will not only improve the appearance of your eyes but can restore lost function as well.
What Is Ptosis?
Eyebrow ptosis or excess upper eyelid skin, called dermatochalasis, is an eye condition caused by excessive skin around your upper eyelid. When the upper eyelid becomes weighed down, it can droop into your field of vision. It can feel as though you’re looking through a window with its blinds partially drawn.
The most common symptoms of excess skin of the upper eyelid include:
- difficulty reading
- raising brows to improve vision
- dry and irritated eyes
- loss of peripheral vision
- frontal headaches
Although the most common cause of excess skin or brow ptosis is the aging process, it can also be the result of lax tissue and genetics. Trauma to the eye tissue, thyroid eye disease, and renal failure can all contribute to excess skin as well.
Relieving Excess Skin with Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, seeks to remove and tighten excess skin found above and below the eye. It not only restores a youthful, bright appearance to your eyes, but restores vision diminished by droopy upper eyelids.
During a blepharoplasty procedure, the surgeon creates precise markings where the excess tissue will be removed from the eyelids. In the case of the upper eyelid, the incision is made within the natural eyelid fold. For the lower eyelid, the incision is created just below the lower lash line to remove skin, or inside the lower eyelid, through the conjuctiva to remove fat bags.
Excess tissue is then removed through these incisions and, if desired, the fat may be redistributed to achieve a specific look.
Levator ptosis is a functional problem that produces a droopy upper eyelid. This can occur with aging, trauma, and neuromuscular disorders. Repair of the levator muscle tendon is performed to correct drooping upper eyelids. This may be performed at the same time as removal of the upper eyelid excess skin and concurrently with a brow lift (see below).
Other Plastic Surgery Procedures to Improve Vision
Sometimes the cause for altered vision is low-set eyebrows. In this case, your plastic surgeon would recommend a brow lift.
Eyebrows set lower on the face become problematic as you age. As the skin on the upper portion of the face becomes thinner and loses elasticity over time, deep-set wrinkles and heavy, low hung eyebrows can obstruct your peripheral vision.
During a brow lift, also known as an endoscopic brow lift, the surgeon uses an endoscope (a tube with a camera attached to the end) to best see the area of treatment. Small incisions are made in the hairline and forehead skin and eyebrows are repositioned higher on the forehead. Fixation of the forehead and brows is then performed for long-term results to create a smoother, more youthful-looking forehead.
The procedure requires very minimal incisions and is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia.
Could You See Better with Plastic Surgery?
While there are plastic surgery procedures to improve vision, it’s important to remember that these surgeries will not actually repair the eye.
But if your seeing is impacted by sagging skin, these procedures could just help to restore your field of vision.
So if you think an eyebrow lift or eyelid surgery is right for you, contact us today for a free consultation. One of our qualified experts will discuss the best procedure for you.
Better Breathing through Plastic Surgery
It’s hard to argue that the nose is the most prominent feature on the face. And let’s face it – not everyone is crazy about theirs.
Perhaps you’re not comfortable with the appearance of your nose. Maybe you feel it’s too prominent in that it’s very large or it has a strange shape. Whatever your reason for feeling dissatisfaction with its appearance, plastic surgery can remedy that.
But did you know that you can also achieve better breathing through plastic surgery?
The Dual Function of Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, known as nose reshaping or, more colloquially, as a “nose job,” ranked among the leading cosmetic surgical procedures in the U.S. in 2018.
In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 213,000 people elected to have a rhinoplasty procedure – coming in third behind only breast augmentation and liposuction.
And it’s no wonder. Not only can rhinoplasty improve the appearance of the nose, but it can also improve its function thereby providing relief for those who suffer from breathing problems. And it’s an outpatient procedure that generally takes 1.5 to 3 hours to complete.
When rhinoplasties are performed for correcting documented breathing, this is known as functional rhinoplasty. Also, when performing a cosmetic rhinoplasty, function is still a priority to maintain or improve.
Functional Rhinoplasty
With functional rhinoplasty, the main intention of the procedure does not focus on changing the appearance of the nose but rather aims to improve breathing. Even so, the best plastic surgeons are aware that the form and function of the nose are intimately linked.
In other words, improved breathing doesn’t come at a cost of decreased appearance. So it’s important to carefully select a highly-trained and board-certified plastic surgeon to achieve the best results.
Some of the medical conditions that could potentially be corrected with rhinoplasty include the following:
- Swollen or Enlarged Turbinates
You’ve probably never heard of turbinates. Made primarily of nasal mucosa, think of them as the humidifiers of the nose.
The turbinates periodically swell in response to the environment. For example, during allergy season or when you lie on one side of your body and it becomes difficult to breathe through the nostril closest to the pillow.
For some, however, chronic enlargement of the turbinates results in nasal obstruction that may require surgery.
- Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea may be the result of palate abnormalities, obesity, or nasal obstruction. Those with this condition are unable to get normal airflow and actually stop breathing for short periods of time.
Not only does this cause snoring, but the sufferer is subject to dangerous oxygen deprivation while they sleep. Functional rhinoplasty aims to remedy this situation by reshaping the external and internal valves to allow for normal airflow.
- Narrowing or Collapse of Middle Vault
If you’re familiar with the Breathe Right nasal strip, then you know its purpose is to hold nasal passages open to allow for fuller breathing. It was developed because some people suffer from weakness of the middle vault or side walls of the nose. When they deeply inhale, the side walls “collapse” inward.
Functional rhinoplasty repairs the internal nasal valves to prevent the nasal side walls from collapsing upon inhalation.
- Deviated Septum
The bone and cartilage that divide the space between your nostrils is known as the septum. A “deviation” is a bend of the septum.
To be honest, the septum is rarely perfectly straight for anyone. But when it bends significantly to one side or the other, it can block the air passage on one or both sides, making it difficult to breathe. This condition can also increase the risk for sinus infections due to poor drainage. Deviated septum also contributes to an asymmetric or crooked nose.
In the case of a deviated septum, a rhinoplasty along with a septoplasty is typically performed to straighten that bone and cartilage. The septum is repositioned to the middle of the nose. Portions of the septum may be used to augment the nose or narrow the tip.
To do this, the surgeon may need to cut and remove parts of the nasal septum before reinserting them in the proper position. But once a septoplasty is healed, the patient usually finds that it’s easier to breathe.
- Birth Defects
Some people are born with congenital malformations of the nose. These can include nasal masses, bony obstructions, tumors or cysts. Functional rhinoplasty can correct these conditions. In severe cases, such as when babies are born without a nasal septum, septoplasty is incorporated as well.
Overall Health Benefits of Better Breathing
Aside from the peaceful feeling that comes from taking deep breaths, the ability to fully respirate has many health benefits you may not have considered.
For example, not struggling to breathe results in lower blood pressure. It also improves exercise tolerance.
And, of course, better breathing leads to improved sleep. With improved sleep comes a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, less lethargy, and more energy. Poor sleep also activates the fight response which decreases metabolism.
So it turns out that improving one’s sleep through clearer breathing can even help to reduce the production of stress hormones and help with weight loss and lowering blood pressure!
Could You Achieve Better Breathing through Plastic Surgery?
If the source of your breathing issues is a malformation of or obstruction in your nose, you could just achieve better breathing through plastic surgery.
Functional rhinoplasty and/or septoplasty can open those airways while also providing any desired aesthetic change to the shape of your nose. It really is a win-win.
So contact us today for a free consultation with one of our highly skilled plastic surgeons. You’ll breathe easy knowing you’re getting the best possible care.
How Fat Removal Helps with Diabetes
Are you considering liposuction to remove stubborn fat that won’t go away with diet and exercise?
If so, it’s entirely possible that you could experience another benefit beyond looking and feeling better about yourself.
You may be able to reduce the risk of diabetes with liposuction. And if you’re already diabetic, fat removal helps with diabetes by lowering your insulin resistance.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
It’s well-known that type 2 diabetes is closely linked to obesity and it begins with insulin resistance. Insulin is an important hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
In the case of insulin resistance, the pancreas continues to make insulin, but the body doesn’t recognize or use it properly. This condition can often be controlled with pills.
But insulin resistance doesn’t have to lead to type 2 diabetes. Weight loss and exercise are the usual go-to methods stopping it in its tracks. And these continue to be necessary.
However, researchers are finding that liposuction could be a valuable addition.
Studies Show Health Benefits of Liposuction
Back in 2011, researchers conducted a study that measured the triglyceride levels and white blood cell counts in a group of over 300 liposuction patients. Post surgery, they found a reduction in both these levels.
This is good news because elevated levels of triglyceride are linked not only to a higher risk of diabetes, but to heart disease and stroke as well. And the results were the same for men and women.
But the decrease in the white blood cell count is encouraging as well. High white blood cell counts are also linked to diabetes, as well as coronary artery disease, obesity, and hypertension.
The conclusion was that if liposuction, along with an improved diet and more exercise, can improve your white blood cell counts, it could offer a big boost to your health.
Research Continues on How Fat Removal Helps with Diabetes
There continues to be mounting evidence that liposuction has a more positive impact on changing insulin metabolism than a pill. And it has to do with the removal of subcutaneous fat – or fat that’s under the skin.
Liposuction is only able to remove subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat that exists deeper in the body is not impacted by liposuction.
At one time, the overriding belief was that there was no connection between insulin resistance and the removal of subcutaneous fat. But that was before the large-volume liposuction that’s available now.
In fact, in one study, large-volume liposuction was used to remove an average of 12 pounds of subcutaneous fat from 14 healthy but overweight premenopausal women. Of those 14, half had some level of insulin resistance.
Just six weeks later, each woman was down one to two clothing sizes and lost an average of about 12 pounds and 12 inches. Even more importantly, they had lowered their levels of insulin resistance.
When tracked for an entire year, they were able to maintain that lower weight and improved insulin resistance.
It appears that using liposuction as a means to combat type 2 diabetes is especially effective in patients who have gained 20 or 30 pounds over a relatively short period of time such as during pregnancy or while recovering from an injury.
Motivation to Stay Healthy Increases after Liposuction
Another benefit of choosing a fat removal procedure is the effect it will have on your attitude toward diet and exercise. Because liposuction gives you a newly sculpted body, you’ll feel more confident about going to the gym or fitness classes.
For most patients, liposuction proves to be the trigger they need to change their lifestyles toward improved diet and more exercise. Once they look and feel better, they’re more inspired to maintain that.
Could Liposuction Have Health Benefits for You?
You can certainly opt for the liposuction procedure simply to look and feel better about yourself. That’s reason enough.
But knowing that fat removal helps with diabetes and other conditions, liposuction may have even farther-reaching results.
Whatever your reasons for fat removal, we will custom tailor your procedure to deliver the results you desire.
So contact us to schedule your free consultation. And get the body you want – inside and out.
