Plastic Surgery Advances: Restylane & Custom Breast Implants
Cosmetic surgery has advanced significantly over the past few years. It is very well-accepted, reasonably-priced and can be a great self-esteem booster. Patients from ages 18 years and up are frequently undergoing breast augmentation and liposuction procedures; in addition to ear surgery, breast reduction, eyelid and nose surgeries. Overall, every age group is now having age-appropriate procedures at an increasing rate. My patients are health-conscious individuals each with different expectations and needs. There are also some new, exciting products that can help your plastic surgeon achieve excellent results:
Restylane B A safe, long-lasting, non-surgical solution for lip enhancement and wrinkle reduction. Since 1996, Restylane from Sweden has been enjoyed by over one million women and men in more than 60 countries. Restylane is used for plumping lips and filling wrinkles in the lower half of your face. Results are effective for six to eight months. Restylane is a crystal-clear, non-animal, biodegradable gel based on a natural substance, called hyaluronic acid. A skin test is not needed, so you can have the Restylane treatments performed immediately. Restylane is injected into the skin in tiny amounts with a very fine needle. The result is instantaneous and produces a long-lasting, natural enhancement, gentle and safe to your skin.
Custom Breast Implants: Breast Augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures. Last year, about 250,000 breast augmentations were performed in the United States and that number is rapidly increasing. Of all the cosmetic procedures, patients with breast augmentations have one of the highest satisfaction rates. Every woman has her own considerations and desires. Some have lost breast tissue and size after pregnancy or breast feeding, and just want back the volume they once had. Others have always felt uncomfortable with their size or shape. Or the desire is as simple as just wanting something extra to push up in that new push-up bra. These individual differences make each procedure unique.
Today, there are several types of saline-implants that allow plastic surgeons to obtain an extremely natural look. A petite woman can be given an implant shape that is quite different from a larger woman. Other advances include the use of a Abreast-shaped@ implant, and implants that can be adjusted in size even after surgery.
Cosmetic Surgery Question of the Week:
How do I know if I need a tummy tuck or liposuction to flatten my belly?
In evaluating a patient with a large abdomen, we have to determine whether the problem is skin quality, excess fat, loose abdominal muscles, or a combination. Tummy tucks are particularly helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they cannot return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Skin quality is one of the main factors that will help determine whether liposuction or a tummy tuck is right for you. Do you have any cellulite, stretch marks or looseness to the skin? If so, you have probably lost skin elasticity and the ability of the skin to reshape and re-drape. Many patients also have a tummy tuck to remove stretch marks; a consequence of extreme weight fluctuation or pregnancy. If the stretch marks are below the belly button then usually we are able to remove almost all the them. However, if they are above the belly button, then the rule of thumb is that we will not be able to completely eliminate the stretch marks. Women who plan future pregnancies can still have a tummy tuck. However if the reason for the tummy tuck is stretch marks, then you may wish to wait, since stretch marks may return after pregnancies.
On the other hand, if you have good skin with good elasticity, we can perform liposuction to help flatten your stomach.