Menopause Makeover

Consultations offered at our seven convenient locations in Manhattan New York City, Princeton New Jersey, Scarsdale, Woodbury Long Island, Southampton, Smithtown and Boca Raton, Florida

A menopause makeover is a customizable collection of surgical and non-surgical treatments women can undergo to combat the physical effects of menopause and rejuvenate their bodies. This period of a woman’s life comes with many hormone-related changes. In particular, estrogen and progesterone levels decrease dramatically, and the ovaries lose their ability to produce and release eggs every month. Side effects like hot flashes, muscle loss, vaginal atrophy, hair loss, and mood swings are common. Women also tend to gain more fat mass overall, especially in the midsection. (1) When accompanied by other signs of aging, like a decrease of collagen in the skin, the effects of menopause can cause sagging skin and wrinkles.

The bodily changes that occur during menopause are entirely normal, but many women find them hard to deal with, depending on the severity of their symptoms. Recent establishments like menopause retreats and support groups give women a safe space to discuss their struggles and share their experiences. Additionally, surgical and medical treatments can give women a sense of renewed confidence in themselves during this difficult time. Surgeons customize these treatment plans to fit patients’ unique needs and the long-lasting results that they would like to attain.

The newest mommy makeover is the menopause makeover! At Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, our surgeons and staff are sensitive to the issues women face as they age. We can provide you with long-lasting solutions to regain the contours of your youth that focus on adding to the quality of your life. Our surgeons are board-certified and stay up-to-date regarding the latest and safest techniques to provide patients with the high-quality experience they deserve.

To inquire about our makeover procedures today or our medspa services, call one of our offices located throughout Long Island or request your consultation online today. 

Before and After Photos

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It is characterized by a complete stop in egg production and release; women who have gone through at least 1 year without a menstrual cycle have officially reached menopause. Usually, it begins between the ages of 45 to 56, but the average age is 51.

In the years leading up to this point, a stage of life called perimenopause, women experience shorter follicular phases. This means that eggs mature more quickly and cause more irregular menstrual cycles. The number of follicles in the ovaries- the structures containing egg cells – also decreases. Ovaries produce lower-quality egg cells as well, reducing fertility further. (2)

During perimenopause, most women experience vasomotor symptoms– a form of body temperature dysfunction due to the decreased production of female sex hormones. Alongside hot flashes, women can also experience an increase in night sweats, heart palpitations, and frequent migraines. Roughly 50 to 75% of women experience genitourinary symptoms such as loss of vaginal elasticity, dryness, irritation, urinary incontinence, and increase in frequency to the restroom. Research finds that about 70% of women experience some declines in mental health, such as increased irritability, anxiety, depression, and inability to focus. Sleep disturbances and disorders also frequently develop around this time of a woman’s life.

Menopause Makeover Procedure Options on Long Island

Our expertise in plastic surgery allows patients to address the aesthetic concerns that may arise during menopause. By combining the surgical skills of our doctors with a compassionate approach, we help women achieve their desired results and regain their confidence. Our menopause makeovers can include the following treatments.

Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is a surgery that removes excess glandular tissue, skin, and fat to fashion smaller, more elevated breasts. Many menopausal women experience breast sagging (ptosis), but some may also find that their breast size increases as well. (3) This can often limit mobility and clothing options, or even cause back pain over time. To reduce them to a size that you feel best suits your body shape, your surgeon can utilize one of these types of incisions to remove excess tissue: a periareolar incision around the nipple, an incision from the nipple to the lower crease of your breasts, or an inframammary incision that follows along the horizontal outline of the bottom crease. To better contour the results, your surgeon may also apply liposuction techniques.

Breast Lift

Unlike a standard breast reduction, a breast lift focuses solely on repositioning the breast and skin removal techniques. This procedure is designed for women who have more deflated, flat breasts with ptosis. Depending on how much sagging is present, your surgeon will choose one of the following methods: a periareolar incision, a “vertical” incision that encircles the areola and travels down to the lower crease of the breast, or an “anchor” incision that includes the vertical incision shape alongside an added incision of the bottom breast crease. A breast lift can give the illusion of smaller breasts due to elevation, but it is not as comprehensive as a breast reduction procedure.

Liposuction

Hormonal changes can cause fat to redistribute to other areas of the body during menopause, particularly the abdomen, bra line, upper arms, and lower back. If your skin is still relatively healthy and elastic, liposuction can produce effective results to slim down these unwanted bulges. For this procedure, your surgeon will administer anesthesia and inject tumescent fluid into the targeted area, allowing the fat to swell and separate from other connective tissues. This solution will also numb the tissues and restrict blood vessels to prevent bleeding. They will then make a tiny incision to insert the suction device- called a cannula- to collect the fat. After healing, your skin will retract to your newly formed contours.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck involves more surgical changes than liposuction alone. Surgeons perform this procedure to eliminate lax skin, tighten the abdominal muscles, and remove fat. Many menopausal women who have had children also have diastasis recti, a condition characterized by a divide between the abdominal muscles. As a result, they may have a belly bulge that does not go away with weight changes. A tummy tuck can also reduce urinary incontinence with its muscle-tightening aspects. (4) The most noticeable changes from the tummy tuck come from its skin-tightening benefits. Surgeons are careful to place the horizontal incision line low enough to be hidden by a bikini or underwear, so patients do not have to worry about noticeable scarring.

Vaginal Rejuvenation for Dryness

Our EmpowerRF™ system for treating vaginal dryness is the latest advancement that promotes new vaginal tissue growth, elasticity, and improved lubrication. The system features FormaV, a device that administers electromagnetic energy called radiofrequency to apply controlled heat to the vagina. As a result, the vaginal lining responds by increasing its collagen production, increasing sensitivity and quality blood flow essential for healthy sexual functioning.

Labiaplasty

During perimenopause, the labia can thin out and experience more dryness. For those with longer labia, this can lead to discomfort during intimacy and friction within certain clothing. With a labiaplasty, your surgeon can remove the unwanted, darkened skin of the labia, creating a tighter, more “tucked-in” appearance.

Fat Transfer for Volume Loss

Due to fat redistribution and skin wrinkling from collagen degradation, the face can lose its youthful volume. Fat transfer involves using liposuction techniques to harvest fat from areas where there is excess, then re-administration into the face. Your surgeon will purify these deposits using centrifugation before strategically using them to plump areas of facial volume loss.

PRP for Hair Thinning

This therapy is a non-surgical procedure in which your surgeon will take a sample of your blood and isolate platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This solution contains proteins and molecules called growth factors that usually serve to signal cellular regeneration and growth. For hair restoration, epidermal growth factor, endothelial growth factor fibroblast growth factor-2, and many others found in PRP trigger healthy hair growth. (5) After preparing the PRP, your surgeon will lather topical numbing cream and inject it into areas of thinning hair on the scalp.

Personal Consultation

During your consultation at Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery, we will speak with you about the physical changes you have experienced since the onset of menopause. Understanding preparation, the surgery itself, and the recovery steps will help you understand the scope of each procedure. We will listen intently with a compassionate attitude, gaining insight into the exact results you would like to achieve with your menopause makeover. We will create a personalized plan to allow you to feel like the most beautified version of yourself.

To get started today, call the office nearest to you, or ask us a question regarding consultation or any of our treatments with our contact form.

Cost of a Menopause Makeover on Long Island

The cost of your menopause makeover will depend on the treatments you undergo. Your surgeon will review the total costs of your decided procedures and speak with you about our various financing options at the time of your consultation. To learn more in-depth information about our approaches to cosmetic surgery, please visit our blog. We cannot wait to see you in our office!

References

  1. Fenton, Anna. “Weight, Shape, and Body Composition Changes at Menopause.” Journal of Mid-Life Health, vol. 12, no. 3, 2021, p. 187, https://doi.org/10.4103/jmh.jmh_123_21
  2. Peacock, Kimberly, and Kari M Ketvertis. “Menopause.” Nih.gov, StatPearls Publishing, 11 Aug. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/
  3. Spencer, Linda, et al. “The Relationship between Breast Size and Aspects of Health and Psychological Wellbeing in Mature-Aged Women.” Women’s Health, vol. 16, 18 May 2020, p. 1745506520918335, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7235664/, https://doi.org/10.1177/1745506520918335.
  4. Carruthers KH, Kocak E, Hulsen JH, McMahan JD. Improvement in stress urinary incontinence after abdominoplasty. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2014;34(7):1091-1098. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1090820X14544023 
  5. Paichitrojjana A, Paichitrojjana A. Platelet Rich Plasma and Its Use in Hair Regrowth: A Review. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2022;Volume 16:635-645. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/dddt.s356858