Cosmetic Surgery-Benefits and Risks

If you used to think that cosmetic surgery was only for the rich and famous, you have probably already noticed that today nearly everyone can take advantage of some of the techniques available. Even some teenagers are going "under the knife" to get the look they want, whether it be a nose job, or breast implants. But, is all of this excitement really worth it? Are you going to get results that will really change your life and your looks for the better? Before you undergo any type of cosmetic surgery, there are some questions you will need to ask of yourself and your potential surgeon to make sure this decision is right for you.

1. What are your reasons for wanting the surgery? If you have an unsightly scar or birthmark, it may be something very obvious. But, if you just want to change your looks to appear younger or to enhance one of your features, which may be more of a personal preference. Either reason may be a worthwhile motivation to get cosmetic surgery, but you must still keep in mind that surgery is surgery and is a very serious decision. Surgery is not a "cure-all" for any self-esteem issues you may be having, it is just one part.

2. Who is your surgeon? Did you know that to perform cosmetic surgery you do not technically have to have any specialized training? Once you have graduated from medical school you can practice any type of medicine-including cosmetic surgery. However, your surgeon can be certified by the Board of Medical Examiners and also by national organizations which have strict guidelines about training and qualifications. Any surgeon you choose should be well-qualified and experienced in your type of surgery.

3. Are you aware of the risks? From one to four percent of people who have cosmetic surgery experience difficulties of one kind or another. These can be simply a problem with symmetry, or as serious as an infection, too much skin being removed, or even death. Some people are opting to head south of the border to Mexico and other locations for low-cost cosmetic surgery, only to find less than ideal operating conditions and doctors who are not adequately trained. Serious complications can result-so just as you would check out your surgeon here, check out your surgeon anywhere-maybe even more carefully.

4. Are there reasons you should not have cosmetic surgery? If you are suffering from self-esteem issues, and all of your self-worth is based on your outward appearance, you may not find the answers you are looking for with cosmetic surgery. Beauty truly is only "skin deep." There are limitations to the results that you will get with surgery. Your surgeon should be very honest with you about what you can reasonably expect. Look inside yourself to find what your motivations are an where your sense of self-worth is coming from. By Eriani Doyel

4 Reasons to Consider Blepharoplasty

It's important to look your best as it has to do with your self-esteem. When you don't feel comfortable in your skin, it's going to affect how you act and how you carry yourself in the world. There are some things you can do on your own to improve your appearance - like wearing makeup, going on a diet, and watching what you eat. Then there are things that you need to do with the help of a cosmetic surgeon - like blepharoplasty.

Blepharoplasty is a surgery that has to do with the eyelids. Essentially, there are four reasons why you may need to consider this surgery:

1. Defects
2. Deformities
3. Disfigurations
4. Age

Each of these is good reasons why you may want the eyelid surgery, though there may be other procedures to give you a similar effect. The only way to get the surgery is by first scheduling a consultation with the doctor so that he or she can talk to you, take a look at your eyelids, and determine if you are a candidate or not.

Depending upon the reason for needing blepharoplasty, insurance may or may not pay for it. This is something you will want to ask your doctor during the consultation. If it is purely cosmetic, then the insurance company likely isn't going to pay for it. However, if it is as a result of a disfiguration or deformity that is causing you vision problems, affecting the way you are able to blink, or anything else, it may be something that insurance will cover.

The surgery can remove extra skin or add skin where there is not enough. You probably take your eyelids for granted, but they are used more than almost anything else on your body because they help you to blink and moisten your eye. You don't realize how much you use them until you really start to think about it.

Look in the mirror and identify what it is that you don't like about your eyes. If your eyelids or the skin around your eyes are hanging down to the point that it is blocking your vision or giving you less than the ideal appearance, it may be something that you will want to talk to your doctor about.

Finding the Right Doctor

In the world of cosmetic surgery, blepharoplasty is not the surgery that all the doctors cover because it is close to the eye. This means that you may have to look around for a surgeon that focuses on facial surgeries as you are more likely to find one that offers the surgery. If you focus on someone that offers abdominoplasty and such, you may not be able to get the surgery - or like the results.

Take the time to check out the different doctors. Keep looking until you feel comfortable. Ask to see before and after pictures and find out what you can anticipate after the surgery. There are so many reasons to have the surgery, so you will want to find out if you are a candidate

By Jeff Weigang

How Much Does A Nose Job Cost?

Nearly all plastic or cosmetic surgery is considered elective, which means health insurance does not pay for it. This means you need to have a grasp of the full cost of nose job surgery.

Nose job is a term which really refers to nose molding or nose forming, and it is one of the world's most common plastic surgery procedures. Many people choose to have it performed because they are unhappy with the shape and size of their nose, and want to improve the look of their face. Once you've decided to have an alteration made, the second question many people ask is, "What is the cost of a nose job?"

As with any medical procedure, the cost of nose job differs depending on who performs the surgery, where it is performed and what resources are needed to complete the surgery. This is one of the few plastic surgery procedures that can occasionally be covered by insurance. Coverage can arise when the surgery must be performed for medical reasons such as to correct a breathing problem. If your surgery is purely cosmetic, you will need to pay for it out of pocket.

The cost of a nose job generally runs from about $3000 to $6000, depending on the exact procedure to be performed. Where the surgery is completed is also a major factor. If the surgery must be done in a hospital instead of an outpatient surgery center or office, the cost will be higher. It will also depend on whether a local or general anesthetic is required to complete the surgery. If a general anesthetic is needed, the cost will be higher as an anesthesiologist will need to be present for the surgery.

Other factors that come into play are the fees for pre- and post-operative care, any other facility fees, and your location in the country. Nose jobs can be more expensive if the plastic surgeon is well known or in a high demand area such as Atlanta, Beverly Hills or New York City. The degree of difficulty of your procedure will also be a factor. Obviously, the longer the surgery takes, the more it will cost.

The cost of a nose job should never be the only deciding factor in choosing a plastic surgeon or surgery facility. You will want to take into account whether you feel comfortable with the surgeon, as well as the doctor's experience and other qualifications. Always choose a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in nose job and any other procedures you want to have. Make sure to look at before and after pictures to get a feel for the results the doctor has previously produced for other patients

By Ricardo Silva 

Mommy Makeover - Get Back Into Shape After Pregnancy

Children are truly one of life's greatest joys. However when you have a baby, weight gain and changes in your body occur that can be very distressing and often impossible to correct with diet and exercise alone. While controlling weight gain and working out can improve your body after having children, some body changes do not recover no matter how hard you try. Fortunately a modern Plastic Surgery procedure called the Mommy Makeover can help you get in shape after pregnancy and recover your original body. The Mommy Makeover is designed to restore the shape of your Breasts and Tummy after changes that have occurred during and after having a baby.

How Your Body Changes after Having Children.

There are a host of normal physiological changes that occur in your body when you have a baby. The most frustrating changes for many mothers however occur in the Breasts and Abdomen or Tummy. Following the cessation of breast feeding the Breast Gland (Mammary Gland) atrophies and becomes smaller and sags down on the chest wall. In addition, the skin of the abdomen becomes loose and sags downward and can develop stretch marks. In addition, in many people there is excess fat under the Tummy skin and Flank area. These changes can persist even after weight loss and conditioning through diet, exercise and working out.

Mammary Ptosis is the formal word for Sagging Breast when the Nipple Aereola is below the Inframammary Fold, the fold beneath your breast. When the Nipple Areola is above the Inframammary Fold but the Breast Gland sags below the fold the condition is called Glandular Ptosis.

Abdominal laxity is the term used to describe sagging of the lower Abdomen or Tummy. In some people the two Abdominal Muscles that form the "six pack" split or separate, a condition called Diastasis Recti, which is a separation of the two muscles named Rectus Abdominus.

Stretch marks, red or pink areas of thin skin on the Tummy, are formally called Abdominal Striae.

Muffin Top or Excess Flank Fat is the fullness and your sides above your hips, which can protrude over a belt or tight fitting pants. Flank fat is often very difficult to lose after having a baby.

What Causes Breast, Tummy and Body Changes after Having a Baby.

· Breast Atrophy-Loss-During pregnancy a portion of your Brain called the Pituitary Gland secretes Hormones which stimulate your Breast Gland to enlarge and begin producing milk. After the cessation of Breast Feeding hormonal stimulation stops and the Mammary Gland involutes or atrophies and becomes smaller. The loss of Breast Fullness is called Post-Partum Mammary Atrophy.

· Mammary Ptosis-The skin around the Mammary Gland is stretched by the enlargement during pregnancy. However the skin does not tighten in many people after Post-Partum Mammary Atrophy has occurred. With less Breast Tissue inside an enlarged skin envelope the Gland sags, not unlike letting air out of a balloon.

· Abdominal Laxity-The Abdominal Skin is stretched to make room for the baby. After delivery the skin does shrink and tighten but often not back to the original shape of the Tummy. When adequate shrinkage has not occurred the remaining loose skin sags down onto the lower Tummy.

· Excess Flank Fat- The Fat around the waist or flank area is one of the most difficult to lose after pregnancy. This area called the "muffin top" is very frustrating when you want to wear clothing that reveals the midriff or waist area.

· Stretch marks-Stretch marks or Striae are caused by rupture or breakage of deep skin collagen which is caused by the stretching of the abdominal skin during pregnancy. This damage to the deep skin layer called the Dermis results in redness and thinning of the skin in the area.

What Is A Mommy Makeover?

The term Mommy Makeover can be applied to a variety of different Plastic Surgery procedures designed to get your shape back after pregnancy. However, most commonly Mommy Makeover refers to procedures done to restore the Breast and Tummy to their pre pregnancy appearance. Most commonly a Breast Lift and or Breast Augmentation with Implants and some form of Tummy Tuck are done.

· Breast Lift-Dermal Mastopexy-This procedure is designed to correct sagging.There are many different varieties including the Anchor, Lollipop, Periareolar, Crescent, Circumareolar, Donut, and Benelli Lifts. Check my January 2013 Blog for a complete discussion of the different types.

· Breast Augmentation with Implants-Breast Implants can be used to restore the fullness and cleavage lost after Post-Partum Mammary Atrophy. For a thorough discussion of Breast Augmentation see my website.

· Tummy Tuck- Tummy Tuck can restore the Abdomen to a nice flat shape. Full Tummy Tuck requires moving the "belly button", while a Mini Tummy Tuck or Bikini Tuck only requires skin excision below the Navel and a scar hidden below the underwear or Bikini.

· Liposuction- When necessary Liposuction can be performed as part of a Mommy Makeover to remove the "muffin top" or excess fat above the Navel in patients who are candidates for a Mini Tummy Tuck.

· Laser Treatment of Stretch Marks-Recently a new Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks that actually helps has been developed. It involves the use of a specific laser called a Non ablative 1540 Fractional Erbium laser. Stretch marks are made smaller and white but do not disappear entirely. See my website for more details.

What Is the Recovery Time after Mommy Makeover?

· Week one-During the first week after Mommy Makeover you will be sore. The tightening of the abdomen can cause discomfort if you straighten up your posture, so you will be walking bent over for a few days. You may have drains which are usually removed day one or two after which you can shower. We encourage you to walk to prevent blood clots in the legs.

· Week two- You will feel much better the second week and can usually return to work that does not require lifting by the end of the second week.

· Week three- At three weeks most patients are back at work and many can start exercising again. If you had the repair of a Diastasis Recti you cannot do sit ups until six weeks and only if cleared to do so by your Doctor.

· Week Six- By six weeks you should be enjoying your new body and your surgery should becoming a distant memory.

· Three Months- By three months the nearly final results of Liposuction should be seen.

· Six months- By six months any incisions should be matured and white.

Who Should Do Your Mommy Makeover?

In my opinion only a Plastic Surgeon Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery should perform this complex procedure. Experience is very important, especially when multiple procedures are done at the same operation.

Seek out the opinion of friends whom you know have had the procedure. Search websites like Realself and Loveyourlook for reviews on doctors that you plan to consult. Ask your doctor specifically how comfortable he/she is doing this type of surgery and multiple procedures. Ask to see photos of his/her results and if possible to speak to patients who have had the procedure.

With an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with whom you feel comfortable, the Mommy Makeover can be a very satisfying procedure and help you regain your shape after pregnancy.
By Brooke R. Seckel, M.D., FACS