When is the Right Time to Have Your Facelift Surgery?

If you’ve considered a facelift surgery, you’ve probably thought about the timing of this procedure.

“When is the right time to have my facelift surgery?”

“Is it too late for me to get rid of these [insert your problem area]?”

These are common questions, and I always tell my patients that the timing entirely depends on you as a patient. It also depends on the internal and external effects that cause your face to gradually age.

·      genetics

·      overall health

·      amount of sun exposure

·      the quality of food and amount of water consumed on a regular basis

·      addictions to nicotine or drugs

But despite all of these, there are also under-the-surface changes that cause patients to turn to facelift surgery for an improved appearance.

After one’s 24^th birthday, collagen in the face slowly becomes less elastic. The soft tissue thins and features begin to sag. Plus, the fat that was once evenly distributed begins to lose volume as it shifts and drops to the lower half of the face. This can give the appearance of bags in the chin and around the neckline.

Here are some gradual affects that occur in one’s 40s, 50s, 60s and so on:

·      Forehead – Forehead tissue broadens causing the eyebrows to droop. Also, the hairline begins to thin.

·      Eyes – The cheekbones descend and offer less support. The eye sockets widen and lengthen making them appear to be deeply set. The soft tissue sags around the eyes and eyelids.  

·      Nose – As the patient ages, the connective tissue in the nose weakens. This causes it to droop or elongate, and possibly develop a small but pronounced dorsal hump. Also, the tip of the nose broadens and adopts a bulbous appearance.

·      Cheeks – The cheeks often sag leaving one with jowls.

·      Mouth – The corners of the mouth tend to droop which causes a slight frown.

·      Ears – Ears lengthen as cartilage grows.

·      Jaw – When the jawbone thins, it causes the facial structure to lose its more sculpted appearance.

And yes, one cannot get away from the generalized wrinkling of the face. Fine wrinkles (due to smoking, sun damage or genetics) and deep wrinkles (the pulling of muscles) can add years to one’s face.

Naturally, there are some things you can do to give your countenance a much more youthful glow.

1.    Use sunscreen daily and by wear wide-brimmed hats.

2.    Use exfoliant creams to get rid of dead skin and moisturizers to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

3.    Prescription creams such as Avage, Avita, Retin-A and Renova can reduce wrinkles and induce collagen production in the dermis.

4.    Botulinum toxin injections like Botox, Myobloc and Dysport treats lines on the forehead and between the brows while restraining the muscles that form expression lines.

5.    Dermal fillers treat those lines which have been caused by the loss of collagen and redistribution of fat.

6.    Laser treatments get rid of freckles, liver spots, broken capillaries and acne scars.

While the above rejuvenation tips will help you delay the aging process, they are temporary and need to be repeated often. For something that will last for at least five years and can be repeated once or twice in a lifetime, the facelift surgery is the ultimate treatment.

A facelift will remove excess tissue while lifting skin that sags. The end result will be a refreshed, more natural appearance.

Some patients, many of whom are in their 40s, opt for a mini facelift. This is a good time to begin the age-defying surgical process as the early one addresses bothersome areas, the better their appearance in the long run. The mini facelift treats the lower eyelids, cheeks and mid-face areas. It reestablishes facial balance while lifting the lower face and neck.

Many patients in their 50s and 60s opt for either the lower facelift or the full facelift surgery.

·      Lower facelift – tightens loose skin on the jaw and neck as well as removes deep wrinkles along the corners of the mouth

·      Full facelift – treats all sections of the face for a smoother appearance

So, to answer your questions:

“When is the right time to have my facelift surgery?” – If you’re over 40 and have been considering a facelift, now is the right time for a consultation. From there, we will determine your ideal time.

“Is it too late for me to get rid of these [insert your problem area]?” – It’s never too late.

As a plastic surgeon, it is my pleasure to help you determine the best timing for your facelift surgery. Together, we will chart a safe and realistic course of action so that your surgical experience will bring you the highest level of satisfaction.

If you’d like to learn more, contact us today. And be sure to ask us about our January special. Save 5% on a lower facelift and 10% on a mid or full facelift.*

*To take advantage of this special offer, you will need to pay a booking fee before January, 31, 2014. All procedures must be complete by May 31, 2014.

Post-Bariatric Surgery: Where to Begin Reaping the Benefits of Body Contouring?

If you’re among the thousands of patients who have undergone major weight loss, we say, “Congratulations, you did it! You have reclaimed your health.

But if you are distracted by the flabby skin that continues to hang on, we have great news. Post-bariatric surgery will rid your body of unwanted, uncomfortable and unattractive skin in the abdomen, breast, upper arm, buttock, groin and thigh regions.

In fact, major weight loss patients all over the U.S. have taken advantage of post-bariatric surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that there were over 45,534 body contouring procedures performed in 2012.

This surgery was so popular, because major weight loss patients were tired of skin tissue that had lost its elasticity. They wanted to show off their new bodies, and it was post-bariatric surgery that helped them look as good on the outside as they felt on the inside.

What is post-bariatric surgery? 

Post-bariatric surgery – also known as body contouring – is the final phase of your total weight loss experience. It removes sagging skin and fat while improving the shape and tone of underlying tissue. Post-bariatric surgery gives your body a more natural appearance and an added boost to your self-confidence.

Types of Body Contouring Procedures

There are a number of body contouring procedures for men and women.

• Arm lift - designed to get rid of “bat wings,” the sagging tissue on the upper arm
• Breast lift - corrects sagging or flattened breasts
• Butt lift - eliminates extra skin and fat from the buttocks
• Circumferential body lift - combines an abdomen reduction and a buttock reduction
• Face lift - removes wrinkles by tightening facial skin
• Neck lift - improves the appearance of the neck by removing excess skin and fat
• Lower body lift - removes sagging skin located on the abdomen, buttocks, groin and outer thighs
• Thigh lift - repairs sagging around the inner, outer and mid-thigh

 

Am I a good candidate for body contouring?

If you’ve experienced major weight loss and are considering surgery, be sure your weight has been stabilized for at least six months. This will prevent the reoccurrence of sagging pockets as well as stretch marks and scarring.

The success of your post-bariatric surgery greatly depends on your weight distribution, age, genetics and exposure to the sun. You will want to have a good attitude, a healthy lifestyle including proper nutrition and fitness, a clean bill of health as well as realistic expectations.

Will insurance cover body-contouring surgery?

Typically, insurance companies do not cover most body-contouring surgeries as they are considered to be cosmetic only. This is unfortunate as body contouring surgery is expensive in the U.S.

• Arm surgery – approximately $8,000
• Inner thighs – approximately $10,000 a pair
• Breast lift and upper back surgery – approximately $15,000
• Neck and face lift – approximately $15,000
• Full-body lift – approximately $30,000

Because of these high prices, many Americans (and Canadians) opt to travel beyond their borders for post-bariatric surgery after major weight loss. They have come to rely on highly educated and experienced international surgeons and state-of-the-art facilities. Plus, the savings (up to 80%) makes surgery abroad too good to pass up.

What are the risks?

As with any surgery, there are risks. These can range from bleeding and scarring to infection and blood clots. Naturally, your doctor and surgical team will be on hand to handle any complications.

Once you have been discharged from the hospital, you will continue to experience some swelling and bruising. This is to be expected for approximately two to three weeks after your body contouring surgery.

How many surgeries can I have at one time?

It is quite common for a major weight loss patient to undergo several body contouring procedures at one time. This can significantly reduce your recovery time as well as the price tag. The decision to combine several body contouring surgeries will be made by you and your surgeon. He or she will consider those areas which are most bothersome to you. Of course, your safety is number one and will be taken into account when coming up with a surgical schedule.

There are several post-bariatric surgeries that can be combined.

• Tummy tuck and liposuction
• Tummy tuck and breast enhancement
• Total facial rejuvenation with breast augmentation, tummy tuck or liposuction
• Face lift with laser resurfacing or a combination of eyes, ears and nose

We're Here to Help

Whether or not to complete your major weight loss experience with body contouring is a big decision. But you don’t have to worry about where to begin. We are here to help.

If you’re curious about body contouring surgery after massive weight loss, visit medtogo.com. Our team will supply you with everything you need – options, locations, cost and recovery time – to help you reach your goals and be the best you can be.

The World’s Most Popular Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

The holidays are upon us, and with all of the shopping, decorating, cookie-making, and gift-giving, you’re probably wondering if there’s time to do something for yourself.

Of course, you could always go to the spa, join a health club or hit the road for a weekend getaway. But why not consider something with a little more staying power?

Maybe brighter eyes, a straighter nose, a healthier waistline or a perkier chest is just what you need to feel as confident on the outside as you do on the inside.

If you find yourself nodding up and down, you’re not alone. Millions of people around the world treat themselves to a healthy dose of confidence by going under the knife. Their procedures of choice? Liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty (nose jobs) are among the top five according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

Those living in Venezuela, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Thailand go for liposuction while those in China, Japan and South Korea favor rhinoplasty. Patients in Romania, Australia, Mexico, France and the Netherlands jump at the chance to have breast augmentation.

It’s interesting to note that breast augmentation was the number one surgical procedure of all 1.5 million cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2012. Some women want to restore volume after a pregnancy or major weight loss. Others opt to reconstruct their breasts after a mastectomy. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes there are many women who are unsatisfied with their breasts altogether, and augmentation offers a desirable, balanced figure.

Below are the top five surgical procedures in the United States:  

Cosmetic Surgery	# of Surgeries in 2012
Breast Augmentation	286,274
Nose Reshaping (rhinoplasty)	242,684
Eyelid Surgery (blepharoplasty)	204,015
Liposuction	202,128
Facelift	126,320

Naturally, the question “Which surgery lasts the longest?” comes to mind. We tell clients, “The best results come from the most experienced physicians.” As you shop for the best surgeon to meet your surgical needs, be sure he or she offers a blemish-free record and a wealth of testimonials from within your age group. (Why age group? Because results will vary with patients in various age groups.)

If you’re looking for long-lasting procedures, check out our top five list below:

Type of Cosmetic Surgery	Average Period of Time
Breast Augmentation	10-15 years
Nose Reshaping (rhinoplasty)	Lifetime
Eyelid Surgery (blepharoplasty)	10-15 years
Liposuction	Varies for each patient and lifestyle.
Facelift	2-12 years (Depending on the patient’s age.)

If you’re thinking about a pick-me-up for the New Year, consider that you are not alone. Millions of people around the world are treating themselves to safe, long-lasting cosmetic surgery results.

Give us a call today to learn how you can “make a little merry” with a brand new look! We will provide you with a wealth of information to help you make the best decision for your surgical needs. 

The Psychology of Breast Augmentation Surgery

It was Ulla, the sassy showgirl from The Producers, which delighted audiences with the song, “If You’ve Got It Flaunt It”:

When I was just a little girl in Sweden

My thoughtful mother gave me this advice

If nature blesses you from top to bottom

Show that top to bottom don’t think twice.

It is a lively number belted out with confidence and pizzazz. But it wasn’t just Ulla’s voice that made the song a hit; it was her voluptuous shape.

Although the songstress was overjoyed with what Mother Nature had given her, hundreds of thousands of women are not. They consider their breasts to be too small, a little saggy or a tad bit lopsided. And since 1962, these women have elected to permanently improve the size and shape of their cleavage with breast augmentation surgery.  

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a whopping 286,000 breast augmentations were performed in the United States in 2012. What is equally impressive is that for six years, this type of cosmetic surgery has topped the list as the favored cosmetic procedure in the country. So we know that there is something interesting to examine when it comes to the psychology behind breast augmentation.

First of all, let’s address the critics. There are those who believe the surgery is frivolous, a response to decades of pop culture inundation. Large breasted women are always featured in the media as the epitome of sexiness, and it isn’t any wonder that women want to emulate what they see on TV, in the movies and on stage.

However, there are hundreds of thousands of patients who have spoken up in defense of breast augmentation surgery. They claim it restored their femininity and self-confidence while rebalancing their shape.

So what motivates women to go under the knife? The psychology behind breast augmentation surgery is as diverse as the patients themselves.

Studies have shown that every human being has a mental image of his or her physical body. It is often subjective and may not match the way the world views him or her. For example, a woman may look in the mirror and see nothing but flaws. And yet, the world may see her body as being average. If this woman sees her flaws as an ongoing source of discouragement, she may look for a permanent fix.

We find that women are often disappointed with their bodies as adolescents. This is normal. However, if a woman was constantly teased for being flat chested as a teen, she may opt for breast augmentation as an adult in order to blend in with the crowd.  

This isn’t the only reason for a woman to opt for breast augmentation surgery. Some women may long for the volume they had before the days of breastfeeding. Others may want to rebalance their bodies after a mastectomy.

On the other hand, there are those who feel pressured into having the surgery. They believe that a voluptuous silhouette – like our showgirl, Ulla – would influence the love or behavior of another. In fact, these feelings are common for those experiencing a loss, break up or divorce. However, a “quick fix” is not a reason to undergo breast augmentation. Cosmetic surgeons often advise against pursing this kind of cosmetic surgery until the situation is resolved. At that point, the patient will be free to deal with the emotional and physical challenges of surgery and post-surgical treatment.

For those who have had breast augmentation surgery, they are usually ecstatic with the results. According to a Plastic Surgery Nursing report from the University of Florida researchers, women who have had breast augmentation surgery claim that it boosted their self-esteem and allowed them to feel more feminine and sexy.

These sentiments were echoed by Dr. Eric Swanson in patient study published in the May 2013 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He noted that women experienced improvements in their quality of life and self-esteem after their breast augmentation surgeries. Of the 225 patients involved in this five-year study, Dr. Swanson noted that 98% of breast augmentation surgery patients were delighted with the results.

If you are considering breast augmentation surgery, contact MedToGo today. We have a highly qualified team of cosmetic surgeons who are happy to help you every step of the way – from the decision making process to stepping out into the world with confidence and pizzazz, just like Ulla. 

Sources:

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/news-and-resources/2012-plastic-surgery-statistics.html

http://www.songlyrics.com/the-producers/when-you-got-it-flaunt-it-lyrics/