Archive for March, 2010

The “Bigger” Disease – Preventing prior to Breast Enhancement Surgery

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

The Bigger disease is highly contagious and usually sets in about six months after breast augmentation surgery. When breast implants are first put in all patients look too big tight and high before the skin and muscles relax. I prepare my patients extensively for this so they don’t panic. Next comes what I call the honeymoon period. As about 3 weeks rolls around the implants start to settle but still have that push up bra look without the push up bra. While these breasts don’t yet look natural patients get used to the dramatic fullness so when the implants fall into their most natural location Patients begin to think “gee, I should have gone bigger”.

The best way to treat the bigger disease is prevention. In my cosmetic surgery practice I have a few rules of thumb when considering breast augmentation.

1.) We talk about the bigger disease from the get go so patients can incorporate it into their breast implant size decision making. If the patient is agonizing between two implant sizes I will generally urge on the side of slightly fuller because implants tend to look smaller inside the body than they do in sizing bra’s.

2.) We size implants extensively at the initial consult (I think trying on actual implants is the best method), and we have pretty much an open door policy encouraging women to try on breast implant sizers as many times as they like before the surgery. It is best to be confident of your decision before the day of surgery. Each of my offices is stocked with high, moderate and low profile sizers for your breast.

3.) Bring a friend, relative or significant other to your sizing session along with a work blouse, casual blouse or sweater and even exercise clothes. It’s good to have a second opinion from a friend or loved one. Making sure that you are comfortable in work and play clothing is important as well.

If you’re considering breast enhancement contact my office today to schedule a consultation. I look forward to helping you achieve a sense of balance through breast augmentation.

So what exactly is a mommy makeover?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

The term “mommy makeover” gets used a lot on web sites and in marketing. In my own practice I call it post partum restoration which I think sounds more professional. Weather its makeover or restoration the goal is the same. It’s about making women who have had children feel normal again and it is one of the most rewarding parts of my practice. There are usually two components to this kind of restoration: breast enhancement and rejuvenation of the abdomen.

Breast enhancement:

In a rather cruel way the breasts enlarge with childbearing but they often deflate after weaning leaving even less volume than before pregnancy. My patients who have had children complain of feeling “deflated” after pregnancy and they just want to feel normal again, nothing more, nothing less. Through breast augmentation or breast lift and sometimes both I help to restore the balance of what used to be.

Tummy enhancement:

The other part of “mommy makeover” is the tummy. While sometimes the skin of the tummy will shrink back well after delivery, often it does not. Some women will do well with their first pregnancy but not with the second. The usual treatment here is tummy tuck. What! , tummy tuck, not liposuction? Yes, when the skin becomes loose, wavy saggy or irregular it needs to be tightened. Liposuction makes skin looser not tighter. I guide my patients by pinching on their tummies. If the skin tone is good (which is unusual postpartum) I will recommend liposuction. If the skin is loose I may recommend full or mini tummy tuck depending on how much I can pinch.

“My husband says I should just go to the gym and work it off…” is something I hear daily. What the men often don’t understand is that the problem isn’t the muscles at all. The problem is the “overstretched” skin. Women with loose skin who diet, exercise and do everything right usually see weight loss. Paradoxically the weight loss leads to even more loosening of the skin and greater need for tummy tuck.

If you feel loose or deflated after child bearing and would like to be evaluated please contact our office today.