Plastic Surgery News

Breast Augmentation Surgery: The Facts About What to Expect Post-Procedure

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doctor-consults-with-female-patientWith over 380,000 procedures performed in the U.S. in 2019, breast augmentation is one of the most popular and common plastic surgeries offered. Like any other surgical procedure, there are common and normal symptoms you should expect to experience after your surgery. However, every recovery period is different and our physicians will provide you with a customized aftercare plan specifically for you! Below are a few of the more common things to expect post-procedure.

There is a two to six week recovery period.
The amount of time it takes to fully recover varies from person to person and depends on a number of factors. Typically, most patients are expected to recover in two to six weeks. In the first week, it is common to experience stiffness and soreness in the chest area. You will need to wear a support bra, which helps to reduce swelling and any discomfort you may experience. In addition, you should avoid heavy lifting, high, impact exercises and upper body strength activities. However, we’ve seen that most patients are able to return to work within a few days to a week after their procedure. Between weeks two through six, it’s important to minimize physical activity and be gentle with your breasts for at least a month. Long-term care includes scheduling routine visits with your plastic surgeon, mammograms and performing self breast checks regularly.

The first 48 hours are normally the most painful.
After your breast augmentation, stretching the breast tissue can be painful, but it will quickly improve and relax with time. The majority of your discomfort post-procedure will be gone after the first 48 hours. The pain will decrease each day and can be minimized with pain relievers, light chest massages we can show you and your support bra.

Some common symptoms can be experienced.
In the same way that a plastic surgery recovery period varies, the symptoms that patients experience vary as well. Some common symptoms can include: breasts feeling tight or sensitive to the touch, warm and itchy skin, difficulty raising your arms, discoloration, light redness and swelling. Most of these symptoms will improve and disappear early on during the recovery period and your surgeon will give you more details about what to expect or when. However, if any of your symptoms last longer than expected, contact us directly if necessary or follow the instructions we provided to you.

At Atlanta Plastic Surgery, our surgeons are dedicated to providing you with the best care possible and making sure your recovery period goes smoothly. We provide each patient with detailed recovery plans tailored to your needs and our plastic surgeons will schedule any follow-up appointments you need after your surgery. If you’re interested in breast augmentation at any of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, or Cumming locations, please reach out to us to schedule a consultation today. In addition, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more tips, news and updates.

The Added Medical Benefits of Cosmetic Surgery

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Benefits-gauge-on-highThe benefits of plastic surgery are more wide-reaching than many people might realize. Although cosmetic surgery procedures are typically intended to treat aesthetic concerns, the mental and emotional impact of these changes to a person’s appearance can be significant. And this is before even getting into the potential medical benefits of certain cosmetic procedures. Our expert plastic surgeons wanted to take some time to detail the outstanding medical benefits some of our most in-demand plastic surgery procedures can provide our patients.

Tummy Tuck

It’s natural for muscles in the abdomen to become damaged or separated over time for some people. This is especially common during pregnancy. Tummy tuck surgery can help repair this muscle damage to fortify the abdominal wall. Doing so can help improve a person’s posture while treating and preventing potential hernias. In some cases, undergoing a tummy tuck may even be able to help treat the effects of stress urinary incontinence.

Rhinoplasty

In addition to helping patients alter the size and shape of their nose, undergoing rhinoplasty surgery can offer certain benefits to a person’s health as well. Rhinoplasty may be used to address breathing issues like a deviated septum or other structural nasal obstructions. For some patients who have experienced a nasal fracture, a rhinoplasty can be used to restore the appearance of the nose and prevent other harmful side effects like potential blood clotting.

Breast Reduction

Larger breasts mean heavier breasts. And this added weight in the chest area can put additional pressure on a woman’s spine over time, leading to back pain and posture issues. Many women who undergo breast reduction surgery also experience relief from existing neck and shoulder pain.

Although they may not be the primary reason that a patient chooses to undergo his or her cosmetic procedure, these medical benefits can be a fantastic bonus for people interested in improving their appearance with plastic surgery. If you want to learn more about the plastic surgery procedures we perform, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation at one of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Canton area locations today. You can also follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and much more.

Men are More Comfortable with Cosmetic Surgery Than Ever Before

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three-males-smilingCosmetic surgery is for everyone. Despite the decades-long perception that cosmetic procedures were only intended to help women, more men than ever before are turning to plastic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic treatments to help improve some aspect of their appearance. To help explain this phenomenon and how plastic surgery can help male patients, we wanted to discuss some of the reasons for this recent surge in interest among male plastic surgery patients and which cosmetic procedures are most in-demand among this group.

Perhaps the main reason for this change is simply changing standards and preferences in our society. Men today are more concerned with personal grooming and wanting to look their best. In addition to the social stigma around cosmetic surgery for men disappearing, advancements in cosmetic surgery techniques may also be a contributing factor. In the past, some male patients were concerned that undergoing a plastic surgery procedure might make them look feminine. However, we are able to use plastic surgery to not only maintain, but enhance, the more masculine features of our male patients.

There are more functional reasons for men seeking cosmetic improvement as well. The world of business has never been more competitive. In order to stay vital in a crowded marketplace, it is of critical importance to feel and look younger. For many men, this may begin by using cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic treatments to treat common visible signs of aging like wrinkles and lines on the face, bags under the eyes, and more. The boost in self-esteem that comes with an improved appearance can make all the difference for guys trying to stay ahead at work.

Cosmetic procedures for the face and body are both currently very popular with male patients. Last year, liposuction was the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure for men. Common liposuction areas for male patients include the flanks (love handles), chest, neck, and back. Other popular procedures for men include male breast reduction to treat gynecomastia, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty.

Our surgeons here at Atlanta Plastic Surgery have considerable experience performing plastic surgery on male patients and fully understand how to tailor every procedure to the needs and preferences of each individual patient. We pride ourselves on providing outstanding, long-lasting plastic surgery results with the professionalism and discretion that all of our patients deserve. For more information on the cosmetic and reconstructive procedures that we perform, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery at one of our Atlanta and Alpharetta locations today. And follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter, for more plastic surgery tips, photos, and updates.

Liposuction: What it Can & Cannot Do

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female-torso-problem-areas-outlinedIt’s important for a patient to go into their cosmetic surgery procedure with a positive mindset and realistic expectations. And one of the best ways we work to establish realistic, measured expectations is to educate our patients on their specific procedures and the results that each procedure (can and cannot) help them achieve. Liposuction is an outstanding procedure that can help patients remove small amounts of unwanted fat from areas all over the body. However, that doesn’t mean that it is a one-size-fits-all way to treat any body contouring concern. Keep reading for more information on liposuction and what it is capable of.

Liposuction can help both male and female patients. In fact, according to the annual statistical report collected by the Aesthetic Society, liposuction was the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure for men and the second most commonly performed for women in the US last year. Some areas of the face and body that are most in-demand with both male and female patients include the upper arms, back, abdomen, and neck (to treat “double-chin”).

Liposuction cannot be used to replace breast reduction surgery. For women who wish to reduce the size and volume of their breasts, liposuction can only help so much. While it’s true that fat is often removed during breast reduction, excess tissue and skin will also need to be removed in order to achieve the results that breast reduction patients expect. In some cases, liposuction of the chest can help some men treat male breast enlargement, but male breast reduction will be required to treat true gynecomastia.

Liposuction can create useful fat for fat transfer injections. Fat transfer involves purifying the fat that is removed during liposuction and safely re-injecting it to add volume to a different area of the patient’s face or body. This procedure is commonly performed to help rejuvenate lost volume in the cheek area of the face, buttocks (this is known as the Brazilian Butt Lift), as well as the breasts to create a modest, subtle increase in breast volume.

Liposuction cannot be replicated with diet and exercise. Eating right and working out regularly can definitely help shed unwanted fat, but in many cases, the fat removed during liposuction is stubborn and may not respond to even the healthiest habits. Liposuction is a safe and proven method to remove small patches of diet-resistant fat once and for all.

If you are interested in liposuction and think that you might be a good candidate for this procedure, please don’t hesitate to contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation at one of our Atlanta area locations today. You can also follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and much more.

Plastic Surgery Results: Long-Lasting but Not Forever

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One of the most common misconceptions about plastic surgery among prospective patients is that the results of their surgery will last forever. Unfortunately, this is not the case. While it’s certainly true that in many cases, the results achieved from undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure can last for years, forever is simply not a realistic expectation. Proper post-surgical care and a healthy lifestyle can help extend the best-possible results for many patients. But even in these cases, natural changes that the body experiences over time can alter the results of a cosmetic procedure.

female-face-marked-for-surgeryThis doesn’t necessarily mean that the patient has done anything wrong. Over time, it’s only natural to experience sagging skin, wrinkles, sun damage, and other aesthetic imperfections that are part of the aging process. Additionally, weight fluctuation can alter the results of body contouring procedures like liposuction or tummy tuck surgery. To help our patients get a better idea of what they can expect going into their surgery, our experienced plastic surgeons have provided some facts on a few our most commonly performed cosmetic procedures and the results patients can anticipate:

Facelift:

Facelift surgery is intended to rejuvenate the face and give it a fresher appearance by surgically removing excess skin around the cheeks, jowls, and neck, while retightening the remaining skin and underlying tissue. Facelift results are meant to be long-lasting, but certain factors including the patient’s skin elasticity, sun exposure, and the natural aging process can influence their facelift results over time.

Breast Augmentation:

Breast augmentation can be an excellent way to help women who wish to increase the size and volume of their breasts. However, the breast implants used during a breast augmentation procedure are not intended to last forever. On average, breast implants typically last about 10 years. However, this can be longer in many cases. Over time, breast implants can begin to move and shift within the body, which may eventually cause them to wear down.

Liposuction:

Liposuction can help patients who have small areas of excess fat that cannot be removed with diet and exercise alone. During the procedure, fat cells are removed from the body using a device called a cannula. Although some patients believe that undergoing liposuction means that they will no longer have to exercise or maintain a healthy diet to retain their physique, this is not true. We advise our liposuction patients to reach their goal weight before their procedure and maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine following their surgery to maximize the results of their liposuction.

It’s important to emphasize that when a cosmetic procedure is performed by a skilled, experienced plastic surgeon like the experts here at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, the results are often quite long-lasting. However, patients should always know what to expect in advance and not get their hopes up for results that will last a lifetime. For more information on the cosmetic and reconstructive procedures that we perform, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery at one of our Atlanta area locations today. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, for more plastic surgery tips, photos, and updates.

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