There are a number of cosmetic procedures that are offered to patients who have undergone significant weight loss via surgical or non-surgical means. Each one may be an effective solution for the most appropriate situation:

Breast Augmentation

Pregnancy, breast cancer, and weight loss can cause breast sagging, breast deflation, and other inconsistencies between the shape and size of your breasts in relation to the rest of your body. Breast lifts are often recommended for women to reverse sagging, while breast implants can help restore volume and shape. For example, Dr. Robert Wald, a board certified plastic surgeon, often includes breast augmentation as part of a suite of cosmetic procedures designed for post-pregnancy patients in Orange County.

Tummy Tuck

The abdomen is one of the areas most prone to loose skin, stretch marks, and unevenness. Again, pregnancy often has a dramatic effect on the midsection. But loose skin can also mask the aesthetic benefits of weight loss via liposuction or exercise when 50 or more pounds are shed. Because of this, tummy tucks are often performed concurrently to liposuction or after a patient’s target weight loss goal has been reached through other means.

Liposuction

As counterintuitive as it may seem, liposuction surgery is often the best next course of action after a significant amount of weight has been lost. This is because of the way our bodies respond to fat burning exercise. As we grow older, fat tends to accumulate in areas that are affected disproportionately by natural weight loss methods. You could lose inches off your midsection but still have persistent fat around the neck, thighs, buttocks and other areas. Furthermore, the last few pounds of fat—no matter where they are located—are often the most difficult to eliminate. High precision, minimally invasive laser liposuction is often used to put the “finishing touch” on a body after significant weight loss has occurred.

In summary, cosmetic surgery can be helpful—and sometimes necessary—for correcting unevenness and defining shape after losing weight. Consult with a plastic surgeon for more details.

Share This!

Young girls are often influenced by the teen queens of television, movies, and music. So when they see their favorite actress dress a certain way it is no surprise that they immediately look for similar fashions. However, when they hear that their role models are going under the knife to enhance their appearance, teens seem to be opposed to the star’s decision. Most recently, Heidi Montag, star of “The Hills,” was a big upset to her young fans; Disney star Ashley Tisdale was also scrutinized for her surgery.

Although these stars are said to be a sort of example for their adoring fans, when it comes to plastic surgery, teens seem to getting smarter. Some state that they find their procedures unnecessary and make them look too plastic – more so in Montag’s case, who underwent facial surgery, breast augmentation, liposuction, and rhinoplasty. Tisdale addressed the surgery rumors by explaining that she had a deviated septum and therefore chose to correct the issue with nose surgery; this made more sense to her teen fans. Young girls are becoming more aware of plastic surgery at an early age and becoming educated on what looks natural and what looks fake – something that many stars may not be doing.

In Tucson, Jeffrey Nelson, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon who can help patients determine what procedure(s) is most appropriate to meet their needs. If you are interested in a face, breast, or body contouring procedure, you can learn more when visiting his website.

Share This!

Whether you blame it on the “young and invincible” mentality or the Gen-Z of the digital life, it’s clear that Gen-Y has a real issue with permanence. Among the young, rich and famous, no one understands this better than Heidi Montag, who recently came to the stark realization that when it comes to plastic surgery, there’s no undo button.

After undergoing dozens of cosmetic procedures—including breast augmentation, a brow lift, a nose job, ear surgery, a chin reduction, liposuction, buttock augmentation, fat injections and Botox—rumors are swirling that Montag’s brief love affair with cosmetic surgery has come to an end. Now, reports say that Montag regrets the amount of work she’s had done and wishes she looked like she used to.

While some non-invasive cosmetic procedures—such as Botox and chemical peels—are temporary by nature, most plastic surgery is fundamentally irreversible. With the exception of implants, which can be removed, surgical procedures permanently alter the shape of your body. As such, “reversing” the operation is impossible. In fact, the only effective solution is quite the opposite—you would have to undergo further surgery that would attempt to approximate your former appearance. This is potentially problematic. The epic saga of the late Michael Jackson’s ever-changing nose proves a cautionary tale against swallowing the spider to catch the fly via repeated corrective cosmetic surgeries.

It may be too late for Montag, but at the very least, she’s taught an important lesson to those considering plastic surgery. In some areas where cosmetic work is seeing a surge in popularity, such as Riverside County, liposuction, facelifts and other irreversible surgical procedures feel like the norm.   Montag’s change of heart allegedly stems from marital strife—but social pressure, career moves and other external shifts can also lead to reconsideration of plastic surgery. Many Newport Beach breast augmentation patients may be able to attest to this.

While plastic surgery doesn’t typically end in regret, those who are considering having permanent changes done to their body should always make sure they are doing it for the right reasons. They should also consider the long-term impacts on their social life and professional careers.

Share This!

Many have come to the conclusion that the change yielded by plastic surgery is strictly superficial. But the truth is more complex than that.

Dismissing all plastic surgery patients as vain is incredibly crass, particularly when considering the roots of cosmetic plastic surgery and the modern facelift. While the very first rhinoplasty surgeries can be traced back to 2000 BC, reconstructive facial procedures rose to prominence following World War I and World War II. Drs. Harold Gillies and Archibald McIndoe helped many wounded veterans correct the permanent disfigurements left over from battle. Rectifying these physical scars proved to be an instrumental part of healing the emotional and psychological scars that many soldiers bear after experiencing the violence of combat. The same reconstructive facial work that these doctors pioneered has helped plastic surgeons treat children born with facial deformities, such as cleft lips and malformed ears.

Likewise, modern breast augmentation procedures also hearken back to reconstructive surgeries. Breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomy surgeries often feel incomplete, even after making a full recovery from the cancer treatment. Breast implants and other cosmetic surgeries can help them feel more feminine, completing the healing process that extends beyond medical treatment.

Another example of lifechanging plastic surgery is embodied in the “Mommy Makeover.” While the emotional hardships of motherhood are relatively more mundane than those faced by soldiers and cancer survivors, the theme of sacrifice and recovery is still significant. Most women’s bodies will be irrevocably changed after childbirth. While nearly all mothers gladly undertake this burden for the sake of their children, afterwards, many women find that plastic surgery can help them restore their confidence and self esteem. Dr. Robert Wald, an Orange County tummy tuck specialist and certified plastic surgeon, often helps mothers feel more like themselves after pregnancy. Many families consider a makeover a well-deserved reward for the selfless gift of giving birth.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder—but oftentimes, the problems that cosmetic surgery treats are rooted from deeper emotional afflictions. Correcting these imperfections can be an integral part of moving beyond frustrating, painful, and traumatic experiences.

Share This!

It seems as though just about anyone can have his/her own reality show on television these days, or at least be a part of one. The new VH1 show “You’re Cut Off!” features nine very pampered and fortunate “spoilistas” who find out that they have been cut off from their family fortune. One of the participants, Erica Rose, may be familiar to those who watch ABC’s “The Bachelor” since she is a former contestant. She is also the daughter of a prominent Houston, Texas plastic surgeon, Dr. Franklin Rose.

Aside from the luxuries of her family’s wealth, Rose also has her father’s practice and medical spa at her disposal. Along with nose surgery, she regularly undergoes Botox ® injections to maintain her youthful appearance, although she is only in her mid 20s. The idea behind the new reality series is much like a “princess rehab” to help them realize that they must change their ways or be cut off for good. By undergoing plastic surgery procedures at such a young age, they can become addicted and reach a point when they no longer look younger, but disfigured. The media’s pressure to look perfect leads young women, like Houston’s Erica Rose, to undergo breast augmentation, liposuction, and/or tummy tuck surgery. However, most of these procedures may be better suited for women who are slightly older and no longer considering having children.

If you are interested in plastic surgery, it is best to consult with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon. In Houston, David R. Luethcke, M.D., F.A.C.S. performs various face, breasts, and body enhancing procedures. Prospective patients can learn more regarding their procedure on his website.

Share This!