General Tips

• Buy plenty of groceries, including canned and frozen foods, before the surgery. That will be one less thing to worry about while you are recovering.
• Have ice bags all ready in your home. The hospital or medical center may supply you with some, but you will probably need more.
• Arrange for a family member or close friend to accompany you during this time. If someone cannot commit to a long period, at least arrange for him or her to visit you periodically.
• Get all your prescriptions filled before the surgery.

Procedure-Specific Tips

• Breast Augmentation – The pain can be quite significant after the initial painkillers wear off. Avoid the need for excessive medication by keeping your breasts in the surgical bra.

• Tummy Tuck – You can remove dressings after 24 hours but not the steri-strips. These are tape-like dressings that adhere to the surface of your skin. Let them fall off on their own. Though you may be allowed to shower after a day, avoid immersing yourself in water until your doctor lets you. This is usually several weeks after your drain is removed.

• Facelift – Swelling is one of the biggest problems after this surgery. Minimize the problem by keeping your head elevated for two to three days. This will also reduce total recovery time.

• Liposuction – Swelling and a small amount of drainage from the incisions are normal during plastic surgery recovery. However, watch these areas closely for signs of infection, such as pus or a foul odor.

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Facelift – The purpose of this surgery is to reduce or erase wrinkling in the facial features. The surgeon cuts away portions of skin and stretches the remainder over the facial bones. This works primarily for the neck and jowls. The eyes are not altered with a standard facelift.

Eyelid Surgery – Sometimes, patients are happy overall with their faces but one aspect seems out of place. Often, eyelids can swell or wrinkle to such an extent that they appear older than the rest of the face. Known as blepharoplasty, this procedure removes some of the bulging fat and loose skin of the upper and lower eyelids.

Ear Surgery – Also called otoplasty, this procedure is used to pin back the ears of people who are unsatisfied with the way that they protrude.

Chin Reduction – This procedure chisels away bone from the chin in order to bring it more in line with the patient’s desired appearance.

Chin Augmentation – Other patients prefer a stronger chin than the one that they have. An implant increases the chin size but patients with significant chin regression may require mandibular lengthening procedures performed by a maxillofacial surgeon.

Cheek Augmentation – Cheek augmentation may use facial implants, but this implant may be associated with asymmetry and distortion and is rarely used. Cheek implants are performed much less frequently because fat injections can restore superior fullness of the cheek without the potential problems with a facial implant.

All of these facial cosmetic surgery procedures have the goal of returning a more youthful appearance to the features of the patient’s face. For more information on any of these procedures or others, please contact a certified cosmetic surgeon.

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What Is a Mastectomy?

When a woman discovers that she has breast cancer, she often has many choices in regards to treatment. However, when the cancer has advanced considerably, doctors may advise her to get a mastectomy instead of risking a further spread of the malignancy. Sometimes, doctors will even recommend a mastectomy for non-cancerous breasts that demonstrate a high likelihood of becoming cancerous.

What is a Mastectomy

Doctors remove breast tissue that is either cancerous or pre-cancerous. Sometimes, this essentially involves the removal of an entire breast, including even the nipples and lymph nodes.

Recovering from a Mastectomy

Mastectomies are difficult to recover from both mentally and physically. The loss of a woman’s breast or breasts affects her femininity and self-image. The diagnosis of cancer and the debilitating treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be exhausting and lead to depression and chronic fatigue. Postoperative pain, numbness, and prolonged need for drainage tubes are usually the major concerns of the early postoperative period.

The pain can be controlled with painkillers. If the medication that your doctor gives you for this stage of your recovery does not seem to quell the pain sufficiently, alert him or her. This may mean that there is a problem, or it may simply mean that you a need a different dosage or even a different painkiller.

The extent of the mastectomy and the pain involved may make it difficult to eat. If this is anticipated, you may wake up from the surgery with an IV drip in your arm. This will support you nutritionally until you are able to eat. You will probably remain on this IV until you are ready to leave the hospital. That may take anywhere from 24 hours to a few days.

The wound will probably drain noticeably. This is normal. Tubes will carry these fluids away from your body. The drainage tubes are a difficult part of the mastectomy recovery. These tubes sometimes need to be left in place for weeks and can be irritating and uncomfortable.

Being prepared prior to surgery usually helps with postoperative stress. When you come home, you should have an area of the house already prepared. You should be able to lie down and not need to get up for any reason. You can accomplish this by putting certain things close to your recovery space, such as remote controls, water bottles, and ice bags. You should also arrange for someone to stay with you for at least the first few days and visit you throughout your recovery. Some insurance companies pay for a home health nurse to visit postoperatively while recovering from a mastectomy.

As your surgical wound heals, you will need to keep it clean. This means that you will have to change the dressing, or someone will have to come do this for you. A nurse may be available during the earliest stages of this recovery, but you or someone else will have to learn how to clean the wound and replace bandages.

What Now?

As you complete the initial recovery, you will be able to see more and more of your scars. You will need to consider how you are going to deal with them in the near future. Some people choose to get skin grafts from other parts of their bodies to cover the scar tissue. In order to achieve an even closer resemblance to their bodies before damage occurred, many women schedule surgery for breast implants. This allows them to recover their figure and their appearance after a successful mastectomy. The remaining question, after choosing breast implants, is how long to wait. Women need to discuss this with their surgeons since their initial recovery will impact how soon they can have another surgery.

Recovering from a mastectomy can be a difficult and emotional experience, but it is important to consider your health and options. Finding a cosmetic surgeon that you are comfortable with is essential. Options to regain your original figure are available.

The post Recovering from a Mastectomy: What are Your Options appeared first on Center for Cosmetic Surgery.

When you look for affordable cosmetic surgery, remember to watch out for a few key things. You should be looking very closely, as usual, at the qualifications of your surgeon. You should also consider which professional is the best suited for the procedure that you are seeking.

Credentials and Qualifications

When you find a great, low price for the cosmetic surgery that you need, stop and think about the background of the surgeon before anything else. Most surgeons are quite proud of their credentials and will post them on the walls of their offices and lobbies. If you cannot see your surgeon’s diplomas and degrees, that should be a warning for you. He or she almost certainly has a medical degree, but there may be something that is not reassuring to patients, such as a lack of specialized training. Look to see if your surgeon is certified by the prestigious American Board of Plastic Surgery. Board certification in this profession shows that a surgeon has completed the rigorous training to achieve optimal performance in cosmetic surgery. Most patients don’t realize that only plastic surgeons are allowed to do cosmetic surgery in hospital operating rooms. Cosmetic surgery requires skill and experience. Do not be afraid to ask for confirmation of credentials.

Is He or She Right for the Procedure?

Sometimes, you find a great price for a procedure, but you have to wonder if the right person is offering it. This happens often with Botox injections. You can find incredibly inexpensive options for this procedure in malls and informal clinics. However, you should consider whether it is a good idea to get these injections from narrowly trained technicians rather than fully qualified surgeons.

You should not rush into affordable cosmetic surgery. Slow down after you find a deal or discount. Verify that the surgeon behind the deal is going to save you real money in the long-term with skill and accountability.

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Tummy Tuck Preparation for Surgery

Avoid

You will have to avoid certain medications and supplements before you undergo surgery. Your surgeon will give you a list of such items to avoid. This is a very important list because these drugs may be those that interfere with blood clotting or with the function of anesthesia. Inform your surgeon about every drug that you take. Obey rules about avoiding meals prior to surgery as well.

Shop

Be domestically ready for your recovery. Surgical tape, 4×4 gauze, and other surgical pads are helpful to place on the incisions after surgery. Antibiotic ointment and Aquaphor can be applied to incisions after the tape is removed. Gentle laxatives and fiber are also helpful, as constipation is sometimes a problem after an abdominoplasty. Buy all the food that you will need while you are recovering in your home. Get a lot of canned and frozen items that will not require a lot of effort to cook. Order and acquire all of your prescriptions before surgery and have them ready at home. You will also want to prepare as many small bags of ice to help you deal with swelling afterward.

Prepare

Create an area in your home that will be your recovery zone. This will be the place where you will sit or lie for several days, possibly. Keep critical items within arm’s reach so that you do not hurt yourself wandering around the house. Necessary items include cell phones, ice, Kleenex, water supply, remote controls, thermometer, computer, and any other things you feel you may need.

Philosophical Tummy Tuck Preparation

You should also be ready to make some changes in your lifestyle. If you want to avoid the discomfort of this procedure again, you may want to consider changes to your diet and your lifestyle. It is best to begin these changes before you are recovering from surgery.

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When Male Breast Reduction Surgery Is Necessary

The phenomenon of enlarged male breasts is known as gynecomastia. The term phenomenon describes it because it does not appear to be a disease and apparently has many possible sources. When men suffer from this condition, their breasts appear much larger than normal and have a feminine appearance.  In severe cases, drooping or sagging may occur to such an extent that some men need to wear supportive devices similar to women’s bras in order to avoid discomfort.

Different Origins of Gynecomastia

This enlargement may only affect one breast or it may affect both. The reasons behind such abnormal development vary. In some cases, it is simply a matter of too much weight. Obesity can contribute significantly to the likelihood of gynecomastia. Even after losing significant amounts of weight, these men can still retain their overly large breast tissue. Other reasons for the enlargement seem to be genetic. Some boys will simply develop larger breasts during puberty. In some cases, these recede without treatment but not always. Certain foods and drugs have been tied to male breast enlargement as well. The use of anabolic steroids in sports has resulted in breast enlargement.  Other causes such as marijuana use, prostate cancer treatment, and other medical drugs have been associated with breast development in men as well.  The scientific community admits, however, that many cases seem to occur for unidentifiable reasons.

It is important to do a thorough medical work-up prior to scheduling this procedure. Pituitary tumors and testicular tumors may be responsible for gynecomastia, so a series of blood tests should be ordered to determine any potentially underlying causes.

Surgical treatment of gynecomastia is not covered by insurance. Candidates for male breast reduction surgery are of relatively normal weight and are healthy. The best candidates for this procedure have firm but elastic skin. This characteristic allows their skin to reshape itself after the removal of significant amounts of tissue.

Many doctors will look to see that the patient seems to be in good mental health. The development of the breasts must have been stabilized by the time you are scheduled for surgery. Patients who have not tried to lose weight may be discouraged from trying this surgical solution.

In removing the tissue during surgery, doctors have many of the same options that they have with women. Typically, however, they will enter near the areola, or nipple. This will help reduce the visibility of scar tissue because they make the incision near the border of the nipple and the surrounding tissue.

Surgeons may use liposuction to remove the excess fatty tissue inside the breast, or they may instead prefer to cut away the glandular tissue. The surgical correction of this condition most commonly utilizes both liposuction and surgical excision of breast tissue together. Sometimes, men will ask to have liposuction done to other parts of their bodies during this procedure. This combination of procedures is becoming common in cosmetic surgery.

The surgery will take approximately 2-3 hours. When patients wake up, they usually need prescription painkillers to control the pain. Recovery may take several weeks. During that time, the patient should avoid strenuous labor and only attempt light activities when the doctor has cleared him for it. Patients also need to refrain from exposing scar tissue to the sun for some time. Possible side effects will include numbness and/or a burning sensation in the area of the surgery as well as bruising and swelling surrounding the incision.

There are many benefits from a procedure like this. Shedding excess fatty tissue from any part of the body is usually a boost to health. The results are permanent and usually leave the patient with a contoured chest that may also boost self-confidence. For more information about male breast reduction surgery, potential candidates should talk with their primary physician or a board certified plastic surgeon.

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Both of these procedures are safe with regard to pregnancy. However, each has a possible impact on your ability to nurse your child. The impact can vary depending on the type of procedure you have and the incisions being used. There are many personal factors as well that will play into your ability to breast feed your baby. Consider which operation you are planning on having and think about the possible consequences and outcomes listed here.

Pregnancy After Breast Augmentation

There are two things that you should think about in regard to pregnancy after undergoing augmentation of your breasts. The first issue regards your ability to breastfeed. The other issue is the impact that pregnancy may have on breasts that have been artificially enhanced.

Any impact on breastfeeding has little to do with the types of implants that you get. Saline and silicone do not have disparate impacts. The type of incisions used to insert the implants, however, can be very significant.

In general, women whose implants are inserted through incisions under the fold of the breast or in the armpits (also known as axillary incisions) have a better chance of successfully nursing their children. There is less disruption of the critical tissues surrounding the nipple. However, women who undergo any sort of breast surgery may experience unusual discomfort during attempts to breastfeed. Doctors and mothers need to make decisions on a case-by-case basis with regard to breast feeding.

Incisions in the area of the areola, or nipples, can be problematic. Some women manage to breast feed their children successfully after augmentations performed through such incisions but their numbers are fewer. There is also greater discomfort with these cases. Many of these women have to abandon attempts to breastfeed and switch to bottle feeding.

Regardless of the type of incision, there is also sometimes a lasting impact on the appearance of women’s breasts when they have previously undergone augmentation. All women’s breasts will increase in size in response to birth and breast feeding. Afterward, when children transition to bottle feeding or to solid foods, breasts lose some of that size. In cases where women have had breast augmentation surgery, this subsequent loss in volume may cause the appearance of loose skin or significantly affect the appearance of the upper portions of their breasts.

Pregnancy After Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is different than augmentation because nothing artificial or foreign is added to the breasts during the procedure. This ultimately means that there is much less chance of the operation having a significant impact on a woman’s ability to breastfeed. However, women should consult with their physicians with regard to the location of incisions and the effect on the tissues surrounding the areolae.

Just like those of other women, the breasts of women who have undergone reduction will swell in size in response to hormones during and after pregnancy. This swelling will occur due to the arrival of the mother’s milk in the breast tissue. After breastfeeding stops, the breasts will lose most or all of the volume gained. This may result in some sagging, but this occurs even with breasts that have not been altered surgically.

The most important issue involved in this matter is the recovery time after surgery. Since breasts can undergo some transformation even early in a pregnancy, women should wait until recovery from surgery is complete before they become pregnant.  Many doctors will recommend waiting at least three months after either type of surgery to avoid any complications with pregnancy after breast augmentation or reduction.

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What Is a Post Bariatric Body Lift?

This is a surgical procedure to surgically excise all of the leftover tissue. It is much like any other surgical procedure, only the patient is removing essentially healthy tissue rather than correcting a fault or injury in their body. The purpose is to cut away the extra flesh. This also accomplishes a minimal amount of weight loss, but the effect is mostly cosmetic. However, it is important to note that this surgery does cause scarring where the tissue is cut away.

The Best Candidates for This Procedure

This operation is not for everyone. You need to be in good physical shape to undergo this procedure. This is not a gastric bypass or any other such form of bariatric surgery. Instead, this is the sort of surgery that occurs after a person has already lost a great deal of weight and is now in good physical shape. Often, such people have returned from being very out of shape and have discovered that their skin was so stretched that it would not conform to their new weight.

Preparation for Surgery

Your doctor will give you very specific instructions for how to prepare for this surgery. Typical guidelines will include dietary restrictions. This will include refraining from most supplements and vitamins for at least a couple weeks before the procedure. Smoking must absolutely be avoided for at least a month prior to surgery. You should also avoid getting sunburned during this time period. Your surgeon will ask you to inform him if you get a cold before the operation so that it can be postponed.

You should learn whether your particular surgery will be an inpatient or outpatient procedure. If it will be outpatient, you should probably have someone available to drive you or escort you home after the anesthesia wears off.

Location of Procedure

The location will most likely depend on the extent of the procedure. If the surgeon is going to remove a relatively minor amount of skin, then he or she may very well schedule the operation in a surgical center or an ambulatory outpatient facility. Greater interventions may require location in a hospital in case there are complications.

The Operation

A post bariatric body lift could take as little as two hours or more than five, depending on how much is to be removed. The surgeon may schedule multiple surgeries rather than one long procedure to be safer. There will be scarring, but the doctor may be able, in your case, to disguise these to some extent by utilizing certain locations on the skin.

Risks

Every surgery has certain risks involved. Surgeons successfully perform thousands of these operations each year. Certain complications, though rare, occur with some frequency. These are blood clots and infections. This should not overly concern you. Doctors can treat such complications with antibiotics or by draining specific areas affected by clots. Complications such as poor healing are more common with smokers. If slow healing occurs, an additional procedure may be necessary.

Recovery

Do not be surprised if the incisions leak a little. Bandages will be applied and fluids may be drained with a small tube. It may take a few weeks for incisions to heal completely under good conditions. You should expect that heavy exertion will be impossible during the first few days. Your doctor will give you instructions about returning to normal activity in stages after your post bariatric body lift.

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In the 1990s, several people leveled accusations at the manufacturers of silicone breast implants. Some implants had ruptured, and patients suggested that any number of maladies struck them as a result. More than a decade of testing and observation by the FDA showed that breast implant ruptures could cause discomfort but not anything as serious as the accusations suggested.

Given a long enough period of time, any implant is likely to rupture.  Implants are not expected to last a patient’s lifetime.  If a patient chooses to have an implant, she should understand that at some time, she will need to have that implant removed and replaced.

If an implant does rupture, you may be able to tell from a few likely symptoms. Otherwise unexplained breast pain can indicate many different things, but a ruptured implant is one possibility. If it is a rupture, then the breast may change shape or suffer an alteration in contour. In addition, you may see lumps form on the exterior of the breast or even notice a hardening at the surface.

When an implant is put in place, the breast heals, and a fibrous tissue typically forms around the implant. This tissue may be so strong that a rupture will go unnoticed as the fluid or silicone is effectively trapped within this network of fibers. There is little danger associated with such a condition.

If the rupture is noticeable and causes discomfort, the best thing to do is visit a doctor and schedule a procedure to have the implant removed or replaced. Removal may entail a breast lift to preserve some of the previous appearances of the breasts. Replacement would have to happen anyway at some point. In any case, breast implant ruptures should not be ignored. Having your surgeon assess the situation is always the best option.

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Incisions Generally Free of Complications

If your surgeon performs an implantation procedure using axillary (under-the-armpit) incisions or incisions under the fold of the breast, then you will not likely have problems breastfeeding. Even so, breastfeeding can be complicated and awkward for new mothers under any conditions. If you experience some discomfort initially, you may want to get some guidance from a lactation counselor before giving up.

Possibly Troublesome Situations

Incisions made around the areola of the breasts are more likely to cause trouble during breastfeeding. When problems occur, they are typically noted by the engorgement of the breast as milk comes in to the breast but cannot find a way out. This condition, known as mastitis, can bring on alternating fever and chills.

When patients get breast implants due to severe underdevelopment, there is greater distortion involved. These women will also experience higher likelihood of complications, even if the incisions were made away from the areola. They may attempt to nurse their babies, but they should know that the chances of success are lower.

In the end, implant patients should not assume one way or the other how their breastfeeding may go. Each mother that is interested in nursing should make attempts at breast feeding after implants. If milk production is feasible but reduced much by the implants, the infant will probably need supplementation with formula. If you decide that you cannot nurse your child, medical professionals will guide you through the process of bottle feeding and helping your body shut down milk production.

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