Understanding the difference between breast augmentation and breast implants will help you make the right decision and choose a procedure that solves your specific breast issues. Our professionals at Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL will help you achieve the size and shape of breasts you desire. But, before then, here is a quick rundown of everything you need to know about breast enhancement and breast implants.

What Is the Difference Between Breast Augmentation and Breast Implants?

What Is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation, also known as breast enhancement, refers to a cosmetic surgical procedure that involves the placement of breast implants under the breast tissue or chest muscles. This procedure is mainly aimed at making the breasts fuller and bigger either for cosmetic reasons or for reconstructive purposes, like after undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer.

Sometimes, breast enhancement may involve autologous fat transfer from different parts of your body to the breasts to change the shape, size, or texture, depending on your individual goals. Perhaps you are still not sure if you should go ahead with your breast enhancement plan. You can decide to have your breasts enhanced for a variety of reasons, but how do you know if this procedure is the best for you?

Breast enhancement is for anyone who wishes to enlarge their breasts if they are naturally small or restore the shape and size of the breasts after breastfeeding, weight loss, or pregnancy. If your reasons fall in any of these categories, you too can achieve your breast aesthetic goals!

What Are Breast Implants?

A breast implant is a medical prosthesis that is placed inside a woman’s breast to reconstruct, create, or augment its physical appearance. The most common categories of breast implants are saline and silicone implants.

The saline implants are made up of a sterile saline solution, such as saltwater, that is held in an elastomer silicone shell. The amount of saline solution in the shell influences the breasts’ shape, firmness, and feel.

The silicone breast implants are made up of a silicone shell that is filled with silicone gel. Most women prefer this option because the implant feels almost the same as the natural breast. If you go for this option, you will be required to undergo regular check-ups to make sure that the implants are in perfect condition.

How to Choose the Right Breast Implant

Your choice of the most appropriate type of breast implant is not as easy as deciding between silicone and saline fill. Several factors will inform your decision. For instance, you need to decide on the shape of the implants. Do you want teardrop or round-shaped implants?

The texture of the implants is another factor to consider because some implants are textured while others are smooth. The overall size of the implants is also another aspect to consider. Additional features such as the body posture, proportion, and the elasticity of your skin may influence the size of the breast implant to use.

Regardless of what size you choose, avoid overly large implants because they may lead to breast ptosis or even cause shoulder and back problems.

Things to Know Before Having a Breast Augmentation

While breast augmentation is one of the commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in Florida and the whole of America, you need to know everything about this procedure before deciding to have it done. Here are a few critical issues you should know:

Fat Transfer or Implants

Silicone or saline implants are not the only options for breast enhancement. According to a report by the  American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there has been a 72% increase in the number of people using fat transfer to enhance their breasts since 2016.

Fat transfer involves the extraction of fat from different body parts, which is then injected into the breasts. This type of augmentation is limited to two cup sizes. If you are looking for something more than that, it is advisable you go for the implants.

Augmentation of Breasts Is Not a Quick-Fix to Sagging Breasts

Increasing the volume of your breasts if they are sagging will only exacerbate the appearance. A breast lift is a more suitable procedure if you want to correct sagging breasts.

This procedure involves repositioning of nipples and areolas and tightening and removing excess tissues. If you have been pregnant, or breastfeeding, combining augmentation and breast lift can guarantee you the best results.

Breast Implants Are Not Permanent

Despite the fact that modern breast implants are long-lasting and safe, they will need to be replaced after some time. The implants used today can go for over 10 years before they can be replaced. After getting breast implants, it is advisable you go for yearly check-ups. Specifically, if you have silicone implants, the FDA recommends you undergo MRI scanning three years after the procedure.

Incision Location

Considering the incision area is important, as the chosen location may interfere with your ability to breastfeed in the future. If you are planning to breastfeed later, notify your surgeon in advance. In such cases, your incisions will at the axilla or under the breasts as opposed to having them around the areola.

Placement of the Implants

You will need to make careful considerations about where the pocket implants are placed. The available options include sub-muscular and sub-glandular placement. The sub-muscular method, also known as the sub-pectoral, is done underneath the muscle, while the sub-glandular is done between the pectoral muscle and the mammary gland.

With the sub-glandular option, you will be more comfortable when breastfeeding, and it takes a shorter time to recover after the procedure. Additionally, the implant does not affect the function of the pectoralis muscle. For the sub-muscular placement, the muscle and tissue of the breasts are used to support the implant.

FAQs About Breast Augmentation

1. Am I a Perfect Candidate for Breast Enhancement?

Any woman can augment their breasts, but before you do, ensure that you are healthy and have definite goals. Breast enhancement is best for you if you have always desired to improve the shape of your body, boost the size of your breasts, or even want to match certain clothing styles.

If your breasts have changed in appearance and size after breastfeeding, augmentation is a perfect approach to shape, resize, and reposition them.

2. How Long Will I Take to Recover From the Surgery?

The time it takes to recover after a breast enhancement procedure varies from one person to the other. Most patients resume their normal duties after at least 48 hours. An expert at Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL will explain to you this aspect of the surgery during your consultation.

3. Will Augmentation Lift My Sagging Breasts?

Placing implants underneath your breasts can lift them moderately. The extent to which the lifting occurs varies from person to person and depends on the stretch of your skin, your specific characteristics, and the size of the implant used.

If you have sagging breasts, the best approach to reposition them is through a breast lift. However, in most cases, your surgeon may recommend a combination of augmentation and breast lift.

4. Does Breast Enhancement Cause Cancer?

With cancer associated with almost everything, most women are concerned that breast augmentation can cause or increase cancer susceptibility: but should you? Implants will not increase your chances of getting breast cancer.

5. Will I Need Additional Surgeries After Augmentation

Sometimes you may need additional surgeries to achieve optimal symmetry or the breast size and shape you need. Your surgeon will advise you about the need for other supporting procedures.

You may need to undergo other surgical procedures if the augmentation procedure results in any complications, such as capsular contracture or implant rupture. Breast implants are subject to aging, so with time, you may need to undergo several surgical procedures to address the effects of aging or gravity.

6. What If I Want to Breastfeed After Augmentation?

You can breastfeed after breast enhancement, but the implants should be placed strategically. Sub-muscular placement does not interfere with the functioning of your breasts. Make sure you notify your surgeon about your plans to breastfeed in the future so we can place the implants well to allow you to do so.

7. Can I Resume My Routine After Breast Enhancement?

How soon you can resume your daily activities will depend on the nature of your work and its physical demands. Regardless, you should avoid any upper arm movements within the first two weeks after the procedure. Do not lift anything that weighs over 5 pounds. If your work involves a lot of movements or heavy lifting, it is advisable to not work until it is safe to do so.

8. What Should I Expect?

The breast enhancement procedure is carried out under general anesthetic. Your surgeon will make an incision around the nipple, under the arm, or even under the breast. The choice of the incision location is influenced by several factors, including the degree of enlargement, your body, and the type of implant, among others. After the incision, the implant will be placed in a pocket below or above your chest muscle. We will then use surgical tape or sutures to close the cuts.

10. Am I Too Old for Breast Enhancement?

Age is an important aspect of consideration when planning for any surgery. Breast enhancement is recommendable for women in their 30s. However, this does not rule you out If you are past this age bracket. Many women in their 40s and 50s have had successful breast enhancement in the past. Irrespective of your age, we encourage scheduling for an initial consultation with a surgeon to help you establish the most appropriate direction for your cosmetic goals.

Achieve Your Breast Aesthetic Goals Today With Breast Augmentation

If you are looking for the most reliable solution for sagging, small, or uneven breasts after pregnancy, breastfeeding, surgery, or any other condition, look no further. Come visit us at Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL today for your initial consultation, and we will advise you accordingly.

We take pride in our state-of-the-art facility and a dedicated cosmetic enhancement team whose commitment is in giving the best quality of care to our clients. We are excited to help you take the next step in your breast augmentation journey.

Have pregnancies or weight loss left you with sagging and wrinkling skin on your lower abdomen? Would you like to tune up your abdominal area and achieve a sleek, sculpted, youthful silhouette? A mini tummy tuck, one of the cosmetic treatments offered at The Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL, could be the solution you’ve been searching for. This treatment, which is performed in our office, is relatively short and almost immediately tightens and flattens the abdominal area.

What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?

A mini tummy tuck, as its name implies, is essentially a modified version of a full Tummy Tuck. While a full Tummy Tuck reconstructs the entire abdominal area, this mini treatment focuses exclusively on the lower portion of the abdomen below the navel, which is an area that can be difficult to tone up with exercise.

Mini tucks are popular among women who want to get their pre-baby bodies back after bearing children. But men are also increasingly seeking out the treatment as a way of resolving the abdominal pouch or pudge that can develop as a person ages. And for some individuals, a Tummy Tuck is a way of adding tone and definition to the lower belly when diet and exercise have not offered results. Tummy Tucks are one of the most popular cosmetic body treatments in the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

What Happens During a Mini Tuck?

The treatment is fairly straightforward. A small incision will be made near your bikini line and excess skin and fat from the area will be removed. The remaining skin, and the internal abdominal muscles, will be pulled taut. The entire treatment usually takes an hour or two and is performed under general anesthesia, which means you will not feel any pain or discomfort. You’ll then spend some time in our recovery area before heading home.

What’s Recovery Like?

Depending on how active their jobs are, most patients return to work in roughly a week. During your recovery, you’ll wear a snug-fitting compression garment designed to encourage your abdominal skin to conform to the body’s new shape. We’ll encourage you to resume gentle exercise as soon as possible to keep your circulation at a healthy level and speed your recovery. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise should be avoided for several weeks.

When Will I See Results?

You’ll notice a change in the size and contour of your lower abdomen almost immediately after your treatment, and those results will continue to develop over the following months as your body completes the recovery process.

How Can I Tell if I Need a Mini or a Full Tummy Tuck?

It really comes down to where your problem area is. If your loose skin and pooching is confined to the area of the abdomen below your belly button, a mini treatment should be sufficient. Full Tummy Tucks, referred to in medical terms as abdominoplasty, are intended for patients who are struggling with sagging and abdominal heaviness both above and below the belly button. Mini tucks are usually faster, less aggressive treatments that involve a shorter recovery period.

Are the Results of a Tummy Tuck Permanent?

This treatment is generally considered to be a permanent treatment, but you’ll need to maintain your results by sticking to a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a careful diet. Your results will diminish if you gain a significant amount of weight later.

Will a Mini Tuck Help Me Get Rid of Stretch Marks?

A Tummy Tuck, particularly a mini tuck that focuses primarily on addressing the abdominal pouch, won’t always be able to take away stretch marks. Stretch marks, which sometimes develop during pregnancy, form when the skin tears deep below the surface because it can’t keep up with a quickly growing part of the body. If stretch marks are a particular concern for you, we can talk with you about the best way of treating them.

Who Qualifies for a Mini Tuck Treatment?

This treatment has been successfully performed on both men and women with a variety of different health backgrounds. There are several signs that you may be a good candidate for this treatment.

You’re Overall Health Is Good

It helps if you’re a non-smoker who’s in good overall health. If you have any underlying health conditions, share those with us during your consultation so we can determine if this treatment is appropriate for you. Tummy Tucks are not recommended for women who are pregnant. In fact, women are usually advised to postpone this treatment until after they are done having children.

You’re Close to Your Ideal Weight

A Tummy Tuck, whether it’s a full tuck or a mini one, should be viewed primarily as a body contouring treatment. It removes extra fat and skin from the area, leaving the patient with a firmer and more toned appearance, but it won’t help you lose a significant amount of weight. In fact, we recommend that patients who are planning weight loss shed the pounds first and get as close to their ideal weight as possible before treatment. If weight loss is your primary goal, your best bet is to pursue a diet and exercise plan.

Your Cosmetic Issues Are Confined to the Lower Abdomen

The mini tuck, in particular, focuses on flattening and firming the lower part of the abdomen: a part of the body that can be particularly vulnerable to sagging because of pregnancy, weight loss, and the natural aging process. It’s a tricky area to address with targeted exercises, which is why the mini tuck can be such a nice option for patients.

What Other Treatment Options Do I Have?

When it comes to toning and flattening your abdominal area, there are several treatments you can consider. Liposuction and CoolSculpting are two treatments offered by our practice that patients sometimes consider, although each has a slightly different approach.

Liposuction

Like a Tummy Tuck, liposuction is a slightly more involved treatment that involves anesthesia, a small incision, and a week or so of recovery. With liposuction, a long, thin tube is inserted through an incision to suction away unwanted fat. Liposuction can be performed on various parts of the body, including the tummy area. One difference between the two treatments is that while liposuction focuses on removing fatty deposits, a Tummy Tuck removes fat as well as excess skin.

CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting is a fat-removal treatment that basically kills off fat cells by freezing them. The lymphatic system then flushes those fat cells out of the body over a period of weeks. CoolSculpting is a non-invasive outpatient treatment that involves no downtime. Most patients, however, require multiple treatments.

CoolSculpting tends to be a less aggressive treatment, but it’s a good option for patients with just a bit of stubborn fat that they’re having trouble shedding. CoolSculpting generally does not resolve the problem of sagging or excess skin.

Can a Mini Tummy Tuck Be Combined With Other Treatments?

Some patients opt to combine a Tummy Tuck with one or more of the other cosmetic services we offer. Breast augmentation, facelifts, and arm lifts are among the treatments our patients often seek out.

What Is a Mommy Makeover?

Many patients come to us after their childbearing years and ask for a Mommy Makeover. A Mommy Makeover is essentially a customized treatment plan designed to help a woman restore her body after undergoing the physical changes associated with pregnancy. It’s not uncommon for a mini tuck to be incorporated into such a makeover. Liposuction and breast augmentation are also frequently elements of a Mommy Makeover treatment plan.

What Other Benefits Does This Treatment Offer?

There are a number of benefits associated with undergoing this type of Tummy Tuck, including greater self-confidence and a stronger core.

You’ll Feel Terrific

After undergoing a Tummy Tuck, you’ll look and feel terrific. You’ll feel more self-confident, and your abdominal area will be flat and sculpted, giving you a more youthful, fit silhouette. Your clothes will fit well and comfortably, and you’ll no longer want to hide behind baggy, oversized shirts. Wearing a bathing suit will be fun again. You’ll also notice that everyday tasks will suddenly feel easier and more enjoyable. Bending down to fetch something from a lower shelf, getting down on the floor to play with children, and even housecleaning will all be easier.

A Nearly Scarless Treatment

Any time an incision is made in the skin, there will be a scar. But mini tucks are sometimes referred to as a scarless treatment because the incision is small and the mark it leaves behind is discreet enough to be hidden behind a bikini.

A Stronger Core

By tightening the abdominal area, a Tummy Tuck can increase support for the spine. Some patients find that their core feels stronger, and back pain is less likely after undergoing treatment.

Improved Bladder Control

In addition to removing extra skin and fat from the abdominal area, a Tummy Tuck can also strengthen the soft tissues around the bladder and pelvic floor, alleviating urinary incontinence. This means you may be less likely to leak when you sneeze or cough.

How Can I Tell if a Mini Tuck Is Right for Me?

The best way to learn if this treatment is right for you is to schedule a consultation at our practice. During your appointment, we’ll review your medical history, the medications you are currently taking, and your aesthetic goals. We’ll work with you to determine whether or not a mini tuck is right for you, and we can also help determine whether any other treatments should be incorporated to help you meet your goals.

Who Will Oversee My Treatment?

Your treatment will be overseen by Dr. Jeff Scott. Dr. Scott earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Oklahoma and his medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He is board-certified in General Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Dr. Scott is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is known for his ability to deliver beautiful, natural results for his patients.

Get Started Now

If you’re ready to get rid of a stubborn abdominal pooch that won’t respond to diet and exercise, it may be time to explore a mini tummy tuck. All of our treatments take place in our state-of-the-art facility, and we focus on delivering personalized care to our patients. Whether you want a complete Mommy Makeover or just a tummy tuck, we can help. Call The Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL and schedule a consultation today.

If you’ve been missing that youthful glow, The Plastic Surgery Center located in both Bradenton, Florida might be able to help! Our team has over twenty-five years of experience restoring and enhancing faces and features, and our skilled team of professionals can help you see your true potential through easy treatments like facelifts, nasal surgery, and brow lifts. All of our work is meticulously done and will give you a bold and fresh new look that will make you look and feel years younger. If you’re ready to get started down the road to a more youthful and vivacious life, we can help!

Does a Facelift Include a Brow Lift?

Brow lifts and facelifts are different treatments aimed at the same end goal: helping your face look tighter and more youthful. Both are adept at ironing out those pesky wrinkles and helping you look years or even decades younger. Many people opt to have both done as a result of a comprehensive facial fine-tuning, and you can certainly have your brow lift done at the same time as your facelift.

What Does a Brow Lift Look Like?

Over the course of time, our upper faces tend to show wear and tear, resulting in wrinkles that mar the look of our eyes and make us look older. Fortunately, there is a solution! The experts at The Plastic Surgery Center have been helping Floridians get back to their former beauty by performing a simple treatment known as a brow lift.

This treatment targets those deep forehead wrinkles and helps perk up the eyebrows, giving patients a more wide-eyed and dewy expression. You will never fully understand how an unblemished forehead can positively affect your appearance until you give your upper face a small lift and see the miraculous results. Many people complain of looking tired as they age, even if they are wide awake. This is a result of the wrinkles weighing your face down. A simple perk can make all the difference.

Brow lifts are very simple, relatively painless treatments that involve nearly invisible incisions near your hairline. Each person is different, so it’s important that you schedule a personalized consultation with The Plastic Surgery Center to determine what is right for you.

What Does a Facelift Entail?

Another popular and transformative treatment is the facelift. Facelifts are comprehensive treatments that wind the clock back on your skin, restoring it to the way it looked decades before. At The Plastic Surgery Center, we’ve performed countless facelifts, and our customers have been satisfied
each and every time.

Time tends to take a major toll on our faces, manifesting itself in wrinkles and loose skin. Both of these things can make us look far older than our years and tend to give us a fatigued look even when we’re fully refreshed. As our collagen breaks down, our faces lose some of their forms. Although this is natural, science and technology have given us the tools to reverse the aging process and find our true and original faces. If you have ever looked in the mirror and not recognized yourself, a facelift might be for you!

What Should You Expect From Your Facelift?

A facelift addresses the loose skin on a certain section of your face. Facelifts go from the cheekbones, right below your eyes, to the lower part of your neck. A truly good one will erase jowls and give your neck a polished, wrinkle-free appearance. It will also improve the contours of your cheekbones. All of this will enhance your overall appearance in one simple, painless, easy treatment!

At The Plastic Surgery Center, we use the Sub SMAS technique: a sophisticated treatment that gives you an effortless, natural look. If you practice a healthy lifestyle, you could enjoy the benefits of this treatment for a decade! As with many treatments, it’s important to customize your facelift to your personal lifestyle and understand all of your options. Talk to us today for a no-pressure consultation where we will review all of your options and determine what kind of treatment is best for you.

Facelifts generally take about six hours, and you will need roughly ten days to recover. Many patients agree that the small inconvenience is well worth a full ten years of beautiful skin and a tighter face. It’s one of our most popular treatments for a reason.

Other Options to Maintain a Youthful Appearance

Even if you don’t want to opt for a full facelift, you can still enjoy many of the other treatments available at The Plastic Surgery Center. Many of our treatments are easy, customized and very effective ways to restore your appearance quickly and for the long-term. We pride ourselves on forming individual plans that maximize patient happiness and bring your appearance back to its former glory. If you’ve been waiting to take the plunge, now is the time to schedule a consultation.

Mini Facelift

Mini facelifts are excellent options for those who are just starting to see the wear and tear on their faces and want to take preventative measures to prevent any additional sagging. It’s less invasive than a full facelift, and you will be able to recover quickly and see the results immediately. Mini facelifts are very popular treatments that only take about four hours to complete, and most people recover in a week or less.

Since everyone is different, the doctors at The Plastic Surgery Center suggest that you come in for a consultation and learn about your options. With proper care and lifestyle maintenance, you can expect to enjoy your renewed face for five years. Mini facelifts can do a world of good for those who want to tweak their appearance a little and set themselves up for several years of looking younger. To learn if a mini facelift is right for you, contact us for a consultation today. You could have a brand new, gorgeous look over the weekend.

Eyelid Surgery

Just like with a brow lift, eyelid surgery can seriously enhance the look of your upper face and make you appear years younger over the course of just one simple treatment. Since the eyes are truly the windows of the soul, it’s vital that we keep the upper area of our faces looking as smooth and wrinkle-free as possible. Fortunately, the professionals at The Plastic Surgery Center have got you covered. One simple eyelid surgery can work wonders when it comes to your overall appearance.

Many people complain that they often look very tired even when they are fully awake. This is because, over time, our eyes develop a hooded and wrinkled appearance that can make them look like they are half shut even when they are wide open. There’s a simple solution. Eyelid surgery removes the bags from under your eyes and lifts up the lids so that you look just as wide awake as you feel. It’s one of the simplest treatments that you can get, and it can yield tremendous results!

What Can Eyelid Surgery Do for You?

As we age, fatty tissue develops underneath the eyes. By merely smoothing it out, the team at The Plastic Surgery Center can erase years off of your life and give you back that dewy, beautiful look that you’ve been yearning for. You can opt for an upper blepharoplasty, a lower blepharoplasty, or both. If you choose to do both, they can be performed together. You’ll get a light dose of anesthesia, but you won’t have to go fully under. We just need to numb the immediate area for this easy and relatively painless treatment.

Expect to be in treatment for about two hours and spend roughly one to two weeks recovering. Once you’re healed, the incisions will be barely noticeable, but the results will be amazing. As with all the treatments at the Plastic Surgery Center, you will want to have a consultation with our experienced staff to see if it’s the right move for you. Once you’ve been cleared as a candidate, you will be able to start down the road to a new, beautiful face right away.

Nasal Surgery

Our noses are right at the center of our faces and often become the focal point for those who are talking to us. If you are dissatisfied with your nose, there are treatment options available that are substantially less invasive than treatments of the past. Many people who come to our practice have lumps, ridges, or less than ideal noses. At The Plastic Surgery Center, we are adept at giving personalized treatment that results in flawless new noses. Let your nose perfectly compliment your face. With new technology, it’s easier than ever.

We perform rhinoplasties under a small dose of anesthesia, which doesn’t require you to be fully under for the treatment. The surgical incisions are small and won’t even be noticeable once you’ve healed. Even better, you will only need to recover for about a week. Nasal surgeries are largely painless, very common, and will drastically change your appearance for the better. Why suffer from a nose that isn’t complimenting your face?

The team at The Plastic Surgery Center has helped countless people realize their true beauty, and they can help you too. This is one treatment that is absolutely guaranteed to change your look for the better and give you the face that you have always dreamed of.

Chin Implants

Chin implants define your jawline and can prevent sagging skin and premature aging. It’s a simple treatment that combines a tiny amount of liposuction and a perfectly safe implant to define your face and give you a more youthful appearance. Just like many of the other treatments we’ve illustrated here, chin implants leave almost invisible scars, so nobody will know that you have enhanced your face for the better.

This particular treatment is catching on as it is not terribly invasive, and the results speak for themselves. It’s important to talk to a professional at The Plastic Surgery Center to determine the right path for you. Generally speaking, most people recover very quickly from chin implants and the results can last several years. It’s a simple way to define your jawline and make your face appear much more stunning and well-shaped.

Now Is the Time to Take Back Your Youth

Plastic surgery has grown tremendously over the past few decades. Treatments that were once out of reach are now accessible for just about anyone. There is no need to live with a face that is letting you down or not to find your original beauty through an expertly done brow lift or facelift. With easy recovery times, personalized care, and effective treatments, you owe yourself the right to have the look of your dreams. Contact The Plastic Surgery Center in Bradenton, Florida for more information.

Giving birth is a life-changing experience in many ways. Unfortunately, one of the ways in which pregnancy can affect your life is by leaving you dissatisfied with the way your body looks. Women in this situation may be good candidates for a mommy makeover–a set of procedures designed to restore your pre-pregnancy appearance. If you have questions about how to achieve your desired cosmetic results, call The Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL today.

What a Mommy Makeover Includes

A mommy makeover is a combination of cosmetic procedures intended to restore the way your body looked before your pregnancy. The procedures typically focus on the breasts and abdomen and may include a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and liposuction of the legs, arms, or trunk.

Since mommy makeover is a descriptive term and not a specific procedure in itself, the first thing you should do is consult with your plastic surgeon to decide which procedures are best for you. The following procedures are commonly undergone by patients looking to restore their pre-pregnancy physique.

Tummy Tuck

A flabby abdomen results from excess fat, poor skin elasticity, excess skin, and stretching of both your inner girdle of connective tissue and your abdominal muscles. All of these things can be the result of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the inner girdle of connective tissue that holds your organs in place gets distended, causing your stomach to protrude.

An abdominoplasty removes loose, excess skin and fat and also tightens the over-stretched connective tissue, removing stretch marks and excess skin that sit below the abdomen.

How the Procedure Is Done

Your surgeon will remove most of the skin and fat between the belly button and pubic hair using a horizontal, elliptical shape. Sutures are used to tighten the connective tissue which overlays your abdominal muscles. The skin around your belly button will be repositioned, and the belly button is brought up through a small incision and sutured in its natural position.

The size of the  incision varies with each individual and is dependent upon how much skin needs to be removed.  The  scar falls along the natural crease of your skin within the bikini line.

 

Liposuction

Liposuction is often used to improve the contour of a patient’s flanks or hips. It is often recommended by surgeons who perform a mommy makeover at the same time that they perform a tummy tuck. Liposuction can also be effective at improving the contours of your chest, thighs, neck, upper arms, and knees.

How Liposuction Is Done

During liposuction, a sterile liquid is injected along with a local anesthetic to control pain and epinephrine to minimize any bleeding. After you are anesthetized, your surgeon will make tiny incisions near the target area from where fat will be removed. A thin, hollow rod known as a cannula will be inserted through the incision and fat will be sucked out.

After the fat has been removed, dressings and a compression garment will be applied.

Breast Lift

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure used to treat sagging and uneven breasts, decreased breast volume, drooping nipples, and stretched areolas; all of which are common post-pregnancy experiences. The procedure will return a youthful shape and lift to your breasts and can be designed to include breast enlargement or breast reduction.

How a Breast Lift Is Performed

You will  receive general anesthesia for this procedure. Your surgeon will make the necessary incisions depending on the amount of excess skin you have, the position of your nipples, your goals, and your surgeon’s suggestions.

Once the incisions are made, your surgeon repositions and reshapes your breast tissue and surgically removes any excess skin. Your nipples and areolas will be repositioned to a more youthful-looking location, and the size of your areolas can be reduced if necessary. Finally, your surgeon will tighten the remaining skin while closing the incisions.

Breast Reduction

Your breasts usually swell to a fuller size and shape during pregnancy. Some women’s breasts maintain their new size and shape while others do not. An increase in size can sometimes be welcome; unless they become disproportionately large and result in pain, poor posture, rashes, breathing problems, skeletal deformities, or low self-esteem. A breast reduction solves these issues by removing fat and glandular tissue while tightening the skin to result in smaller, lighter breasts.

How a Breast Reduction Is Performed

Your surgeon will make incisions on your breasts and surgically remove any excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin. Sometimes excess fat may be removed via liposuction as well as excision. If the size of your breasts is due largely to fatty tissue and not excess skin, liposuction alone may be used. Your surgeon will let you know what the best way forward is based on your body and preferences.

If you and your surgeon decided surgery is necessary, they will make the appropriate incision, reposition the nipple, and reduce the size of your areola if needed. Then they will reduce, lift, and shape the underlying breast tissue and bring the incisions together to reshape what is now a smaller breast. You will have drainage tubes for a short time after surgery.  Afterward, your breasts will be wrapped in surgical gauze and you may need to wear a surgical bra.

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery can be used to increase or restore breast size using silicone gel implants, saline implants, or fat grafting.

How a Breast Augmentation Is Performed

In a breast augmentation that utilizes implants, your surgeon will make an incision, lift the breast tissue, create a pocket in the chest/breast area and place the implant in that pocket. The implants are placed beneath the pectoral muscle or underneath the breast tissue on top of your pectoral muscle. You and your surgeon will discuss the options at your consultation.

Last, you will be wrapped in a gauze bandage or a surgical compression bra.

Breast Lift and Breast Augmentation

If your cosmetic goals include having breasts that are larger as well as breasts that don’t sag or if you desire to maintain projection and roundness of the breast mound, your surgeon may recommend combining a breast lift and breast augmentation. It all depends on the current condition of your body and what you want your results to be.

What Makes Someone a Good Candidate?

The set of procedures included in a mommy makeover are designed to reverse the adverse physical changes that occur during pregnancy. However, some of these changes can also occur as a natural result of aging. Having previously been pregnant is not a necessary prerequisite for undergoing the set of procedures.

Anyone with sagging or uneven breasts, decreased breast volume, a flabby or distended belly, and unwanted pockets of exercise and diet-resistant fat as well as individuals who have lost significant weight can be good candidates. The makeover procedure doesn’t just focus on rejuvenating your chest and breasts. It is meant to target several areas. If your body is negatively affecting your mood and self-esteem, you may be a candidate for a mommy makeover.

What Is the First Step?

The first step in preparing for the set of procedures is to call and schedule an appointment to speak with one of our surgeons. During your consultation, you will have the opportunity to make clear what you want to achieve. You’ll be evaluated as a candidate for the makeover and your surgeon will clarify exactly what procedures may benefit you the most as well as what they can and cannot do.

Once your surgeon has a thorough understanding of your goals, they may recommend additional or related procedures that may better achieve the results you want.

How Should You Prepare for the Procedure?

To begin preparing for the procedure, your surgeon will give you thorough preoperative instructions and answer any remaining questions that may come up regarding the surgery. A detailed medical history will be taken and a physical exam will be performed to ensure you’re healthy enough to undergo the procedure.

Depending on your desired results and your current physical condition, it may be necessary for your surgeon to recommend specific weight benchmarks or lifestyle changes both before and after surgery. Be prepared to follow these instructions, whatever they may be, as your results will be dependent upon how well you adhere to what your surgeon suggests.

Aftercare and Recovery

Your surgeon will explain to you how long it will be before you can return to your normal level of physical activity and work. You will be given detailed instructions regarding your postsurgical care, including information about surgical drains, how to care for yourself, and any normal symptoms of healing you may encounter.

Immediately After Surgery

After your procedure, you’ll be moved to a recovery room where you can be closely monitored by medical professionals as the anesthesia wears off. You can probably expect to be garbed in bandages and wearing compression garments, and you may find some surgical drains.

What Is the Recovery Time Frame Like?

One of the major benefits of a mommy makeover is that multiple procedures are done at once, therefore requiring just one recovery time frame instead of several.

You will need to take it very easy for the first couple of  weeks and follow your surgeon’s directions over this period of time. After the first three weeks, you may start feeling much better. It’s important to understand that just because you’re feeling better doesn’t mean you can return to your normal activity levels just yet.

It will be at least six weeks before you can consider yourself fully recovered. However, all bodies heal differently, and your recovery period may be longer. Whatever the case, you’ll be advised on what you can and cannot do during your follow-up appointments.

How Long Will the Results Last?

Provided you do not get pregnant again or undergo any significant change in your weight, the results of your makeover should be permanent. Remember that cosmetic surgery can make a significant difference in your body and your life, but it cannot stop normal aging.

Get Your Makeover

A mommy makeover isn’t one singular procedure; it is a set of several procedures designed to counteract the  side effects that pregnancy can produce in your body. These procedures can include a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast lift, breast augmentation/reduction, or implants.

The procedures it includes are designed to restore and rejuvenate your post-pregnancy body into one that is younger-looking and more aesthetically pleasing to you. To schedule an initial consultation, contact The Plastic Surgery Center in Bradenton, FL today and talk to us about how to get back the body you want.

The slow progression of time or major life events such as pregnancy or gaining or losing a large amount of weight can leave us feeling dissatisfied with our appearance. If you’re interested in rejuvenating your breasts and creating a tighter, more youthful bust, you may want to consider breast augmentation. At the Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL, a qualified medical professional is available to speak with you and go over your options. Procedures like this have helped multitudes of women regain their self-confidence.

What Is Breast Augmentation?

The procedure is known in medical jargon as an augmentation mammoplasty. It’s a voluntary cosmetic surgical procedure intended to enlarge or bring symmetry to your breasts. The procedure can be performed in a couple of different ways, including through the transfer of fat from one area of your body to your chest or, most commonly, through the use of surgical implants.

Most candidates are those who seek an increase in the size of their breasts. Others have lost breast volume due to weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding and wish to have that volume restored. Not every candidate is looking for a straight increase in their breast size, though. Other viable candidates include those who are looking to even out the balance of their physical proportions.

Someone who has large hips and small breasts may want to undergo the procedure to increase their bust size and obtain the hourglass shape that many pursue but few achieve naturally. Those who have asymmetrical breasts or those whose breasts did not develop as expected make excellent candidates for the procedure as well. No matter what, a person must always have fully-developed breasts before the procedure can take place.

How Much Does the Procedure Cost?

The cost of the procedure will vary widely depending on a variety of factors, including

• The type of anesthesia
• The type of implants
• The surgical facility
• Requisite tests or labs
• Medications
• Recovery garments

Since the procedure is elective, health insurance won’t cover it. Additionally, some insurance carriers won’t cover conditions or complications that surface after a person has undergone cosmetic surgery.

How Does the Procedure Work?

With this procedure, either body fat or a surgical implant is inserted behind each of your breasts. If implants are used, they either sit behind the muscles in your chest or behind your natural breast tissue, often resulting in a breast size increase of at least a cup or more. You’ll be able to choose between a contoured or round breast implant before your procedure, and your surgeon will go over the benefits and typical results of each so that you can make an informed decision in line with your overall goals.

Whichever type of implant you choose, it will work to increase the size of your breasts as well as provide a more contoured, fuller shape in areas that may have felt empty. The implants themselves are typically soft, flexible shells made of silicone that are either filled with a saline solution or more silicone.

What Does the Procedure Entail?

When someone decides to undergo a breast augmentation procedure, they usually have it done in an outpatient surgical center or similar facility. Often, patients are able to go home the same day the procedure is completed. You’ll likely be under general anesthesia for the duration of the procedure to maximize your comfort. Your surgeon will give you instructions to follow in the 24 hours leading up to your procedure, so be sure to follow them all.

Incisions

First, your surgeon will create one of three possible incisions for the placement of your implants. These include inframammary (beneath the breast), axillary (in the underarm), or periareolar (in the dark tissue surrounding the nipples).

Placing the Implant

After the incision is made, a pocket will be created by separating your breast tissue from your chest muscles and tissue. The implants will then be placed inside these pockets and centered inside your existing breasts.

Filling the Implant

Those who choose saline implants will have them filled with a sterile saline solution once the shell has been placed in the appropriate position. With silicone breast implants, the implant is already filled before it enters the body.

Finishing

Once the implants are satisfactorily placed, your surgeon will close the incisions with sutures and then bandage them with surgical tape and sometimes surgical glue. You will be monitored throughout your recovery and then released once the anesthesia has worn off.

Is It Possible to Get a Second Breast Augmentation?

Sometimes a patient will want to have a second breast augmentation, similar procedure to increase or decrease the size of their breasts or to change the type of implants they had during the first procedure.

Breast Reduction

Sometimes, a person will lose or gain a significant amount of weight, which causes their current implants to no longer be proportional to the rest of their body. In this scenario, the breast implants can look or feel too large and sometimes cause back pain due to their weight. A patient who finds themselves in this situation may choose to have their breast implants removed without being replaced.

If your skin has stretched due to your implants and your breasts are sagging, your surgeon is capable of performing a breast lift procedure to correct this during your implant removal surgery.

The Desire for Larger Implants

Sometimes a patient makes a conservative judgment regarding their desired breast size during the process surrounding their first procedure. In this situation, you may want to have a second procedure to increase their size. Many patients opt for larger implants because the ones they had during their first procedure resulted in smaller breasts than they expected.

The Shape of Your Body Has Changed

Losing or gaining a large amount of weight can often affect how your implants look as your body shape changes. Those who lose large amounts of weight can wind up being dissatisfied with their implants. Patients who experience sagging breasts due to weight loss may benefit from a breast lift in addition to breast augmentation.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding will change the shape of your breasts whether you have implants or not. The weight gain and hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy often lead to an increase in breast size. There have been studies regarding the effects of breastfeeding on augmented breasts that have shown that breastfeeding is not a significant cause of sagging breasts.

Most medical professionals believe that it’s the rapid weight gain and loss which occur during pregnancy that causes breasts to sag. This will happen whether you have breast implants or not. It should be noted that it can take several months post-pregnancy for your breasts to settle after breastfeeding. If you have concerns about the shape of your breasts immediately following your pregnancy, it’s best to wait before considering a second breast augmentation procedure until your breasts have settled.

How Soon Can You Have a Second Breast Augmentation Procedure?

If your first breast implant surgery occurred in the last 6 months and you’re considering another, you’ll probably be advised by your surgeon to wait a little longer before making plans for it. Swelling after the procedure can take several months to fully dissipate; therefore it can take a while before the results of your first surgery can be realized.

If your first procedure involved having implants inserted beneath the chest muscles, it’s normal for these types of implants to take a little longer to settle: usually around 3 to 6 months. Finally, caution is usually urged because it can take time to get used to how your new breasts look and feel.

How Much Does a Second Procedure Cost?

If you return to the surgeon who performed your first procedure, you may receive a discount on your second. However, second breast augmentation cost procedure depends on a lot. For example, your surgeon may need to incorporate a breast lift to accommodate the new implants. The pocket where the implants were originally inserted may need adjusting, and moving implants located behind the muscle may incur added time and expense.

If you are thinking about getting a second procedure done, it’s important to speak to the surgeon who did your first procedure first to find out what may be involved in a second and what the cost is going to look like.

What Can You Expect Afterward?

After your procedure, your surgeon will advise you to wear a bandage that compresses your breasts or a sports bra for the added support you’ll need during recovery. It’s also a possibility that they will prescribe you pain medication.

Your surgeon will provide you with recommendations regarding when you can safely return to work or other recreational activities. For most people, the timeframe is only a few days, but others might require up to a week off for recovery. In rare cases, it can take longer to return to work, but that’s usually only if a person’s job requires a lot of movement or lifting.

If you’re someone who frequently exercises, you’ll have to avoid anything overtly strenuous for at least two weeks. Following any invasive procedure, you’ll want to avoid raising your blood pressure or pulse too much. Additionally, too much movement, such as that associated with exercise, can be very painful for your breasts.

You may need to have your sutures removed at a follow-up appointment with your surgeon. In some cases, surgeons will put drainage tubes near the surgical sites, and those will need to be removed, too.

Results

One of the beautiful things about breast augmentation is that you’ll see the results from your procedure right away. However, tenderness and swelling can make it very difficult to assess the final results of your procedure until after you’ve had a chance to start to heal. The results should be long-lasting, though the implants themselves aren’t guaranteed to last forever.

Depending on when you get the procedure done, you may need follow-up surgeries in the years ahead to replace your implants. If and when such a time comes, you can opt for the same size, larger, smaller, or no implants at all. It’s entirely up to you.

Learn More

Breast augmentation surgery has long been the go-to option for those looking to increase the size of their breasts, improve their body contour and figure, and gain a measure of self-acceptance and self-esteem previously unexperienced. If you’ve experienced a loss in breast volume due to pregnancy, weight loss, hormonal changes, or the effects of aging, you may be an excellent candidate for the procedure.

If you’re interested in seeing what breast augmentation surgery can do to improve your self-image and your life, contact us at The Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL today and speak with a qualified medical professional about your options at 800-305-2450.

As we age, our bodies go through lots of changes. Among these is a reduced production rate of hyaluronic acid, also known as HA. Hyaluronic acid, among other things, is vital for keeping your face looking young and healthy. At Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL, we are proud to offer several anti-aging procedures to help you regain your confidence and restore your youthful facial contours. Today, we’d like to talk about the most incredible benefits of a facial fat transfer.

What Is a Facial Fat Transfer?

Facial fat transfer, more commonly known as fat grafting, is a natural way to restore the appearance of youth to your face without the need for an invasive medical procedure. It starts with the most innovative, non-invasive technique to gently remove fat from a part of your body that you’re unhappy with.

Then, the fat is cleaned, leaving only whole, undamaged fat cells and removing any blood and other liquids. Finally, your own fat is injected into parts of your face that show signs of aging.

What Can I Expect Before Treatment?

Before your first treatment session, you will meet with your plastic surgeon and discuss at length which areas you would like to have treated. We will also discuss any and all concerns you have, what results you can realistically expect, a thorough description of the treatment process, and all post-treatment care you will need to take.

What Can I Expect During Treatment?

On the day of your treatment, we will numb both the donor and recipient fat sites with local anesthesia. Receiving this type of anesthesia means you can drive yourself home after treatment. If large volumes of fat are required, we may recommend general anesthesia or local anesthesia combined with sedation to ensure your comfort throughout your entire facial fat grafting treatment.

If you receive general anesthesia, you will not be able to drive within 24 hours of your treatment, so you will need to arrange a ride to and from our office. The same holds true for sedation. Once your treatment sites are sanitized, we will inject you with local anesthesia. Once the anesthesia has taken effect, we will withdraw fat from your trouble site with a syringe and cannula, which is a very fine tube.

After the fat has been purified, it is injected into your face with a needle. We will remove more fat than is necessary from your trouble site to account for blood volume, damaged fat cells and a percentage of fat that will be metabolized by your body when injected into your face.

Advantages of Facial Fat Grafting

1. Natural-Looking Results

One of the most significant benefits of facial fat grafting is how natural the results look. With the right plastic surgeon, results from facial implants can look natural. However, analogous fat transfer is actually natural.

Rather than using synthetic plastics or gels, in this method fat is being transferred from one part of your body to another. This means there is no risk of infection and no risk of your body rejecting the augmentation as a foreign substance.

2. Contour Other Parts of Your Body

Your face isn’t the only part of your body that shows signs of aging. As you age, your hormone production rate drops. These hormonal imbalances, particularly low testosterone, can lead to a drastic reduction in metabolism. Unfortunately, many people don’t change their eating habits to account for their new metabolism. Thus they develop excess fat in certain places on their body.

Facial fat grafting allows you to remove fat from your trouble spots, contouring your perfect physique. The only stipulation is that you have enough fat to be removed. During your initial consultation, we will help you determine if you have enough fat to be removed from a given trouble region.

3. No Downtime

Another significant benefit of analogous fat transfer to the face is the recovery period. You can go back to your daily routine the same day as your treatment. This holds true even if you have a large area, such as your cheeks, filled. It is also in stark contrast to getting facial implants, which require an invasive procedure and one to two weeks off of work.

Keep in mind, however, that you may need to avoid strenuous exercise for a few days after your treatment to allow the fat to settle into place properly. We also recommend sleeping on your back to ensure the fat remains in the injection site.

4. Long-Lasting Results

The results of facial fat grafting are long-lasting. It takes about six months for the healthy fat cells injected into your face to establish a blood supply and become permanent. However, once this occurs, the results are relatively permanent. As long as you consume enough calories for weight maintenance, you should not need a follow-up treatment.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that not all fat transferred to your face will “take”. Thus, we will inject a little “extra” fat into the treatment site. By the end of six months, you should have the results you want. The injected fat will have settled into its proper place and become permanent.

Am I a Good Candidate for Autologous Facial Fat Grafting?

During your initial consultation, we will help you determine if you are a good candidate for autologous facial fat grafting. There are several things you must consider when deciding if this is the anti-aging treatment for you. First, you must be in good general health. Second, you must have enough fat to transfer from another part of your body. Third, you need to have realistic expectations about the results. Finally, you must be committed to healthy lifestyle choices.

Health

While autologous facial fat grafting is non-invasive, it is still important to be in good general health. You must not have an active infection at either the donor or recipient sites. Let us know if you are taking antibiotics within two weeks of your scheduled appointment. We may recommend rescheduling your treatment.

Moreover, this is not a good treatment for you if you suffer from certain blood diseases that require you to take anti-clotting or anti-platelet medications. Other medications and supplements, such as NSAIDs, MAOIs, vitamin E, fish oil and St. John’s Wort, can all thin your blood and affect the outcome of your treatment. Avoid taking these medications for several days before your autologous facial fat grafting.

Body Composition

To be a candidate for any type of autologous fat grafting, you must have an adequate supply of excess fat elsewhere on your body. Fat cannot be harvested from a friend or even a family member. It must come from your own body. Luckily, we all have areas of our bodies that we’re not happy with. Among the places that we can harvest fat from are:

• Upper arms
• Thighs
• Abdomen
• Lower buttocks
• Hips
• Sides
• Back

You may be dissatisfied with fatty tissue depositis beneath your arms. But that doesn’t mean you have enough fat to be removed for autologous facial fat grafting. When we review your aesthetic goals, we will assess your problem areas and let you know where we can graft fat from for the best results.

Expectations

It’s important to understand what results you can realistically expect. First, it helps us determine the best anti-aging treatment for you. Second, it is the only way to ensure you will be satisfied with the results. The most important thing for you to understand is that not all of the grafted fat will “take”. Because we overfill the treatment sites, your treated areas may look a little too plump for a brief period.

The second most important thing for you to understand is that the results of this treatment are not permanent. Due to a reduced production rate of hyaluronic acid, facial volume loss will still occur as you continue to age. By eating enough calories to maintain your body weight, you can ensure that the fat in your treatment areas remains. However, even if your cheeks don’t become sunken in the future, you may still experience wrinkles, lines and folds caused by volume loss.

What to Expect During Recovery

During recovery, it is essential that you keep your face as immobile as you can. This includes avoiding vigorous exercise. Do not massage or otherwise touch the treatment areas for the first seven days after your treatment. This gives the grafted fat tissue time to settle into its intended position.

You should also take antibiotics as prescribed and avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Finally, you will need to sleep on your back for the first week after treatment. Again, this helps to ensure that the fat takes root in its intended locations.

Lifestyle Choices

The best candidates for autologous facial fat grafting do not smoke. This is because nicotine constricts your blood vessels, making your facial skin look older and “recovery” take longer. We strongly recommend that you avoid the consumption of nicotine for a couple weeks after your treatment.

Alternatives to Facial Fat Transfer

If you decide facial fat transfer is not right for you, there are a couple of alternatives that may provide you with better results. During your initial consultation, we will review your medical history, current health status and unique aesthetic goals to help you find the best anti-aging solutions for your needs.

Facial Implants

Facial implants are used to improve facial volume and contour. However, they are not a direct substitute for facial fat grafting. Facial implants are most common in younger clients who feel their chin or cheekbones need to be enhanced.

Facial fat grafting, contrastingly, is most often used by older clients who wish to look younger rather than more pronounced. Facial implants are often combined with other cosmetic procedures, such as rhinoplasty, to strike the perfect balance of contour.

Anti-Aging Injections

There are several types of anti-aging injections that may be right for you. These include dermal fillers and neuromodulators. Dermal fillers include a synthetic version of HA and are sold under brand names such as Juvederm and Restylane. They plump up sagging cheeks and lips and add volume to fill in lines, wrinkles and folds on your face.

Neuromodulators are made with the neurotoxin known as Botulinum toxin A. They are sold under brand names such as Botox and Dysport and work by reducing the frequency of electric signals between your neurons. This prevents muscle hyperactivity and allows your face to relax. It is particularly effective for the treatment of lines and wrinkles that are exacerbated by facial movements, like smiling, frowning or laughing.

Take the First Step Towards Looking Younger Today

To discover if facial fat transfer is the best way to restore the youthful contours of your face, contact the dedicated beauty experts at Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL today to schedule your initial consultation. We will help you come up with a treatment plan that helps you look younger and feel more confident about how you look.

Trying to recapture our youth with topical treatments is like pushing a boulder up a hill. Frankly speaking, there’s only so much that serums, scrubs, and even high-tech treatments can accomplish. While there are many cosmetic treatments that will stimulate collagen production and give you a glowing, youthful complexion, there is really no rival to the youthfulness you can attain with a mini facelift. At Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL, we specialize in this quick, easy, and effective procedure.

In the interest of providing you with information to make a fully informed decision about your cosmetic treatments, we have put together a guideline for everything you need to know about this treatment. If you still have questions, feel free to contact our office and talk to our expert staff before your initial consultation.

What Is a Mini Facelift?

This is a minimally invasive procedure that has a quicker recovery time than a traditional facelift. This treatment goes by many names, such as a mini lift and a weekend lift. But regardless of what you call it, the treatment always does the same thing – tighten and lift the skin for minor facial aging in the cheeks and jaw areas of the face.

Mini lifts are targeted procedures that produce a natural-looking, more youthful appearance, and are completely customizable for every patient.

Benefits of Mini Facelift

A mini lift is designed to have fewer incisions and a speedier recovery, but these aren’t the only benefits of the procedure. Other benefits of a mini lift include…

• Tightening of skin in the chin and jaw
• Lifting the skin in the jowls
• Minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Minimal scarring
• Less sedation
• Lower cost
• Personalized treatment
• Long-lasting results

Aside from the lift your face will have, and the short recovery time, mini lifts have less risk of both scaring and side effects from general anesthesia. Unlike traditional facelifts, most weekend lifts are done with a combination of mild sedation and local anesthesia. This is a draw for patients who are anxious about “going under”.

Another benefit of a mini lift is the lower cost. Compared to a traditional lift, mini lifts are only a fraction of the price. Cosmetic treatments themselves are investments, especially invasive procedures that deliver long-lasting results. With a mini lift, you get the benefit of long-term results without taking a huge chunk out of your wallet. Additionally, you also get a procedure that is tailored to your exact needs.

What Happens In a Mini Facelift?

While it’s nice to know what the numerous benefits of a mini lift are, many patients are comforted to know the exact steps of the procedure. Here we have outlined the entire mini lift process, from your initial appointment all the way to recovery so you know exactly what to expect every step of the way.

Initial Consultation

Your first appointment will be the initial consultation. During this appointment, you will talk with our outstanding surgeon, Dr. Jeff Scott, as well as other staff. Your consultation is primarily about talking about your appearance goals and examining the aging symptoms you are experiencing in the mid-face region. We will ask for your general medical history, take note of your current health, and other factors that need to be considered, such as how easily your skin scars.

In order to fully analyze your appearance and create a personalized treatment plan, we will take pictures of your face from both front and side angles. These pictures will help Dr. Scott determine the best way to help you achieve your ideal appearance. At this time, we may suggest additional options to explore, such as an eye lift or other cosmetic treatments.

Mini Lift Process

The full process of a mini lift can be broken down into a few simple steps, which include pre-treatment guidelines, sedation, procedure, and post-treatment guidelines. For you as a patient, your only job is to arrive at your appointment dressed comfortably and ready to reset the clock on your youth.

Step One: Pre-Treatment Guidelines

There are a few instructions that we will require you to follow before your appointment. We will provide you with a full list of pre-treatment guidelines at your initial consultation. One thing that will be included on that list is to avoid certain over-the-counter medications for a short period of time before your procedure. We may also advise that you have an attendant ready to take you home after the procedure is complete.

Step Two: Sedation

There are two choices for sedation when you undergo a mini lift. The first is general anesthesia, which will fully sedate you during the course of your treatment. Some patients do not or cannot use general anesthesia, which is why a second option is available. Many patients choose a combination of twilight sedation and a local anesthetic, which merely leaves your relaxed from the partial sedation.

Step Three: Procedure

Overall, the procedure for a mini lift is simple. Dr. Scott will make a small s-shaped incision near the ear, which he will use as the main point for the lift. It is possible that another small incision will be made near the chin, depending on the goals of your treatment. In any kind of facelift, the skin is gently redraped toward the incision site and excess skin is trimmed away.

The procedure will take 3 or 4 hours to complete. After the lift is completed, Dr. Scott will close the incisions with sutures or skin glue, which will need to be removed about 7 days after the procedure.

Step Four: Post-Treatment Guidelines

It is very important that post-treatment guidelines are followed to ensure the best recovery and healing. Once your procedure is complete and sedation wears off, you will notice that your incision areas have been dressed with bandages, drains, or a combination of both. We will provide you with a detailed list of guidelines, such as how often to clean and redress your incisions, and to sleep elevated to reduce swelling.

The post-treatment guidelines will also provide advice on how to manage the expected swelling and bruising that comes in the days following the procedure, as well as ways to manage discomfort with certain medications. We will also recommend you limit your activity for the first few days follow the procedure. In order to better promote healing, we may also prescribe topical ointments to use during your recovery.

Expected Recovery

Recovery for a mini lift typically takes a few weeks, usually between 1 to 3 weeks to fully recover from the procedure. We generally recommend you set aside 1 week following the procedure, as this is when the majority of healing will take place. Recovery is made easier when the post-treatment guidelines are followed well.

After your sutures are removed, we will advise you on whether or not you can return to your normal activities.

How Long Will Results Last?

While the expected results of a mini lift are tightened skin in the mid-face, you might be wondering how long those results are going to last. You will first see results from the mini lift after you have fully healed from the procedure. For most patients, these results last for 5 years or more. Overall, the length of time the results of a mini lift last depends on your rate of aging. Some patients enjoy the results of mini lifts for as long as 10 years.

Why a Mini Facelift Is Right for You

By now, you might be wondering why you should choose a mini weekend facelift over a traditional facelift – and it’s a fair question. Why get the miniature option when the total option is available?

The fact of the matter is that we all age differently and that means for some that a total facelift might be too drastic of a procedure. If you are only experiencing the early signs of aging, then you really don’t need a total face lift. Sometimes, too much of a good thing is bad. For facelifts, the goal is to lift the face while still appearing natural, so having a total facelift instead of a lift in targeted areas is sometimes unnecessary.

And that’s the second point of why a weekend facelift might be a perfect fit for your needs. With a mini lift, you get to select which areas of your face deserve the most attention. With a mini lift, you get a tailor-made treatment that suits exactly your needs and nobody else’s. With a mini lift, you get to take back some control and choose where to turn back the clock. And is there anything better than that?

Can You Combine Mini Facelift With Other Treatments?

A mini lift accomplishes a very specific set of goals, and for some that might mean that other appearance goals might not be totally met by the lift alone. Thankfully, it is totally possible to create a treatment plan that combines a mini lift with other treatment options, such as a brow lift, derma fillers, injectables, or other skin rejuvenation techniques. You can also combine a lift with mainly topical techniques, such as chemical peels or facials offered at our office.

If you are interested in combining a mini lift with other treatments, our expert staff will help you outline a treatment timeline for treatment so that all of your appearance goals can be met with the best possible outcome. Our primary goal is to meet your expectations with comprehensive and compassionate care. We encourage you to speak up so that we can answer any questions you might have when you come in for a visit.

Ideal Candidates

If you’re interested in a mini lift, you might be curious about who ideal candidates are for this treatment. Typically, candidates for this treatment are 40 or older. By the broadest strokes, ideal candidates are anyone who is experiencing early signs of aging and skin laxity. Early signs of aging include:

• Skin laxity in the jowls and cheeks
• Skin laxity beneath the chin
• Fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth

This treatment is the perfect choice for those who want to have a natural, long-lasting return of a youthful appearance. If you have mild to moderate skin laxity in the mid-face and chin area, then you are likely a candidate for this treatment.

Learn More

If you want to give your appearance a youthful boost, then a mini facelift might be right for you. Contact the experts at Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL to schedule your initial consultation today! Our caring and compassionate team will help tailor a treatment plan to best fit your lifestyle and appearance goals. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you!