Blog Archives - The Plastic Surgery Center

Discover the Amazing Benefits of a Facelift

When a person does not like how they look, it has an effect on their self-esteem. How about you? How do you feel about what you see when you look at yourself in the mirror? Are there certain aspects of your appearance you would like to change? If so, it is nothing to be ashamed of. Many people feel exactly the same. This is why surgical procedures such as a facelift are so popular. Let’s take a few minutes and examine the benefits of having this cosmetic procedure.

Add Definition to Your Neck and Tighten Loose Skin

Getting older is no fun. As we age, our appearance changes. Our face starts to sag, we develop wrinkles, and our skin starts to droop. These changes can make us feel like we are so much older than we really are. There’s nothing worse than having someone guess your age wrong and think that you are five or six years older than what you really are.

What are your complaints about your aging face? If you are like most people, one of the things you don’t like is the loose skin underneath your chin and your neck. Some people try to hide this problem by wearing turtlenecks, sweaters, or a scarf. Or they are so ashamed of the way they look that they avoid taking photographs at all costs. However, after having a facelift, they are happier with the way they look.

Some people feel that the most unattractive feature they have are their jowls. After having a facelift, your jowls may be removed forever. You will be left with a sleeker jawline. Your profile will look sharp, and you won’t have to feel embarrassed of your jowls anymore.

Loose skin is often associated with getting older. When a person first starts to notice their skin beginning to sag, they may use anti-aging creams. The benefits they get from anti-aging creams are minimal. With time, people move on to dermal fillers.

For a period of time, dermal fillers will produce noticeable results. Still, your loose skin will get to a point where no amount of filler is going to be enough. With a facelift, your skin is tightened. Neck and facial muscles are also tightened. The result is a natural-looking improvement in the appearance of your face. All of this is done without giving you a windblown look. Your face will not look tight or pinched. At the end of the day, you will look well rested and younger. A modern-day facelift is designed to restore your natural beauty. Thanks to advances in the techniques used during this procedure, you will not have as long a post-surgical recovery as those who may have had a similar procedure a decade ago.

One of the biggest fears that people have about having a facelift is that when it’s all said and done they will look unrecognizable. They worry they are going to look windblown. They are terrified that friends and family members are going to know that they have had a surgical procedure done.

To be fair, society’s view of cosmetic surgical procedures has drastically changed in the past few years. They have gone from being something that was completely taboo to something that many people are proud to say that they have had done. A lot of this has to do with changes in the way people view beauty.

Still, in many circles, having a cosmetic procedure done is something that is whispered instead of shouted from the rooftops. Modern-day facelift techniques mean that you will be able to retain your unique appearance. Any surgical openings made are going to be hidden in your hairline. No one will know that you had a surgical procedure unless you tell them. When they look at you, they are going to see is someone who is well rested. They are going to see someone who looks more confident. They are going to see a naturally younger version of who you are.

Will the Procedure Actually Make Me Look Younger?

Yes – that is the whole purpose of the procedure. What will vary is how much younger the procedure will make you look. The variance occurs because everyone is unique and everyone’s face is unique. Some people have facial features that can be clearly defined with plastic surgery.

When your surgeon performs your facelift procedure, the goal is to help you achieve a rejuvenated and youthful appearance and give your face a sense of symmetry. All of this is done while simultaneously keeping your facial landmarks in place.

Over the years, there have been a number of studies done that show that people are significantly happy with their appearance after having a facelift. The happiness comes not only from the physical enhancement, but it also comes from the effect that the enhancement has on a person’s emotional, social, and mental well-being.

Studies have shown that when a person has a facelift they may be able to take as much as 10 years off of their perceived appearance. One study that was done by Canadian and US researchers showed that on average patients who had this procedure done looked 8.9 years younger than their perceived age.

The study was done by taking a photograph of 60 patients waiting to have a facelift performed. They were photographed again after their surgery and recovery. The before and after photographs were than shown to a random group of people.

The group of random people were asked to guess the age of the individuals in the photographs they were looking at. When they saw the before pictures, most guessed that the person they were looking at was 1.7 years younger than their actual age. When they were shown the after pictures, they guessed that the individuals they were looking at were approximately 8.9 years younger than their actual age.

The research is clear. If a facelift is well executed, it has the possibility to take up to 10 years off of a person’s perceived appearance. In essence, this procedure can turn back the clock one decade. Imagine the impact a procedure like this could have on your self-esteem. Imagine what it would feel like to have your loose or sagging skin disappear. Imagine how you will feel when you look at yourself in the mirror and see a face that now appears more youthful.

If these results are not startling enough, something that has surprised many is that when a photograph of an individual who had a facelift was shown five years later, people still felt that the individual’s age was younger than what it actually was when the individual first had the procedure.

What Happens During the Facelift Procedure?

The first step is the administration of anesthesia. You are given this medication so you are comfortable as you go through the surgical procedure. After the anesthesia has been administered, your surgeon will make the surgical openings. The locations of these will vary depending on the style of facelift your surgeon is going to carry out. In most cases, openings will start at the hairline at the temples and go around the ears. They will finish up at the lower scalp. These openings give your surgeon access to sculpt fat or redistribute fat on your face.

Your surgeon will use this time to redistribute jowls and their underlying tissue. If needed, your surgeon will tighten and lift the muscle layers in your face. Once everything is in place, your skin is draped over your face, and the excess skin is trimmed away. If you are having work done on your neck, your surgeon may make an incision underneath the chin to work on this area. Once this is done, the openings will be sealed and the procedure completed.

Finally, there is the recovery process. When the procedure is complete, your surgeon will apply a bandage around your face with the goal of minimizing swelling. They are going to give you specific instructions on how to care for your face in the days following the procedure.

Most people are able to go back in public in as little as two weeks. You should expect it to take a couple of months for your face to look and feel completely normal. During this recovery time, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay out of the sun. The final results of your surgery should leave you looking youthful and rested. It should help you feel more confident in yourself.

Am I a Good Candidate?

At the end of the day, deciding whether or not to have a facelift is a personal decision. However, sitting down and talking to your cosmetic surgeon before your procedure is a good way to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for this procedure.

Since this is a surgical procedure, you need to be in good overall health. This is why we will ask you a number of questions about pre-existing medical conditions. Your body needs to be healthy in order to recover from it quickly. The healthier you are at the outset, the quicker you are going to be back to your everyday routine.

One factor that we are going to consider is the condition of your skin. Ideally, you want your skin to be flexible and elastic. Your skin should be able to bounce back when pinched. This is one of the reasons smokers are asked to stop smoking for a number of months before the procedure.

In addition to the health factors and the structure of your face, there are emotional factors that come into play. To be a good candidate for this procedure, you need to have a realistic expectation for what this procedure can do. There is no question that a facelift can change your life. It can make you a more confident individual and take years off of your perceived age. That said, you are still going to be you after the surgery. If you don’t have a realistic idea of what the surgery can do for you, you may walk away from it feeling disappointed.

Get In Touch with Us for More Information

We have only briefly discussed the amazing benefits of a facelift. Would you like to learn more about how it has the possibility to improve your appearance, boost your self-esteem, and get you back to being the person you were before the aging process robbed you of your good looks? If so, feel free to make an appointment with The Plastic Surgery Center. At our convenient locations in Sarasota and Bradenton, FL, we look forward to discussing this phenomenal procedure with you. Contact us today to set up your consultation!

What Makes CoolSculpting So Effective?

Have you been dieting and exercising, but are still unable to achieve the body you desire? What should a person do if they are now at or near a healthy weight and still have stubborn areas of fat on their body? CoolSculpting® may be able to help.

How CoolSculpting® Could Help You

This is one of the most effective non-surgical fat removal treatments on the market. It is effective because it is able to freeze the fat cells to a specific temperature where they are killed, but skin and organs are left unharmed. In the months that follow the treatment, the dead fat cells are removed from the body through natural processes.

Best results are realized when your weight is at a stable level. It is most commonly used on areas such as the abdomen, hips, back, and thighs. A difference can be seen as early as 4 weeks with a final results in 3 months.

The goal is to get rid of stubborn fat in specific areas. When a person exercises and diets, their fat cells shrink, but the number of fat cells stays the same. With CoolSculpting®, the goal is to remove fat cells. Most patients achieve optimal results to a specific area with two treatments. When you visit us for your initial consultation, we will be able to examine the areas where you have unwanted fat and give you an idea of how many treatments you will likely need.

Contact Us Today

The idea of being able to freeze away fat cells may sound like something that is just too good to be true. We are here to assure you that it is not. And you can enjoy the benefits that come from CoolSculpting® at The Plastic Surgery Center in Bradenton and Sarasota, FL. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with our CoolSculpting specialist.

Good Candidates for Lip Enhancement

Are you interested in full, plump lips? There are temporary and permanent options available for Lip Enhancement. Temporary Fillers include the use of dermal fillers such as JUVEDERM. Autologous Fat Transfer provides a permanent solution to lip augmentation. Both treatments are easily performed in the office.

What Are the Benefits of Lip Enhancement?

If you wish to undergo a lip enhancement procedure, here are some of the benefits that you are likely to enjoy:

It can be done on a temporary or permanent basis: If you are not sure if lip enhancement is ideal for you, you may wish to initially try a temporary dermal filler and assess the results before you opt for a permanent procedure.
There is no recovery period, you are able resume your normal activities almost immediately.

Who Are Good Candidates for Lip Augmentation?

Most people without health issues are excellent candidate for either procedure. To minimize bruising, it is ideal not to take non steroidals or aspirin 2-3 weeks prior to the procedure. To be safe, make an appointment with Dr. Scott, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, to discuss what treatment is best for you.

For more information about lip enhancement procedures, get in touch with us at The Plastic Surgery Center. We are conveniently located in Bradenton and Sarasota, FL. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!

Understanding Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the term for when the breast tissue is enlarged in men. It causes a lot of mental anguish and can sometimes cause physical pain as well. There is hope, however. Surgery can help resolve the issue. Learn more about what causes this condition in the first place and what can potentially be done about it.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

The most obvious and common culprit of this condition is an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen is considered a primarily female hormone, and it is what controls the growth of breast tissue. When there is too much estrogen and not enough testosterone, gynecomastia can occur.

Certain factors make a man more likely to have a hormone imbalance and, therefore, enlarged breast tissue. They can include:

Liver disease
Kidney failure
A poor diet
Being overweight
Tumors in either the adrenal glands or the testicles
Hypogonadism
Hypoandrogenism
Hyperthyroidism

Men who are dealing with gynecomastia will also need to examine the medications they are taking. Certain ones have been known to cause or worsen the condition, including:

Anabolic steroids
Human chorionic gonadotropin (used to boost fertility)
Calcium channel blockers
Certain fungal medications
Certain anxiety medications
Proton pump inhibitors for heartburn

Additionally, street drugs can contribute to the issue. Marijuana, heroin, amphetamines, methadone, and even alcohol have been linked to the issue. Consulting with a professional is the best way to determine what the cause is in your cause and what to do about it.

Are There Other Symptoms of Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is literally defined as enlarged breast tissue in men, but this does not mean there are no other potential symptoms. If your breast tissue is tender or causing you pain, seek professional treatment. This is also true if you are experiencing discharge from one or both nipples.

Treatment for Gynecomastia

The most effective treatment for this condition is surgery. You can either undergo liposuction, which will simply remove excess fat in the area, or another type of procedure that reshapes the tissue in the area. There are several factors that go into deciding which option is right for you.

If you would like to learn more about gynecomastia and the available treatment options, feel free to set up an initial consultation at The Plastic Surgery Center. We are happy to answer questions and genuinely look forward to hearing from you. Contact us today to book your appointment at our office in Bradenton or Sarasota.

The Best is Still to Come with a Mommy Makeover!

Becoming a new mother may seem as if it is the best thing that happened to you, but you may feel unhappy about the changes to your body. Pregnancy changes your body in several ways, leading to saggy skin on your abdomen and drooping breasts. After completing all of your pregnancies, you can have plastic surgery to boost your self-esteem. Repairing your body’s changes can also prevent pain in your back and neck from having drooping breasts or coping with the sagging skin on your abdomen. Each woman will need an evaluation from a plastic surgeon to understand her overall health along with planning the types of surgeries that she might need. The traditional mommy makeover includes repairing the abdomen and fixing the breasts, but it is also possible to select additional procedures such as liposuction. Planning for a customized surgery is imperative because each woman is unique.

What is Abdominoplasty?

Abdominoplasty or a tummy tuck is a surgery that involves removing the excess flabby skin and tightening the underlying muscles to create a smoother abdomen. This lifting and smoothing process can help to eliminate the problems on the abdomen and the nearby regions. However, if a woman has problems with the skin on her hips or thighs, then she can request additional surgery to correct these abnormalities. In addition, the plastic surgeon can remove fat from the body via liposuction.

What are the Different Types of Breast Surgeries?

There are different types of breast surgeries available, including lifting drooping breasts, reducing the tissue in the breasts or augmenting the breasts with implants. During a consultation with our plastic surgeon, you can select the breast surgery that is best for your body.

The Recovery Process

The recovery from a mommy makeover takes place at home, where you must rest while the treated areas heal. Make sure to follow our plastic surgeon’s advice concerning the recovery process in order to achieve optimal results.

Get Started with a Mommy Makeover

To learn more about a mommy makeover procedure, set up a time to meet with our plastic surgeon at The Plastic Surgery Center for an evaluation. During your appointment at our office in Bradenton or Sarasota, you can learn more about the procedure and how it can help you get your pre-baby figure back. Contact us today to book a consultation and get started!

When is a Tummy Tuck a Good Option?

Everyone deserves to feel proud of their appearance. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can make a person feel self-conscious, unattractive, or even embarrassed. There are a variety of non-surgical and surgical options that are available to help individuals improve their appearance. One example is a tummy tuck. We would like to tell you the benefits of this procedure and tell you when it would be a good option for you.

What is a Tummy Tuck?

This surgical procedure is designed to improve the appearance of a person’s abdominal area. It is perfect for removing excess skin, getting rid of fat, and tightening the muscles. The surgery is tailored to meet the needs of the individual. The surgeon is able to get rid of hanging skin and fat and then tighten up what is left over.

In order to qualify for this procedure, an individual will need to go through a consultation with our surgeon. The surgeon is looking at several different things when determining a person’s candidacy for it. First, they want to make sure that the procedure is the right option for the individual. So they will examine their loose skin. Second, they want to make sure that the individual is in good health and does not have any health problems that would disqualify them from the procedure. Third, they want to give their patient a realistic idea of what the procedure can do for them if they decide to go through with it.

When is a Tummy Tuck a Good Option?

Many turn to a tummy tuck after they have lost a lot of weight. Their skin has not shrunk down. In addition to the fact that this causes them to feel unattractive, it can also be uncomfortable. Individuals in this situation usually benefit from the procedure because the skin can be removed, unwanted fat can be removed, and muscles that have been stretched can be tightened.

This procedure is also a good option for women who have gone through pregnancies and are left with hanging skin. It can help a mother to get back the body that she had before having children. It can go a long way in boosting her self-confidence.

If you would like to learn more about the tummy tuck procedure at The Plastic Surgery Center in Bradenton and Sarasota and to find out if it is a good option for you, come see us. The surgeon will look at your abdominal area and overall health with the goal of recommending a treatment that can make you feel attractive. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!

Take Your Bust to the Next Level with Breast Augmentation

If you are interested in taking your figure to the next level, consider breast augmentation. This very popular cosmetic procedure can help a woman get the bust she always wanted and boost her self-esteem. With today’s technology and medical advancements, there are many options out there to choose from.

What are the Options for Breast Augmentation?

The first step in the process is to come in for a consultation. There are many choices to make when it comes to breast augmentation. You have to choose whether you want round or shaped, the size, and between a high or moderate profile. We will help you decide what is best based on your physique as well as your goals for the surgery. Another big choice to make is the material that will be used in the implants. There are four options available currently:

Saline Implants – This is an option available to those aged 18 or older. Silicone shells are placed and then filled with saline during the procedure. If one were to puncture, it would deflate. Your body is able to naturally process the saline solution.
Silicone Implants – These silicone shells are filled with a cohesive silicone gel before the procedure. They rupture less often than saline but your body cannot naturally process the silicone.
Gummy Bear – These are a form of silicone implants with a more cohesive feeling. They maintain their shape when cut in half, hence the name. They rupture less often than saline or silicone and are also available in multiple shapes.
Fat Transfer – This option makes use of excess fat in other areas of your body to fill your breasts, providing a more natural alternative to implants and improving your overall contours.

Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

This is an appropriate procedure for women who are unhappy with their current breasts. It is a good choice if you would like fuller or more proportionate breasts. It is also a good option for women who feel their bust has suffered as the result of pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, and age. In some cases, a breast lift will need to be done along with the breast augmentation in order to give you your desired results.

Get In Touch with Us for More Information

Ready to learn more about how breast augmentation can take your body to the next level? If so, we warmly invite you to reach out and make an appointment with Plastic Surgery Center! At our convenient locations in Bradenton and Sarasota, we would be happy to answer your questions and help structure a personalized treatment plan just for you. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!

Ways a Facelift Could Help You

Fillers and injectables can make a real difference in the appearance of aging skin, but they are no replacements for a conventional facelift for those dealing with serious wrinkles and sagging skin. Although you may be able to postpone a facelift procedure using facial fillers, there is no substitute for a traditional facelift when it comes to certain types of facial aging. Here at The Plastic Surgery Center, we are proud to offer the facelift procedure to our patients and encourage you to learn more about it.

As you grow older, your skin begins to become deficient in certain key components like collagen. Since collagen creates bulk and a framework for youthful skin cells to build around, its age-related loss leads to thinner skin that starts to sag and develop signs of lines and wrinkles. A cosmetic procedure can help to address common signs of aging like these and help you look much more youthful and vibrant.

Facelift Benefits

The best candidates for this procedure are those with loose facial skin that is sagging, especially along the jaw or under your chin. Those with good bone structure and definition and a strong jawline make the best candidates for the procedure. A facelift procedure is able to address problems like midface sagging, creases running from the corners of the mouth to the nose, creases under lower eyelids, and fat that has become dislodged.

Your Consultation

Your first step toward a more youthful face is your initial consultation with us. This is a good time to ask any questions that you may have regarding any step of your procedure. We will use this time to evaluate you and go through your complete medical history, evaluating the elasticity of your skin, wrinkles, bone structure, and hairline to properly direct the placement of necessary openings. We will also discuss your expectations regarding your results.

Precautions

In the weeks approaching your procedure, we may suggest that you avoid taking some medications like blood thinners, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. This is because these medications may complicate the facelift procedure and subsequent recovery. Keep in mind that certain herbal remedies and nutritional supplements can also increase the risk of bleeding. Be sure to inform us of anything that you are taking that may affect your procedure or recovery.

Your Procedure

The facelift procedure itself is quite simple. Our qualified professional will create openings around your hairline and ears that may reach your scalp. Then we pull away skin from your face and rearrange tissues into a better position. We may remove excess skin at this time and fat using a liposuction. Finally, we will redrape your skin and seal openings.

Contact Us for More Information

If you would like to learn more about what the facelift may be able to do for you, we encourage you to reach out and make an appointment with The Plastic Surgery Center! At our convenient locations in Bradenton and Sarasota, our caring and experienced team of professionals will be pleased to explain this process to greater depth and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!

Understanding CoolSculpting

If you are interested in getting rid of unwanted fat on your body with CoolSculpting®, it is good for you to understand how the treatment works. This will help you to know what to expect when you visit our office for your treatment and will give you a realistic idea of the results that you can expect.

One of the main things that attracts individuals to this body sculpting treatment is the fact that it is non-surgical. In fact, it is completely non-invasive. The treatment involves placing an applicator on an area where you have unwanted fat and then lowering that area to a temperature where the fat cells are destroyed but everything else is left intact.

What to Expect from Treatment

When you visit our office for the first time, your visit is going to start with an initial consultation. You will meet with a member of our staff who will examine the areas on your body where you have stubborn pockets of fat. Since this is a non-invasive treatment, most individuals qualify for it.

Most applicators gently suction the fat into a rounded area. You are going to feel the applicator massage the fat. You are also going to feel as the temperature gets quite cold. However, you do not have to worry about feeling uncomfortable because the area will eventually become numb. Our clients feel so comfortable during their CoolSculpting® treatment that they play a video game, read a book, or just sit back and relax.

Is This the Right Option for You?

There are a couple of things that you should know before you decide if this is the right option for helping you get rid of unwanted fat. First, if you are a woman, this is not the right treatment for you at the moment if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon.

The second thing that you should know is that you need to have just the right amount of fat in order to be a good candidate for CoolSculpting®. By this we mean that you should have enough fat that can be suctioned into the applicator but not too overweight. This is a treatment that will sculpt your body and help it to remove fat. However, it should not be viewed as a weight loss tool.

You are warmly invited to contact The Plastic Surgery Center in Bradenton and Sarasota to learn about how CoolSculpting® can benefit you. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!

Customizing Your Mommy Makeover

Very few women bounce back to their pre-pregnancy figures after delivery and breastfeeding, and almost no one bounces back after several pregnancies. Fortunately, a mommy makeover can take care of all that and help you achieve fuller breasts and a tight abdomen. A mommy makeover combines several cosmetic surgeries that will help restore your body to its pre-pregnancy appearance or even better. When you talk to our specialist, you can customize your mommy makeover to get your best look.

What is a Mommy Makeover?

There are several parts to a mommy makeover, but it mainly focuses on your breasts and abdomen. It includes:

A tummy tuck – called an abdominoplasty, there are several levels of a tummy tuck. The surgery permanently tightens your abdominal muscles and removes excess skin and fat. You can choose a traditional full abdominoplasty, a belt lipectomy called an extended tummy tuck, a mini tummy tuck with a smaller scar, a reverse tummy tuck or non-surgical body contouring.

Breast enhancement – there are two main types of breast enhancement including a breast lift and breast implants. A breast lift may be recommended if you want to raise sagging breasts. If you have lost volume or want slightly larger sized breasts, you may consider breast implants. They replace lost tissue that occurs because of hormonal changes and breastfeeding.

Liposuction – this is a treatment that removes fat from your body, but it is not a weight reduction tool. It may be used during a tummy tuck to remove fat pockets that simply don’t go no matter how much exercise you do. It may also be used to contour your waist so your breasts, waist and abdomen look proportionate.

Remove stretch marks – for some women, the stretch marks will naturally fade over time, but if they don’t, we offer several treatments that may reduce their appearance. Many of the stretch marks on your abdomen may be removed during a tummy tuck.

Who is a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

As stated above, a woman whose skin and muscles are sagging and become weak due to pregnancy is a good candidate for a mommy makeover. However, there are a few things you may need to consider. If you plan to have more children, you should wait until you are finished childbearing and breastfeeding because no mommy makeover will last through another pregnancy. In case you do become pregnant, you will need some touch-up surgery to return to your pre-pregnancy figure.

Get In Touch with Us for More Information

If you would like to learn more about what the mommy makeover can do for you, we encourage you to get started by reaching out and making an appointment with The Plastic Surgery Center! At our offices in Bradenton and Sarasota, our caring team of devoted professionals will be pleased to explain this procedure in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!

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