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Plastic Surgery, Diet and Exercise: 3 Coins in the Fountain…of Youth

· Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck, Body Contouring, Breast, Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Choosing the Best, Eyelids, Face and Neck, Liposuction · No Comments

            Plastic surgery is more popular now than ever before. However, many misconceptions exist about the role of plastic surgery and overall wellness. We often see patients who believe that surgery is the solution to an overweight or sedentary lifestyle. The reality is that plastic surgery, diet and exercise are all pieces of the puzzle. The best results are achieved when each piece is correctly applied.

 

Eat Right

 

A well balanced, varied and moderate diet is both healthy and necessary to maintain ideal body weight. Patients sometimes think that liposuction is a treatment to remove large volumes of fat. Liposuction is not intended to be a treatment for obesity. In fact, fat is not very dense tissue so the weight of liposuction fat is often only a few pounds, hardly a dent in an overweight patient.

 

I often recommend that overweight patients work with nutritionists to reach a reasonable weight before considering surgery. The ideal body contour candidate is at a good weight and in physical shape.

 

Get to the Gym

            Another misconception is that “If I just have a six pack chiseled into my abdomen by a plastic surgeon I don’t have to do crunches”. Wrong. Exercise is critical to developing a lean, well defined physique as well as improving overall fitness. Zumba moms, spin fanatics and ballroom dancers are among our most common patients because they are fit, lean and want to look as good as they feel. We often work in tandem with personal trainers to achieve the best results.

 

So What’s Plastic Surgery For?

            Diet is to maintain weight. Exercise is for fitness and definition. So where does plastic surgery fit in? Well, I like to define plastic surgery as three types of procedures; we make big things smaller, we make small things bigger, and we pick up what Mother Nature causes to fall down.

 

Here are a few examples of the more common procedures we perform. Breast augmentation is common for women in such good shape that they’ve lost their breast fat. Breast reduction (for women or men) or breast lift may be necessary if there is too much tissue or loose skin. Tummy tucks are common among moms or yo-yo dieters because neither diet nor exercise will eliminate the stretch marks or tighten the loose belly skin and muscles. Liposuction is best for stubborn areas such as love handles and outer thigh saddle bags. And facial rejuvenation surgery such as eyelids, face and neck lifts help the face look as youthful as the body.

So remember the fountain of youth requires all three; diet, exercise and plastic surgery. One is not a substitute for the others. However, as with all plastic surgery, a skilled, experienced surgeon, a safe facility, and a competent anesthesiologist are also key to a successful outcome.

 

About the Doctor:

 

Dr. Perez has been selected among Castle Connolly/U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Top Doctors (again for 2012-2013). He has lectured internationally and been featured as a plastic surgery expert for major media outlets. Surgery is performed at the Broward Health Weston facility.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perez call (954) 351-2200. To learn more about any of these procedures, or to view our recent ABC News segments, featuring Dr. Perez visit www.PerezPlasticSurgery.com.

 

New Year, New You: 5 Plastic Surgery Procedures to Start the New Year

· Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck, Body Contouring, Breast, Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Choosing the Best, Eyelids, Face and Neck, Safety · No Comments

            It’s resolution time again. Exercise, weight reduction and improving our appearance are always high on the list of objectives for the new year. Here are 5 popular plastic surgery procedures that produce a valuable, big-bang-for-the-buck change to begin the journey. The procedures featured here are very popular and offer a significant change with a high degree of patient satisfaction.

 

Eyelid Tuck

 

            The first place aging becomes evident is around the eyes. If the eyes are the windows of the soul, then the eyelids are the curtains that allow us enjoy the view. The upper lids develop excess skin causing hooding.  The puffy bags on the lower lids create a tired look.

 

The procedure of choice to correct tired eyelids is the eyelid tuck or blepharoplasty. It is one of my personal favorites to perform and is the most commonly performed aging procedure for men. The procedure takes 45 minutes and patients soon enjoy a refreshed and less tired look.

 

 

Face/Neck Lift

 

Facelift territory includes the area of the cheeks, jawline and neck. As we age the skin and other tissues sag from the underlying bony structures. Although highly advertised under many catchy terms, surgical facelift procedures generally fall into two categories, mini and full. A mini-facelift is best suited for patients in their 40’s or younger who just want to freshen the cheek and jawline.

 

The patient for traditional face and necklift is in her late 40’s and older with laxity of the jawline and neck, often with turkey-like banding. Combined with eyelid surgery, the procedure often produces dramatic results and can reduce the aging appearance by decades.

 

 

Breast Augmentation or Breast Reduction

 

Breast augmentation surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in plastic surgery. Women choosing breast implant surgery want to achieve greater fullness and cleavage and fit their clothing more naturally. Many implant options exist and attention to detail is important. Breast augmentation is also one of the most commonly re-done procedures so women should carefully choose a compatible surgeon based upon credentials and experience.

 

Women who experience neck and back pain from heavy pendulous breasts can achieve a significant lifestyle improvement with breast reduction. Breast reduction can improve exercise tolerance, as well as lead to weight reduction and greater overall fitness.

 

Tummy Tuck

 

 

            Pregnancy or weight loss can create changes in a woman’s abdominal skin and muscles. In these cases, the procedure of choice is an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. Tummy tuck surgery results in a substantial removal of excess skin and stretch marks, as well as tightening of the muscles. The result is a remarkable improvement in the belly with a very high degree of satisfaction.

 

Regardless of where you choose to start, these procedures, in the hands of a skilled surgeon, can produce dramatic results and patients who are among the happiest in plastic surgery. Bon voyage.

 

About the Doctor:

 

Dr. Perez has been selected among Castle Connolly/U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Top Doctors. He has lectured internationally and been featured as a plastic surgery expert for major news outlets. Dr. Perez is a member of the National Council of Leaders in Breast Aesthetics and was selected as a principal investigator for a national FDA-approved study on abdominoplasty. For more information call (954) 351-2200 or visit www.PerezPlasticSurgery.com.

 

May is Mommy Makeover Month (Original Article)

· Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck, Body Contouring, Breast, Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Liposuction · No Comments

May is the month we dedicate to celebrate motherhood. It’s only fitting, therefore, that we also recognize the changes that motherhood brings.

Of course, becoming a mother alters the life of a woman in many ways, often running the gamut of emotional experiences. There are also changes to a woman’s body that accompany growing, carrying and bearing a child.

Pregnancy, and the weight gain that occur, create growth, not only of the baby, but also of the mom. Among the structures that grow to accommodate the new addition is mom’s belly skin. Sometimes the skin has difficulty expanding evenly so it cracks in areas. These cracks in the skin are what we identify as stretch marks.

Labor and delivery also create changes in the woman’s pelvis, allowing the hips to relax and widen during the birthing process. Multiple pregnancies multiply this effect on the woman’s body. These permanent changes are, however, well compensated by the joys of motherhood

The other parts of the woman’s body greatly affected by pregnancy are the breasts. The breasts grow and engorge in preparation for feeding the infant. Many women like the appearance of their breasts during pregnancy because the breasts become full and robust. Often women are disappointed after pregnancy when the breasts lose their fullness and begin to drift downward.

The good news is that many of the undesirable effects on the woman’s body from pregnancy can often be minimized before, or improved afterwards, through good perinatal care, as well as, the judicious and timely use of plastic surgery.

 

Let’s Start at the Top

            The breasts typically lose their fullness and descend to a lower position after pregnancy. Sometimes the areolae also stretch. The reasons for these changes are simple; gravity and skin tone.

The surgical treatment of post-pregnancy breast changes depends upon the condition. Lack of fullness requires placement of implants to restore volume. Nowadays many implant choices are available. Women who choose to breast feed should defer breast augmentation until the breasts revert back to their dry, pre-pregnancy state, usually 1-2 months after cessation of feeding.

Breast droopiness requires a lift procedure. Lift techniques vary but typically involve a greater degree of scarring than simple breast augmentation. Patients need to be ok with these scars and should have a thorough consultation to review them prior to surgery. Areolae can also be made smaller at the same time. Sometimes patients can benefit from both a breast lift and augmentation to restore position and fullness.

 

Then There’s the Baby Belly

            The abdomen does the heavy lifting in pregnancy. It’s no surprise therefore, that, after pregnancy, skin redundancy and stretch marks can remain. Another interesting effect of pregnancy is a separation of the paired rectus abdominus (i.e sit-up) muscles. The result is a gap between the muscles resembling a hernia. It is because of this anatomical separation of the muscles that abdominal exercises after pregnancy, such as sit-ups, although beneficial, are of limited value.

In cases of loose abdominal skin, stretch marks, and muscle separtation, the procedure of choice is an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. Like the breast lift, tummy tuck surgery requires scars that need to be accepted by the patient. The tradeoff, however, is substantial removal of excess skin and stretch marks, as well as repositioning of the muscles. The result is a dramatic tightening of the belly with a very high degree of satisfaction. Tummy tuck patients are among the happiest in my practice.

Since both the breasts and the belly are affected by pregnancy, women often choose a combination of procedures. Sometimes even other areas, such as the love handles or the thighs also become part of the mommy makeover.

Combination procedures require additional safety considerations with respect to the operating facility and anesthesia. As with all plastic surgery a thorough and honest consultation with an experienced surgeon is key to a happy mommy. Happy Mother’s Day!

 

 

About the Author:

 

Jorge A. Perez, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a board certified plastic surgeon in Ft. Lauderdale. He is a member of the NOVO National Council of Leaders in Breast Aesthetics. He has served as a consultant for both Mentor (J&J) and Inamed (Allergan), leading breast implant manufacturers.

He has lectured internationally on the subject of breast surgery and body contouring and has been selected among the Castle Connolly (U.S. News & World Report) America’s Top Doctors. More information is available at www.PerezPlasticSurgery.com or Perez9800@Gmail.com or call (954) 351-2200.

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