Reverse Signs of Aging Caused by Sun Damage with Cosmetic Treatments
You can't take back the time you've spent in the sun, but you can mitigate the damage caused by UV rays with cosmetic treatments and better sun protection moving forward. Skin care treatments at Aqua Plastic Surgery can improve sun-damaged skin. Whether you struggle with blotchy spots, fine lines, spider veins, or loose skin, these non-surgical procedures can help restore a smooth, even complexion.
How Sun Exposure Causes Premature Aging
The skin has three layers:
- The epidermis, or outermost skin layer
- The dermis, or upper-middle tissue layer
- The subcutis, or bottom layer of skin tissue
The dermis contains collagen, elastin, and other fibers that form a youthful skin structure, and this area suffers the most damage from sun exposure. UV rays penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis, damaging collagen fibers and mutating elastin. UV damage causes the growth of abnormal elastin enzymes called metalloproteinases. These malfunctioning enzymes degrade collagen instead of rebuilding it after sun damage, causing premature wrinkles and a leathery skin texture.
Chemical Peels for Sun-Damaged Skin
Chemical peels improve sun-damaged skin by exfoliating the epidermis and revealing new skin. Layers of chemical solutions are applied to the face for a controlled "wound." Facial peels vary in intensity from light to medium to deep and may use glycolic, trichloroacetic, salicylic, lactic, or carbolic acids to improve skin concerns. These treatments can improve skin tone and texture and reduce skin discoloration caused by sun exposure.
IPL® Photofacial for Skin Discoloration
IPL® Photofacial uses intense pulsed light to target dark spots on the skin. Powerful light flashes break down brown and red pigments, and the skin heals by scabbing over and flaking away, or the body absorbs the discoloration. IPL treatments reduce sunspots, broken capillaries, and other skin concerns that make you look older than your given age. The light wavelengths target the pigments that develop after years of sun exposure. IPL® Photofacial is used on the face and chest to target age spots, freckles, moles, and discoloration.
Microneedling with PRP for Smoother, Luminous Skin
Microneedling triggers the skin's natural healing response by forming thousands of micro-injuries in the skin. The tissue trauma stimulates your body's natural healing response for firmer skin with a better tone and texture. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in your blood contains growth factors promoting cell regeneration and regrowth. PRP with microneedling offers healthier, smoother, more youthful skin.
CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing
This intensive laser treatment removes the surface layer of the skin to rebuild and rejuvenate your tissues. CO2 laser resurfacing uses carbon dioxide to evaporate the top skin layers and improve sun damage, fine lines, scarring, and discoloration. This ablative laser reduces premature aging and heats the underlying skin tissues to promote collagen production.
Recovery time from these skin care treatments varies from little to no downtime to one or two weeks of healing.
If you struggle with sun damage and premature aging, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery via email to discuss your skin concerns and treatment options or call our office in Jupiter, FL, at (561) 776-2830.
Tummy Tuck Procedure Offers Smoother Contours and May Even Improve Low Back Pain
Most women decide to have tummy tuck to regain the figure they lost after pregnancy or after significant weight loss. While tummy tuck, formally known as abdominoplasty, can flatten the stomach, the procedure offers benefits beyond the aesthetic. Aqua Plastic Surgery’s double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. David Rankin, discusses the advantages of tummy tuck and how the procedure may even improve low back pain or urinary incontinence
Tummy Tuck
During tummy tuck, the surgeon tightens and repairs the underlying abdominal muscle structure to create a flat, smooth profile. It turns out that this cosmetic surgery may have a functional benefit for patients.
Many women opt for mommy makeover that includes tummy tuck. This involves additional procedures depending on a woman’s choices, such as breast augmentation, breast reduction or Brazilian butt lift.
Back Pain Reduction
Low back pain after labor and delivery is a common side effect for many mothers. This is often due to diastasis recti, the separation of the abdominal muscles. This condition affects core strength and places a burden on the back. Tummy tuck corrects diastasis recti. It may also improve posture.
In an Australian study published in Connect, 214 women undergoing tummy tuck completed questionnaires both before the procedure and several months later. In the pre-operative questionnaire, 51% of women reported “moderate to severe” disability from back pain. Six months later, just 9% reported such pain.
In addition to enjoying their newly contoured figures, these women were living without the back pain that formerly plagued them.
Improved Bladder Control
After childbirth, it’s not unusual for women to experience urinary incontinence. Sometimes, women expel urine involuntarily while laughing or sneezing. Other women may need to wear protective pads to deal with urine leakage.
In that same study, 42.5% of women completing the pre-operative questionnaire reported that urinary incontinence was a “significant” concern. The results six months later were even better than those reported by women dealing with back pain. Just 2% of the women noted that urinary incontinence was still a concern.
If urinary incontinence is causing embarrassment and affecting your quality of life, tummy tuck may well resolve this issue. Reattachment of separated muscles reduces or eliminates urinary incontinence.
For More Information
If you would like more information about tummy tuck, and which procedures complement this surgery, please contact Aqua Plastic Surgery today. Use our contact form or call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830.
What Will My Breasts Look Like After Breast Implant Removal?
Women may decide to have breast implants removed for various reasons but worry about what their breasts will look like after the procedure. Explant surgery involves removing both the implants and any scar tissue that formed around them. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, our plastic surgeons Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel discuss what breasts usually look like after breast implant removal and how a breast lift can help improve their appearance.
Breast Implant Longevity
At the time of your breast augmentation or reconstruction surgery, surgeons normally inform you that breast implants will eventually need replacement. While under normal circumstances breast implants should last 10 to 15 years, leaks are always a possibility. Saline implant leaks cause deflation and silicone implant ruptures may result in the hardening of scar tissue around the implant.
Whether leaks or the passage of time dictate the need for a new implant, it’s also a good time to consider whether to opt for permanent removal. It’s natural that after having implants for a long period, women wonder what their breasts will look like without them. Much depends on the amount of scar tissue surrounding the implants.
Aesthetic Considerations
After explant surgery, expect a significant reduction in breast volume. That makes sense since the implants are gone; however, it can result in certain aesthetic concerns. These include:
- Sagging
- Downward position of the nipples and areolas
- Loose skin
- Indentations
Patients with large implants but relatively little natural breast tissue are most vulnerable to these aesthetic changes.
Explant Surgery and Scarring
Typically, explant surgery involves using the same incisions created during implant surgery. No new scarring results. Breast lift may require an additional incision from the nipple to the breast crease.
Breast Lift
Fortunately, breast lift performed in conjunction with or after explant surgery can resolve many aesthetic concerns. This procedure lifts sagging breasts and removes excess skin. Breasts appear more youthful, with “perkiness” restored and higher nipples. While your breasts look smaller, they are still attractive after breast lift.
Enhancing Breast Shape
Another advantage of undergoing breast lift after explant surgery is the enhancement of breast shape. The operation creates a fuller, more rounded breast. Your breasts look and feel firmer. The goal is to make you happy with the outcome!
Get More Information
If you would like more information about breast implant removal and breast lift, please contact Aqua Plastic Surgery or call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830. We will explain the breast explant process and answer any questions.
Greet the New Year With Wide, Youthful Eyes After Blepharoplasty
In the new year, you may prefer an old look — that is, the appearance of your eyes before aging resulted in drooping and sagging. After all, the eyes mirror the soul, and you want them to reflect how young you feel inside. Eyelid surgery can make you look younger and revitalized. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, our trusted plastic surgeons Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel discuss how eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can turn back the clock and restore youth to tired eyes.
How Aging Affects Eyes
Besides the vision changes associated with aging, the eyes’ appearance is also affected. As we get older, sagging skin contributes to an aged look. The drooping of the eyelids does more than make someone look old. The eyes may often appear angry or tired, even if they are not. Muscles supporting the eyelids weaken, causing excess fat and skin collection. Bags form under the eyes, eyebrows sag and upper lids hang downward.
Arguably no other cosmetic surgery does more to reduce an aged appearance than blepharoplasty. This procedure gives you a wide-eyed look that refreshes your entire face. Expect to take at least a decade off the appearance of your face with blepharoplasty. Even though your face continues aging, the results of blepharoplasty are permanent.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty consists of both upper and lower eyelid surgery. Upper eyelids may develop saggy, wrinkled skin, while fat buildup in the lower eyelids causes puffiness and bagging. Patients may opt for both upper and lower eyelid surgeries or just one type.
In upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon generally makes an incision in the natural crease above the eye. A certain amount of skin and fat is then removed or the surrounding muscles are adjusted. For lower eyelid surgery, incisions are usually made beneath or inside the eyelid. Fat is removed or rearranged and excess skin is eliminated. Tightening of the lower eyelid muscle further enhances results.
Complementary Procedures
Many patients opt to have other procedures done at the same time as blepharoplasty. These include:
Blepharoplasty and Vision Issues
As with other cosmetic surgeries, insurance will not cover blepharoplasty when performed solely to improve appearance. In some cases, eyelid sagging becomes so severe that peripheral vision is impaired. When blepharoplasty is used to correct serious visual abnormalities, insurance may pay for part of it.
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery
To discuss blepharoplasty and what to expect, please contact Aqua Plastic Surgery via email or call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830.
Refresh Problem-Prone Skin With Chemical Peels and Skin Care Treatments
Is waking up to find blemishes that weren’t there when you went to bed a common occurrence? Have you tried countless over-the-counter products to combat problem skin? Don’t despair — help is available. Board-certified plastic surgeon David Rankin of Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, Fla., answers questions about refreshing problem-prone skin with chemical peels and other skin care treatments.
Problem-Prone Skin
What exactly constitutes problem-prone skin? It’s a vague term, but if you have it, you know it. In general, it refers to skin especially likely to develop blemishes. This type of skin is usually oily and shiny. The excess oil makes pimples, blackheads and breakouts more likely. Battling acne means a greater likelihood of experiencing scarring and enlarged pores.
Problem-prone skin doesn’t refer solely to acne. Rosacea, which can cause round, red facial bumps, flushing, skin thickening and broken blood vessels, is another problematic issue.
The good news is that there are ways to refresh problem-prone skin, so your complexion appears brighter and smoother.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels work by exfoliating skin rapidly and reducing sebum, allowing the treated skin to eventually peel off. Underneath, smoother, clearer skin is revealed. Most chemical peels consist of the exfoliants salicylic or glycolic acid. Stronger chemical peels can minimize the appearance of acne scars and hyperpigmentation.
Epidermal turnover takes place every six to eight weeks. That means new skin cells formed in the innermost layer of the epidermis make their way to the outermost layer. Dead skin cells can build up on the skin’s surface, mixing with oils. That buildup is an acne trigger. After a chemical peel, those dead skin cells and excess oil are no longer clogging pores. That reduces pimple and blackhead formation.
With just one treatment, you should see a considerable improvement in your complexion. Even better, chemical peels require no downtime! Depending on the cause of your problem-prone skin, three to six treatments are recommended for best results.
Skincare Products
To keep skin problems at bay, you need the right skincare products. Using the wrong products can cause further damage and heartache. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, we can determine the best skincare products for your needs and tailor skin care treatments accordingly. We offer top medical-grade skincare lines with products for cleansing, toning, moisturizing and protecting your skin to fight your specific problems.
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, FL
If you're interested in learning more about skincare procedures for your problem-prone skin, contact our experienced plastic surgeons to discuss your skin treatment options. Schedule your consultation by calling our office in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 or use our easy contact form.
Is One of Your Breasts Larger Than the Other? Try Fat Grafting
It’s not unusual for women to have one breast that’s larger than the other. For most women, the size difference, known as asymmetry, is a cosmetic concern rather than a health problem. Fat grafting can correct the condition if the size difference is within one bra cup size. The plastic surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter in Palm Beach County in Florida, discuss fat grafting and how it evens out breast size.
Asymmetrical Breasts
Asymmetrical breasts differ in size and/or shape. Often, asymmetrical breasts simply develop that way at puberty. Sometimes, the tendency towards asymmetrical breasts runs in families. Pregnancy, breastfeeding or substantial weight gain or loss may also affect breast symmetry.
However, if your breasts were previously symmetrical and the asymmetry occurred relatively recently, consult your doctor to determine the cause.
Fat Grafting
With fat grafting, fat is harvested via liposuction from another part of the body harboring excess fat. Usually, that’s the thighs or abdomen. Blood and other undesirable components are removed from the fat, and the fat is injected into the area where additional volume is desired.
Fat grafting is also known as fat transfer or fat injections. The entire process takes place with the patient under local anesthesia. Unlike other breast augmentation procedures, there is usually no need for general anesthesia.
Because your own fat is used, your body is unlikely to reject the graft. As with any procedure, infection is always a possibility but rarely occurs with fat grafting. The results look and feel natural and usually last for years, if not a lifetime. There is no scarring from the fat injection. Any scarring from liposuction is minimal.
Of course, you must have sufficient donor fat to undergo fat grafting. Those women with little body fat may need to find an alternative for breast asymmetry repair.
Other Procedures
If the breast size difference is prominent, or the patient lacks sufficient body fat for grafting, there are other procedures available for asymmetry correction. These include:
- Breast augmentation – the insertion of a silicone or saline implant to enlarge the smaller breast
- Breast reduction – changing the shape or size of the larger breast to make it smaller
- Breast lift – altering one or both breasts’ positions to make them symmetrical
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery About Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation
If one of your breasts is noticeably larger than the other and you want to correct the condition, call our office in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 and schedule your consultation. Our surgeons will determine whether you are a candidate for fat grafting breast augmentation and answer all of your questions.
Liposuction Results in Time for the Holidays?
The holidays — a time for reuniting with family and friends — are fast approaching. Look great in time for the holidays by scheduling liposuction as soon as possible. Treat yourself to the Christmas present you’ve always wanted! Learn more about getting rid of those stubborn pockets of fat that diet and exercise won’t eradicate from the dedicated plastic surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, Florida.
The Best Time for Liposuction
For many people, winter is the most popular time to undergo liposuction because the season allows for sufficient recovery time to enjoy a beach body come summer. If your goal is to look terrific for the winter holidays, you’re on a different schedule.
If your target date for looking great is Dec. 1 (giving you plenty of time to enjoy the season’s holiday parties) make sure to book your appointment at least one month earlier. If possible, try to have the procedure done in October, since your body needs time to recover from surgery. You want to feel fully energized for the holidays.
Liposuction Recovery
The liposuction recovery process involves several days post-procedure in which small drains are placed at the surgical incisions to collect excess fluid. Expect some moderate pain during this period. Once the drains are removed, you should notice less discomfort. Most people can return to work two weeks after undergoing liposuction. Those with physically demanding jobs may have to wait another week or so before returning.
While recuperating, make sure to take good care of yourself to speed healing. That means consuming a healthy diet and drinking lots of water. Get plenty of sleep to help your body rejuvenate. Avoid overdoing any physical activities. Your doctor will let you know when you can resume moderate exercise.
Liposuction Results
Initial results from liposuction are apparent approximately three to four weeks after surgery. Depending on what areas you had treated, that’s when you can expect to look slimmer and/or more sculpted.
This is the season to eat, drink and be merry. It’s the time of year when weight gain is common, but you will want to maintain those liposuction results. The best ways to do that include eating small meals more often rather than consuming large amounts of food at one sitting and drinking alcohol in moderation (if at all). Another tip: Stay away from eggnog. It’s incredibly fattening — one glass contains 500 calories.
Contact Us
Ready to look terrific in time for the holidays? Call our office in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 today or schedule your consultation for liposuction.
5 Signs You and Your Lifestyle are Ready for a Mommy Makeover
Women often struggle with bodily changes long after pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The demands of growing and birthing a new life affect your abdominal muscles, breasts, skin quality and many other areas. Aqua Plastic Surgery offers mommy makeover, a combination procedure that restores a woman's breasts and body to achieve their pre-baby figure.
Mommy makeover involves breast surgery, such as breast lift and/or breast augmentation. Our board-certified plastic surgeon specializes in breast augmentation to enhance breast size and improve breast sagging and deflation. Tummy tuck and liposuction are other aspects of the procedure that contour a woman's shape to eliminate stubborn fat pockets and excess skin tissue. Tummy tuck also improves diastasis recti by tightening and strengthening the abdominal muscles.
You may be ready for mommy makeover if you are in good overall health, a nonsmoker and have no medical conditions that could complicate healing. If you're unsure if this combination of plastic surgeries is right for you, consider these signs of readiness.
1. Your Family is Complete.
Women are often advised to wait to have plastic surgery until they are done growing their families. Future pregnancies will impact mommy makeover results, altering the breasts and abdomen. While you may still enjoy some mommy makeover results, it's best to have the procedure when your family is complete.
2. It's Been at Least 6 to 12 Months Since You Gave Birth or Weaned.
Breastfeeding and the associated hormones cause additional changes to the breasts and body after childbirth. Doctors recommend women wait until they have weaned and their breasts have returned to their normal state to have a mommy makeover, which takes at least six months. It's also critical to allow your body to heal fully after childbirth. After all, it has taken nearly 10 months for your body to adapt and grow a baby, so it's going to take time for your organs, hormones and tissues to retract and recover after birth. The body may take a year or longer to return to normal.
3. You've Hit a Roadblock with Diet and Exercise.
Women often find losing weight and staying fit is more challenging after pregnancy and childbirth. You may have areas of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise, making it challenging to lose that last bit of "baby weight." Cardio and strength training may help tone your body, but the skin and tissue changes caused by pregnancy may prevent you from reaching your goals through traditional means.
4. You Have a Good Support System for Surgery and Recovery.
It's never too late for a mommy makeover. Many women wait until their kids are older and more self-sufficient. You need a strong support system at home to help you through recovery and ensure your needs are met while you heal. That includes having the time available to recover fully after multiple procedures.
5. Your Self-Confidence is Struggling Due to Changes from Pregnancy.
Women face many challenges in motherhood and make great sacrifices to raise their children, often at the expense of their self-care. When you struggle with loose skin, stretched abdominal muscles and drooping, deflated breasts, it's difficult to feel confident in your appearance. Mommy makeover can restore your self-confidence.
If you're interested in mommy makeover, schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. Contact our Jupiter, Florida office at (561) 776-2830 or use our convenient online contact form to schedule your appointment or virtual consult.
Do Textured Breast Implants Increase Risk of Breast Cancer?
Textured breast implants are linked to a type of immune system cancer. Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL, is a type of cancer that can develop around textured breast implants. The disease may cause breast pain, uneven breasts, armpit or breast lumps, increase in breast size, skin rash, breast hardening and fluid collection many years after implant placement.
These symptoms can mimic the symptoms of other breast implant complications, such as capsular contracture, so it’s crucial to consult with an experienced breast surgeon.
Our breast explant surgeons, Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel, are well-known for their superior surgical techniques and experience with breast explant procedures. These experienced, plastic surgeons can remove breast implants with a total capsulectomy and send in tissue for pathology. We make sure none of the implant material remains in the body with advanced removal techniques and trim and reshape the breast tissue for a natural look after breast implant removal.
Many women experiencing breast implant complications with textured shells may choose to remove them to reduce their risk or eliminate pain and other symptoms.
What Is the Risk of BIA-ALCL with Textured Breast Implants?
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) quantified the risk for women with textured breast implants and found the likelihood of BIA-ALCL cancer to be between one in 3,000 and one in 30,000 patients. Your actual risk may depend on the manufacturer of the textured implant.
Can Smooth Breast Implants Cause BIA-ALCL?
There are no confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL worldwide in patients with smooth breast implants. The issue is overwhelmingly linked to textured implants. Textured breast implants help the silicone shell maintain its position within the breast tissue, but these implants affect the immune system. Some women may wish to minimize the risk by removing a textured implant.
What Should I Do If I Have Symptoms of BIA-ALCL?
The symptoms of this type of cancer overlap with signs of an implant rupture or capsular contracture. Many women also experience breast implant illness which involves a wide range of physical and cognitive symptoms. If you have a textured breast implant or are experiencing concerning symptoms with your breast implants, contact our doctors at Aqua Plastic Surgery to discuss potential causes and your options.
Schedule a consultation with one of our experienced plastic surgeons to discuss breast explant surgery today. Contact our Jupiter, Fla., office at (561) 776-2830. Our convenient online book consultation page is another way to schedule your appointment at Aqua Plastic Surgery, or you can schedule a virtual consultation.
4 Signs You're a Good Candidate for Eyelid Surgery
Sagging upper eyelids and puffy under-eye bags can make you appear tired no matter how much sleep you get each night. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can restore a well-rested, refreshed appearance and give you back that wide-eyed look of your youth. Our experienced plastic surgeons in Jupiter specialize in facial procedures and can determine if eyelid surgery is the best way to rejuvenate your eye and brow area.
You may be a good candidate for eyelid surgery if you meet these criteria. However, the only way to know if facial plastic surgery is right for you is to schedule a consultation at Aqua Plastic Surgery.
1. You have Loose, Sagging Eyelid Skin
Drooping and loose eyelid skin can do more than make you look older and give off a stern, serious energy; the sagging skin can hang over your eyes and affect your field of vision. These issues typically occur because fatty tissue in the upper eyelids descends and builds up around the eyelash line. Blepharoplasty can also improve under-eye bags, dark circles and loose skin in the lower eyelids.
2. You are in Good Overall Health
It's best to be in good health before undergoing an elective procedure. Certain medical conditions may impact your recovery, such as diabetes. People with diabetes may be more likely to experience infection after surgery or take longer to heal. It's essential to manage your ongoing health concerns before moving forward with eyelid surgery. Your ocular health should be in good condition as well. However, most people who struggle with drooping eyelids will qualify for facial plastic surgery.
3. You Don't Smoke or are Willing to Quit
On top of being bad for your general well-being, smoking inhibits the healing process and increases your risk of certain complications, including infection, delayed wound healing and heart or lung impairment. If you're interested in eyelid surgery, you will need to commit to quitting before your procedure to ensure satisfactory, safe results.
4. You Have a Positive Outlook for Eyelid Surgery
Patients interested in eyelid surgery should have a good outlook and realistic goals for their results. Dr. Rankin can show you before and after photos of patients who underwent blepharoplasty at Aqua Plastic Surgery so you can get an idea of what you can expect. Blepharoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgeries and can provide a refreshed, youthful appearance.
Is Eyelid Surgery Right for You?
In many cases, eyelid surgery can deliver your desired results. However, sometimes a brow lift may be a better fit. Drooping eyebrows can hang over the eyelids and even impact vision. You may consider combining eyelid surgery with a browlift to eliminate loose, hanging skin in the forehead and eyebrows and address drooping eyelids.
Schedule Your Eyelid Surgery Consultation in Jupiter
If you're interested in eyelid surgery, schedule a consultation with our experienced plastic surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery. Contact our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830 or fill out our online contact form.