Ways You May Be Unknowingly Aging Your Skin
Most people know that certain lifestyle habits, such as smoking, can cause premature signs of aging to develop throughout the face. Smoking robs individuals of oxygenated blood flow and damages collagen and elastin, two proteins that are integral to healthy, elastic skin. Also, the repeated motion of puckering your lips over a cigarette can cause wrinkles around the mouth.
However, there are many other ways you could be prematurely aging your skin, and you may not even know it. That is why our talented plastic surgeons are sharing the following ways you may be unknowingly aging your skin.
Mistreating the Sensitive Skin Around Your Eyes
The skin around your eyes is thinner than elsewhere on your body, and it's very sensitive. Rubbing or tugging on the skin around your eyes while removing makeup can lead to dark circles under the eyes and, eventually, to wrinkles around the outer edges of the eyes (e.g., crow’s feet). With this in mind, care for the skin around your eyes carefully. In addition, don’t forget to wear your sunglasses when you are outside, to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, which can also lead to visible signs of aging.
Not Getting the Right Nutrients
Your skin reflects what you eat. If you constantly load up on sugar, you could activate a physiological process called glycatin that causes the collagen and elastin proteins to harden. You should also check to make sure you are getting sufficient amounts of vitamins A, C and E, antioxidants that help curb the damage caused by free radicals (the unstable molecules in your body). Finally, consume omega-3 fatty acids to keep the outer layer of your skin strong and supple, so it remains effective in keeping out external pollutants and toxins.
Not Staying Hydrated
About 70% of your body is water, with your skin containing a substantial amount of that water. Although drinking an excessive amount of water will not necessarily give you glowing skin, not drinking enough water will make your skin appear dry and wrinkled. To keep your skin looking soft and hydrated, do not forget to hydrate!
Not Getting a Sufficient Amount of Sleep
Besides making you feel cranky and tired, not getting enough sleep each night (i.e., about seven to eight hours a night for adults) can also take a toll on your skin. While you sleep, your body releases human growth hormone to help repair skin cells and other tissues. If you do not get enough sleep, your body does not release enough of the human growth hormone to keep skin healthy.
A lack of sleep can also cause your body to release more cortisol, the stress hormone. Having an excessive amount of cortisol can damage skin collagen, the protein that is essential for smooth, elastic skin.
What to Do If Your Skin Could Use Some Help
If you already notice visible signs of aging creeping up, Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel can help. They provide both facial rejuvenation surgery and nonsurgical cosmetic treatment options to help your skin looks its best.
To schedule a personal consultation with our Jupiter plastic surgeons and to find out about our facial rejuvenation treatment options, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling (561) 776-2830 or using our contact form.
Gynecomastia: It's More Common Than You May Think
Jupiter plastic surgeon Dr. David Rankin recognizes that although an estimated 40 to 60% of males experience gynecomastia, or enlarged male breasts, at some point in their lives, it is not a condition that is often discussed. However, gynecomastia accounts for more than 65% of male breast disorders. It is more common than you may think.
Gynecomastia vs. Pseudo-gynecomastia
True clinical gynecomastia is characterized by enlarged glandular breast tissue in men. Pseudo-gynecomastia is typically characterized by excessive fat throughout the chest area, leading to the appearance of enlarged male breasts. Patients may also suffer from a combination of excessive glandular tissue and fat throughout the chest area.
While pseudo-gynecomastia is often the result of being overweight, clinical gynecomastia is usually caused by fluctuations in hormones. However, true gynecomastia can also be triggered by some types of medications, such as steroids, and drugs, such as marijuana. Gynecomastia often occurs during puberty, and can continue into adulthood. It is also common among older men.
The Psychological Effects of Gynecomastia
Unfortunately, gynecomastia can be more serious than a simple aesthetic concern for many males, especially for adolescents who may be teased or bullied because of their condition. A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, reported that adolescents with gynecomastia had significantly worse social functioning, self-esteem and overall mental health when compared to their healthy peers. The severity of the boys’ gynecomastia did not influence the extent to which they were mentally and emotionally impacted by their condition. That is to say, even the slightest degree of gynecomastia can have damaging effects on the emotional wellbeing of male adolescents.
Gynecomastia Treatment Options
Fortunately, Jupiter cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rankin can help. He offers several surgical treatment options for enlarged male breasts. Your options depend on what is causing your enlarged male breasts. For instance, men with clinical gynecomastia usually require male breast reduction surgery involving the excision of glandular breast tissue — and in some cases, excess skin — from the chest area. Men with pseudo-gynecomastia may benefit from liposuction of the chest. Of course, Dr. Rankin can also combine treatment options for effective contouring of the chest area.
If you suffer from enlarged male breasts, do not put up with the problem any longer. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Rankin of Aqua Plastic Surgery so he can evaluate your chest anatomy, discuss your aesthetic concerns and formulate a treatment plan to correct the look of your male breasts. To schedule a private consultation with Jupiter male breast reduction surgeon Dr. Rankin, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling (561) 776-2830 today.
Breastfeeding With Breast Implants
Many women visit Jupiter plastic surgeons Dr. David Rankin or Dr. Allyson Deziel seeking to enhance their breasts with breast implants, but they are worried they may have difficulty breastfeeding afterward. Although there is a small risk that undergoing breast augmentation cosmetic surgery will negatively impact a woman’s breastfeeding ability, it is not an issue for most breast implant patients. That said, if you are considering getting breast implants and plan to breastfeed after, keep the following information in mind.
Incision Pattern
Dr. Rankin and Dr. Deziel offer patients three incision options in breast enhancement surgery. The first is the transaxillary incision approach. With this incision pattern, the doctor positions the incision beneath the arm, in the armpit region. With the second option, the inframammary approach, the Jupiter breast augmentation surgeon positions an incision underneath the breast’s natural fold, running lengthwise. Finally, with the third incision option, the periareolar approach, the doctor makes an incision around the nipple — on the areola, the darkly pigmented skin encircling the nipple.
The periareolar incision often leaves the least-noticeable scar, as it is located within the darker-colored skin of the areola. However, this incision approach also increases the chance of damaging the milk ducts located in the area, potentially restricting the amount of milk the mother can generate. If this happens, the patient could experience difficulty breastfeeding. For this reason, women who anticipate breastfeeding following breast enhancement surgery might not want to use the periareolar incision approach.
Type of Breast Implants
Breast enhancement patients may also worry that the type of implants used in surgery will have negative effects on the baby if the implants leak, or rupture, while nursing. They should not worry about this scenario, as the body can safely absorb the saline solution (i.e., sterile saltwater) in case of an implant rupture, so it will not affect the baby. In addition, studies have proved it is extremely improbable that the silicone molecules in silicone breast implants could invade a female’s milk ducts and be relayed to the infant.
In general, having breast implants surgery should have little, if any, impact on a mother’s ability to nurse. Nevertheless, if you anticipate nursing following breast enhancement surgery, tell Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel so they can recommend the most suitable surgical options to help protect your ability to breastfeed.
To schedule a personal consultation with our Palm Beach plastic surgeons to learn more about your breast implant options, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling (561) 776-2830.
Advancements in Cosmetic Surgery
The plastic surgery team at Aqua Plastic Surgery in Palm Beach County is dedicated to staying up to date with advancements in cosmetic surgery technology and surgical approaches. As forerunners in their field, they are familiar with the recent advancements in plastic surgery and areexcited to share the following information about these innovations with you.
The Newest Generation of Breast Implants
In addition to saline and traditional silicone gel breast implants, the FDA has approved a new generation of silicone gel implants. Like traditional gel implants, this new type of implant is comprised of silicone gel, but its filling material is highly cohesive, form stable and less viscous. This type of implant is often referred to the “gummy bear” breast implant because of the gummy-like makeup of the filling material.
Thanks to their unique properties, form-stable silicone implants will stay intact even if they are cut down the middle. As a result, they resist rippling or folding within the implant pocket, even if the patient is reclining. They are also easier for Dr. Rankin to remove in case of rupture.
In addition, gummy bear implants are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including an anatomically correct teardrop shape. They are often a good option for breast reconstruction patients following lumpectomy or mastectomy for the treatment of cancer.
Natural Fat Grafting
Thanks to advancements in the methods used to purify harvested fat cells before re-injecting them, natural fat grafting is now viable option for sculpting one area of the body and enhancing another.
With fat grafting, or fat transfer, the surgeon removes fat cells from an area of the body with an ample amount of fat using liposuction techniques. After the fat is purified, the surgeon injects it into another area of the body requiring enhancement. For example, Dr. David Raink can use the fat cells to fill in facial lines and wrinkles or enhance the cheeks, for a more youthful look. He can also use it for natural breast augmentation or to enhance the posterior.
Juvéderm VOLUMA XC
Juvéderm dermal filler has been an effective option for filling in and thereby smoothing out moderate to severe facial folds (e.g., nasiolabial folds) and wrinkles for some time. Recently, its manufacturer, Allergan, introduced Juvéderm VOLUMA XC, the first dermal filler that is FDA approved for adding volume to the cheek area.
With Juvéderm VOLUMA XC, Dr. Rankin can add volume to the cheeks, providing a slight lift throughout the area, for a younger-looking facial contour.
To schedule a one-on-one consultation with Palm Beach plastic surgeon Dr. David Rankin and learn more about recent advancements in cosmetic surgery, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling (561) 776-2830.
Tips for Choosing Breast Implant Size
Once you decide to have breast augmentation surgery, you have several important decisions to make. You must choose between saline and silicone breast implants. You need to decide if you would like your breast implants placed under or over the chest muscle as well as decide on an incision pattern. And last but not least, one of the most important decisions you must make is what size breast implants to get.
To help you make an informed decision about what size breast implants to get, Dr. David Rankin, a leading cosmetic surgery in Palm Beach County and Broward County, shares the following tips for choosing breast implant size.
Keep Your Body Type in Mind
The breast implant size you choose should be appropriate for your body type and frame. For instance, women with thin skin and little body fat should not opt for the largest implant size, because they might not have a sufficient amount of fat, skin and breast tissue to cover the implants. Without enough tissue to support implants, they may be visible underneath the skin’s surface. In addition, women with a narrow frame should avoid choosing excessively large implants with a wide base, or they may end up with results that look out of proportion to the rest of their figure.
Photos Are Helpful
Bring photos of women with the size of breast implants you would like to your consultation with Dr. Rankin. Photos are a great reference point, so you and your plastic surgeon can confirm you are working toward the same aesthetic goal. One caveat: Make sure you choose photos with women who have the same body type and frame that you do.
Bra Cup Size Is a Good Starting Point
Although referring to bra cup size to describe what size breast implants you would like is a good starting point, try to avoid using cup size as your only reference. This is because different bra manufacturers may describe cup sizes differently. For example, one manufacturer might describe a certain bra size as a B cup while another manufacturer might call the same size a C cup.
Schedule a Consultation at Aqua Plastic Surgery
The best way to decide what breast implant size is right for you is to come in for a consultation with Dr. Rankin or Dr. Allyson Deziel. The doctor can evaluate your unique body type and frame and suggest a size range that fits your anatomy. They also have breast prosthetics of different sizes that you can try on. Together, you and your plastic surgeon can choose a breast implant size that’s right for you.
To schedule a personal consultation with Palm Beach plastic surgeon Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel or to learn more about your breast enhancement options, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling (561) 776-2830 in Jupiter, FL.
Getting a Beach-Ready Body in Time for Summer
Summer and the season’s hotter temperatures are right around the corner! Is your figure beach ready? If not, do not worry. Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel at Aqua Plastic Surgery in Palm Beach County offer a range of cosmetic surgery and nonsurgical treatment options to help you achieve a beach-ready body.
Breast Surgery
If you feel self-conscious about the size, shape or position of your breasts, Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel can help. They offer several breast augmentation treatment options to enhance the volume of your breasts. You can choose from saline or silicone breast implants. Our doctors can do breast lift surgery to elevate sagging breasts to a higher, more youthful position on the chest wall. They also provide breast reduction surgery to reduce the size of overly large, pendulous breasts.
Body Contouring Surgery
Perhaps you love your breasts, but wish certain areas of your body were more sculpted. If you have pockets of stubborn localized fat that are resistant to diet and exercise, you may benefit from liposuction. Liposuction is a great way to eliminate fat from your abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, back, upper arms and other areas, improving the contour of your pesky “problem areas.”
With body contouring procedures such as abdominoplasty (“tummy tuck” surgery), thigh lift surgery and arm lift surgery, our doctors remove excess skin that has lost its elasticity and has started to sag. They can also repair any weakened or damaged supporting tissue structures to restore a svelte contour to the treatment area.
If you are not looking forward to trying on your bathing suit just yet, Dr. Rankin and Dr. Dezeil can help change that. They can find a suitable treatment option to help you get a beach-ready body in time for summer.
Schedule a personal consultation with our Palm Beach plastic surgeons through our Aqua Plastic Surgery contact form or call our Jupiter, FL, office at (561) 776-2830 .
Treat the Mom in Your Life to a Mommy Makeover
Motherhood is a blessing. However, pregnancy and breastfeeding can also wreak havoc on a woman’s body. With Mother’s Day about a month away, shouldn’t you do something nice for the mom in your life? Whether she is your mother or the mother of your children, she deserves the best, so help her get her pre-baby body back with mommy makeover surgery.
What Mommy Makeover Entails
Mommy makeover surgery is not actually a single cosmetic procedure, but multiple procedures designed to improve the areas of the body that are often affected by pregnancy and breastfeeding, namely the abdominal area and the breasts.
Pregnancy can leave women with lax abdominal skin that has lost its elasticity as well as severely weakened or separated abdominal muscles. Thus, one component of mommy makeover is abdominoplasty, or “tummy tuck” surgery, which removes sagging excess skin from the abdominal area and repairs the underlying abdominal muscles.
In addition, breastfeeding can cause women’s breasts to sag and their nipples to point toward the floor. Nursing can also cause the breasts to lose volume, often resulting in breasts that are deflated-looking or smaller than they were before nursing. That is why a second component of mommy makeover is usually breast lift and/or breast augmentation surgery.
One of the most appealing aspects of mommy makeover surgery is that Dr. Rankin can customize the procedure to meet the unique needs of the mom. For instance, he can include liposuction or buttock contouring surgery, if needed.
Mothers do so much for us every day. This upcoming Mother’s Day, do something nice for the mom in your life and treat her to mommy makeover surgery!
To schedule a consultation with Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel for the mother in your life or to learn more about mommy makeover, use the Aqua Plastic Surgery contact form or call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830.
Put a Spring in Your Step With Breast Augmentation
Spring is a time of renewal. Your appearance is no exception. Why not reinvent your look with the breast enhancement procedure you have been longing for?
At Aqua Plastic Surgery in Palm Beach County, Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Diezel perform breast augmentation surgery with saline or silicone implants to help patients like you get the renewed look they desire. Dr. Rankin and Dr. Deziel offer a range of breast implant options to fit your unique needs, so you can look like yourself — only better. Here is some information about the types of breast implants available, so you can choose the one that is right for you.
Saline Implants
Saline implants have a thin silicone outer shell and are filled with a saline solution, or sterile saltwater. Some women prefer saline implants because they are filled after they are inserted, so they require a slightly smaller incision than their silicone counterparts. Also, the body can naturally absorb the saline filling material in case the implant ruptures, providing an additional level of safety for the patient. The main drawbacks of saline implants are that they are more likely to ripple or fold within the implant pocket, and the edges may be visible underneath the skin’s surface, particularly in women with thin skin and / or little body fat.
Traditional Silicone Implants
Traditional silicone implants have both a silicone outer shell and a silicone gel filling material. They more closely resemble the look and feel of natural breasts than saline implants. However, they are pre-filled by the manufacturer, so the doctor must use a slightly larger incision to insert them than he would with saline implants. In addition, in case of implant rupture, the filling material stays intact within the implant pocket, so the patient may not be aware that the implant has ruptured, resulting in what is known as “silent rupture.” To avoid an implant rupture going unnoticed for too long, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that women with silicone implants undergo a breast imaging exam, such as a mammogram or MRI, every two to three years, starting three years after the initial breast augmentation procedure.
'Gummy Bear' Implants
In 2013, the FDA approved the use of highly cohesive silicone gel implants in breast augmentation surgery. They had been in use throughout Europe and other countries for many years before the FDA approved them for use in the United States. This new generation of silicone breast implants is often referred to as “gummy bear” implants due to the gummy-like consistency of the form-stable silicone gel filling material. Gummy bear implants offer all the benefits (and drawbacks) of traditional silicone gel implants. In addition, however, they are less likely to shift or fold within the implant pocket, even when the patient is lying down.
With so many options to choose from, there is no reason to put off having the breast augmentation procedure that you have long desired. So, this spring, spring into action and attain the breasts of your dreams!
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel to learn more about breast enhancement surgery, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling (561) 776-2830 or filling out the simple contact form.
Looking Great Doesn't Require Surgery: Top Nonsurgical Treatment Options
Often, when people think of a plastic surgery practice, they assume the only thing that the practice offers is plastic surgery. This assumption is not necessarily true. At Aqua Plastic Surgery in Palm Beach County, Dr. David Rankin, Dr. Allyson Deziel and their staff are pleased to offer many nonsurgical cosmetic treatment options in addition to their surgical options.
Here are some of our favorite nonsurgical procedures. These treatments are intended to help you either postpone the need for cosmetic surgery or to enhance the aesthetic results of your surgical procedure.
Injectables
Injectable treatments come in many forms. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, we offer injectable dermal fillers, BOTOX muscle relaxant and even fat transfer injections.
Dermal fillers — including Juvéderm, Restylane, Radiesse and Sculptra — are designed to restore volume to areas of the face that are lacking fullness. They can be used to fill in facial lines and wrinkles, so they are temporarily less visible. Dermal fillers can also be used to enhance certain facial features such as the lips and cheeks. Dermal filler treatment requires little to no downtime, so you can have the procedure done on your lunch break and return to work after!
Injectable BOTOX treatments temporarily suspend muscle movement in the treated area. As the targeted muscles relax, so do the overlying wrinkles. BOTOX cosmetic treatments also require little to no downtime, and can be performed on your way to pick up the kids from soccer practice.
One of the most innovative injectable treatment options is facial fat transfer. With facial fat transfer, our doctors perform liposuction to remove unwanted fat from a “donor site” (e.g., the abdomen, buttocks, hips) on your body. Once the doctor has harvested and purified the excess fat, it is re-injected into an area of the face that lacks volume (e.g.: sunken cheeks) or needs enhancement (e.g.: the lips). Using your own fat to restore lost volume or enhance facial features is beneficial because there is no risk of experiencing a negative reaction to a foreign substance.
Skin Care Treatments
In addition to our injectable treatment options, we also offer a range of skin care treatment options to help you attain glowing, youthful-looking skin. For instance, we offer chemical peels to remove the superficial layers of dead skin, revealing the healthy, fresh skin cells underneath. Chemical peels are an excellent way to improve the look of acne scars, large pores, hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) and more.
We provide microdermabrasion to slough off the outermost layer of skin, improving the appearance of fine wrinkles, uneven skin tone, acne scars and a number of other skin concerns.
Aside from chemical peels and microdermabrasion, we can perform intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacials to stimulate the body’s production of collagen, a protein essential for healthy skin, as well as dermal injectables to meet the unique needs of our patients.
That’s not all! We offer numerous other nonsurgical cosmetic treatments, from spider vein removal to Coolsculpting. To schedule a consultation to find a nonsurgical treatment that is right for you, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling (561) 776-2830.