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.
How Laser Skin Resurfacing Can Transform Your Complexion
Laser technologies offer profound treatment options for many skin concerns. These cosmetic treatments improve imperfections on the surface layer and address issues in the deep tissues for total facial rejuvenation. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, we utilize Cutera’s Pearl laser for laser skin resurfacing, which can revitalize your complexion and restore a younger, smoother look.
What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing can treat fine lines, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin texture and facial scarring and help to clear acne-prone skin. These treatments can be ablative or non-ablative. Ablative lasers create superficial injuries in the skin’s outer layer, destroying skin cells and triggering the renewal process for faster cell turnover and more collagen and elastin production, so your skin looks and feels smoother and softer. Ablative laser treatment involves a longer recovery and strict aftercare but leads to dramatic results.
Non-ablative laser treatments penetrate the deeper skin layers without wounding the skin’s surface. While more treatment sessions are needed to reach your desired results, the recovery process is less intense. Non-ablative treatments work well for pigmentation concerns such as brown or red spots and spider veins and acne.
These laser technologies provoke your body’s natural healing abilities to jumpstart the production of nutrients and proteins required for youthful, supple skin. Collagen and elastin work together to smoothen and tighten your tissues for a better facial appearance.
Cutera’s Pearl Laser
The Pearl laser by Cutera uses energy wavelengths to target water molecules in the skin and vaporize (ablate) them. This ablative treatment removes a very thin layer of skin but keeps the remaining tissues intact. Pearl requires a four-day recovery that typically involves redness and skin flaking. This laser option can effectively address brown spots, uneven tone and texture, signs of aging and freckles.
Pearl Fusion Laser Treatment
Pearl Fusion is another ablative laser treatment that works to renew and resurface your skin. The YSGG laser technology heats the inner skin tissues with controlled depth energy and removes a thin layer of skin. Pearl Fusion offers more customized treatment and is an excellent option for mild skin tightening and regeneration. Laser skin resurfacing with this technology boosts collagen growth for better facial volume and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Pearl Fusion can improve skin discoloration as well as signs of aging.
Schedule Your Laser Skin Resurfacing Consultation in Jupiter
If you struggle with acne scarring, deep lines and wrinkles or other facial skin concerns, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery. Schedule your consultation with our experienced team of providers in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 or fill out our online contact form.
Can I Have Breast Implant Removal and Breast Lift Together?
Part of breast explant surgery, or breast implant removal, is addressing changes in skin laxity and reshaping the breast tissue. Elevating the breasts may be needed if you are not replacing your breast implants because your skin stretches to accommodate the new size after breast enhancement. The breasts may droop or sag when implants are removed, and a breast lift can restore a perkier bust.
David Rankin, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon devoted to helping his patients achieve their cosmetic goals through artistry, attention to detail and commitment to patient satisfaction and safety. He can determine if you need a breast lift with your breast implant removal.
How Does Breast Explant with a Breast Lift Work?
Many women add a breast lift to their breast implant removal procedure for youthful fullness and elevation. The breast explant procedure starts with a nerve block to control discomfort for 72 hours, which limits the need for pain medications after surgery. Dr. Rankin removes the breast implant and the scar capsule surrounding it. Then he removes excess skin and reshapes the breast tissue. Our plastic surgeon may reposition the areolas and nipples for better projection if necessary.
Breast lift corrects breast ptosis (drooping) to provide a better contour higher on the chest. Dr. Rankin has developed unique surgical techniques for predictable, successful and safe results for combining breast implant removal with a breast lift. One of these techniques involves moving breast tissue from the lower pole of the breast into the upper portion to enhance tissue volume for better breast fullness. A portion of the altered tissue remains attached under the breast to preserve blood supply. Dr. Rankin calls this technique the “tissue wrap around.”
Fat grafting can also improve the loss of volume caused by removing breast implants. Unwanted fat deposits are removed from another area of your body, such as the abdomen, and reintroduced into the breasts to restore some volume and avoid the risks associated with breast implants.
At the end of your procedure, drains are placed to aid healing. The implant and capsule are photographed and may be sent off to a lab to study.
Schedule Your Breast Implant Removal Consultation in Jupiter, FL
If you are unhappy with your breast implants or are experiencing complications linked to your implants, schedule a consultation at Aqua Plastic Surgery. Contact us in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 or fill out our online contact form.
How Abdominoplasty Can Improve Low Back Pain
An abdominoplasty can do more than restore your pre-pregnancy body shape. Research published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in March 2018 suggests that tummy tucks that repair the abdominal muscles can improve back pain and urinary incontinence after childbearing. While a tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure, it can offer improvement for the two most common physical complaints facing women after they give birth, providing a functional incentive on top of a better figure.
Our experienced plastic surgeons in Jupiter, Fla., offer the tummy tuck and other procedures that can give you back your pre-baby contour.
Abdominoplasty Improves Diastasis Recti
The 2018 study involved 214 women undergoing tummy tuck and repair of the rectus abdominis muscles. These muscles — the same muscles that make up the so-called "six-pack" — are stretched during pregnancy and may even separate, causing diastasis recti.
Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti is common in pregnancy and postpartum and can't be fixed with exercise. It can lead to lower back pain, urine leaking, constipation and other symptoms. Some medical professionals believe this is because the abdominal muscles help to support and stabilize the spine, and diastasis recti may contribute to chronic low back pain. A tummy tuck can help by tightening these muscles and pulling them back together for a flatter stomach.
Abdominoplasty Research Study Results
On average, the women in the study were 42 years old with 2.5 deliveries. Before their tummy tucks, 51% of patients reported "moderate to severe disability" from back pain, and 42.5% had significant issues with urinary incontinence.
Researchers reevaluated these scores six weeks and six months after their tummy tucks with reports that both problems improved majorly at six weeks. Only 9% of women still had a moderate disability due to back pain at the six-month mark, and less than 2% still experienced significant urinary incontinence problems.
Tummy Tuck Improves Diastasis Recti
These improvements after a tummy tuck with muscle repair are likely due to stabilizing and strengthening the abdominal and pelvic regions, including diastasis recti. This rectus repair leads to a better quality of life for women who have given birth and experience back pain and incontinence.
Many postpartum women seek a tummy tuck to contour their body shape and eliminate loose skin left over from pregnancy. However, these results show that abdominoplasty can have functional benefits for the postpartum population in addition to cosmetic improvements.
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter and Miami
If you're interested in learning more about the tummy tuck procedure, contact our experienced plastic surgeons to discuss your body contouring options. Schedule your consultation by calling our offices in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 to schedule your consultation.
Is Facelift Different for Men and Women?
A facelift can turn back the years on your complexion regardless of gender, but the procedure has traditionally been associated with women more than men. Facelifts are gaining traction among men in recent years, with many people citing the rise of remote work as the reason. High-definition Zoom calls can highlight facial imperfections, and remote work allows for a more discreet recovery.
Our board-certified plastic surgeons in Jupiter offer various face procedures to restore a youthful complexion, and these plastic surgeries are customized to your needs. Your facelift results are tailored to your cosmetic concerns and take into account whether you desire more pronounced feminine or masculine features.
How Male & Female Facelifts Differ
Women often wish for a supple and soft appearance, but men usually desire a chiseled look. The male facelift focuses on providing a more rugged, masculine result that boosts confidence for 10 years or longer. Where women typically want to address jowling, wrinkles and volume loss in the cheeks for a delicate complexion, men usually look for the opposite. Male facelifts can provide more jawline definition and remove loose skin under the chin and along the neck for a dynamic appearance.
More About Male Facelift
The Male facelift procedure is slightly different because men have thicker skin, connective tissues and muscles. The male facelift accommodates the stronger bone structure and dense muscles to avoid a "too-tight" or “windblown” appearance while creating a younger, defined look. Our plastic surgeons must account for facial hair in men, which alters the incision sites to ensure hair growth remains aesthetically pleasing.
Many men choose to have a neck lift or chin liposuction with a facelift to achieve a strong, defined facial profile. The full facelift is typically better than a mini-facelift for men due to thicker and heavier tissues.
Both male and female facelifts offer a younger, more vital appearance. The facial tissues are carefully lifted, and underlying structures are repositioned to improve jowling, sagging cheeks and loose skin in the mid-face and lower face regions.
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery About Male Facelift
Many men struggle with jowling and loose skin as they age. Facelift results can improve your self-esteem and may boost your social life and career. Contact our board-certified plastic surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery to discuss your facial plastic surgery options.
Call our offices in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 to schedule your consultation.
Dermal Fillers Can Complement Your Facial Plastic Surgery Results
A facelift, mini facelift, eyelid surgery or other face procedure can give you a more youthful appearance by reducing loose, sagging skin tissue and repositioning underlying structures. However, these plastic surgeries won't erase all signs of aging. Many of our Jupiter patients follow up with injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or BOTOX® Cosmetic to enhance their facial plastic surgery results.
Are Dermal Fillers Needed After a Facelift?
Our experienced plastic surgeons may suggest you wait up to six months before touching up your results with fillers to allow your face time to heal and adjust to your younger facial contour. Aqua Plastic Surgery can help you identify the right dermal filler and neuromodulator injectable to target your concerns, such as dynamic wrinkles, static wrinkles and volume loss.
BOTOX Cosmetic and Dysport target the cause of dynamic wrinkles, focusing on the muscles responsible for the formation of lines in the forehead, around the eyes and between the eyebrows. These injectables contain botulinum toxin and are expertly placed to soften wrinkles while allowing you to maintain a full range of facial expressions. BOTOX Cosmetic and Dysport can last several months, with results showing in the first week after treatment.
Juvéderm and Restylane
Restylane® and the Juvéderm® family use a naturally occurring substance called hyaluronic acid. Your body already contains hyaluronic acid, a sugar mainly found in your skin, eyes and joints, but production slows down as you age. This compound binds to moisture and is responsible for hydrated, supple skin. Restylane® improves facial wrinkles and folds, including nasolabial folds, marionette lines, perioral lines and volume loss. Results show up right away and may last six to 12 months, depending on the area treated.
Juvéderm offers a versatile array of dermal filler treatment options for static lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth, volume loss in the cheeks, chin enhancement and lip augmentation. Results are immediate and can last up to six months or longer depending on the type of Juvéderm and the area being treated.
Radiesse
This dermal filler contains calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres suspended in a watery gel. Radiesse® can deliver immediate results for deep wrinkles, including nasolabial folds that run from your nose to the outer edges of your mouth and marionette lines that extend from your mouth to your chin. The CaHA in Radiesse® stimulates your body to produce more collagen to back up your initial results for a longer-lasting, more youthful appearance. Radiesse® may last 12 to 18 months, depending on the injection site.
Sculptra
Sculptra™ is a semi-permanent filler made with a biocompatible material called poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). The dermal filler addresses the cause of aging instead of just the symptoms (wrinkles). The PLLA pushes your body to jumpstart collagen and restore the underlying skin structure and diminish wrinkles from the deep skin tissues to the surface layer. Sculptra™ does not provide immediate results like other injectables but offers gradual, discreet improvements as collagen production increases after treatment. You can enjoy Sculptra™ results for up to two years.
These injectables are a great way to enhance your facial plastic surgery results and reduce lines and wrinkles. Fat injections are another way to complement your facial plastic surgery results. They involve harvesting fat from a stubborn area of your body, such as the abdomen, and relocating the fat cells to parts of the face with volume loss and lines and wrinkles.
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery
Our plastic surgeons can help you determine if injectables are right for you. Contact our office in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 to schedule your consultation.
The Liposuction Procedure From First Consult to Your Final Results
Liposuction is one of the top three most popular plastic surgeries every year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). This procedure surgically removes unwanted fat from stubborn areas such as the dreaded "love handles," abdomen and thighs. Our doctors will discuss the process with you to help prepare for liposuction at Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, FL.
Your Liposuction Consultation
Come to your consultation with a few questions to ask our plastic surgeons about their experience and liposuction. During this initial meeting, they will evaluate the desired treatment area and discuss your medical history and expectations. Liposuction can address one or more problem areas with unwanted fat pockets at once, but a combination of plastic surgeries may be a better fit for some patients. Liposuction is often combined with a tummy tuck and breast surgery for a "mommy makeover" to restore a pre-pregnancy figure.
If liposuction is right for your body, health and cosmetic goals, we will schedule the procedure and provide you with the information you need to prepare. That may include stopping smoking, avoiding certain over-the-counter medications and lining up help for the first 24-48 hours after liposuction.
The Liposuction Procedure
Our doctors are well-versed in various types of liposuction such as power-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, and suction-assisted. We've discovered that the liposuction technique that yields the greatest success for most patients is tumescent liposuction. In this procedure, fluid is injected into the area to break up the fat deposits and constrict blood vessels to suction away the fat cells more efficiently. The fat is removed through a thin, narrow tube (cannula) using a tiny incision. The tumescent method minimizes pain and reduces post-operative bruising.
Liposuction Recovery
You will likely experience some mild to moderate pain along with swelling and numbness after liposuction. Our plastic surgeon may prescribe you pain medication to fill beforehand, but over-the-counter options also work well to minimize discomfort. We will provide a compression garment right after liposuction, which helps your skin adjust to the new contour and alleviates some swelling. Wear the compression garment for several weeks. Swelling and bruising are typically gone by the six-week mark.
Every patient heals at a different pace, but bending, lifting and strenuous activity or exercise need to be put off until you are cleared to resume these habits. Most liposuction patients return to work one to two weeks after their procedure. Eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated during liposuction recovery, and go on walks (but don't push your limits) to help your body heal.
Follow-Up Visits at Aqua Plastic Surgery
Our doctors prefer to see patients one to two days after their liposuction procedure and four to six weeks out to assess their recovery and preliminary results. Some people notice a slimmer contour right away, while others must wait until the swelling is gone. A final follow-up appointment at our Jupiter office will take place up to six months after liposuction.
Schedule Your Lipo Consultation
If you're interested in liposuction, us our contact form to schedule your consultation with one of our experienced plastic surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery or call our Jupiter, FL, office today at (561) 776-2830. Begin your journey to your dream figure.