How Laser Technology Can Help Your Skin
Laser technology has terrific capabilities and can improve our lives in many ways, including aesthetically. Common skin concerns such as pock-mark scars from acne, rosacea and pesky wrinkles are not as challenging to treat as they once were, thanks to advancing technology. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, our skilled aesthetician offers several types of laser treatments designed to address most skin conditions and aesthetic issues with safe, effective results.
Skin Rejuvenation for Sun Damage
Long-term sun exposure takes a significant toll, producing discolored patches on the skin and compromising your skin’s integrity. The UV light causes structural changes to elastin. Elastin is a supportive compound in your skin that maintains flexibility and firmness, and your body produces less and less as you get older.
Our doctors use a variety of lasers such as the Pearl Fractional Laser, Enlighten Laser, Limelight IPL and Laser Genesis for skin rejuvenation. These lasers can address skin concerns caused by excessive UV exposure from the sun, tanning beds and other sources but may also help acne scars, lines and wrinkles, skin redness and large pores.
Laser Skin Resurfacing for Wrinkles & Scars
Laser skin resurfacing can address a number of issues, from common signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles to sunspots and acne scars. We can restore your youthful glow and smooth skin through ablative or non-ablative treatments. Ablative lasers treat wrinkles and skin discoloration through tiny wounds in the skin, providing dramatic results, and non-ablative lasers are good for acne, rosacea and other skin concerns. Non-ablative treatments use less laser energy to penetrate the skin without creating small punctures, offering a faster recovery but with less noticeable results.
Laser Tattoo Removal
Tattoos can be a beautiful expression and display remarkable artistry. However, many people are unhappy with their “ink” five, 10 or 20 years later. Some tattoos fade, bleed or may not fit with your personality anymore. The Q-switched Nd: YAG laser restores your natural skin by breaking the tattoo pigments into tiny particles for your body to eliminate. The laser light targets and absorbs tattoo ink. Multiple treatments are required, and colorful tattoos will take more time to respond to laser treatments because black ink reacts best to the laser light.
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter
If you’re interested in improving your skin with laser treatments, contact our medical spa at Aqua Plastic Surgery today to schedule your consultation. We will develop a treatment plan to reach your cosmetic goals and restore a smooth, youthful complexion.
Reasons Women Are Unhappy With Their Breast Implants
Most women are satisfied with their bust after breast augmentation with breast implants, but a few struggle with painful symptoms and asymmetrical results. Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel perform breast explant procedures to remove breast implants for women who are no longer happy with their results.
Breast Implant Illness
One of the most common reasons women choose to remove their breast implants is the phenomenon called "breast implant illness." This autoimmune and inflammatory syndrome may happen after any breast implant type is placed during breast augmentation, including saline, silicone, textured, round and teardrop implants.
The wide range of symptoms makes it difficult to diagnose breast implant illness at first. These symptoms include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Skin irritation and rashes
- Breathing problems
- Anxiety or depression
- Hair loss
- Dry mouth and dry eyes
- Gastrointestinal problems
Researchers understand little about breast implant illness, but symptoms often subside after the procedure to remove them. This surgery is ideal for breast implant illness because it removes the entire scar tissue capsule with the implant to avoid contaminating the surrounding tissues.
Capsular Contracture and Other Implant Complications
During the breast augmentation procedure, the implant is placed above or underneath the pectoral muscle in the breasts. Your body creates fibrous scar tissue around the foreign object, which forms a tissue capsule. That scar tissue is typically soft or slightly firm but should not be noticeable and holds the implant in place. Capsular contracture occurs when the tissues tighten and squeeze around the implant, leading to pain and distorting the appearance of the breasts.
Other implant concerns include implant deflation or rupture, which is reasonably apparent with saline implants but may require imaging with silicone implants. Breast explant may be performed to address these complications and either replace the implants or utilize fat grafting techniques to add volume and symmetry to the breasts.
Unhappy With Breast Implant Results
Sometimes the results from your breast augmentation don't match your expectations. Perhaps they are too small, too big, too soft or too firm. Incorrect implant placement and similar issues may lead to uneven breasts and other cosmetic problems.
The breast explant procedure are safe and effective options for removing your breast implants. Each breast surgery is unique, and our doctors will discuss your options during a one-on-one consultation. They may recommend combining breast implant removal with a breast lift to elevate the tissues and avoid drooping breasts afterward.
Schedule Your Breast Explant Consultation
Our doctors have removed breast implants for hundreds of women to recreate an attractive bust. Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, FL, today or call (561) 776-2830 to schedule your breast explant consultation.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate for Breast Lift?
Most women would love it if their breasts stayed in the same position for their entire adult lives, but age, gravity and pregnancy often have other plans. Breast sagging is one of the best examples of this unfortunate process. Fortunately, a surgical procedure called breast lift can restore your young, attractive physique. The expert surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, Fla., discuss what makes someone the ideal candidate for this procedure.
Your Breasts Point Downward
Youthful breasts generally point either up or out until sagging starts to push the projection of the breasts downward. The best option for women who would like to elevate their breasts to their former position is surgery. The ideal candidate for breast lift is a woman who has significant sagging on her chest and is dissatisfied with the breasts’ appearance as a result.
Your Nipples Sit Below the Breast Crease
The nipples are also likely to sink along with your sagging breasts. Women often become unhappy with the position of their nipples when they rest lower than the breast’s natural crease against the chest. During breast lift, your plastic surgeon will not only pull the breast tissue up, but also readjust the position of the nipple itself. If your areola has gotten larger over time, the surgeon can also take off some of the skin to make that look smaller as well.
You Are Not Planning to Have Any (More) Children
The two life events that are most likely to influence the breasts are pregnancy and breastfeeding. In fact, most women will see their breasts sag following the early phases of motherhood. Those who have had breast lift prior to nursing will usually see the work achieved from the surgery reversed. If you are considering having children, or an additional child, at some point in the future, we suggest that you wait until you no longer intend to get pregnant again to schedule breast lift.
You Are in Good Health
Although breast lift is remarkably safe when performed by an expert surgeon, given that it is not medically necessary, it may not be suitable for women with certain risk factors to undergo this elective surgery. Women who smoke will need to quit months ahead of the surgery, too, since smoking can interfere with the healing process and yield worse results.
You Like the Size of Your Breasts
With breast lift surgery, your surgeon repositions the existing breast tissue rather than adjusting the size. Those women who want larger or smaller breasts will need to consider breast augmentation or reduction. The good news is these procedures can be combined with breast lift if you want your breasts to be repositioned and resized.
Speak to a Surgeon Today
The best way to determine if you are a great candidate for breast lift is to meet directly with a surgeon. During a consultation, the skilled team at Aqua Plastic Surgery will examine your breasts and several health factors to determine your suitability for the procedure, as well as answer any questions you may have. To make an appointment, please call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830 or use our contact form.
When Is Liposuction Not Recommended?
Over the years, the surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery have helped countless patients achieve attractive body contours with liposuction. While the surgery is suitable for most patients who are interested in reducing unwanted fat deposits on the body, there are circumstances that may make you a less preferable candidate. Instances when our surgeons would not recommend liposuction include:
If You Have Certain Medical Conditions
Risks associated with liposuction are low overall, but can be heightened for patients with certain underlying health concerns. The doctors at Aqua Plastic Surgery will want to know if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma to make a complete assessment of whether you are appropriate for this elective surgery.
If You Intend to Use It as a Substitute for Diet and Exercise
It is a common misconception among patients that liposuction is an “alternative” to dieting and exercising. In reality, liposuction is not an appropriate weight loss strategy. The procedure works best on patients who have already put in the work to lose weight and simply wish to eliminate lingering fat deposits. First do your best to achieve your goal weight, and then use liposuction to enhance your contours.
If You Do Not Intend to Maintain Your Current Weight
To the previous point, liposuction is also inadvisable for patients who are not committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Although the results from liposuction are considered permanent, that only holds true for patients who do not let their weight fluctuate moving forward. If you are not prepared to commit to a healthy lifestyle, you could very well see the results vanish over time.
If You Smoke
While smoking cigarettes or vapes is bad for your health at any time, it can be particularly damaging to people recovering from surgery. The impact it has on the circulatory system makes it harder for your blood to clot and increases the risk of infection. Current smokers who want liposuction, or any other cosmetic elective surgery, should quit smoking as soon as possible, and well in advance of scheduling a surgery.
If Your Expectations Are Unrealistic
On the whole, the patients we treat at Aqua Plastic Surgery are thrilled with the improvements liposuction makes for their body contours. However, we do occasionally encounter a patient who develops expectations so lofty that they are bound to be disappointed. It is important that you set sensible expectations about what liposuction can achieve.
Are You Interested in Liposuction?
The surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery would be happy to meet with you to determine your candidacy for liposuction. To schedule a consultation with our expert team, please contact our Jupiter, Fla., office today or call (561) 776-2830.
How to Get Ready for Your Breast Explant Consultation
The first step for any woman who is contemplating removing her breast implants is to meet with a surgeon to discuss breast explant surgery. Whether you are concerned about a faulty implant leaking in the body, or just no longer care for the way the implants look in your body, a breast explant surgeon can walk you through the process so you can make an informed decision on whether the procedure is right or necessary for you. The experienced doctors at Aqua Plastic Surgery advise you to take the following steps ahead of a breast explant consultation:
1. Compile a List of Health Problems You Are Experiencing
If potential health problems are your main motivation for removing your breast implants, come prepared with a list of the symptoms you are experiencing, such as rashes, migraines, numbness, hair loss and chronic fatigue. Although you do not need to be certain that your implants are the cause of these symptoms, having a complete picture of your health will allow your doctor to make a more accurate diagnosis of the issues at hand. Once you know whether these symptoms are the consequence of breast implant illness (BII), you can make a surgical decision accordingly.
2. Read Up on Procedures Like Breast Lift or Fat Grafting
Simply removing breast implants will not always leave behind attractive results. After examining your body, your surgeon may recommend pairing breast explant surgery with another procedure to improve the appearance of the breasts. Potential options include breast lift, which involves elevating sagging breasts and nipples to a higher, more youthful position, and fat grafting, which takes unwanted fat from another part of the body and inserts it into the chest for an implant-free augmentation.
Ultimately, the decision to seek additional cosmetic surgery is entirely your own; it is completely valid to remove breast implants and take no further action. With that said, you may find it worthwhile to learn about these other procedures so that you can ask your surgeon about their suitability for your specific circumstances.
3. Research the Surgeon You Will Be Meeting With
While patients usually take the time to find a great surgeon to put their implants in, they do not always give the same amount of consideration in choosing a surgeon to take these implants out. That can be a mistake. Usually, the challenging part is not the physical act of removing the implants, but ensuring that the breasts look nice once the implants are removed. A skilled surgeon should be able to keep scarring to a minimum and ensure that your smaller breasts have attractive contours rather than looking deflated. Finding a surgeon who specializes in breast explant is your best bet for achieving great results.
Fortunately, Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel are known for their superior breast explant technique. You can count on them to safely remove your implants and achieve a healthy, appealing outcome. To schedule a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons, please contact our office today.
Changes You Can Achieve with Rhinoplasty
While most plastic surgeries can be customized to suit the needs of a patient, perhaps no procedure is more personalized than rhinoplasty. Dr. Allyson Deziel of Aqua Plastic Surgery understands that every patient has different needs, and she strives to meet each patient’s aesthetic goals. Here, Dr. Deziel discusses some of the more common changes patients can achieve with nose job surgery.
Straightening the Nose
Crooked noses can be the result of injury or genetics. With research telling us that people perceive symmetrical faces to be the most attractive, it makes sense that people want to improve the alignment of their nose so that the left half mirrors the right.
Changing the Width of the Bridge
Some people complain that the bridge of their nose is too wide or too narrow. The most common approach for widening the bridge is cartilage grafts, which may improve your ability to breathe through your nose. Dr. Deziel can narrow the bridge by delicately reshaping the bones for a slighter appearance.
Removing a Bump
A protrusion on the nose, also known as a nasal or dorsal hump, is usually caused by excess cartilage or bone on the bridge of the nose. Although this trait is most often inherited, many people prefer a flatter appearance to their nose and have this hump removed surgically.
Changing the Projection of the Nasal Tip
On average, a man’s nasal tip points outward, creating a 90 degree angle with the skin above the lip, while a woman’s nose is likely to protrude slightly upward. As that is not the case for everyone, some patients, especially those whose noses point downward or are not in alignment with the angle of projection commonly associated with their sex, will request to change the projection of the tip to give the face a more masculine or feminine appearance.
Adjusting the Size of the Nostrils
Even the nostrils can be tweaked with some careful surgery. If your nostrils seem too big, Dr. Deziel can lift the edge of the nostril for more coverage or graft cartilage to fill in some of the space. To widen the nostrils, she can remove a small amount of nasal tissue.
No matter which issues you are looking for rhinoplasty to correct, Dr. Deziel at Aqua Plastic Surgery is here to help. To schedule a consultation with her, call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830.
Brazilian Butt Lift
Interested in a fuller, more voluptuous figure? Or maybe a boosted backside? How about just a smoother, softer bottom free of cellulite-driven dimples? Brazilian butt lift — also known as the BBL — is a popular option to achieve any of these results.
An alternative to the more invasive rear end surgery, silicone implants (which run similar surgical risks in addition to the possibility of allergic reactions to the silicone and displacement), the BBL involves the doctor shifting fat from one location on your body to your buttocks.
The Procedure
The surgeons of Aqua Plastic Surgery harvest fat from a donor area, possibly your belly or thighs, using liposuction. Once the extracted cells are purified, they are strategically injected to help you achieve the exact desired look. Our doctors focus on filling the upper quadrants to give your backside a perky lift. Both incision sites are stitched closed and compression is applied. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons suggests wearing the garment for eight weeks to help the harvest and incision sites heal.
Brazilian Butt Lift Recovery
Like other surgeries, Brazilian butt lift comes with soreness, swelling and lasting tenderness at the site of the incisions. Pain medications will help you manage these effects. Ensure continual use of your compression garments, and make sure to move around to prevent blood clots and constipation.
The hardest part of your BBL recovery will be abiding by the no sitting requirement. For a week to 10 days, you will not be able to apply any pressure to your buttocks at all. Besides avoiding a chair, you will need to sleep on your side. Applying any pressure to your rear will restrict blood flow, harming the new fat cells and therefore negatively affecting the potential of lasting results. And even after eight weeks, when you do sit, do so on a cushion, sit backwards in a chair or slide your butt almost off the chair so you’re supported mainly by your thighs. Also, avoid remaining seated for long stretches of time.
Consult for Your Brazilian Butt Lift in Our Jupiter Office
We invite anyone interested in Brazilian butt lift at Aqua Plastic Surgery to visit our Jupiter practice for a consultation. During this time, your doctor (Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel) will talk with you about the results you are looking to achieve and provide a physical examination to determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. Please use our contact form or call us at (561) 776-2830.
Common Questions about Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty, often referred to as “tummy tuck,” is a common surgical procedure that smooths and slims patients’ midsections. Essentially, this plastic surgery results in a stronger, less-wrinkled belly, free of the marks excess weight or pregnancy may have left behind. Here the doctors of Aqua Plastic Surgery answer your questions about this popular procedure.
Who is a good candidate for tummy tuck?
Good tummy tuck candidates include women who have finished having children and men and women who have experienced significant weight loss and now have extra skin that hangs below their pubic area. In addition to being unwanted, this extra weight also may make it difficult to find properly-fitted clothes — and may cause hygiene problems because of the constant skin-on-skin connection.
Who should not consider a tummy tuck?
While tummy tuck is a straightforward procedure ideal for candidates for whom ab work is not making a difference and are within 20 percent of their perfect body weight, it is a serious operation for those with a high body mass index (BMI) or chronic health condition (e.g., heart disease), who smoke or have had a previous abdominal surgery.
What are the steps of the actual surgery?
The surgery takes about two hours to perform. Your doctor will begin with a horizontal incision (length will depend on the extremity of the correction) that will likely be able to be hidden by an underwear hem, and then a second incision around the navel to the target area. The doctor will go through the incisions to draw the abdominal muscles together to tighten and stitch them into place.
What are the benefits and drawbacks to having a tummy tuck?
Benefits of a tummy tuck are wide ranging, offering patients medical, physical and mental perks. They include:
Medical:
- Correcting a ventral hernia
- Reduces urinary incontinence
- Minimizes the risk of certain health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea
Physical:
- Improves posture and therefore reduces back pain
- Stronger abdomen
- Better fitting clothes
Mental:
- Boost in self-confidence
So long as you maintain your weight, a scar near the underwear line is the only memory you’ll have of the excess skin.
What is the recovery like from a tummy tuck?
Post-surgery, you will experience swelling and a bit of discomfort, for which you will receive medication. To support your newly strengthened belly and prevent fluid buildup, the doctor will give you a binder to wear for a few weeks. Further, you will need to be patient with your recovery as your movements need to be measured and overall lifestyle healthy. While some patients are able to resume work and most normal activities within two weeks, other patients take longer, so the actual duration of recovery time is personal to each patient.
Meet With Aqua Plastic Surgery
Our surgeons are excited to consult with you and answer any questions you may have regarding a potential tummy tuck. Please contact us to learn more, including next steps.
Choosing Breast Reduction
The aches and pains you’ve come to live with as a result of your larger breasts do not need to be lifelong conditions. The Jupiter plastic surgeons of Aqua Plastic Surgery perform breast reduction surgery, also known as mammoplasty, to offer patients lasting relief and renewed self-confidence.
Breast reduction surgery candidates have different reasons for requesting this surgery, including, but not limited to:
- Neck and back pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Skin conditions underneath the breasts (e.g., rashes)
- Lack of self-confidence
- Limited activity
- Difficulty finding properly-fitted clothes and bras
- Uncomfortable dents in the shoulders from bra straps
Other than experiencing any of the above issues as a result of large breasts, qualified breast reduction surgery candidates are in good health and do not smoke.
Procedures and Options
Mammoplasty procedures are wide ranging and can include operations that require overnight stays and multiple incision sites on the breasts. Aqua Plastic Surgery’s doctors, however, use an outpatient and single-incision procedure in which a single cut is made around the nipple and down toward the breast crease. The doctor will then go in through the incision to remove excess breast tissue and skin and shape the breast mound into a size more appropriate for your figure.
Recovery
Breast reduction surgery patients will likely experience pain and swelling the first few days post-operation, for which the Aqua Plastic Surgery doctors will prescribe medication. Our doctors suggest filling your Rx before surgery, so that your medicine is readily available to you when you return home from surgery. But, while the breast swelling, bruising and tenderness may last a few days, issues typically dissipate after one or two weeks.
Your doctor may also suggest that you wear a surgical bra immediately following your procedure and a wireless bra for a few months after that. And finally, while you may experience immediate relief in the neck, back and shoulder pain that your larger breasts created, your new and permanent breast size may take two to three months to settle. Maintaining a healthy weight and not having any more children will make the results of your surgery permanent.
Potential Risks
As noted, healthy, non-smokers are the best candidates for this surgery, as complications are rare. However, potential issues include clots, infection, possible asymmetry and scarring.
Schedule a Consultation with Aqua Plastic Surgery
Aqua Plastic Surgery is lucky to have two specialists on staff to consult with you about this life-changing procedure: Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel. Schedule your consultation by contacting our office now.
Comparing Botox and Brow Lift
When brows sag with age, your expression may at times seem sad, anxious and even angry. Lines and wrinkles begin to form on the forehead and around the eyes. Brow lift is an effective surgical solution that restores an alert, engaged appearance to the upper face by smoothing out frown lines, creases and wrinkles.
While brow lift permanently tightens and lifts skin, many patients seek the same effect with Botox, a popular injectable with a long record of success. Below, South Florida plastic surgeons Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel help you weigh the revitalizing options.
Neuromodulators
Botox is a controlled toxin that is injected into facial tissue to relax muscles that are forming or sustaining wrinkles. It is quick, convenient and avoids the potential complications of a surgical procedure; although it must be repeated on a regular basis to keep facial muscles relaxed and prevent lines and furrows from returning.
Botox targets the muscles that are pulling down on the brow area. Botox immediately relaxes these muscles, relieving the tension that created forehead wrinkles. This smooth, buoyant look will last for three to six months. Botox is the oldest and best-known injectable in a class known as neuromodulators, which includes newer varieties such as Dysport and Xeomin.
Surgical Options
A brow lift permanently raises the brow and smooths wrinkles by surgically tightening and lifting forehead tissues. The surgery is performed with either the conventional incision method or using an endoscope, which requires smaller incisions; this leads to less scarring and bruising, and is associated with faster recovery. Brow lift is often done in conjunction with hair transplants, facial fat transfers, eyelid surgery, or facelift.
Some patients who seek a more modest restoration choose a third option: eye lift, or blepharoplasty. An eye lift is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of sagging eyelids by removing excess skin, fat and sometimes muscle between the eyebrow and eyelash, but does not change the position of the eyebrow. By tightening and eliminating loose skin, blepharoplasty restores the youthful look that may have been eclipsed by time, gravity or the daily stresses of life.
To find out more about Botox and brow lift, please contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830.