98% of Women Happy With Breast Augmentation Outcomes

A recent study published in the May 2013 issue of the medical journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® showed that 98% of women who’ve had breast augmentation surgery report that their outcomes met or exceeded what they expected from the procedure. If you are unhappy with the size of your breasts and are considering breast augmentation surgery, these findings may be the motivation you need to seriously pursue this popular procedure.

The 5-year study followed 225 women (average age of 34 years) who had undergone breast augmentation. Most of the women surveyed had chosen saline breast implants with an average volume of 390cc. The majority of procedures included placing the implants under the pectoralis major muscle (subpectoral placement), as opposed to above the muscle (subglandular placement).

The women were asked questions about their recovery, any complications that occurred, the overall results and any psychological consequences from the procedure. The findings included:  

·         92% improved self-esteem after breast augmentation

·         64% improved quality of life

·         85% breast size was “just right”

·         13% wished for larger breast size

·         2% wished for smaller breast size

·         1% unhappy with the breast implant incision scars

·         75% breast firmness “just right”

·         86% self-conscious about their breasts before surgery

·         13% self-conscious about their breasts after surgery

Most women recovered from surgery for seven days and felt “back to normal” after about 25 days.

Of course, it’s important to choose a cosmetic surgeon who has extensive experience, training and an excellent track record of success. Dr. Fan at 77 Plastic Surgery recommends patients come in for a Breast Augmentation Consultation so he can determine if this procedure might be right for you. Call 415-655-7546 or visit 77plasticsurgery.com.

Full Tummy Tuck vs. Mini Tummy Tuck

Significant weight loss, pregnancy and even aging can lead to a less-than-desirable midsection. Excess abdominal skin, weakened abdominal muscles and stubborn belly fat can be impossible to get rid of – despite your best efforts at eating right and exercising. A tummy tuck can often help men and women reclaim a toned abdominal area.

Types of Tummy Tuck Procedures

• Full Tummy Tuck
• Mini Tummy Tuck

A full tummy tuck, also called a traditional tummy tuck, is performed when the entire abdominal area (both above and below the navel) needs cosmetic attention. Typically, an incision is made from hip to hip, allowing the surgeon to tighten the underlying muscles, remove excess skin and reposition the navel into a natural position. Often, liposuction is used with a tummy tuck to remove any excess fat from the area.

In contrast, a mini tummy tuck is performed when the problem areas are located below the navel. Usually the incision line is shorter because less skin must be removed and a smaller portion of abdominal muscles must be tightened. The navel does not usually need to be repositioned in a mini tummy tuck.

Bad Tummy Tuck Candidates

You should not consider a tummy tuck if you:

• Plan to get pregnant in the future
• Plan to lose significant amounts of weight
• Suffer from serious medical conditions
• Cannot or will not stop smoking before and after the surgery
• Are not comfortable having an abdominal scar
• Have unrealistic expectations for the results of your surgery

If you are unhappy or self-conscious of your abdominal area, contact Dr. Fan at 77 Plastic Surgery to see if you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck procedure. Call 415-655-7546 or visit 77plasticsurgery.com to schedule a Tummy Tuck Consultation today.

A New Reason to Love Fat

Fat often gets a bad rap. There are tons of products and techniques out there to help you lose fat, but there are times when fat can actually be your friend!

                                                 

Most people have areas on their bodies where fat naturally tends to accumulate and other areas where they would prefer their fat to reside. For example, you might store excess fat in your hips or abdominal area but have sunken areas on your face where the collagen has broken down over time.

There is a cosmetic surgery procedure that can actually move your own fat from one area of your body to another area. It’s called Fat Transfer or Fat Grafting, and while it can’t make you “skinnier,” it can replace volume in certain areas to improve your body contour or help you look younger.

Fat Transfer Procedure

The procedure involves harvesting fat via liposuction from one area of the body, such as your hips, abdomen or thighs. The fat that is removed is purified and then injected into other areas of the body, such as:

• Breasts (natural breast augmentation)
• Chest (for men) 
• Buttocks
• Face
• Backs of hands

Because Fat Transfer uses your own natural cells, there is less risk of allergic reaction or rejection. There is typically temporary swelling, bruising and discomfort for several days or weeks after the procedure, depending on how intensive your procedure is and the locations of the liposuction and injections.

A Cosmetic Consultation by Dr. Fan at 77 Plastic Surgery in San Fransisco can help you determine if a Fat Transfer procedure might produce great results for you. Visit 77plasticsurgery.com or call 415-655-7546 to schedule your appointment today.

Laser Light Show – for Your Skin!

When you think of lasers, you might conjure images of Pink Floyd concerts featuring fantastic laser light shows. But today, cosmetic surgeons are using lasers to create some pretty amazing changes in a person’s skin.

Laser skin resurfacing (also called a laser peel) is one option to help rejuvenate older-looking or damaged skin. The technique uses beams of light that are concentrated on your skin to actually remove the damaged areas one layer at a time. While it removes the outer layer of skin (the epidermis), it heats the underlying dermal layer to stimulate collagen growth. New, healthy collagen equals smoother and younger-looking skin.

      Laser skin resurfacing can be used to reduce:

• Facial wrinkles or lines
• Scars
• Sun damage
• Liver spots
• Large pores

The results of laser peels vary from person to person, depending on the severity of your skin flaws, the color of your skin and genetics. It may also take more than one treatment to produce the results you desire. The effects are not permanent, but most patients are pleased with their results after their skin has had a chance to fully heal. Minimizing sun exposure and following your doctor’s post-treatment instructions will help to maintain your healthy glow for as long as possible.   

If your skin is showing the effects of time, your environment and your lifestyle, see if you might benefit from a “laser light show” for your face. Contact Dr. Fan at 77 Plastic Surgery to schedule your Cosmetic Consultation. Visit 77plasticsurgery.com or call 415-655-7546 to schedule your appointment today.

Relief from Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain

If you are a woman suffering from back pain, shoulder pain or neck pain, your breasts may be to blame. While large breasts are desired by a large portion of the population, this physical trait can lead to a variety of medical problems and self-esteem issues.

Cosmetic breast reduction surgery is performed to remove excess fat, glandular tissue and skin from the breasts through incisions typically made around the areola, vertically down from the areola and along the bottom crease of the breast. The nipple and areola are repositioned, and the areola may be reduced in size so the breasts look natural. The overall goal is to make the breasts smaller and more proportionate with the woman’s frame.

      Good candidates for breast reduction surgery are women who:

• Want relief from physical discomfort or pain due to their breasts
• Are embarrassed or self-conscious of their breast size
• Are within 15 pounds of their ideal body weight
• Do not smoke (smoking and cosmetic surgery don’t mix!)
• Have overall good physical health
• Fully understand all of the potential risks and complications of surgery (such as bleeding, infection, reduced breast sensation, breast asymmetry)

Because incisions are usually necessary in breast reduction surgery, you should expect scarring. However, most patients are so happy to be rid of their physical discomforts that scarring seems secondary.

A Cosmetic Consultation by Dr. Fan at 77 Plastic Surgery can help you determine if a Breast Reduction procedure might help ease your physical or mental pain due to large breasts. Visit 77plasticsurgery.com or call 415-655-7546 to schedule your appointment today.