Plastic Surgeons in Beverly Hills - Los Angeles - Plastic Surgery

Question by Maria: What are the chances of me getting complications/side effects of getting a breast implant? Where would you recommend the best way of me getting the implant inserted? How long is the recovery?

Answer: Chances of a serious complication are close to zero if breast augmentation is: 1. done by a board certified plastic surgeon 2. The anesthesia and nursing team is experienced 3. The doctor has performed hundreds, if not thousands of breast procedure. Keep in mind, you are a big part of it too: following up instructions, you overall health status, and so on.

The breast augmentation techniques varies depending on insertion of the implant technique such as under the arm, belly button, around the nipple, as well as if you need a lift or not or if you have any special requests or needs. Keep in mind there are 4 different breast lift techniques and the right technique depends on degree of droopiness of your breasts. We also customize the implants based on your body and figure: some people require moderate profile and some require high profile implants. We also offer FDA approved Silicone Implants. Recovery time is 3-6 days before you can go back to work.

Reply: The implants are rippling. I can guess you have saline implants. If they are hard, you may also have capsular contracture (scars form inside); the implants must be replaced.

One of the question I was asked

I am 22 years old and I have 2 kids my daughter I breastfed for 18 month and my son is 6 months and I stopped breast feeding him 4 days ago because my left breast didn’t produce milk anymore. My right one is still producing a lot. So right now I have an A cup (left breast) and like a C cup (right breast) I’m sure my right breast will go down a bit after it stops producing milk but I know it will still be bigger then my left. Anyways, I understand, I can’t get a breast augmentation until I no longer produce milk. How long will that take and how long do I have to wait after it stops to get something done. I’m sure I want to get this procedure done. It’s really affecting the way I feel about myself. And what are the prices on that. I would really appreciate your help.

Reply: You typically have to wait about 4-6 weeks after you have stopped breast feeding before you have a breast augmentation. You must make sure your milk glands are dry and your breasts are back to normal size before having a breast augmentation procedure. As for price, it depends on if you like a saline or silicone implant. The price varies if you need a lift. Keep in mind there are 4 different lifting techniques and the one best for you depends on how droopy your breasts are.

The prices depend on how much fat you have based on your height and weight. Some procedures may be covered by PPO insurance such as male breast reduction. As for neck, there is a couple of different procedures, such as platysma tightening or just pulling the skin; again, depends on how you look and how much laxity or fat you may have in your neck.

I can assure you that if any one gives you a price over the phone without actually evaluating you during a consultation, the price is not accurate and they will change their price after consulting you in the office. Every patient is different and the procedure must be tailored for their body.

A breast implant is a prosthesis used to enlarge the size of a woman’s breasts (known as breast augmentation, breast enlargement, mammoplasty enlargement or augmentation mammoplasty) for cosmetic reasons; to reconstruct the breast (e.g. after a mastectomy; or to correct genetic deformities), or as an aspect of male-to-female sex reassignment surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States. In 2006, 329,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed in the U.S.

There are two primary types of breast implants: saline-filled and silicone-gel-filled implants. Saline implants have a silicone elastomer shell filled with sterile saline liquid. Silicone gel implants have a silicone shell filled with a viscous silicone gel.

Procedure

The surgical procedure for breast augmentation takes approximately one to two hours. Variations in the procedure include the incision type, implant material, and implant pocket placement.

Incision types

Breast implants for augmentation may be placed via various types of incisions:

• Inframammary - an incision is placed below the breast in the infra-mammary fold (IMF). This incision is the most common approach and affords maximum access for precise dissection and placement of an implant. It is often the preferred technique for silicone gel implants due to the longer incisions required. This method can leave slightly more visible scars in smaller breasts which don’t drape over the IMF.
• Periareolar - an incision is placed along the areolar border. This incision provides an optimal approach when adjustments to the IMF position or mastopexy (breast lift) procedures are planned. The incision is generally placed around the inferior half, or the medial half of the areola’s circumference. Silicone gel implants can be difficult to place via this incision due to the length of incision required (~ 5cm) for access. As the scars from this method occur on the edge of the areola, they are often less visible than scars from inframammary incisions in women with lighter areolar pigment.
• Transaxillary - an incision is placed in the armpit and the dissection tunnels medially. This approach allows implants to be placed with no visible scars on the breast, but is more difficult to consistently achieve symmetry of the inferior implant position. Revisions of transaxillary-placed implants often require inframammary or periareolar incisions. Transaxillary procedures can be performed with or without an endoscope.
• Transumbilical (TUBA) - a less common technique where an incision is placed in the navel and dissection tunnels superiorly. This approach enables implants to be placed with no visible scars on the breast, but makes appropriate dissection and implant placement more difficult. Transumbilical procedures may be performed bluntly or with an endoscope (tiny lighted camera) to assist dissection. This technique is not appropriate for placing silicone gel implants due to potential damage of the implant shell during blunt insertion.
• Transabdominoplasty (TABA) - procedure similar to TUBA, where the implants are tunneled up from the abdomen into bluntly dissected pockets while a patient is simultaneously undergoing an abdominoplasty procedure.

As we continue to live longer, healthier lives, more and more people are eager to “look as young as they feel.” As a result, facelift surgery has become increasingly popular among women and men. The medical term for this procedure is rhytidectomy, meaning “removal of wrinkles.” What facelift surgery does is remove or reposition excess sagging skin and soft tissue in the face and neck. The effect is as if you turned back the hands of a clock, often making you look as you did ten or sometimes fifteen years in the past.

The major areas addressed by the facelift operation are the eyebrows, the cheek and jowl regions, and the neck. Eyelid surgery and skin resurfacing, while sometimes done at the same time as a facelift, are separate procedures.

Surgical Philosophy

We strongly believe in achieving a natural-appearing, rejuvenated look in facelift surgery, as opposed to an excessively tightened, “windblown” appearance. The goal is to make you look as you did at a younger age, not to make you look like a different person.
Many patients benefit from eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty which can be done at the same time as the facelift. Another common adjunct is laser resurfacing which can address the wrinkles around the lower eyes and mouth (this skin is not tightened by the facelift).

The incisions for facelift surgery are nearly all hidden behind the hairline, and those that are not are placed within natural skin folds or behind the ear. When healing is complete, these incisions are usually very difficult to see.

The deep layer or superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS for short) is tightened and resuspended, restoring a refreshed, youthful appearance, without stretching the overlying skin.

During your consultation for facelift surgery in our, photographs will be taken for imaging purposes as well as for photo documentation. Rest assured, your photos will not be shown to any other persons without your express permission.

After you have had an opportunity to express your concerns and areas of desired improvement, your face and neck will be carefully examined, including skin and muscle tone, bone structure, fat distribution, etc. The position of your brows and cheek pads will be assessed to determine if you are a candidate for browlift or possibly midface lift. As your surgeon, I may suggest additional or alternate procedures to complement your desired changes. Some common adjunctive procedures to facelift surgery are eyelid surgery, skin resurfacing, and lip augmentation, any of which may be performed at the same time.

During your facelift surgery consultation you will have several opportunities to ask questions, and following the consultation our patient care coordinator will guide you through the surgery preparation and recovery processes.

The Surgery

Facelift surgery is commonly performed in an outpatient surgery center. A mini-lift or lower facelift can often be performed with local or light anesthesia, whereas IV sedation or general anesthesia is common for longer procedures.

There are several variations to the facelift procedure. A “mini lift” may encompass only the cheek and jowls, and can be a conservative but effective alternative for younger patients. A “lower facelift” will include the neck as well, which may require skin and muscle tightening as well as liposuction. A “full facelift” will incorporate the upper third of the face or brows. A “midface lift” addresses the cheek pad and nasolabial folds, and may be part of an overall facelift.

To know more about Rhytidectomy (face lift surgery) from the best plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills visit our website www.beverlyhillsphysicians.com

Women and men who are not overweight but have isolated areas of fat that they cannot get rid of through diet and exercise are good candidates for liposuction surgery. Liposuction is not effective for cellulite.

Liposuction can be effective on many areas of the body: arms, abdomen, hips, thighs, calves, ankles, and under the chin.

You are more likely to get good results from this procedure if your skin has good tone and elasticity which helps to achieve a smooth result following fat suctioning.

Your plastic surgeon will assess the quality of your skin and may ask you how your areas of localized fat were affected by weight loss in the past. Fat is removed by first inserting a small tube (a cannula) through tiny incisions close to the area to be suctioned. Incisions are very small - usually under a quarter inch.

Though infrequent, some complications include bleeding, infection and reaction to anesthesia. Skin numbness is to be expected and is usually only temporary. It is possible, however, for some numbness to persist or even be permanent. Occasionally, there is skin discoloration in the areas that have been treated. Irregularities of the skin surface, including depressions or wrinkling, can occur. You may be asked to wear a compression garment for the first several days after surgery so that the tissue can “learn” its new shape.

You can usually return to work in just a few days, though you may still have some swelling and bruising which usually subsides within a couple of weeks.

It is not uncommon for a touchup to be required later to further improve an area that has been liposuctioned.

To know more about liposuction from the best plastic and cosmetic surgeons in Los Angeles visit our website www.beverlyhillsphysicians.com

Plastic surgery is a medical specialty that uses a number of surgical and nonsurgical techniques to change the appearance and function of a person’s body. Plastic surgery procedures include both cosmetic enhancements as well as functionally reconstructive operations. In the former case, where aesthetics are considered more important than functionality, plastic surgery is sometimes referred to as cosmetic surgery. Most procedures involve both aesthetic and functional elements.

The word “plastic” derives from the Greek plastikos meaning to mold or to shape; its use here is not connected with the synthetic polymer material known as plastic. Plastic surgeons typically mold and reshape the following tissues of the body: bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and skin

Cosmetic surgery is a very popular form of plastic surgery. As an example, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that in 2006 nearly 11 million cosmetic plastic surgeries were performed in the United States alone.

Within the U.S,. critics of plastic surgery note that it is legal for any doctor, regardless of speciality, to perform cosmetic surgery. It is thus important to distinguish the terms “plastic surgery” and “cosmetic surgery”: Plastic Surgery is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties as the subspecialty dedicated to the surgical repair of defects of form or function — this includes cosmetic (or aesthetic) surgery, as well as reconstructive surgery. The term “cosmetic surgery” however, refers to surgery that is designed to improve cosmetics, or appearance. In several countries including Australia, many doctors who are not qualified as surgeons also perform cosmetic procedures.

The most prevalent aesthetic/cosmetic procedures are listed below. Most of these types of surgery are more commonly known by their “common names”. These are also listed when pertinent.

• Abdominoplasty (or “tummy tuck”): reshaping and firming of the abdomen
• Blepharoplasty (or “eyelid surgery”): Reshaping of the eyelids or the application of permanent eyeliner, including Asian blepharoplasty
• Augmentation Mammaplasty/breast augmentation (or “breast enlargement” or “boob job”): Augmentation of the breasts. This can involve either saline or silicone gel prosthetics.
• Buttock Augmentation (or “butt augmentation” or “butt implants”): Enhancement of the buttocks. This procedure can be performed by using silicone implants or fat grafting and transfer from other areas of the body.
• Chemical peel: Minimizing the appearance of acne, pock, and other scars as well as wrinkles (depending on concentration and type of agent used, except for deep furrows), solar lentigines (age spots, freckles), and photodamage in general. Chemical peels commonly involve carbolic acid (Phenol), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), glycolic acid (AHA), or salicylic acid (BHA) as the active agent.
• Mastopexy (or “breast lift”): Raising or reshaping of breasts
• Labiaplasty: Surgical reduction and reshaping of the labia
• Rhinoplasty (or “nose job”): Reshaping of the nose
• Otoplasty (or ear surgery): Reshaping of the ear
• Rhytidectomy (or “face lift”): Removal of wrinkles and signs of aging from the face
• Suction-Assisted Lipectomy (or liposuction): Removal of fat from the body
• Chin augmentation: Augmentation of the chin with an implant (e.g. silicone) or by sliding genioplasty of the jawbone.
• Cheek augmentation
• Collagen, fat, and other tissue filler injections (eg hyaluronic acid)
• Laser skin resurfacing
• Injection of dermal fillers (collagen, hyaluronic acid, fat, and others)

Liposuction or liposculpture is a procedure designed to remove excessive fat that is resistant to exercise and diet.  It is ideal to remove localized fat from areas of interest.  There are several different techniques of performing liposuction, such as power assisted liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction and so on.  They are all effective in achieving the results.  However, selecting an experienced surgeon and being a good candidate for the procedure are the most crucial aspect for optimal results. 

Do you have any before and after pictures posted? How long was the brusing? I want to have a rhinoplasty surgery done next month but I’m kinda scared. I like the before and after pictures of surgeon Raja K, Srour, MD. He’s a new doctor, but how do I make sure he’s the right doctor?
      We have so many before and after pictures that it is impossible to post all on them on our website; but they are available in our office for your review during your complimentary consultation. Bruising may last from 3 days to 7 days. Every one has a different reaction and recovery. There are many doctors on staff at Beverly Hills Physician and all are qualified. We can also recommend the right doctor for the right procedure to our patients. Some surgeons are more experienced on body work and some are more experienced on face work. We will be glad to guide you in selecting the right surgeon for your needs.