Five Reasons to be Loud and Proud About Your Plastic Surgery
Why is it that many people feel the need to keep their cosmetic procedures to themselves? Although expensive gym memberships and designer cosmetic lines are high-dollar purchases to brag about, we often shy away from discussing the expert help found with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Starting today, it is time to change the conversation. Whether you are seeking a cosmetic procedure purely for aesthetic desires, or for a health-related reason, the plastic surgery process is nothing to be ashamed of. Take a look at the top five reasons to be proud of your plastic surgery, and see if you agree.
1. You just took a positive step that will increase self-esteem and confidence.
Research has shown that cosmetic procedures, both large and small, can dramatically improve self-esteem. Taking time out for yourself, with any self-improvement technique, can boost mental health. At the plastic surgeon’s office, be it liposuction to bid adieu to ‘love handles’ or Botox Cosmetic to reduce Crow’s Feet, aesthetic techniques can restore confidence in your appearance. This newly found joy will then spread to other aspects of your life.
2. No one has the right to tell you what you can and can’t do with your body.
The choice for plastic surgery is totally up to you. Never consider an aesthetic procedure for anyone else’s benefit. Conversely, do not let someone else’s negative comments about your choice for a cosmetic procedure get you down. There will always be those people who think they know what’s best, so let the haters hate. Those newly improved contours from your breast augmentation or Brazilian Butt Lift will make your clothing fit better and give you a renewed sense of self.
3. You are taking full benefit of the innovative beauty industry - just like everyone else.
Cosmetic surgery is a vital part of the beauty business, along with high dollar makeup lines and cosmeceuticals. In principle, partaking in these vanity industries is a common and highly effective way to take care of your body. Anything less is neglecting your physical needs. Bringing out our best with plastic surgery is not unhealthy, as long as it is part of a total self-care package under the care of an experienced, board-certified professional.
4. Fixing insecurities can help you focus on your strengths.
Looking into the mirror, it is sometimes hard to see past our perceived imperfections, which can ultimately drag us down. Sometimes, the things we cannot easily overlook can be fixed, allowing us a chance to better zone in on our best features. For example, a tummy tuck can eliminate that post-baby ‘muffin top’, restoring a gorgeous, curvaceous figure.
5. Women need to stand together.
Objectification is a battle that all women face, no matter their race or socioeconomic status. However, men are not the only bad guys; women can be catty and cruel, as well. By standing up and sharing your personal cosmetic surgery experience, you are telling the world it is OK to care about your appearance. This will not only take the power away from the narrow minds, but it can also give your fellow ladies courage to seek out the best for their own body - just like you have!
Looking for a plastic surgeon you can put your trust in? Houston’s Dr. Paul Vitenas has close to 30 years of experience in plastic surgery and noninvasive aesthetic procedures. Let him guide you through the process of picking the right technique to meet your individual aesthetic needs. Call Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery at 281.484.0088 or fill out our online Contact Us form.
Read MoreStop Being the ‘Stocking Stuffer’
On a cold winter day, it’s too easy to throw on baggy, comfortable clothes and forget about those stubborn areas of soft, pudgy fat. Underneath that cute holiday sweater, however, the all-too-tight pants you have stuffed into are screaming out the truth. In the middle of the hectic holiday season, stop and take a moment to plan something beautiful for the most important person on the Christmas list – yourself. Liposuction and CoolSculpting can help you to stop being a ‘stocking stuffer’ by shedding those frustrating lumps and bumps of fat. But which one is best for you? While the goal of each procedure is the same, eliminating stubborn fat, they are not interchangeable.
Semi-invasive Fat Elimination – Liposuction:
Liposuction is one of the most trusted and most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. With today’s
cutting-edge techniques, liposuction can sculpt and contour almost any area of the body. Scarring is well-hidden, the recovery is quick, and side-effects are minimal.
Liposuction uses the theory of negative pressure to vacuum out unwanted fat cells. To begin, very small incisions, about an 1/8 of an inch, will be made along the treatment area. Through these incisions, a cannula will be inserted, injecting a saline solution to break up the fatty tissue. Finally, the fat cells are suctioned away through the cannula, creating smoother, sculpted features. While the specific treatment area and extent of correction will vary, liposuction is normally performed under general anesthesia, takes from one to two hours, and allows patients to be home resting the same afternoon.
The benefits from liposuction can be noticed immediately. However, swelling and bruising are common
after treatment. Optimal results can take several weeks to appear, as all of the residual swelling resolves. A benefit of liposuction is that each technique can be individually tailored for a smooth, sculpted result. Patients are usually tender and sore after the liposuction procedures and should expect to take several days off work to rest and recover. Liposuction is commonly used to contour the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, flanks, upper arms, and below the chin. Patients wanting a less dramatic fat reduction may want to consider CoolSculpting.
Non-surgical Fat Elimination - CoolSculpting:
CoolSculpting has taken the aesthetic world by storm. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a safe and effective method for fat elimination in 2010, CoolSculpting is now a favorite noninvasive
technique. The procedure takes less than an hour, requires no downtime, and holds little chance for complication.
CoolSculpting uses a fat freezing technique known as cryolipolysis to eliminate unwanted fatty tissue. The specially designed CoolSculpting applicators are placed along the target area, which then quickly chill the tissue. The treatment selectively freezes the fat, and the damaged cells are then metabolized and eliminated by the body. Healthy tissue is unharmed during the CoolSculpting procedure. Traditional CoolSculpting takes one hour, but the newest technology – the CoolAdvantage - allows for the same great results in only 35 minutes. With no incisions, there is no chance for infection or scarring. Patients are back to their normal routine immediately after treatment.
The results from CoolSculpting take up to three months to appear, as the body needs time to eliminate the frozen fat cells. Each treatment will provide up to a 25% reduction in fat in the target area. For those looking for additional contouring, a second CoolSculpting procedure can be safely performed. CoolSculpting can be used to improve the tummy, inner/outer thighs, flanks, upper arms, and even the chin. Patients looking for more extensive body sculpting may find they need a surgical technique like
liposuction.
Liposuction and CoolSculpting: A Holiday Present That Lasts for Years to Come:
Over the next several months, Liposuction and CoolSculpting can provide excellent results, but moreover, they also offer physical rejuvenation that can last for years. Once the fat cells are eliminated, they do not return. To make the most of the results, a healthy lifestyle with a proper diet and exercise routine should be continued. Remember, although the treated fat cells may be gone forever, the surrounding tissue can still expand.
Before Santa makes his way down the chimney, make a trip to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon, like Houston’s Dr. Paul Vitenas. Contact Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery at (281) 484-0088 to schedule a complimentary fat elimination consultation. With Dr. Vitenas’ help, you will stop being a stocking stuffer and start to ‘sleigh’ with beautiful curves.
Read MoreThe “Eyes” are the Window to the Soul
Usually, the eyes will be the first part of the face to show aging by droopy upper lids or puffy lower lids. Other factors besides aging that cause eyelids to droop may be heredity and sun damage. It is not surprising since the skin of the eyelids is the most delicate and thinnest skin on our body.
Other than our vision, our eyes communicate our feelings and are what people focus on the most when we interact. Are you tired of looking tired when you are feeling great? Cosmetic eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, offers a refreshed and youthful appearance. Eyelid surgery may be for upper or lower eyes or both and may be combined with a brow lift and/or facelift.
There are different surgical techniques for eyelid surgery depending on a patient’s anatomy and the patient’s goals. For the upper eyelids, the natural crease of the lid hides the incision. Excess fat and skin are removed, and adjustments are made to surrounding muscles. Once healed, the incision is hidden in the fold of the skin. Lower eyelid surgery that removes bags or puffiness can be achieved by making an incision at the edge of the lower lid beneath the lashes. In some cases, the incision may be inside the lower eyelid. Fat is then removed or repositioned to create a smooth contour under the eye and sometimes muscle tightening may be performed.
Eyelid surgery does not remove fine lines and wrinkles, but Botox, a chemical peel or SmartSkin Laser treatment may be done. If only eyelid surgery is done, it can be performed with either local anesthesia or IV sedation. Most patients can return to work after 5 to 7 days.
For some patients, medical insurance may cover eyelid surgery if an exam and a visual field test prove the patient has a visual obstruction.
Share Tweet Read MoreSmartSkin, the Most Advanced CO₂ Laser
CO₂ lasers have been around for years. Older versions of lasers used higher power and ran “hotter” making for a longer recovery and sometimes the skin looked bleached for an extended amount of time.
Today we have SmartSkin Fractional CO₂ Laser with customized treatments to match the patient’s needs, instead of a “one size fits all.”
SmartSkin can treat any area of the body such as; the face, neck, chest and hands. The laser will treat; wrinkles, fine lines, large pores, acne scars, loose skin, and sun damage, not just the face, as was the case with older CO₂ laser treatments.
SmartSkin uses what is referred to as “dot treatment,” new technology where thousands of tiny CO₂ laser dots are treating only the needed areas. SmartSkin is more superficial with minimal discomfort using only topical numbing cream. Healing time is much faster; you may have some redness of the skin that feels like a minor sunburn.
The length of treatment will depend on the size and number of areas to be treated. The skin will improve for several weeks with continuous formation of new collagen.
Share Tweet Read MoreVolbella for Beautiful Full Lips!
Full lips are a very popular trend in cosmetic enhancements. There are many options available and a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is recommended.
The FDA recently gave Allergan approval to market VOLBELLA for lip augmentation and correction of perioral rhytids, those annoying wrinkles around the lips.
For years, patients have been seeking fuller lips and ways to soften the lines around the mouth with various fillers. VOLBELLA is unlike any other product currently available in the United States.
Juvederm VOLBELLA is a soft, smooth gel formulated with VYCROSS® technology - a blend of high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acids - which contribute to the gel’s duration. In addition, Juvéderm VOLBELLA® XC has been customized with a lower HA concentration (15 mg/mL), which means less swelling while still providing the long-lasting results healthcare providers expect. VOLBELLA is injected with an ultra-fine needle and contains 0.3% Lidocaine, a local anesthetic which reduces discomfort from the injection.
VOLBELLA injections give a smoother, softer consistency, comparable to the natural feel of your lips. The treatment includes:
• Accentuating the border of the lips
• Smoothing the vertical lip lines (also known as smoker’s lines)
• Making lips fuller and plumper
• Enhancing the cupid’s bow (the mid-upper lip)
Dr. Miguel Delgado, M.D. states that several clinical trials showed results lasted through 1 year.
Share Tweet Read MoreAn Up-to-Date Guide to Fat Reduction for Men and Women
Fat reduction remains one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed every year. While the technique is popular for both men and women, different genders are not necessarily looking for improvements in the same areas. Men generally accumulate unwanted fatty tissue along the flanks, or ‘love handles’. Women deal with lumpy fat in multiple areas including the stomach, inner and outer thighs, as well as the hips and flanks. Regardless of the treatment area, modern techniques and cutting-edge technology have changed the fat reduction game.
Liposuction – Traditional, Surgical Fat Reduction:
Liposuction has been around since the mid-1970s. It is a tried and true method of eliminating isolated pockets of fatty tissue that do not respond well to diet and exercise. Liposuction is a dependable technique for body sculpting, used by surgeons to meticulously contour areas of the body. The results from liposuction can be dramatic and are long-lasting, as the eliminated fat cells will not return.
However, good results from liposuction will depend on several factors including the treatment area, the individual patients, and the surgeon’s qualifications. “Liposuction is a very delicate procedure,” says South Carolina plastic surgeon, Dr. Jarrod Daniel. “You need to have that done by someone who is very experienced.” Patients who chose a novice surgeon may find their results to be uneven, bumpy, and asymmetrical, especially in more difficult-to-treat areas like the outer thighs.
CoolSculpting – Modern, Noninvasive Fat Reduction:
The newest fat elimination treatment on the market, CoolSculpting, does not require any incisions, sutures, or downtime. The technique only takes an hour to perform and surgeons boasting DualSculpting capabilities (two CoolSculpting machines) can treat multiple areas at one time. Since the painless procedure is performed in a treatment room, without anesthesia, patients are back to their normal routine immediately, unlike the recovery period required with liposuction.
CoolSculpting reduces fatty tissue along almost any area of the body including the abdomen, thighs, flanks, lower back, upper arms, and even the chin. It takes several months for the fat cells to be eliminated by the body, however, which is a drawback to the CoolSculpting procedure. Additionally, the results are generally more moderate than with liposuction, as each CoolSculpting procedure produces roughly a 20% reduction in fat. While CoolSculpting has specialized applicators, tailored to each area of the body, doctors do not have the same ability to contour targeted locations, as they do with liposuction.
A Dollar for Dollar Cost Comparison:
Liposuction can cost between $7,000 and $15,000 depending on the treatment area and level of correction needed. The price includes the operating room, anesthesiologist fees, compression garment and follow-up appointments. CoolSculpting may not bring the same dramatic results as liposuction, but it is more cost effective. On average, CoolSculpting can cost from $800-$2,000 for one treatment area. However, for patients wanting more than one CoolSculpting procedure, the cost variable becomes much smaller.
Finding the Right Fat Elimination Procedure for You:
The best way to determine which fat reduction treatment will best achieve your desired results is to schedule a consultation appointment with a top plastic surgeon. Dr. Paul Vitenas has 25 years of fat elimination experience and has performed hundreds of successful procedures. For patient convenience, The Houston Surgery Center, Dr. Vitenas’ private surgical suite, is located in the same building as is his luxurious overnight recovery room. Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery also offers patients the option of DualSculpting, and the latest CoolAdvantage applicator for noninvasive fat elimination treatments that take only 35 minutes.
Call Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery at (281) 484-0088 to schedule your complimentary fat elimination consultation today.
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