July 28th, 2010
A body lift is a contouring procedure first described by Dr. Ted Lockwood to correct both skin quality and quantity problems of the trunk and lower extremities. With the advent of bariatric surgery and more revealing clothing an increasing number of patients present for correction of sagging or wrinkled skin of the abdomen and thighs. A body lift involves performing an abdominoplasty with an extended outer and sometimes inner thigh lift. Liposuction is also frequently done and the tissues of the outer thighs are loosened and lifted resulting in an incision that extends around the entire trunk. With good patient selection, excellent results can be obtained. To find out more about this unique procedure, contact Dr. Richard Linderman of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery of Indiana.
Posted in Body Contouring | No Comments »
July 23rd, 2010
Patients considering abdominoplasty sometimes ask this question. In both a full and miniabdominoplasty the belly button or umbilicus is preserved. In a full abdominoplasty an incision is made around the umbilicus to release it and allow tightening of the skin of the upper abdomen. Following removal of excess skin and muscle repair, the umbilicus is brought out through a new opening and sutured in place. The result is the same umbilicus and positioning and many times an improvement of a stretched out or abnormal belly button. In a miniabdominoplasty, no incision is made around the umbilicus and only skin of the lower abdomen is tightened.
Tags: tummy tuck
Posted in Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) | No Comments »
July 21st, 2010
Following abdominoplasty and minabdominoplasty, a surgical scar is produce in the lower abdomen similar to a C-section scar or more extensive extending from hip to hip. Dr. Linderman spends a great deal of time discussing the scar from an abdominoplasty and its location for bathing suit attire. All patients are asked to wear their preferred bathing suit on the day of surgery, so Dr. Linderman can appropriately marked the planned incisions and final scars so they lie within the bathing suit lines. Some women prefer a higher cut suit while others like a lower location. In almost all cases the scar can be placed to accommodate a two-piece suit.
Tags: tummy tuck
Posted in Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) | No Comments »
July 13th, 2010
It is a common perception that plastic surgeons can erase scars or operate without producing scars. Every time a surgical incision is made, a scar is produced. Some scars are more noticeable than others and certain areas of the body tend to produce scars of better quality. Patient age, race and genetic factors also play a role in the visibility of a scar. Scars of the shoulder and chest usually result in poorer scars than the face, eyelid, and palms of hand soles of feet. There is saying that time heals all wounds and this partially true of scars. Most scars will improve with time. Scars of the face may mature in six months where scars of the body may continue to change for up to eighteen months.
Fresh scars are red and with maturity they usually soften with disappearance of redness and fading of the scar. In breast augmentation the surgical incision is a guide to how the scar around the implant is maturing. When the scar is white the internal scar has usually completed its maturation phase. Hypertrophic scars have a prolonged maturation phase with persistent redness; tenderness or thickening and when they extend beyond the border of the original injury are called keloids. These types of scars may benefit from reexcision, pressure molding, steroid injection and radiation treatment.
Scar revision is the term used when a scar is excised and repaired to try to improve the overall quality of a scar. This may sometimes be indicated in problematic scars. Contact Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for more information about scarring after cosmetic surgery.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
June 1st, 2010
Saline implants are the more popular choice than silicone gel implants. This certainly was affected by the silicone gel breast implant investigation by the FDA in the early 1990s when they were removed from the market. The perception still persists that gel implants are not safe but has been shown to be untrue. The other factor that certainly has contributed to saline breast implants popularity is cost. Saline implants are less expensive and follow-up MRI studies are not indicated as the government suggests for silicone gel implants. However there are still a great many patients who prefer the more natural feel of silicone gel implants or because of thin skin are poorer candidates for saline breast implants.
Posted in Breast Augmentation | No Comments »
May 24th, 2010
One of the big advantages of saline breast implants is the ability to determine leakage. When a leakage occurs the saline implant deflates like a tire. The saline is safely absorbed by your body without any adverse effects. Deflations may happen very quickly in a day or two or more slowly over a few weeks. The event is not an emergency but you should notify Dr. Linderman’s office to make a prompt appointment. Implants have a tracking number and the manufacturer will be notified. A replacement implant can usually be obtained in a few days and replacement surgery performed. Dr. Linderman uses saline implants with a lifetime warranty replacement.
Posted in Breast Augmentation | No Comments »
May 24th, 2010
Saline implants have a less natural feel than silicone gel implants due to the gelatin like nature of silicone, which feels more like breast tissue. Saline implants may be more palpable in thin-skinned patients with less breast tissue for coverage. However saline implants are less expensive and implant deflation is easily detectable. Saline implants may feel more like a water balloon and sometimes ripples may be palpable.
Posted in Breast Augmentation | No Comments »
May 13th, 2010
All manufacturers state that breast implants should not be considered a lifetime device but they offer free lifetime replacement warranties on both gel and saline implants. Other associated fees may be reimbursable depending upon the time of implant failure. Currently saline implants have a ten-year deflation rate around 5% and this will increase after this period. Leakage of a gel implants is much harder to detect and may be asymptomatic. MRI studies are helpful in determining silicone gel implant integrity however surgery may not always be indicated and you should discuss this with your plastic surgeon. Newer silicone gel implants are more cohesive and if there is a leakage, the gel tends to stay together and not migrate like older breast implants.
Posted in Breast Augmentation | No Comments »
May 12th, 2010
Saline implants are the more popular choice than silicone gel implants. This certainly was affected by the silicone gel breast implant investigation by the FDA in the early 1990s when they were removed from the market. The perception still persists that gel implants are not safe but has been shown to be untrue. The other factor that certainly has contributed to saline breast implants popularity is cost. Saline implants are less expensive and follow-up MRI studies are not indicated as the government suggests for silicone gel implants. However there are still a great many patients who prefer the more natural feel of silicone gel implants or because of thin skin are poorer candidates for saline breast implants.
Posted in Breast Augmentation | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2010
Scars following abdominoplasty vary in position and length depending upon the particular procedure performed. In a minabdominoplasty the scar in very similar in length and location to a Cesarean section scar and is usually of good quality and readily concealed. In a full or standard abdominoplasty the scar is longer and may extend laterally past the hips bones. Dr. Linderman routinely marks the planned final location to fall within the bathing suit lines. In a belt lipectomy the scar will extend circumferentially around the hips and across the lower back. Every attempt is made to produce scars of good quality but some patients may develop wider thicker scars. Scars may take up to eighteen months to fully mature.
Posted in Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) | No Comments »
