Archive for March, 2010

Pasadena Brachioplasty – Armlift

Loose, sagging skin is often the result of aging or dramatic weight loss. The excess skin can be removed and arms restored to a more youthful appearance with an arm lift or brachioplasty. Luckily for those that find this loose extra skin bothersome, there are options.

Pasadena Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Gross can help create arms that appear more fit and slender. An arm lift, is a surgical procedure to remove excess fat and skin of the upper arm. In some cases, this extra skin is merely the result of natural aging or one’s genetic makeup. For some, the choice to under go brachioplasty is a step towards restoring self confidence.

The procedure is done under general anesthesia and lasts approximately 3 hours.  If needed liposuction can be performed in conjunction with the arm lift for optimal results.  The incision is somewhat conspicuous. The length of the incision will depend on the amount of skin and fat needing to be removed. General recovery is 10 to 14 days with bruising and swelling subsiding in 3 to 4 weeks. To achieve the best possible recover, it is important to follow the directions given to you by Pasadena plastic surgeon Dr. Gross.

A consultation is the first step in determining if an arm lift will provide the results you are looking for. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Gross, contact our Pasadena plastic surgery office.

Posted in arm lift

Pasadena Botox Procedures

BOTOX, originally developed to control muscle spasms in the face, is now used as a non-surgical cosmetic treatment to relax musculature of certain areas of the face. BOTOX is a purified protein that temporarily weakens the muscles that cause wrinkles. Deep wrinkles around the eyes and forehead are softened creating a more youthful look with fewer lines and wrinkles. After treatment, the skin remains smooth and unwrinkled, while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression and feeling to be unaffected.

BOTOX is most commonly used to treat wrinkles in the forehead, frown lines between the eyes and the “crow’s feet” areas around the eyes. BOTOX has been widely tested and is now approved by the FDA for use on frown lines as well.The effects can last for up to four months and injections take about 15 minutes to administer, with very little or no bruising or swelling. There have been suggested additional benefits of Botox, which include relief from migraine headaches and extreme sweating.

During your consultation with Pasadena Plastic Surgeon Dr. Gross you will decide where BOTOX will be most effective to treat your individual facial lines and wrinkles. In addition, during your consultation Dr. Gross will cover the benefits of BOTOX as well as the risks. While most of the risks associated with Botox are minor, Dr. Gross believes that giving his patients all information associated with their procedure up front allows them to make the most informed decision.

Schedule your consultaiton with Dr. Gross today!

Posted in Cosmetic Procedures

Breast Construction

In the majority of patients there is an advantage to having the reconstructive process started with the mastectomy.   It is best to think of breast reconstruction as a process that may take several stages to complete. Many times, these subsequent stages can be relatively minor and done as outpatient procedures.

If you are sure you will want breast reconstruction, then it is more efficient (fewer surgeries, anesthesia, time out of life and work) to combine the first stage of the reconstruction with the mastectomy.

An additional consideration is if you have been told you may need radiation therapy to the breast. If so make sure you discuss the potential implications with your plastic surgeon.

Posted in Breast Reconstruction, Cosmetic Procedures

Short Scar Facelift

There are several differences in short scar facelifts versus traditional facelifts.  Most short scar facelifts involve an incision in the side burn area extending down in front of the ear and stopping at the bottom of the ear lobe.  In a more traditional full scar facelift the incision also extends behind the ear and back into the hairline behind the ear.   The facelift operation is unique for each patient depending on their skin, soft tissue, and degree of aging which is taken in context with their desires and expectations.  Facelifts, in general, involve lifting the skin from the underlying soft tissue, repositioning the soft tissue in a more youthful way and removing some amount of excess skin.  The more skin that needs to be removed the longer the scar.  Patients that are acceptable candidates for a shorter scar lift don’t have a tremendous amount of excess skin in the neck.

Posted in Cosmetic Procedures, facelift

Breast Lift

When determining whether a breast lift is necessary with breast augmentation there are several factors to consider. These include the location of the nipple relative to the fold beneath the breast, the location of the breast gland relative to the fold, and the relationship of the existing skin/soft tissue envelope and the planned size and shape of the implant. Many times it is obvious to the patient and the evaluating surgeon that a lift is necessary to get a good result, e.g. if the nipple areola complex is pointing straight down, or if the majority of the breast gland is sitting well below the fold of the breast. The descent of the gland is referred to as “glandular ptosis”, the N-A descent is sometimes called “nipple ptosis”. The position of the gland itself as well as the relative position of the N-A complex is both important. For example if you are standing in front of a mirror, and the nipples are pointing straight down and most of the breast itself is below the line that your underwire makes you may benefit from some type of lift.

It’s really important to have great communication with your surgeon in the case of mild ptosis. There may be decisions to make that involve certain “trade-offs”. For example it may be that adding a lift, which may involve additional potentially visible scarring, improves the shape and quality of the result. You and your surgeon will discuss whether the anticipated improvement is enough to justify the “trade-offs” of doing the lift.

In some cases placing the implant alone will help improve the appearance of a mildly ptotic breast without adding a lift. The spectrum of “lifts” starts with a limited incision, leaving a scar around the areola, next could be the circular scar with a vertical component (sometimes called a lollipop or tennis racket shape), and a traditional “full lift” with the inverted “T” scar. A consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon will help sort out all the options.

Posted in Cosmetic Procedures, breast lift

Traditional Silicone v. highly cohesive form stable silicone (”Gummy bear”)

Technically all silicone devices are “cohesive.” The degree of “cohesivity” can range from minimal (more like liquid) to extreme (more like a solid). The Allergan style 410 and the mentor CPG are highly cohesive form stable silicone devices. These devices have increased cohesivity as compared to the current FDA approved silicone gel devices. It is this increased cohesion that allows for the device to be shape and form stable. These devices have the consistency or feel similar to a “gummy bear” candy and are frequently referred to as such on the internet.
Highly form stable silicone devices are available as part of ongoing FDA studies for primary augmentation and reconstruction. Though they have been in use since 1994 and are currently without restriction in Canada, Australia, and Europe it is still uncertain when they will be approved by the FDA and there are a limited number of surgeons in the United States who are participating in those studies. There are two separate trials for the Allergan style 410 (gummy bear) device, one for patients that have never had implants and another for those undergoing breast reconstruction or who desire removal and replacement of their current implants.
When looking objectively at the data and the “trade-offs” of all the devices (saline, traditional silicone, and highly cohesive for stable gel) there are some potential advantages for some patients with the form stable devices. Particularly for breast reconstruction, as well as for those breast augmentation patients with thin soft tissue cover who desire a very natural result. If you are interested in a gummy bear device seek out a plastic surgeon that will review the options and trade-offs after taking your history and listening to your desires and expectations. An examination and careful measurements of your breast and chest dimensions and tissues are important in the decision making process.

Posted in Breast Augmentation, Cosmetic Procedures