Breast Reconstruction

Techniques for breast reconstruction has come a long way, and this video is a great place to get acquainted with the most modern advances. Wendy Lewis, an international beauty consultant and expert, and author of America's Cosmetic Doctors, is here to help you navigate the newest developments. Women with congenital breast deformities as well as women who have undergone a lumpectomy or a mastectomy can often suffer considerably from the physical and psychological implications of their condition. Breast reconstruction is an umbrella term which describes a variety of surgical methods designed to help the recovery of such women. Breast reconstruction can be performed in conjunction with a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, or can be delayed for weeks or even years after the initial procedure. Breasts can be reconstructed using an implant, your own tissue or a combination of both. Surgery is usually not a one-time procedure, but rather a series of necessary steps to achieve the final result. Potential stages might include tissue expansion, insertion of an implant, and performing nipple or areola reconstruction. Cosmetic work on the other breast may also be done at the same time so that your breasts will appear symmetrical and identical. After a mastectomy, if your skin is very tight you may need tissue expansion prior to reconstruction. To do this, a balloon expander is placed under the skin and chest muscle, and is gradually filled with salt-water solution to stretch the skin. The process will take from several weeks to a few months, at which point either the expander will be left in or it will be replaced with a permanent implant, and the areola can be reconstructed. Another method of breast reconstruction involves the grafting of your own tissue onto the breast and then reconnecting the blood vessels contained in the tissue to the grafting site. The advantage of this surgery is that your own skin will be used, however it is more complex and involves additional scarring and a longer recovery period, since there are two surgical sites that must heal. Women undergoing breast reconstruction have a choice of implants filled with silicone gel or sterile saltwater. In most cases, surgery can be performed in the hospital or an outpatient surgery center. Recovery may take up to two weeks. For best results, breast reconstruction should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. You should see several surgeons to discuss all your options before undergoing breast cancer surgrey so you know what to expect. When performed by an expert surgeon, your breasts can be beautifully restored to look very natural. While there is no evidence that reconstructive breast surgery will either prevent future cancer or cause it to return, you should continue to visit your doctor for regular mammograms to keep your new breasts healthy. For more on what to expect during breast reconstruction, check out the other resources on our site.

Do you want a more youthful appearance, but you're not willing to go under the knife? Wendy Lewis, an international beauty consultant and expert, and author of America's Cosmetic Doctors, is here to help you learn if botulinum toxin treatments are right for you. Botox is a billion dollar drug that can do a little bit of everything. It can be used to treat migraines, eyelid spasms, and arthritis pain, and to help children with neuromuscular disorders.Of course, it is best known for its rejuvenating effects on lines and wrinkles. The reason why Botox is the most popular cosmetic treatment today is that it is painless, quick, effective, safe, and affordable. Botox is injected into muscles to relax their activity. . When it is used on the areas of the face and neck most prone to fine lines and drooping, like the forehead, eyelid area, and lower face, the overall effect is one of natural softening. The most common area to have done is called the glabella - the vertical furrows between your eyebrows that sometimes make you look angry or sad. Other popular areas to treat include the crow's feet and lines that run across your forehead. Botox is also being used on a variety of trouble spots, like smoker's lines, muscle bands on the neck, creases in the dcollet, and at the corners of the mouth. One of the unique advantages of Botox over many other cosmetic treatments is that studies have shown that it is a preventative as well as corrective procedure. Starting early with Botox injections can forestall facial aging by reducing the muscle contractions that create lines and wrinkles. Another benefit of Botox is that your doctor can customize the treatment to your individual needs and goals. Botox injections can be performed in your doctor's office without an anesthetic, in about 30 minutes. Most people can return to work or normal activities immediately after a treatment. The effects are visible over the first few days, and will last for about four months until the muscle activity gradually returns. Injections will have to be repeated at regular intervals to maintain the effects long term. Botox is not new. Actually, it has been used to treat eyelid spasms and other neurological conditions for over two decades. The safety of Botox has been well established, and only a very small amount of this potent drug is needed for a treatment. Potential side effects include bruising, headaches, and eyelid droop, but these are rare and temporary. To learn more about the benefits of treatment with botulinum toxin, consult with a qualified cosmetic doctor, dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or cosmetic doctor in your area. For more on what Botox can do for you, check out the other resources on our site.

One of the major downsides of getting ink is the risk of tattoo regret. Whether its an exs name across your arm or that tiny butterfly you got in college, chances are its something you wish you could erase. While you cant go back in time, here are the best ways to get rid of a terrible tattoo. First off, dont bother with tattoo removal creams. Theyre expensive, and mostly ineffective. Tattoo inks penetrate the second layer of flesh, which isnt reachable by these creams. At most, theyll lighten the pigment of your skin, which may make your tattoo appear faded, but wont make it vanish. And these acid-based products have also NOT been FDA approved. Dermabrasion is another option that you should skip. This removes the outer layer of skin, but because of the depth of some tattoos, at best it will only fade the ink and the risk of scarring is great. An EFFECTIVE option is to have a tattoo surgically removed. This is when the tattoo is cut away and the skin is sewn back together in its place. It works best with smaller tattoos. Larger tattoos require skin grafts, where flesh is taken from other parts of your body to help fill the space. Surgical methods can be very expensive and can leave small scars. One of your BEST bets is laser removal, but even this method is still not perfect. It costs about $300 per session, and depending on the colors used, your tattoo may be still faintly visible. Lasers work by passing a wavelength through the skin to zap the tattoo ink. This helps break the ink up into tiny particles that your bodys natural cleansing system eventually carries away. Anesthetic is rarely used, but it can be somewhat painful. Its been described as feeling like little splatters of bacon grease hitting the skin. Ink color definitely makes a difference in this process. Colors like black, blue and red are most easily broken apart and can be removed in 4 to 6 sessions. Greens, yellows, and whites take more work. Because most insurance doesnt cover tattoo removal, any method can be expensive. If you are going to make the investment, make sure to choose a reputable dermatologist or doctor to ensure the best results and least side effects. For more tips on flawless skin, check out the rest of the videos in this series.

Some people think scars are "mysterious and sexy", but often, they end up being a nuisance or embarrassment. While you can't COMPLETELY erase a scar, you CAN try to make one practically invisible. First, why do we get scars? As you heal, fibrous tissue forms around an injury to replace lost or damaged skin. The size and location of the wound, the pigment of your skin, and your age - young, tight skin actually forms thicker scar tissue-can all influence the severity of scarring. While mild scars will fade within 6 to 18 months, others stay for good. To get rid of scars, skip the over-the-counter creams and gels. There has been no evidence proving that these actually work. Vitamin E is COMMONLY used, but you should actually avoid it as Vitamin E as it slows down a wound's ability to heal. For serious scar reduction, head to your dermatologist. First option? Dermabrasion. This is where the top layer of your epidermis is removed with a spinning brush to help even out your skin. Deeper marks MAY require repeated treatments. Side effects include raw, red skin, which can take a few days to a week to heal. Similarly, laser treatments and chemical peels are designed to strip away the top layer of skin and reduce the visibility of scars. Multiple treatments are needed for deep marks or to flatten raised scars called keloids. Both can cause slight discomfort, but most irritation typically goes away within a couple of days. Your scar will visibly diminish, but won't disappear completely. Another option for INDENTED scars is a filler. This is when collagen-which is a protein that helps strengthen skin cells-- or fat is injected into a depression to raise the surface of the skin. You'll need to repeat this treatment every few months or couple years -- depending on the type of filler used-- to maintain results. One of the MOST successful--and more EXTREME solutions--is surgical scar revision. This is where the scar is cut away and the skin is stretched and rejoined to form a less noticeable wound. This surgery works best for long, wide, or unusually shaped scars because they can be made thinner or shorter. Surgery is most successful if done within 60 to 90 days of scarring. Because every scar is different, it's best to talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for you. For more tips on flawless skin, check out the rest of the videos in this series.

Botox is SO popular, that you may not know there are two other injectable Botulinum toxin-A brands: Dysport and Xeomin. Dysport was initially used to treat cervical DYSTONIA, a condition that involves involuntary muscle spasms in the neck. In 2009, it was FDA approved to REDUCE the appearance of frown lines. Like Botox, it blocks the facial muscles from contracting, preventing movement that causes frown lines. Dysport typically involves about 5 injections, depending upon the area being targeted. It may start to take effect MORE QUICKLY than Botox, and can last up to 4 months. It's also slightly less expensive. Participants in a 2011 comparison study at the Maas Clinic in San Francisco rated Dysport as MORE effective than Botox at reducing crow's feet while smiling. But while the face was at rest, no difference between the two was noticeable. It's important to note that the use of Dysport for crows feed is off-label. Common Dysport side effects include temporary nose and throat irritation, headache, and pain or skin reaction at the injection site, usually bruising. Another Botox competitor, XEOMIN, was also originally approved to treat cervical dystonia, and was then approved for use against frown lines in 2011. It works in the same way as Dysport and Botox. The effects appear within a WEEK and last about 3 months. Its cost is LOWER than Botox but HIGHER than Dysport. Unlike Botox and Dysport though, Xeomin is made WITHOUT additives. Its only ingredient is botulinum toxin A, REDUCING the risk of a negative reaction to the injection. Choosing between Botox, Dysport and Xeomin is a decision you can make with your dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Make sure you're receiving the injections from someone with the correct training and credentials, at a medical facility, not a spa or a nail salon-EVER! To learn about other anti-aging procedures, check out other videos in this series.

Restylane was the FIRST hyaluronic acid injection to be approved as a cosmetic facial and large wrinkle filler. Since then, hyaluronic acid fillers have become the most popular type of cosmetic filler.Hyaluronic acid reduces the appearance of wrinkles, the parentheses folds by your mouth, FOREHEAD wrinkles, hollowness under the eyes, and can add volume to the LIPS. Plus, the water contained in the injection can help plump up and add a moisturized, FRESH look to the skin. Since hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin and cartilage, it will eventually be ABSORBED into the body. The benefits of wrinkle and skin injections fade away after 6 to 12 months. Lip injections last for up to 3 months. You'll need additional injections to maintain the look you desire. Hyaluronic acid treatment generally takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and there ISN'T much recovery time needed. You will experience some swelling and redness, and perhaps pain, bruising and tenderness at the injection sites. The side effects last less than 7 days if you're getting folds or wrinkles treated, and less than 2 weeks for lip injections. For about a week before your treatment, avoid aspirin, non steroidal anti-inflammatories, and other anti-inflammatory medications because they can make bruising and bleeding worse. Instead, use cold packs to relieve swelling and pain. So Restylane has MILD side effects and attractive results most of the time. What's the catch? Well, while it's rare, there is always the risk of an allergic reaction or infection. And, it's NOT approved by insurance. If you decide to go for follow-up treatments, the cost can become prohibitive - in 2012, the average cost of a single hyaluronic acid session was $538 per area treated. Talk to your dermatologist if you're interested in facial fillers. He or she will check your medical history and decide if you're a good candidate for treatment. Different fillers work for different skin types and needs. Watch more videos in this series to learn about more beauty treatments and products.

We have experience with CoolSculpting. It's a freezing technology, the fat cells get destroyed by the cold. So then over the next 2-4 months, the fat cells get degraded and your body destroys the fat cells and then you actually pee the fat cells out. And you start to shrink. And once they're destroyed, they never come back. From the time you do it, usually anytime 2-4 months later you'll see the results. Some people need an additional freezing session, and if they do, in our office we usually do it a month later. Most people don't have any symptoms, a very small percentage of people, probably around 1%, may have some tenderness, or they may have a little bit of bruising, or redness, or soreness, and what that means would be like as if you worked out very hard you'd feel tender and sore. We generally like to do people who are in good shape, you know, they work out and they eat healthfully because we don't want to do one area and the fat comes back somewhere else. So we generally do people who have an area of fat that they can't get rid of. We can treat these localized areas of fat that you haven't been able to diet or exercise away. What I always stress to patients is you have to have a good exercise and diet plan. If I speak to somebody and they tell me I eat a box of cookies every night I tell them, don't do CoolSculpting because you're not going to be happy, because if you don't have a healthy diet, this isn't the procedure for you. The great thing about this technology is that it doesn't raise your triglycerides or your cholesterol when it's destroying those fat cells, which some of the technologies in other countries do and that's one thing the FDA was very careful about in approving it. You can be wavy after liposuction and this is done by a computer so you're not wavy. It's totally smooth, there's no entry point, you can lie and never have to tell anybody you ever did anything, no one will ever know. There's no incisions, there's no scars. Liposuction you can have scars. The great thing about the skin tone with CoolSculpting is that your skin tone is exactly how it would be if you lost this weight. I think you have to go to somebody for CoolSculpting who does it a lot, you might think it's a machine and everybody does it the same way, but you really want to go somewhere where maybe your friend went and you know they have good results. I think it's better to get a recommendation. I think with CoolSculpting initially when I tell people about it they say it's too good to be true and it seems unbelievable but then when you see the results on yourself, and how good it is, then people do want to come back for more or they send their friends and family.

Fibroblast cells are the cells that make our collagen so when you're about 25 or 30, the cells that make your collagen start to slow down. So thermage CPT skin tightening is radiofrequency, and what radiofrequency does is it stimulates the cells in the skin, and if we can stimulate those collagen-making cells, then we can make you more collagen and we can make you look younger and we can make your skin tighter. Thermage is not for wrinkles, it's for skin tightening, It tightens like the neck, it tightens the jowl, you can use it for the arms, you can use it for the legs, people use it for the butt. So you can use it for any part of the body, to tighten the skin. Thermage can be a little bit uncomfortable, it can be painful so we give you medication like Demerol, like pain medications, and you take the medication like an hour before, And then it's a wand that goes onto your face, and it goes over your face for an hour, and you keep repetitively going over the face, and Thermage is monopolar intermittent radiofrequency. And when you leave, your skin is tighter, because you get immediate instant tightening, and then over the next 6 months, it keeps getting tighter and tighter. If you're very young and you lost some weight and you can tighten, you can. If you lost a significant amount of weight it probably wouldn't work, because the skin is too loose. If you go online and you read about Thermage, some people see it affected the fat, for example people had fat loss in their face, and that was really a severe side effect, but with the new Thermage it can't do that, it's much safer, so it can't affect the fat in the skin or the face anywhere. Newer Thermage is more even heating, and that's really what makes the difference. It has to do with the depth of penetration of the Thermage, how deep it penetrates, and also how even the heating is, and just recently Thermage introduced new tips for their handpieces that are brand new in the past few months that even go deeper into the skin so it is more effective. If someone is looking at having Thermage they should only go to somebody that has the new CPT technology.