3 Minute Read:
Women and men choose to undergo cosmetic surgery procedures for multiple reasons, including age, lifestyle, and life events.
Not only do cosmetic procedures help people achieve a more youthful and balanced aesthetic (whether for the body, breasts, or face), but the stunning results gained from these procedures can improve their confidence and self-esteem.
Regardless of which cosmetic surgery(s) you have performed, you want to ensure that your results are as stunning and long lasting as you desire.
One of the best ways to achieve your ideal plastic surgery results is to follow all pre- and post-surgical instructions.
However, below are some additional ways to help you look and feel the way you want after your plastic surgery.
During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will discuss the procedure with you as well as what you should keep in mind both before and after your surgery. This may include avoiding blood-thinning medications or supplements, arranging for someone to be with you during the first day or two after your procedure, and ensuring you have a designated recovery space.
If you want to learn more about what to expect during recovery from some of the most common cosmetic procedures, feel free to take a look at the following blogs:
Along with the recovery details addressed in the blogs above, here are three aspects that contribute to a successful plastic surgery outcome:
Undergoing a plastic surgery procedure is not like a trip to the gym; it requires commitment and time. To get the most out of this, you want to ensure that you are in good, general health.
This means not smoking (quitting at least six weeks before your scheduled procedure) as well as being at a stable weight and BMI (body mass index).
While many people think that body contouring procedures, like tummy tuck surgery, help patients lose weight, the reality is that these procedures are not meant for weight loss. Instead, you should be at or near your ideal weight before surgery.
You wouldn’t trust your car’s tune-up to someone who is not knowledgeable of cars. So, why would you trust your body to a plastic surgeon you don’t feel comfortable with?
Choosing the right surgeon is one of the best ways to ensure a positive outcome for your cosmetic procedure. You want to make sure that your surgeon is well-respected, board-certified, and trained with a high client satisfaction rate. Your consultation is the best way to decide if you feel comfortable with your plastic surgeon since you can discuss your cosmetic frustrations and aesthetic goals with them and ask your surgeon any questions you may have about the procedure, recovery period, and results.
The quality of your recovery can help determine the quality of your results. Because of this, it is so important that you have a peaceful recovery. This means taking your prescribed medications, listening to your body, taking the required time off work, refraining from exercise and other strenuous activities, eating right, staying hydrated, and taking short walks to increase blood circulation. Doing so can help your body heal quickly so that you can be ready to show off your results.
Your recovery period doesn’t just need to be a time to heal from your procedure. You can also put this time to good use! Here are some ways you can make the most of your recovery time.
If you want to know more about the cosmetic procedures we offer as well as what to expect for your recovery, contact our office at (909) 291-4900 or schedule a consultation online today!
5 Minute Read:
So, you’ve lost a massive amount of weight through diet and exercise. That’s a fantastic accomplishment and something that you should feel proud of!
However, as many people notice after any substantial weight loss, there are still issues that need to be addressed, such as excess and sagging skin and pockets of stubborn fat that just don’t seem to go away, no matter how hard you try. This is where plastic surgery comes in.
These post-weight loss issues can only be addressed with various plastic surgery procedures, and the results are stunning!
But that leaves two questions: Which surgeries are the right ones for me? And how long do I have to wait after my weight loss to undergo these surgeries?
Well, here are some answers for you.
There are two specific issues that follow extreme weight loss: excess skin and remaining fat.
The following plastic surgery procedures can help address either or both of these post-weight loss problems to get you looking toned and fit and feeling better about yourself and your appearance.
Tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) is a procedure that addresses sagging skin in the midsection.
For this procedure, your surgeon will make an incision just above your pubic area, stretching from hip to hip. Another incision may be made around the belly button to reposition the navel. Liposuction may be used to remove any stubborn fat remaining in the area. Your surgeon will tighten the underlying muscles and remove excess skin before tightening the skin and closing the sutures.
You will be left with a contoured midsection that you’ll be excited to show off this summer.
A circumferential body lift (extended body lift) is a more extreme version of a tummy tuck. Body lift surgery is preferred for patients who have excess skin and fat in the belly as well as the sides, flank, and back.
With this procedure, the incision extends beyond the hips. Your surgeon will tighten the underlying abdominal muscles while also using liposuction to remove any fat in the entire midsection area, from front to back and in between. Excess skin is removed before the incisions are closed.
This procedure is used to correct significant sagging caused by extreme weight loss. The results are drastic and will give you that toned look you’ve always dreamed of having.
Facelift surgery addresses sagging skin in the lower portions of your face and neck as well as helps correct wrinkles, fine lines, double chin, and jowls.
For a facelift, your surgeon will make an incision that begins at the hairline, starting at the temples. This incision continues down the contour of your face, going behind the ears, and stopping at the lower scalp. Excess fat will be removed, and the underlying tissue will be tightened and redistributed to give a more even look and feel. Finally, any excess skin will be removed, and the remaining skin will be tightened.
After this surgery, you will have a more sculpted and defined facial appearance that no longer carries around any evidence of your weight loss.
For women, extreme weight loss can leave them with sagging breasts.
Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) is a procedure that lifts the breasts to a higher and perkier position. For this procedure, your surgeon will make a periareolar incision (around the edges of the areolae) and often down the lower pole of the breast and across the inframammary fold.
From this incision, the underlying breast tissue will be lifted and reshaped. Any stubborn fat in the area will be removed. Finally, excess skin will be removed, and the remaining skin tightened. If necessary, the nipple-areolar complex will be repositioned to create a more balanced and natural aesthetic.
Some women choose to increase their breast size with augmentation surgery (breast lift with implants). However, whether you choose to have implants placed or not, after your breast lift, you will have a more contoured and toned appearance to show off all the hard work you put into your weight loss.
If your post-weight loss issues extend to multiple places, and you are looking to tighten and tone your body, then body contouring surgery may be right for you.
This combination procedure is completely customizable to your needs. At your consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your condition to see which procedures are right for you.
It is a common misconception that plastic surgery procedures can be used for weight loss. While you may lose a few pounds from your surgery (mainly from the removal of excess skin and any stubborn fat), plastic surgery is meant to improve the aesthetic appearance of your body.
This means that you should be at or very near your goal body weight, and you should have maintained that weight for at least three to six months before your surgery.
One of the biggest concerns with post-weight loss plastic surgery is that patients lose weight, undergo cosmetic surgery to give them the look they desire, and then they gain the weight back, which undoes all the transformative effects of the plastic surgery. Additionally, being at a consistent goal weight before your procedure(s) allows for less chance of complications during and after your surgery.
Once you’ve lost weight, give yourself a toned and completed aesthetic with plastic surgery. Look and feel the way you’ve always wanted!
If you would like to know more about the different surgeries available to help sculpt your post-weight loss body, then contact our office at (909) 291-4900 or schedule a consultation online today!
3 Minute Read:
When planning for plastic surgery, you should take a few critical steps starting six weeks before your operation, whether body contouring or facial enhancement. These steps will help your surgeon perform the surgery safely and improve your ability to recover from your cosmetic procedure.
Check Your Vitamins and Supplements
The most important step you can take when preparing for any surgery is to stop smoking. Patients who have smoked (even once) leading up to their operation have significantly higher risks during and after their procedure.
Nicotine restricts blood flow and prevents oxygen from getting to cells, which can cause serious complications.
Therefore, patients should stop smoking before surgery and stay away from cigarettes until their recovery is complete. Some side effects associated with smoking before surgery include:
If patients refrain from smoking within six weeks of their operation, these risks and more can be significantly reduced.
Alcohol is not as dangerous as nicotine but can still contribute to several complications if consumed within two weeks of an operation. Alcohol acts as a blood thinner, increasing the risk of excess bleeding during surgery. It can also inhibit the body’s ability to heal. Patients should stop drinking alcohol for at least two weeks before surgery.
Caffeine is one of the most commonly consumed drugs in America today, and a large part of that is because it is not seen as a drug. However, regardless of the wide acceptance of coffee and energy drinks, caffeine is still a substance that can significantly affect the body.
Caffeine can cause complications during surgery if a patient has high levels in their bloodstream. This is because caffeine can raise the heart rate and blood pressure.
Small amounts of caffeine may assist patients with recovery. However, large amounts (more than two cups per day in the week leading up to the surgery) can increase your risk of complications.
We suggest that if your daily caffeine intake is high, lower it over time. Our general guideline is a maximum of two cups of coffee per day by a week before your surgery. We also recommend maintaining that level of caffeine consumption for at least a week or two following surgery.
These guidelines may change depending on your physical condition and your chosen procedure.
One of the greatest risk factors during surgery is an unexpected and adverse reaction between medication used for the surgery and medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements a patient has in their system.
These complications can range from minor annoyances up to potentially deadly complications.
To avoid these risks, patients planning for cosmetic surgery should get all of their medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements cleared by their surgeon at least two weeks before surgery.
Some patients may need to stop taking certain medications before surgery. If this is the case, you should consult your primary care physician to ensure that stopping an existing medication regime is safe for you.
It is best to prepare ahead of time for your recovery. This will change depending on the type of surgical procedure you are undergoing. If you are planning for breast augmentation with implants, you can find more information on planning for breast augmentation on our blog.
If you are planning for tummy tuck surgery, consider a plan for an extended recovery period. If you are planning for liposuction, consider the areas you are targeting when preparing for your recovery. It is usually a good idea to recover in a way that reduces stress and tension on your incision locations.
Are you interested in learning more about how to prepare for plastic surgery? Contact us at 909-291-4900 or fill our online form to schedule a consultation with Dr. Andreasen or another member of our surgical practice.
Posted April 11, 2023 in Plastic Surgery Recovery, Preparing for Plastic Surgery
3 Minute Read: Women and men choose to undergo cosmetic surgery procedures for multiple reasons, including age, lifestyle, and life events. Not only do cosmetic procedures help people achieve a more youthful and balanced aesthetic (whether for the body, breasts, or face), but the stunning results gained from these procedures can improve their confidence and […]
Posted March 01, 2022 in Plastic Surgery Recovery, Preparing for Plastic Surgery
5 Minute Read: So, you’ve lost a massive amount of weight through diet and exercise. That’s a fantastic accomplishment and something that you should feel proud of! However, as many people notice after any substantial weight loss, there are still issues that need to be addressed, such as excess and sagging skin and pockets of […]
Posted March 02, 2021 in Plastic Surgery, Preparing for Plastic Surgery, Surgical Body Contouring
3 Minute Read: When planning for plastic surgery, you should take a few critical steps starting six weeks before your operation, whether body contouring or facial enhancement. These steps will help your surgeon perform the surgery safely and improve your ability to recover from your cosmetic procedure. Stop Smoking Stop Drinking Alcohol Reduce Caffeine Intake […]
“Thank you so much for all your help in making this very important decision. Your staff was very welcoming and so sweet. Your honesty is very refreshing and I look forward to soon scheduling my surgery!”
"I have had a few people tell me to check out other doctors with cheaper costs but am not interested at all. I am very insecure when it comes to certain parts of my body and i felt very comfortable and sure that I wanted you to do this surgery."
"I had gone too 2 diffrent locations , this place made me automatically made my mind up I had two recommendations from this place and I love the work they did on them , staff is very nice as well as the surgeon I love this place very pleased with my procedure."
Individual results may vary
The Andreasen Experience
Breast and Body Specialist
Contact Us
We are eager to answer any of your questions and help you toward achieving your aesthetic goals.
Dr. Andreasen is the premier plastic surgeon in the Inland Empire of SoCal
Troy J. Andreasen, M.D.
3333 Concours St Bldg #3
Ontario CA 91764
Phone: 909-291-4900
Follow Dr. Andreasen on all social networks