Immediately after surgery, your breasts and chest wall may be sore and feel tight.  The level of soreness obviously varies within each individual.  However, some patients may notice that the soreness is enough to give them discomfort even with just arm elevation above shoulder level. 

The introduction of breast augmentation implants placed under the skin is responsible for the initial tight sensation.  The skin and soft tissue will generally require a few weeks to accommodate the increased volume before feeling and appearing more relaxed and natural.  Until that occurs, the breasts may appear a little “high” or very round on the chest.  In practice, patients can expect tightness to last anywhere from 1 to 3 months, improving over that time period.

Employ Massage Therapy

Patients are instructed to perform daily breast massage beginning the first week during recovery. This type of massage serves three major purposes in breast augmentation recovery:

First, the act of skin massage on the breast will improve the flow of the lymphatic system which is crucial for the reduction of swelling.

Second, massage therapy is a proactive daily treatment which will actually help to reduce the soreness and discomfort felt in the breasts.

Lastly, the massage will aid in the relaxation of the skin and soft tissue of the breasts which will ultimately improve the position and appearance of the implants.

Use Compression Garments

As is customary, a compression garment will be a necessary aid for comfortable breast augmentation recovery.  A compressive bra or a sports bra without underwire is recommended during the first few weeks of the healing process. 

Commonly, the incisions for placement of breast implants are located at the lower breast crease (“infra-mammary fold” in medical speak) and the use of an underwire bra may irritate the healing incision, or, over a longer time period, may influence (or prevent) the descent of the implants into a more pendulous-shaped breast (like a tear-drop). 

In selected patients, whose skin is very tight or whose implants are very large, the use of a “bandeaux ” (a compressive bandage placed above the breasts and under the armpits) is advised to “coax” the implants into a lower position as the skin envelope of the breast progressively expands and appears more relaxed over a few to several weeks.

Apply Silicone Scar Treatments

Certain people may have an unfavorable history of wound healing.  In these types of patients, it is pre-emptively advised that the use of silicone scar treatments to be applied to their incisions after the first week of recovery and up to 12 full weeks of treatment. 

Embrace, ScarAway and New Gel+ are recognized compressive scar therapy brands to be applied once a week as an adhesive silicone bandage over the incisions.  The adhesive bandage offloads the pressure on the incision, allowing the most favorable tension-free healing environment.  The silicone aspect influences and “organizes” the wound healing milieu, effectively reducing the degree of pigmentation and scar elevation during the acute breast augmentation recovery period.

Follow-Up With Your Doctor

All of these guidelines are given under the assumption that no complications develop during the early recovery period.  It is imperative to stay in communication and face-to-face follow-up with your plastic surgeon.  The complications of hematoma (excessive bleeding) and infection can be quite detrimental to the final result of your breast augmentation if not treated right away.   As such, you should give yourself and your physician the earliest opportunity of recognizing these problems so that they may most effectively be managed and controlled. 

Significant size distortion or increase, asymmetry, focal or severe pain, blushing of the skin with redness, foul-smelling discharge, or just general malaise (fever, fatigue) may indicate a bleeding problem or infection.

If you have any of these concerns, it is highly recommended to notify your plastic surgeon expediently and be prepared to be evaluated in the clinic on short notice, if necessary to ensure full breast augmentation recovery.

The post Tips To Complete Breast Augmentation Recovery appeared first on Erfani, Sadi (drsadierfani.com).

By Sadi Erfani, MD

What Is A Liquid Facelift?

A liquid facelift is a popular aesthetic treatment that rejuvenates the face and restores a visibly youthful appearance with no surgery. The treatment is accomplished with injections of dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm or Perlane and a Botox, Xeomin or Dysport neurotoxin. Liquid face lifts are usually performed for those not quite ready for facelift surgery (typically aged in their late 30’s to mid 40’s), has concerns about operative surgery or is too busy to spare downtime recovery from a facelift.

What Does A Liquid Facelift Do?

A liquid facelift will dramatically enhance loss of fat and volume of the face. Laxness of the skin, shallow cheeks, the appearance of lines on the forehead known as Glabellar lines and wrinkles are common areas attended to with this type of treatment.
A liquid facelift will speedily:

– Plump up the cheek areas
– Correct distinct lining around the mouth known as Marionette lines
– Reduce facial wrinkles
– Fill mild to moderate line, furrow and groove depressions
– Provide smoother appearing looking skin overall

What Is The Difference Between A Liquid Facelift And Surgery?

A liquid facelift is not really a true facelift. It is an excellent treatment involving injectable fillers to rapidly help correct an often tired and gaunt looking appearance for someone not yet readily displaying the progressive signs of more advanced aging. The risk and downtime are minimal. An average session lasts only about 45 minutes. The effect can last anywhere from 6 to 18 months depending on the client skin condition and level of treatment.

True facelift surgery will tighten, lift and restructure deep layers of the skin that have begun to soften and sag with age. Rarely are people thrilled at the idea of having facelift surgery performed, especially if one is older. However, one can expect to enjoy long term and excellent results with skilled nipping and tucking from a highly qualified plastic surgeon (typically 7 years on average). Attention is directed to the bone structure, fat deposits, muscle position and overall skin laxity on the underlying areas of both the face and neck.

Both of these procedures help to fulfill one’s facial rejuvenation goals and fall within the categorical area of plastic surgery, yet they are two separate treatments that produce different results. Often, these procedures are combined to complement each other.

Conclusion

The facial aging process involves the tissue softening of the face that will slowly begin to descend downward, development of wrinkling skin and loss of facial volume especially in the cheek, temple and jowl areas.

A liquid facelift can be ideal for patients that can or want to hold off on surgical intervention. Adding volume through the use of fillers to specific areas of the face can improve and refresh one’s look. However, it is important to determine if one is the right candidate for treatment. Getting expert opinion from a highly qualified plastic surgeon will yield tremendous insight, a desired solution and possible alternatives to consider.

The post A Little Young For Facelift Surgery? Consider A Liquid Facelift. appeared first on Erfani, Sadi (drsadierfani.com).