Becoming a mother is something that many women count as a blessing. Pregnancy, motherhood, and breastfeeding can change a woman’s body in ways that she doesn’t like. This can affect her self-esteem and confidence. To combat these changes, some women see a mommy makeover as an option. There are some things to understand before you undergo this procedure, such as:

You May Experience Guilt

Women are often taught that they must be there for everyone, even before themselves. This is especially the case for mothers. Women are told implicitly and explicitly to put their children above themselves.

Getting a mommy makeover entails investing time and money into yourself. It may be hard to justify what some people will see as vanity or wasted money. The truth is, everyone deserves to look and feel their best.

Being confident and happy in your skin will set a great example for your children and allow you to be even more present with them in various ways after healing is finished. Mental health and wellbeing are crucial yet often overlooked aspects of parenting.

You’ll Need Help During Healing

A mommy makeover might include pretty intense abdominal surgery and various other procedures. If you commit to it, you’ll be out of commission for a while to heal. You won’t be able to do lifting, bathing, and things like that with your little one until it’s deemed safe.

You can look at this as a time of using your support system and taking time for yourself to rest, heal, and come back stronger. It’s important to understand that giving enough time for healing is necessary. Going back to restricted activities too early may cause trouble with your healing. Patience with yourself, your body, and your helpers is key.

Healing Is A Process

You may want instant results, but healing takes time. It might take months for the final results to appear. The swelling and bruising need time to reside. Healing is not something to be rushed.

You might feel itching, tingling, or numbness at or around the incision sites as you heal. This may be unpleasant, but it means the nerves and blood vessels are healing and it’s temporary.

Healing Is Mental And Physical

You may be prepared for physical healing. Another aspect of healing to consider is emotional or mental healing. During the process of recovery, you may experience mood swings. You may also experience regret or fear that the surgery won’t or didn’t give you your intended results.

The emotional highs and lows and moments of regret are normal after surgery. If you prepare yourself ahead of time for these things, they won’t have nearly as strong of an impact on you. You can combat these things by giving yourself time to rest, relying on your support team, and keeping a realistic expectation for your post-surgery body.

If you’d like a mommy makeover, contact Edward Eades, MD and his staff for a consultation today.

Getting a breast augmentation is a big decision. One question that’s often not asked is where the implants will be placed. It’s not a consideration for women because they might not know there are different placement options available. If they do know the different options, they might think they’re interchangeable. The truth is that choosing the proper implant placement important for getting the best results from the augmentation surgery.

Breast Implant Placement Options

There are two options for breast implant placement. One is putting the implant between the muscles and breast tissue. This is known as subglandular placement. The second implant placement option is putting the implant under the pectoral muscles. This is known as submuscular placement.

A well-trained doctor will be able to assess your body to figure out which placement is best for you. Some things they will consider include:

• Your health
• Your aesthetic goals
• Whether your implants are silicone or saline
• The size of your intended implants (How many cc’s they are)
• Your body type and physical makeup

An individual-based approach will give each patient the best results for their breast augmentation surgery. That’s why a knowledgeable doctor will weigh the options and variables carefully beforehand.

Subglandular Placement

This placement option puts the implant under the glandular and breast tissue and above the chest muscles. One aspect of this placement technique that women may like is that it doesn’t prevent them from breastfeeding in the future if they choose to do so.

Advantages of subglandular implant placement include:

• The implants move less during physical activity
• This method leads to less discomfort after surgery
• No potential for interference in the functioning of the chest muscles
• The muscles don’t have to stretch to accommodate the implant

Disadvantages include:

• May look less natural
• Risk of capsular contracture is higher
• Mammogram readings may be less reliable

Submuscular Placement

This option places the implant under the pectoral muscles. A pocket will be created behind the muscle to hold the implant. The size and placement of the pocket are integral to the end result, so doctors have to plan carefully.

Advantages of submuscular placement include:

• Reduced capsular contracture
• Mammograms are not affected
• The implants look more natural

Disadvantages include:

• More discomfort after surgery
• Longer healing time
• Muscle function may be effected

The Role Of The Chest Muscles And Breast Tissue

When a woman has extremely strong, large chest muscles, the doctor may choose to use a subglandular approach. When a woman does not have a sufficient amount of breast tissue to cover the implant well, she might be better suited for submuscular placement.

If you are considering breast implants, call Dr. Edward Eades and his staff to book a consultation.

Are you considering having a tummy tuck to obtain a stronger core and a more toned abdomen? If so, you might naturally have important questions about the procedure and what to expect. Below you will find answers to some of the more common tummy tuck questions.

What Exactly Is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is a procedure that will eliminate additional fat and skin from the abdominal area. The presence of such extra fat and skin may be due to a variety of reasons, including rapid weight loss, aging, weight gain, or childbirth.

What Should I Expect When I Come in For a Consultation?

When you come in for a consultation for a tummy tuck, you can expect to receive a comprehensive consultation. As part of this personalized consultation, we will take a detailed medical history. Additionally, we will perform a physical exam and provide you with various treatment options based on your particular situation. We will also take before and after photos. Our goal is to ensure that your procedure is customized to meet your specific goals.

What Should I Expect During My Tummy Tuck Procedure?

During the procedure, additional fat and skin will be removed from the abdomen. In the event that your abdominal muscles have separated, we will also make necessary repairs. If needed, liposuction may be used to contour the flanks and abdomen.

What Should I Expect Following My Procedure?

Following your procedure, you will need to wear a compression garment for anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks. This is done to eliminate swelling. It is natural to experience some degree of discomfort or pain. This can typically be managed with pain medications.

How Long Is the Recovery for a Tummy Tuck?

One of the more common questions we receive is whether you will be able to move around on the day of the surgery. In most circumstances, you will be able to walk on the same day of your procedure. In fact, we actually advise you to get up and begin moving around in order to improve blood circulation. Doing so helps to reduce the risk of blood clots developing in the legs. With that said, you should avoid lifting or running for six weeks following your tummy tuck.

Another common question is when you will be able to return to work. Most people are able to return to work within about two weeks of their procedure. You should expect bruising to remain visible for up to two weeks. Swelling typically diminishes within three months of the procedure. It is important to keep in mind that scars will remain visible as part of the healing process for up to 18 months. During this time, your scars will become lighter in color and thinner.

Are There Any Risks Associated with Tummy Tucks?

As is the case with any surgical procedure, it’s important to understand there is a slight risk of infection and bleeding. Additionally, there is a small risk of developing blood clots in the lungs or legs. We take great care to reduce such risks.

Advances in surgical techniques have made possible many procedures that once would have required large incisions, general anesthesia, days spent in the hospital, and long recovery times. Here are some of the best minimally invasive procedures when it comes to plastic surgery:

Brow Lift
Brow lifts are performed for people who are unhappy with the lines, wrinkles, and furrows on their brow but don’t want the pain or expense of a full facelift. Other people have a thick, sagging brow that makes them look unattractive.

Though a brow lift can be open surgery, a plastic surgeon now has the option of a minimally invasive brow lift. The surgeon uses an endoscope and miniaturized instruments to correct the brow. The endoscope has a light that illuminates the surgical area and a camera that sends images to a monitor that the surgeon can follow. The surgeon makes tiny incisions in the scalp and inserts the instruments to trim and tighten the tissues in the forehead.

Botox
Botox is the world’s most popular minimally invasive procedure. It is used to soften fine lines, wrinkles, and furrows, especially in the patient’s brow and around their mouth. Botox is injected through fine needles and works by paralyzing the muscle beneath the wrinkle. This makes wrinkles smooth out. Some types of Botox work for as long as six months, and the patient can return for touch-up treatments.

Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion and dermaplaning are procedures that remove the top layer of dead skin cells to stimulate the body to replace them with new cells. They can be done in large or small areas of the body, and the patient is sedated during the treatment. With dermabrasion, the surgeon uses a diamond-tipped burr or a wire brush to remove the top layers of skin, while in dermaplaning the surgeon uses a dermatome. This instrument looks like an electric razor with an oscillating blade.

Laser Hair Removal
This minimally invasive treatment removes unwanted hair by using lasers to destroy the pigment in the hair follicle. The lasers most often used for hair removal are the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, which isn’t really a laser but a crystal that actually guides a solid-state laser. A diode laser, which is a semiconductor, is also used to take away darker hair.

Chemical Peel
Chemical peels can be light, medium, or deep. They use different types of fruit acids or acids derived from sugar to remove the top layers of damaged skin and leave skin free of scars and blemishes and rejuvenated. The dermatologist applies the acid to the area the patient wants to be treated, leaves it on for a number of minutes, neutralizes it, then washes it away.

Dermal Fillers
Both dermal fillers and Botox use fine needles to correct wrinkles and fine lines, but that’s where the similarity ends. Dermal fillers actually add volume to an area that is dry or flat with such materials as collagen or hyaluronic acid. As with Botox, a person can have a dermal filler procedure done during their lunch hour and then return to their usual schedule.

Facelift, professionally known as rhytidectomy, is a type of cosmetic surgery done to make your face look more youthful. Removing excess skin from your face helps to re-create a more youthful look. Rhytidectomy can remove the creases around the nose and mouth and hanging skin and fat under the neck and chin. It can also tighten the loose, hanging skin around your jawline, referred to as jowls. A facelift can also tighten your subcutaneous tissues, and your surgeon can combine it with surgery to enhance the eyelids, brows, cheeks, and forehead. In 2016 in the United States, about 107,000 women and 14,000 men had rhytidectomy. It was among the most popular cosmetic surgeries done that year and each year since.

Ideal Candidates

Good candidates for rhytidectomy include individuals who:

• Don’t smoke.

• Don’t have medical conditions that can hinder recovery from surgery or wound healing.

• Have realistic expectations of what the results from the procedure will be. 

Preparation for a Facelift

Adequate preparation for rhytidectomy can keep you healthy and relaxed before and during surgery. Your preparation begins with a consultation with Dr. Eades. It is important to carefully adhere to all pre-surgical instructions given by Dr. Eades. If you smoke, you should stop smoking at least two weeks before surgery. Smoking interferes with the flow of oxygen throughout your body, and thus, it could heighten the risk of surgical complications and recovery time. Particular nutritional supplements like Vitamin E, blood thinners, and aspirin can also cause complications after surgery, and you may need to change your medications according to Dr. Eades’ instructions.

You should also get ready for the procedure by planning for transportation and aftercare, and mentally preparing for the downtime. You should expect to take about two weeks off from work, but the exact duration may depend on your health status and the length of your procedure. 

The Rhytidectomy Procedure

Often, facelift surgery can be done using local anesthesia, and this gives you the option of remaining alert during rhytidectomy. However, during more intensive operations, general anesthesia may be administered. The length of your facelift surgery determines whether general or local anesthesia will be applied. Since adverse reactions to anesthesia cause most of the complications associated with facelift procedures, you need to discuss the risks of a facelift with your cosmetic surgeon.

Dr. Eades will perform a traditional rhytidectomy by making a cut on your hairline in or above your hair and in front of the temporal region (around the ear). Here, he will extend this cut downward in front of your ear, below your ear, and then upward behind your ear. The surgeon will then lift the skin and fatty tissues from the connective tissues known as fascia and underlying muscle forward as required to tighten the loose skin. Dr. Eades can tighten the underlying muscles and fascia using sutures if necessary. He will then pull the skin back and upward and excise the excess skin. He will then close the wound using stitches and staples. Sometimes, a drain may be left in the wound to remove excess blood, and then bandages will be applied.

Recovery

The recovery time for a facelift is relatively quick for most individuals. Usually, you can get back to your daily schedule in about two weeks. However, you need to wait about four weeks before engaging in any strenuous exercise. Bruising and swelling are normal after rhytidectomy, and they usually reach their peak two-to-three days after the surgery. After that, the bruising and swelling subside gradually within 14 days. Remember, a facelift won’t change your fundamental appearance and prevent you from aging. Even though the results are permanent, your skin will continue aging. But living a healthy lifestyle and minimizing daily exposure to sunlight will help you keep your facelift results.

Rhytidectomy is an excellent way to eliminate lines and wrinkles and early signs of aging from your face. It is a safe procedure with minimal risks. However, you need to ensure that your surgeon is qualified and board-certified because this ensures that specific standards of expertise, education, and best practices are maintained. If you need more information regarding rhytidectomy, contact Dr. Eades of Edward Eades, M.D. at 520-323-6994 to book an appointment.

It’s not uncommon for patients to have a wealth of questions about their upcoming breast augmentation surgery. Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

Why are breast implants inserted below the muscle?

When placed below the muscle, breast implants look more natural and feel more comfortable. What’s more, the implants are more likely to stay softer for longer when inserted below the muscle.

How can you prevent rippling in breast implants?

While there’s no surefire way to avoid rippling, the most effective way is to place the implant beneath the muscle. Silicone implants are known to produce minimal rippling effects, making them a highly sought-after option.

Is it necessary to replace a silicone gel implant that’s ruptured?

Yes, it should be replaced. When the silicone dispurses, it can create small masses in the breast. These masses bear a striking resemblance to breast tumors, so it can be hard to discern a small granuloma from breast cancer.

Should you underfill or overfill saline implants?

Underfilling is ill-advised because it can lead to deflation or a rupture. For optimal results, it’s best to fill the implant to its maximum capacity; that way, it’s less likely that rippling, deflation, and ruptures will occur.

What implants are best for sagging breasts?

Though most believe that high-profile or moderate-profile implants are ideal for sagging breasts, that’s not always the case. To remedy this issue, a breast lift is the most viable solution. For those who opt for implants, moderate-profile ones yield the best results.

When do I need to have my ruptured implant removed?

While ruptured implants don’t constitute an emergency, it’s prudent to take action within a few months. If you allow the problem to persist, the ruptured implant will leak and, in turn, cause more scar tissue.

How can my breasts be both hard and soft?

In the medical realm, breast hardness is referred to as capsular contracture. Since the cause of this is unknown, it’s difficult to say with certainty why breasts vary in firmness. Fortunately, if silicone implants do begin to harden, a simple inferior capsulotomy offers a quick fix.

Is there a direct correlation between cubic centimeters and breast size?

There is no link between breast size and cubic centimeters. The final cup size hinges primarily on the size of your natural breasts. We warn against getting implants that are too big or too small as they can disrupt the proportions of your body.

Can I achieve cleavage with breast implants?

Big breasts don’t automatically equate to cleavage. The shape and diameter of your breasts are more likely to contribute to cleavage. With that said, you can make cleavage with breast implants by focusing on these two elements.

Will I lose sensation in my nipples?

It’s exceedingly normal to experience sensory changes following a breast augmentation. Larger implants generally produce this result. Fortunately, the sensation typically returns within six months.

Thousands of women undergo breast implant surgery every year. Some opt for saline implants, while others choose silicone implants. In some instances, the procedure is chosen because of a desire for a specific aesthetic. However, a large percentage of women that get breast implants do so for reconstructive purposes after a mastectomy.

The number of breast implant surgeries performed each year has grown significantly and that growth does not appear to be slowing down. Below is helpful information that will shed light on the procedure as it relates to breastfeeding.

About Breastfeeding When You Have Breast Implants

Whether or not you can breastfeed when you have breast implants will depend on the kind of implants you have. It will also depend on how the implants were placed and the way the surgery was performed. The most common concern that women have is that the chemicals found in the breast implants will integrate with breast milk, especially when the breast implants are filled with saline. Since saline is saltwater, healthcare professionals have not identified any problems or harmful effects associated with saline mixing with breast milk.

Problems with Breastfeeding When You Have Breast Implants

In the event that there were problems during the breast implant surgery, such as damage to the milk glands or nerves, there’s a possibility that the nipple area was affected. This means there might be a reduced ability to feel your nipple. While this would not entirely prevent you from breastfeeding, it will affect the let-down response, which is when the milk releases into the milk ducts from the glands. When there is significant damage to the milk ducts, you can experience a reduced amount of milk production.

How Different Types of Breast Implants Affect Breastfeeding

A surgeon that’s proficient in performing breast implant surgery will understand that the kind of incision made during the procedure can have an impact on breastfeeding. For instance, when the incision is made across or surrounding the areola, there’s a greater chance of experiencing nerve damage. This is why it’s often best to make the incisions under the armpit, breast, or belly button. In fact, making an incision in these areas reduces the chances of damaging the nerves, milk ducts, and glands.

Another key consideration as it relates to breast implants is how they’re placed as this too can impact the ability to breastfeed. There are different ways in which breast implants can be placed, such as between the chest muscle and between the breast tissue. In some instances, breast implants are placed underneath the muscle of the chest to avoid damaging nerves and milk ducts. When implants are placed underneath the patient’s chest muscle, there won’t be any issues with saline seeping into the breast milk.

Increasing Your Milk Supply When You Have Breast Implants

If you already have breast implants and you want to increase your milk supply, you can do so using a breast pump for the purpose of stimulating your breasts so that you’re able to produce more milk. This is also helpful because it’s a great way to ensure your breasts are completely empty of milk. Another way to increase your supply of milk is by feeding your baby frequently.

Dr. Edward Eades is a board-certified plastic surgeon with expertise developed over several decades. He has been serving the Tucson community since 1990 and can answer any questions you have about breast implants