Dr. Chance Kaplan

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that enhances the size and shape of the breasts. Indications for cosmetic surgery are small or asymmetrical breasts. The procedure is accomplished by the insertion of saline-filled implants behind the breasts. Placement may be either directly under the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle. Some surgeons believe that placement beneath the chest wall reduces the risk of capsular contracture.Surgery is usually performed in an outpatient setting with the patient under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. The procedure typically lasts from one to two hours. Breast augmentation may be combined with breast lift, (see below) and, if so, the total surgery will take longer.

Indications for a face-lift include sagging facial skin and jowls and loose neck skin. The usual candidates are men and women over the age of 40 years. Performed on patients under either general or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, the procedure takes several hours. The setting may be an outpatient surgical facility, with or without aftercare services, or at a hospital. (Patients undergoing combined procedures or those who have medical conditions that warrant it may require brief hospitalization.) Patients should expect to experience temporary bruising and swelling. The facial skin may feel numb and tender, as well as dry. Typically, the patient will have a "tight" sensation in the face and neck. Risks include bleeding, infection, excessive scarring, asymmetry and an undesirable hairline change. Occasionally, injury to the nerves controlling facial muscles and temporary numbness occur. When injury does happen, it usually resolves, but on rare occasions, it is permanent. Poor healing is another possible risk. After a face-lift, the patient generally can resume work in 10 to 14 days and more strenuous activities within two to six weeks. Sun exposure should be limited for several months, and the patient should always use sunscreen. The effects of a face-lift typically endure for five to 10 years. One special consideration for men: the procedure results in repositioning beard-growing skin behind the ears, so after a face-lift, it will be necessary to shave the area behind the ear or seek hair removal treatment. A face-lift may be done in conjunction with other procedures, such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), chin augmentation, forehead or brow-lift and skin rejuvenation procedures such as dermabrasion, laser peel or chemical peel.

Tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure to flatten the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat from the lower abdominal region and tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall. Appropriate candidates for tummy tuck are men and women with large fat deposits or loose abdominal skin that does not respond to diet or exercise, and women with slack muscles and skin due to multiple pregnancies. Older patients whose skin has lost its elasticity may also find improvement. Obese patients who plan to lose weight should postpone surgery.

Smoothing out folds and wrinkles by adding volume can make an enormous difference to your appearance. With Dermal Fillers, facial rejuvenation can be carried out without the use of foreign elements. When treating wrinkles or folds, Dermal Fillers is injected into the skin in tiny amounts with a very fine needle. The injected gel produces natural volume under the wrinkle, which is lifted up and smoothed out. The results can be seen immediately. Treating wrinkles with Dermal Fillers is fast and safe and leaves no scars or other traces on the face.