The Facts About Body Contouring

Many people associate cosmetic surgery with the alteration of facial features; with perhaps a few exceptions, the things that usually spring to mind if cosmetic surgery is mentioned are rhinoplasty, the face lift, and so on. However, cosmetic surgery for the body is an equally important category, and that’s even without taking breast augmentation into consideration. It’s clear that people are concerned about their overall appearance, and this means that any sort of aesthetic issue can have negative effects. If people have concerns about their own physical features, it can keep them from enjoying their lives to the fullest, and for some people, even regarding the body as opposed to the face, the issue cannot be corrected effectively through any means but cosmetic surgery. The majority of cosmetic surgical procedures involving the body are referred to collectively as “body contouring”. These procedures seek to alter the contours of the body, which is usually accomplished by removing excess body fat or other tissues as well as by lifting the remaining tissues.

The most popular body contouring procedure is lipo suction. In liposuction, the surgeon uses a surgical tube device called a cannula and a suction device called an aspirator to extract fat. A small incision is made in the area in question, and liquid is introduced to the area to balance out the quantity of fat being removed. Liposuction is so popular because of its effectiveness in addressing a problem faced by many people. It is not used as a weight-loss method, as the actual quantity of fat eliminated is quite small; rather, liposuction is for healthy individuals who, despite sufficient exercise, are unable to get eliminate fat from specific problem areas. Common problem areas include the midsection, the legs, below the chin, and the love handles. Recently, more specialized liposuction procedures such as Liposculpture and SmartLipo have emerged, which target more specific areas and come with even fewer drawbacks.

Another common operation, particularly among women, is the abdominoplasty, also known as the “tummy tuck.” This procedure aims to tighten loose skin and excise tissues causing the appearance of looseness from the midsection, a challenge which is especially common with individuals who have experienced significant weight loss, as well as women who have experienced pregnancy. Depending on the extensiveness of the operation, incisions can be made in different locations. Occasionally, the operation may be completed with the use of only one incision. The navel may be repositioned in the course of the tummy tuck operation if necessary.

Body lifts are another type of body contouring. These include thigh lifts and buttock lifts. These are similar procedures in that, in both, excess fat and possibly skin are removed and the remaining tissues are tightened in the target areas. They result in a more youthful, tighter appearance to the area. A thigh lift and buttock lift can be combined with an abdominoplasty, and this expanded operation is referred to as a lower body lift. Conversely, the upper body lift combines the upper arm lift, a procedure involving the removal of excess tissue from the back of the upper arm, and the breast lift, which targets sagging breasts and may also be done alongside breast augmentation surgery in some cases. The upper and lower body lift may be combined into a “full body lift,” one of the most drastic cosmetic surgical procedures available.

Certain types of implants, including buttock implants and calf implants, are also considered part of the body contouring category. Buttock implants aim to add or restore volume to the buttocks, and also lend a tighter look and sensation. Some genetic issues which lead to a reduction in muscle tone of the legs are also often addressed through the use of calf implants. They are also often chosen simply for cosmetic reasons. This is an operation particularly popular among bodybuilders, because the calves are very difficult to build up even when the “correct” training program is used.

Any surgical procedure involves certain risks, and the patient must also adhere to a strict recovery plan. Consult with a surgeon to find out if any of these procedures is appropriate for you.

Your Mastectomy Fitter – is She Certified?

Each year approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 20000 women receive mastectomies, surgical removal of the breast, in an effort to excise the cancer. While some women, elect breast reconstructive surgery, conservatively up to 75% of women, for various medical, financial and psychosocial reasons choose not to have implants. Without reconstructive surgery, women after a mastectomy must find a way to restore their silhouette as well as regain physiological symmetry. The process begins by choosing a Certified Fitter of mastectomy products.

Mastectomy products are specially designed and manufactured breast forms and bras. The first US breast form is dated 1889 for ‘Bosom Form’ however records also record women making their own ‘forms’ out of socks, corn, buckshot, cotton and rags. The traditional breast form made its debut in the United States circa 1940. The more popular silicone breast from is dated to 1960. Advances in technology and Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing have provided women with the quality and variety available today. The 21st century mastectomy form can be made of several different materials: a foam or ‘puff’ for immediate post-surgical use, spun cotton for casual use and varying weights and densities of silicone. A manufactured breast form comes in various shapes and sizes in order to more accurately fit a woman’s build, surgical site and skin tone. The proper choice in form size and shape provides a more physiological appropriate and a more aesthetically pleasing fit.

Unlike bras and ‘fashion falsies’, mastectomy bras, forms and accessories are recognized medical devices. They are prescribed by a surgeon or family physician, fit by a specially trained and Certified Fitter and are covered by most insurance policies. To become a Certified Fitter a person must take a nationally approved educational course that covers anatomy, physiology, basic cancer review, types of mastectomy surgeries and fitting techniques. A Fitter must also receive 500 hours of supervised residency or apprenticed training, and pass a national board exam. Certification also requires continuing education or CEU’s to ensure the Fitter is knowledgeable and familiar with the most recent advanced in breast care technology and fitting techniques. Why is medical certification necessary to fit a bra and form?

Can’t a woman receive the same treatment at a lingerie store? Maybe, many lingerie stores carry mastectomy products and employ Certified Fitters. However, choosing size and color is not all there is to a fitting. If a mastectomy form is improperly fit, real and possibly serious medical conditions may result. The human body is symmetrical. The reasons for breast reconstruction or using a form are the same, to restore physiological symmetry. If a form is an incorrect size, too large or too small, a woman’s body will be ‘uneven’. She may experience back stiffness, pain, TMJ, neck pain or headaches. If there is a substantial discrepancy between the form and the non-surgical side, more intense compensatory problems may arise including hip, joint, and gait problems. Fortunately, current technology and the availability of properly trained individuals allow the accurate fitting of mastectomy forms helping a woman regain her symmetry, shape and silhouette.

Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery

Improvement of facial aesthetics is no big deal today. Oral and Maxillofacial surgery has become a popular mode to remodel facial and dental structures of patients. Defects of the human jaws and associated facial structures are easily cured, thanks to the advances that have been made in dental surgery. Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, is a specialty area that plays a significant role and is a boon in improving facial aesthetics.

Teeth are an integral part of the jawbones and face. Maxillofacial surgery, a specialty of dentistry, not only aligns the bone but also the teeth, so that the functions of chewing and facial aesthetics are maintained.

The main advantage of Maxillofacial surgery is that is leaves no scars on the patient’s face. This surgery can be used to treat people with a variety of facial defects like a small chin, small upper or lower jaw; fractures of the facial bones as a result of accidents, falls or sports injuries; protruding upper and/or lower front teeth. You can even get rid of that gummy smile, which displays your teeth when you talk or smile. The surgery is also used to improve asymmetrical faces with deformities since birth or formed during development due to any reason. It can even treat jaw tumors and cysts and other diseases of the face involving the mouth and jawbones. Best of all, the results of the surgery can be seen and achieved in one day.

Maxillofacial surgery is commonly used for the extraction of teeth including impacted wisdom teeth. These could be teeth that have been injured beyond repair due to an injury, irreparable gum decay or disease or wisdom teeth that require to be removed because of malposition or impaction. Dental implants, for people who have lost their teeth, are also done by maxillofacial surgeons.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specialists who have a four year background in dental education plus training of four or more years of postgraduate studies as in-hospital resident surgeons. Thus, they are uniquely placed to perform surgery on both soft tissue (skin and muscle) and hard tissue (bone and cartilage) of the maxillofacial area.