Can I have a combined plastic surgery consult with my mother, partner or friend?

A major tenet of plastic surgery is that you do it for yourself. Not to please your mother, spouse or friend.  You want to be certain that you’re undergoing a procedure that will change a feature you may want to improve or perhaps make you appear more youthful or just boost your overall appearance. 

Of course, you want to think it over carefully, get all the critical information and eventually make a decision that will help you look your best. 

Can you have a plastic surgery consultation that includes a friend or family member ?

If you’re comfortable with having a loved one or friend accompanying you then yes you are welcome to accompany you at your surgery consult. 

For privacy reasons, your plastic surgeon will speak with you to establish whether you would like the accompanying person to leave or stay in the room for that segment of your visit.

But before you decide to have a combined consult, make sure to first consider the pros and cons of doing so.

The pros of a combined consult include:

  1. Remembering important details

Having your mother, partner or friend with you can help you remember crucial details regarding the procedures you discuss with your plastic surgeon.  

During a typical consultation, many important medical and personal issues are discussed and a partner or friend may help you retain some details you missed or remind you of the questions you intended to ask your surgeon but have forgotten.

  1. Winning their full support

If you have an important person in your life that is helping you assess your options, meeting the surgeon together can help to address any specific concerns your friend or partner may have about your decision to undergo plastic surgery. 

  1. Making the sessions more relaxing and comfortable 

Being with a spouse or friend can make a consultation a more relaxed experience instead of an overwhelming one. The trusted confidante may give you the support you need to feel at ease if you are nervous about the consultation sessions or regarding the impending procedure.

  1. Making informed decisions

When making important and weighty decisions, you may need to hear from those who know you well and whose opinion matters the most to you. Going to a consultation session with a trusted friend or partner ensures you get timely feedback on the cosmetic changes you plan to have. In turn, you will feel more confident that you’re making the right decision.

  1. Ensuring a smoother recovery

After your procedure, you’ll need your post-op caretaker to give you the best possible support. A face-to-face meeting with your plastic surgeon is a great forum for your mother, spouse or other caretaker to learn what will be necessary during your recovery.

The cons of a combined consult include:

  1. You may find it difficult to speak openly

Your plastic surgeon expects you to speak honestly about your medical history and to share crucial personal information. If you find this difficult or embarrassing to do with another person listening, consider going alone.

  1. You may be overly influenced by another person’s opinion

A consultation session is a chance to express your personal feelings and preferences. It’s critical that you deeply consider what you really want. If you are an agreeable person by temperament, it may be difficult to tease out your desires versus your friend or family members preferences. 

  1. They may end up distracting you

If you attend a consult with someone who might dominate the conversation rather than listen, you may end up distracted. It’s important that anyone involved in your decision process considers your preference and best interests.

Are you planning to undergo plastic surgery to tackle a bothersome cosmetic issue? At Politis Plastic Surgery, we offer comfortable, relaxed consultation sessions to help prepare our clients for their procedures.

For more information on plastic surgery procedures, visit Politis Plastic Surgery

What is breast lift surgery?

A breast lift is a surgical procedure performed to raise and firm the breasts. Also called mastopexy, the procedure involves removing excess skin, tightening surrounding tissue, and creating and reshaping new breast contours.

Breasts tend to lose their shape and firmness, reduce in size, or sag over the years due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the effect of gravity on them. As a result, the breasts become unattractive and may cause a dip in a woman’s self-confidence.

Through mastopexy, such breasts can be raised, reshaped, and contoured to look more attractive. And if the breasts have lost their volume, implants may be inserted alongside a breast lift to increase both size and firmness.

In women with breast ptosis — nipples that sit below the inframammary fold or point downwards—the procedure restores the nipples to a position higher on the breasts. And for women with enlarged areola, the darker skin around the nipple, the surgery can reduce the size of the areola.

Who needs a breast lift?

Generally, women go for a breast lift surgery after pregnancy and breastfeeding, which usually leave them with stretched skin and reduced breast volume.  But it is also effective in getting rid of the adverse effects of aging on the breasts.

The procedure helps to change the alignment of the breast and nipple, eliminate breast sagging, and correct breast ptosis. Plus, it reshapes the breasts, changes the size or shape of the areola, and raises the nipple position relative to the rest of the breast.

Mastopexy is ideal for you if you have:

  1. Sagging, soft, out-of-shape breasts
  2. Flatter, elongated or pendulous breasts
  3. Nipples and areolas that point downwards
  4. Stretched breast skin and enlarged areolas
  5. One breast that is lower than the other
  6. Breasts that when unsupported have their nipples fall below the breast crease

But to undergo the procedure, you should also have:

  1. Fully developed breasts
  2. Good overall health
  3. Realistic expectations
  4. No future plans of pregnancy, which can reverse the results of the procedure

Besides, you should know that:

  1. A breast lift surgery will not radically change your breast size or perfectly round out the upper part of your breasts.  So if you desire much fuller or smaller breasts, then you should instead go for breast augmentation or breast reduction surgery.
  2. Pregnancy and breastfeeding after mastopexy will stretch the skin and reverse the results of the procedure. Hence, you should wait until breast development, child birth, and breastfeeding have stopped before you undergo the surgery.
  3. The size and shape of your breasts before mastopexy with influence both the procedure and the outcome. In fact, while breasts of any size can be lifted, you may not achieve long-lasting results if you have heavier breasts.

How is a breast lift surgery done?

The procedure begins with anesthesia. A specialist anesthetist administers a general anesthetic to keep you completely asleep as the surgery is performed. This helps to make the breast lift surgery painless.

Your plastic surgery will then make the appropriate incisions into your breasts to allow for resizing and reshaping. Incisions can be made around the areola, then vertically down to the breast crease, and further vertically down from the breast crease and horizontally along the breast.

Through the incisions, your plastic surgeon outlines the areas from which to remove excess breast skin and defines a new location for the nipple. The surgeon then uses the incisions to remove excess skin and to move the areola and nipple to a higher position.

Also, the skin around the areola is brought down. Then the breasts are reshaped. Usually, stitches are located around the areola, vertically extending downwards from the nipple area, and along the breast’s lower crease.

When a breast implant is to be inserted, together with the breast lift, it is placed in a pocket directly below the breast tissue, or much deeper under the chest wall muscle.

Finally, your surgeon closes the incisions. Some incision lines are buried in the natural breast contours while others are visible on the breast surface. Though incision lines are permanent, they fade and significantly improve with time. 

Your surgeon will layer out sutures deep within the breast tissue to create and support the newly contoured breasts. The skin is closed using skin adhesives, surgical tape, or sutures.

Remarkable, delightful results

Though the results of a mastopexy are not immediately visible due to bruising and swelling, the size, shape, position, and firmness of the breasts will change right away. Then, the overall results will improve as healing occurs, with lasting, pleasant results taking up to 6 months to be realized.

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we offer a breast lift surgery to women, who are unhappy with their drooping, soft breasts. Our procedure is preceded with an open, candid consultation session that helps to explain the benefits, risks and alternatives to the procedure, define the goals of the treatment, and outline how to prepare for the surgery.

If you are looking for breast lift surgery in Tampa, FL, call us today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Effie Politis. For more information on breast lift, breast augmentation, breast reduction, and other plastic surgery procedures, visit the site “Politis Plastic Surgery.”

What is breast augmentation with fat grafting or fat transfer?

Breast augmentation is the surgical procedure to increase breast size. It is a great option for women who don’t like their breast size and would like to improve the shape of their bust line. While increased breast size can be achieved through implants, some women don’t like foreign substances being placed in their bodies.

If you are such a woman with concerns about the use of implants, then breast augmentation with fat grafting or fat transfer is a viable option for you. Plus, it is a safe procedure that achieves great results.

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we provide a combination of high quality implants and safe fat transfer surgery to help women achieve their desired breast shape and volume. And we proudly offer the fat transfer approach as an effective alternative to implants in enhancing breast appearance.

What is fat grafting?

Also called autologous breast augmentation, fat grafting is the removal of fat through liposuction from one area of the body and transferring it to another part where it helps to enhance volume. 

The fat is usually harvested from the stomach, flanks or thighs and then separated from blood and other liposuction fluids. It is also cleaned with antibiotic solution to ensure that only healthy, non-infectious tissue is used for breast augmentation. 

Processed fat is then slowly injected into the breasts to the desired shape and volume, completing the augmentation procedure. Once injected, the fat fills in the hollowing that has occurred due to weight loss, trauma, surgery or ageing, and immediately helps to increase volume and enhance shape. 

After the injection of fat, the plastic surgeon gently massages the breasts to make sure the fat deposits are distributed evenly for a smooth, uniform appearance. Since the fat comes from the body, there are typically no adverse reactions to it.

Is the procedure ideal for you?

Breast augmentation by fat transfer is a perfect option for you if your breasts are naturally smaller in size or asymmetrically shaped. The procedure may equally help if you have loss of shape or volume after pregnancy, dramatic weight loss or aging.

More specifically, fat grafting is a great option if you desire a more natural alternative to breast implants.  Of course, you’ll need to have an adequate amount of fat on your body so that your plastic surgeon can harvest enough of it for the grafting. If you are a very thin woman or lack excess fat in your body, then you’re unfit for the procedure.

Increasing breast size by fat transfer is also perfect for you if you don’t like the dramatic results produced by breast implants. Fat grafting typically results in a more subtle enhancement. Plus, you won’t need to remove or replace the fat like is done with breast implants.

Besides, fat transfer is great if you want to fix minor issues. You can undergo breast augmentation by fat grafting to achieve a smaller increase in breast size, fix minor breast asymmetry, enhance breasts without scarring, or fine-tune the results of a breast implant procedure. 

During your initial consultation, Dr. Effie Politis will assess your body to determine if you have enough fat for liposuction. The surgeon will also establish whether you are in good health for the procedure. Likewise, you will be instructed to refrain from tobacco products or to quit smoking before the surgery as smoking directly affects the healing of cells and tissues.

What results should you expect?

You should expect your breast to increase by one full cup size after fat grafting. The breasts will feel soft and natural, and you will see the full effects of the procedure within a few months.

Dr. Effie Politis uses safe, cutting-edge liposuction technology to efficiently harvest fat without damaging the surrounding tissue. So by following your post-operative care instructions carefully, you should expect quick recovery and should be back on your feet within a few days.

It is normal for the body areas that underwent liposuction to feel sore. Also, you’ll have some bruising and swelling in the treated areas. But you’ll have prescribed pain relief medication to help minimize the discomfort as you recover.

Unmatched breast augmentation results

Would you like to enhance your breasts naturally? Through breast augmentation by fat transfer, you can achieve your desired breast size without the risks associated with breast implants.

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we offer a safe, effective fat grafting procedure that produces remarkable results. When you contact us for the procedure, Dr. Effie Politis will schedule your consultation session immediately. 

Then, during your visit, she will review your medical history, do a physical examination, and discuss your aesthetic goals and options. She will not only answer your questions and make valuable suggestions, but will also design for you a personalized fat grafting procedure to achieve your desired results.

For more information on how to enhance your breasts through breast augmentation, visit us at Politis Plastic Surgery in Tampa, FL for your plastic surgery.

Is a Mini Tummy Tuck Right for You?

In recent years, the tummy tuck has been on the lips of many people. The procedure works to remove excess fat and skin from your abdomen, hence tightening the stomach muscles. Because of this, this impressive and result oriented procedure has gained massive popularity, becoming a wish item for most women, especially after childbirth, and huge weight loss.
 
However, since abdominoplasty is a minor surgery, most people might not be ready for it. Both cost-wise and psychologically. So, if this sounds like you, you might want to consider a mini tummy tuck. But what exactly is it? Below is everything you need to know about a mini tummy tuck to help you make a perfect choice.
 

What Does a Mini Tummy Tuck Mean?

 
Unlike the tummy tuck which is a major invasive surgery, a mini tummy tuck is so much less invasive and works to remove only a small amount of fat from your lower abdomen. Due to its nature, a mini tummy tuck can therefore not help you deal with other issues such as muscle separation. Also, only a small amount of skin is removed in this procedure, making it favorable to combine with liposuction to outline your entire abdomen.
 

Is a Mini Tummy Tuck Right for You?

 
Most patients are not suitable for a mini tummy tuck for one reason or the other. But if you have no muscle separation, and have been leading an active lifestyle, meaning you’re physically fit, then you’re a good candidate.
 
Also, it’s even better if you have tight upper abdomen abs. Because, the procedure will only help you lose a little amount of loose or excess skin, so you ought to have done the most part yourself through physical training and fitness.
 
That said, it’s always better to listen to your plastic surgeon’s advice because they know what’s best for you. Remember, they possess all the necessary skills and expertise, which you don’t, and this is the major reason why you consult them in the first place. For instance, if your doctor suggests that you get abdominoplasty, it might not be a good idea to insist on the mini tummy tuck. Yes, it is less invasive, but the results will also be less, and might not entirely solve your issue or meet your expectations.
 

What Should I Expect When Healing from the Mini Tummy Tuck?

 
Although the mini tummy tuck is less invasive compared to the full tummy tuck, the healing process is pretty the same. You will need compression garments and drains to speed recovery and help you heal well. Also, you will not be allowed to carry any heavy weights for around 6 weeks. Plus, you can get back to your other regular daily activities in 4-7 days.
 
The major difference in the recovery of the full and mini tummy tuck is that the former takes longer to resume their day-to-day schedule. For instance, someone who underwent a full tummy tuck can resume their daily activities in a week or two.
Note: Always let your doctor guide you as to when you can resume your workout sessions.
 

What will my Mini Tummy Tuck Scar Look Like?

 
You don’t have to worry about getting large scars when it comes to a mini tummy tuck. Since there is minimal invasion, the scar is also smaller than the standard full tummy tuck incision. You will only have to deal with a 10-12 centimeters scar in the mid-section of your lower abdomen and just above your bikini line.
 

How much will I Have to Pay for a Mini Tummy Tuck?

 
Although there is no standard price for this procedure since it depends on the type of facility you visit, and the doctor who attends to you, it costs less than the full tummy tuck. In fact, in most facilities such as Politis Plastic Surgery the price is almost half of what you would pay for the traditional procedure.
 
Reason? You will spend less time in the procedure room, which is usually around 90 minutes so it’s only fair if you pay less. So, if you’re physically fit, with less skin and fat to deal with, and are operating on a tight budget, you might want to go for it.
 

In Summary,

 
Although the mini tummy tuck is popular due to its less invasive nature, there are still other procedures that can give you a perfect abdomen. For example, there is an umbilical float. Let Dr Effie Politis take you through all the available options, and settle on that which meets your needs.

What is Fat Transfer

Hi my name is Dr. Effie Politis with Politis Plastic Surgery

Fat Transfer is a great technique or adjunct to many of my surgeries. It can be used on the face, breast, buttocks or any other part of the body with any contour deformities. So basically we take fat from an area that has more fat, so typically the abdomen, the flanks and we transfer to an area that’s deficient of fat. The way we do that is by harvesting the fat with small cannulas liposuction, liposuction cannulas under a certain amount of pressure, then we process and filter the fat and wash it so we clean it up from all of the oil and ingredients that we don’t want. And then it is placed through a closed system into cannulas and we can inject that again for panfacial rejuvenation or breast enhancement if they’re looking for smaller volumes. Of course you’ve heard of the buttock augmentation with fat and that’s another procedure that we can do with this excess fat.