Dr. Peña Plastic Surgery Blog

Naples, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, & Estero, Florida

Friday, October 30, 2009

What Makes a Good Candidate for Plastic Surgery?

This is a common question that needs to be answered for every patient. While being a good candidate for plastic surgery is a concern that affects all of our Naples plastic surgery patients, the exact answer to that question is personal to each one. I examine each patient and consider both the general criteria as well as personal criteria.

General criteria apply to most patients. They tend to include choices that you can control:

  • smoking habits–tobacco toxins deteriorate skin tone and interfere with healing when taken in any amounts
  • alcohol and caffeine habits–deteriorate skin tone and interfere with healing when taken in excess
  • medications, OTC remedies, herbal supplements–many possible effects on skin, healing and interactions with anesthesia
  • expectations–must be realistic
  • lifestyle, exercise, diet, sleep patterns–keep a healthy balance
  • emotional stability and support –to cope with post surgery states, and both your and other people’s responses to changes
  • weight, body mass index (BMI)–close to normal

Personal criteria are based upon your examination, medical and social history. They can include genetic traits you cannot control:

  • skin characteristics
  • health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, immunodeficiency diseases, allergies
  • excess skin from prior weight loss or pregnancy
  • plans for future pregnancies
  • skin damage from sun or other causes

This is not an exhaustive list. Rather, it gives an idea what I take into consideration when making a recommendation for your best results.

If you would like to find out if you are a good candidate for plastic surgery, please contact Manuel Peña, M.D. at our Naples, Florida plastic surgery office to schedule a personal consultation.

posted by Tiffany at 3:46 PM

Friday, October 9, 2009

Brazilian Butt lifts

I have seen an increase in women desiring a more distinct gluteal contour. We have chosen to employ a combination of liposuction and fat grafting to the buttocks. For the liposuction i mploy the Vaser a fourth generation ultrasound device that melts the fat making the aggressive contouring ot the area oth the waist, posterior hip, and saccral area possible. This is probably at least 50-70% of the improvement in shape. The other 30-50% is a result of the fat grafts. The more excess fat you have the more volume you can graft. Typically i use from 75cc to 400ccs per side depending on the size of the patient and their desire. When I have 'limited material' to harvest my fat from, I concentrate the grafting in the superior medial edge of the newly delineated butt cheek. This area that I call the 'sausage roll' of the buttocks, is mostly responsible for giving the butt a pleasing 'hardbody' shape. recovery is fast ( a few days) but final results will take up to 3 months and require form fitting elastic compression garments.

When the skin is the problem then an excision of extra skin is necessary. We are essentially pulling up the buttocks and loose skin much like one pulls up a pair of jeans. Some times the fat that would be thrown away is 'turned down as a flap' and used to fill and shape the upper portion of the buttocks. This is the only 'Butt Implant" I like to use and it's your own tissue! Recovery for this will be measured in the weeks (a couple) and activities will be significantly restricted in the first couple of weeks.

Whichever way you go you can be proud to fill out your clothes in the way you always dreamed

Labels:

posted by Manuel M. Pena, M.D. at 12:14 PM

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Breastfeeding and Sagging Breast

A recent study revealed factors other than breast feeding may contribute the most to post pregnancy sagging of the breast. Over the years I have been impressed at the spectrum of post breast feeding breast ptosis that I saw in my patients. All had assumed that breast feeding was the most damaging to the structure and appearance of the breast, however a study released in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal suggested otherwise. Advanced age, high BMI or body mass index, large pre-pregnancy breast size, and smoking all contributed to post pregnancy breast sagging to a greater degree than purely breast-feeding by itself. This information is important to allow mother to make choices based on sinus rather than hearsay and misconceptions.

Labels:

posted by Manuel M. Pena, M.D. at 12:51 PM

Disclaimer: Naples dentist Dr. Manuel Peña website provides information on cosmetic surgery in the Naples, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, & Estero, areas in Florida. This information is not to be taken as medical advice.
© 2009 Manuel Peña MD. All rights reserved.
Website Design, Developed and Optimized by Page 1 Solutions, LLC