I have ears that would be called "elf ears". Can ear surgery change the shape of my ears?
Answer:
Ears that are long and pointy can be modified surgically. This is not one of the more common modifications that is requested, however, the earlobes themselves can be modified and if the ears stick out from the head to are too prominent, they can also be brought back into a better harmony.
The goal of blepharoplasty surgery is to rejuvenate and give a refreshed look to the patient, without altering the shape of the eye. If done correctly, the eyes will retain their overall shape, but some of the distracting features such as the bags under the eyes or the hooding of the skin of the upper eyelids can be removed.
I’m 38. I have some frown lines on my forehead and between my eyebrows, though I don’t feel that they’re yet that horrible that I need to consider surgery. However, what I would really like to have fixed is one of my eyes as the eyebrow has becoming increasingly more droopy over the years. It’s now a big difference between my two brows and the droopy one goes over...
Answer:
There are surgical and nonsurgical options when one wishes to improve the appearance of their brow and upper eyelids. Nonsurgical options are usually best for people who are seeking mild degrees of improvement. Botox can be injected in the strategic locations to achieve a "chemical browlift". In doing so, the eyes themselves, can appear more refreshed, and the lines between the eyebrows can be softened to give one a more youthful and pleasant appearance. When droopiness of the brow and excess upper eyelid skin progresses, surgical solutions offer the best results. Typically, a browlift in conjunction with surgery to remove the excess skin from the upper eyelids, is an excellent combination that can be done together. It is important that if a droopy brow and excess upper eyelid skin do co-exist in a given patient, the surgeon needs to be aware and address both of these issues, because if the excess upper eyelid skin is removed without improving the brow, removal of the eyelid skin can actually pull the brow even further down towards the eyes.
There are many different ways to lift the brow. The more traditional approach involves an incision across the top of the scalp, from ear to ear. Fortunately, this is a technique that has been replaced by less invasive techniques. We perform a modification of an endoscopic browlift, with small incisions hidden in the hairline. Although this is not truly a mini browlift, it achieves an excellent correction of a drooping brow with all the benefits of a minimally invasive approach.
I am 68 years old, and am seeking a facelift procedure, but I live alone. My family lives at least an hour away from me. Is it possible to drive myself home after the facelift surgery?
Answer:
We perform our facelift procedures in the operating room under a twilight anesthesia, called monitored anesthesia care. After one undergoes such a procedure, they are not allowed to drive home, nor should they stay by themselves the night after surgery. Fortunately, we can arrange to have someone take you home or to a nearby hotel, after surgery, and stay the night with you. This can be discussed at the time of your consultation.
At one week after liposuction, I am actually weighing 8 pounds more than before my surgery. Is this normal?
Answer:
It is very normal for this to happen because during the liposuction procedure a lot of fluid is placed within the tissues before the fat is sucked out. Also, a lot of fluid is given to the patient by Anesthesia during the procedure. Depending on the length of the procedure, more fluid can be retained. The longer the procedure the more the fluid. Usually it takes a good two to four weeks for all of this fluid to go away and it is also related to the increased swelling after the surgery that also could take upwards of four to eight week depending on the amount of liposuction that was performed, but again it is very normal for this to occur.
What is VASER liposuction and how effective is it?
Answer:
VASER liposuction is a type of liposuction that uses laser energy at the tip of the probe in order to blast the fat cells and make it easier to such them out. It is a very efficient form of liposuction if used by a board certified plastic surgeon but in the end does not afford better results than traditional liposuction.
When and why are drains necessary after liposuction and how long are they used for?
Answer:
After liposuction alone, it is not typical to place drainage tubes. Drainage tubes are usually used after an abdominoplasty with liposuction. After such a procedure, there is a lot of excess swelling and fluid and the drains are very important to remove all of this excess fluid so that it does not accumulate under the skin. Drains after a tummy tuck with lipo usually stay in for six to seven days.
I hate the fat and the cellulite on my thighs and I am thinking of getting liposuction to reduce the fat in them but can liposuction also remove the cellulite or will I need an additional type of treatment to get rid of the cellulite?
Answer:
Cellulite is very difficult to treat since it is basically caused by small fat irregularities that are directly beneath the skin. Liposuction involves removal of fat but at a much deeper layer than that. The liposuction would not be done at the superficial layer therefore liposuction is not a form of tenderness for cellulite. There are other forms of treatment such as different massages and treatment such as Endermology that can help with cellulite but liposuction alone is not the answer for that.
I had the lap band done last year and I have lost close to 100 pounds. I think I look good except I have a lot of extra skin that just does not seem like it will go away on its own. Is this the sort of thing that a belt lipectomy fixes?
Answer:
Absolutely. A belt lipectomy is ideal for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight after gastric bypass. It addresses the tummy, thighs and buttocks all at once.
Since I have been experiencing perimenopause, I have had occasional bouts of rapid heartbeat. It is actually very scary. Is this hormonal and is it anything to be concerned about? Can it be treated with hormone therapy?
Answer:
Heart racing and being able to notice your heart beating can be associated with menopause. I would check your hormone levels and replace any deficient hormones and see if the symptoms resolve. Additionally, it would be wise to see your primary care physician to have an EKG performed to make sure there are no additional issues to be dealt with but typically mild symptoms are related to menopause.
Are there any hormone related symptoms other than menopause that are frequently treated with bioidentical hormones?
Answer:
There are many hormone related symptoms that are related to menopause that we do not necessarily think of other than the hot flashes and night sweats. Other symptoms of menopause include mood changes, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, hair thinning, osteopenia or osteoporosis, weight gain, libido changes, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, etc.
I have a friend who is going through menopause. She is always complaining that she is gassy and bloated. Is this caused by menopause and are there menopause treatments that can help with her symptoms?
Answer:
Someone who is going through menopause complaining of bloating and gassiness can be due in part to hormonal imbalance. It is certainly the first thing I would check in this patient. I would want to ensure that her hormones are well balanced by replacing them with bioidentical hormone replacement. If this did not solve the problem of bloating and gassiness, I would look at the gastrointestinal system with a comprehensive digestive stool analysis and based on those results correct any problems that are occurring directly in the gastrointestinal tract.
My allergies have gotten significantly worse since I hit menopause. I have tried all kind of allergy medications with little effect. Is it possible my allergies are caused by the hormonal problems of menopause and could hormone therapy help with my allergies.
Answer:
I think with allergies getting worse we would want to look at multiple systems in the body including the hormone system. I would check your hormones, particularly if the allergies worsened around the time of menopause and replace any deficient hormones. These include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and cortisol. I would also look at the health of the gut or the GI system because we often have gut problems which surprisingly are linked to allergies as well. So we would want to maximize the function of the gastrointestinal system, check for any food allergies and ensure you have the appropriate gastric acidity and enzymes for digestion and no overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut either. So there are many things we look at. We want to maximize your nutritional therapy as well and certainly there are many supplements that contain some key ingredients that can be helpful for allergic symptoms.
Is incontinence a symptom of menopause? I am finding this very embarrassing and would like to know if BHRT can treat it.
Answer:
Incontinence does tend to occur as estrogen declines during menopause. Estrogen can help the incontinence if it is due to the estrogen deficiency and hormonal balance tends to help these types of symptoms. However, if the incontinence is due to previous surgery or other bladder issues, the BHRT may not be the complete solution.
Since I have been experiencing perimenopause, I have had occasional bouts of rapid heartbeat. It is actually very scary. Is this hormonal and is it anything to be concerned about? Can it be treated with hormone therapy?
Answer:
Heart racing and being able to notice your heart beating can be associated with menopause. I would check your hormone levels and replace any deficient hormones and see if the symptoms resolve. Additionally, it would be wise to see your primary care physician to have an EKG performed to make sure there are no additional issues to be dealt with but typically mild symptoms are related to menopause.
Are there any hormone related symptoms other than menopause that are frequently treated with bioidentical hormones?
Answer:
There are many hormone related symptoms that are related to menopause that we do not necessarily think of other than the hot flashes and night sweats. Other symptoms of menopause include mood changes, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, hair thinning, osteopenia or osteoporosis, weight gain, libido changes, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, etc.
I have a friend who is going through menopause. She is always complaining that she is gassy and bloated. Is this caused by menopause and are there menopause treatments that can help with her symptoms?
Answer:
Someone who is going through menopause complaining of bloating and gassiness can be due in part to hormonal imbalance. It is certainly the first thing I would check in this patient. I would want to ensure that her hormones are well balanced by replacing them with bioidentical hormone replacement. If this did not solve the problem of bloating and gassiness, I would look at the gastrointestinal system with a comprehensive digestive stool analysis and based on those results correct any problems that are occurring directly in the gastrointestinal tract.
My allergies have gotten significantly worse since I hit menopause. I have tried all kind of allergy medications with little effect. Is it possible my allergies are caused by the hormonal problems of menopause and could hormone therapy help with my allergies.
Answer:
I think with allergies getting worse we would want to look at multiple systems in the body including the hormone system. I would check your hormones, particularly if the allergies worsened around the time of menopause and replace any deficient hormones. These include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and cortisol. I would also look at the health of the gut or the GI system because we often have gut problems which surprisingly are linked to allergies as well. So we would want to maximize the function of the gastrointestinal system, check for any food allergies and ensure you have the appropriate gastric acidity and enzymes for digestion and no overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut either. So there are many things we look at. We want to maximize your nutritional therapy as well and certainly there are many supplements that contain some key ingredients that can be helpful for allergic symptoms.
Is incontinence a symptom of menopause? I am finding this very embarrassing and would like to know if BHRT can treat it.
Answer:
Incontinence does tend to occur as estrogen declines during menopause. Estrogen can help the incontinence if it is due to the estrogen deficiency and hormonal balance tends to help these types of symptoms. However, if the incontinence is due to previous surgery or other bladder issues, the BHRT may not be the complete solution.
Alain Polynice, M.D. a board certified plastic surgeon, specializing in Breast & Body procedures; can turn your dream into reality. Call to schedule your consult to see your anticipated results on YOUR OWN body in 3D. (Click below to interact with images online in 3D).
Bio-Identical Hormones are identical to what is found in our body. See how your lifestyle can be affected when you replace the natural hormones you have lost. Learn More
Williams Plastic Surgery Specialists, 1072 Troy-Schenectady Road, LathamNY12110
Williams Plastic Surgery Specialists, 521 Park Avenue New York, NY 10065
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