Plastic Surgery for Spring

Spring has sprung and people are starting to think about bikinis, vacations, spring break, and getting your body into shape after being covered up for the last few months. Summer is right around the corner.

What do patients and celebrities focus on and do in preparation for the warm days ahead?

Skin:

Now is a good time to have your annual skin exam for moles and sun spots on your face and body. A dermatologist can do this and it should be done thoroughly from your head to your toes. It is a baseline for the year before you get out in the sun, and your doctor can note any changes in a suspicious looking mole or lesion.

Lasers:

Facial lasers such as IPL, Fraxel, Pixel and skin tightening treatments are performed at this time because sun exposure after the procedure is not advised, as the skin is extremely sensitive to sunlight and its harmful rays. While a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen is always recommended, post laser treatment patients should be extra careful.

Laser hair removal is also very popular now in preparation for summer. However, sun exposure to the legs and bikini line must be kept to a minimum. Laser hair removal should be done with caution even if mild tanning of the skin is present. A typical course of laser hair removal takes 4-6 sessions depending on the hair type, and should be done 4 to 6 weeks apart.

Liposuction

Liposuction to the body is often requested by patients during spring because it takes around 4 to 6 weeks for the final results of liposuction to be seen. Bruising can be associated with this procedure, and typically bruises take 2 weeks to fully disappear.

Non-Surgical Liposuction

There are many non surgical approaches for smaller areas such as the arms, chin, and thighs. Zeltiq, Liposonix, and Zerona are some options. Although they are less invasive, there is still some down time of 1 to 2 weeks for swelling to subside.

Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation continues to be one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures…and with the Gummy Bear implants currently the new buzz, patients interest is spiking for more information on these new breast implants.

Self tanning

The use of tanning beds in the U.S has decreased due to the premature aging of the skin and pre-cancerous lesions found especially in the younger population. Now all the celebs are using custom spray tanning salons and self tanning lotions….much safer and the color and smell has been perfected from the original products.

Cellulite

The latest and newest treatment for cellulite is Cellulaze. Cellulaze is performed under local anesthesia with a small cannula being inserted under the skin. Laser energy is then directed to the treatment area, targeting the cellulite. It is fairly new and recently received FDA approval, but some of the before and after results I have seen have been impressive.

Exercise

The number one tried and true formula for getting in shape is exercise and diet. Do what you can when you can, don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad diet day, but keep it moving. Just 3 days of walking for 20 minutes is beneficial for your heart and body.

These are just a few tips and trends for spring…before we know it summer will be here, so start now!