Plastic Surgery Seattle Blog

A tummy tuck tightens the lower abdominal muscles (if they are sagging), removes excess loose skin, and resculpts the abdomen.  Today, I want to share some reasons why mini abdominoplasty might be a good idea for you – and some reasons why you might be better off waiting to have your surgery.

5 indicators for abdominoplasty

1. If you regularly exercise, eat a healthy diet and are within 10% of the ideal weight for your age and height but can’t get rid of a sagging lower belly and loose skin below the navel, abdominoplasty can often correct the problem. It’s a fact that exercise and diet alone are not enough if you have muscle laxity and excess skin on your lower abdomen.

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Before you move ahead on that long-awaited breast augmentation, tummy tuck or liposuction procedure, take some time to get all the facts. Knowing all the necessary information will ensure your decision is the right one. Here’s why:

1. You’ll know which plastic surgery procedures get consistently good results and which procedures do not.

2. By weighing the risks and benefits in light of your individual values and goals, you’ll know if plastic surgery is truly a good fit for you.

Where can I get objective information?

People often look in the wrong places for legitimate answers to their plastic surgery questions. We recommend getting scientific and objective information from reputable sources.

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The American Society of Plastic Surgeons sent out a special bulletin to members today, urging them to voice opposition to the so-called “Botox tax” that was included on the latest healthcare reform bill.

ASPS members were asked to contact their representatives in congress or login at capitolconnect.com to take action.

Who would be affected by this tax?  The society is objecting to it on multiple levels, calling it discriminatory, arbitrary, and a “potential auditing nightmare” due to the often-unclear distinction between cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries.

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1. Be open

Don’t hide your medical history, past procedures, goals or motivations.  Some patients feel as if they need to be defensive during the consultation, which really isn’t necessary.  Just remember that a consultation is just that – there’s no commitment and you can take as much time as you need to consider your options afterward.

Openness and effective communication are important from the first consult all the way through the surgery.  If it’s difficult for you to communicate your goals, use pictures!  You can view our before and after photos or bring examples that you think are appealing.  Better communication about your desires and specific needs will help Dr. Gottlieb ensure that they are met, so use whatever tools you think will help.

2. Be prepared

If there are simple questions that you can’t find answers for on our site, email us before your consultation and we’ll try to respond in a timely manner.  Then if there are more specific facts that you need clarified, your consultation will be the perfect opportunity to do so.  Make a list of questions that are particularly important for you.

Part of being prepared is simply knowing what you want to achieve with cosmetic surgery.  Because many patients research their procedure extensively (sometimes for years) before they schedule an appointment, it is common for us to see people that know exactly what they want.  However, that’s not a requirement; if you are just curious about plastic surgery and want straight answers rather than questionable information from the internet, go ahead and schedule a consultation.

Seattle will be home to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons this weekend as the annual meeting kicks off October 23rd.  If the event turns out anything like last year, we can expect about 6000 surgeons and medical professionals to be in attendance.

The weekend will offer plastic surgeons a chance to attend lectures, view innovative products from over 300 companies, and network with others in the industry.

Panels and lectures related to cosmetic surgery include topics such as “Rejuvenation of the Upper Eyelid: Is Less Really More?” and “Lipoplasty 2009: Technical Advances to Maximize Results.”

Click on the icon above to visit the ASPS home page, where you’ll find resources related to the weekend’s events.

A patient talks about her breast augmentation surgery to help you make an informed decision and safely achieve a satisfied outcome.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery produced this educational video, and is devoted entirely to advancing the field of cosmetic plastic surgery through education and research.

In order to improve her game, Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has announced plans to undergo breast reduction surgery in the fall.  

According to news sources in the UK, Ms. Halep complained that her large (34 DD) breasts have slowed her reaction time on the court and caused discomfort. “It’s the weight that troubles me – my ability to react quickly”, she told The Sun.

In 2008, Halep won the junior French Open.  She is now ranked 317^th in the world.  

Women pursue breast reduction surgery for a several reasons, increased mobility being just one of them.  One breast reduction patient stated, “Before I didn’t want to run anywhere.  Even across the street if something happened I would not run.  It was painful and embarrassing” (Klassen 2009).  

Beside issues with physical activity, many women hope to alleviate irritation around their bra strap and underneath the breast, pain in the back and neck, and discomfort during sleeping.

The procedure can be described as a ‘normalizing’ experience for women.  Once the surgery is complete, patients often say they are less self-conscious, they fit into more ‘regular’ sized clothes, and that they typify what is perceived as ‘the norm’ of the female body.

For more information, see our homepage at Plastic Surgery Seattle.