Tummy Tuck Scars

It’s safe to say that it’s impossible to perform a tummy tuck without scarring. This operation trades stretch marks, loose skin, and weakened muscles for a scar that is hopefully well positioned.  The patient’s particular anatomy will have a profound impact on scar placement. Factors such as the transverse width of the abdomen, the distance from the pubis to the rib cage, the position of the umbilicus, and the patient’s stretch marks are all extremely important variables.

Each patient is unique and it’s important to have good communication between the patient and surgeon. We find that it’s very helpful to perform pre-operative markings with the patient wearing her swimsuit. By utilizing this maneuver, confusion regarding incision placement is minimized.

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

This is a commonly asked question and a frequent source of confusion amongst patients. There is a common misperception that breast implants should be replaced every ten years. The origin of this belief is unclear, but is probably secondary to misinterpretation of implant warranty terminology.

The manufacturers of breast implants clearly state that these devices are not intended to last a lifetime, despite this many patients can expect to have implants last their entire lifetime. Current studies suggest that implants deflate at a rate of 1% at one year and 3% at three years. Over time this number can be expected to grow.

Implants may deflate with no apparent cause or may deflate secondary to some type of trauma. Under these, the decision to replace implants is easy.

Father’s Day Botox Special!

Not sure what to get that special Dad for Father’s Day? How about some Bro-tox? Bro-tox is Botox for men! Bro-tox makes a great gift for all those hard working Dads! 

Does Dad always look stressed or angry? Does he have lines between his eyes? Are the lines on his forehead getting deeper? 

At Aesthetic Surgical Images, we can help get rid of those angry frown lines by performing a simple Botox injection. For the months of June & July, men will receive a 10% discount on Botox injections. Let this be our gift to you and our way of saying thank you for another year of continued support!

Call today and say you were referred by the Father’s Day Botox Special!

402.316.5739

Insurance Coverage for Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery is often covered by insurance carriers, but not all of them cover this procedure and significant restrictions may exist. Some insurance companies actually exclude breast reduction as a contract exclusion. When insurance carriers cover breast reduction, they may have specific criteria that must be met.

For instance, most insurance carriers require documentation of symptoms. Examples would include back pain, shoulder pain, breast pain, and headaches to name a few. They may also require documentation of attempted non-surgical management of symptoms. Examples might include physical therapy, support devices, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Some insurance carriers require a minimal amount of breast tissue removal from each breast. This is often based on calculations, which utilize the patient’s weight and height.

Is Breast Reduction Surgery Recommended if Overweight?

For many patients, breast reduction surgery is a life-changing experience.  Symptoms such as back, neck, and shoulder pain seem to improve almost overnight.  Patients note that clothes fit better and over time, their self-esteem and self-image improve as well.

Patients who are overweight do not differ from other patients in this regard.  They note similar improvement in quality of life and significant improvement in symptoms.

When patients who are overweight undergo breast reduction surgery they often experience additional benefits.  They note increased exercise tolerance and subsequently become more physically active as they adopt a healthier lifestyle.  In many cases, this results in significant amounts of weight loss.

Liposuction for Men

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures in men.  The flanks, abdomen, chest and neck appear to be the most commonly treated areas.  This procedure is associated with high satisfaction rates when patients are near their ideal body weight.

Liposuction in men has limitations because the fat tends to be more fibrous.  In addition, a large amount of the abdominal fat is located within the abdominal cavity where it can’t be reached by a liposuction canula.  These characteristics can limit the amount of fat that can be removed with this procedure.  Men generally have thicker skin than women and as a result, skin sag is less likely to occur in this group.

Rippling Following Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation has extremely high satisfaction rates, but occasionally, rippling can occur following this procedure. This can occur with either saline or silicone breast implants.

Several factors have been associated with rippling following breast augmentation. These include saline implants, large implants, thin, soft tissue, and placement of implants on top of the muscle.

The soft tissue characteristics of patients are extremely important. Patients with minimal breast tissue and thin subcutaneous tissue are much more likely to develop rippling than those with thicker, soft tissue. A large amount of breast tissue relative to implant size minimizes the potential for rippling. Larger implants, saline implants, and placement on top of the muscle are all associated with a higher incidence of rippling.