Style 32S Body Shaper Brief from Contour

If you look through the Yellow Pages under the heading “plastic surgeons,” you’ll probably find dozens to choose from. Look again under the heading “cosmetic surgeons,” and you’ll likely find several more. Trying to sort through these lists to find the best possible plastic surgeon for your cosmetic plastic surgery procedure or reconstructive procedure can be a daunting task. Here are some things to consider.

First of all, make sure that your cosmetic surgeon is board certified. Board certification is a step beyond medical school and residency, so it proves that your plastic surgeon has gone the extra mile to make sure he (or she) has received the proper training.

Next, Make sure your plastic surgeon of choice has experience with the type of procedure you’re undergoing. For example, if you’re having a tummy tuck and lipo, you’ll want to ask how many tummy tuck and lipo procedures your surgeon does each year. If it’s only a few, you may want to choose another surgeon.

Find out if the plastic surgeon you’re considering has a Web site or other social presence. Having a Web site or posting to social media sites won’t make someone a better plastic surgeon, but it will give you a place (or multiple places) to get more information about the surgeon’s background. For example, many plastic surgeons post information about their educational background and experience on their Web sites or on their Facebook or My Space pages. Web sites and social media sites are also a good place to look for patient testimonials and before and after photos.

Talk to your plastic surgeon candidates about what happens before, during, and after plastic surgery, including what type of post surgery support you will receive. Also ask if you’ll need to purchase any plastic surgery garments to be worn after cosmetic surgery. Post surgical compression garments help the surgical site to heal. Depending on what type of procedure you’re having, post plastic surgery, you’ll likely need one or more compression garments.

And finally, although price is certainly not the most important thing, you do need to choose a plastic surgeon who is within your price range. Many plastic surgeons offer payment plans if you do need to go a little over budget.

After Breast Implants

For example, most plastic surgeons will want you to wear a compression garment for a period of time immediately after breast implant surgery. And because these plastic surgery garments come in a variety of styles, it’s important to talk to your plastic surgeon about which type is best for you.

Cosmetic surgeons may have different preferences as to whether you should wear a breast augmentation bra or compression bra or an augmentation bandeau. Which one your plastic surgeon wants you to wear may depend on the type of incision, the shape and size of your breast implants, or whether you’re getting silicone implants or saline implants.

Other things you’ll want to discuss with your plastic surgeon before your breast implant surgery include pain control during your breast augmentation recovery, breast augmentation recovery time, and when you will be able to return to work and resume normal activities.

These are the types of decisions that will need to be made in advance, so talk to your plastic surgeon today and get ready for a smooth recovery.

Check out ContourMD on Facebook

Should you “like” your plastic surgeon on Facebook or “follow” his tweets on Twitter? Cosmetic surgeons are increasingly embracing technology by using social media to connect with their patients and to engage potential new patients. But is this really a good idea? Here are some reasons why it might be.

Social media sites allow plastic surgeons to create a more personal presence so that patients can get a better feel for who they are and what their philosophies are about certain practices or procedures. Now let’s examine some specific social media sites to see how they can help your cosmetic surgeon to communicate with you or to improve his or her practice.

If your plastic surgeon has a Facebook page, it’s likely that he or she has included some personal information, such as educational experience, board certification, and practice experience. Your cosmetic surgeon’s Facebook page may also include testimonials from satisfied patients and before and after procedure photos. A Facebook page is also a good place for your plastic surgeon to post messages about new procedures, changes in office hours, or information about new staff members.

A Twitter account will also allow your plastic surgeon to send brief updates about recent changes in practices or policies. Another good use that a plastic surgeon may have for a Twitter account is to post links to articles describing new innovations in plastic surgery. Your plastic surgeon may also use Twitter to inform patients about unexpected schedule openings, so you may be able to snag that last-minute appointment you’ve been waiting for.

LinkedIn is a good site for any professional. It will allow your plastic surgeon to link to other cosmetic surgeons, which provides your surgeon with access to consultations with other plastic surgery experts. LinkedIn also gives plastic surgeons an opportunity to share information with each other so that they can stay on top of what’s going on in their field.

YouTube is a good way for plastic surgeons to introduce themselves to potential new patients. An introductory video might include a brief description of the surgeon’s credentials and a virtual tour of the office. YouTube can also be a useful tool for showing video animations of procedures so you can see, in advance, what will happen during your plastic surgery procedure.

So go ahead and click the “like” button on Facebook or follow your plastic surgeon on Twitter. You might be glad you did.

ContourMD is on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn … follow us, friend us, watch us and connect with us for news, updates, promotions and a tad bit of humor!

Can Liposuction Be Enough for a Male Breast Reduction?

There are a lot of potential causes of enlarged breasts in men; it can be the result of significant weight loss or simply genetics. No matter what the cause, excess fat and tissue in the breast area can cause embarrassment and even pain, so a lot of men choose to undergo male breast reduction. There are two reasons for male breast reduction surgery:

1. To remove excess breast tissue (gynecomastia male breast reduction)
2. To remove excess fat in the breast area (pseudogynecomastia male breast reduction)

For men who have pseudogynecomastia and need to get rid of excess fat but don’t have a lot of excess tissue, liposuction or liposculpture may be a good option. It may also be a good option for men with gynecomastia, if the excess tissue is fatty tissue. Sometimes, a combination of traditional male breast reduction surgery and liposuction are used during gynecomastia plastic surgery.

Male breast reduction recovery time is shorter after liposuction for male breast reduction than it is following traditional male breast reduction surgery. However, during gynecomastia surgery recovery or pseudogynecomastia surgery recovery, you’ll need to wear a gynecomastia compression vest to help your body heal.

Mastopexy or Breast Lift Procedure – What is Involved?

Breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is plastic surgery to lift sagging breasts. As women age, the tissue that holds the breasts in place becomes lax and the breasts begin to hang lower. Younger women may also have saggy breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Although a breast lift will restore your breasts to their original position, it will not replace lost volume. To restore lost volume, you may want to consider a combination breast lift with augmentation.

During breast lift surgery, an incision is made around your areola. Excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is tightened as your plastic surgeon closes the incisions. During a breast lift with implants, your breast implants will be inserted before the incision is closed to complete your combination breast lift and augmentation.

Mastopexy recovery can take several weeks. You should be able to go back to work about a week after breast lift surgery, but you’ll have some bruising and swelling for the first few weeks.  Wearing a good compression support bra is essential for good results after surgery.  Most women are concerned about scarring after surgery so scar gels and creams are also a good idea.

You’ll need to wear a breast lift bra for the first few weeks after mastopoexy.

Breast lift scars are permanent, but will eventually fade.

How Important are Compression Garments after Plastic Surgery?

Your plastic surgeon has advised you to wear a compression garment during your plastic surgery recovery and you’re wondering if it’s really necessary. To make an informed decision, you need to understand the reasons why plastic surgery recovery garments are an important part of recovery.

Let’s say you’ve just had breast augmentation surgery and, of course, you’re anxious to see your results. Breast augmentation recovery garments will help to minimize bruising and swelling, which means faster results and less pain. During breast augmentation recovery, breast implants also have a tendency to want to rise. Your breast augmentation bra or augmentation bandeau will keep them in place.

Or suppose you’ve had liposuction surgery. After liposuction, your stomach area will be tender. A compression girdle or abdominal binder will stabilize your torso, which will help to minimize pain when moving. Liposuction recovery garments also help to tighten the skin at the surgical site, giving you a smoother, more toned look.

After cosmetic surgery, good circulation is important to promote healing. Plastic surgery compression garments

improve circulation and flush out fluids that could potentially be dangerous.

What's the Difference Between Gynecomastia and Pseudogynecomastia?

The terms gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia are often used interchangeably, but they are actually different conditions. Gynecomastia is enlarged male breasts due to excess breast tissue. Gynecomastia is extremely rare.

Pseudogynecomastia is enlarged male breasts due to fat deposits in the breast area. It’s a lot more common than gynecomastia.

Both gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia often begin around puberty. Symptoms cannot be relieved by weight loss or exercise. In fact, weight loss and exercise may actually worsen the appearance of gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia.

Gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia are both treated with male cosmetic surgery. Surgical options may include male breast reduction surgery, liposuction, or a combination of the two.

If liposuction is an option for you, recovery time will be shorter than with traditional male breast reduction surgery. But liposuction is not the best option for everyone. A male breast reduction compression vest can help you to recover faster, no matter which type of surgery you have.

Pain and Bruising After Surgery – Can This Be Alleviated?

Most surgery is going to result in some sort of pain and bruising. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize pain after surgery.

Cold compresses reduce bruising and swelling after surgery, which also relieves surgical pain. A cold compress reduces surgical swelling by decreasing the flow of blood to the surgical site and helps ease surgical pain by numbing the area.

Post-surgical recovery garments can also help to decrease surgical pain. A compression garment improves overall blood circulation and gets rid of excess fluids, which reduces bruising, swelling, and pain.

There are also some natural remedies to alleviating surgical pain and bruising.

VitaMedica Arnica Montana, also known as leopard’s bane or wolf’s bane, is a common treatment for minimizing pain and swelling after surgery. Arnica Montana is a plant-based herb that has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relief) properties.

Arnica Montana is frequently used for relief of pain and swelling after plastic surgery procedures.

Although natural supplements are considered to be relatively safe, they can interact with some medications or other supplements. Please consult your physician before taking any new supplements.

Style 32S Body Shaper Brief from Contour

If you’re preparing to have an arm lift, or brachioplasty, you may wonder how long after surgery you can get back to your fitness routine. Like all surgeries, there is a period of recovery after brachioplasty before strenuous activities may be resumed.

The first few days after surgery you won’t feel like exercising. You’ll have some discomfort and swelling, and possibly bruising. Your surgeon will have you wear an arm lift compression garment and may recommend elevating your arms. And you’ll have incisions that must be protected and allowed to heal.

Short walks are a good gentle exercise to start with. You shouldn’t lift or swing your arms much, and avoid lifting anything heavier than a few pounds. As you feel better, you can take longer walks, do gentle stretching, and begin low-impact exercises with your lower body, such as a stationary bike.

After ten to fourteen days, the swelling and bruising should be much improved, and you and your surgeon can discuss the activities that are appropriate as you continue to heal. It may be some time before it’s okay to lift heavy weights or do strenuous arm exercises. And your incisions must heal before you can swim.

There are several ways you can help yourself recover faster from plastic surgery. Plan to take it easy during your recovery, communicate with your surgeon, and do follow your surgeon’s orders. As with any plastic surgery, wearing a compression garment is always recommended.  ContourMD has a wide variety of compression garments with sleeves that are ideal for arm lift surgery.

Contour Compression Sports Bra

If you’re in the market for exercise clothing, Contour sports bras are an excellent choice for both comfort and support. However, if you want a sports bra to wear after breast augmentation surgery, you’ll want a compression sports bra, which is a sports bra for breast surgery recovery.

The purpose of a compression sports bra is to increase circulation, reduce bruising and swelling, and to keep breast implants in place. Breast implants have a tendency to lift following breast augmentation surgery, but a quality breast augmentation sports bra can help to stabilize them.

Compression sports bras come in different styles include racerback bras, which you can wear under tank tops.

If a sports bra isn’t your first choice, there are several other types of breast augmentation recovery garments you can choose from, so there’s no need to sacrifice comfort during breast augmentation recovery. Additional choices for post-augmentation recovery garments include augmentation bandeaus, breast augmentation bands, compressions vests, and breast augmentation bras.

Breast augmentation compression garments must be worn continuously after your breast implant surgery until your plastic surgeon gives you the okay to switch to another type of bra.

Before exercising after breast augmentation surgery, consult your plastic surgeon.

Anti-cellulite diets can help reduce the appearance of cellulite

There are several effective ways to decrease the appearance of cellulite:

1. Go on an “anti-cellulite” diet. Some raw fruits and vegetables have natural properties that can decrease the appearance of cellulite in legs, thighs, buttocks and stomachs. Fish that are high in fatty acids may also work. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water as well.
2. Use creams that are designed to decrease the appearance of cellulite. Many of these products are acai-based and have little of no side-effects. Some people see results after just a few weeks of daily use.
3. Take anti-aging supplements to combat cellulite that can reduce the appearance of both wrinkles and cellulite.
4. Treat yourself to massage therapy. Gentle but persistent fingers can smooth out the fat under the skin, especially when coconut oil is used.
5. Consider liposuction to decrease the appearance of cellulite. While traditional liposuction methods can be expensive and have long recovery times, new techniques using lasers, ultrasound and even water jets are less invasive. These new alternatives are very effective in targeting small areas of cellulite.

If you choose the route of liposuction, be sure to speak with your doctor about wearing a post liposuction recovery garment.  There are many garments to choose from and finding the best one to fit your needs – whether it’s an abdominal binder, compression girdle, bodyshaper or other post liposuction garment – will help maintain the new shape of your body.

Get more post liposuction recovery information and tips at www.ContourMD.com.

Knowing the facts can help you recovery faster from your plastic surgery

There are several ways to speed up your plastic surgery recovery time:

1. Plan ahead for your recovery time. First, ask your doctor how long the plastic surgery recovery should take. Being frustrated by a slow healing process will place a lot of stress on your body, and that can add to the amount of time it will take to feel 100 percent.
2. Take it easy during your plastic surgery recovery. Don’t plan a lot of activities and events or increase your workload. This is the time to take it easy and allow your body to rebound.
3. Be prepared for an “ugly ducking” phase. Immediately after your surgery you will experience a lot of bruising, swelling and redness. Worrying about your looks during this period will cause you a lot of stress as well. Within a couple of weeks you’ll start to see the new, beautiful you.
4. Drink a lot of water. Hydration is one of the single most important components of the healing process. Drink at least eight full glasses of water every day.
5. Follow the doctor’s orders. He or she knows more about plastic surgery recovery and the healing process than you do.

After plastic surgery you should wear a compression garment.  These garments, also known as post surgical recovery garments, can help keep the shape of your new body while decreasing the swelling and bruising.  Because these recovery garments must be worn throughout the day, it’s a good idea to keep two on hand.

Depending on the procedure, you might need an abdominal binder, or a compression girdle and for those who are undergoing a full body make over – like a mommy makeover – a full body compression garment is your best bet.

Also scar creams and gels can help with the scars left from the surgery.

Due to its anti-bacterial properties, silver is often used by physicians to promote the healing process. Silver consists of charged particles, called ions, that can be released steadily over several days. That’s why silver ions are often used in commercial dressings in post-operative settings in hospitals.

Silver healing methods have to be employed under the careful supervision of a surgeon. That’s because healthy cells and bacteria are both sensitive to silver healing. A precise balance of silver ions has to be maintained so that bacteria is destroyed without affecting mammalian cells. New types of dressings use lower concentrations of silver than ever before to take advantage of new research in the field of silver healing.

Silver healing methods are often avoided in burns and amputations since there has already been extensive damage to cell tissue. Diabetic patients with poor blood circulation may also be poor candidates for silver healing. Ask your physician if silver healing methods are right for you.

A new type of forehead lift is currently being used by plastic surgeons to relieve migraine headaches. This modified procedure detaches nerve endings at specific sites known to act as triggers for migraine headaches. In fact, many of the same forehead lift procedures used to eliminate crow’s feet and frown lines can also be used to help patients who experience chronic pain from migraines.

Plastic surgeons first considered forehead lifts as a potential cure for migraines when they discovered that Botox injections could achieve similar but short-term results. These physicians do warn, however, that a forehead lift isn’t an ideal solution for all migraine sufferers. This procedure seems to be much more effective with patients who suffer frequent and severe migraines than those who only suffer occasional headaches. In other words, only about 10 to 15 percent of all migraine sufferers may be a good candidate for a forehead lift.

Some migraine specialists still recommend a combination of treatments for migraine therapy such as prescription drugs and acupuncture. Studies on the effectiveness of forehead lifts to relieve migraines are fairly conclusive, however, and many plastic surgeons now offer this option to their patients.

If a forehead lift is something you are considering, be sure to get all the information and tips on the procedure plus post surgery recovery.  More post surgery information, products and tips are right at your fingertips at www.ContourMD.com

Psychiatrists recommend that you should undergo aesthetic procedures only if you're doing it to please yourself.

Aesthetic procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation, facelifts and chemical peels are becoming more popular in the United States than ever before. If you’re wondering whether you are a good candidate for these aesthetic procedures, consider the following:

• You should understand the risks before you undergo aesthetic procedures. Any time a local or general anesthetic is used, post-operative complications can occur. Most of these complications can increase recovery time, and some can be life-threatening as well.
• You should be in relatively good health. People with conditions such as diabetes or heart disease should seriously consider whether they can endure aesthetic procedures that may damage tissue, nerves and blood vessels.
• You should be willing to change your lifestyle to accommodate the “new you.” For example, a liposuction patient should eat a more healthy diet to preserve new body contours and protect the somewhat sizeable investment.
• Choosing the right recovery program will be paramount to the “new you”.  Garments such as compression garments, liposuction recovery garments, breast augmentation bras, abdominal binders and compression girdles will help with the body  contouring, while scar creams, scar gels and other scar management products will help with possible scarring.