Nursing Your Baby in Public

We all know that public breastfeeding can be a contentious issue. But no matter which side you’re on, when your baby’s hungry, it’s not going to matter where you are. With a little preparation, you can make breastfeeding easier, whether in public or in private.  After all, breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby.

Nursing covers are a discreet way of publicly feeding your breastfeeding baby. A good breastfeeding cover is large enough to completely cover the entire chest and the baby, yet flexible enough so that you can still make eye contact with the baby. It can also double as a sun shade or blanket.

Breastfeeding clothes are an absolute must for nursing mothers, not only when breastfeeding in public, but also for use in private. Nursing tops and breastfeeding bras provide much needed breast support, yet allow for quick and easy access to the breasts for nursing.

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.

What are Some of the Ways to Treat Lymphedema?

If you’re suffering from lymphedema, you know how painful it can be. But did you also know that if it’s not properly treated, it can cause skin infections, elephantiasis (skin hardening), or cancer? Lucky for you, there are some simple lymphedema treatments that can help you avoid lymphedema complications.

Lymphedema therapy is usually a combination of massage, exercise, and lymphedema compression.

Massage therapy and exercise help to decrease swelling, which also relieves pain. Exercise and massage can also improve your mobility.

Lymphedema compression garments help reduce fluid build-up in the arms and legs.
For lymphedema swelling of the hands and arms, try a compression gauntlet or a lymphedema sleeve. To decrease lymphedema leg swelling, compression stockings are a good choice.

Lymphedema compression garments should be worn from the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night.

The dreaded pregnancy weight. Now that you’ve had your baby, you’re probably wondering how to rid yourself of those excess pounds. Most likely, you’ve already tried crunches, sit-ups, and all those other abdominal exercises that are part of the post-pregnancy workout.

Postpartum support, such as a post-natal girdle, is key to firming your body and tightening that postpartum belly. A postpartum compression girdle or a postpartum support belt will also help reduce or eliminate stretch marks.

If diet, exercise, and postpartum compression aren’t enough to get your body back into shape, you may want to consider a mommy makeover. A mommy makeover, also known as body sculpting, is plastic surgery to help restore your body to its pre-pregnancy shape. Your postpartum cosmetic surgery options include tummy tuck, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lift, or a combination of procedures.

No matter which surgery you choose, you’ll want to wear a compression garment during your plastic surgery recovery. There are a variety of tummy tuck support garments, liposuction support garments, and breast surgery support garments to choose from.

Mid Thigh Body Shaper with Bra Top

You’ve tried diet and exercise, but nothing you’ve done has helped you lose weight. If you’re now thinking about bariatric surgery, it’s important that you understand your weight loss surgery options.

Gastric bypass surgery (stomach stapling) is a type of plastic surgery during which the plastic surgeon staples the stomach in order to make it smaller. The smaller stomach pouch is then connected to the lower part of the small intestine, allowing food to bypass part of the intestine. The result is that you feel full when eating less and you absorb less calories.

Gastric bypass surgery is sometimes done through tiny incisions in the stomach. A small camera is inserted through the incisions and used to guide the surgeon’s movements. This procedure is known as laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery.

Lap band surgery is similar to traditional gastric bypass in that the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch. Instead of staples, an inflatable band is used to cinch the upper part of the stomach so that you can’t eat as much at one setting. However, the intestine is not bypassed during lap band surgery, so you will absorb the calories you do eat.

When recovering from weight loss surgery, you’ll need to wear a bariatric compression garment for the first few weeks. Options for bariatric recovery garments include abdominal binders, compressions girdles, body shaper briefs, mid-calf body shapers, mid-thigh body shapers, and ankle-length body shapers.

Weight loss surgery recovery time will depend on the type of bariatric surgery you have. Ask your plastic surgeon which type of weight loss surgery is right for you.

Abdominal Girdle By ContourMD Maternity

The big day is almost here! Just before the baby is born is the time that most moms-to-be start thinking about how they’re going to get back their pre-pregnancy shape once the baby arrives.

You’ve probably already been wearing a maternity support garment throughout your pregnancy to decrease back pain, leg swelling and varicosities; improve your circulation; and to relieve pressure on your bladder. Now it’s time to think about investing in a postpartum garment.

Post-pregnancy support garments can help firm your belly and reduce swelling after pregnancy.
Postpartum tummy support can also help reduce or eliminate stretch marks.

After pregnancy support garments, such as postpartum compression girdles or postpartum abdominal panties, help to hold in the tummy, giving you a slimmer look. Because they are generally seamless, they’re not only comfortable, but they’re also easily hidden under clothing.

Style 20 - Facial Compression Wrap by Contour

It would be nice if one day someone would find that elusive fountain of youth. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to turn back the hands of time.

There are several types of face surgery that can tighten the skin and reduce lines and wrinkles.

Traditional face lift surgery is done by making an incision, lifting the skin, tightening the muscles of the face, and removing excess fat and skin. It is often combined with neck lift surgery.

During an endoscopic face lift, small incisions are made above the hairline or behind the ear. The plastic surgeon is able to tighten the face muscles with the help of a tiny camera that is inserted through the incisions.

A thread face lift is a non-surgical face lift procedure that doesn’t require any incisions and does not leave face lift scars. During a thread lift procedure, the plastic surgeon uses sutures to lift the eyebrows, eyelids, the lines around the mouth, and the neck.

Laser face lift is a skin resurfacing technique that tightens the skin, which reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

Face lift recovery time will vary depending on the type of face lift procedure you choose. Following most procedures, you’ll need to wear a facial compression garment, such as a neck and chin strap, for the first few weeks to reduce swelling and bruising and to help you heal faster.

Shapewear as an Alternative to Liposuction

If you’ve been considering liposuction, but aren’t quite ready to make the leap, shapewear may be a good option for you. Shape wear can instantly slim you without plastic surgery. And because shapewear comes in many different styles, it can help you target your problem areas.

A bodyshaper is a bra and girdle all in one. A body shaper lifts the breasts, while slimming the waist and belly, giving you that hourglass figure you’ve been longing for. It also lifts the buttocks, giving it a firmer appearance.

A waist cincher is a smaller shapewear garment that fits like a girdle. It’s designed to define the waist and trim the abdominal area.

A thigh shaper fits over the upper thighs, buttocks, and stomach. Its purpose is to make those areas look slimmer.

Shape wear is designed to be worn comfortably under just about any type of clothing.  But still you might still have questions about whether shapewear is for you or not.

Post Breast Augmentation Bra by ContourMD

Immediately after breast augmentation surgery, you’ll need to wear a breast augmentation compression garment for the first few weeks. Fortunately, compression bras come in many different styles, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one that fits your lifestyle.

The Cup Bra has a hook-and-eye closure in the front, so it’s easy to put on even though your breasts may be a bit sore after breast enhancement surgery. It’s made of nylon fabric and has a non-cup design, which allows it to conform to your breast implants. The Cup Bra is a good bra for every day use during breast augmentation recovery.

The Semi-Shape Bra with Adjustable Strap by Contour has a front closure and a non-cup design. This bra is made of Lycra spandex. It’s also a good choice for every day use.

The Surgical Bra by Contour is made of cotton compression Lycra and has hook-and-eye closures in the front and back. It also has Z hooks on the shoulder straps, which provide easy access to the surgical site. This bra is comfortable enough for every day use, and is also a good choice to wear to your follow-up appointments.

The SP Cover Bra by Contour also has hook-and-eye closures in the front and back. It has molded cups and a Velcro compression band for extra support. This is a good bra to wear immediately after surgery because of the added support of the compression band. It’s also a good choice for women with large breast implants that may need a little extra support.

When choosing a breast augmentation bra, keep in mind that your bra will need to be worn continuously, but will also need to be washed, so make sure you have at least two.

Contour Pregnancy/Nursing Tank

It’s not always easy being a mom. Trying to juggle multiple tasks while caring for an infant can leave you exhausted by the end of the day. And if you’re also breastfeeding, it can really be a hassle trying to maneuver an every day shirt and bra every time you need to feed your baby. Some quality, affordable nursing tops can help make that aspect of mothering just a little bit easier.

A nursing top is a shirt that provides easy access for breastfeeding. Nursing tops also provide breast support, and many can double as nursing bras. Most come with adjustable straps and are made from comfortable fabrics, such as cotton, spandex and lycra.

Although tank tops are very popular these days, they’re very difficult to nurse in. Nursing tank tops are cheap nursing tops that come in a variety of styles that make breastfeeding easy. Some of these have easy access openings and others come in drop down styles.

You can buy nursing tank tops and nursing shirts at ContourMD.com – check out our new Maternity category.

What is the Best Way to Reduce Scarring after a C-Section?

After a c-section, you may look at your c-section incision and wonder what sort of scar it will leave. But don’t worry. There are simple things you can do during your c-section recovery to reduce c-section scars.

Scar gels and creams can promote scar healing by softening and smoothing scars, which causes them to blend in. Scar gels and creams are easy to apply, but in order for them to be effective, they have to be reapplied several times each day.

Silicone sheeting can also help improve the appearance of a c-section scar. It comes in pre-cut shapes, including a c-section scar shape, so you can just peel off the back and place it over the scar. It’s not as messy as scar gels and creams.

Although silicone sheeting will give you continuous scar treatment without frequent reapplication, it can wear off during exercise, so it may not be the best daytime option for people with extremely active lifestyles.

For best results, you might want to try a combination of scar gels and creams and silicone sheeting.

What are the Different Types of Breast Implants?

Before you schedule your breast augmentation consultation for your breast enhancement surgery, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the types of breast implants you’ll have to choose from.

Your breast implant choices are either saline breast implants or silicone gel breast implants. The most common type of breast implant is the saline breast implants.

Saline breast implants are filled with salt water, also known as saline. How much saline is in the implant will determine the shape and feel of the breast.

Silicone implants are pre-filled with a silicone gel. Some women think they have a more natural feel than saline implants.

Breast implant prices will vary, depending on your breast implant type and size, and by manufacturer. Breast implant surgeons are extremely knowledgeable about breast implant options, so your plastic surgeon can help you choose the best breast augmentation implants that are still within your budget.

Breast implant recovery time can be minimized by following your plastic surgeon’s instructions. Immediately after breast augmentation surgery, you’ll be instructed to wear a breast augmentation compression garment for several weeks. Breast augmentation recovery garments reduce swelling and increase circulation, which helps you to heal faster. Recovery garment options include breast augmentation bras, augmentation bandeaus, and compression vests.

Breastfeeding After Breast Augmentation

Multiple studies have shown that breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby. And contrary to popular belief, most women who have had breast augmentation surgery are still able to breastfeed, although some may experience lower milk production. If you do find you have a limited supply of milk, breastfeeding can be supplemented with formula.

If you’re planning to breastfeed after breast augmentation surgery, you’ll want to invest in some quality breastfeeding apparel, such as pregnancy bras or nursing bras. Because your breasts continue to grow and change shape during pregnancy, a pregnancy bra that is designed to accommodate those changes will likely be more comfortable than your regular bras. Pregnancy bra also help to prevent breast sagging after pregnancy.

Nursing bras provide breastfeeding support and have easy opening systems that make the breasts more accessible for nursing.

Many women choose to wait to have their breast augmentation surgery until after they have breastfed their last child because pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause breast sagging. If you have drooping breasts after pregnancy, breast lift surgery can help restore them to their pre-pregnancy position.

As with all breast procedures, it is highly recommended that a compression support bra or post surgical bra be worn for optimal results.  Be sure to speak with you doctor about what compression garment is best for after surgery.

If you’re planning to have breast augmentation surgery, you’re probably debating over what size breast implant you should get. Just keep in mind that personal preference is only one aspect of choosing a breast implant size. Remember that bigger may not always be better. When choosing a breast implant for your breast augmentation surgery, there are several things you should consider:

• You’ll need to have enough breast tissue to cover your breast implants.
• Extremely large implants also may make look disproportionate on a small woman.
• Implants that are too large for your body type may increase your breast implant recovery time.
• No matter what size, you will need a compression bra for optimal results.

Your breast implant surgeon should be able to help you choose a breast implant size that will fit your body type. Cut out some magazine photos of women with breasts that you think are too small or too large and share them with your breast implant surgeon.

Many breast implant surgeons have foam padding you can “try on for size” to see what size implant appeals to you. Because your tastes may change over time, ask if you can take home a few different sizes and wear them around the house for a few weeks so you can get an idea of which ones might feel too large or too small.

If your plastic surgeon doesn’t have pads you can wear at home, fill up some baggies with rice and wear them under your bra for a few weeks to help you decide. If you’re having a combination breast lift and breast augmentation, make sure you wear a compression bra with a lot of support so you can get a more realistic picture of your breast augmentation results.

When you have decided on a breast implant size, take the foam pad to your plastic surgeon. Be sure to consult with your surgeon on the proper post surgical bra that is best for you, as well as scar creams and post surgical vitamins to help speed up your recovery time.

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.

Water assisted liposuction is an alternative to traditional liposuction.

Water assisted liposuction is a new method of body-contouring that uses powerful jets of water to “blast away” excess fat cells. Unlike traditional liposuction techniques, water assisted liposuction does not require a general anesthesia and therefore offers a lower risk for post-operative complications. In addition, the plastic surgeon who operates the water jets is able to exert more control over the fat cells that are targeted due to the very precise nature of the instruments.

Water assisted liposuction, along with laser and ultrasound liposuction techniques, is becoming a popular method of body contouring due to the permanent results and short recovery times. There is some risk involved with this type of liposuction, however, since the powerful stream of water can damage nerves and tissues in the surrounding areas.

Water assisted liposuction is very effective for removing both cellulite and small pockets of fat that can’t be eliminated through diet or exercise. In other words, this may not be an effective approach for removing large deposits of fat throughout the torso and buttocks. It is effective, however, for “saddlebags” or a double chin.

In order to properly maintain the new contour of your body, it is recommended to wear a compression garment after your procedure.  Abdominal binders are good for water assisted liposuction of the mid-section, while girdles and body shapers are ideal for more comprehensive body-contouring.

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.

How does silicone sheeting help with healing?

Silicone sheeting is a soft, transparent adhesive membrane that can be applied directly to a wound once it has closed and sutures have been removed. While there is still plenty to learn about the reasons silicon sheeting is so effective in both scar management and the healing process, the results are conclusive and even dramatic.

Doctors believe that silicone sheets help healing in two distinct ways. First, silicone aids in the hydration of the wound, which can keep skin moist and pliant and much more likely to heal. The silicone sheeting, like a traditional dressing, also keeps the wound clean and free from bacteria. The sheet is just permeable enough, however, to let oxygen in.

Second, silicone sheeting aids with scar support. These sheets actually control the tension on the scar to reduce stretching and irritation.

There are some precautions to take if you’re going to use silicone sheeting in a scar management program. First of all, never use other ointments or gels underneath the sheet. Second, stop using the sheets immediately and contact your physician if a rash develops around the wound.