Posts Tagged ‘liposuction’

What’s the Difference Between Gynecomastia and Pseudogynecomastia?

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
What's the Difference Between Gynecomastia and Pseudogynecomastia?

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.

What are Some of the Ways to Get Back into Shape Postpartum?

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

breastfeedingThe 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.

Shapewear as an Alternative to Liposuction

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Shapewear as an Alternative to Liposuction

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.

Laser Liposuction Versus Traditional Liposuction

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Abdominal Binder

Abdominal Binder by ContourMD

With swimsuit season in full swing, you may be considering liposuction to get rid of those unsightly bumps and bulges. But should you go with a laser liposuction procedure or a traditional liposuction procedure? You may be tempted to choose laser liposuction over traditional liposuction because it’s less expensive and recovery time is quicker, but before you make such a big decision, it’s important to know the facts.

Laser liposuction, also known as Smart Lipo, or laser-assisted lypolysis, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that melts away fat through the use of lasers. During laser liposuction, tiny incisions are made in the skin through which a laser is inserted. When the laser is fired, it melts fat and tightens the surrounding skin.

But unlike traditional liposuction, laser liposuction is not intended to be used on large areas like the stomach or hips. It is, however, useful for people who want to have small pockets of fat in the face, neck, arms, or breasts removed.

Before scheduling your liposuction procedure, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine which type of liposuction is best for you.

Once you have decided which liposuction technique meets your requirements, you will need to prepare for your liposuction recovery. This will include the purchase of a liposuction compression garment. If you are undergoing traditional liposuction, you will need an abdominal binder, girdle, or body shaper.

For laser-assisted lipolysis, the type of recovery garment you need will depend on the area being treated. For liposuction of the breast or arm, you will want to purchase a compression vest, or a post-surgical bra. For liposuction of the face and neck, a facial compression wrap is the compression garment of choice.

The Difference Between First Stage and Second Stage Plastic Surgery Recovery Garments

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
Second Stage Garments

Second Stage Garments by ContourMD

If you are planning a plastic surgery procedure, you’ll need to invest in a compression garment. Compression garments, also known as plastic surgery recovery garments or post-surgical garments, improve circulation, help rid the body of potentially harmful fluids, reduce swelling, and decrease plastic surgery recovery time.

Immediately after your surgery, you’ll need a first stage recovery garment. The type of compression garment you need will depend on your type of surgery. If you are undergoing a breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, breast lift, or arm lift, you’ll need a compression vest or a post-surgical bra. For liposuction or a tummy tuck, you’ll want to purchase an abdominal binder, a compression girdle, or a body shaper. Facial compression wraps are recommended for facelift surgery.

A few weeks after your plastic surgery, your plastic surgeon may tell you to switch to a second stage compression garment. Second stage recovery garments are less bulky than first stage recovery garments. But don’t let the lightweight material fool you. Second stage recovery garments still provide compression, which increases circulation and helps the body heal.

Because second stage recovery garments are less restrictive than first stage compression garments, they can easily be worn undetected underneath everyday clothing. Second stage recovery garments come in a variety of styles. Mid-thigh girdles and mid-calf girdles fit well under shorts, capris, or skirts. Since they are lightweight, they are a good choice during the hot summer. Ankle body garments may be more comfortable under slacks and can add an extra layer of warmth during the cold winter months.

Whether you need a first stage compression garment or a second stage recovery garment, keep in mind that plastic surgery recovery can last several weeks, so it a good idea to have more than one post-surgical recovery garment on hand.

Getting Rid of Unsightly Scars

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

scar-treatmentEveryone has scars. Whether your scars are due to injury or are a result of a surgical procedure, there’s no reason you have to live with them. There are products on the market today that can help you reduce the appearance of scars, whether they are old or new. This includes surgical scars, burn scars, keloids, hypertrophic scars, and most scars resulting from trauma. What these products do is soften and smooth the scar allowing it to blend with the surrounding skin. They also limit the growth of the scar, and reduce height, thickness, and discoloration.

For a completely healed scar, applying silicone sheeting is the best way to ensure that your scar will be as unnoticeable as possible. Silicone sheeting is also a convenient alternative to messy scar creams and gels. Adding to the convenience of silicone sheeting is that it comes in precut shapes to cover plastic surgery scars. Precut shapes are available for the following types of surgery:

Scar gels and creams can be used alone or in conjunction with silicone sheeting. The main benefit to using a scar cream over silicone sheeting is that it can be easily applied throughout the day.

Recovering from Liposuction Surgery

Friday, April 10th, 2009

If you are planning to have liposuction, you’ll need to think about buying a recovery garment to wear immediately after your liposuction surgery and for several weeks thereafter. The purpose of these post-surgical garments is to decrease swelling, increase circulation, and reduce plastic surgery recovery time.

The key to choosing a liposuction compression garment for liposuction surgery is to find one that offers support, but is also comfortable. Among your garment options are abdominal binders, girdles, and body shapers.

Abdominal binders are generally used after liposuction of the abdomen, and are designed for both female liposuction and male liposuction. Since abdominal binders only cover the abdominal region, they can be easily hidden under clothing, and may be the most comfortable choice for liposuction recovery during the hot summer months.

Girdles and body shapers come in many shapes, and are worn following liposuction of the hip, thigh, buttocks, or abdomen. Mid-calf girdles or mid-calf body shapers may be a good option if you are planning to wear skirts or dresses following your liposuction procedure. Ankle-length girdles or ankle-length body shapers may be a more comfortable option if you prefer to wear pants, and can serve as an extra source of warmth during the winter.

Plastic surgery recovery garments are typically worn continuously for several weeks, so it is a good idea to have more than one on hand.