If you’ve never had to explain your neutral facial expression, you can count yourself as one of the lucky ones. In recent years, a common term has been developed to describe certain facial characteristics: “resting bitch face.” As many jokes that have been made about the face that looks angry or unfriendly, this can be a real problem in a society that places a great deal of value on looking happy and approachable.
Numerous studies have been conducted to observe how humans perceive one another based on appearance. You may be able to look through your own life and recognize all the times you’ve based an immediate perception of another person on appearance alone. What research has suggested is that certain character traits are associated with facial characteristics. For example:
Researchers have discovered some interesting interplay between facial movements and the way a person may feel. We inherently assume that emotions show on the face; when you’re angry, you frown or purse your lips. What studies have found is that, when people routinely make certain facial expressions, such as frowning to see their computer screen, their emotions eventually follow that expression. Basically, you are less likely to feel happy emotions if your face if perpetually turned downward.
As you may know, the face takes a sharp decline with age; it will naturally start to turn downward, causing an angry, unfriendly appearance in many people. Here in our offices near Philadelphia, we have come to realize that it isn’t necessarily the desire for a younger-looking face that leads people to seek surgical or non-surgical facial rejuvenation, it is a longing to have their outward appearance match their inner emotional state.
Your face should reflect how you feel on the inside. For help turning your frown upside down, schedule a visit with our Hazleton or Pottsville team.
If you have children, you know the highs and lows of motherhood well. On the one hand, your children can bring you immense joy with nothing more than a smile. On the other hand, your body may have changed in ways you could have never predicted. A Mommy Makeover can resolve issues that linger long after delivery and breastfeeding. The procedure can restore a smoother, flatter belly and roundness to the breasts.
Most women know how their body can change after a Mommy Makeover. This is precisely why this process is so popular. Reshaping the body is one thing, but a Mommy Makeover can also reshape a woman’s life.
The Mommy Makeover process is a personalized treatment plan based on your needs and objectives. Learn more about how your Mommy Makeover can look. Call our Hazleton or Pottsville office to schedule your visit.
Women who are in the process of planning breast augmentation with a trusted surgeon usually express that they feel a nearly-overwhelming combination of excitement and worry. Obviously, it is exciting to finally see your body align with how you have envisioned it for so long. At the same time, you can’t know what breast augmentation recovery will be like until you go through it. No one can really jump into the unknown without a smidge of doubt. Here, we answer questions that frequently go unasked until breast augmentation surgery has begun.
Breast augmentation surgery disrupts tissue and the nerve endings that are located throughout it. As a result, it is common for patients to feel somewhat numb after breast augmentation. Numbness may be complete or subtle. It may localize around the nipples and areolas or extend across the breasts. Every person is different. Because the speed at which full sensation returns varies from one person to another, patients can only be patient as their body heals.
The location of the breasts after breast augmentation is often described at “under my chin.” This may sound humorous, but can be unnerving for the woman whose breasts appear very high on her chest. Not to worry, though, the term “drop and fluff” exists for a reason; it is the process of settling that breast implants undergo as tissue softens and heals.
The answer is that both bloating and weight gain are perfectly normal for breast augmentation patients. Bloating is often related to the use of IV fluids during surgery and might even have something to do with anesthesia. As contradictory as it sounds, drinking lots of fluids is the most beneficial step to decrease bloating after surgery.
Weight gain after breast augmentation may relate to temporary fluid retention. Rarely does it have much to do with the presence of breast implants. What some patients notice is that they put on a few pounds due to the time they take off from routine exercise to recover. Throughout recovery, both weight and healing can be supported with a healthy, low calorie diet.
Now is a great time to plan your breast augmentation surgery in our Pottsville or Hazleton office. Contact us today to get our journey started.
Throughout the history of breast augmentation, the technique used to enhance the female shape has commonly been referred to as a “boob job.” It used to be that one could easily spot a woman who had undergone breast augmentation. Today, this is certainly not the case. Breast surgeries have expanded in the area of technique to accommodate a wide variety of needs, including reconstruction after breast cancer treatment. At Keystone Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dr. Kimmel and our staff understand the vast differences between elective breast augmentation and reconstructive surgery. Throughout the process, we make patient wellness our priority.
Reconstructing the breasts after mastectomy or lumpectomy is not as simple as the average breast augmentation. The purpose of reconstruction is to reinstate the feminine shape of the breasts after natural tissue has been surgically removed. Mastectomy may remove varying degrees of breast tissue and skin, including the areolas and nipples. Therefore, reconstruction is often a process rather than a one-time event.
Breast reconstruction is a very healing journey for women who choose this path. In some cases, it is possible for the oncology and plastic surgery team to work together in a single series of procedures to remove natural tissue and immediately insert breast implants. Often, though, the path begins more slowly.
Multi-stage breast reconstruction may initially focus on creating space within the chest for future implants. This is accomplished by inserting tissue expanders at the time of mastectomy. A tissue expander could be likened to a balloon. It is added as an empty sac behind the pectoral muscle. A few weeks after installation, the expansion process begins. Every week or two, a small amount of saline is injected into a port in the tissue expander. This schedule may continue for a few months until the desired amount of skin and tissue stretching has been achieved. Then, we wait; we wait for the body to rest and heal a bit more before performing the second surgery in which tissue expanders are replaced with saline or silicone breast implants, maintaining focus on the patient’s well-being throughout the process.
Breast reconstruction is a complicated matter that requires expert care. Learn more about Dr. Kimmel’s training and experience in a personal consultation visit in our Hazelton or Pottsville office. Call to schedule your appointment today.
Many of the online searches that are conducted today revolve around getting a slimmer physique. If we’re not looking up the latest diet trends or workout videos, we are researching which non-surgical body contouring treatments are getting the best results. At the moment, non-surgical fat reduction is incredibly popular. We can understand the draw to treatments like CoolSculpting. At the same time, it is necessary to thoroughly consider the value of surgical technique – aka liposuction – versus fat reducing methods that are conducted in the office setting.
In recent years, several technologies have been developed for cosmetic use. As a result, we have multiple ways to eliminate unwanted fat. Patients of our Hazelton and Pottsville offices may choose the non-surgical route of Liposonix, which targets fat cells with high-intensity focused ultrasound. Another popular method of fat reduction is to freeze fat cells. You may know this method as CoolSculpting. We’re going to discuss the latter due to its overwhelming popularity.
CoolSculpting freezes fat in a localized area such as the lower abdomen or inner thighs. Fat-freezing is achieved by securing a region of tissue in between two panels. Tissue must stay between the panels for about an hour to reach the necessary effect. According to the device manufacturer, each treatment can reduce fatty tissue by up to 23 percent. This sounds advantageous. However, we must also look at the size of the treatment area. Also according to the manufacturer, it is approximately the size of a stick of butter. Not very substantial after all.
Because liposuction is referred to as a surgical procedure, there may be a connotation that the process is involved and very risky. In fact, many of the liposuction treatments that are performed today are conducted either in an office setting or an accredited outpatient surgical facility. While some liposuction procedures are performed under general anesthesia, many are completed with a local anesthetic and appropriate sedative. Patients are released to recover at home within a short time after their procedure.
Dr. Kimmel frequently chooses Tickle Lipo as the preferred method of body sculpting. This technique is versatile enough to treat just about any area of the body. Using surgical liposuction, he can also address multiple areas in a single surgery without increasing downtime. But the most significant aspect of surgical liposuction versus any non-surgical treatment is the degree of fat removal that is possible – up to 2.5 liters of fatty tissue in a single surgery.
Do you want noticeable body sculpting? Call our Hazelton or Pottsville office to learn more about Tickle Lipo.
The first facelift was performed more than 100 years ago. During the early Twentieth Century, this procedure was typically done in secret due to the perception that surgery was meant for clinical use only. As techniques for tightening and lifting saggy skin caught on, though, the facelift began a long journey through history.
As with many innovative ideas, facelift surgery has been a technique that could use some fine-tuning. Over the years, this has been achieved. However, because some of the most publicized facelifts have been examples of what not to do, there are still some pretty significant misconceptions about this procedure. We want to clear them up by outlining a few details regarding what a facelift will and will not do.
Learn the facts about facelift surgery in consultation with our experienced team. Contact our Hazleton or Pottsville office for a convenient appointment.
For the past several years, BOTOX injections have topped the list of most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. This convenient treatment smooths wrinkles and is also commonly used to prevent the onset of new lines and creases, thus slowing down the aging process – all by introducing a minute amount of purified botulinum toxin into specific facial muscles. Though BOTOX has a stellar track record, there is still quite a bit of misunderstanding associated with this treatment.
At Keystone Cosmetic Surgery Center near Philadelphia, we recognize the value that BOTOX offers men and women struggling with the signs of aging. We’ve got years of history with this injectable product and have seen firsthand what it’s capable of. Here, we want to point out a few of the common misconceptions we hear about BOTOX, so you don’t avoid treatment based on misinformation.
The idea that BOTOX can make you sick stems from the base ingredient in this product: botulinum toxin. The thing is, for botulinum toxin to create an adverse reaction, you’d need to be exposed to quite a bit of it. Also, you’d need to be exposed to the type of botulinum toxin that could make you sick. There are several strains of the neurotoxin, all of which have been studied by Harvard researchers. BOTOX is made from botulinum toxin A, a strain that binds to nerve receptors to lessen the intensity of muscle contractions without a need for high dosing. This neurotoxin has been used clinically as well as cosmetically and, when administered by a trained professional, has sustained excellent outcomes.
This is a funny joke that has been parodied in movies and comedy sketches and always gets a good laugh. However, to imagine your face frozen in a surprised expression isn’t very funny at all. BOTOX decreases muscle activity, but it will not interrupt your expressive ability. When the drug is injected into particular muscles, such as those on the forehead between the brows, the nerve endings in those muscles are blocked from receiving nerve impulses from the brain. Without impulses, the muscles relax and allow the skin to smooth (goodbye, frown lines!).
If you want to look refreshed but don’t want to lose your expressiveness, schedule your BOTOX treatments with an experienced injector. We would be happy to speak with you about our history of BOTOX use. Contact an office near you today.
Breast augmentation is a standard procedure that is routinely performed to increase the size and shape of women’s breasts. Interestingly, while the sole purpose of this cosmetic surgery is to enhance the bustline, there is much more to the result of augmentation than breast size. When we consult with patients about what they wish to achieve, we go beyond the first four letters of the alphabet (Cup Size means nothing to your plastic surgeon) to see the bigger picture. We want you to see it too.
When the size of the breasts changes, the appearance of the entire body changes. It is for this reason that we suggest patients observe their overall figure in a full-length mirror when trying on different implant sizers. Looking at your body in a mirror is far different than observing before and after pictures online. By changing the shape of the breasts, implants can make your whole body look wider, fuller, heavier, even shorter. The goal is to make your body look naturally proportionate.
Dr. Kimmel has been performing breast augmentation surgery for over two decades. This clinical experience has significantly expanded on formal training, affording our team the insight to address the nuances of every woman we treat. Breast shape is paramount to the outcome of breast augmentation. Before surgery, our consultation and discussion is lengthy and includes tissue assessment and measurements that can guide our treatment process. Getting breast augmentation involves much more than choosing which Cup size you think it right for your body.
If your perception of breast augmentation is that this surgery begins and ends with your breasts, your viewpoint may be dramatically changed after your first pre-surgical visit with us. There is a reason why breast augmentation is one of the leading cosmetic procedures in our country, and there is also a reason why our patients are so satisfied with their results.
The journey to your best body can be through breast augmentation. Contact our Hazelton or Pottsville office to schedule your consultation to learn more about breast implant types, sizes, and more.
Men who have exaggerated contours on their chest may wonder if they have gynecomastia. It is an excellent question and we are pleased that more men feel safe asking it. Historically, men with female-like breasts tended to live in silence. Having breasts instead of a contoured chest may not indicate a health issue, but it does have a profound effect on the way a man feels about his body and his general quality of life.
Having a bit of familiarity with the term gynecomastia is a step forward. However, many men are confused about exactly what it means to have gynecomastia and how to deal with this problem. The various marketing strategies used by supplement companies and others only add to the confusion. In essence, gynecomastia is simple.
If your chest looks round and full rather than smoothly contoured, it is possible that you have gynecomastia. You should be able to describe your chest as a chest, not as breasts. Puffiness around the nipples even qualifies as a mild form of gynecomastia.
According to studies, many men who obtain treatment for gynecomastia have a higher BMI. However, researchers and gynecomastia experts have discovered that, in many cases, the appearance of the breasts can worsen after a man loses weight. Weight in the arms and the belly may actually balance out the pronounced appearance of the breasts.
Men with gynecomastia can benefit from weight loss, but not because losing weight will get rid of breast tissue. The advantage of reaching a healthy BMI before surgery is that the results of male breast reduction will likely look much better. Ultimately, weight loss coupled with gynecomastia surgery has the best shot at significantly improving a man’s self-esteem.
We’ll say this again: marketing creates confusion about gynecomastia treatment. Men are told they can get rid of man boobs by buying a specific workout program. They are told that certain diets, lotions, or pills can recalibrate the hormonal and adrenal systems to get rid of breasts. Practical experience tells us otherwise. Judging by honest reviews and before and after images, the only way to get rid of unwanted breast tissue is through surgical removal.
Gynecomastia is not something you can undo on your own. Get the help you need to get the body meant for you. Call our Pottsville or Hazleton office for prompt assistance.
When we envision a woman’s chest, we may realize that breast tissue may be large or small. What we don’t often consider is that most women have a size discrepancy between their breasts. In most cases, this size variance is so slight that it’s barely noticed. Sometimes, though, the imbalance is so significant that a woman finds it difficult to fit into clothing. Breast asymmetry can make the very idea of wearing a bathing suit unpleasant. Clothing and bras may only be adequately filled out with the help of a breast form.
Usually, breast asymmetry is a cosmetic problem; albeit a big one. A doctor should be consulted if breast asymmetry occurs suddenly due to the rapid and substantial growth of one breast. In this instance, a thorough examination with breast screening will be performed to rule out breast cancer or other abnormal tissue growth.
A woman who wants to gain symmetry in the size of her breasts can do so, and it may not be in the way that is assumed. It is not uncommon to presume that breast augmentation is the way to better breasts. In many cases it is, but not all. Some women prefer the size of the smaller breast. These women need a viable solution for their unique problem, and they can find it at Keystone Cosmetic Surgery Center.
Breast symmetry can be improved in a number of ways, including the enlargement of the smaller breast, the reduction of the larger breast, and the resizing of nipples and areolae as needed. Each procedure to correct breast asymmetry is carefully planned around the needs of the patient and her preferences. There is no “right” solution in every situation. In fact, most breast corrections involve a combination of techniques to achieve the most natural-looking results.
Women in the areas of Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Allentown, and more can find the answers they seek when they consult with our experienced team about breast asymmetry. Contact us in Hazleton or Pottsville to schedule your visit.
Blepharoplast
y is a popular cosmetic procedure that is sought by more than 200,000 people each year. This procedure focuses on the upper or lower eyelids (or both) to reduce signs of aging such as puffiness, dark circles, and drooping. According to research, many men and women who undergo eyelid rejuvenation surgery feel much more satisfied with the general appearance of their face, even without correcting other signs of aging such as a soft jawline. When consulting about blepharoplasty, one of the most pressing questions patients have is what it’s like to recover from this surgery. We’re going to discuss that here.
All surgery comes with side effects. The most common include bruising and swelling. Most patients expect this and find that their eyelid rejuvenation does not cause substantial frustration. Swelling and bruising can be managed by sleeping on an extra pillow or two to keep the head elevated. Elevation discourages the accumulation of fluid in the surgical area. Cold compresses can also decrease the severity of swelling and bruising when used for short periods of time during the first two days post-op.
It comes as no surprise to blepharoplasty patients that they will face a bit of discomfort. What is surprising to many people is how mild their discomfort really is. We do not recommend waiting to see how tolerable discomfort is. Patients are encouraged to take prescription pain medication as directed for the first several days after surgery. Usually, pain and physical side effects dissipate so much within the first week after surgery that patients can resume most normal activities. Heavy lifting and strenuous workouts will need to wait for another few weeks.
The matter of scarring is discussed during the initial consultation when details of the procedure are covered. Incisions are often made on the inside of the eyelid, which eliminates external scars. The scarring that does occur with internal incisions is so subtle that it is neither seen nor felt. If incisions are made on the eyelid, they are positioned within the natural crease, where they are hidden while tissue heals. Like internal scars, those on the outside of the eyelid should not affect the natural look or feel of the eyes.
Learn more about blepharoplasty and how this procedure can give you the refreshed appearance you desire. Contact our Pottsville or Hazleton office for a consultation appointment.
We like life to be easy. For the most part, the middle-aged and young adults of today grew up in an era where getting what they wanted was relatively easy. Hungry? Pop a pot-pie in the microwave! Even now, those who wish to address the signs of aging needn’t wait any longer than they would for lunch to be delivered to see a fresh new face in the mirror. The point is, life is easier today than it ever has been. It’s no surprise, then, to realize that plastic surgery patients are interested in know how they can speed up their recovery.
Surgery is surgery, so regardless of the technique used during any particular cosmetic surgery procedure, there will be some downtime for recovery. Sure, some procedures may need more time than others; a tummy tuck may ask you to do very little for the first few days and then will allow you to gradually recover over several weeks, whereas a mid-face lift may have you back to your usual routine within a week. However, because surgery is surgery, recovery is also recovery. Here, we offer some tips on maximizing your recovery no matter what procedure lies ahead.
One of the most important notes we can make about surgical recovery is that it actually begins before any work is done. Pre-op instructions aren’t mere suggestions; they are steps that will lead you into your surgery day with the fullest capability to heal well. Post-operative instructions are a complement to the initial guidelines, reducing the risks of complications after surgery.
If you are interested in reducing risks and promoting expedited healing, we encourage you to follow the instructions provided to you as strictly as possible. General tips for post-surgical healing include:
There are several ways to make the most of your surgical recovery. First, we need to discuss how to make the most of your appearance. Call our Pottsville or Hazleton office to learn more.
It is a complete misconception that only women get plastic surgery. Recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons indicate that 15% of the patients who get facelifts are men. This adds up to approximately 12,000 men during the past year alone. We are pleased to offer professional services to men in the areas of Philadelphia, Allentown, and more. Performing facelifts, we are particularly mindful of the nuances that make a man’s face unique.
One of the most significant differences between the facelift for the male face and the female face is hair. Even if men shave every day, the hair on their face is usually thick and coarse or curly compared to the fine “peach fuzz” on women’s faces. For hair to be thick and curly, hair follicles are generally larger, which means we have to take special care to place incisions where they will not dramatically disrupt hair growth even if minor scars form after surgery.
The male face is generally stronger and more angular. The reason this is so is that there is a stronger support structure of ligaments beneath the skin. The strength of the facial ligaments poses a challenge to facelift surgery; we must be careful to not overcompensate for laxity by tightening the skin and superficial muscle aggressively.
Men also have thicker skin and overall more weight to their face than women. In particular, the jaw area is where most men desire refinement during facelift surgery. The weight and sharpness of the male face present a unique opportunity for an experienced surgeon to restore a competitive, youthful appearance without creating softness at the jawline.
There is truth to the belief that most cosmetic surgery procedures are performed on women. However, there is no reason why any man who desires a refresher for his face or body cannot obtain appropriate treatment. Our experienced team understands the nuances of male and female facial structure and is therefore capable of performing a meticulous procedure through which outstanding results are achieved.
Learn more about facial rejuvenation in our Pottsville or Hazleton office.
Abdominoplasty is a common body-contouring procedure that helps men and women reach goals that may otherwise elude them. Eating well and working out are integral to muscle tone and optimal weight, but there are factors in abdominal concerns that have nothing to do with what is eaten or how many crunches are performed. These factors can be corrected with a tummy tuck.
Nearly 130,000 tummy tucks were performed last year alone, demonstrating the effectiveness of this procedure and the ongoing success it achieves. Knowing that abdominoplasty is a popular pre-summer cosmetic procedure, we want to look at the after-effects of this surgery. Specifically, we want to discuss the matter of recovery.
During the average tummy tuck, an incision is made across the hip-line. Underlying abdominal tissue is repositioned and tightly secured so the abdominal surface flattens. If muscle separation has occurred, structures are reattached as needed. Excess skin is excised and the incision is closed. Muscles may have been loose before surgery but tightening them still leads to a bit of contraction that you need to be prepared for.
Recovery from abdominoplasty is not awful by any means. It does, however, limit you for about a week. To improve the road to recovery, we suggest:
Keystone Surgery Center has helped thousands of patients from Pottsville, Hazleton, and surrounding areas feel better about their appearance. To learn more about abdominoplasty and what it can do for you, call the office in your area.
It’s safe to say that we’ve reached an understanding with the process of aging. We know we cannot stop it, and also know that we don’t have to accept every aspect of aging as “the norm.” The prevalence of cosmetic procedures is evidence of our willingness to take aging by the horns. From our two offices, we are proud to serve patients from Philadelphia, Scranton, Allentown, and Harrisburg with options to resolve cosmetic concerns. Additionally, we believe in supporting each individual’s right to age gracefully with pertinent information. Here, we point out the factors that may cause aging to occur sooner and faster than we’d like.
In a card game, you win by knowing your hand and how to use it to your advantage. Knowing the cards, or factors, that can age the skin prematurely, enables you to offset this risk accordingly. There are several factors to aging, most of which can be controlled. These include:
We may not be able to control all of the factors of aging, but we can treat concerns safely and efficiently. To explore how we can help you refresh your look, call our Pottsville or Hazleton office.
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