Tummy tuck surgery is very exciting for most women who are ready to take back their shape. This procedure, whether performed alone or as a part of a mommy makeover, corrects problems like excess fat and loose skin in the midsection area, stretch marks, a muffin-top, and cellulite. Nearly as soon as women begin envisioning their new bodies once they have decided to have a tummy tuck, they also start thinking about their recovery period. Many of our patients want to know when they can expect life to return to normal after their procedure. We discuss that here.
A tummy tuck, called abdominoplasty, is a procedure in which the abdominal muscle is tightened. Dr. Kimmel does this through an incision just below the bikini line that runs from hip to hip. Gently pulling the abdominal muscle so that it lies flat and smooth, he trims the excess loose muscle and inserts sutures to secure the tissue. This same process is repeated for the overlying skin. In some situations, it is necessary to also reposition the belly button so that it does not sit too low on the abdomen. The result of tissue tightening is a flat, taut midsection.
We understand why patients want to know about their tummy tuck recovery. This procedure is often misunderstood as painful and lengthy. The reason this is the perception that many people have of tummy tuck recovery is that patients cannot stand upright or sleep lying flat for several days after their procedure. This, however, is related to tightness and simple mobility more than it is pain. Because the muscle has been tightened, it needs time to relax and flatten after the natural trauma of surgery. For a few days, patients take prescription pain medication to control comfort. Usually, by the end of the first week, soreness has improved so much that comfort is achievable with over-the-counter pain relief.
During the first week, patients should expect to not be able to reach overhead. After a week to 10 days, mobility should improve quite a bit. However, it can take two to three weeks to be able to stand completely upright with minimal tightness. This improves a little each day. Patients are usually ready to return to work and light activities after 3 weeks of recovery. Light exercise may resume after about 4 weeks of recovery. However more vigorous exercise and heavier lifting may need to be postponed for another few weeks.
Patients who undergo tummy tuck surgery can expect routine follow-ups to assess their healing. During these visits, we discuss which activities may be resumed based on how the muscle and skin are recovering.
Learn more about tummy tuck surgery. Call our Hazleton or Pottsville office to schedule your consultation.
Hundreds of thousands of breast augmentation procedures are performed each year. This trend has remained consistent for well over a decade. Throughout those years, though, we’ve seen varying trends that have affected women’s choices in the size of breast implants they find appealing. For several years, the trend involved larger implants; larger to the extent of looking like breast implants rather than naturally-large breasts. From that end of the spectrum, we swung to the other side, where we say many women choosing to enlarge breasts by one cup size. As trends go, they are now changing again. This time, though women are choosing larger implants once again, few are going overboard. Many, in fact, ask how to avoid choosing breast implants that are too large for them. We discuss that here.
There are several factors that contribute to women’s choices in breast implants. Some may surprise you.
There is nothing wrong with considering outside input when planning breast augmentation surgery. However, a woman’s choice is ultimately her choice and hers alone. Using sizers and a lot of self-reflection, a woman can feel very confident choosing the breast size that is right for her.
Consider body shape, the width of the chest and shoulders, the level of lifestyle activity as you decide what will look and feel best for you. Then, schedule your consultation in our Pottsville or Hazleton office to discuss what you would like to achieve with breast augmentation.
Men with breasts. This sounds like the title of a bad Sci-Fi movie, doesn’t it? In truth, gynecomastia is a very real, very troubling problem. Comedians and many people in our society joke about this condition that we call gynecomastia, referring to enlarged male breasts as man boobs. For the man with this condition, such as description is demeaning and embarrassing. Until recently, very few men realized that there was a name for what they were experiencing. Even fewer have realized that their problem could be corrected. It can. Here’s what patients need to know about returning to their normal workouts after gynecomastia treatment.
Because we’ve only recently begun talking about gynecomastia, there are still misconceptions about what causes this condition and how to correct it. Many men spend months or years trying to contour their chest with exercise. While fatty tissue does play a small role in some cases of gynecomastia, it is not the only issue to contend with. Male breast enlargement is a result of excessive breast tissue. Where fatty tissue is soft and related to weight, breast tissue is glandular. It is dense. It does not change much with weight. This is why men who are otherwise fit may still have puffiness in their chest area.
Even knowing that exercise cannot eliminate gynecomastia, many of our patients feel a sense of urgency to resume their normal workouts after treatment. We understand, and also advise patients not to rush back to the gym. Doing so can create more problems and hold up the progress of healing.
After gynecomastia surgery, rest is the primary action that a man needs to take. This can be difficult when so much effort has previously gone into correcting shape. For the first two weeks of recovery, though, the extent of physical activity is light walking. Patients can walk for up to 30 minutes and can do this a few times a day. It is imperative to maintain a casual pace. Even brisk walking that increases heart rate can disrupt tissue healing and create a risk of complications.
While it may be possible to return to work two weeks after treatment for gynecomastia, physical activity remains limited until about 4 weeks post-op. At that time, the patient may begin walking briskly, hiking, and doing light cardio exercise that primarily uses the lower body. Chest and arm exercises may need to wait until 6 weeks post-op and, when they do resume, should be done slowly and carefully.
Living with gynecomastia is difficult. Treatment can successfully correct this problem and, even with a short recovery period, the outcome of surgery is well worth the wait to get back to a normal exercise routine. Learn more about male breast reduction. Call our Hazleton or Pottsville office to schedule a consultation.
Liposuction is one of the leading cosmetic procedures performed by plastic surgeons. This minimally-invasive body contouring technique has been performed millions of times over the years and has sculpted arms, abdomens, hips, thighs, and more. Over time, we’ve seen several new developments in the area of liposuction, such as the use of innovative technologies to aid in fat reduction. What we do not yet have is a way to prevent loose skin from occurring after liposuction using any particular technique. Here, we discuss why loose skin may be noticed after liposuction and what can be done about it.
Loose skin may look more prominent after liposuction. Does that mean that liposuction is the cause? No. At least not directly. The reason why skin may look looser after liposuction is because, when fat is removed, there is less volume beneath the skin to make it look plump and relatively smooth. Laxity develops when the skin ages or is significantly stretched. Aging affects the skin everywhere on the body. This happens because certain cells stop producing chemicals like collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin, which are vital to firm, smooth, elastic skin. Laxity means that the skin cannot bounce back after being stretched. It means that, when the volume of fat is decreased through liposuction, the skin has nothing to push it outward.
It is possible to undergo body contouring treatment that meets all of your needs. An experienced plastic surgeon may have numerous tools to help you achieve the results you want after liposuction. First, it is necessary to observe the skin during the initial consultation for liposuction. Knowing that the skin may look loose and puckered if it is too loose, a plastic surgeon will recommend additional techniques to address this issue. Laxity is not a “wait and see” issue for many people. We know when it may occur and we know what to do about it.
In our practice, solutions to loose skin after liposuction include surgical lift techniques and nonsurgical skin tightening. Which option is best depends on the extent of laxity identified during the consultation. If you have mildly loose skin, treatment like Triniti RF microneedling may be sufficient to promote natural tightening over time. If your tissue laxity is more severe, a surgical lift such as a tummy tuck, thigh lift, or arm lift may be better suited to your needs. There is also the matter of how long results will last to consider.
We can help you get the results you want from liposuction and body contouring. Contact our Hazleton or Pottsville office to schedule your consultation.
Rhinoplasty is the surgical procedure that reshapes the nose to fit more harmoniously on the face. The objective of a nose job is to make the nose blend in better with surrounding facial features. Sometimes, there is a need for structural modifications to enable the patient to breathe more easily. The aesthetic and functional results achieved in this procedure are the hallmarks of its success.
Rhinoplasty surgery can dramatically improve:
Rhinoplasty procedures may be performed using an open or closed technique. This should be determined based on the structure of the nose and the desired changes, not based on the idea that closed rhinoplasty offers an easier recovery. Both forms of rhinoplasty heal nicely with only short-term discomfort. Rather than focus on incision placement, patients should look at the signs of successful rhinoplasty as:
We respect the individuality of each of our patients and reflect this in our personalized approach to rhinoplasty and other procedures. To schedule a consultation, call our Pottsville or Hazleton office.
The appearance of the skin changes as we age; most people realize this. What we don’t often see is just how many factors influence the skin. Our genetics play some part in how we age, but there is much more contribution made by our lifestyle habits and how much time we spend in the sun without sunscreen. Even our facial expressions affect the elasticity and firmness of tissue. Those who know the skin needs help often look for it in the form of products. This is a good start that should be a part of a bigger plan that includes laser skin resurfacing.
Laser skin resurfacing delivers controlled energy into the skin to remove the uppermost layer of cells. These cells no longer provide value to appearance and are just stuck in place. The dead and damaged cells that sit on the epidermis dull the complexion and make it much more difficult for skincare products to achieve their intended effects. These cells need to go, and laser is a great method of removing them.
It isn’t enough to undergo a single treatment and expect the skin to age more gracefully. After you have laser skin resurfacing, we recommend that you:
Give your skin a leg up on the aging process. Call our Hazleton or Pottsville office to learn more about laser resurfacing.
Medical terms have a way of sounding complicated. Gynecomastia is one of many examples. While doctors and other healthcare providers may find this jargon helpful, you may not. We must build a bridge between everyday language and clinical verbiage so more people can be helped. You may not know what gynecomastia is (why would you?). That is unless you’ve ever googled the words “man boobs” or “male breasts.” These are the everyday terms used to describe the enlargement of a man’s breast tissue. And they are the topic of discussion here.
Based on everyday language like “man boobs,” we see that gynecomastia is the noticeable enlargement of a man’s breasts. All men have breasts, to be honest, but most are more muscle than fat. This is what differentiates male from female physique, muscle tissue. For some men, this balance of muscle to fatty tissue doesn’t fully develop or it gets disrupted.
There are several contributing factors to gynecomastia. Genetics may play a role, as can weight and medication or drug use. It would seem that genetics are more influential because not all men who gain weight see an increase in breast size. Conversely, some men with gynecomastia are at a stable weight and may even work out frequently to correct their breast shape. From what we know at this time, the only way to correct enlarged male breasts is with plastic surgery.
Male breast reduction is a procedure that is consistently growing in popularity. This isn’t because the number of men developing enlarged breasts is increasing but that more men are learning that this effective treatment exists. Gynecomastia has to do with fat. It may be influenced by the breast gland. And it may affect the skin. Therefore, male breast reduction may address all three. Some of the techniques that are considered for gynecomastia treatment include:
Whatever we call it, the enlargement of the male breast is not a condition that a man needs to live with. If you would like to learn more about male breast reduction, schedule a consultation in our Pottsville or Hazleton office.
It is no secret that pregnancy and motherhood change a woman in more ways than one. As a reputable plastic surgery practice, we help women address the physical aspects of their body that they want to regain. Mommy makeover treatment is popular for several reasons. One is that the series of procedures involved in the process is completely customized to each patient. The list goes on and on but it does not answer common questions patients have, like how to make the most of their treatment process. This month, we will thoroughly discuss this topic, starting with pre-operative preparations.
Research several plastic surgeons, then whittle your list down to two or three. Schedule a consultation with each and ask all of your questions. Consider the comfort you feel with each physician, their experience with mommy makeovers, and the feedback you get from other patients in the form of testimonials or direct contact.
Once you have selected your surgeon:
Mommy makeover treatment offers numerous benefits for patients who want to feel great about their body. In our next post, we will discuss more about what to expect after your mommy makeover. For more information, schedule a consultation in our Pottsville or Hazleton office.
For centuries, we humans have perceived full, defined lips as one of the hallmarks of youthful beauty. It is no secret that lip augmentation is one of the trendiest treatments at the moment. In fact, over 30,000 patients had lift lip augmentation surgery in 2018 (up by 66 percent since 2000). Each year, more than 2 million nonsurgical lip enhancing treatments are performed using dermal fillers. Because both methods of lip enhancement are popular, we find it beneficial to discuss how they compare.
Many people lean toward nonsurgical treatments, especially for facial rejuvenation. At first glance, injectable look like they offer a lot. They can, but not for every person. Soft tissue fillers work by increasing volume. The lip fillers that are commonly used are made with hyaluronic acid. This organic substance increases the plumpness of the lips by drawing water molecules into the tissue. Hyaluronic acid then traps these molecules and holds them in place for several months. To improve symmetry, fullness, and definition, lip fillers are administered into the deeper layers of the skin in a procedure that takes only about 15 minutes. From this time, results typically last up to 12 months.
A lip lift requires an incision and a few stitches. It requires a local anesthetic and may also include a mild sedative, but no general anesthesia. For this reason, the procedure is referred to as lip lift surgery. However, the treatment takes place in the office and does not involve nearly the same commitment to recovery as most surgical procedures.
The purpose of a lip lift differs from dermal fillers. Ultimately, the goal is to restore the youthful, sensual shape of the lips. However, the process through which this is achieved is different. During a lip lift, an incision is made at the base of the nose. When the incision heals, a barely perceptible scar may remain in the center column of tissue that separates the nostrils. Through this tiny incision, the superficial tissue and skin between the nose and the upper lip are carefully repositioned. The excess is trimmed and the incision is closed with one or more sutures.
Lip lift treatment may be ideal for people who have 1.5 centimeters or more of excess skin between their nose and mouth. The procedure can correct thin lips, an elongated upper lip, and may also improve the position of the corners of the mouth so they do not turn downward. After treatment, the definition and shape of the upper lift are improved, which can create the illusion of fullness.
If you know you want to improve the appearance of your lips but aren’t sure which technique is right for you, we can help. Contact our Pottsville or Hazleton office today to schedule your consultation for lip enhancement.
Sleep is one of the cornerstones of good health. More than providing us with the rest we need to succeed in our ultra-busy society, sleep is the catalyst for physical rejuvenation and healing. Knowing this, plastic surgery patients can give themselves permission to rest as much as their body dictates after their selected procedure. Depending on the type of surgery, though, sleep can be somewhat of a challenge.
Tummy tuck surgery is performed to restore muscle tone to the abdomen. The procedure achieves outstanding outcomes by surgically repositioning the abdominal muscle and trimming excess that has become loose. Understandably, when abdominal tissue is altered from a very loose state to one that is flat and tight, it takes time for settling to occur. After a tummy tuck, this can be 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, it is not possible to sleep on the side or the stomach. This can be a challenge for many patients but not one that is insurmountable.
Dr. Kimmel’s patients are encouraged to sleep only on their back while they are recovering from abdominoplasty. Because pressure and strain on incisions should be minimized, it is also necessary to sleep in a somewhat included position. This can be achieved by sleeping on several pillows or in a recliner. Even in a recliner, some patients like to place a pillow behind their head and one under their knees. This slightly inclined position may also be more comfortable on a sofa than in a bed.
Some of the ways that good sleep can be fostered after abdominoplasty include:
Dr. Kimmel has been providing outstanding care to patients in the Pottsville and Hazleton areas for more than 20 years. During this time, he has performed thousands of face, breast and body procedures. Schedule a consultation in an office near you to discover the benefits of a customized tummy tuck.
There is an old adage that says “beauty is only skin deep.” Its message has been translated in a variety of ways. Ultimately, the proverb relates to the value of character over physical appearance. We’re going to trust that our patients have the inner traits that make them beautiful from the inside out. Now, what about that outside? It’s one thing to feel beautiful as a person; it’s another to feel beautiful when you look in the mirror.
We gain a great deal of joy from helping people marry the two: their outer appearance and their inner vibrancy. One way we do this is with quality skin care that supports aging tissues. Multiple studies have shown that the skin benefits greatly from the daily effort we make to nourish it. Here, we discuss just how easy it is to promote healthy skin day in and day out.
The very basis of a good skin care regimen is the act of cleansing the epidermis. Dr. Kimmel has developed an entire skincare line with products suitable for every skin type. The first product for daily use is a pure glycolic acid foaming cleanser. The purpose of washing every morning and every night is to break down excess oil and wash away debris like dirt and makeup that would otherwise become trapped in the pores. In addition to glycolic acid, the KSC foaming cleanser contains 2% salicylic acid to exfoliate dead and damaged cells in the gentlest way.
The skin needs moisture to remain vital and healthy. Moisturizing is a step that will change throughout the year and also throughout the years. What one needs in their twenties will be quite different than what their fifty-year-old skin will need. One of the ingredients all skin can benefit from is hyaluronic acid. This sugar compound exists in the body naturally. It is also the base of most dermal fillers. Why? Because hyaluronic acid attracts water molecules and binds to them. Applied topically, a hyaluronic acid serum traps moisture in the upper layer of the skin for several hours. Used regularly, this medical-grade product promotes healthy cosmetic aging.
The skin has particular behaviors, all of which are dictated by the energy within cells like fibroblasts. It is in these cells where collagen is made. The various cells that determine the appearance of the skin respond to specific ingredients. Skin serums that contain antioxidants, peptides, and other nutrients boost the activity and physical liveliness of the cells so the skin is optimally supported.
We are proud to offer one-of-a-kind skin care in our Pottsville and Hazelton offices. Contact us to learn more.
Each year, several thousand people turn to liposuction to get a better shape. This procedure has been performed by plastic surgeons for many years. It has continually performed so well that it has been listed as a leading cosmetic procedure year after year. Still, there are common misconceptions about this body-contouring technique that keep some people in an area of dissatisfaction. Here, we want to discuss a few points about liposuction that can help you make the most informed decision about your potential treatment.
One of the primary factors that leads to patient satisfaction is expectation. To this day, misconception about liposuction helping with weight loss are far too common. When a patient expects to see a drop on the scale after undergoing liposuction, they are bound to be disappointed. Liposuction is intended as a body-shaping procedure, not a weight loss tool. The technique that is used on a local area such as the thighs or abdomen reduces fatty tissue but not to such a degree that weight changes. This doesn’t mean there aren’t significant benefits to liposuction. To see them, you’ll need to look no further than the mirror.
Weight management is an important topic of discussion when planning liposuction. One should neither believe that liposuction will change the shape of their body forever or that fat will quickly return after liposuction. What needs to be expressed here is that weight management continues to be important after a body contouring procedure of any kind. Liposuction does remove fat cells forever. No new cells replace those that have been removed. On the other hand, where there are fat cells, there is a chance for increase. Fat cells enlarge in relation to diet and exercise habits. Knowing this, one is in the prime position to enjoy long-lasting results from their procedure.
Do you have questions about liposuction? Get accurate information straight from the source. Contact our Pottsville or Hazleton office to arrange a convenient consultation with Dr. Kimmel and our friendly, experienced staff.
As much as you may appreciate the man in your life, he may be incredibly difficult to shop for. Moms are relatively easy to please; just pick up a lusciously-scented candle or body lotion and she’s smiling for months. Dads, on the other hand, leave us guessing. Come Father’s Day or any other occasion on which a special guy could receive some love, we’re often left scratching our head. Here, we want to point out that it’s not too late to recognize the man in your life in a big way.
Recent studies have confirmed something we’ve overlooked for years, that men are, in fact, interested in looking good. We call this beauty in any other realm, but not when it comes to men. Therefore, we may don’t connect the dots between gifts for Dad and beauty. We should. In our offices, Dad could be treated to a number of convenient treatments that bring out his best.
The general appearance of a man’s skin can be affected by two things: aging and hair. We’ve got solutions for both:
Reframing the way we look at beauty as it relates to the average man can open doors to the best gift-giving ever. Call our Hazleton or Pottsville office to learn more about treatments Dad might love.
Smooth, silky skin is a gift most of us wish we had all the time. The continual investment made into shaving, plucking, waxing, and trimming can go on for a lifetime if we let it. In recent years, more and more people are saying “no more!” With laser hair removal, this is entirely possible. If you want to eliminate the need to shave weekly, or daily, and still enjoy beautifully smooth skin, you may be interested in learning more about what laser hair removal can do. Here, we offer a few details.
Laser hair removal is an office treatment that can take about an hour to complete. A series of treatments is necessary to achieve lasting results, but these are scheduled about 8 weeks apart so they are completely convenient. Treatment works by vaporizing hair in the follicles at the time of treatment. The heat from the laser beam also disables hair follicles bit by bit. This is how hair growth is halted.
Treatment can be performed on a variety of areas, including the bikini area, legs, underarms, face, arms, and back, to name a few.
Many people imagine that getting hair “vaporized” right out of their hair follicles must be painful. It’s not. Here’s the trick: shave before your treatment. Laser light works by absorbing into the pigment in hair. When hair is solely within the follicle, it is destroyed so quickly that minimal sensation is felt. In this scenario, patients typically feel no more than a snap on the skin. If there is more length through which laser light must travel, there is a higher likelihood of feeling more intense sensations during treatment.
While it’s necessary to complete the recommended series of treatments to get lasting results, laser hair removal begins working immediately. After the very first treatment, the skin will be smoother and hair growth will occur at a slower rate. When hair does start to grow in due to the natural cycle of hair follicles, it is usually much lighter and thinner than before. With each subsequent treatment, the growth process is slower until it finally stops.
One of the biggest questions people have about laser hair removal is whether their results will be permanent. This can be a tricky question to answer because some people never experience regrowth after hair removal. However, a better term would probably be “semi-permanent.” In most situations, hair growth is permanently altered by laser hair removal. However, some people do notice rogue hairs growing here and there some time after their series of treatments. This can be addressed with a touch-up treatment as needed.
It’s not too late to get smooth skin before summer. Call our Pottsville or Hazleton office to schedule your laser hair removal consultation.
There are so many terms tossed about today to describe facial rejuvenation. There is the facelift, a mid-face lift, thread lifts, neck lift surgery, the MACS lift and so much more than the array of choices could quickly cause overwhelm. The thing is, it is virtually impossible for the average person to come to an educated decision about which type of facial rejuvenation is right for them simply by looking online. The connectedness of the face and neck only makes this more difficult.
Actress and writer Nora Ephron penned, “You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you wouldn’t if it had a neck.” Does this speak to you? Do you, like Ephron, realize that your neck tells the truth about your age no matter how consistently you get Botox and dermal fillers? The fact is, we can’t spot treat aging any more than we can spot reduce fat.
Let’s look at the basics of a facelift, for starters. It is a common misconception that facelift surgery lifts the whole face. Not so. A facelift is limited to the lower part of the face; no eyes or forehead rejuvenation here. What does get treated with a facelift is the cheek area, the jawline and chin, and the underside of the chin. The lower face is rejuvenated by carefully pulling tissue up and back and trimming away extra tissue. If necessary, pockets of fat may be removed or repositioned to widen the mid-face and narrow the lower face.
Why would one need a neck lift when a facelift does so much? Remember, the neck reveals the lies your face is telling. Neck lift surgery improves the tightness of the muscles and skin below the jawline. This technique can reposition or remove fatty deposits so the chin and jawline follow youthful contours; no more turkey neck.
There is no way to separate the neck from the face unless you plan on wearing turtlenecks á la Diane Keaton for the rest of your life. If you plan on a facial refresher with a customized facelift, consult with a plastic surgeon who will also observe how the two areas interact.
We want you to obtain the look you want in the way that works best for you. To explore options for facial rejuvenation, call our Hazleton or Pottsville office.
