Category Archives: Plastic Surgery News

Your BMI: How It Can Affect Your Cosmetic Surgery Results

Thursday, 15 September 2022 09:10

Dr. Robert M. Kimmel

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Your BMI, or body mass index, is a number that reflects the ratio of your height to your weight. It’s used to assess whether you’re at a healthy weight for your height. Your BMI can also affect your cosmetic surgery results. If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, it’s important to understand how your BMI can impact your procedure and recovery.

What is BMI, and How Can It Affect Your Cosmetic Surgery Results?

BMI, or body mass index, is a measure of your body fat based on height and weight. It’s a common way for doctors to assess whether someone is at a healthy weight. BMI can also be a factor in cosmetic surgery. For example, if you are planning to have liposuction, your surgeon may use your BMI to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.

BMI is just one factor that can affect your cosmetic surgery results. Other factors, such as skin elasticity and hair density, can also play a role. However, if you are considering cosmetic surgery, it’s essential to talk to your surgeon about your BMI and how it could affect your results.

What Are Some Tips for Maintaining a Healthy BMI Before Surgery?

Your BMI is a number that indicates whether you are a healthy weight for your height. For most people, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. If your BMI is outside of this range, it can be a risk factor for complications during surgery.

That’s why, if you are considering surgery, it is important to try to maintain a healthy BMI. Here are some tips for doing so:

• Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Avoid processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive amounts of saturated and unhealthy fats.
• Get regular exercise, but avoid strenuous activity that could impact your surgery.
• Talk to your doctor about your weight loss goals and how to safely achieve them before your surgery.

By following these tips, you can help improve your chances of having a successful surgery and recovery.

Your One-Stop Shop for All Plastic Surgery

Would you like to get a cosmetic surgery procedure in Pennsylvania? Look no further than Keystone Cosmetic Surgery Center in Pottsville and Hazleton, PA. 

Our services include breast augmentations, tummy tucks, facial surgery, liposuction, and ear and nose reshaping. Whether you want to look better in your clothes, feel better about yourself, or boost your self-esteem, we want to help you achieve the look you want.

If you would like to reach us, you can reach us at our Pottsville office at 570-622-2900 and our Hazleton office at 570-455-4252.

8 Ways You Can Finance Your Plastic Surgery Dreams

Monday, 15 August 2022 11:46

Dr. Robert M. Kimmel

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While some people may be able to pay for cosmetic surgery out of pocket, most will need to finance their procedures. Fortunately, many options are available for those who need to finance their plastic surgery.

This blog post will explore nine of the most common financing options for cosmetic surgery.

1. Savings: One way to finance your plastic surgery dreams is to save up for it. This may take some time, but it is possible to do.

2. Credit Cards: Another way to finance your plastic surgery dreams is to use credit cards. If you are careful, this can be a quick way to get the money you need.

3. Loans: Another option for financing your plastic surgery dreams is to take out a loan. Having a good credit score and being able to afford the monthly payments can make this a good option.

4. Grants: There are some grants available that can help you finance your plastic surgery dreams. You may qualify for one of these if you can find one that fits your situation.

5. Fundraising: Finally, another option for financing your plastic surgery dreams is to fundraise for it. Having a large network of people who are willing to help you can be a great option.

6. Personal Loans: If you don’t have good credit, you can still get a personal loan to finance your plastic surgery dreams. You may be able to qualify for this loan if you have a co-signer with good credit.

7. Federal, State, or City Loans: Federal, state, or city loans are also available to help you finance your plastic surgery dreams. The monthly payments can be affordable if you have good credit.

8. Enroll In A Payment Plan Through The Plastic Surgeon. Even for the most expensive cosmetic surgery, you can find a company that offers payment plans. You can use this method to save up money on the procedure.

Schedule a Consultation 

Are you interested in learning more about plastic surgery? At Keystone Cosmetic Surgery Center, we offer breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tucks, and other procedures. Our Pottsville office can be reached at 570-622-2900, and our Hazleton office can be reached at 570-455-4252. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Plastic Surgery: It’s a Mind-Body Thing

Monday, 15 November 2021 07:50

Dr. Robert M. Kimmel

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Deciding to have plastic surgery is momentous. For most people, it takes months, if not years, to make the decision that surgery is the best approach to their cosmetic concerns. Once the decision is made, the expectation has been set. Most people, once they have consulted with a surgeon, begin imagining what life will be like after surgery. They imagine their new and improved appearance and just know that they will feel happy that they chose to take the path that they did. It is very rare for any other perspective to emerge. There is no inkling whatsoever that feelings of sadness may occur after plastic surgery. Feelings of sadness can occur, so this is an issue that we must discuss. 

Why Would I Feel Sad After Plastic Surgery?

The term postoperative depression has been used to describe the strong emotional reaction that some people have after a major procedure. This condition is often related to open heart surgery, hysterectomy, or other procedures in which there may be some sense of loss. In such situations, feeling a little blue makes sense. It doesn’t make sense to most people to encounter sadness after a cosmetic procedure, and this can be precisely what makes it so challenging. 

Postoperative sadness after plastic surgery is akin to postpartum depression in one major way. In both situations, the affected person feels sad when everything tells them they should feel immensely happy. The conflict here creates confusion, guilt, and can feel very isolating.

Some of the ways that sadness can present after surgery include:

• Anxiety about postoperative side effects and how the body is healing. 
• A sense of distress about not knowing when to call the doctor about side effects. 
• A sense of loss due to the disruption of normal daily activities. 
• Irritability and heightened emotional sensitivity.
• Doubt and second-guessing the decision to have surgery.

Any surgical procedure is stressful on the body and the mind. This is one of the primary reasons people can feel sad after a successful cosmetic surgery. The nervous system is simply doing what it does to process what has happened “to” the body. Having to rely on others, even for a short time, can exacerbate the emotional aspect of recovery, as well. 

Restoring Emotional Balance after Surgery

Emotional balance will return as the body heals and energy is regained. Patients who experience postoperative sadness tend to feel increasingly better as side effects like swelling, bruising, and discomfort subside, and as they can do more for themselves. However, there is no need to wait it out.

Some ways to attend to emotional needs after surgery include:

• Ask lots of questions before surgery so you know what to expect, such as what you will look like right after your procedure, and how long it may take for side effects to begin to resolve. 
• Prepare  healthy meals before surgery so no cooking has to be done. Make them healthy and comforting, so they feed both the body and the mind. 
• Write down affirmations to read on days when emotions feel heightened. 
• Create a vision board to remind yourself of your Why and what you have to look forward to. 
• Stay connected with a strong support team who is in favor of your surgery.

The vast majority of people who have plastic surgery are very glad they did. You can be one of them, and we are here to see you through. To schedule a consultation, contact our Pottsville or Hazleton office today.

Why Do We Recommend Compression after Plastic Surgery?

Friday, 30 April 2021 12:56

Dr. Robert M. Kimmel

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Most people who plan to undergo plastic surgery expect to have to wear a compression garment afterward. This garment, primarily made of nylon and some type of spandex, is a crucial aspect of post-operative recovery. Fortunately, most garments are carefully made to accomplish the goal of gently pressing on an area. They are rarely overly-tight and uncomfortable. Still, because they do fit snuggly, compression garments can sometimes feel like a bit of a nuisance. Patients sometimes wonder why they need to adhere to the guideline of wearing compression. We discuss that here.

What are the Benefits of using a Compression Garment?

Compression garments are worn at all times after surgery to assist with several aspects of healing.

• It is common to experience swelling after surgery. This happens because fluid builds up in the tissue around the operative area. Compression helps push fluid away from healing tissue.
• Surgical procedures disrupt the blood vessels, which causes small amounts of blood to leak into the operative area. Compression decreases the migration of blood cells from deeper layers of tissue towards the skin.
• Blood circulation. Most patients are somewhat limited in mobility for a few days after having surgery. The lack of physical movement blunts circulation to some degree. Another benefit of wearing a compression garment as directed is that it supports blood moving through the operative area and the body during those few days of relative rest. Keep in mind that it is important to walk short distances as tolerated after plastic surgery.
• Compression garments worn after plastic surgery are not the same as the waist trainers and other compression worn to temporarily shape the body. In the instance of post-op compression, the goal is to help smooth the skin and superficial subcutaneous fat to achieve optimal aesthetic outcomes.
• By reducing swelling and supporting good circulation, compression garments help keep post-operative inflammation to a minimum. Where inflammation is well-managed, there is less pain. Where there is less pain, there is a happier patient!

In the past year, many people who had never thought they would have plastic surgery have decided to take that leap. If you’re interested in learning more about a particular procedure, schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. We’d love to see you in our Pottsville or Hazleton office.

What Beauty Trends Will Be Popular In 2021?

Monday, 15 March 2021 14:15

Dr. Robert M. Kimmel

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Plastic surgery procedures were on the rise for years before the pandemic that struck early last year. Much to our surprise, the field has thrived throughout the periodic lockdowns and mask mandates. It does not seem as though interest in plastic surgery and other beauty treatments will diminish anytime soon. What has begun to change from previous years is the trends that drive plastic surgery consultations.

Why the Shift?

For several years, plastic surgery trends revolved around the body. We had the “year of the butt” that lasted quite some time and involved thousands of buttocks augmentation procedures. Body contouring was also a driving trend for many years. Adults underwent liposuction, abdominoplasty, and other lifts and tucks to sculpt their bodies. Last year, we saw a massive shift. While body contouring continues to achieve outstanding results, we’re seeing more interest in facial rejuvenation than we have in years. There are two primary reasons.

One of the big changes that occurred as a result of the novel coronavirus was that many people shifted into a work-from-home situation. Working from home lent more flexibility to daily scheduling. People had time to schedule beauty treatments or plastic surgery because they had more time to recover at home. The work-from-home situation also put people in front of a screen far more often than they were used to. Video conferencing allowed us to see our coworkers, but it also allowed us to see ourselves in real-time, and that led to the identification of beauty goals. Perhaps you’ve made a few of your own in the past year.

Trending Beauty Treatments

As we saw in 2020, we expect trends to remain focused on facial rejuvenation for the remainder of this year, too. Treatments that are commonly sought include:

• Eyelid rejuvenation. The eyes are the primary communicating force of the face these days, thanks to necessary mask-wearing. Eyelid rejuvenation can lift heavy eyelids, eliminate undereye bags, and smooth wrinkles. This may be achieved with BOTOX and other injections or it may be achieved with blepharoplasty. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon can help you weigh them.
• The lower face may be covered when we go out but it is center stage during those video conferences! Facelifts accounted for a vast majority of plastic surgery consultations last year. This procedure can eliminate deep creases around the nose and mouth, refine the jawline, and give more curvature to the midface. In our Pottsville and Hazleton offices, patients also have the option of a thread lift for minimally-invasive enhancement.
• Lip Augmentation. The shape of the lips has become a topic of interest for men and women who are now seeing themselves more frequently than they have in previous years. This trend has morphed somewhat since it first emerged. People are no longer seeking dramatically overfilled lips. Today’s lip augmentation looks and feels soft and kissable.

We have several ways to help you feel your best in 2021. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.

Feeling Sad after Plastic Surgery? It’s Normal!

Monday, 30 November 2020 08:21

Dr. Robert M. Kimmel

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Plastic surgery procedures have become somewhat of the norm in countries all around the world. Various techniques provide adults with the opportunity to feel more confident in their appearance. Some procedures enhance the body while others correct the signs of aging. Regardless of the type of procedure a person has, they are often interested in knowing what their recovery will be like. Usually, the primary questions revolve around how much pain they will be in and how they can manage it. Because plastic surgery offers significant rewards, patients rarely wonder how they will feel emotionally after having their desired procedure. The fact is, plastic surgery can affect emotions, so we need to talk about this aspect of recovery, too. We’ll do that here.

Why Some People Get the Post-Op Blues

It doesn’t seem logical to have the blues after undergoing an elective procedure. After all, most patients spend months if not years looking forward to looking better! There are several reasons why the blues may pop up out of nowhere in the first days of recovery. The primary issue that seems to arise is frustration about results. Bruising and swelling are common side effects of surgery. When these don’t go away as quickly as a patient would like, they can feel like they are not healing properly and wind up feeling down. Surgery is also very fatiguing. Patients may feel relatively comfortable and able to resume some of their normal activities but they become easily tired. This can also lead to sadness. The list goes on: feeling unable to take care of others as they normally do, not being able to work or socialize for a few weeks, feeling bored or unproductive; these are all feelings that can result in the blues. Also, they are all normal.

Tips to Avoid the Post-op Blues

1. Get clear details from the surgeon about how long recovery will take. Pay close attention so realistic expectations can be set.
2. Plan the recovery space according to the surgeon’s estimate for healing. If you will be home for two full weeks, schedule a date with a friend you trust your appearance with. Schedule phone conversations. Gather books and music and other entertainment to occupy your time.
3. Get outside. Yes, we know this can feel challenging. Patients are instructed to start walking right away after plastic surgery, though, so this might as well be done outside if possible. Getting outside is good for the mind. Nature offers numerous distractions that replenish emotional wellness.
4. Get nourished. Nourishment is vital to good health, especially after surgery. While pain medication may cause issues like nausea and constipation, a healthy diet of soups, salads, fruits, and fresh vegetables can begin the necessary reset right away.

In the end, the majority of people who have plastic surgery are glad they did. We think the process can be pleasant from start to finish! To schedule your consultation for a face or body procedure, contact us in Pottsville or Hazleton.