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Sutton L. Graham, II, M.D., FACS
- Suite 100
615 Halton Road
Greenville, SC 29607-3403 - Tel: Click for phone number
- Fax: 864-676-9256
- Send E-mail
- www.expertplasticsurgeon.com
Answered Questions
Q:
If I have more children, will my breasts look like they did after breast implant surgery?
If I get breast implants and then have more children, will my breasts look as they did after the breast augmentation surgery or will their appearance change?
A:
Yes, additional children will change the appearance of your breasts, but the amount of change is unpredictable. If you have already had several pregnancies and breast fed several times, the changes may be less than if your have only had one child.
If you are planning additional children soon, I recommend delaying breast augmentation until you finish. However it is safe to do otherwise.
Many happy patients have implants before they have children.
By the way, it makes no difference here if you chose saline-filled or silicone gel-filled implants.
Q:
Will implants alone lift the breasts or will I also need a breast lift?
Due to weight loss my breasts are slightly saggy. I am only a B cup size. I want to have the breasts enlarged but I also want them lifted. Due to their small size, will getting implants also lift them? If not, and if I also need to have a breast lift, can both procedures be done at the same time?
A:
Those are great questions, but a final answer will be based on your in-person exam by a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Yes, implants can "lift" small breasts. Implant placement improves size, shape, and projection of your breast.
Yes both procedures can probably be done at the same time (although women with advanced sagging may need two-stage lift then augmentation).
Implant placement alone often does provide some lift when there is only mild sagging. This means a less involved procedure. One important factor that varies greatly among women is the degree of down-turn of the nipple in a breast with sagging. It is better if you have less, because otherwise a lift is necessary. Another important factor is how much skin folds down onto the ribcage below the breast. Again less is better because then shorter incisions are needed.
Finally, based on your age (<25) I would suggest discussing whether you are finished having children, and how that would effect your results. Best wishes.
Q:
How old do I have to be for a doctor to agree to do an arm lift?
I have very heavy arms. I have been exercising to lose some fat from my arms but I have not had success. I want to be able to wear sleeveless and strapless tops without the fat on my arms showing. How old must I be before a doctor will agree to do an arm lift?
A:
Your age will probably not be the the most important factor, since you are over 18. Arm tuck/ lift is also known as brachioplasty. Reduction of arm fat (without skin tightening) would be done by liposuction instead.
Personal evaluation by your board-certified plastic surgeon will be needed to answer the question if this procedure is right for you. The factors he or she will consider include your general health and suitability for surgery and anesthesia, the amount of arm fat, the amount and looseness of arm skin and any planned significant weight loss. These factors can affect type of procedure(s) and timing. Your surgeon will recommend the procedures most likely to give you the best result at your current age, or in the future. Best wishes.
Q:
What is the best way to remove neck wrinkles?
I am 55 years old. The wrinkles in my neck and under my chin are more obvious than any part of my face. What is the best way to get rid of them?
A:
Neck wrinkles can mean several kinds of problems, which can best be evaluated by a plastic surgeon in-person. Guessing from your 46 year age, you may or may not be developing vertical bands from loose skin and lax internal support - these really only improve with a neck lift or facelift.
Another common cause of neck wrinkles are the horizontal (collar) lines. And finally you may have texture changes in the skin giving surface lines and irregularities. These are probably the result of hereditary and environmental effects on the skin, and from motion. Sun protection and moisturizing are the simplest steps. Next would be minimally invasive treatments like Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), laser skin tightening, and light peels.
Finally, a neck lift will also improve the latter changes, but is often best in conjunction with those other treatments. Call your local board-certified plastic surgeon for a full evaluation.
Q:
Can the results of laser hair removal of dark brown body hair be considered permanent?
Can laser hair removal be considered a permanent method of removing darker/brown body hair?
A:
The simple answer is no (although you will see ads to the contrary), but there are better answers. The FDA has allowed several laser manufacturers to claim permanent hair "reduction" rather than removal.
You can accomplish this in a series of treatments. A single laser treatment affects the portion of the hair follicles that are in active growth phase, but there are always dormant follicles. Subsequent laser treatments work on those previously dormant follicles as they become active.
Typical patients see dramatic reduction in darker, thicker hair, becoming more sparse, finer and lighter, and much less visible. The best candidates have darker hair, as you mentioned, and lighter skin tones. However there are laser wavelengths that safely treat darker skin types (even Asian or African-American). Popular areas are the under-arm, bikini areas, face and the legs.
Our website www.ExpertPlasticSurgeon.com has additional information.