Pick the Right Surgeon

Surgical technique plays a big role in how an incision will heal and scar. Choosing an experienced and qualified plastic surgeon like Dr. Krau is important because you want a surgeon that knows how to place the incisions, how to handle the body’s tissues and how to close the incisions for the least noticeable scars.

Use Products as Prescribed

After surgery, you may receive prescriptions for topical creams or ointments from Dr. Krau to apply to the surgical incision site. Use these products as prescribed to keep the area clean and protect it from bacteria and infection.

Hydrate and Eat Right

Getting adequate hydration and eating nutritious meals are two of the best things you can do as you recover. The idea is to fuel your body and boost your immune system with as many nutrients and antioxidants as possible.

Refrain From Picking Scabs

If your surgical wound area starts to scab, avoid picking at it. The scab is in place to protect the healing wound until it has closed up. Scabs fall off naturally when they are ready and do not need you to pick at them or accelerate the process.

Do Not Smoke

Smoking is terrible for scar formation because it diminishes your body’s ability to carry oxygen to the healing tissues. During your pre-operative consultation, Dr. Krau will tell you that you need to stop smoking several weeks prior to surgery; it’s a good idea to refrain from picking the habit back up after surgery.

Light Exercise for Good Blood Flow

Exercising promotes healthy circulation. It is critical for the surgical wound site to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs for tissue regeneration. Exercising after surgery gets your heart pumping and your blood circulating. However, don’t jump back into exercising after surgery without clearing it with Dr. Krau. He might want you to stick with low-impact exercise like walking during your initial recovery.

Ask about Silicone Sheeting and Other Scar Products

Many doctors encourage the use of flat silicone sheeting to protect the incision site and prevent it from drying out or becoming raised. Some claim that the sheets help to control redness, swelling, scar thickness and itching. Ask Dr. Krau what he thinks about silicone sheeting (or similar alternatives).

One Factor You Cannot Control

Unfortunately, one factor that affects scarring but is out of your control is genetics. Some people are more predisposed than others to developing prominent scars. Upon examination during consultation, Dr. Krau can determine whether your skin is more likely to scar and explain what he can do to work around this.

Contact Our Miami Plastic Surgeon

For more information about minimizing plastic surgery scars, please contact Miami plastic surgeon Ary Krau today. You can reach our office by calling (305) 861-6881 or by sending us an email.

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Support Bra

A support bra is a must for the first few weeks after a breast lift procedure. Patients return home from surgery with a soft, supportive bra. The fit of the bra helps the breasts stay in place and reduces swelling. Most patients benefit from wearing the support bra at all times, even to bed. During the first few weeks of recovery, it’s not recommended that patients wear bras with underwire. Along with the surgical bra, sports bras are ideal for the recovery period.

First Few Days

You will most likely experience the greatest amount of discomfort in the first few days after your breast lift surgery. It’s a good idea to have someone around the house to help you out, such as a family member, friend or spouse. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medications to help you manage any pain or discomfort from the surgery. Discuss any pain medications you plan on taking with your surgeon first. Some over-the-counter medicines increase the risk of bleeding and should be avoided.

Driving

Typically, you can begin light activities about a week after your surgery. If you are taking pain medications, you should wait to drive a vehicle until you’ve stopped the medicines. You shouldn’t get back on the road again until you feel alert and able to respond quickly.

Going Back to Work

When you can go back to work depends on what type of job you have. If you have an office job or one that doesn’t require much physical exertion, you might be able to head back within a week of your surgery. Wait until you get the OK from your surgeon to head back to your job if it involves physical activity.

Resuming More Strenuous Activities

You should wait a few weeks before resuming more strenuous activities, such as exercise or sex. Even after you’re able to begin strenuous activities again, you’ll need to be extra careful and to protect the breast area.

Discuss any concerns you have about recovery or when to go back to your day-to-day activities with Dr Krau before your breast lift surgery.

Want to learn more? Check out these related blog entries:

• Can You Get a Breast Lift Without Scars?
• How Long Should a Breast Lift Last?
• What’s the Difference Between a Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, and Breast Revision?

The post How Long Does It Take to Recover From Breast Lift Surgery? appeared first on Ary Krau MD.

Bottoming Out

Patients who have thin or stretched skin may experience a loss of the skin’s natural elasticity, resulting in skin that is extremely loose or lax. These patients are susceptible to bottoming out, a condition that occurs when the envelope supporting the breast implant drops, causing a sagging, pendulous appearance. In these patients, the nipple ends up siting high on the breast with the bulk of the breast tissue hanging well below the nipple. The breast skin may also appear stretched below the nipple, magnifying the breast’s droopy appearance. In these patients, ADM can be used to provide a supportive meshwork between the breast tissue and the chest muscle, keeping the breasts in a more desirable position.

Capsular Contracture

Contracture occurs when unnaturally thick scar tissue forms around the implant, squeezing the implant over time and causing tightness and other changes in the appearance of the breast as well as discomfort in many patients. ADM has been shown to help thwart the formation of unnaturally thick scar tissue that causes contracture. Although it’s not entirely clear how it “shorts out” the scarring process, some experts believe ADM may help reduce inflammation that causes scarring; by promoting the rapid growth of healthy cells, ADM also may help “crowd out” scar tissue cells, preventing the formation of thick, fibrous tissue.

Rippling/Wrinkling

Wrinkling and rippling typically occur when the pocket formed to surround the implant stretches, becoming too large for the implant and allowing it to move or migrate from the desired position. The laxity that occurs can cause the tissues surrounding the breast to become loose, eventually resulting in wrinkles Wrinkling also can occur in women whose breast tissue is weak or thin. ADM is used to provide a supportive sling for the implants; over time, the patient’s own cells will form within the matrix, increasing support.

Fold Malposition

The natural folds along the bottom and side of the breasts are an integral part of the body’s natural curves. In some patients, especially those with thin or weak breast tissue, the pockets supporting the implants can become compromised, allowing the implant to drift downward or sideways, causing folds to flatten out and resulting in an unnatural appearance. ADM acts as a “tissue buttress,” providing added support for the pocket and redefining the natural folds.

The need for revision surgery is most common among women with thin or weak breast tissue, but complications can occur in any patient, especially as they age. Added to a revision procedure, ADM can help patients achieve their aesthetic goals and increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. Give us a call today to learn more (305) 861-6881. You can also read more about the breast procedures that Dr. Krau performs on these pages: Miami Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation, Breast Revision.

The post Is ADM a Good Option for Implant Revision Patients? appeared first on Ary Krau MD.

While some breast lift procedures leave considerable scarring, the technique used by board certified plastic surgeon Ary Krau, MD are designed to leave fewer scars and longer lasting results.

Fewer Scars

The amount of scarring that remains after the breast lift surgery depends on the type of procedure that a surgeon performs. The traditional procedure requires a physician to make a horizontal anchor incision across the chest, just beneath the breasts. The large incision leaves a considerable scar. While the scar isn’t visible beneath clothing, its presence can have an impact on a patient’s self-esteem and can make her feel less satisfied with the surgery’s results.

The vertical mammoplasty technique used by Dr. Krau eliminates the need for the large anchor incision. He makes a short, vertical incision just below the areola, which results in a much smaller scar that is less visible.

Less Tension

Dr. Krau’s method also reduces scars by not placing a considerable amount of tension on the skin of the breast. Skin is very elastic. It stretches over time, particularly when there is weight and gravity placed on it. Tension on the skin of the breast increases the likelihood that scars will be more noticeable because they have not healed as well.

Less tension on the skin of the breasts also means longer lasting results. Dr Krau’s technique uses the inner breast tissue, or fascia, to provide support for the breast lift, rather than relying on the skin for support. This nearly completely eliminates outside tension on the skin. Unlike skin, the fascia is not elastic and will not stretch out.

Healing and Scar Management

Allowing the body time to heal after a breast lift procedure is essential when it comes to reducing the appearance of any scars. Less tension on the skin of the breasts following the procedure helps speed the healing process. It’s important for patients to follow the advice of their surgeon after a breast lift to ensure that healing takes place. Patients should avoid smoking, for example, as tobacco use slows down the healing process. Along with giving the body time to heal after surgery, a patient can use topical ointments or other treatments that are suggested by a doctor in order to reduce the look of scars.

Check out some of the other related blog entries that have recently been published here;

• Things to Think About Before Getting an Augmentation or Lift
• What is the Difference Between an Breast Augmentation, Lift, and Reduction?
• Study shows that Breast Augmentation Improves Self-Esteem and Quality of Life

The post Can You Get a Breast Lift Without Scars? appeared first on Ary Krau MD.

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