Will I have a Visible Scar from my Tummy Tuck?

Posted on September 2, 2010 by admin

By Dr. Leila Kasrai, Toronto plastic surgeon

Anytime you cut your skin, you’re going to end up with a scar. But for most of my Toronto patients, a flatter, more toned belly with fewer stretch marks is worth having a scar.

So what kind of a scar will you be left with? The amount of scarring will depend on the size of the incision – and on how your body heals. Generally, however abdominoplasty leaves a smile-shaped, hip-to-hip scar just above the pubic area; the more skin you have removed, the longer the scar will be. (But don’t worry, the location of the scar will be low enough to be covered by underwear or a bathing suit.) There may also be a scar around the belly button. When patients come to my Toronto clinic for a consultation I usually draw “sample” scars onto their bodies to give them a sense of what it will look like once it has healed.

A full tummy tuck – one which addresses both the lower and the upper abdomen (the areas below and above your belly button) will leave a more noticeable scar than a mini-tuck, which only deals with the area below the belly button. But with a mini-tuck, the overall results are less dramatic; mini-tucks are only a good solution if you don’t have a lot of loose skin or stretch marks, just a fatty pouch you want to get rid of.

But there are ways to minimize the scar: have the procedure done by a qualified plastic surgeon, and follow post-surgical care instructions to a T. If you smoke, that can lead to more significant scarring – and a higher risk of complications after surgery. Cigarette smoke causes the blood vessels in your skin to constrict so your skin cells don’t get enough oxygen, and your immune response is lowered. For my Toronto patients who are smokers, I recommend not smoking for two weeks before surgery, and at least two weeks after.

Also remember that scarring becomes flatter and less visible over time. Your scar may even grow more noticeable before fading – don’t worry, that’s a normal part of the healing process. I have a variety of topical treatments that I recommend to my Toronto patients to promote healing and minimize tummy tuck scarring.

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Dr. Kasrai- Toronto Ear Reconstruction Surgery, Microtia Video

Posted on September 2, 2010 by admin

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How long until I see the Final Results of a Tummy Tuck?

Posted on September 2, 2010 by admin

By Dr. Leila Kasrai, Toronto plastic surgeon

After pregnancy or weight gain, many Toronto women’s tummies don’t “snap back” to their previously smooth, taut selves. It’s an issue that causes women in my Toronto plastic surgery practice tremendous stress, because no amount of dieting or exercise can re-tone those muscles. But you don’t have to accept a saggy midsection. A full tummy tuck, (also known as abdominoplasty), is a procedure that tightens the skin and muscle of the abdomen to give you a smoother, flatter appearance.

Once you’ve had the procedure, it may take a little while to see the final results. Typically, you’ll have some swelling immediately after the surgery that can last up to two weeks. After two weeks, you’ll definitely be able to see a difference to your pre-surgery tummy. If you had a lot of sagging, you’ll notice a more dramatic difference; a tummy tuck is an effective way to get rid of loose tissue and skin. However, you need to be realistic about your expectations. Results are slightly different for every one of my Toronto patients, and depend on a number of factors including your skin tone, body type, your overall health, your diet – and the unique way your body heals.

Be patient, let your body heal, and chances are, you’ll love the results – which will last a long time if you maintain your weight by exercising and eating sensibly. However, if you gain a significant amount of weight or become pregnant, that will impact the results, and may require you to undergo the surgery again.

Click here to see Before and After Results of Leila Kasrai MD

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Silicone or Saline – which type of Breast Implant is best for you?

Posted on September 2, 2010 by admin

By Dr. Leila Kasrai, Toronto plastic surgeon

Breast augmentation is one of the most common procedures I do in my Toronto plastic surgery clinic. One of the choices my patients need to make, other than size and incision site, is what type of implant suits them best. Silicone and saline are both perfectly safe and comfortable choices, but they do have some differences that will influence your choice. Make sure you discuss your options with your Toronto plastic surgeon, and choose the one that best suits your needs and your lifestyle.

Saline Breast Implants
Saline implants are silicone shells that are filled with a saline solution, usually during surgery – the shell is placed in the breast and then filled, which means it requires a minimal incision. However, on the down side, some people think saline implants don’t look natural – they have been criticized for being hard. However, placing the implant behind the chest muscle is one way to avoid the “fake” look.

If a saline implant ruptures, the breast deflates, and requires additional surgery to remove the shell and place a new implant. The harmless saline solution inside is absorbed into the body.

Silicone Breast Implants
Silicone implants are filled with a thick fluid that mimics human fat. (I often describe it as the consistency of a gummi bear – it’s soft and pliable). As a result, breasts with silicone implants are much more commonly used because of their more natural look and feel. Despite controversy around silicone implants in the early 90s, there is no evidence that they cause health problems in the women who have them.

If you are having very large implants put it, the only drawback to silicone is that the incision has to accommodate the size of the implant. With saline, the shell is filled when it is already in your breast, but with silicone, the filled implant has to fit through the incision, which means a larger one is necessary, resulting in more scarring and potential nerve damage.

In the unlikely event that a silicone implant ruptures, you probably won’t be able to tell right away. Leaking silicone has not been linked with health problems, but it can cause pain, and will need to be removed or replaced. In fact, silicone is a safe material that is used for a variety of medical purposes, not just for breast implants. Doctors use it in heart valves, catheters, prostheses, for treatment of scars and wrinkles, and more.

Although I tend to recommend silicone implants to patients in my Toronto plastic surgery clinic, I perform breast augmentations with both saline and silicone, depending on the needs and preferences of my Toronto patients. Educate yourself about your options; talk to your plastic surgeon to find out what the best choice is for you.

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Toronto moms – Get your body back with a Mommy Makeover

Posted on September 2, 2010 by admin

By Dr. Leila Kasrai, Toronto plastic surgeon

Being a mom is great, but it can take a real toll on your body. Weight gain, stretch marks, loss of muscle tone, sagging breasts…your body goes through tremendous changes during pregnancy and early motherhood, and more often than not, it doesn’t change back.

When I see mommy makeover candidates in my Toronto practice, their biggest complaints are loose skin, sagging breasts, protruding tummies and fat deposits that just won’t respond to diet and exercise. They’re unhappy with how they look and feel, and they want to do something about it. That’s where a mommy makeover can help. It can get them back to their pre-baby bodies, and help them feel more attractive, self-confident, and comfortable in their own skin.

So what exactly is a mommy makeover?
It depends on the needs of the individual, but most commonly, it’s a combination of tummy tuck, breast lift or enhancement, and liposuction. Here’s a quick rundown of the individual surgeries and the results you can expect from each one.

Liposuction. In addition to the overall weight gain that usually comes with pregnancy, hormonal changes can cause localized fat deposits in the abdomen, hips, thighs and back. Diet and exercise don’t help with these deposits (not that moms have much time to exercise anyway), which makes liposuction the ideal solution for tackling trouble spots.

Please be aware, however, that liposuction is not a weight loss tool. It is for women who are close to their desired weight, have good skin elasticity and are just looking to contour specific areas.

Tummy tuck. When you’re pregnant, the abdominal skin and muscles stretch and separate to accommodate baby. The result ends up being loose, sagging skin, stretch marks, and a bulging belly that can’t be corrected through diet and exercise alone. The only solution is a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), a surgical tightening of the skin and muscles of the abdominal wall.

This mommy makeover procedure removes excess skin below the belly button, tightens and flattens the abdominal muscles, and gets rid of stretch marks. I don’t recommend a tummy tuck if you’re planning to become pregnant again, however. I usually suggest waiting until your family is complete, since another pregnancy would likely stretch the abdomen again and reverse the effects of the surgery.

Breast lift and/or Breast augmentation. During pregnancy, milk glands swell and replace fatty tissue, stretching the skin. Once that milk is no longer needed, the glands shrink, and the breast ends up losing volume, becoming saggy or deflated-looking. Your surgical options are a breast lift, augmentation or both. A breast lift removes excess stretched skin, raises the nipples and reduces sagging. If you’ve lost significant volume, a breast augmentation may be an option. Safe, natural-looking implants fill out the stretched skin and return the volume you lost during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Small incisions are made under the breasts or around the nipples, and the implants are inserted above or below the muscle of the breast, depending on your anatomy (and your preferences).

Breast reduction. Some women’s breasts increase uncomfortably in size during pregnancy – and stay that way after childbirth. In that case, a breast reduction may be the way to go.

Toronto moms – is mommy makeover surgery the right decision for you?

a)      Are you planning on having more children? If so, wait. Additional pregnancies will probably reverse the results of any surgery you might have.

b)      Do you have realistic expectations? A mommy makeover won’t change your life. It will make your body look better, and it will likely give you more self-confidence, but it will not change the way other people treat you.

c)      Are your kids old enough to be cared for by someone else for two weeks while you recover from you mommy makeover? Making lunches, doing laundry and carrying around a toddler could impact your recovery.

d)      Will you be able to take at least two weeks off for your mommy makeover?

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Full Tummy Tuck or Mini-Tummy Tuck – What’s right for you?

Posted on September 2, 2010 by admin

By Dr. Leila Kasrai, Toronto plastic surgeon

So you’ve got a saggy tummy that isn’t responding to diet or exercise. Could be because pregnancy has stretched the skin and muscle, because you’ve recently lost weight, your body has lost elasticity due to aging – or some combination of those factors. If cutting back on calories and hitting the gym on a regular basis aren’t working to tone your tummy, a full or partial abdominoplasty can make a big difference.

Which is the right option for you? As I always tell patients in my Toronto plastic surgery clinic, it completely depends on your body and your personal preferences.

Full Tummy Tuck in Toronto
This is a good option for women with a lot of sagging skin and stretch marks. A full abdominoplasty tightens your skin and muscles and removes fat, giving your stomach a flatter, smoother appearance with fewer stretch marks. A full tuck addresses your upper and lower abdominal areas (the areas above and below your belly button), tightening muscles and skin across the entire area. The belly button is anchored to prevent skin distortion and tighten the upper abdominal skin. In my Toronto clinic, I often combine this with liposuction for dramatic results.

Mini-Tummy Tuck
A partial tummy tuck tightens skin and muscle in the lower abdomen. It’s a good choice for people who don’t have stretch marks or saggy skin, but have a pouch of fat tissue below their belly button.

In the procedure, I make a small incision above the pubis (the incision is smaller than it would be for a full tummy tuck in Toronto). I do limited skin excision below the belly button to smooth the skin. Excess fat, especially fat at the sides of the stomach, can be removed with liposuction.

The result is a tighter tummy and reduced stretch marks – but because this option is limited and less invasive, results tend to be more subtle. If you’re looking for a dramatic change, a full tuck is likely a better idea for you.

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Can I woman breast feed with breast implants?

Posted on September 2, 2010 by admin

By Dr. Leila Kasrai, Toronto Female plastic surgeon

One of the most common questions I get from patients in my Toronto plastic surgery clinic is about being able to breast feed after breast augmentation. The short answer is yes – for most women, it is possible to nurse with implants, and it’s safe for your baby. However, every woman is different, so I recommend talking to your plastic surgeon and a lactation specialist.

The long answer? A big factor affecting your ability to produce milk is the type of surgery you’ve had. If your incisions were made under the fold of the breast of through the armpit, you shouldn’t have many problems. However, if your implants were inserted through a periareolear or “smile” shaped incision around the areola, you could face difficulties.

The periareolear incision is one of the most popular because it leaves very little scarring. However, this type of incision can damage the nerves around the areola – the nerves that trigger your brain to release the hormones that stimulate milk production. If they have been cut or damaged, your milk supply will be minimal. It can also end up damaging milk ducts, which also impacts supply. Talk to your plastic surgeon to find out more about the type of incision you had and how it may affect your ability to breastfeed.

If you had breast augmentation in Toronto because of underdeveloped breasts, your milk supply could be limited because of the breasts themselves, not the surgery. In this situation, the best thing you can do is stimulate as much as possible with a breast pump.

The only way to find out if you can breast feed is to try. Make sure your doctor knows about your surgery – if you can’t produce enough milk, he or she will help you supplement with formula. And talk to a lactation consultant; someone from the Toronto branch of the La Leche League (www.lllc.ca) can help you maximize your breastfeeding potential.

Also, if you’re concerned that silicone from your implants might leak into your baby’s milk, don’t be. There’s no evidence that silicone can leak into breast milk. In fact, silicone molecules are too large to pass into the breast tissue. But even if it could, it would be completely harmless.

Are you considering breast augmentation? For Toronto women planning to have a baby and nurse it, I recommend waiting until after you’ve finished breastfeeding your last child.

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