The Centre, P.C. - Plastic Surgery Blog

Winter Increases Importance of Facial Appearance - Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The nose is the central point of the face, and one of the most common sources of self-consciousness among men and women. If your nose is large or has an unpleasant shape, you might consider rhinoplasty.

Curvaceous, luscious lips are a sign of femininity and youth. Lip enhancement can help you get the lips you've long desired or used to have before aging took them away. Lips can be increased in volume or improved in shape.

High, full cheeks are also considered feminine and youthful. Unfortunately, with age the fat pockets in the cheek tend to sink and lose volume. These can be raised back into place with a midface lift or supplemented with the injection of facial fillers.

People focusing exclusively on your face are more likely to notice those unfortunate signs of aging: wrinkles, which can be made worse by the damage done to your skin by winter air. You can combat wrinkles by taking good care of your skin and/or with the use of Botox injections.

If you feel self-conscious about your face, The Centre, P.C. can help. Schedule a facial cosmetic procedure consultation today.

Undoing the Damage of Winter Air on Skin - Monday, January 26, 2009

First, get rid of damaged cells. Microdermabrasion, skin peels, or even a facial are good ways to get rid of dull and damaged surface layers of skin to expose the fresher, brighter cells beneath.

Second, restore moisture. Cold winter air is drier than summer air, and when the wind blows it across your face, it robs your skin of precious moisture. You need to restore that moisture as quickly as possible to minimize damage. Our online store offers a wide range of moisturizing skin care products, including mists that can provide immediate refreshment for skin and vitamin supplements that give your body better resources to keep your skin moist.

Third, protect your skin with sunscreen, oil-free lotions, and facial shields. These will help your skin retain its precious moisture and prevent sun damage at the same time.

To learn more about ways you can get fresh skin and keep it that way, schedule a skin care consultation at The Centre, P.C. today.

Your New Wardrobe after Breast Enlargement - Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Don't Add Volume where You Already Have It: Ruffles, frills, and T-shaped dresses are all great at adding volume for women who are small on top, but after your breast enlargement surgery they may make your breasts look overlarge or disproportionate.

Color and Pattern Also Add Volume: You may think that bright colors or flashy patterns may be a good way to draw attention to your new breasts, but they will draw attention without your help, and, having taken time selecting the ideal size for your breast implants, you don't want to undo the work by making them look too large.

Avoid High-Waisted Dresses: The waist defines the length of the body, and short bodies always look fat. Although these dresses can add apparent length to your legs, this should not be done at the expense of your body. High-waisted dresses can make breasts seem larger on slender women, but women with larger breasts can appear matronly in them.

Avoid Blouses that Drape from the Breasts: These blouses completely eliminate the projection of your breasts and make it appear as though your belly is as big as your breasts. Fitted tops are the way to go.

The best overall advice for your new wardrobe is "let your breasts speak for themselves." Simple, dark-colored tops with v-necks or scoop necks to show cleavage are the best. Check back in a couple months for advice on picking the best swimsuit to show off your new body.

If you are interested in breasts that don't need extra dressing-up, schedule a breast enlargement consultation at The Centre, P.C. today.

Shape of Breasts after Enlargement - Monday, January 19, 2009

Internal factors that influence the final shape your enlarged breasts include the shape of your rib cage, the shape and size of your chest muscles, the shape and depth of your breast bone, and the relative volume of original breast tissue to the size of the implant. There are many important surface factors, too, like the quality of the skin, such as elasticity, the position and size of the nipples, and the character and position of the existing breast folds. Because these all influenced the initial shape of your breast, you can start by imagining that the shape of your post-op breasts will be similar to the shape of your pre-op breasts. In most cases, the conservation of breast shape is desirable to create a natural appearance following breast enlargement surgery. The curvature below the breast will be increased, and the slope of the top of the breast will be decreased (and, probably, interrupted until the implant fully settles). You can also get an idea of how breast enlargement affects the shape of breasts by looking at our before and after picture gallery.

To maintain the best breast position, and to keep the implant behind your breast tissue, where it looks best, the breast is normally expanded equally above and below your current breast placement, although this can be changed depending on whether your breasts are naturally high or low. Depending on the shape of your chest, especially if it is slightly sunken, breast implants may cause your breasts to move slightly toward one another. Some women think that it's ideal to have cleavage even without a bra, but it is best to avoid removing too much of the tissue between the breasts partly to prevent the occurrence of symmastia (aka breadloafing), in which breast implants touch, and partly to ensure sufficient "lateral chest break." Lateral chest break is the amount that your breasts protrude over the side of your rib cage, and is responsible for much of the effect of implants on your figure when seen from the front.

If you don't like the shape of your current breasts, surgical techniques may be used to give your breasts a better shape after surgery.

If you would like to learn more about how breast implants can affect the shape of your breasts, schedule a breast enlargement consultation at The Centre, P.C. today.

Choosing Breast Implant Size - Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The most popular folk method for figuring out the size of breast implant you want is the "rice test," To perform the rice test, fill stockings with a set amount of rice, couscous, or other dry material that can fill gaps and conform, then place them in a bra under your breasts to see how you feel about the new size. Breast implants are sized in cubic centimeters (cc). The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) estimates that it takes about 185 cc of breast implant for the average woman to increase one bra cup size, the equivalent of slightly more than ¾ cup of rice, but breast implants are sized in fairly small increments, so there's no need to limit yourself too much during early experimentation.

In trying out your faux-augmented breasts, consider all lifestyle factors, including:

Desired effect: Do you want breasts that are larger, but still natural? Think small change. If you want big and flashy, try bigger.

Proportion: For a natural effect, consider your height, waist size, and other dimensions in considering your breast implants.

Activity level: Large breast implants can be cumbersome when running or swimming. Even just sitting, standing, or walking can be affected by large implants. Rice is about the right weight for silicone implants, but saline implants are heavier. Fill tight-sealing bags (or water balloons) with saline solution and wear them around for a day or two and see how much a difference it makes.

Dress: Chances are, being able to wear certain clothes factors into your desire for breast enlargement. Try these outfits on with your rice (or couscous, etc)-filled bra. Try different amounts of rice, etc. until you're happy with results.

Profession: It's unfortunately true, but in some professions large breast implants could attract unwanted attention or lead others to doubt your professionalism. Make sure you take this into account and try on work outfits while considering size.

Once you think you've figured out the right size of breast implants, you've reached a good starting place for your consultation with the board certified plastic surgeons at The Centre, P.C. Bring any clothes (including bras) that helped you come to an idea of what you would like, or pictures of women whose breasts you believe are attractive. Share this information with the surgeon, but be flexible. Our surgeons have experience with breast implants and the results of breast enlargement surgery and can give you advice that comes from real women's experience with implants.

To begin considering breast enlargement surgery, schedule a consultation with our plastic surgeons today.

Plan Breast Augmentation Today for Swimsuit Season - Monday, January 12, 2009

Why so early? The recovery period for breast augmentation is actually pretty short, but breast augmentation is one of a few plastic surgery procedures whose final results can take a long time to be seen. Although American Society of Plastic Surgeons' statistics indicate that women return to work an average of 7.2 days following surgery and feel "back to normal" by less than 28 days after surgery, final results take a lot longer to show up. How long? Four to six months is not uncommon.

Initially, breast implants are placed high on the chest, then they settle slowly, and the other tissues settle around them. While the settling is taking place, the breast and the implant are still somewhat distinct, creating an artificial-looking result. Your breasts will look good right away in many types of clothing, and certainly will fill out sweaters nicely, but swimsuits are a different matter. If you want to look your beast in a swimsuit this season, it's best to plan your breast augmentation with sufficient lead time to allow the implants to be fully integrated into your breasts so that they will look very natural no matter what you're wearing.

To learn more about the procedure, recovery, or results, schedule a breast augmentation consultation with the plastic surgeons at The Centre, P.C. today.

Curvy Women Are Back - Friday, January 09, 2009

This helps bring American standards back in line with more universal notions of beauty over time and around the world. What is striking about these women (besides their figures) is the level of their international appeal. Google search engine statistics show that these women are just as popular, if not more so, overseas as in the United States. Beyonce has many fans in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Mexico. Jennifer Lopez has a big following in Iran, Peru, and Portugal. It makes sense that fair Johansson would have a following in Nordic countries like Finland and Sweden, but apparently once Spanish audiences saw her in Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona, they had to see more--she was more popular in searches there than here.

Now the question all women are asking: does this I can just relax and let it all hang out?

Sadly, no. A curvy figure like those sported by the celebrity headliners listed above is as hard to achieve as the stick-thin physique. Although getting enough fat may not be a problem, most women are disappointed with where the weight goes. It goes to the stomach instead to the buttocks, to the waist instead of the hips, too much in the thighs and not enough in the breasts.

But plastic surgery can help you achieve a curvaceous figure. Body contouring procedures can target that misplaced fat and give you better curves. Liposuction, including SmartLipo, can remove stubborn fat deposits that don't respond to dieting and exercise. Breast augmentation can help turn a dowdy pear-shaped figure into a desirable hourglass shape.

If you would like to learn more about how plastic surgery can help you achieve a world-class curvy figure, schedule a body contouring consultation at The Centre, P.C. today.

Cosmetic Surgeons Reveal Most Requested Celebrity Features - Thursday, January 08, 2009

And it is not only her face that is considered attractive, but her figure catches many eyes, and is symptomatic of the increased popularity of curvaceous women. Her breasts are not only the envy women: they reflect a significant change in the way women are looking at breast augmentation. It used to be that women requested Pamela Anderson-style cleavage, wanting to move up to a D-cup or larger breast. Nowadays women are asking for smaller, more natural and proportionate-looking breasts, and C-cup has become the most popular size requested.

In addition to Johansson, other stars commonly mentioned include Katherine Heigl and Megan Fox for their striking eyes, while Jessica Alba and Charlize Theron's noses are popular rhinoplasty requests.

Although discussing a celebrity's features can serve as a jumping off point for your discussion with our cosmetic surgeons, the popularity of Scarlett Johansson has another lesson. Her increasing popularity rests on the fact that her face and figure are harmonious. Trying to get a celebrity's nose or cheeks put on your face may disrupt the harmony of your own features. During your consultation, we will look at your features as a whole and discuss options for making your face or body look its best.

To discuss what might help your features achieve their best possible appearance, schedule a cosmetic plastic surgery consultation at the Centre, P.C. today.

Want a Better Body for the New Year? Ditch the Gym - Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Here's a tip: keep the fitness resolution--it's a good one--but ditch the gym. If you have the willpower to make it to the gym regularly, then you have the willpower to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. After consulting with your doctor, you can start a fitness regimen that includes walking, climbing stairs, and lifting weights without a gym membership. When you get to work, take the stairs instead of the elevator (if you work really high, start a few floors at a time). Not only is that kid up the street getting rich, he's robbing you of exercise every time you pay him to shovel your walk. Walk to the grocery store instead of driving if you're not picking up too much or anything perishable. Get off that riding mower and get behind a gas-free push mower. Your body grows stronger over time, and constant low-impact exercise can be better than sporadic high intensity workouts. You will be amazed at the big impact small changes can make.

Unfortunately, though, that's not all there is to it. It's the same as with the gym: you can remove fat and tone muscles with exercise, but you can't help your skin retract, and there are some fat deposits that are resistant to even the most strict exercise and diet regimes. And now you'll be happy you saved the gym fees. Now you can use them for the body contouring procedures like laser Smartlipo, liposuction or a tummy tuck that can get you the final results you want.

If you want to learn more about how exercise and cosmetic surgery go hand in hand, schedule a health and beauty consultation at the Centre, P.C. today.

Didn't get what you want for Christmas? Treat Yourself at the Centre, P.C. - Monday, January 05, 2009