Cosmetic surgery can be a great addition to bariatric procedures such as LAP-BAND® near Bakersfield. After dramatic weight loss, many men and women still struggle with loose, excess skin and stubborn areas of fat. A cosmetic surgery procedure such as liposuction or a tummy tuck can be a wonderful complement to weight loss surgery and often provides the “finishing touches” on a patient’s new, slimmer physique.

Safety Information

One of the questions my LAP-BAND patients frequently ask me is whether or not it is safe to undergo cosmetic surgery after a LAP-BAND is placed. The answer is yes – you can have a successful cosmetic result after LAP-BAND surgery; however, it’s important that your surgeon understand that you have had that procedure in order to take precautions to avoid harming the LAP-BAND access port. Additionally, it’s best to wait until your weight has stabilized before undergoing cosmetic surgery since additional weight loss may affect the results.

Popular Post-Weight Loss Procedures

There are several options for body contouring after weight loss surgery. These procedures can help to remove excess skin and can provide a smoother body shape. Some common choices include:

• Liposuction
• Tummy tuck
• Arm lift
• Thigh lift
• Body lift

Enhancing Your Results

A proper diet and good fitness routine can help to accelerate weight loss and create more shapely body contours. By living a healthy lifestyle and making good decisions regarding nutrition and exercise, you can enjoy sustained weight loss and a better quality of life.

When considering bariatric surgery near Fresno, timeliness is very important. If the decision is made too abruptly (meaning that the patient is unwilling to adopt different lifestyle habits), the success of the surgical outcome may be compromised. On the other hand, waiting too long for weight loss surgery may pose a greater health risk for obesity-related issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Therefore, it is extremely important to plan for surgery at a time that is appropriate for the patient physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Typically, I use the following criteria as a guide when determining whether or not an individual is ready for bariatric surgery. Most men and women who are good candidates exhibit the following characteristics:

• Possess realistic expectations about their results
• Are committed to making lifestyle changes in diet and exercise
• Do not suffer from drug addictions or psychological issues
• Are at least 100 pounds overweight or have a BMI of 30 or greater
• Have been medically cleared for surgery

In Colorado, allergy season seems like it lasts all year-round. For many, allergies can provide constant annoyance and even sickness. The trick with allergies is to treat them before they get worse and take as many preventative measures as possible to ensure that your allergies don’t result in more serious problems, such as asthma-like symptoms or chronic sinus infections. Here are a few popular preventative measures you can take under the guidance of a trained ENT allergist:

Allergy Testing

The first step to treating allergies is finding out what you are allergic to. Different allergies need to be treated differently and knowing what you are allergic to can help you best avoid situations where you may be unnecessarily exposed to pollen, medications, foods or other allergens.

Allergy Medication

One of the simplest ways to treat your allergies is with over-the-counter antihistamines. Depending on how constantly you are bombarded by allergy symptoms, you may only need to take allergy meds when symptoms occur. If you live in an area of high pollen, or live with animals you may be allergic to, it might be best if you take antihistamines daily. In some cases, nose sprays or other forms of prescription allergy medications can be taken in addition to oral antihistamines like Claritin® or ZYRTEC®. Your allergy doctor can help you decide which is right for you.

Allergy Drops

Perhaps the strongest form of allergy prevention is immunotherapy, or allergy drops. Allergy drops are small doses of medication that go under your tongue that build up your body’s tolerance for the allergens. Typically by the time you finish your treatments, you are less affected or not affected at all by certain allergens. This treatment is for more severe allergies, but is one of the more effective preventative measures.

Tips for Limiting Allergen Exposure

Follow these tips for seasonal and pet-related allergies:

• Keep windows closed
• go outside after 10 am, when pollen is not as abundant
• Wash animals frequently (for dander and pollen)
• Clean and vacuum regularly
• Purchase a highly-rated air purifier with a HEPA Filter

The best way to find out what you can do to help your allergy symptoms is to speak with your ENT allergist. He or she can help you maximize your allergy prevention.

If you are considering a weight loss procedure in Walnut Creek such as bariatric surgery, it’s important to start planning the plastic surgery phase of your transformation now. Many people who experience massive weight loss experience a reduction in skin laxity. By consulting a qualified plastic surgeon now, you can understand the different body contouring options available and have time to make the right decision for you.

To start planning your post-weight loss surgery, I suggest scheduling a meeting with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss the following:

Your expectations: Discuss your goals for surgery and your expectations about the results. Your surgeon can provide you with a realistic idea of what can be achieved through the combination of weight loss and surgery.

Your priorities: Achieving the results you want often takes multiple procedures. Discuss your priorities with your surgeon. Your surgeon can then work with you to customize a treatment plan.

Timing: Most people are required to maintain a stable weight for several months before having plastic surgery. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your progress and help you determine when you are physically and psychologically ready for surgery.

For some sufferers, Colorado is an allergy hotbed. Nature and the great outdoors surround us. While that in itself is a good thing, allergy sufferers find the prospect of going outdoors daunting – with some simply opting to stay inside.

But that’s no way to live life. If allergy season has you sniffling, there is help.

• Allergy Drops – This is the most exciting development in recent years for allergy sufferers. Drops work like allergy shots but are delivered on the tongue in drop form by patients in the comfort of their own homes. The treatment period for drops is similar to that of shots. We do more allergy drops than any other center in Colorado.
• Skin Tests – More sensitive and accurate than blood tests, skin tests are often conducted on the forearm and upper arm. Allergen triggers are identified and your level of reaction is duly noted.
• Blood Tests – Young children and those taking certain medications are often better suited to blood testing. Blood tests evaluate reaction levels to the same triggers as skin tests.

Treatment options vary according to patients’ needs and circumstances. Avoidance, or reducing exposure to allergens, is one of them. Medications also exist which can improve or relieve allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy is the only “cure” for inhaled allergens, making you less sensitive to them.

Allergy shots are another option. Shots are administered weekly over a 3-5 year period, tapering off in frequency during the final 1-2 years. Most insurance companies cover injection therapy (co-pays may apply).

In my profession as a plastic surgeon in New York City, it’s become apparent that the number of men opting for aesthetic surgery and non-invasive cosmetic procedures is growing. Many of the men I see in my practice are career-oriented individuals looking to enhance their image in the aggressive business world; others are hoping to reduce the effects of aging or change an aspect of their appearance that has always bothered them. No matter the circumstance, men are increasingly interested in investing in their appearance.

Some of the most popular procedures I offer for men include face lift, forehead lift, eyelid surgery, chin augmentation, nose surgery, and liposuction. Professional men who can’t afford to spend time away from the office may also take advantage of medical spa services such as BOTOX® or laser skin resurfacing for a rejuvenation treatment with little downtime. When performed properly and conservatively, these treatments can provide transformative results that give men a critical advantage in the increasingly competitive marketplace. Some of the advantages my male patients have experienced from their cosmetic surgery include:

• A younger-looking appearance
• Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
• A fitter, more toned body
• A healthier, more active lifestyle
• More confidence and assertiveness in the workplace

If you’re concerned about hearing problems which affect you or a loved one, knowing about the latest advances in hearing aids will transform your life on every level.

Contrary to popular belief, the people we fit with hearing aids in Colorado aren’t just those who are getting older. You, your child or another loved one could very well be in need of a hearing aid.

We recommend hearing aids for patients who exhibit the following signs:

• During everyday conversation, shouting has replaced talking
• It’s a strain to hear, especially when not facing the speaker
• TVs and radios are turned up louder than normal
• Others are hard to hear in group environments
• A hissing or ringing background noise persists
• “Can you repeat that?” is a frequent request
• One ear receives sound better than the other

Experiencing as few as one of these symptoms is good reason to contact a hearing and balance expert. Being properly evaluated is the first step in getting adequate care. Today, hearing aids provide benefits which make wearing them a “sound” decision. My list of Top (3) Benefits of Today’s Hearing Aids are:

1. Directional Microphones/Noise Reduction Circuits – for increased audibility in all environments
2. Advancements in Amplification Technology – those with high levels of loss can now get help
3. Compact, Virtually Concealed Design – bulky devices are out and low-profile models are in

Snoring often seems humorous in situation comedies and cartoons. But for many people in Denver, sleep apnea (characterized by loud snoring and abnormal breathing patterns during sleep), other sleeping disorders and snoring in itself can impact their health and quality of life.

As an otolaryngology specialist, I can tell you that none of what I just mentioned above is a laughing matter. In fact, sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders can have serious consequences.

Serious signs, risks and symptoms of sleep disorders:

• Daytime fatigue, despite a full night’s rest
• Falling asleep or feeling drowsy behind the wheel
• Snoring or unusual sleep-breathing patterns
• Inexplicable morning headaches

Simple snoring has various causes. An enlarged soft palate and uvula (at the back of the mouth) is just one example. Such cases of snoring may be corrected with a minimally invasive office procedure requiring a local anesthetic. Obstructive sleep apnea, however, is a more serious matter. Loud snoring interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing are its hallmarks.

Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to reduced blood-oxygen levels, inadequate rest and poor performance on the job. Left untreated, it can also lead to elevated blood pressure levels and heart enlargement. If you think you have obstructive sleep apnea, speak with a professional immediately.

Our Advanced Ear, Nose & Throat center in Colorado offers sleep services which provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of snoring, obstructive sleep apnea and pediatric sleep apnea. Overnight testing is sometimes recommended to help further evaluate snoring and breathing pattern problems.

Many of my post weight loss patients in Sacramento are considering a lower body lift. This dramatic procedure, sometimes referred to as torsoplasty or belt lipectomy, produces significant body shaping results.

Used to reshape the entire torso, this procedure addresses common trouble spots which include the midsection, buttocks and lateral (outer) thighs. By targeting excess skin and stubborn fat deposits which affect the midbody area, it helps my patients achieve substantial improvements to their overall appearance.

Ideal candidates for this type of surgery have reached and are maintaining their goal weight. They also have moderate to severe drooping of the skin. I recommend torsoplasty for patients who want to successfully address common “trouble spots.”

• Getting Help for Love Handles – Love handles may sound cute, but as a post weight loss patient, you know they are anything but. Torsoplasty removes an entire belt of skin and fat from around the abdomen and hips, where excess fat and loose tissue are likely to remain after significant weight loss.
• Achieving Better Bottom Lines – People who have lost a lot of weight often have buttocks that appear flat or droopy. Torsoplasty can be used to reshape and elevate the rear. Fat repositioning or transfer also can be used to add volume if necessary.
• Taking Your Thighs Higher – As needed, stubborn fat deposits are removed from the outer thighs to smooth their appearance. Excess skin is also removed from this area and the skin is lifted to improve the appearance of the outer thighs and buttocks.

Torsoplasty is an extensive procedure that should be performed only by a highly skilled, trained and experienced plastic surgeon. If you are considering this procedure, do your homework by consulting with several plastic surgeons and viewing before and after photographs of their patients.

Weight loss can make you feel great, but once you’ve lost the weight, how do you transform that better body into one that’s truly healthy – and makes you happy?

When patients who’ve achieved significant weight loss consider Sacramento plastic surgery to remove excess skin, they often don’t know where to begin. The time, money and effort they’ve invested in getting to where they are so far excite them. They can’t wait to take that final step toward a better body.

Before beginning down that road, there are a few steps you should take.

Losing Weight: If you’re still struggling to lose weight, take heart – 55% of all Americans believe they’re overweight. The weight loss community is a caring one, which is why our website features a list of resources for those in need of support. (Check them out here). Losing weight can benefit your body in many ways. A few include lowered blood pressure, reduced aches and pains and a more satisfying appearance.

Maintaining a Stable Weight: If you’ve already lost a lot of weight (or are nearly there), you’re familiar with the benefits outlined above. Maintaining a stable weight over a sustained period of time, avoiding empty calories and increasing protein intake will further prepare you for surgery, allowing us to develop a contouring plan that’s appropriate and comprehensive – meeting all of your individual needs.

Conducting Your Initial Research: Post weight loss procedures should empower you to look as good as you feel. If you want to put the finishing touches on your weight loss achievement, find out more about all of the procedures available to you. Research midbody surgery, breast/chest surgery, arm lifts, thigh lifts, facial rejuvenation and more. Gather this information before going any further.

Schedule Your Consultation: Set aside some time to consult with at least one plastic surgeon who has experience performing post-bariatric plastic surgery procedures. The surgeon you ultimately choose should provide pictures of prior results and let you know what you can expect to reasonably achieve. Make sure you’re comfortable with team members involved in the process. If not, schedule additional consultations until you find the right fit.