Often, women and men have questions regarding when they should choose surgery and when they can achieve the desired results with a nonsurgical treatment. BOTOX at our Virginia practice is an extremely popular and effective nonsurgical treatment. Understanding the capabilities of this treatment and how it compares to a brow lift can help you decide which is the best way for you to attain more youthful looking skin.

• BOTOX Cosmetic injections are quick, requiring only 15 to 30 minutes of your time. A tiny needle is used, and there are few side-effects, so most patients are able to return to their daily activities immediately after treatment. Results are visible in 5 to 7 days and typically last 3 to 4 months.
• Brow Lift surgery is ideal for patients who feel that nonsurgical treatments can’t provide the results they need. This procedure targets forehead creases and worry lines, creating a more youthful and refreshed appearance. Bruising and swelling should subside within 2 weeks following surgery.

Often, patients will use nonsurgical treatments to enhance or maintain the results of a surgical procedure. To learn more about either of these procedures, we recommend speaking with a qualified surgeon who can help you choose your best option.

In the days leading up to their procedures, we get many questions from our cosmetic surgery patients in Virginia. Liposuction, tummy tuck and breast augmentation all bring up a number of concerns, and we welcome patients’ inquiries about every detail. The procedure that generates the most questions is breast revision, since patients are attempting to correct a previous procedure that was either unsuccessful or unsatisfactory.

Here are some common concerns we hear from breast revision patients:

Concern: What if I’m still unsatisfied with my results after surgery or they look worse than before?

Choosing a qualified surgeon can greatly increase your chances of having a successful surgery. Selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon is a good way to ensure that your doctor has undergone extensive, high-quality training.

Concern: I’m worried that my results will look too plastic or unnatural. How can I avoid this?

Surgeons can address specific areas of the breasts to minimize scarring and create a natural looking appearance. Also, choosing an implant size that creates a beautiful yet subtle enhancement can help you avoid a “plastic” look.

Concern: I don’t want to think about future complications. Should I have my implants removed?

Luckily, advances in technology and techniques have paved the way to safe and long-lasting implants. Your surgeon can discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each type of implant and help you to make the best choice for you.

During your consultation, you can discuss other possibilities, such as combining your breast revision in Virginia with a tummy tuck.

By: Andrew Goldberg, MD, and Mitchel Krieger, MD

There is a huge amount of misinformation and half truths on the Web these days. You might have heard claims that breast augmentation can “cure” depression, or even that it could cause depression. I get a little frustrated when I see so much misinformation floating around, so I just want to take a minute to address these two issues based on what the current research tells us.

It’s important to note that when I say “depression,” I’m talking about clinical depression and not just a “bad day” before your breasts have healed, where you wonder if you made the right choice.

Question: Does Breast Augmentation Cause Depression?

Answer: No.

A few studies recently made headlines when they suggested that women with breast implants tend to have a higher than average incidence of depression. While on the surface this may seem like a major concern, in fact the most recent research suggests that this phenomenon occurs because people who are depressed in the first place are slightly more likely to seek out cosmetic breast surgery. This of course does not mean that all or even most women who are considering breast enhancement are clinically depressed. And there is no evidence that breast augmentation itself contributes to symptoms of depression.

Question: Does Breast Augmentation Cure Depression?

Answer: No.

Research tells us that many breast augmentation patients feel sexier and happier with their bodies after breast augmentation surgery, and it’s definitely helped many of my patients feel “more like themselves,” but cosmetic surgery in Virginia is never a cure for clinical depression or severe body image issues.

Key point: Virginia breast augmentation – or any cosmetic surgery – can have a dramatic impact on a woman’s outlook and self image, but it’s simply not an appropriate way to address depression. I’ve seen plastic surgery do amazing things, but as with anything else in life, it’s valuable because of what you bring to the table in the first place, and what you choose to make of your results.

By:Mitchel Krieger, MD

A lot of surgeons on the Web will talk about “must-have” qualities in a doctor, but you probably hear a little less about “must-have” qualities for plastic surgery patients. I’ve been thinking about this recently because the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery just published a survey showing how, even though people’s plastic surgery priorities change as they age, the main goal – increasing self confidence – always stays the same.

I believe that goal has to be an important priority for any plastic surgery patient, and I also thought up a few other “must-haves” for patients. Here’s my list:

1. Committed to accuracy – It sounds strange to say the patient needs to care about the quality of their own results, but in my experience patients tend to be much happier with outcomes when they’ve taken the time to be “picky” about their choice of surgeon. If you think about it, it’s tricky for you to know if a plastic surgery procedure in Virginia has met your expectations if you don’t even know what those expectations are.

2. Overall, healthy and happy – No matter what the cosmetic surgery “makeover” shows might tell you, it’s just a medical fact that your results will heal better and look better (and you’ll probably feel better about them) if you’re in relatively good shape to start with. Almost everyone has something they’d like to “fix” about their appearance, but being healthy overall has to take priority over looking great.

By: Andrew Goldberg, MD

I’ve heard some comments recently about a new nanotechnology sealant that some people are saying might prevent surgical scarring completely. The claims are a little overblown and this technology is several years from even being testable, but I’m sure that plenty of patients considering plastic surgery in Virginia still wonder whether they can really expect totally scar-free surgery anytime soon.

The nano-sealant is an exciting idea and there are already some products on the market that seal off blood flow in similar ways, but the fact is that surgeons like me are already performing a lot of “scarless” surgeries without the help of either advancement.

What We CAN Do to Prevent Scarring

You are not going to find a magical solution for guaranteed “scarless” now or even in 10 years, but fortunately a good surgeon can help you significantly minimize scarring. Realistically, here are the two biggest things you and your surgeon can do to avoid scarring:

• Scale the surgery down by limiting incisions in the first place and hiding them in unnoticeable areas.
  What this means: I might recommend a mini face lift or tummy tuck instead of the full version, or place breast implants through an incision in the armpit instead of on the breast itself for a “virtually scarless” breast augmentation in Virginia.
• Help healing by taking steps before, during, and after surgery to encourage your body to heal faster.
  What this means: New technologies can help limit surgical time, but there’s no technological replacement for a surgeon who knows how to avoid unnecessary tissue damage – and who makes sure you understand how to take care of your incisions properly after surgery.

The Bottom Line: I’ll be interested to see where this nanotechnology goes in the next few years, but if you’re worried about scarring, I would say to make sure you choose a doctor who is highly qualified, and talk through things with him or her thoroughly. Not all surgeries can be “scarless,” but minimizing scars should be a central focus on your doctor’s mind.