La Jolla Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Implant Sizing

When you are considering breast augmentation surgery the biggest question can be "What size do I want to be?" During your consultation, we offer several ways to help you determine what size is best for you. Based on some measurements that the Doctor takes during your exam, we will have you try on "sizers". These are actual implants that are put into a sports bra to help you get a visual of what that size looks like on you. This is a very helpful tool for you, the patient, to help you decide your size. Surgery is a very big decision for you and we want to help you in as many ways as we can to get it just right and make it a great experience.

posted by Jessica, Pt Coordinator at 12:49 PM

Monday, November 10, 2008

Tummy tucks - what are my options?

Tummy tucks typically come in two varieties the: traditional full abdominoplasty and the partial abdominoplasty, or mini tummy tuck. The full abdominoplasty is typically used for patients with a large protruding stomach wall, while the partial abdominoplasty is used for patients with a small pocket of sagging abdominal skin.

Good Candidates For Tummy Tucks
The best candidates we see in our practice for abdominoplasty include patients who have reached their weight loss goal, yet retain flabby areas in the abdomen, as well as patients who have weakened abdominal muscles or excess skin due to aging, weight gain, or pregnancy.

Tummy Tuck Procedures
The abdominoplasty incision is made horizontally across the lower part of the abdomen. In most cases, the incision’s scar can easily be concealed by underwear and swimming suit bottoms. A second incision may also be made to allow the belly button to be placed into a different position. The partial abdominoplasty incision is shorter and generally does not require that the belly button be repositioned.

Sometimes liposuction is used as an adjunct treatment to contour the stomach for both the full and partial abdominoplasty.

If you are in the La Jolla or San Diego, California areas and are interested in the exploring the possibilities of a tummy tuck procedure, please call our office at 800.715.5052 to schedule a tummy tuck consultation.

posted by Patti at 1:29 PM

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Fillers

Don't have time for recovery & downtime? Want to look refreshed without spending thousands?Now that the holidays are near, it is the perfect time to come in for some fillers. We offer a several choices-Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane & our most affordable one, Prevelle. Call in today to schedule your appointment, nights & weekends available.

posted by Jessica, Pt Coordinator at 12:34 PM

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Mommy Makeovers

Giving birth is in no way easy on a woman’s body:

Frequently, the skin of the abdomen stretches while the woman carries her baby and doesn’t easily retract after birth.
The vertical rectus abdominis muscles sometimes separate and become slack, causing the stomach to protrude.
Breasts can droop after the baby is delivered and from the overstretching of the skin caused by pregnancy and/or breastfeeding. The breast is not supported well as a result.

But being a mother makes you no less a woman, and there is no reason why you can't continue looking and feeling your best after having children. In our practice, we help many women who cannot seem to diet or exercise away the impact that childbirth has on their bodies.

Nationwide, many women are recognizing that some of the changes childbirth effects on their bodies simply cannot be reversed without help. In fact, for women in their thirties:

A nine percent to 12 percent increase in tummy tucks and breast surgery occurred from 2005 to 2006.
In 2007, 59 percent of American Society of Plastic Surgeons members said they witnessed more patients who were seeking out cosmetic procedures following childbirth.

Because the effects of pregnancy on the body are global, we offer a remedy that is global: the mommy makeover is a combination of procedures--including tummy tuck, breast lift, and other body contouring options--that are offered to target all of your postpregnancy cosmetic concerns simultaneously at a discounted rate.

If you are in the La Jolla or San Diego, California areas and are interested in the possibilities that a mommy makeover can offer you, please call our office at 800.715.5052 to schedule an appointment for a mommy makeover consultation.

posted by Patti at 11:07 AM

Monday, October 6, 2008

How can I afford a cosmetic surgery procedure?

While most plastic surgery procedures are not covered by insurance and can be expensive, it is critical that patients not choose a surgeon based on price. The safety of the procedure and surgical outcomes are far too important for these decisions to be price based. A low price can conceal costs that will appear out of nowhere at a later stage in the patient’s care. Sometimes low costs also mean that a physician is inexperienced and attempting to gain experience—on you. Be wary and remember that your body--and your life--is too precious to be put in the hands of a cut-rate surgeon.

In our practice, we offer cosmetic surgery financing options that ensure that our patients have access to the best quality cosmetic care—even if it appears to be out of their reach financially.

Some Procedures are covered by Insurance
Keep in mind that surgeries for some conditions may actually be covered by insurance, especially if these conditions cause pain or a diminished quality of life:

Breast reduction – If neck or back pain results from overly large breasts, insurance may cover the surgery to reduce breast size.
Blepharoplasty – If lids that droop cause some or complete vision impairment, insurance could cover the cost of eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty.
Rhinoplasty– If an accident damaged your nose or if you have a congenital defect, insurance could cover the rhinoplasty procedure.

If are worried about the cost of cosmetic surgery, please be aware of the financing options available at the La Jolla/San Diego, California practice of Dr. John Smoot, Dr. Wendell Smoot, and Dr. Richard Chaffoo. We partner with a local credit union and offer 100 percent financing that does not include the price of anesthesia. We also accept Visa®, Mastercard® and CareCredit®. Please call us at 800.715.5052 to schedule an appointment for a consultation.

posted by Patti at 11:02 AM

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Get your body back after babies

After getting pregnant, there are a few fortunate people who are lucky to have their bodies go right back to looking how they did before getting pregnant. Others, however, have permanent changes in their breasts and abdominal area that don't improve. No matter what they do, no matter what type of exercise or how much exercise they don't see improvement. The one thing that can help to "put things back where they were" is plastic surgery. Stretched out skin in the abdominal area is not going to go away on its own, neither is the muscle that may be separated, causing a "pouch" or fullness. Same goes for the breasts, once that skin has been stretched out and the volume has decreased, plastic surgery can be the solution for filling out the breasts and giving them a nice, natural shape.

We have many patients that come in after they are done having babies that are in need of breast and abdominal work. A tummy tuck along with breast surgery, either augmentation (implants) or a breast lift with implants, are common procedures that can be combined. Doing both surgeries together allows you to have one recovery and downtime, which is very important when you are a busy mom, and it also saves you thousands of dollars on the cost of the procedure.

Please give our office a call if you have additional questions or would like to discuss your options with one of our Plastic Surgeons.

posted by Jessica, Pt Coordinator at 12:17 PM

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Misconception about Silicone Gel implants

When patients consider breast augmentation surgery we find there is a lot that they don't know about silicone gel implants. Many people say they want saline implants because they are "safer". The fact is that silicone is just as safe as the saline implants, extensive studies have proven that. When silicone implants first came out, they were more of a liquid form. The material that is used in silicone implants today is more of a "gummy bear" consistency, it is a more solid form of silicone. In fact, if a silicone breast implant were to be cut open, it will stay in the shell of the implant & will not ooze out. If this type of implant were to rupture, it would stay intact. The biggest difference in the two types of implants is the feel. Silicone implants tend to feel more natural, more like the breast tissue, whereas the saline implant is going to be more palpable.

posted by Jessica, Pt Coordinator at 2:00 PM