Coming in to see a plastic surgeon for a consultation can be exciting for a patient. Once a patient has scheduled the consultation what is the next step?<\/p>\n
The consultation is a very important process. It allows the patient to get all of their questions answered and at the same time allows me to develop a tailor made surgical plan to meet their specific aesthetic goals. One of the more common combination surgeries involves breast<\/a> and abdominal surgery<\/a>. These have come to be known as \u201cMommy Makeovers<\/a>.\u201d The most common combination is a breast augmentation<\/a> with a tummy tuck.<\/p>\n Most of these patients have had pregnancies which has not only changed their breasts, but also their mid sections. I first try to get a sense of the woman\u2019s aesthetics. This is important to address when discussing the breasts. The most important aspect of the breast portion of the consultation is to determine whether a woman needs a breast lift, or mastopexy<\/a>, as part of the \u201cMommy Makeover.\u201d Pregnancy and breast feeding can take its toll on the breasts, leading to loose skin, loose breast tissue, and low nipples. During the examination theses three things are carefully assessed to determine whether the woman needs a mastopexy. If the breast position is good but just deflated, then a breast augmentation alone will address the breast issues.<\/p>\n Moving on to the abdominal portion of the consultation, the key factors here are not too different than in the breast. Is there loose skin or muscles? If so, then a tummy tuck will be the procedure to address this. If the skin tone is good and there is just excess fat, then liposuction<\/a> will be the ideal option.<\/p>\n Once the examination is complete, I discuss the recovery process and the restrictions in the early post-operative period. The healing process is an important part of the entire surgical experience and the consultation is the first time I lay down the groundwork for the healing process. It is very important to allow the body to heal after a \u201cMommy Makeover.\u201d<\/p>\n