Before & After Photo Gallery

Going through with plastic surgery is a huge decision and one that can too often be made for the wrong reasons.  Your plastic surgery should not only make you look good but make you feel good too.  Cosmetic surgery can do wonders for your self-esteem and relieve chronic pain.  Though many people augment their breasts to enlarge them, some require the opposite.  Naturally large breasts can place strains on your back that can result in debilitating pain over time. 

CAN LARGE BREASTS BE THE CAUSE FOR YOUR UPPER BACK PAIN?

Though what typically causes upper back pain is the strain on muscles and ligaments due to poor posture, having disproportionately large breasts can have the same effect.  The added weight to the front of your chest shifts your center of gravity forward, forcing your muscles and ligaments to work overtime to stay upright and well-postured.  Upper back pain isn’t the only issue, however, as large breasts place added pressures on bra straps that cause them to dig into the skin, causing discomfort.  As your body must adapt to so much added weight, it attempts to compensate by shifting pressures from one part of your spine to another, weakening that part heavily.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

Breast reduction is often seen as a last resort in cases of large breasts causing discomfort, and though it’s a big decision, breast reduction can be just the quick fix you’re looking for.  Though websites say that you can try any number of remedies from custom-fit bras to physical therapy, or even just taking a prescription pain reliever, taking time out of your day to do intensive physical therapy and making any type of drug use habitual, even an over-the-counter pain reliever seems ridiculous.  There must be a better way, and there is.

WHY BREAST REDUCTION FOR BACK PAIN?

Breast reduction is the only permanent and true fix for this problem.  Though the aforementioned remedies can certainly help lessen pain, they can’t fully and completely eradicate the problem.  Removing excess breast tissue is a one-time operation that will save you time, money, and pain in the future.

When it comes to your body, the only thing that should matter is that you feel good.  If large breasts are causing you chronic neck, shoulder, and/or back pain, talk to your doctor about the permanent solution of breast reduction.

HOW LONG IS BREAST REDUCTION RECOVERY TIME?

Our breast reduction procedures are both minimally invasive and scarring. The reason we call it a scarless breast reduction is because there will practically be no scar when it fully heals. After a breast reduction procedure for back pain, you should notice an improvement in your back/neck pain within a week. The breast reduction surgery itself will require a week of recovery time. Not only will the breast reduction help with your back pain, but it will also provide a cosmetic boost as well. With our breast reduction surgery, you will experience a perkier look, better breast shape, and even a breast lift!

How much is a Scarless Female Breast Reduction?

The price of a female breast reduction is dependant on your custom treatment plan, at Gartner Plastic Surgery we know just how tight those finances can be. For those with severe pain from naturally large breasts, the solution to wait to try to save up money might not be an option. Luckily, we offer financing for those who need it.

To talk with someone at our office financing for a female breast reduction feel free to give us a call at: (201) 546-1890

Time and time again has shown that the more attractive you are, the more money you’re going to make.  You don’t have to be a model to make money from your looks, and no matter what job you have or what you job you want, a healthy pay raise can come from your new and improved look.

Tipped Positions

If you’re in any type of work where your pay is dependent on the customer, the better you look the more money you’ll make.  Whether you’re a waitress, a cashier, or even a bell-hop, a youthful and vibrant disposition is imperative for making more income.  Don’t let drooping eye lids or sagging skin cut your pay check!  Think about your plastic surgery as not only a luxury for you, but an investment in your career.  Studies show that customers not only tip more attractive employees more handsomely, but more attractive people will be hired at the offset for the revenue that their employer anticipates they will bring in.

Executive Positions

Maybe you’ve been stuck in the same job for a while and are looking for a promotion, or maybe you’ve just seen a high-power position advertised in the classifieds, but either way: the better you look, the better shot you have at getting that gig.  It’s well known that a disproportionate number of people with high paying jobs have a height advantage over their more middle-class colleagues, but facial symmetry and attractiveness are other qualities observed in those that seem to clear out the bank.  Bosses are more likely to promote employees who show initiatives in self-improvement, and what is more indicative or taking your future into your own hands than getting the body that you’ve always wanted.

No matter your field of work, time and time again it has been shown that people who are attractive are also viewed as more trustworthy, smarter, and more generally capable.  Investing in your new body means investing in your future, and spending money on surgery now could be the best personal and business decision you’ve ever made.

So, you are feeling pretty good about your newly scheduled your cosmetic surgery procedure. You were careful, devoting hours to research on surgeons and procedures, making sure everything was just right. But did you look into WHERE the procedure will be performed? Are you sure you chose an accredited surgical facility with a clean background? This is a detail that many people overlook, assuming the operating room will be fine. However, choosing an accredited facility is vital for a safe experience.

What surgeon would consider using a non-licensed facility?

You may wonder why any surgeon would use a less than exemplary surgical facility. One answer is painfully obvious – the cost. An easy way for a surgeon to cut their overhead is to use the cheapest operating room possible. Of course, no respectable surgeon would take this shortcut, so if you find out there is not an accredited surgical suite included, it is time to find a new doctor. The added expense will be worth it.

A fly-by-night surgical facility could also be a red flag about the surgeon’s background. His or her privileges may have been suspended at the accredited hospital or its associated surgery center. This could happen because of medical mistakes or behavior problems. No matter the reason, do not put yourself in this risky situation; move on.

10 Reasons Accreditation Matters:

An accredited facility will monitor and report incidents of infections, complications, and other issues related to patient safety to the medical board and health department.
Protocols for emergencies, fires, and inclement weather are in place and are constantly being reviewed.
Physician’s certifications are checked routinely, making sure no unlicensed professionals are working.
Quality management ensures the best patient care standards are met, from equipment, to food, and to staffing.
Patient care and treatment plans are reviewed and updated; they are not years or even decades old.
A patient’s rights and responsibilities are clearly displayed.
Drug and medication expiration dates have not lapsed, and supplies are up to date, as well.
Surgeons serve as peer review monitors for each other, ensuring continuity and quality of care.
Anesthesia standards are clearly set, and always administered by a licensed anesthesiologist.
Accredited ambulatory facilities are shown to have exceptionally low rates of serious complications and low mortality rates.
Accredited Facilities and Plastic Surgery:

The American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) requires member surgeons to use operating facilities that are routinely monitored for quality and safety. Accreditation and state licensure are vital components of an approved surgical center. Patients can put their trust in these surgeons and facilities, knowing they will have the best chance for effective, satisfying results.

An ASPS-Approved Surgical Center must have at least one of the following:

Accreditation by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAASF)
Accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
Accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO)
Participation in the title XVIII Medicare program
State licensure in the state of operation
How to know if your surgery center is accredited:

There are three bodies that certify surgery centers in the United States. The Joint Commission (JCAHO) holds the strictest requirement for certification, monitoring hospital ORs. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the (AAAASF) provide certification for outpatient and office-based surgical centers. While accreditation is optional, participation means a facility holds high standards for patient care and safety. Expect nothing less for your upcoming cosmetic surgery procedure.

Finding out if your surgery center is accredited is simple. Visit JCAHO, AAAHC, or AAAASF for more information, or to find an accredited surgery center near you.

Botox around eyes can smooth out the wrinkles, although it must be repeated four to six months to maintain the rejuvenated look. This treatment is an ideal option for patients who want to avoid [eyelid] surgery that results in downtime.

Botox works by blocking the nerve impulses that cause muscles to contract, minimizing the appearance of “dynamic” wrinkles. In cosmetic surgery Lebanon, it is mostly injected into the upper third of the face, or specifically, the “11” lines between the brow, the crow’s feet, and the horizontal forehead creases.

Without muscles contracting beneath the skin, the wrinkles are minimized, if not completely eliminated.

Botox around eyes are specifically used to soften the appearance of crow’s feet and the “11” lines, and to correct the asymmetric eyelids or eyebrows. However, meticulous injections are important to avoid droopy eyelids and other untoward side effects.

Some doctors are using Botox beneath the eyes to smooth out the appearance of lines and have reported good results, although other injectors will not perform this off-label procedure due to perceived risks such as bagging and sagging of the lower lid and difficulty blinking.

It is important to note that not all types of wrinkles are mitigated with Botox. For instance, patients whose cosmetic problems include fine lines caused by sun damage and deep creases due soft tissue atrophy (shrinkage) will achieve no or very little improvement from this treatment.

In deep creases caused by soft tissue atrophy, dermal filler injection or fat transfer remains the best option because it can replace facial volume loss, as suggested by cosmetic surgery Lebanon experts.

Some Botox injectors also avoid the lower half of the face altogether, as they feel that the muscles in the area are needed for daily functions and should not be weakened; and would only use it to treat the upper third of the face.

Nevertheless, some doctors have reported high success rate from off-label use of Botox (i.e., treating the lower half of the face). Oftentimes, they use a very conservative approach, meaning they will inject just a small amount and then wait 2-3 weeks to see how their patients will respond to it.

Proponents of the “conservative” approach feel that it is particularly ideal when treating the areas around the eyes and eyelids. They argue that a retouch or additional injection is much easier than waiting for the Botox’s effects to dissipate, which could take up to six months.

What is judged to be attractive in women’s body contours changes just like fashion trends in clothing and makeup. The buttock area has reached new levels of interest thanks to the influx of the Latin culture from South America and pop culture’s fixation on the shapely Kardashians. Surgeons on the cutting edge of buttock enhancement choose to use fat grafting instead of buttock implants to avoid some very difficult complications.

Thanks in part to Drs. Simeon Wall and Constantino Mendieta’s contributions to the concepts of tissue equilibration and redistribution in body sculpting, fatty tissue can be removed from areas of excess and transposed to areas of deficiency. For example, we can take excess areas like the muffin top and the lateral thigh and place that fat into the under-projected gluteal areas. This creates the idealized hourglass shape of the lower back while framing the buttock from hipbone to the upper lateral thigh and provides volume enhancement to the gluteal region, which also provides a lifting effect. The results can be quite spectacular with limited downtime.

Of course you need to find a plastic surgeon with extensive experience in large volume fat grafting. Often times each cheek of the buttocks will receive as much as a liter of fat per side which is significantly more than what is put into the face, hands, or even breasts. Careful techniques of fat harvesting, fat isolation and reinjection is required to maximize the fat grafting take and the avoidance of nodules and fluid cysts. When performed correctly, the fat retention, which is placed into the buttock, should be around 70% long term. After approximately four months, any fat cell that remains should be a long survivor. Of course smoking can be a cause of less fat retention and should be avoided.

The art of fat grafting and the clinical success of fat transfer for body reshaping have outpaced the basic science of the procedure. Much basic science work needs to be done to better understand the biology of fat and wound healing as well as the actual effects of transference of peripheral stem cells as part of this procedure. However, it has been well documented that fat grafting is safe, has low complication rates in experienced hands, and is highly effective for providing volume and shape to a region of contour deficiency of any part of the body.

Plastic surgeons employ biologic tissue as our medium to create beautiful forms of living art. Fat is a wonderful way to sculpt the human body. It is truly like airbrushing imperfections in three dimensions.

Regardless of the Kardashians over-developed assets, fat grafting is worth the hype. Call 865.218.6210 today or go online to thelucascenter.com to schedule your consultation. I look forward to discussing with you the myriad of options for face, breast and buttock enhancement via fat grafting.

The media, and its consumers, generally keep conversation about plastic surgery and careers pegged on a couple of figures: the aging Hollywood idol and the would-be Hollywood idol. Cosmetic surgery is de rigueur in the movie and TV business—pretty understandable given how much looks matter on-screen and in career trajectories.

But there’s increasing research that says looks matter in jobs beyond the silver screen—that beautiful people make more money and have more opportunities for advancement. So it’s no real surprise that plastic surgery is being deployed as an instrument of career advancement by men and women in office suites far from the glare of the klieg lights.

“In the corporate world, there’s a lot of emphasis on image, and image goes with self-confidence,” says Antonio Armani, a Beverly Hills, Calif., cosmetic surgeon who specializes in hair transplants. “I think a lot of people do invest money in improving their looks because they feel this is one way they can go up the corporate ladder.”

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports that, among last year’s most prominent trends, about two thirds of its members reported seeing men and women who requested cosmetic surgery because they wanted to remain competitive in the workplace.

In his nine years of practice, Armani says there has been a growing desire among corporate men—often working in finance—to look younger. But as a career investment, a youthful hairline doesn’t come cheap. Armani says a typical transplant procedure costs from $15,000 to $35,000. While his patients are often wealthy, many younger men are financing the cost. Recently, a marine coming off active duty took out a $25,000 loan for his surgery, Armani says, because he “wants to look good” as he heads into law school. “When we look at people, we are naturally attracted to people who are more attractive,” Armani says. There’s research to back up that claim. Gordon Patzer, author of Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined and a longtime researcher on the impact of physical attractiveness, can run through a laundry list of study results that point to the advantages of being good looking. Cuter newborns in a nursery are touched, held, and talked to more than less attractive babies. Elementary school teachers unknowingly tend to hold higher expectations for better-looking children. Parents may be less protective of less-attractive children.

Then, when people reach working age, good-looking college graduates are more likely to get hired. Employees themselves tend to be willing to do more for better-looking bosses. Attractive supervisors are perceived as more credible and more persuasive.

So what does this mean for those of us who want to get ahead but don’t look like Brad or Angelina? Well, higher education can improve physical appearance in others’ eyes. And Patzer recommends working out, eating well, practicing good hygiene, dressing nicely, and—although it may be cringe-inducing—correcting flaws with plastic surgery.

“It’s a good investment for the workplace,” he says, noting that investments that improve your physical appearance and make you appear younger can ultimately delay the decline of your workplace effectiveness as you age.

Certain cosmetic procedures can offer the most bang for your buck. Men have been turning to eyelid surgery, which was the fourth-most-common surgical cosmetic procedure last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Also, teeth whitening is a great investment, because teeth turn gray as we age, Patzer says.

Patzer does not particularly enjoy the results of his research and often says “beauty can be ugly” because society puts entirely too much emphasis on physical attractiveness and the widespread bias in favor of good looks is so discriminatory. But he does not believe there will be a change in our preference for physically attractive people an time soon. Attitudes, social norms, and technological advances are going to make cosmetic surgery increasingly common, Patzer says. He predicts it will become a tool in career advancement—just like clothes or education.

Holidaymakers jetting off abroad this summer will be packing their travel essentials – but an appointment card for the plastic surgeon is unlikely to be slipped into most suitcases. Yet for an increasing number of Britons, a nip and tuck or a nose job is becoming as important on holiday as a tan or a souvenir keyring.

The number of Britons undergoing procedures abroad has risen by 109% in the past two years, according to research by private healthcare search engine WhatClinic.com. From dentures in Thailand to bottom lifts in Turkey, more and more people are seeking surgery abroad, tempted by low-cost flights and the promise of cosmetic surgery at a fraction of the price offered in the UK.

Eastern Europe has the largest number of hubs for cosmetic tourism. The Czech Republic, for example, has seen a 304% increase in inquiries from Brits for nose jobs in the past year, with an average procedure costing £847 versus £3,557 in the UK. Those looking for breast implants are heading to Poland, where they can make considerable savings, paying an average of £1,972 instead of £3,736 in Britain. Some people take cosmetic tourism trips to Israel.

The results, however, aren’t always a bargain. This is a lesson that actor and model Sonia learned the hard way. The 35-year-old wanted her nose altered and was excited to find the procedure was available in Pakistan – where she was born – for a snip of the price advertised in the UK. She jumped at the chance to visit friends and family and get treatment at the same time. It sounded too good to be true. And it was.

Instead of a lengthy consultation and one-to-one care at the private clinic, she found herself on a conveyor belt of other patients, rushed through the operating theatre to make way for the next paying customer. That might have been fine if the surgeon had lived up to his advertised reputation, but the new nose was not what she was hoping for.

“I knew exactly what was supposed to be done and it was only half-corrected,” she explains. “I emailed the doctor and he suggested I come back for more. It’s not like getting your nails done, though, it’s surgery. I started questioning it – is this a deliberate strategy so I come back?”

Sonia’s story is not an isolated case. A survey by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) revealed the number of patients reporting complications after treatment abroad is on the increase. Three out of five Baaps members reported a rise of at least 25%-35% during the past five years.

Consultant plastic surgeon and Baaps member Bryan Mayou warns against the allure of bargain-basement deals and treatments not available in the UK. Banned procedures such as injecting toxic “filler” substances in your buttocks to give you a bigger behind are illegal in the UK for a reason, he says. Dr Massimiliano Marcellino, a cosmetic surgeon at CosMedocs, says around a fifth of the correction surgeries he carries out are on patients who are unhappy with the results after visiting clinics overseas – mostly liposuction and facelifts in eastern Europe.

Lack of regulation in many countries means standards fluctuate around the world. In the UK, Marcellino explains, a surgeon’s performance is strictly monitored, with routine training and independent yearly appraisals. A surgeon must be registered to perform cosmetic surgery specifically, be a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and, in order to be considered “highly qualified”, should have carried out in excess of 5,000 major operations.

“Following a procedure, your surgeon should be available to you 24 hours a day in case you have any concerns,” Marcellino adds. “Make sure the clinic you visit provides you with emergency contact details and gives a detailed explanation of the aftercare required.”

Cosmetic surgery isn’t the only treatment UK patients are travelling abroad for. Huge costs and long NHS waiting lists for IVF have led to serious growth in demand for fertility hubs around Europe.

Sarah was in her late 30s when she and her partner began trying for a baby. After three very late miscarriages, it became clear they would need professional medical help. Six years of fertility treatment on the NHS followed, but still no child. When the clinic they were using eventually closed, the couple were told that if they wanted to carry on, they would have to seek donor eggs. But since legislation ending anonymous egg and sperm donation was passed in April 2005, stocks in clinics across the UK have dwindled, with potential donors apprehensive about the prospect of being traced by their genetic offspring later in life.

Spain, due to strict donor anonymity laws, has no such problem, and the wait can be as little as a few months. Excited but nervous, Sarah flew for a consultation at a Barcelona IVF clinic. “From the very first phone call they were amazing. They made me feel that this was a normal, natural thing to do,” she explains. Five weeks later, she was called back for treatment. At 42, she was finally pregnant with her first daughter. The opportunity to freeze the remaining fertilised donor eggs means she has also conceived again through the same treatment.

For patients such as Sarah, travelling abroad for treatment has given her the opportunity to start a family – a dream she struggled to fulfil in the UK. But any Briton considering treatment abroad should be aware of the potential risks. By carefully researching the qualifications and experience of the surgeon, as well as your legal rights as a patient in the country you are visiting, you can avoid the physical and mental trauma experienced by increasing numbers of medical tourists.

Ella, from Ashurst, near Southampton, has been thinking of having cosmetic surgery since she was 11. She is now 18, and the therapist dealing with her low self-esteem issues has advised counselling before having her breasts enlarged. “She made it very clear that often cosmetic surgery doesn’t fix everything,” Ella told BBC’s Newsbeat, “but I do feel like it would fix the large part of it in that I wouldn’t feel ashamed any more.”

Soon, surgery to address body confidence issues may be more common than therapy, as young women appear to be fuelling the increase in cosmetic procedures in the UK. Hard evidence is limited in a surprisingly unregulated industry but anecdotal evidence is everywhere, so much so that last week the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) called for a crackdown.

The demand for surgery isn’t new. In 2005, a magazine survey of 2,000 teenagers found that 40% of girls had considered plastic surgery. Since then, however, the industry has grown five-fold, an increase unaffected by the 2012 scandal over the PIP breast implants.

Born into the sexualised womanhood of Girl Power, the millennials have come of age in a society increasingly inured to the exploits of the surgery-enhanced reality TV stars. Leah Totton, the Apprentice winner who used Alan Sugar’s money to set up cosmetic skin care clinics this year, says she has had to put a blanket ban on procedures for under-18s after one 14-year-old girl came into the clinic with her mother and asked for Botox.

In April last year, a report by NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh found that 41% of girls aged seven to 10 and 63% aged 11 to 16 said they felt some pressure to look the way celebrities do. Suggesting that surgery had become “normalised” in pursuit of a “designer” body, hHe called for tougher controls over who can offer treatments and how they can be marketed. The government ignored him.

Ash Mosahebi, a consultant plastic surgeon and council member of Baaps, calls the lack of regulation in the UK a “big problem”. “The government’s view is that restrictive practices are counterproductive to the economy. Our view is that they are important for patient safety.”

So what are the rules about offering children cosmetic surgery? Similar to those for other “permanent” procedures such as tattoos. Any surgery on an under-18 needs parental consent, though there is a grey area after 16 in which parents can’t insist on treatment, for example. The lack of regulation in an industry in which anyone can order dermal fillers online and set up shop suggests the grey area is wider than that. Not for nothing does the association call dermal fillers “a crisis waiting to happen”. Do cosmetic surgeons demand proof of age? “I do, but there may be some less scrupulous people who don’t,” admits Mosahebi.

Guidelines suggest that teens must have reached certain milestones in growth and physical maturity as well as “emotional maturity”, such as an awareness that plastic surgery is not a panacea for all ills, for example.

Increased regulation of the industry isn’t a panacea either, of course. More rules govern who can perform cosmetic surgery in the US and yet 236,356 cosmetic procedures were performed on 13- to 19-year olds in 2012, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Campaigners say more should be done to stop the media encouraging unrealistic body types. Lucy-Anne Holmes, founder of No More Page 3, says: “One gender is allowed to be fully clothed, look old and be overweight while the other isn’t. The impact this has on girls and young women is sad and unfair.”

Cosmetic surgery is increasingly the answer for young women, and men, who want to cosmetically “enhance” their bodies. Mosahebi says: “At some stage we will have another disaster and they might change their mind.” By then, of course, it’ll be too late.