Cosmetic Surgery Blog

Don’t let financing fears keep you from the cosmetic procedure you want. Watch board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Zwiebel discuss the financing options available at The Zwiebel Center for Plastic Surgery and Skin Care.

There are a few factors to consider when planning a tummy tuck after weight loss:

Few people have greater demands on their time than do Moms! It is really important to plan appropriately for your recovery after Mommy Makeover. Your recovery needs will vary depending upon the specific procedures performed for your Mommy Makeover You must have someone who can assist you around the clock, at least the first 2-3 days, post-op. In most incidences, you will need someone to be completely responsible for caring for your children for the first week, and you will not be able to drive for as long as 2 weeks, after your Mommy Makeover.

We use generous amounts of long-acting local anesthetics to have you wake up without pain. For your continued comfort for days after surgery, we also use a “pain pump” to continue to drip local anesthetic solution into the breasts and tummy. The pain pump is like a small anesthetic-filled balloon that fits in a fanny pack with tiny catheters (tubes) placed into the breasts and tummy during the procedure. The combination of injecting local anesthetics during surgery and the post-op pain pump are remarkably effective in reducing post-op pain.

For your safety and comfort, most Mommy Makeover procedures are done with twilight anesthesia (intravenous sedation): we use fast-acting medicines that let you sleep through the procedure and recover quickly. You will be completely unaware of the procedure and the passage of time. Most patients wake up at the end of the procedure and think we haven’t even started yet!

The bulge is most likely due to a separation (diastase recti) of the muscles of the abdomen, the rectus abdominus muscles. The separation occurs from tissue relaxation caused by hormones to make room in the abdomen for the pregnancy. The tummy tuck part of a Mommy Makeover repairs the diastasis and tightens the muscle wall to eliminate the bulge. The tummy tuck (abdominoplasty with muscle repair) makes sit-ups and abdominal exercises more effective by tightening and bringing the muscles into better alignment in the front of the tummy.

During pregnancy, the muscles and skin of the abdomen (tummy) are stretched. Hormones of pregnancy also contribute to the relaxation of the muscles and skin. For many women, the skin and muscles may remain lax, after pregnancy. The tummy tuck of a Mommy Makeover is designed to address the particular laxity that remains after pregnancy to optimally restore contours of the tummy and waist.

Many young adults are curious and inquire about the benefits of Plastic Surgery, but student life is demanding, offering little time for activities outside the pressures of the academic world.

So many of my patients are full time students; some have the further pressures of athletic commitments. Finding the right time for an elective cosmetic procedure such as breast augmentation (breast enhancement), rhinoplasty (nose surgery), reduction of excess breast tissue (“man boobs” or gynecomastia), or ear reduction surgery (otoplasty) can be challenging.

Many young adults are curious and inquire about the benefits of Plastic Surgery, but student life is demanding, offering little time for activities outside the pressures of the academic world.

So many of my patients are full time students; some have the further pressures of athletic commitments. Finding the right time for an elective cosmetic procedure such as breast augmentation (breast enhancement), rhinoplasty (nose surgery), reduction of excess breast tissue (“man boobs” or gynecomastia), or ear reduction surgery (otoplasty) can be challenging.

Recently, I received an inquiry from a surgical nurse who saw a feature on “The Doctors” TV show demonstrating the “latest, less invasive” neck lift technique from Beverly Hills that is supposed to be less expensive with faster recovery: