Contact Us  |  Locations
Map to our office

Louisville
13125 Eastpoint Park Blvd.
Suite 102
Louisville KY, 40223


    Enter the correct answer:* 89 − = 87

    What all do Plastic Surgeons do?

    Author Archives: drlcorbett

    What all do Plastic Surgeons do?

    Posted on July 25, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Plastic Surgery is a very diverse field.

    Most are familiar with the Cosmetic Surgery component. In Louisville Cosmetic Surgery is very popular. There are reality shows all over cable and articles about the topic in almost every woman’s magazine. But Plastic Surgeons do a lot of other things too.

    Children: Plastic Surgeons deal with a number of issues involving kids. We are the ones who repair cleft lips and palates and skull malformations. We also treat birthmarks.

    Burns: Plastic Surgeons typically man most Burn Units in conjunction with General Surgeons and Critical Care experts.

    Hand: About half of all hand surgeons are Plastic Surgeons, the other half are Orthopedic Surgeons. We treat traumatic and congenital hand problems.

    Head and Neck: Plastic Surgeons treat trauma and cancer affecting the head and neck.

    Soft Tissue Loss: We are also experts at treating significant soft tissue deficits. Usually this is breast reconstruction following cancer, but we also reconstruct defects that occur all over the body that result from Trauma or Cancer.

    Plastic Surgery is a huge field. Most Plastic Surgeons will narrow the scope of their practice simply because it is impossible to do it all.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    Recovery after breast augmentation.

    Posted on July 24, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Breast Augmentation is the most common cosmetic surgery performed in the U.S. In Louisville Breast Augmentation is equally as popular. So, I thought it worthwhile to blog on the recovery following the procedure.

    Silicone Implants: Because these are most commonly placed above the muscle, recovery is easier. I advise patients to expect moderate discomfort for the first 48 hours. From day 3 to 7 you should be able to increase your activity level to near normal, exercise excluded. If you have an office position getting back to work after 4 or 5 days is reasonable. Exercise is allowed starting 2 weeks after surgery. Full activity should be reasonable by 1 month.

    Saline Implants: Recovery with saline is a little longer and more difficult because the muscle is involved. Moderate or more pain can be an issue for the first 3 to 5 days and can be accompanied by significant breast swelling. Return to activities of daily living is possible within 24 hours and to a desk job, 7 days is reasonable. Again, I recommend against exercise for 14 days. Full unrestricted activity can resume in the 3 to 6 week zone.

    Remember though that everyone’s pain levels are different. Some women come back and say the operation was a breeze and other that it was as much as childbirth. In all cases, you will be given enough pain medicine and muscle relaxers to maximize your comfort.

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Breast Implant specialist Dr. Lee Corbett.

    What is a hematoma?

    Posted on July 23, 2009 by drlcorbett

    A hematoma is collection of blood that can form after surgery. It usually results when a vessel starts to leak blood after your surgery has been completed.

    Hematomas are not very common, less than 1% in most surgeries and a bit higher with facial surgery. But, they are always a risk whether you are having a Breast Aug, Facelift, or Tummy Tuck. In fact, a hematoma can occur after almost any surgery. If they occur, unfortunately, a second surgery will usually be required to drain the blood.

    When the occur it is almost always within the first 24 hours after surgery. During this time period, at about the 6-8 hour point, your body actually starts to release proteins that break down blood clots to keep you from clotting too much. When this happens, the clot on the end of a tiny blood vessel that was not bleeding during surgery can dissolve and bleeding ensues. This can lead to a hematoma.

    The good news is that in the vast majority of cases, the diagnosis is made quickly, treatment rendered, and in the end your surgical result and health are in good stead!

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Plastic Surgeon Dr. Lee Corbett.

    After surgery, will I have stitches or do they dissolve?

    Posted on July 23, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Surprisingly, I find that a lot of my patients are more scared about having their stitches removed than having surgery!

    Be it a facelift, breast augmentation or tummy tuck, there are usually a few sutures that need to be removed. Sorry. Here’s why.

    There are absorbable and non-absorbable sutures. Both can be used to re-approximate deep tissues under the skin or the skin itself. More often than not though, we use the non-absorbable kind to close the skin. The reason is that they tend to be a mono-filament, like fishing line. This type of suture elicits less of a scar reaction than a braided suture. Most absorbable ones are braided. So non-absorbable ones make for nicer scars, the goal of every Louisville plastic surgeon.

    What I like to do is use a long lasting absorbable mono-filament suture for skin closure. I put one stitch outside the skin, tie a knot to anchor it, and then run it under the skin surface and when I get to the other end of the incision I tie another knot to secure the stitch. That way, all I have to do is clip the knot on either end the rest will dissolve. Plus, because the suture lasts several months, it continues to add strength to the stitch line to keep the scar from widening. So yes, most of the time I do have to remove sutures but I try to make it as user friendly as possible!

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Cosmetic Surgery expert, Dr. Lee Corbett.

    Acne Scarring Treatment

    Posted on July 20, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Acne scarring is one of the toughest skin problems out there.

    Louisville facelifts will not help.

    The skin has to be resurfaced and the best technique is a CO-2 laser. The CO-2 laser is the “grand daddy” of all resurfacing lasers. A number of newer less powerful non-ablative lasers have hit the market since the CO-2 was invented, but none are capable of fully treating acne scarring. In fact, some patients will require repeat treatments even after a CO-2 laser session.

    This type of treatment is typically done in the OR. The procedure takes about 45 minutes and anesthesia is required. After surgery you will need about 7-10 days of fairly vigilant care for your skin while everything heals.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    Botox and the lower face

    Posted on July 19, 2009 by drlcorbett

    In Louisville Botox is an invaluable tool for contouring the upper third of the face. The forehead, the creases between your eyes, and your crow’s feet. Use in these areas is pretty universal, very safe & predictable, and very successful.

    Once we get below the level of your eyes, Botox use becomes a lot more tricky. Now it’s not as useful as a Louisville Facelift, but Botox can be very helpful for a gummy smile or a downturn of the corners of your lips.

    Use below the eyes is almost entirely directed towards the mouth. The problem is that unlike most of the muscles on the forehead and around your eyes, the muscles around the mouth serve more of a function. Namely, they allow us to speak and eat without food and drink leaking out of your mouth! Weakening these muscles can definitely interfere with these functions.

    Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use botox to treat your lower face. What it does mean is that you need to seek out an injector with significant experience. Otherwise you may get more than you bargained for.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    What a Blepharoplasty won’t do.

    Posted on July 13, 2009 by drlcorbett

    A Louisville Blepharoplasty is a procedure that improves the appearance of the eyelids.

    On the upper lid this usually means removing excess skin and maybe some fat. On the lower lids this usually entails smooting out the ‘bags’ we get under our eyes and smoothing out some of the laxity.

    What a blepharoplasty will not do is change the quality of the skin that is  left behind when the excess is removed. In other words, if the skin of the lids is covered with fine wrinkles these will be there after. We cannot remove so much skin that we can pull it tight. If we did this you would be left with a big problem called an ectropion. We can do it on a tummy tuck but not on eyelids.

    If your skin is like this, laser skin resurfacing is your answer. This is something your Plastic Surgeon will help you figure out.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    https://www.corbettcosmeticsurgery.com/

    Do I need to massage my breasts after I get Implants?

    Posted on July 11, 2009 by drlcorbett

    I think this is a debatable topic on which Plastic Surgeons will vary including Louisville, KY breast augmentation surgeons.

    Some surgeons feel like massage, particularly with silicone gel implants, is crucial. I think some others are of the opinion that it is of no benefit.

    The reason we suggest massage it to avoid capsular contracture. This is a process whereby the body surronds the implant with scar which can leave the breast unnaturally firm. The risks of contracture are higher when implants are placed above the muscle and silicone implants typically go above the muscle. That is why we recommend with gel implants.

    The theory is that if you start to massage the breast, thereby moving the implant around within its’ pocket, you will make it more difficult for the body to organize the scar shell. I recommend that you start massage as early as you can tolerate it comfortably, usually after the first 2 or 3 weeks. The massage process involves applying pressure to the breast in a side to side and top to bottom manner. This technique will keep the implant mobile and help avoid contracture.

    Some surgeons will tell you this is a waste of time because some women still get capsules with massage. My take on it is that yes, that is true, but it causes no harm and even if it is only helpful some of the time, it’s worth the minimal amount of effort it requires.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All blogs are presented by Louisville Breast Implant surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett

    What happens to my belly button if I have a Tummy Tuck

    Posted on July 11, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Nothing actually.

    I am writing this blog because a lot of people think that if they have a tummy tuck they get a ‘new’ belly button. You don’t. You get to keep the one you’ve always had.

    When we do a tummy tuck we make an incision that sits low like a C-section and goes from hip to hip. We go down thru the fatty layer until we hit your muscles. That’s all the deeper we go. We then work up to the belly button and lift the skin/fat layer off of the muscle.

    When we get to the belly button we come back to the skin surface and make a circular incision around it. We core straight down around it, like an apple corer would do. All that your belly button is, is a stalk of scar tissue. So, we isolate it and continue to undermine the skin/fat layer. Then we remove the skin from belly button down and the remaining skin pulls down like a window shade.

    At this point your tummy tuck incision is closed but your belly button is buried. So, we make a new circular incision, remove a plug of skin/fat and Voila, your belly button pops thru like that button on your turkey when it’s done!

    So in the end your belly button is the same one you’ve always had, but the skin around it is new.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Tummy Tuck surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett.

    What type of implants are women using?

    Posted on July 8, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Silicone Breast Implants for Louisville Breast Augmentations are on the rise.

    From 1992 until November of 2007 Saline Implants were the only choice available for women considering augmentation in the U.S. The moratorium on the gel implants was lifted at that time after satisfactory safety data was submitted to the F.D.A.

    In March of 2008, sales of the implants were still tilted in favor of the saline variety. About 55% of implants being used were saline and the other 45% were the silicone gel. In just a little over a year the ratios have basically flip-flopped. Now sales show about 60% of women are choosing silicone gel implants and 40% saline.

    My practice stats show its about a 50:50 split.

    I think a couple of important points are 1) that silicone implants are proven safe and a nice addition to your choices if you are considering augmentation and 2) that both implants are good, safe devices each with its own merits.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    All posts on this blog are presented by Kentucky Breast Implants surgeon Dr. Lee Corbett

    Location

    KENTUCKY

    Louisville
    13125 Eastpoint Park Blvd
    Suite 102
    Louisville, KY 40223

    PHONE
    502.721.0330

    Contact Us