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    This one is for the Men.

    Author Archives: drlcorbett

    This one is for the Men.

    Posted on July 2, 2009 by drlcorbett

    This blog is created with Men in mind. Ladies, you already know this stuff.

    Not infrequently, I field the question, “My wife/girlfriend wants a ‘boob job’, what’s that cost?” In Louisville, boob job is typically synonomous with Breast Augmentation or the combination of a Breast Augmentation with a Breast Lift.

    An augmentation is where only an implant is placed behind the breast to increase its’ volume. Often, her complaint is that with aging and after kids the upper half of the breast has lost volume. An implant will restore the volume and give her the full appearance and improved cleavage she has lost.

    Now, if most of her breast and or the nipple  rests below the fold under her breast, she will need a lift with or without an implant. If she is happy with her size, a lift alone is good. If she wants everything back up where it used to be and size, she will need the lift implant combo. This is a more complex operation with a higher cost and more scarring implications.

    Costs vary pretty widely depending on what type of implant is used and how much of a lift is needed. Things can range from $4,000 up to 7 or $8,ooo depending on her starting point.

    Guys, I hope this helps. It’s not all inclusive of what’s involved,  but it will catch you up with what your wife/girlfriend probably already knows.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville, Kentucky breast implant specialist, Dr. Lee Corbett.

    Why do I have to wear this after surgery?

    Posted on July 2, 2009 by drlcorbett

    One of the things that make recovery after Cosmetic Surgery procedures different is that we frequently will put you in a compression garment. This is true for facial cosmetic surgery, breast surgery, and body contouring surgery.

    We do this for a couple of reasons.

    First, we are trying to minimize swelling. Swelling is universal after soft tissue surgery. In fact, it is a normal part of the healing process. By providing compression, be it with a chin strap, bra, girdle or wrap, we are trying to keep the swelling to a minimum. We don’t want the compression so tight that it cuts of circulation or is uncomforatble, just enough so that the garment or wrap is snug.

    The second issue, particularly after Liposuction, is to aid in skin redraping and retraction. Skin has the capacity to ‘snap back’  and some compression can aid in this. Since I have yet to meet a patient who appreciates loose skin, the garments are truly a mandatory part of your recovery.

    How long you will have to wear whatever we put you in depends on you. Your skin tone and elasticity and your age are the biggest factors. A woman who is 40, has had 3 babies and doesn’t have a stretch mark is less likely to have to wear the garment as long as a 40 year old with 3 kids and stretch marks all over her skin. Likewise, the 40 year old without stretchmarks is going to need to wear it longer than her 30 year old clone simply because of the age difference. Skin wise, 20 beats 30, 30 beats 40 and so on.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

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

    Intimacy after surgery.

    Posted on July 2, 2009 by drlcorbett

    This is a touchy, but oft asked question I field as a Louisville Plastic Surgeon when patients are considering or are recovering  from surgery.

    There are a few rules that apply.

    First, after any surgical procedure there is the risk of unwanted bleeding. This is highest in the first 24 hours when 99% of bleeds occur, but the ptoential for bleeding lasts for as long as 2 weeks. So, my recommedation is to avoid any physical activity that increases your pulse and blood pressure during that time interval.

    Second, and the most obvious, is comfort. A guideline I offer for all of my patients after any type of surgery is “If it hurts, quit doing it.” Add this one in there as well.

    A third factor is based on what part of you we did surgery on. Obviously you will have more freedom if you had your upper eyelids done than if we did a tummy tuck, breast aug, or liposuction of your inner thigh area. Point here is we don’t want the operated area to be traumatized early on and potentially damage your incision or work done under the skin surface.

    Those are the factors I consider and so my recommendation is that you give it at least two weeks to avoid bleeding. After that point, you can try things out and let your comfort be your guide. And remember, if it hurts, your body is sending you a message…so quit!

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    Help, I’ve got no Butt!

    Posted on July 2, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Though most of us find we have a bit too much of a backside for our liking, I do have patients seeking  larger, rounder backsides. Think J-Lo!

    For those interested, there are two main options out there.

    The first is buttock implants. Buttock implants are made of a soft, solid silicone. The implants are placed through an incision at the top of your gluteal cleft. They sit above the level of your coccyx (tail bone) and provide fullness to the upper buttock.

    Your other option is to use fat grafting. Large volume fat grafting evolved from our South American colleauges. In Brazil, where a lot of plastic surgery literature is produced, the aesthetic goal is a larger backside and smaller breasts, the opposite of the American ideal image. This technique involves harvesting fat, usually from the thighs or tummy area, and then injecting it back into the buttocks.

    If you are considering either of these techniques, make sure you have a very thorough discussion with your plastic surgeon because recovery  can be prolonged and long term outcomes can vary.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Body Contouring surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett.

    Will I get stretch marks if I get implants?

    Posted on July 1, 2009 by drlcorbett

    My answer to this question is “No”, but it is possible.

    Having done Louisville breast augmentations for many years, and having placed thousands of implants, I have seen only one woman who returned with stretch marks after an augmentation.

    Stretch marks represent a tear of the deep surface of the skin and the tear heals by making scar. So a stretch mark is a scar. The amount of stretch we put on the breast skin is typically not great enough to create stretch marks. Also, the skin of the breast is typically very mobile, much more so that the skin of the hips or tummy where stretch marks typically occur. This laxity and mobility serve to protect against the problem.

    If you look in the product literature from the implant manufacturers, stretch marks are not even mentioned in the list of potential complications.

    An offshoot of this question is “Will implants make stretch marks worse?”. My experience is that they don’t go away but they tend to be less noticable after an augmentation.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    My ears stick out…what can I do?

    Posted on July 1, 2009 by drlcorbett

    The operation that fixes this problem is called an Otoplasty.

    This is a very slick operation. In Louisville, Otoplasty requires anesthesia and an hour or so in the operating room. After surgery, the recovery isn’t bad, but you will need to wear a head strap for several days.

    The operation isn’t very common for adults, because more othen than not the ear was corrected when the patients were children.

    In the O.R. we make an incision in the crease behind the ear. We lift the skin off the back of the cartilage and then place sutures in the cartilage to pin it back more. The incision is closed and that’s it.

    If you do have protruding ears or even one ear, you do have an option.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on the blog are presented by Dr. Lee Corbett, a Louisville, KY Plastic Surgeon.

    Targeted weight loss.

    Posted on July 1, 2009 by drlcorbett

    I frequently see patients who are interested in either a Louisville, KY tummy tuck or liposuction and they tell me that they have done countless exercises that target their problem area. The problem is, they tell me, the fat over that area just won’t go away. My response is, “of course it won’t.

    There is no such thing as targeted weight loss. In other words, there is no way to exercise a certain part to make the fat in that area go away. The best example is your abdomen. If you do lots of ab work at the gym what you will get are very toned ab muscles. But, if your diet is off and/or you are not doing the right kind of other exercises, the fat hides the nice changes you are causing with all of your hard work. The good thing is that everyone has a 6 pack, the bad is that you may have to alter your diet and exercise pattern to see it.

    Weight loss occurs all over your body with diet and exercise. People do loose in some areas before others, but it is out of our control the order in which we loose.

    My advice, keep working out and eat well, get a trainer. If you are doing all of this and the area doesn’t improve, call us at 502.721.0330.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville KY body contouring expert, Dr. Lee Corbett.

    What can I put on my scar?

    Posted on June 25, 2009 by drlcorbett

    My preference is a product called Scar Guard. I recommend it for breast, body and facial procedures.

    First, though, understand that scar formation is normal. Once the skin is wounded, be it in surgery or by trauma, your body will start to make collagen in the wounded area to heal itself. This is 100% normal and natural. Collagen is a part of normal skin too but in a scar there are no hair follicles, sweat glands, or pores. This makes the scar look different from the skin around it. Since scar formation is inevitable, our goal is to minimize the amount of scar made.

    Scar Guard is a liquid combination of three components known to help with scar formation: cortisone, Vitamin E, and silicone. By applying the product starting about 2 weeks after surgery, the hope is that the resulting scar will be as small as possible and match the surronding skin. This isn’t 100% possible but it is our goal.

    Scar guard is a clear liquid that paints on with a small brush much like nail polish. You apply it over the scar and just let it dry. Typically you will want to use it for about 6 weeks.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgeon.com

    502.721.0330

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

    Why do you swell after Liposuction?

    Posted on June 25, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Swelling is universal after liposuction. Without a doubt, it is the most common lingering side effect of the procedure. So why do you swell much?

    Well, the swelling is a totally natural process. When we do liposuction, be it laser lipo, ultrasonic or standard liposuction, we cause a fair amount of soft tissue trauma. Yes it is done in the OR, everything is sterile, you have antibiotics, you are under anesthesia, everything is as safe and controlled as possible. But, at the end of the day, we do beat up those fat cells pretty thoroughly and your body is responding.

    There are three phases of wound healing, the lag phase, the proliferative phase, and the resolution phase. During the lag and proliferative phases, the blood vessels become more porous in areas of trauma. This allows the cells that are responsible for  healing to leak from your bloodstream into the the area to do their work. Well, when the cells escape into your tissues, they attract water to follow them…and you swell. Compounding the problem is the fact that some of the tiny blood and lymphatic vessels that are responsible for returning the water back to your blood stream are distrupted as well…more reason to swell.

    The swelling WILL GO AWAY! Don’t despair. But also, be patient, the swelling can last from 3 to 6 months before you see your final result after Liposuction.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are presented by Kentucky Liposuction surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett

    Laser Hair Removal. How does it work?

    Posted on June 21, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Lasers for Hair Removal hit the scene about 10 or 11 years ago. As you might expect, hair removal has become one of the most popular MediSpa procedures done in the U.S.

    Here’s how they work.

    When fired, a laser will emit a beam of light of a specific wave length. Different wavelengths of light are preferentially absorbed by different colors. For instance, things that are red absorb light at a 532 nm wavelength. The hair  laser family emits a wavelength of light that is absorbed by brown.

    In the shaft of a hair, there are cells call melanocytes. Melanocytes produce pigment and make our hair, and skin, brown. Blondes have fewer melanocytes and people with black hair have the most in their hair.

    The way the laser works is that when fired, the light beam goes into the skin, and because of its’ wavelength, it is absorbed preferentially by the melanocytes in the hair. The melanocytes absorb all of the heat energy from the light, and they get so hot that they cause that hair to die.

    Now the problem is that if your skin is very dark, the melaocytes in the skin will also absorb the laser light, and this can bleach your skin. Think Michael Jackson. The ideal candidate for laser hair removal is the young version of Elizabeth Taylor…very dark hair and very light skin.

    Some newer hair lasers claim to be able to treat all skin colors but I cannot speak to the certainty of this claim.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Laser Hair Removal expert, Dr. Lee Corbett.

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