Are you considering plastic surgery? If you’re in your 40s or 50s, you may wonder if you’re too old to undergo a procedure like a facelift or liposuction. While most plastic surgery procedures are performed on patients under 70 years of age, the patient’s overall health and medical conditions will ultimately determine if an individual is suited for plastic surgery.
“I have friends my age who dress much more conservatively than me who say, ‘I wish I could wear what you do.’ There’s nothing stopping them though – it’s just all in their head. Just because I’m in my eighth decade, I don’t see why I should fade into the background.”
The retired secretary also joined the dating site, Match.com. Receiving several inquiries from men in their 30s and 40s (she’s respectfully turned them down), she felt very flattered that her new appearance was able to attract younger men. Aside from loving the way she looks physically, she says:
“There is nothing wrong with a little bit of nip and tuck to keep myself looking as young as I feel.”
Ms. Pesch proves that if your health is good and you’re free of any serious medical conditions, age plays a smaller role than once thought.
If you desire to undergo surgery and want to know if you’re a candidate, we encourage you to contact our Orange County practice by calling (888) 401-2806 or by filling out our online contact form. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert Wald looks forward to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals.
Fat has long been used as a soft tissue filler to add volume to the face and lips. Many patients like the idea of using their own fat, rather than a pharmaceutical filler, to restore volume that has been lost through the aging process or to “plump up” areas that lack dramatic contours. One of the benefits of fat injections is that because fat is removed from your own body, there is no possibility of an allergic reaction. There is also evidence that stem cells are abundantly present in the fat. These stem cells may have a rejuvenated skin ability beyond volume enhancement alone.
Fat can be safely injected into the face by a skilled plastic surgeon. It can also be injected in other areas of the body to fill in dents or depressions. Recent evidence also shows that fat can be injected into the breasts, both for volume and to enhance the healing qualities of radiated or damaged tissue. This appears to be a new and exciting area of fat injections.
Recovery from fat injection is much longer than recovery following injection of most pharmaceutical soft tissue fillers. Following fat injections there will be significant bruising and swelling that may last several days to several weeks. The size and location of treat areas will determine the severity of post-treatment symptoms and the time needed for complete recovery.
Women who have had their children notice the effects of pregnancy and age. It’s quite concerning for a woman who has always looked good, but now has a tummy that has gained fat and loose skin and breasts that are smaller and more saggy. Unfortunately, diet and exercise can not improve these problems.
To correct these problems, some sort of abdominal suturing or tightening is required. Not uncommonly, a breast augmentation is performed at the same time. These 2 operations are very common and usually called a Mommy Makeover. My advice to my patients is to do this surgery earlier in life. The younger this makeover is performed, the longer the woman can enjoy it. This procedure is extremely satisfying to the patient. She can now go back to the youthful appearance she had prior to her pregnancies and increasing age.
To determine exactly what needs to be done, a woman needs to see a plastic surgeon. There are several options available to treat the abdomen. These include an Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) or some modification of this procedure. There are short scar Abdominoplasties combined with liposuction. Occasionally, liposuction can be done alone if the skin envelop is without a lot of loose skin and stretched muscles.
The breasts are also of concerns following pregnancy. The breasts usually deflate and sagginess can occur. There are 2 options to treat the breasts. This can include placement of a breast implant alone or a Mastopexy or breast lift. A breast lift can be done alone or in combination with a breast implant.
A woman who decides to do this procedure must take 2 weeks off work and her motherly duties. At 2 weeks, a person can drive, shower normally and perform some household chores. Heavy lifting and exercise cannot be done for 4 to 6 weeks. The results of this surgery are seen instantly but final results are not experienced for 6 months. Scars fade, breast soften and swelling gradually diminishes over several months. For the first few days following surgery, activity is limited and there is some discomfort. Contrary to what is commonly statedonline, the pain is not excessive.
My patients are extremely pleased with the result of these procedures. It is one of the most satisfying surgeries I perform. If one wants to rid the bodily consequences of age and pregnancy, these procedures can accomplish your goals.
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that reshapes the under portion of the upper arm. This reshapes the area from the elbow to the underarm area.
The reasons for this drooping or sagging appearance of the skin is due to fluctuations in weight, older age and hereditary. Unfortunately, no exercise can address the excess skin that has lost elasticity or the localized fat deposits.
An arm lift is performed to reduce excess skin and fat between the underarm and the elbow. It also reshapes the arm to result in a smooth and better contour. It also results in a more toned and proportionate appearance. The only downside to this procedure is a scar on the underside of the arm.
Arm Lift candidates are adults with significant upper arm laxity who are healthy and who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing. These people should be non smokers, and should not be significantly overweight. As with all cosmetic surgery, individuals should have a positive outlook and realistic expectations.
This procedure is done under general anesthesia. The incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed. Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm or on the back of the arm, depending on the surgeon’s preference. If fat is to be reduced during the procedure, it will be excised or treated with liposuction. The incisions are closed with absorbable sutures in order to minimize scarring. The smoother, tighter contours that result from brachioplasty are apparent almost immediately following the procedure but bruising and swelling will obscure the initial results.
Following the surgery, the arms are placed in a compression garment to minimize swelling. Dressings are applied over the incisions for several days following the procedure. Following surgery, the arms must be elevated most of the time for 2 weeks following surgery. This will help enhance the healing process by decreasing the swelling that occurs following the surgery. It is not uncommon to have some numbness in the upper arm or hand for a few weeks after the surgery. At 1 month, the arms are generally healed enough for most activities. The results of arm lift surgery will be long be long lasting, provided that the patient maintains a stable weight and general fitness. As the body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness, but most of the improvement should be relatively permanent.
The decision to have arm lift surgery is extremely personal and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. The two most common complications are infection and bleeding. These occur in less than 2% of all procedures performed. The decision every patient has to make is the resulting scar that will occur following this surgery. In some cases, this scar can be elevated and red (hypertrophic scar). If this occurs, steroid injections may be necessary or possible scar revision in severe cases.
Arm Lift Surgery Cost
Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. The surgeons cost for an arm lift may vary based on his or her experiences, the type of procedure used, as well as the geographic office location. In general, the cost is $5000.00 to $9,000. Be sure to ask about costs for the Surgicenter, anesthesia, and preoperative medical tests, and post surgery garments. These costs may be extra from the surgeon’s fee. Many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.
When choosing a plastic surgeon for an arm lift, remember that the surgeons experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.
Individuals who have undergone gastric bypass for weight loss are left with redundant skin located throughout their body. This excess skin can be located in their arms, face, chest, breast, abdomen and thighs. In order to correct this excess loose skin, the patient must undergo multiple surgeries to eliminate this loose skin. It is not uncommon that an individual who has lost over 150 pounds will undergo two to three surgical procedures to correct all of these problems. In my office, I have a long discussion with the patient about what concerns her most about her body. Depending on her desires, the excess skin can be removed from the abdominal, back, thigh upper, arms or breast areas. Insurance generally covers the marked loosenes of skin in the abdominal area if there is noted to be excess rashes located underneath the abdominal pannus. A patient must understand that there will be permanent scars, but these scars blend well over time. I have found that patients are extremely satisfied with these operations since no diet or excercise will help eliminate this marked looseness of skin.
Dr. Wald
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 10:26 am and is filed under Body Procedures.
You’re Never Too Old for Plastic Surgery
