Category: Uncategorized

Am I a good candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?

Patients today regularly see me for a breast lift.  Over the years, a woman’s breasts change losing their youthful shape and firmness.  The skin looses elasticity from pregnancy, breast feeding, weight fluctuations, aging and heredity.  Sometimes the areola also becomes enlarged.  Mastopexy is the technical term for a breast lift.  It is important to realize that breast lift surgery does not significantly change the size of the breasts or round out the upper part of the breast.  In order to add fullness to the upper breast, a breast implant must also be placed at the time of a Mastopexy. 

Best candidates for a breast lift:

• Women who are physical healthy and maintain a stable weight. 
• Women who have realistic expectations.
• Women who have lost shape and volume in their breasts.
• Women who have flat and elongated breasts.
• Women with breast asymmetry (one breast lower than the other).
• Women with nipples and areolas pointing downward.

Breast Lift Before and After Photos

Breast Lift Procedure

A Mastopexy or breast lift can be performed in 3 different incision patterns and techniques. The appropriate technique depends on the patient’s breast size and shape, the size and position of the areolas, the degree of the breast sagging, and the elasticity amount of extra skin.  A patient undergoing this procedure is usually done under general anesthesia.  There are three common incision patterns.  The first is only around the areola (Periareolar Mastopexy), the second incision involves an incision around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease (Vertical Mastopexy), and the third is around the areola, vertically down to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease. Dr. Wald will help in the type of incision pattern that best suits the patient’s desires and ultimate outcome.  Once the incisions are made, the breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve breast contour and firmness. The nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural and more youthful height.  All the sutures are placed under the skin to avoid suture marks and minimal scarring.  Every patient must realize that these scars are permanent, but fade beautifully over one year.  The results of the breast lift are immediate, but over time the breasts will relax giving a more natural appearance.

Breast Lift Recovery

A woman undergoing this procedure will be placed postoperatively in a support bra to minimize swelling and give support to the breasts as they heal.  I generally recommend a week off work and no heavy physical activity for 1 month.  The pain following this procedure is minimal.  However, if a breast implant is placed as well, this will increase the discomfort for a few extra days.  A pain pump is available to help with the discomfort.  The final results of a breast lift will appear over several months as breast shape and position continue to settle.  A breast lift is long lasting, but over time, the breasts will continue to change due to gravity and aging.  Pregnancy and weight gain will affect the results of a breast lift and should be considered before undergoing this procedure.

Breast Lift Cost

The average cost for a breast lift varies depending on what part of the United States the procedure is performed.  The costs will also depend on the surgeons experience and location.  The average cost for breast lift varies from $5000.00 to $12,000.00.  It is important to make sure these fees include anesthesia and operating room costs.  Most plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.  In choosing your surgeon, select a surgeon who you are comfortable with and you can trust.

Dr. Robert Wald

Dr. Wald serves the surrounding communities including: Brea, Yorba Linda Anaheim Hills, Fullerton, Buena Park, La Mirada and La Habra.  Please contact our office to schedule a consultation, 888-401-2806.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 8th, 2014 at 6:26 am and is filed under Breast Enhancement, Breast Lift, Uncategorized.

As we get older, metabolism changes tend to cause a redistribution of body fat, which often develop into fat deposits. Even following a healthy lifestyle often doesn’t completely eliminate these stubborn pockets of fat. A popular procedure that effectively slims down the contours of the body and provides a more attractive appearance is liposuction. Through this type of treatment, patients typically feel confident about wearing more form-fitting clothing and summer attire.

Liposuction can be safely and effectively performed on many areas of the body, including:

Abdomen          Arms

Hips                   Back

Buttocks           Cheeks

Thighs               Neck

How Does it Work?

Liposuction is a minimally-invasive procedure, meaning the incisions made during surgery are very minor. This ensures scarring will be minimal and hardly noticeable. Liposuction involves placing a cannula (thin hollow tube) through tiny incisions on the body. Once the cannula is under the skin and in contact with fat cells, a vacuum device is used to permanently suction out fat from that specific region of the body. After the desired amount of fat is removed the body, the incisions are closed.

Is it Right for Me?

Most people who are at a normal weight with firm skin are candidates for liposuction, but it is important to understand that the procedure is not viewed as a form of weight loss. Generally, individuals should already be at or close to their ideal body weight in order to see the most optimal results. It is also recommended that potential patients have already attempted a combination of dieting and exercising to lose unwanted areas of fat before choosing liposuction. Although liposuction provides very satisfactory results, it is important that patients have realistic expectations about the outcome of their procedure.

Don’t hesitate, get the body you want now!

Although the summer season may seem far away, undergoing a body contouring procedure like liposuction will ensure that your results are fully apparent by the time you decide to enjoy the sun and hit the beach.

To schedule your Fullerton liposuction procedure, feel free to contact The Aesthetic Institute today. Call (888) 401-2806 or conveniently fill out our online contact form. Dr. Wald is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and strives to help you achieve the body you want.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 9th, 2014 at 7:41 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.

Like many men living in Southern California, now is the time you probably try to eat healthier and hit the gym more frequently to get beach ready for summer. As the weather gets warmer, perhaps you are still far from having a broad chest or toned abdominal section that is physically satisfying. To get a noticeably more attractive physique, men of all ages come to Dr. Robert Wald at his Orange County practice for body contouring procedures.

Liposuction

A very popular procedure for men, liposuction provides a slimmer physical appearance by removing stubborn deposits of fat from various parts of the body, including:

• *Abdomen

• Thighs and Buttocks

• Neck, Arms, and Back

• Chest

• Cheeks and Chin

*In the months leading up to the summer season, the number of liposuction procedures performed on the abdomen increases due to the overwhelming desire to attain a slimmer waistline and more defined stomach.

Abdominoplasty

An abdominoplasty, or “tummy tuck,” is another popular procedure that targets the abdomen. Unlike liposuction, where fat removal is the main objective, abdominoplasty focuses on removing excess skin in addition to fat deposits from the stomach area. After excess fat and skin are removed, the abdominal muscles are tightened to give men a noticeably more toned midsection.

Muscle-enhancing surgery

A procedure becoming more common every year around this time, muscle-enhancing surgery is designed to “sculpt” the pectoral, abdominal, and calf muscles. To sculpt the chest and calves, implants are placed underneath the skin to provide permanent shape and volume. The abdominals are enhanced by performing liposculpture (combination of liposuction and etching) to create the ripples of a six-pack stomach.

If you’ve been unable to get the summer body you want through regular diet and exercise, contact The Aesthetic Institute. Dr. Wald has helped countless numbers of men achieve a beach-ready body that they can feel confident about. Call (888) 401-2806 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon today. Dr. Wald looks forward to meeting you and discussing how he can improve your physique with his male specific body contouring procedures.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 19th, 2014 at 7:33 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.

Putting your best face forward involves keeping the signs of aging at bay. However, even if you are on top of skin care methods for preserving your facial appearance, the development of wrinkles and sagging skin are eventually unavoidable. To combat these negative physical effects, many men and women often turn to cosmetic procedures and undergo facelift surgery.

When Dr. Wald’s patients visit The Aesthetic Institute for their consultation, a question they often ask is, “What is the best age for a facelift?”

The truth is, there is no particular age that is best to undergo facelift surgery since the aging process affects everyone differently. Rather than having facelift surgery performed at an exact age, you should aim to have a facelift done when one or more of the following conditions develop:

• Sagging in the midface and lower face

• Creases around the eyes, nose, and mouth

• Loss of muscle tone in the lower cheeks (jowls)

• Excess skin and fat under the chin

At his practice, Dr. Wald performs various facelift techniques that are specifically tailored to meet each patient’s individualized needs.

Traditional Facelift

A traditional facelift is performed using incisions that start at the temples, extend down around the ears, and end in the hairline of the lower scalp. In some cases, an incision may also be made underneath the chin. Excess skin and fat are removed while the cheek muscles are repositioned to eliminate wrinkles, creases, and sagging skin.

Mini Facelift

Unlike a traditional facelift, this method focuses solely on the midface. Incisions are made at the temples that extend down around the ear but not into the hairline. Excess skin and fat are removed, and the remaining skin is redraped to reveal a smoother, more youthful appearance.

Endoscopic Facelift

This method is carried out in almost the same way that a regular facelift is performed. However, an endoscope (small camera with a light) is inserted through the incisions to give the surgeon better vision throughout the procedure.

The facelift technique that is best for you will be determined after Dr. Wald evaluates you and your aesthetic goals during your personalized consultation.

To restore a rejuvenated appearance to your face, we encourage you to contact our Orange County practice today. Please call (888) 401-2806 or feel free to fill out our online contact form. Dr. Robert Wald is board certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and looks forward to helping you attain a more youthful appearance with lasting results.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 11th, 2014 at 6:56 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.

Brachioplasty Surgery

(Upper Arm Lift Procedures In Women Are Up 4,378% since 2000)

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.

Dr. Robert Wald

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 27th, 2013 at 5:59 pm and is filed under Arm Lift, Body Procedures, Liposuction, Uncategorized.