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Subj: Re: tummy tuck / breast enlargement
I would like more information on a tummy tuck.
I was interested in getting some information about cosmetic
surgery. I just had a baby 1 week ago (my third) and my stomach
is very stretched with plenty of scars. I want to know more about
tummy tuck and breast implants. How soon can I have the surgery?
I went to see someone in my area (Virginia Beach/Norfolk VA)
and he told me 6 weeks after delivery is enough time to wait.
That is the only consultation I have had. Could you recommend
other cosmetic surgeons in my area? Thanks,
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon and practice in Richmond Virginia.
Surgery for an abdominoplasty can be done as early as 6 weeks
- 2 months after pregnancy, longer if you are breast feeding.
Sometimes waiting for the skin to restore to pre pregnancy tone
(about 6 months) can make the extent of surgery smaller. More
of an issue is who will be helping you with the new child. A
tummy tuck can slow you down. Making normal day to day chores
a little harder during recovery from surgery. This is the best
reason to hold off for a while.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can
be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached
at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort
of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: Re: stretch marks3
Is the scarring caused by the "mini-tummy tuck"
any uglier than the scarring caused by c-sections??
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon.
A "mini tummy tuck" can have a much nicer scar than
a C section. Remember the doctor in the cosmetic operation is
only concerned and treating the defect while the OB-GYN has many
more factors to think about (child, uterus, hormones etc.). You
should have an evaluation to better understand your options.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can
be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached
at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort
of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: Re: Abdominoplasty
Can you recommend any good sources of information
on the subject?
B
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon.
The best source of information on abdominoplasty is in the
office consultation by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Preliminary
information is available on the ASPS website which you can access
through my web page. Go to PlasticWeb, then ASPS information,
then cosmetic procedures. My website is now over 110 pages and
I am building it myself. I have not been able to address every
area in as much detail as I will in the future. Surgical texts
and brochures of paper or on the web just are not as effective
as the doctor's office.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can
be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached
at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort
of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Thank you for your help. I find the web an excellent way to
develop nformation about various subjects and your bulletin board
is extremely informative.
Good luck with your practice! I am actually have an ACL reconstruction
soon so I do not require your services just yet...
Thank you again for your quick and courteous response.
Regards,
B K
Thank you.
Good luck on your reconstruction
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: re breast after pregnancy
In 1992 I had breast augmentation. In 1994 I gave
birth to my first child, my breasts took alot but I ended up
with sagging and stretch marks anyway. I am now pregnant with
my second and last child and want to have my breasts done again.
What are my options, can I have a new augmentation procedure?
I was a full C but sagged and I want to be perky again. If I
have the same procedure again, will the stretch marks minimize
if the fullness comes back? It would be greatly appreciated if
I could get some insight.
Thank you,
R
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Breasts swell from the hormones your body generates to develop
milk producing glands. After the hormone stops the stimulation,
the breasts shrink sometimes back to their normal size. Sometimes
the suspension ligaments holding the breast and the skin loose
their support and the breast droop (ptosis). Stretching the skin
can break the collagen resulting in stretch marks. Some skin
massaging may minimize some of these problems during both the
stretching and the healing. Lasers may be of value for some stretch
marks during the healing stages.
Once the breasts have optimally returned as much as they will,
an evaluation by a competent plastic surgeon should be able to
help the patient understand the various options. This would include
ptosis correction and or implant modification.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can
be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached
at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort
of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: Re: stretched stomach muscle
Dr. Bermant,
A year ago, I gave birth to a 7 lb 5 oz baby who overstretched
my stomach muscles to the extent that I don't think they will
return to their pre- pregnancy state. Could you provide me with
additional information on how this condition could be corrected
surgically as well as provide me with some exercise tips that
would improve the physical appearance of my stomach. I have lost
all of my pregnancy related weight, but I still look as if I
am about 2-3 months pregnant.
Thanks for your assistance.
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon.
The information you ask is usually part of my in office plastic
surgery consultations for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Not all
patients with this problem are solved surgically, some can improve
with exercises, but after a year surgery may be a reasonable
option. In this operation redundant skin and fat are removed
after the underlying muscles tone is adjusted. This is an oversimplification
of the information that should be conveyed in the evaluation,
examination and discussions that belong in a consultation.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can
be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached
at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort
of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: Re: abd and breast
I am interested in having breast and abdominal surgery.
After giving birth to 3 children, the last pregnancy being twins,
my breast and abdomine are not the same. I lost all of the weight,
and work out at the gym regularly. I still have the excess skin
on my stomach. My abdominal muscles are not the problem, it's
the extra skin. My breast are full,but have began to sag. I am
33 years old and the children are 14 and the twins 11, and I
have decided to have reconstructive surgery. I would like some
professional advise on the type of surgery I should have. I do
have some fears about the surgery and the after effects. It is
also important for me to find an experienced Dr. I feel comfortable
with. I have considered going to NY to have the surgery.
After reading all the sections of your web site and have found
them to be very impressive. I would like some additional information
on these surgeries for women of color and the cost if my insurance
should not cover these procedures.
Thank you in advance.
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon.
It is wise to learn what you can before surgery. Extra skin
of the abdomen comes in different degrees. For minimal extra
skin, a mini-tuck (less extensive abdominoplasty) can recontour
the skin with a smaller scar. For greater skin excess, the patients
are better off with a full abdominoplasty. The contour of the
abdomen in many cases still can be improved with abdominal muscle
sculpting (tightening). Breast recontouring through reduction
or resuspension are also a number of different operations. Which
one would do best for your anatomy is best determined during
an in office consultation and evaluation. We explore, especially
in women of color their scar history and alternate methods of
care. Our office educational package is an extension of the introduction
seen on the website. Choosing a surgeon can be difficult, that
is why we have so much detail on the web - not as a replacement
for the consultation nor to replace another doctor's surgical
education package. We want the patients choosing us to feel comfortable
with their plans for surgery, their operative experiences, and
their aftercare.
Cost depends on what you need. Further details of typical price ranges can be discussed
with our office staff, but the best definition of price comes
after we have the opportunity to explore what you need and want.
In some cases of minimal abdominal surgery, the breast reduction
or ptosis correction can be done in the same setting reducing
total cost. However when skin shifts are extensive or there are
other factors, the two surgeries are better separated in time.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can
be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached
at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort
of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com
Subj: Re: adominoplasty
Dear Dr.Bermant,
I am a 39 year old female considering the abdominplasty procedure.
I feel this procedure would help reduce the excess skin left
on my abdomen by two preganancies. I work out faithfully and
am in otherwise very good health. My question is in regard to
the stretchmarks left by the pregnancies. Will the abdominoplasty
also reduce the appearance of these stretchmarks? Or is another
procedure indicated to reduce or eliminate them.I have heard
of a very new laser procedure that has shown amazing results
on a news program. However, at this point, I have been unable
to find out any other information regarding this procedure.Your
advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
B in Philadelphia
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Abdominoplasty surgery removes skin along the lower abdomen.
Those stretch marks that were there are removed with that skin.
The remaining stretch marks remain behind. Stretch marks can
worsen in tightened skin. Everyone is looking for a magic bullet
to cure stretch marks. I have found no such treatment to date
but there has been a great deal of hype for this method or that
method. The results shown to me have not been as fantastic as
the promoter has claimed. Think of it, erasing scars - it will
be wonderful if and when someone REALLY comes up with that cure.
Reality is not as nice as what we would like, but there is always
hope.
The abdominoplasty does well at what it is designed to do,
get rid of the extra skin and if necessary, tighten the stomach
wall muscles. The skin that is removed can be quite extensive
and if the stretch marks are all there, then most will be gone.
I can better assess a particular patient's options during an
in office examination and evaluation. Be careful of promises
that can not be delivered.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can
be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached
at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort
of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com |
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