Before Breast Surgery: Your Preparation Guide [Part 1]

January 29th, 2016

Madison, Wisconsin, plastic surgeon Dr. Clifford King is proud to offer a full range of cosmetic surgery procedures, including breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction.

Madison Cosmetic Surgery patients receive exceptional care from a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, personalized attention and education, and the comfort of a spa-like setting.

To help you recover quickly and comfortably from your breast surgery, it is our pleasure to share with you some in-depth tips. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Mayo Clinic, RealSelf and Mentor have contributed to this guide.

There are numerous ways to prepare for your procedure:

* Do Back Exercises: Your back will need to be strong to carry extra weight if you are having your breasts enlarged.

* Quit Smoking Cigarettes: Both before and for some time after surgery.

* Get Those High Items Down Now: Avoid lifting your arms overhead post-surgery.

* Prepare a Recovery Zone: You’ll want to come home to a clean, relaxing space while you heal.

* Be Ready to Relax: Take off from work and home responsibilities. Have books and movies on hand.

* Enlist Assistance: Ask friends or family for transportation to and from the office on the day of the procedure. And, have someone keep you company at home for at least 24 hours afterward.

Up Next: Your Pre-Surgery Shopping List

Facial Cosmetic Surgery Can Turn Back the Clock 7 Years On Average, Study Reports

December 18th, 2015

When considering facial cosmetic surgery, you might wonder: How much younger will I look?

In a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), strangers perceived a patient’s age after this type of surgery as seven years younger than before the procedure.

The authors explained their reason for the study: “Research has demonstrated significant enhancement in patient satisfaction with appearance and quality of life after aesthetic surgery; furthermore, this can have a demonstrably broader effect in the context of physical, emotional, and social well-being. Although patients generally look more refreshed with facial features that are better defined and lifted to the proper position, it is difficult to definitively assert that they actually look more youthful.”

The study used photographs of 60 patients randomly selected for analysis, including one before surgery, and another six months after surgery. Strangers were then asked to estimate the age of the subjects. The difference between a patient’s actual biological age and the raters’ estimate — referred to as “perceived age difference” — was compared before and after surgery.

Patient photos were divided into three groups, according to which type(s) of cosmetic surgery they received:
Group 1: facelift and neck lift (22 patients);
Group 2: facelift, neck lift, and upper and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) (17 patients);
Group 3: facelift, neck lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), and forehead lift (21 patients).

The patients’ ages before surgery were estimated to be 1.7 years younger than their chronological age. And, when shown the post-surgery pictures, the raters estimated the subjects’ ages as 8.9 years younger than their actual ages.

So, having facial cosmetic surgery changed the patients’ perceived age difference by a substantial 7.2 years. The effect was less prevalent for Group 1 (5.7 years), and was most dramatic for Group 3 patients (8.4 years), who had undergone all three facial procedures.

For facial cosmetic surgery in Madison, Wisconsin, visit board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Clifford King.

Dr. King offers facelift and eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) to give you a fresher, younger appearance.

Contact Madison Cosmetic Surgery online or call our office at 608-821-4004 to schedule a private consultation.

After Male Breast Reduction Surgery, ‘I’m Going To Be A Lot Happier And More Confident’

December 14th, 2015

After having a male breast reduction (gynecomastia surgery), a man has shared his story on Reddit.

Gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue) can occur at any age. It can be caused by hormonal changes, heredity, obesity or drug use. The writer says his breasts developed when he was a child. As a teen, he worked out at the gym in an attempt to shrink them. “I actually got pretty fit, and felt better about myself for a time. But there was no real ability to lose the fat on my chest,” he writes. “No matter how skinny I got or how I built up my chest I never looked really good.”

He tried to conceal them: “I would wear baggier clothes and hunch. And in the mirror I saw how it was hidden. I became an expert. And some people wouldn’t see it. Black became my favourite colour.”

Gynecomastia was negatively affecting his confidence. “I try to keep the lights off or keep my shirt on during sex. … I looked like crap in a dress shirt. I had to look for very boring, loose fitting clothing … I couldn’t put clothes on without hating myself. I couldn’t even look at my image in the mirror anymore. I burned with hate and disgust.”

He eventually looked into gynecomastia surgery. Male breast reduction surgery is recommended for men who are physically and emotionally healthy and do not consume anabolic steroids or smoke or drink alcohol in excess. Most patients can return to work in less than a week.

After the procedure, he says, “I lay on a table and suddenly awoke with a normal man’s chest. I’m sure now that I’m going to be a lot happier and more confident. It was a good decision.”

His before-and-after photos were published by Cosmopolitan.

Madison Cosmetic Surgery offers gynecomastia treatment (male breast reduction) in Wisconsin, sometimes involving liposuction.

The fine work of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Clifford King can be viewed online in our male breast reduction before-and-after photo gallery.

If you would like to learn more to help you decide whether to have surgery, Dr. King will be happy to answer your questions during a free male breast reduction consultation.

Liposuction Healthy Side Effects

September 24th, 2015

Even though liposuction was long considered a purely cosmetic procedure, more recent research shows some positive side effects. Resulting health benefits might include lower triglyceride levels and white blood cell counts, which can significantly decrease a patient’s risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

The study, presented to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, looked at 322 patients undergoing liposuction and/or a tummy tuck, with 71 percent having only liposuction. Among patients with normal triglyceride levels before surgery, there was no noticeable change. However, those patients who had dangerously elevated levels prior to the procedure saw a dramatic reduction — an average of 43 percent. Liposuction surgery was nearly twice as effective as a common triglyceride-reducing prescription drug.

“High triglyceride levels are known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The decrease in these levels after liposuction was surprisingly dramatic, and revealed that the permanent removal of excess fat cells by liposuction has a major impact on circulating levels of triglycerides,” said the study’s author, Dr. Eric Swanson.

“These findings suggest that patients who are considering liposuction who have at-risk triglyceride levels may reduce their risk of developing these serious health problems, while correcting body disproportions. Patients not only look better, but may be healthier too.”

On the matter of white blood cell counts, the research showed liposuction decreased it by an average of 11 percent, thus lowering inflammation, which is thought to cause coronary heart disease, obesity, hypertension and diabetes.

“For years, it has been assumed that ‘visceral fat’ surrounding the internal organs has greater metabolic importance and is more directly linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk than ‘subcutaneous fat’ that lies under the skin,” Dr. Swanson noted. “These new findings support recent studies suggesting subcutaneous fat, which can be reduced by liposuction, is just as metabolically important.”

Liposuction can be an excellent option for patients who have a stable weight, but some problem areas that are not responding to diet and exercise. For liposuction in Madison, WI, visit board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Clifford King. To learn about your options for creating a sleek new you, contact Madison Cosmetic Surgery.

NEW CELEBRITY MOM WOWS FANS WITH HER TRIM LOOK

September 10th, 2015

Just six months after giving birth, “Snooki & JWoww” beauty Jenni Farley impressed her fan followers by sharing a photo of her sleek figure and new and improved breasts.

The impressive Instagram post — see the photo on OK Magazine‘s website — seemed to get more attention than her MTV show’s February series finale.

Saying she first had a breast augmentation about 10 years ago, Farley had them re-done after experiencing the effects of breastfeeding her daughter. “I love them,” she said. She plans to have more children in the future — and more surgery. “I’ll do another one in a few years,” she shared.

New mothers are frequently disappointed with how their bodies look after pregnancy and breastfeeding. For plastic surgery in Madison, Wisconsin, board-certified surgeon Dr. Clifford King offers a variety of procedures for a “tummy tuck.”

To regain their trim figures, new mothers choose options such as breast lift, breast augmentation, bodylift and liposuction.

View our tummy tuck before-and-after photo gallery to see examples of some of Dr. King’s many satisfied patients. If you’re a new mother who wants to reclaim your pre-pregnancy body, contact Madison Cosmetic Surgery to find out how we can help.