Surgery, whether elective or deemed necessary, requires a certain protocol for recovery. Knowing the proper way to recover from surgery will not only assure adequate healing, but may also decrease recovery time.

Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions

Any surgical procedure, no matter how small, causes some degree of trauma to the body. Understanding this will guide the steps of recovery and help determine what the body needs to heal. Recovery may include instructions such as not to lift anything above a certain weight limit, limitations on bathing/showering, or a particular diet may be prescribed. It is essential that the patients follow the instructions given by their surgeon, despite how well they feel or how insignificant the instructions may seem.

Often, as patients recover from such surgical procedures, they forego the steps of recovery because they feel well enough to do so, or they feel it doesn’t apply to them. It is with a patient’s well-being in mind that the surgeon advises restrictions against certain daily activities. Jumping back into regular work or exercise routines prematurely will not only hinder one’s progress in recovery, but it may actually prolong it.

Healthy Diet

Good nutrition is also necessary for a speedy recovery. When the body has undergone any surgeries, it requires an increased amount of nutrients that will promote healing. It is essential to eat a variety of foods to get all of the calories, lean proteins, minerals, and vitamins needed to recover. Surgeons will often prescribe a specific diet, and it is important to follow it as much as possible, as it will prevent infections and certain complications. If a diet is not prescribed, making healthy food choices will aid in recovery nonetheless.

Keep All Follow-Up Appointments

Last, but not least, it is imperative to keep all follow-up appointments. If a patient’s recovery has progressed without complications, an appointment with the doctor may seem unnecessary. Surgeons need to monitor their patient’s recovery for many reasons, one of which is to assess for less obvious complications. In addition, surgeons must confirm that each patient has been adequately treated and determine whether any additional follow-up care is needed.

If you are considering any plastic surgical procedure, we encourage you to call The Aesthetic Institute in Fullerton, California. Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert M. Wald, regularly helps men and women all over Orange County achieve the look they desire. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Wald, please call us at (888) 401-2806 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to meeting you!

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 22nd, 2013 at 6:00 am and is filed under 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.

BOTOX® Cosmetic, the injectable most commonly known for its ability to reduce wrinkles, has held the title of the most popular non-surgical treatment in the world for the last few years. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), over 6.1 million BOTOX injections were administered in the United States in 2012.

When BOTOX was FDA approved over 10 years ago, many were apprehensive about this “lunch hour” procedure because it is derived from a toxin, and many were afraid they would get a “frozen” result since the product literally limits facial muscle movement. While it may sound dangerous to inject a poison into your face, BOTOX is completely harmless when administered in small amounts. It would be near impossible to inject a harmful amount of BOTOX into the face.

Like the many men and women this product has treated, BOTOX has aged quite gracefully. As the years have passed, cosmetic surgeons and estheticians have perfected their techniques to create the most natural-looking results. Highly experienced and trained professionals know exactly where and how much of the product to administer. Any complications that have resulted from BOTOX have been rare and minor, which may be one of the many reasons for its ever-increasing popularity.

Many do not know that BOTOX is as versatile as it is safe. Because of its ability to relax the muscles, BOTOX is also FDA approved to treat severe underarm sweating, cervical dystonia, and muscle stiffness. It has also been used to treat back pain, migraine headaches, vaginismus, and urinary incontinence.

BOTOX® works especially well to correct deep wrinkles between the brows, as well as crows feet. For patients who have facial volume loss along with fine lines and wrinkles, injectable fillers are an alternative to BOTOX. Rather than temporarily paralyze the facial muscles that cause wrinkles, injectable fillers “fill in” facial hollows and wrinkles to create a more youthful appearance. For more permanent facial wrinkle correction, Dr. Wald performs the facelift procedure at his Fullerton practice.

If you are interested in wrinkle correction at The Aesthetic Institute in Southern California, please schedule a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert M. Wald, by calling (888) 401-2806. For your convenience, you may also fill out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 24th, 2014 at 5:48 pm and is filed under BOTOX® Cosmetic.

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.