It is no surprise that most people find themselves feeling insecure with bathing suit season lurking just around the corner. At the beach or pool, the most common attire includes bikinis, short shorts, and tank tops – pretty much anything that reveals a lot of skin. Since getting a beach body cannot happen over night, many people diet and exercise long before summer hits so they can look and feel good when it comes time to slip into the latest summer fashions.

Although women seem to be the main ones who fear showing off their bodies during the hotter months, many men are also insecure about removing their t-shirt in front of people at the beach or pool.

Men Do Care About Their Bodies!

Whether they want to be more toned, have better-shaped pectorals, or have a more slim and muscular abdomen, many men have tried to address problem areas by practicing a healthy lifestyle. Even though diet and exercise are effective in weight loss and muscle toning, they cannot correct all features of the male body. For this reason, more men are seeking cosmetic enhancements to achieve a more masculine and toned physique.

Male Body Enhancement Procedures

• Fat reduction (liposuction): Some pockets of fat tend to be resistant to diet and exercise, especially areas such as the abdomen, flanks (“love handles”), chest, chin, and neck. Liposuction is a surgical technique used to target these fatty areas and improve the contours of the body.
• Abdominal reduction (tummy tuck): Excess abdominal fat and loose abdominal muscles and skin are often difficult for men to target without the use of surgery. Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, can be performed on a man’s body to remove excess skin and fat, tighten the abdominal wall, and trim the waistline.
• Muscle-enhancing surgery (implants): Some men feel as if their calves are lacking fullness or would like their chest more “bulked out.” Calf or pectoral implants can be used to enhance the shape of these muscles and improve the contours of the body.

By undergoing one or a combination of these procedures, a man can achieve a figure that is more slender, toned, and masculine. He can walk onto the beach or into the pool area and proudly take off his shirt and enjoy the summer weather with confidence.

Do you want to achieve more toned and slender body contours? Dr. Wald is an experienced plastic surgeon who can help you decide on the best procedure to meet your goals. You can schedule your consultation by calling (714) 312-3549 or by filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 4th, 2016 at 8:00 am and is filed under Gynecomastia, Liposuction, Male Cosmetic Procedures, Tummy Tuck.

Have you found yourself cringing at the thought of putting a bathing suit on during the summertime? Maybe you have been good all year, keeping to a strict diet and exercising regularly, yet you find those specific areas of fat unresponsive to a healthy lifestyle.

Often, certain areas of fat cannot be addressed with traditional weight-loss methods. This is why many men and women look to surgery to get rid of fatty deposits throughout the body. Liposuction can be used to remove fat from specific areas and sculpt the body. Instead of having to squeeze into a bikini, shorts, or other summer styles, liposuction can be used to address those last remaining inches so you can be comfortable and confident.

It is time to get summer-ready and to get rid of areas of fat causing you to be insecure about showing off your body at the pool or beach. Liposuction can be used to eliminate fatty areas as well as to improve the contours of the body.

Common Liposuction Areas

• Hips
• Thighs
• Abdomen
• Knees
• Ankles
• Face
• Neck

Liposuction can be performed anywhere on the body that has localized fat deposits. To remove fat and to sculpt the area, Dr. Wald uses a small cannula to vacuum suction out the fat. After the procedure, swelling and bruising are normal, but once the area has healed completely, patients can expect dramatic results.

Liposuction Benefits

• Provides a smoother, better-contoured body
• Reduces localized fat deposits
• Eliminates the appearance of cellulite
• Improves the texture of the skin tone

Don’t go through another summer covering up your body because you are insecure about stubborn excess fat. You can tackle those last few inches with liposuction! Liposuction patients can expect an overall improvement in their body contours and can achieve a smoother, more flattering physique. If you just have a few areas of fat you would like to target, Dr. Wald can help you get bathing-suit ready by using liposuction to enhance your body shape.

To learn more about liposuction, Dr. Wald can provide you with additional information. You can schedule your consultation by calling (714) 312-3549 or by filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 7th, 2016 at 8:00 am and is filed under Liposuction.

Spring is here! The flowers are blooming and the sun is shining, but you may find yourself looking in the mirror and see that your face is not reflecting in the same bright and beautiful way. The cold winter months have likely taken a toll on your facial skin. Fine lines, wrinkles, splotches, sun damage, and acne scars may make you feel and look old, tired, and worn out. It is time to brighten up the facial skin so you can enjoy some springtime fun. With so many non-surgical cosmetic options available, you can rejuvenate the face to gain fresher and smoother skin without having to undergo a strenuous procedure that requires a long recovery time.

Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation

• BOTOX® Cosmetic: This FDA-approved neurotoxin is made up of a protein derived from botulinum toxin type-A that blocks nerve impulses to temporarily paralyze the facial muscles that cause wrinkles. BOTOX® Cosmetic can reduce the appearance of:
  • Lines and wrinkles on the forehead
  • Frown lines between the brows
  • Crow’s feet

• Injectable fillers: Injectables reduce signs of aging on the face by filling in wrinkles and creases and adding volume to restore a fuller, more youthful look. Depending on the target area and the patient’s preference, Dr. Wald will use one of the following injectable formulas:
  • JUVÉDERM®
  • Restylane®
  • RADIESSE®

• Laser Skin Resurfacing: This laser treatment uses an erbium-yag laser that emits a beam of light to remove unwanted tissue, such as scarred, wrinkled, and lined skin. It works by vaporizing the skin cells by emitting bursts of light  that are absorbed by the water in those cells. It can target:
  • Tiny wrinkles
  • Acne scars
  • Minor skin imperfections
• Sciton® Laser: Infrared energy is used to heat dermal collagen deeply while protecting the treatment area with sapphire contact cooling. Dr. Wald manipulates the laser to emit the wavelength appropriate for the target depth of damaged tissue. The Sciton® Laser can help to diminish the appearance of:
  • Blemishes
  • Acne and acne scarring
  • Lax, aged, or damaged skin

By undergoing one or a combination of non-surgical rejuvenation treatments, a patient can expect to have softer, brighter, more youthful facial skin. With shorter recovery times, immediate results, and minimal pain, non-surgical treatments are an excellent option for providing natural-looking improvements to the face.

To find out how you can achieve smoother, rejuvenated skin, schedule your consultation with Dr. Wald by calling (714) 312-3549 or by filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 29th, 2016 at 4:26 pm and is filed under BOTOX® Cosmetic, Injectable Fillers, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Sciton® Laser.

Whether you are considering breast reconstruction following your mastectomy or would like reconstruction performed at the same time as your mastectomy, your consultation is very important. Breast reconstruction techniques vary depending on the extent of your mastectomy and your natural physique. Personal preference, recovery, and postoperative effects can also sway you away from some techniques. While not every woman qualifies for every technique, Dr. Wald will provide you with detailed options that can help you achieve the breasts you desire.

Tissue Expanders With Implants

Using tissue expanders with implants is one of the least invasive breast reconstruction techniques. An empty tissue expander is placed in the breast pocket following your mastectomy. Over a period of months, the expander is gradually filled with more and more saline, effectively stretching the breast tissue to make room for an implant. During a final surgery, the expander is removed and replaced with a permanent implant.

Latissimus Dorsi Flap

The latissimus dorsi flap uses tissue harvested from the patient to recreate the breast mound. Skin, fat, and muscle are removed from a selected portion of the back, often along the bra band area, to hide scarring. The tissues are then transferred to the breast mound. In some cases, a free flap may be used, where the tissue is attached to a new blood supply at the breasts. In other cases, the tissues may remain attached to the original blood supply. Smaller breasts may be formed from just the transplanted tissue, or implants can be used to increase the size and improve the shape of the breasts.

TRAM Flap

The TRAM flap also uses patient-harvested tissue to create the breast mound. However, this technique uses tissue harvested from the abdominal region. One of your rectus muscles along with skin and fat are tunneled under the skin to the breast mound. A new breast is created, and, in most cases, the provided tissue is adequate so that an implant isn’t required. A synthetic mesh is used to strengthen the abdominal wall to prevent complications.

Nipple Reconstruction

Nipple reconstruction is usually the final step of breast reconstruction and helps provide a natural breast appearance. Tissue is taken from the upper thigh or behind the ear, areas which are typically darker pigmented to provide contrast. The tissue is shaped to appear like a nipple and then placed. To achieve more realistic coloring, many patients have the nipple and areola tattooed following their reconstruction.

If you are considering breast reconstruction, schedule your consultation with Dr. Wald today. Contact our office at (714) 312-3549, or fill out our online contact form here for additional information.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 3rd, 2016 at 8:00 am and is filed under Breast Reconstruction.

Although having children is often a joyous experience for women, the changes pregnancy can do to the body can leave many women unsatisfied with their physique. Among these changes are loose, hanging skin on the stomach and weak abdominal muscles, which may be impossible to correct even with diet and exercise.

The irreversible changes to the body post-childbirth are the main reasons many women opt for surgical enhancements, such as tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty), to flatten the abdomen and tighten the abdominal muscles.

Tummy Tuck Surgery and Pregnancy

Abdominoplasty involves excision to remove excess fat and skin that are resistant to exercise and a healthy diet regimen. Tummy tuck surgery can treat fat deposits on the hips and upper and lower abdomen, and this procedure results in a flatter, better-contoured abdomen.

Even though this is a great option after a body-altering experience such as childbirth, many tummy tuck surgery patients wonder if they can have more children after undergoing a tummy tuck procedure. The answer to that question is yes, but it is not recommended to undergo a tummy tuck until you have finished having children.

Undergoing tummy tuck surgery and then later giving birth to a child will reverse the original results from the procedure. Additional pregnancies post-abdominoplasty will cause the skin to stretch out again and the abdominal muscles to loosen back up. Therefore, it is highly recommended that patients wait until they are have finished having children before deciding to have a tummy tuck performed.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Tummy Tuck Surgery?

The best candidate for tummy tuck surgery is a woman who has already experienced childbirth and does not plan on having any more children in the future. It is also important for the tummy tuck patient to be in good health, have realistic expectations, and have already tried diet and exercise to achieve their desired appearance without success.

To learn more about tummy tuck surgery and if you are a good candidate, schedule your consultation with Dr. Wald by calling (714) 312-3549 or filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2016 at 8:00 am and is filed under Tummy Tuck.