Compression Garment Use after Thighplasty

Thigh Lift Plastic Surgery, or Thighplasty is a surgical procedure to improve the contour and shape of the inner thigh on people with loose or sagging thigh skin. Wearing post-surgical compression pants may help to hasten recovery due to the specialized features of the compression garment.

Typically performed on individuals who have loss a significant amount of weight or have concerns about loose skin due to the natural aging process, the thighplasty surgical procedure can greatly improve the appearance of the legs which may boost a person’s confidence and self-esteem.

Following thighplasty surgery, most surgeons recommend that their patients wear post op leg garments to aid in post-surgical recovery. These compression garments are designed specifically to support faster healing and recovery from thighplasty as wearing the garment may help to: 

• Remodel the soft tissue by closing the tunnels formed by the cannulas
• Flush fluids from the surgical areas and from the body
• Firmly hold the skin in place and maintain the improvement in contour
• Decrease post-operative pain by supporting the surgical areas
• Uniform compression and support helps improve blood circulation 

The market is filled with companies advertising the best compression garment. Ensure that the garment you choose has the following recommended features:

• Use of a lightweight, breathable and durable fabric for firm compression
• Double tummy panel and a wide waistband for comfort
• Reinforced open crotch for convenience
• Full-length zipper closure to make the garment easier to put on
• Full-length foam guard pads that cover the side zippers for comfort
• Full-length contact closures or hooks for adjustments in compression
• Lace strips along the bottom of the garment to prevent rollup 

For faster and safer recovery, discuss the wearing of a compression garment with your surgeon. Weight loss is a tremendous accomplishment and a thighplasty procedure can assist with your desire to live a healthier lifestyle and maintain a normal weight. Thighplasty can greatly improve the overall appearance of the thighs and legs and wearing a compression garment may enable you to show off your new appearance even sooner!

Are there any other features that you would like to see in a compression garment?

Treatment of Crow's Feet with No Needles!

The number of non-surgical cosmetic procedures continues to rise year after year. With procedures that require little or no downtime, the trend will undoubtedly continue to escalate. In recent years, injectable botulinum toxin type A treatments have become the single largest cosmetic procedure in the United States, and now, a new topical (needle-free!) botulinum gel named RT001 has been developed and is currently going through FDA trials.

Revance Therapeutics, a US biopharmaceutical company, has developed a patented peptide delivery system for the treatment of crow’s feet. This system is able to transport the large botulinum toxin A molecule in gel form through the skin and to the target site. The gel is left on the skin for twenty minutes, and according to one study, good results and no major side effects were reported by 89% of the patients.

The delivery system is also being developed to carry the botulinum toxin type A to the targeted muscle in an injectable form which will potentially provide longer lasting results and also reduce the unwanted spread of the toxin to other tissues. This technology may ultimately change the way botulinum toxin is delivered to the targeted areas, which will improve the patient's experience.

Once RT001 receives FDA approval, the gel will be available by prescription for use in a doctor’s office. Welcome news for those who are looking for a safe, more natural looking aesthetic result without needles!

Neubelle™ RF Provides Botox-Like Control of Forehead Lines

Through the use of radiofrequency (RF), doctors can temporarily relax the muscles that cause frown lines or forehead wrinkles without the use of injectable botulinum toxin A (Botox). Neubelle, the only bi-polar device approved by the FDA for temporary immobilization of facial nerves, causes a thermal injury to block the specific nerve controlling the muscle that produces wrinkles on the forehead. Results are immediate and downtime is minimal.

Commonly used in medical applications, bi-polar RF energy is a well-studied, safe, predictable and consistent source of producing heat in nerve tissue. Under local anesthesia, RF energy is used to isolate and contract the exact muscle that causes frown or forehead lines on the patient. A fine probe delivers a thermal (heat) injury about the size of a grain of rice to the nerve that controls this muscle. This injury acts as a roadblock which will not allow the nerve to contract the muscle, resulting in shallowing, or complete smoothing of frown lines. Muscle function will gradually return after eight months to two years.

Although Neubelle is currently more costly and was not developed to be a complete substitute for Botox injections, it is a viable solution for the patient for whom the botulinum toxin is no longer effective. Unlike injectable Botox that covers an area, Neubelle’s probe isolates a single nerve for a truly customizable treatment.

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Motivations for Cosmetic Surgery

Every year, millions of people undergo cosmetic surgery. Many of the right reasons have been considered -- they are doing it for themselves, have high self-esteem, are in good health, recognize the risks and have reasonable expectations about the results of the procedure.

Studies have shown that body image, self-esteem, education and culture are among the predictable factors in the decision to have surgery.

Have you thought about what influences you? Are you motivated to:

• Look better for yourself

• Contour your body or remove excess skin after significant weight loss

• Return to pre-pregnancy shape after the birth of your last child

• Look younger for relationships or for work

• Correct asymmetry on a particular part of your body

• Have your clothes fit better

• Reduce or reconstruct a part of your body

• Change a feature you have always disliked

• Repair a broken nose or other body part 

• Reverse the signs of aging or age more gracefully

Knowing exactly what you want and having reasonable expectations about the result will help you reach the final decision about whether you will schedule the appointment right away, or give it more thought.

Share your motivation in a comment below ...and you will have a chance to win a free 
post-surgical compression bra! Be sure to include your email address in your profile.
This compression bra is also a great sleep bra!

A Guide to the Cosmetic Use of Facial Injectables

Facial injectables, also known as dermal fillers are an increasingly popular procedure due to their quick and natural looking results. Injectable dermal fillers are used to plump or add volume to an area and fill a line or crease.  Botox works by temporarily blocking nerve impulses that trigger muscle contractions which leads to the softening of wrinkles and modified expressions.

Since the majority of these products are technique-sensitive treatments, it is important to consult with a board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon or plastic surgeon.

A partial list of brand names and treatments: (several additional brands are available)

Smooth forehead lines and creases

Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, Juvederm, Restylane

Eliminate crow’s feet

Botox Cosmetic, Dysport

Lift cheeks

Juvederm, Sculptra 

Smooth naso-labial folds

Juvederm, Restylane, Sculptra

Smooth lip lines and plump lips

Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, Juvederm, Restylane

Reduce neck lines

Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, Sculptra

Soften the appearance of bony hands
Juvederm, Perlane, Restylane

Although reports indicate that side effects of facial injectables are low, there are risks involved. Potential side effects include redness, swelling and bruising at the injection site, raised bumps, abcesses, infections, skin discoloration and mild to severe allergic reactions. 

Injectable fillers can provide fast and positive changes to the face and neck. Depending on the type of temporary filler used and other factors, continued treatments will be needed to maintain the desired effects.   

Please share your experiences below!

Study Shows that Minimally Invasive Facial Cosmetic Procedures are Safe

Minimally invasive cosmetic treatments, such as fillers, neurotoxins (Botox) and laser device procedures have been performed worldwide on both men and women to decrease the visible signs of facial aging. The results of an extensive national study indicate that these procedures are generally safe and have essentially no risk of serious side effects.

A recent Northwestern Medicine® study led by Murad Alam, M.D., analyzed over 20,000 of procedures performed by 23 board-certified and experienced dermatologists at eight centers in the United States. As a Dermatology professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Dr. Alam studied the long-held perception that a few different minimally invasive facial cosmetic procedures are safer than one more invasive facial procedure. It was reported that these types of procedures are quite safe and have essentially no risk of serious adverse events. Minor side effects, such as redness, bruising and swelling generally occur in less than one percent of patients and disappear on their own.

This study is good news for people undergoing minimally invasive facial enhancements, especially those who may have been apprehensive about the risks or side effects of anti-aging facial procedures.

Do the results of this study help with your decision to consider facial procedures?