Month: January 2015

Improving Your Body Contour after Major Weight Loss

Losing a significant amount of weight has an undesirable side effect: excess loose skin. This skin can obscure the body’s new shape and make it difficult to feel attractive and confident. Sometimes, the skin can chafe or develop rashes or infections. Unlike fat, it cannot be eliminated through diet or exercise. It requires surgical removal.

Drs. Samuel Pearl and Alexander Ereso, plastic surgeons based in Mountain View, can help. They offer post-bariatric body contouring to remove the excess saggy skin and refine the body’s new contours.

After learning more about a patient’s specific needs and the areas of the body that need help, the plastic surgeon will draft a customized treatment plan, which could include any of the following procedures:

Lower Body Lift

Lower body lift improves the appearance of the outer thighs and buttocks. The plastic surgeon will first make an incision in the inner thigh and extend it around the hip/flanks. Then, he will remove excess unwanted fat, tissue and skin. Finally, he will smooth and tighten the remaining tissue and skin for a more attractive body contour.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Abdominoplasty improves the appearance of a protruding or saggy midsection. Through a horizontal incision along the lower abdomen, the plastic surgeon will remove stubborn fat deposits, tighten the abdominal muscles and suture them into place. He will excise loose, saggy skin and re-drape the remaining skin more tightly over the abdomen for a flat, firm result.

Breast Lift

Breast lift restores saggy or drooping breasts to a more youthful position on the chest. The plastic surgeon will remove excess skin and tissue and sculpt the remaining tissue into a breast mound higher on the chest wall. He will move the nipple and areola to a higher position on the breast, and reduce the areola if needed.

Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)

Brachioplasty treats loose, flabby upper arms. The plastic surgeon will remove localized fat deposits using liposuction techniques, and excise loose skin and tissue. He will wrap the remaining skin more tightly around the upper arms to improve their shape and firmness.

Thigh Lift

Thigh lift is designed to improve the upper thighs (specifically the inner thighs). The plastic surgeon will remove excess skin and tissue, using liposuction if needed to target excess fat. Then, he will tighten the remaining skin to eliminate any sagging or laxity.

Learn More about Post-Bariatric Body Contouring

If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight and would like to explore your body contouring options, please contact Drs. Samuel Pearl and Alexander Ereso today and schedule a consultation. Call (650) 964-6600 or send us an email at [email protected].

What Is Gynecomastia and How Is It Treated?

Gynecomastia is a term that means “enlarged male breasts.” Studies show that nearly half of all men will experience gynecomastia during their lives. Physically, it is not a cause for concern; however, it can be psychologically difficult to accept. Many men with gynecomastia feel uncomfortable or self-conscious of their bodies. Luckily, plastic surgeons have developed a solution: male breast reduction surgery.

Dr. Alexander Ereso treats gynecomastia at their Mountain View-based plastic surgery practice. Here, they explain what causes the condition, and what can be done about it.

Causes of Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is primarily caused by a hormonal imbalance. If a man develops high estrogen levels, his body will start to produce more breast tissue and his chest will look larger. Other possible causes include:

  • Medications – e.g., anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications
  • Drugs and alcohol – e.g., marijuana
  • Medical problems –e.g., kidney or liver disease, hyperthyroidism

Some men develop gynecomastia simply as the result of the aging process.

During your consultation, the plastic surgeon will take down a detailed health history to rule out any medical problems that could be causing excessive breast tissue. He will ask for a list of medications you currently take, including nutritional supplements and herbal remedies, and look for any drugs that could be contributing to the problem.

Certain cases of gynecomastia will resolve over time. If yours does not, and you are struggling with the appearance of enlarged breasts, you may opt for surgical treatment.

Gynecomastia Treatment

Gynecomastia surgery removes excess glandular and fatty tissue to produce a flatter, firmer and more masculine-looking chest.

Your treatment plan will be tailored to your unique needs, but generally, the surgical steps are as follows:

First, the plastic surgeon will make an incision along the lower edge of the nipple-areola complex. He will surgically excise excess glandular tissue to flatten the breasts. Then, he will use ultrasound-assisted liposuction techniques to remove localized fat deposits and “fine-tune” the results. Finally, he will close the incisions with sutures.

Swelling and mild discomfort are normal post-operative side effects, and will subside within a few weeks. The plastic surgeon will likely place a supportive garment around the chest to control the swelling.

While initial results are noticeable almost immediately after surgery, it can take several months for the full results to appear. Since the surgical incision is small, scarring is minimal.

Learn More about Gynecomastia Treatment

If you feel self-conscious about excessive breast tissue and desire a more masculine-looking chest, please contact our plastic surgeon, Dr. Alexander Ereso, today and book a consultation. Call (650) 964-6600 or send us an email at [email protected].