Recent Blog Posts from Rowley Plastic Surgery

Finding New Facial Definition With Chin Implant Plastic Surgery in Lubbock

When we think about plastic surgery in Lubbock, the first thing that usually comes to mind is breast implants. But there are other types of implants that can have equally dramatic improvements on your appearance. Facial implants are a plastic surgery option that come with minimal downtime and can enhance your look and give you greater confidence. Chin and cheek implants are often referred to together as facial implants, and they can help your face look younger and more balanced.

What are Facial Implants?

Chin and cheek implants do for your face what breast implants can do for your body—they augment, reconstruct, or rejuvenate the shape of the face with the help of plastic surgery. Lubbock patients have access to all shapes and sizes of these implants to ensure their implant provides a balanced and proportional improvement to the face, rather than a manipulated or unnatural leap toward a false perfection. Facial implants can add volume to areas of the face that look flat. An experienced and talented plastic surgeon will be able to add subtle distinction to correct these issues and give your face a fresh look.

Am I a Good Candidate For a Chin Implant?

Although it is often overlooked, the appearance of your chin contributes to the contour and overall look of your face. Patients with smaller chins can have facial features that seem off balance. You may be a good candidate for chin augmentation if your chin is:

  • Recessed
  • Squared or pointed
  • Out of proportion with the rest of your face
  • Causing the neck to look fleshy

Patients seeking this type of plastic surgery in Lubbock should be in good health, have reasonable expectations from the surgery, and not smoke before surgery and during the recovery time.

What Can Facial Implants Do For Me?

Studies have shown that people define a face as beautiful when it is balanced and symmetrical. Faces that appear top-heavy due to a large forehead or nose may benefit from a chin implant to achieve greater balance. Facial implants can also provide an enhanced or stronger looking cheekbone or jawline. If you have lost contour or structure in your face due to aging, facial implants can help repair this. And, anyone struggling with natural or injury caused asymmetry or deformities can find confidence through corrections provided by facial implants. Counseling with your board-certified plastic surgeon is necessary for ensuring that you select the right procedure for your goals.

Chin Implant Plastic Surgery in Lubbock

A chin implant looks like the chin guard on a sports helmet. It can be shaped and carved to tailor your surgical result to your exact needs. The implant itself feels like your chin bone and with the right surgeon, results look very natural. The surgery to place the implant is relatively simple and takes only about 30 minutes. First, a small incision is made under the chin, and then a small pocket is made where the implant is slipped into place. Patients may need to limit their diet to only soft foods during their recovery from chin plastic surgery in Lubbock to avoid too much chewing action. A dressing will need to be worn on the chin for 2-3 days, and sutures are removed after one week. Chin augmentation patients should sleep on their back with the head elevated during their initial recovery.

Chin augmentation is meant to give distinction to the jawline to visually separate it from the neck and creates balance and proportion with the rest of the face. Some patients may benefit from submental liposuction in combination with their chin implant procedure. The two procedures work together to slim the neck and define the chin.

When considering any kind of plastic surgery in Lubbock, it is important to be aware of the risks. Like all surgeries, there is a risk of post-surgical infection following a facial implant. Damage to facial nerves and musculature is possible and the structure or location of the implant may alter over time. Talk to your surgeon about any concerns you may have before your procedure. They can help you understand the potential for risks and what your expectations should be for your results.

Achieve Your Cosmetic Goals With Lubbock’s Leading Plastic Surgeon

A chin implant can give the right patient a stronger, more natural looking jawline. You can take the first step toward getting rid of that double chin or fleshy neck by calling our office to schedule a consultation. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Jane Rowley is the leading board-certified plastic surgeon in Lubbock. She will spend all the time her patients need to make sure procedures and expectations are clearly understood. She listens to her patients because her first priority is to help them safely achieve their goals with plastic surgery in Lubbock. Schedule your no-obligation consultation today to find out if a facial implant is right for you.

How to Get Natural Feeling Breast Implants in Lubbock

When considering breast implants, Lubbock women often have questions about how their new breasts will compare to natural ones. Women not only want a particular look for their implants, but they are also hopeful for results that feel like the real thing. After surgery, these women eventually stop thinking about their new breasts as implants and start considering them to be part of their breasts. Natural-feeling results from breast augmentation come from making the right choices with your surgeon before your procedure. It is important to discuss all of the following variables with your board-certified plastic surgeon to make sure you have the best chance at getting the outcome you want.

Silicone, Saline, or Structured Implants

The type of implant you choose can have a significant role in how quickly your breasts feel normal again. Softer silicone gel implants feel natural sooner following surgery than saline implants. But, you have different implants to try before you make that final decision. Your surgeon should give you the chance to feel both types of implants before making your decision.

The new IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants are the latest in implant technology that offer the natural look and feel of silicone gel and the peace of mind of saline. Dr. Rowley is part of an exclusive network of plastic surgeons that provides this option to patients. With a structure of chambers and shells inside the implant, its saline filler can move in such a way that it gives the implant a beautiful, natural feel without any of the disadvantages of silicone gel breast implants. Lubbock patients can find out more about the IDEAL IMPLANT at Rowley Plastic Surgery.

Existing Breast Tissue

The more natural breast tissue you have to support the implant, the more quickly the implant will blend with your body and convey a natural look and feel. During your breast augmentation consultation, your plastic surgeon will assess the amount of available breast tissue to give you an idea of how the implants will look on your body.

Breast Implant Size

The larger the implant, the longer it may take to feel like part of your natural breast. Some breast implants in Lubbock may be so large that they will never quite obtain that feel. If your goal is to simply augment what you already have and gain or regain some shape, then you should be careful with the size. A natural look is most often achieved when body proportions are kept in balance.

Breast Implant Placement: Under or Over the Muscle

If you do not have enough breast tissue to cover the implant, it must be placed under the chest muscle. This type of placement requires time for the muscle to stretch and thin out. In general, implant placement beneath the muscle tends to look more like natural breasts and less like breast implants. Lubbock women are all different, so this will not be the right placement for every body type. Women with limited natural breast tissue find that placement under the muscle is necessary. A natural look and feel can also be obtained for implants placed above the muscle.

Breast Implants Above the Muscle

Implants placed below the breast tissue but above the chest muscle are called subglandular or subfascial. Some things to consider about this type of placement include:

  • Typically less invasive than below the muscle breast implants in Lubbock
  • Quicker recovery because the muscle stays intact
  • No distortion from flexing muscles
  • No size limitation due to limited space under the muscle
  • Breast implants can be placed closer together providing more cleavage
  • More likely to have visible rippling of the implant
  • Less support for the implant putting it at risk of dropping over time
  • More likely to cause stretch marks and blemishes
  • More difficult to mammogram

Breast Implants Under the Muscle

Placement under the muscle is often referred to as subpectoral. Here are some things you should know about this placement:

  • Less risk of folds or ripples in the implant becoming visible
  • More tissue covering and protecting the breast implants
  • Less risk of firmness or capsular contracture
  • Longer recovery period
  • Interference with some physical activities like push-ups or weight lifting
  • Potential for visible flexing of the muscle over the breast implants
  • Higher-positioned implants can look unnatural

What Can You Do?

Apart from the psychological and physical aspects to owning their breast implants, Lubbock women can take control and do some things on their own to contribute to a natural feel.

  • Massage: deep massage to the breast implants, especially early after the surgery are important. While this is not the most comfortable thing following surgery, it is important to work the surrounding tissue, helping it feel supple and natural. And if your implant is under your chest muscle, this can help that muscle stretch and relax as well.
  • The Right Surgeon: select a surgeon who truly knows how to give you more natural results. Choosing a doctor certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery will significantly increase your likelihood of achieving your desired results.
  • Patience: a natural feel can take from two to nine months post-surgery to obtain. Be patient with your body. Take care of your new body, and give it the time it needs to become yours in both look and feel.

Achieving Natural Breast Augmentation Results in Lubbock

There are no right or wrong choices when it comes to your breast implants. Lubbock patients should take their surgical consultation as an opportunity to review all of their options and discuss the right fit for their body type and personal goals. At Rowley Plastic Surgery, you will find that board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jane Rowley uses her expertise and experience to help each of her patients make the best decisions for their plastic surgery experience. Contact us today to schedule your no-obligation consultation and explore your cosmetic options.

Choosing Between Non-invasive Fat Reduction and Liposuction in Lubbock

Wanting to look our best is something we all desire. With modern advances in science, medicine, and technology, there are many ways to achieve our cosmetic goals. The trick is knowing which methods to use. Plastic surgery is the gold standard for aesthetic improvements, but what if you don’t have time for surgery? Rowley Plastic Surgery offers many different surgical and non-surgical options for patients who want to improve their look. We can help you assess your goals and choose the right procedure for you.

Non-invasive Fat Reduction vs. Liposuction in Lubbock

It can be frustrating to discover certain areas of your body that seem to be diet- and exercise-resistant. In spite of personal efforts to thin the thighs or tone a stomach pooch after pregnancy, localized fat can feel impossible to target and permanently remove. In these cases, help can be found through non-invasive fat reduction or liposuction. Lubbock patients can choose either method to support their efforts with diet and exercise. Liposuction is a safe and effective way to reduce fat permanently and refine the body’s appearance. Recently, however, non-surgical or minimally invasive alternatives to liposuction have been growing in popularity as well.

What’s the Difference?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes fat through the suction of a hollow tube called a cannula. It requires the use of either local anesthetics or general anesthesia for patients with larger areas of fat to be removed. The surgery involves only a few small incisions and results are visible immediately. While patients can usually return to work after two to three days of recovery, compression garments are worn to help with swelling and healing for a period lasting from two to four weeks. Minor to moderate pain and swelling may last up to four to six weeks. Liposuction in Lubbock is more impactful with longer-lasting results than non-surgical approaches. It is especially effective on these areas:

  • Legs
  • Abdomen
  • Back / love handles
  • Upper arms
  • Face and neck

Non-invasive Procedures

Non-surgical procedures remove fat through a variety of methods including targeting the fat cells through cooling or radiofrequency. They can be particularly effective on the hips, thighs, buttocks, or abdomen. Although they cost less than liposuction, Lubbock patients find these methods to be less impactful than surgical approaches, with up to approximately a 25% reduction of fat in the treated area. Though patients feel slightly sore and swollen following the procedure, there is no downtime needed for recovery. Also unlike liposuction, the results of non-surgical procedures take time and multiple treatments.

Sculpsure

Sculpsure is one type of non-invasive fat reduction that laser heats fat deposits to destroy unwanted fat cells. You can expect to reduce fat by 20-25% in the treated area. It offers a non-surgical option with no post procedure pain or downtime, unlike liposuction. Lubbock patients who want body contouring without surgery can consider this as an option to help achieve cosmetic goals.

Which Is Right for Me?

Whether you are leaning towards non-invasive procedures or plastic surgery like liposuction, Lubbock board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jane Rowley recommends a personal consultation. Although the internet has a lot of information to offer, meeting with a qualified professional face-to-face is the best way to ensure you are getting the information you need to make the right decision for you and your body. If you feel you are at your ideal weight and have good skin elasticity and need some help targeting a few stubborn areas, non-surgical methods may be right for you. If you are looking to reduce a larger deposit of excess fat, liposuction may be an excellent option.

More Non-Invasive Options

Beyond fat removal, Dr. Rowley offers several other non-surgical cosmetic choices for her Lubbock patients. For those who wish to enhance their look without any downtime or recovery, these options may be beneficial.

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing improves the appearance of your skin by carefully removing layers of skin with a pulsating beam of light. Resurfacing procedures treat:

  • Acne scars
  • Sun damaged skin
  • Age spots
  • Crow’s feet
  • Fine lines

Non-surgical Fillers

Dermal fillers are rejuvenation treatments that restore fullness to eyes, lips, and face. Injectable fillers can’t achieve the same results as an eyelid lift or facelift, but they can slow the effects of aging, reduce wrinkles and fine lines, and improve the appearance of recessed scars. Restylane is a hyaluronic injection that also adds moisture to your skin for younger looking and feeling skin.

Whether you are interested in facial rejuvenation or liposuction in Lubbock, Dr. Jane Rowley will carefully listen to your questions and concerns so she can understand your personal cosmetic goals. At Rowley Plastic Surgery we offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical options for your individual aesthetic desires. We are here to help you have the best possible experience in gaining greater confidence in your physical appearance. Schedule your consultation today to learn more about your surgical and non-invasive cosmetic options.