Recent Blog Posts from Rowley Plastic Surgery

Look and Feel Better with a Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck isn’t a weight loss surgery but a procedure to remove excess skin and improve your quality of life. It is a great support to your weight loss and health efforts. When you carry around an extra load of saggy skin, you can feel saggy yourself and progressively unhappy about the contour of your body. Age, past pregnancies, and weight loss affect your body in permanent ways. And, saggy, excess skin will not go away not matter how much you diet or exercise.

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty, referred to as a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure for removing up to 10 pounds of skin from a patient’s abdominal area. The weakened and separated abdominal muscles can be tightened and repaired during surgery as well. Tummy tucks are also often paired with liposuction for a dramatic contouring effect.

More Than Smaller Jeans?

Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight can feel happy about the weight loss but discouraged about the saggy stomach skin that is left behind. Getting rid of that extra skin gives your body the flatter look you had hoped to have with your weight loss. A tummy tuck will strengthen your body’s core and improve your posture. Extreme weight loss or c-section surgeries can lead to a lapse in muscle control that can lead to hernias. A tummy tuck can also repair ventral hernias and improve bladder control.
Excess skin can be an emotional and physical annoyance leading to both lowered self-confidence and skin infections. In this new year, give yourself the gift of confidence and progression as you move forward in your health, wellness, and appearance efforts. Dr. Jane Rowley is the leading plastic surgeon in Lubbock who carefully discusses option and procedures that best match the cosmetic goals of her patients. Come into our Lubbock office where you know you are in good hands for a personal consultation. rowleyplasticsurgery.com

Plastic Surgery in Lubbock that Turns Back the Clock

Getting older can be a blessing and a curse.There are many joys that come with maturity in age, but the face can often tell a different story. As we age, the skin on our faces begins to loosen and sag, causing us to loose that youthful look we used to enjoy. Damage from the sun, thinning skin, and fat loss are also factors that contribute to an aging face. For many people, these changes in their appearance cause a loss of confidence. If sagging skin on your face and neck have you avoiding social situations or ducking away from the mirror, a facelift could help you rejuvenate your look and boost your confidence.

Lifting More Than Just the Face

The first visible signs of aging can often be seen in the neck region. Sagging skin and deposits of fat combine to make you look older, and there is nothing you can do to hide it. Fortunately, the neck and jawline are the areas that show the most improvement with facelift plastic surgery in Lubbock. The angle of the jaw is sharpened and the skin on the neck is tightened to give you a more energized, fresh-looking appearance.

Deep wrinkles and fine lines are also smoothed out with the tightening of the facial skin. Creams and lasers can only do so much; but the work done during a facelift provides real, long-lasting results.

Beware of Quick Fixes

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You may have heard that facial exercises can keep your face looking young and could be an alternative to a facelift. While it is true that exercising the muscles in your face can strengthen them, the movements can actually make lines and wrinkles worse. Lasers are another popular choice for people trying to avoid surgery, but they provide only a short-term fix. A facelift is the only procedure that will tighten skin and correct wrinkles for long-lasting results.

The Facelift Surgery

Everyone receives a slightly different procedure when undergoing a facelift. Differences in skin laxity and the amount of sagging skin and fat make the procedure highly individual. A facelift usually takes 2-3 hours. The incision is made in the hair above the ear, dropping down in front of the ear, and wrapping around the back of the ear and into the hair again. Incisions are well-hidden so that scarring will be minimal.

The skin is lifted, facial muscles are tightened, and then both are stretched back to a position that will smooth the face without making you look windblown. Excess skin is removed. Your board-certified plastic surgeon may also use liposuction on the neck and chin area to get rid of extra fat there.

What to Expect After a Facelift

After your plastic surgery in Lubbock is complete, you will need to wear a head dressing and use a small drain tube for 24 hours. You will need to rest as much as possible for the first 2-3 days, so plan on having someone help take care of you for several days after your surgery. Recovery from a facelift is not as painful as many people believe. Discomfort is mainly limited to a feeling of tightness in the neck and face.

After about a week to 10 days, most people will be able to return to work. Some people bruise and swell more than others, so it could be closer to two weeks by the time you feel comfortable being around people again.

The final results of a facelift are visible after 6-8 weeks of healing. With an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Jane Rowley, you will look youthful and rejuvenated when it is all said and done. The right surgeon will give you a fresh, natural look that will take years off your face. The results can last up to 10 years if you avoid sun damage and take proper care of your skin. Your face and neck will continue to develop signs of aging as you get older, but a facelift will allow you to continue to look younger than you really are.

Building Confidence with Plastic Surgery in Lubbock

Don’t let sagging skin and deep wrinkles keep you from fully enjoying your very best years. There is no reason to live in fear of social situations, the mirror, or the camera. A facelift not only restores beauty to your face, it helps rebuild confidence from the inside out. Feeling good about the way you look gives you the freedom to feel more satisfied and upbeat in your everyday life.

A facelift is a procedure that requires advanced surgical knowledge and technique. Choosing the right surgeon is the most important thing you can do to get the best outcome. If you’re ready for real anti-aging results from the surgeon with the most experience with plastic surgery in Lubbock, call our office today to schedule your no-obligation consultation.

Comparing Breast Augmentation to a Breast Lift in Lubbock

Women’s breasts go through many changes over different periods in their lives. Your favorite bras in college may not even come close to fitting you now. With changes in hormones, weight fluctuations, and the changes that occur with pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is no surprise that so many women seek plastic surgery to correct breast issues. If you find yourself unhappy with the appearance of your breasts, breast augmentation or a breast lift in Lubbock may be able to help.

The two surgeries are very different and are tailored to address unique problems. It is not always easy to tell which procedure would benefit you the most. Breast augmentation adds volume to the breasts through the insertion of implants, and a breast lift (or mastopexy) lifts sagging breasts with the removal of extra skin and tissue. Discuss your concerns with your board-certified plastic surgeon to determine which breast surgery would give you the best results.

Breast Augmentation

If you feel self-conscious about having small, disproportionate, or asymmetrical breasts, breast augmentation is the most effective way to solve the problem. In no way is breast augmentation a “one size fits all” procedure; your surgeon can help you create the look you want by giving you guidance about your choices for the specifics of your implants and surgery. One of the main decisions you will need to make is which type of implant you want. Silicone gel and saline implants are available and each have their pros and cons.

  • Silicone Gel – Implants filled with silicone gel are a popular choice for women who want natural-feeling results. The gel feels similar to real breast tissue because it is more viscous than saline. Silicone gel implants do pose the risk of “silent rupture” because a leak is usually only detectable by an MRI.
  • Saline – Implants filled with saline offer peace of mind. If they were to rupture, it would be immediately obvious and you could have the implant replaced right away. Saline can be easily absorbed by the body. These implants have the potential to show rippling through thin skin. The new IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants are another option; its filled with saline, for peace of mind, but has internal structures that give it a more natural feel without the worry of silicone gel.

Surgical Options for Breast Augmentation

Your decisions for breast augmentation don’t end with choosing a type of implant. After a physical exam, your plastic surgeon be able to recommend options for your incision as well as for the exact placement of the implant. Incision locations for breast implants in Lubbock include:

  • Under the breast crease
  • Around the perimeter of the areola
  • In the navel
  • In the underarm area

Breast implants can be placed either under the chest muscle or over it. Under the muscle, or submuscular placement, lifts the muscle and creates a slope to the top of the breast, giving it a more natural look. Subglandular placement, or over the muscle, gives the breast a more round shape and can speed up recovery time. Your surgeon can advise you as to which placement will help you achieve your desired outcome.

When to Consider a Breast Lift in Lubbock

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is for women who have significant sagging of the breasts. If aging, gravity, or breastfeeding have taken a toll on your breasts, a lift can correct the problems. Here are a few symptoms that a candidate for a breast lift in Lubbock may have:

  • Sagging or drooping of the breasts
  • Tubular, pendulous, or flat breasts
  • Downward pointing nipples
  • Stretched nipples or areolae
  • Nipples that fall below the breast crease

Breast Lift Surgery

The scars left from a breast lift are more significant than those from breast augmentation. During a breast lift procedure, skin and tissue are removed to lift the breast to a higher position. The nipple and areola is moved up as well. Sagging is corrected and the breasts end up having more forward projection. Unlike breast implants, a lift will not make the breasts bigger; although it may provide more cleavage. Incisions can be made:

  • Around the outer edge of the areola
  • Vertically from the breast crease to the nipple
  • In the breast crease

Results from Mastopexy

Breast lift surgery will make your breasts look younger and perkier. The nipple will point forward, instead of toward the floor. If an increase in size is something you want as well, a lift can be combined with breast implants in Lubbock during the same surgery. Results from mastopexy are not necessarily permanent, as gravity will continue to work on your body over the course of your life.

There are many decisions to be made when you are considering surgery to improve the look of your breasts with either breast augmentation or a breast lift in Lubbock. Choosing the right board-certified plastic surgeon is the most important thing you can do. Dr. Jane Rowley is the most experienced plastic surgeon in Lubbock with over two decades of experience. Call today to schedule your no-obligation consultation.