Alcohol & Plastic Surgery: Just Say No

It can be a hard thing to give up your nightly glass of wine with dinner, or to say no to a cocktail with friends after work—but if you have a plastic surgery procedure coming up, you should think long and hard before having a drink. Here’s why: Do you remember when I told you that nicotine is a vasoconstrictor (meaning it makes your blood vessels close up)? Well, alcohol is just the opposite—it’s a vasodilator—and that’s not a good thing, either, because it makes your blood vessels open up and flood your surface tissues. 

This is bad for two reasons:

1. This process takes blood away from your vital organs (like your brain and heart)

2. It causes your body to swell. You’ll be swollen enough after surgery without adding to it with booze!

Alcohol also affects the blood itself—it makes blood platelets less active, and therefore less able to coagulate. Because of this, drinking before and after surgery puts you at greater risk for post-operative bleeding, and make your healing process take longer than it would if you didn’t have any alcohol in your system.

Another big concern with surgery is dehydration—and since it’s a diuretic (it increases your rate of urine formation, making you pee more often than you should), alcohol is a big culprit in this arena. You’ll already be dehydrated after surgery; if you add to that by drinking alcohol before or after your procedure, you’ll feel absolutely awful in the days that follow.

The bottom line? Avoid alcohol as much as possible in the weeks before and after cosmetic surgery. If you slip and have one drink a couple of days before surgery, you’ll probably be fine—but consuming alcohol the night before or immediately after your surgery is asking for trouble!

What is the Difference Between Labiaplasty and Vaginoplasty?

Loosening of vaginal muscles can be caused by multiple different factors – Sometimes due to childbirth, especially if there is more than one child, and others it is simply a side effect of aging. Whatever the reason, when vaginal muscles start to become lax, it can lead to an inflated, thick labia that increases labia discomfort for outdoor activities like cycling and horse riding, and hampers your sex life too. Some women also have a large, distended labia right from the time of birth. With the advent of sophisticated technology, it is possible to restore a certain degree of tightness in your nether regions. There are two techniques for this purpose – vaginoplasty and labiaplasty. People tend to use the terms interchangeably but they are definitely not the same.

Labiaplasty vs. Vaginoplasty

Vaginoplasty

It is also referred to as vaginal rejuvenation or tightening, and as is evident, the procedure helps to tighten the inner muscles of the vagina by fusing the stretched muscle located at its rear end, which shortens it, using sutures for the muscles to pile up and narrow the cavity, cleaning up extra vaginal lining, and tightening the soft tissues around it. You need to recover for 4 to 6 weeks before resuming sexual intercourse and related activities. The reduced size of the vagina greatly heightens sexual pleasure – it will be worth the wait.

Labiaplasty

This procedure is exclusively for the labia minor and majora, commonly known as “vaginal lips”. Labiaplasty is for enhancing the outer appearance of the genital organs or reducing labia discomfort by shrinking the size of labia and reshaping it. There are two methods for this procedure such as:

• The extra tissue around the labia is removed – the tissues are sculpted along the inner folds till the labia are shaped aesthetically and all irregularities have been surgically resolved.
• The 2nd technique involves a sliver of tissue being cut out from under the labia, in a “V” shape, while the edges are sewn back together.

Absorbable sutures are placed post-surgery for healing, and you can make a full recovery within just 4 to 6 weeks.

It is normal to be apprehensive about surgeries for delicate body parts, but rest assured you are in the hands of the highly qualified Dr. Usha Rajagopal with over 20 years of experience and more than 1000 successful procedures in her portfolio. To leave a query, simply enter your  details into the form on the right, click submit,  and you will hear from us soon.

Male Breast Reduction Surgery

Improve Your Appearance with Male Breast Reduction Surgery

Gynecomastia is the enlargement of breast tissue in boys or men, and while it’s not a serious problem, it can be really difficult to cope with this condition because it’s embarrassing and some men even avoid certain physical activities and intimacy to hide it. Hormonal changes are usually the trigger for gynecomastia and more than half of boys develop this condition during puberty and it goes away with age. However, if gynecomastia persists, medication or surgery may help.

The ideal candidate for Male breast reduction surgery is someone who:

• Is physically healthy, of normal weight and does not have a life-threatening illness or medical condition that can impair healing
• Has stabilized breast development
• Has a condition that cannot be corrected through non-surgical breast reduction medical treatments (e.g. medication)
• Is a non-smoker and non-drug user
• Has a positive outlook and realistic goals

Teens may benefit from the breast reduction surgery, but must be made aware that additional procedures may be needed if their breasts continue to develop. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with gynecomastia and are looking into surgical options please contact the gynecomastia doctor in San Francisco at (415) 392-3333.

Male Breast Reduction in San Francisco

Learn more about Male Breast Reduction

Before and After Male Breast Reduction Photos

What You Should Know about Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast Reduction Surgery in San Francisco Bay Area

Disproportionate breasts may look awkward or cause immense discomfort. Breast reduction surgery helps to correct these problems by removing excess skin and breast tissue, so they are more proportionate to your frame and body shape.

Will there be scarring after breast reduction?

A lot of women are concerned about scars after surgery. While you shouldn’t expect zero scarring, our doctors are highly skilled to ensure scarring is minimal. Scarring may be contained  in the armpit, around the nipple or straight down to the fold beneath the breast and in the fold itself. Scars are minuscule in size and inconspicuous. Moreover, using special creams and lotions or laser treatments can help to fade surgical scarring.

What is the minimum age for breast reduction surgery?

Breast development can continue into the early twenties. It is advisable not to opt for this procedure before development has stopped.  Continuing to develop after a breast reduction procedure,  may leave you with unsatisfactory results and / or the surgery being repeated.  Adjusting to this surgery during teen years may also be emotionally difficult. Insurance providers will not cover the cost of a breast reduction if a woman is younger than eighteen years of age.

Breast Reduction by Dr. Usha Rajagopal

Breast Reduction by Dr. Usha Rajagopal

Do I need breast reduction surgery?

• Women with overly large breasts may find simple tasks to be uncomfortable. especially when it comes to resting or sleeping.
• Some women feel embarrassed due to large breasts. This isn’t a superficial reason but a logical one.
• Many women are unable to perform certain activities ranging from running to playing sports. Reduced breast size can help with these problems.
• Large breasts cause strain on the shoulders and back, which causes tingling, aches and pains. This is one of the most common reasons why women opt for surgery, apart from aesthetic grounds.

We have one of the leading surgeons in cosmetic surgery, Dr. Usha Rajagopal. Dr Rajagopal has been regarded as one of the top plastic surgeons in the Bay Area and is a platinum injector and trainer for Allergen. (The makers of Botox and most commonly used breast implants)

Interested in learning more? Click the following link: Breast Reduction Surgery in San Francisco. Give us a call: ( 415) 392-3333

Inspira Breast Implants | Latest generation of implants from Allergen.

Inspira Breast Implants - San Francisco

Breast implants can help to accentuate your figure and boost confidence at the same time. However, you want to be 100% sure that the surgery is done by a competent doctor using the best products available. The leading name breast implants is undoubtedly Allergen.

Why choose Inspira Breast Implants from Allergen?

Allergen is the front runner in saline and silicone products, and its recent Inspira line of silicone breast implants have taken the world by storm due to their unparalleled quality of decreasing risks of rippling and rupture, which were two of the biggest concerns after a procedure. Allergen has been operating for more than 3 decades and produce top quality breast implants which have met with tremendous success. They are also in compliance with the highest safety and quality standards for Breast Augmentation at the Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Institute.

How are Inspira breast implants different from the rest?

As previously mentioned, the Inspira breast implants collection is the most advanced and latest generation of implants from Allergen. They are equipped with a highly durable silicone shell, which significantly lowers the chances of leakage or bursting, for silicone-filled implants, to limit the amount of silicone released across the shell during gel bleeds. The gel is available in two forms – a softer cohesive silicone gel for a more natural feel and an ultra cohesive silicone gel for decreased rippling. These robust implants provide a wide range of sizes and shapes for breast augmentation patients – you have over 300 varieties of smooth round and textured types to select from. This way you don’t have to settle for generic implants, as Inspira caters to all kinds of requirements.

Smooth or Textured - Take your pick

The smooth round variety of the Inspira line has five projection levels starting from low to extra-full profile in various sizes and widths, while textured implants comprise a round silicone-filled implant with a Biocell shell texturing in numerous sizes, projections and base widths.

The softer optoon of the two is known as TruForm1.  However, if less rippling is a concern, you may want to opt for TruForm2. Most patients opt for TruForm2 with moderate or full projection.

In addition to Inspira breast implants, The San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center offers various options for breast augmentation. Including Natrelle and Sientra.

Click the following link for more information: Breast Augmentation in San Francisco. Call for a free consultation. (415) 392-3333

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