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Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery-SanFrancisco Bay Area|Marin County

Vitamins Speed Healing

December 14th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

Getting San Francisco patients back to normal life as quickly and safely as possible after cosmetic plastic  surgery, has always been a goal of Dr. Delgado’s. In observing patients for many years, Dr. Delgado noted that his patients that followed his advice in taking high quality vitamin supplements healed faster and had less discomfort than those who did not.

It then became a high priority for Dr. Delgado to find the best available product to recommend to his patients. After extensive research, he discovered that his patients who took VitaMedica healed the best after cosmetic plastic surgery procedures such as; liposuction, breast surgery, facelift, tummy tuck, and gynecomastia.

VitaMedica offers many high quality products; Dr. Delgado found their “Surgery Program” exceeded his expectations. It is difficult to find a good multi-vitamin that does not contain any vitamin E, vitamin E acts as a blood thinner and can be dangerous during surgery. VitaMedica superior multi- vitamin “Clinical Support” both for AM and PM does not contain any vitamin E and contains extra vitamin C which aids in healing. VitaMedica Surgery Program includes both the Clinical Support for AM and PM along with Arnica Montana and Bromelain with Quercetin which reduces inflammation and bruising.

Due to the exceptional healing results that Dr. Delgado noted in his post-operative patients, he includes the VitaMedica Surgery Program for all his surgery patients.

How to Prepare for Facelift Surgery to Expedite Healing

November 30th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

Before and After Facelift Surgery

The pro-active rhytidectomy (face lift) patient can speed up the healing process by following a few before and after surgery recommendations.

Decide if you are at your goal weight or close to it. You do not need to lose weight prior to surgery if you are at a weight you can comfortably maintain. It is not a good idea to try to lose a significant amount of weight after surgery as you may end up with loose skin on your neck and jowls.

It is mandatory to stop smoking 2 to 4 weeks prior to surgery.  Studies show that smoking increases inflammation which increases the risk of infection, cardiac arrest, heart attack and stroke. Smokers also usually suffer with a higher level of pain. You must wait 2 to 4 weeks after surgery to resume smoking. If you have managed to quit for 8 weeks, one of the best things you can do for your health and skin is never start smoking again.

If you color your hair, try to do that prior to face lift surgery or you will need to wait 4 weeks after surgery.

Eat healthy foods, lots of fruits, vegetables, fiber and protein. Drink lots of fresh water. Dr. Delgado encourages his patients to take a high quality multivitamin, both before and after surgery. Dr. Delgado has found Vitamedica to be a superior vitamin supplement that does not contain vitamin E, which must be avoided due to its blood thinning qualities.

Many Marin County patients begin a good skin care regime before surgery and continue it for life. To maintain their rejuvenated new face, they get products and maintenance skin care from the esthetician at cosmetic plastic surgery specialist, Dr. Miguel Delgado’s office at 165 Rowland Way Suite 300 Novato, CA, by calling (415) 898-4161 for an appointment.

Is 60 Too Old For a Mommy Makeover?

November 17th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

62 year old Before and After Mommy Makeover

The popular term Mommy Makeover is a combination of an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with breast surgery, usually a breast reduction or a breast lift with or without breast implants. Both procedures are complex and extensive.

The patient’s chronological age is not as important as the physiologic age. If the patient receives medical clearance from their doctor, making sure that heart and lung functions are good, and there are no other medical issues, the patient should be able to proceed with surgery. If there is any concern, it is possible to stage the procedures, doing them one at a time. Safety for the patient is of utmost concern, and all aspects need to be evaluated by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

Pictured above is a 62 year old San Francisco Bay Area patient that had her Mommy Makeover staged. She had a tummy tuck first, then a year later had her breast reduction surgery.

Melting the “Muffin Top”

October 23rd, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

Have you ever put on a tight pair of jeans or pants only to have some flab hang over the waistband? Sort of like a muffin top? It is easy to see how the term became popular. For many Marin County patients it seems no matter how many different diets or extreme exercises one does, that stubborn roll just won’t disappear.

 

 

Liposuction remains one of the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedures done, it is excellent for getting rid of trouble spots such as the love handles or muffin top. The younger patient with good elasticity will get the best result. However, the older patient will benefit, as well. If there is a lot of excess loose skin, it can be excised. This is a great procedure to include with a tummy tuck.

It is important to remember that if you don’t maintain a healthy diet and exercise, fat can come back to a different area.

 

Botox for Men is so Popular it Has its Own Nickname…”Bro-tox”

October 16th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

San Francisco Bay Area Baby boomers are now in their 50’s and 60’s. They are leading the way for the quest in keeping their youthful appearance. Besides an active lifestyle that includes exercise, and healthy eating, they are seeking cosmetic treatments that include both surgical and lesser invasive procedures. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) there were over 3.4 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures on patients 55 and older, and of those 1.3 million were Botox treatments.

Botox is a muscle relaxer that helps erase frown lines from the forehead, between the eyebrows and the corners of the eyes. From the time of injection, the results will show up in just a few days. The treatment isn’t permanent but can last for several months.

Each year more men are getting cosmetic procedures. According to ASPS, between the years of 2000 and 2011 there was an increase of 286% for men getting Botox.

Why is Massage Necessary After Breast Augmentation?

September 29th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

After breast augmentation surgery, Dr. Delgado has his patient begin breast massage exercises. This may be uncomfortable for a few days but is a very important step to soften and relax the breast implant pocket. Being vigilant with the massaging will greatly help in the prevention of a possible capsular contracture from forming around the implant which would prevent it from moving freely. 

The body’s natural response to a foreign body (in this case the breast implant) is to form a lining around it by your own living tissue. This is referred to as the “capsule”. For some Marin County women, the capsule may tighten and squeeze the breast implant making it feel hard. Capsular contracture can happen at any time for anyone but seems more common after the first few months of surgery.

The degree of contracture is graded on what is called the Baker Grading system. Baker Grade 1 is where the breast is normally soft and looks natural. Everyone is at least Grade 1 as everyone has a capsule form. If it starts shrinking/contracting, the implant will feel more firm going from a grade 2 to grade 4, grade 4 being the most severe, causing pain and distortion.

The cause of capsular contracture is still not clear. It is believed that infection, hematoma or a seroma may put a woman at greater risk. Some women may develop a capsular contracture for no known reason.

Studies have shown that massaging seems to reduce the likelihood of forming a capsular contracture. Dr. Delgado will give detailed instructions on how to do this at the first post operative appointment usually three days after surgery. The exercises are to be done hourly for three months and then daily.

With Facelift Surgery, the TCA Peel is the Icing on the Cake!

September 16th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

Before and After Facelift Surgery without TCA Peel

 

Before and After Facelift Surgery with TCA Peel

 

Face lift surgery is an exciting improvement for San Francisco Bay Area patients for facial rejuvenation, turning the clock back many years. Surgery improves the jowls, loose neck skin, eyelids, a heavy brow, etc. but does not change the skin.

The TCA (trichloroacetic) Acid Peel is a medium to strong chemical peel and an excellent addition to facelift surgery that is applied while the patient is asleep. The peel promotes skin smoothness, vitality, improves superficial discoloration and eliminates fine wrinkles. It is a wonderful treatment for sun damaged skin, but not all patients are candidates and will require an evaluation by Dr. Delgado.

Sonoma County patients noticed for the first few days their face felt like it was sunburned, but not uncomfortable. In 3 to 4 days, the skin turns dark and in 3 to 7 days starts peeling. It is very important to follow specific directions given prior to surgery for post operative skin care to get the optimal results.

HA Fillers are Great but They Have Their Limitations

August 30th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

Many San Francisco Bay Area patients have expressed confusion over the many types of facial fillers that are on the market. Two of the most popular are Restylane and Juvederm, both are made of a clear gel of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is not derived from animal sources, making it compatible with the human body and, therefore, it does not require a skin test.

HA is a naturally occurring sugar found in all living organisms. Before use as a cosmetic treatment, it has been used for several decades for medical treatment for joint pain, treating wounds and eye surgery.

Injecting the nasal labial fold

The benefit is immediate and results last about 9 months or more. To keep the desired result, continued injections will be necessary.

Fat injections from one’s own fat (usually taken from the tummy) have proven to be the best natural filler with a good percentage of it becoming permanent. Fat injections are especially good for filling in large amounts, such as during a facelift for patients who have hollow looking cheeks from aging or weight loss. For the patient who is not sure how they will like the result, using a temporary filler first will allow them to see what the result can be. If the patient does not like the look of the HA filler, hyaluronidase can be injected to the site and it will disolve the filler.

The best way to determine which dermal filler is best for you would be to schedule a consultation with Dr. Delgado who has been an expert injector for many years. Dr. Delgado will be able to discuss all the different aspects of each product and help you reach your facial rejuvenation goals.

How to Avoid the “Windswept” Look

August 24th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

 

The “windswept” look that many Sonoma County women refer to is the look some women have after facelift surgery where their facial skin is pulled too tight toward their ears. A trained Board Certified Plastic Surgeon knows how to avoid this look. This was a common result back in the 1920’s when a face lift consisted of just tightening loose skin of the face and pulling it in only one direction.

The SMAS facelift is bidirectional where the deep layers and skin are pulled along different vectors or directions. The latest trend is adding fat grafts to replace lost fat due to aging.

If one sees a woman with the windswept look today, it may mean the deeper structures and skin have not been addressed correctly.

The best way to avoid the “over pulled” look is to study before and after pictures of the surgeon to determine if he/she gets the results you want.

Can I Get Larger Implants?

July 25th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

Increasing Implant Size

One of the main reasons Sonoma County and Marin County women have a breast  revision surgery is to increase the size of their implants. A common complaint among many women is that they wish they had gone larger when they had their initial breast augmentation surgery. It is very important to have clear communication with your surgeon when determining the size.

There are a variety of techniques that are used to assist in determining breast size. One of the most common breast size test is the rice test: another is the Mentor Volume Sizing System.

Women who wish to have very large breast implants need to understand that the size is limited by their body dimension and frame. As the size of the breast implant increase, the width increases and can “out-pace” the size of your chest. Your surgeon will take measurements and advise you of your options.