Plastic Surgery Chin Lifts

So what is a "perforator flap"?

Pioneered in the early 1990's, perforator flap breast reconstruction represents the state of the art in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. The tissue removed at the time of mastectomy may be replaced with the patient's own warm, soft, living tissue to recreate a "natural" breast.

Skin, fatty tissue, and the tiny blood vessels that supply nutrients to the tissue ("perforators") can be taken from the patient's abdomen (SIEA flap or DIEP flap procedures) or buttocks (GAP flap).

Unlike conventional tissue reconstruction techniques (like the TRAM flap), these perforator flap techniques carefully preserve the patient's underlying musculature. The tissue is then transplanted to the patient's chest and reconnected using microsurgery.

Preserving underlying muscles lessens postoperative discomfort making the recovery easier and shorter, and also enables the patient to maintain muscle strength long-term. This is particularly important for active women.

While these procedures offer many advantages to the patient, the surgeries are very complex and time-consuming and specialized training is required. Before choosing a surgeon ensure that he/she is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has extensive experience with microsurgery and perforator flap breast reconstruction. Ask about the success rate of the procedure in their hands (most specialists boast a flap survival rate of at least 97%) and how many they have performed.

Insurance companies are federally mandated to pay for the cost of breast reconstruction. Unfortunately, some patients will still face difficulties in gaining access to microsurgeons specializing in procedures. Here again it pays to seek out plastic surgeons who specialize in these techniques as typically an insurance specialist is available to help patients with insurance issues.

Minas T Chrysopoulo, MD
Plastic, Reconstructive & Microsurgical Associates (PRMA)
9635 Huebner Road
San Antonio, TX 78240
Tel: (210) 692-1181
Toll Free: (800) 692-5565
http://www.prma-enhance.com
http://www.breast-cancer-reconstruction.blogspot.com
Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in DIEP flap, SIEA flap and GAP flap breast reconstruction following mastectomy.

Drooping eyelids are an early sign of advancing years. Blepharoplasty, or Eyelid Surgery, is fast becoming a popular among older people who do not want to lose the charms of their good looks to old age.

Eyelid surgery, to 'lift' eyelids can add shape to the eyes, and assist in the removal of under-eye bags. Wrinkles however are an issue that cannot be addressed by this procedure, as are crows' feet. To remove those, Botox treatments are required.

Drooping upper eyelids and swollen or puffy lower lids are often a hereditary characteristic that is visible in both men and woman. As a person ages, however, the skin around the eyes thins and stretches and does not remain taut as before. Age also causes the muscles in the area around the eyes to weaken, and the fat surrounding the eyeball shifts forward leading to eyelids that appear saggy.

The movement of a fat pad, detached from the bone of the lower eye, cause puffiness in the lower eye because it starts sagging. Hooding over the eyes is a result of drooping eyelids which occur as lids get heavier in older people.

If this is the situation you find yourself is, and you are weighing the possibility of a surgical procedure to lift your eyes, you should know what to expect and what you have to undergo.

The surgery is a simple procedure. While carrying out the operation, the patient may be under general anesthesia or conscious sedation, often referred to as twilight anesthesia. Under the latter condition, the patient remains under anesthesia but in a conscious state for the duration of the surgery. Although it sounds like daunting prospect, it isn't in actuality. A patient having eyelid surgery will probably be admitted only as a day patient, and will not be kept overnight after the surgery.

Lower Eyelid
The eyelid lift can be performed in a variety of ways, but there is one most preferred method of lower lid surgery. An incision is made along the lower lashes and under them. The skin and muscles under the lid are lifted to remove some amount of fat from the area. Trimming of skin and muscles reduces the puffiness around that area.

In case of only lower lid surgery, the surgery will not leave any scarring as the fat can be removed directly form the inside of the eyes to reduce bags and swelling.

Upper eyelid
Upper eyelid surgery is carried out by a procedure by which the surgeon makes his incision along the natural fold of the upper eyelid. The cut takes the natural shape of the eyelids. Once the lower part of the lid skin is marked, it is trimmed away along with excess skin from the upper edge. Fat deposits and muscles may also be trimmed to add more sharpness to the shape of the eyelid. The incision is stitched together such that the scar left by it is hidden in the natural eyelid crease.

The whole procedure doesn't take more than three hours under normal circumstances. In most cases the patients are discharged from the hospital the same day as the surgery without any pressure on an overnight stay.

Get free tips on preparing yourself for cosmetic surgery as well as things to do before and after cosmetic surgery at http://www.enhancivesurgery.com, the renowed cosmetic surgery facelift and treatment resources