Maybe you just want your clothes to fit better, make a slight improvement to your current shape or revamp your shape after weight loss or pregnancy. The reasons for getting breast augmentation are as varied as the women who choose this deeply personal procedure — one of the most common cosmetic procedures done each year. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says 286,000 augmentations were done in the United States in 2012. Despite the high number of women choosing the procedure, there’s still a lot of misinformation about breast augmentation, says Dr. Samina Wahhab of Allentown, who took time to dispel some of the common myths about the surgery.

Myth: People can tell that you’ve had surgery

It’s natural that when you feel great, you want to look your best too. After eating a healthy diet and working out to stay fit, maybe there’s a problem spot that just won’t go away — or something that makes you look older than you feel. That’s where cosmetic surgery and aesthetic procedures can help you look your best — and more people are investing in their looks than ever before. “People want to look the way they feel,” says Dr. Samina Wahhab, MD, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in the Allentown area, “and give themselves a boost of confidence.” Maybe for you it’s looking good in a dress or turning back the hands of time a little bit. You’re not alone in wanting to look your best.

In 2012, there were more than 10 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in the United States by board certified doctors, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Of that number, women had more than 9.1 million procedures, with the top five surgical procedures being breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, eyelid surgery and breast lift. Men, too, want to look at the top of their game and the top five surgical procedures for men in 2012 were liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast reduction and ear shaping. In another survey from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, reasons for getting cosmetic procedures included being competitive  in the work place and to look younger.

It’s the start of a new year and maybe you’d like to change something about your body. From top to bottom, there are pain-free nonsurgical ways to sculpt and encourage collagen production for a trimmer, younger-looking you. “From head to toe, people are looking the best they can be,” says Dr. Samina Wahhab of Allentown. Nationwide, nonsurgical cosmetic procedures are gaining popularity. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 10 million cosmetic procedures in 2012, with 83 percent of those nonsurgical procedures. In 2011, a total of 9.2 million procedures were performed.

Ultherapy

One of those nonsurgical procedures — called Ultherapy – uses ultrasound technology to rejuvenate the face, tighten skin and stimulate the production of collagen. As we age, the natural protein loses its elasticity and its ability to keep skin looking firm and toned. “Ultherapy boosts collagen formation in the face, which then creates skin tightening,” Wahhab says. “It essentially gives a minifacelift without any surgery or downtime.” Ultherapy Specialist, Shane Deppen, says the procedure works with what is in your body and targets the deep muscles and tissues. Afterward, the skin continues to tighten for up to a month or more, giving a gradual, natural-looking appearance. “It’s a very simple procedure and it really works,” says Deppen, who is at Wahhab’s Allentown offi ce. “People don’t know that you’ve had something done. Patients say people ask: ‘did you lose weight?’ People just know you’re looking better and they don’t know why.”

Reaction/Refit

Breast cancer is something as a woman you hope never affects you. But if you’ve ever had to fight cancer, you know the physical and emotional toll it can take. Through reconstructive surgery, you can get back to looking and feeling more like yourself after a mastectomy. “Reconstruction is important for a sense of self confidence for women,” says Dr. Samina Wahhab, M.D., a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in the Allentown area. While not everyone chooses reconstruction, a woman’s age shouldn’t be a concern. “The overall health of the patient is a factor, but age is not,” she says. You can put your mind at ease over the fear that the cancer will return due to reconstruction – studies have shown that’s not true. “It’s safe to reconstruct,” Wahhab says. “There’s no increased risk of recurrence due to reconstruction.”

There are two basic types of breast reconstruction. In the first type, the doctor uses tissue expanders followed by implants to rebuild the breast. In the second type, the breast is reconstructed using fat, skin and muscle from your own body. There may also be a need to have surgery on the other breast as well, to make the breasts look even – called symmetry. Wahhab says the procedure can be done at any time – right at the time of the mastectomy or at any point in the future. Regardless of when a woman chooses to have it done, breast reconstruction is covered by insurance. The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 mandates that a health-care insurer which covers mastectomies must also cover breast reconstruction. All of this would be discussed with you during the initial consultation, Wahhab says. She has seen a wide range of ages among her patients choosing to have breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction is performed to re-create normal appearing anatomy and helps women by restoring the appearance of their own anatomy.

(Source: The Morning Call)