Archive for June, 2013

Allure: A Guide to understanding, appreciating and flaunting two provocative body parts

Breasts: An Owner’s Manual

We invite you, for a minute, to think of breasts.
They have been with us since we were born.  They have seen us through puberty, prom, and pregnancy.  They’ve been a source of curiosity, pride, and joy.  That is, when they weren’t a source of anxiety, pain or embarrassment.  We’ve labeled them and we’ve numbered them, but – please, God, no – we have never named them.  We push them up, flatten them out, squeeze them together.  We make them conform to our moods, our bodies, and our clothes.  Maybe we’ve even considered surgery.  Or had surgery.  Or had to have surgery.  We bless them, curse them, love them, and hate them.  And through it all, they’ve stood by us.  Sure, at some moments they’ve stood higher than at others, but every time we look down, they are there.  So in celebration, in fascination, and in gratitude, we present the first-ever Allure guide to breasts.  – DANIELLE PERGAMENT

Knocker Shockers

You probably think you know them pretty well by now.  And fine, maybe you do.  But we bet there are a few things you would be surprised to learn.  Such as:

• The sun makes them fall.  Gravity isn’t the only thing working against you and your breasts.  The sun also breaks down the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin of your breasts, making them sag faster, says Santa Monica dermatologist Karyn Grossman.

• Human breasts are unique.  We’re the only mammals whose breasts remain enlarged throughout our lifetime – rather than just while nursing.

• The chest gets wrinkles too.  Those fine lines between your breasts are often caused by sleeping on your side.  To treat vertical lines, dermatologists suggest a combination of injectables, like Belotero and Botox.  The results last longer on the chest than on the face because the chest isn’t exposed to the same stresses as the face, says New York City dermatologist Patricia Wexler.  – CATHERINE Q. O’NEILL

In 2012, Americas spent more than $1 billion on breast-augmentation surgeries.  That’s the approximate GDP of the Seychelles.

THEY’RE SPROUTING EARLIER.

Compared with the previous generation, twice as many girls are developing breasts as early as age seven.

5 Things to Know Before You – or Your “Friend” – Get Implants

• Bigger is not always better.  “I’ve changed more women to go smaller,” says Los Angeles plastic surgeon Steven Teitelbaum.  “Those who go too big can permanently damage their breast tissue and even their ribs.”
• Cup size isn’t everything.  Not only cup sizes vary among lingerie brands, they don’t denote shape, so there’s no point in asking your doctor for a D cup.
• You can’t copy another woman’s breasts.  “The size of the rib cage, breast width, and a dozen other factors determine the ideal size for each woman,” Teitelbaum says.
• Armpits aren’t the best entry.  The scar can be visible when you’re wearing clothes, says Teitelbaum.  And neither are nipples – an incision there can increase the risk of bacterial exposure and result in a hardening of the implant.  “For the average woman, the best incision is in the fold under the breast,” says New Jersey plastic surgeon Caroline Glicksman, who notes that the scar should look like a little red crease under the breast.  “That entry has the lowest complication rates.”
• Implants don’t lift breasts.  Breast lifts do.  A breast lift is a different procedure, without an implant. – C.Q.O.

HOW TO SPOT FAKES…

Because sometimes you can’t help but wonder.  Teitelbaum explains what to look for.

• Fake breasts have a defined, 360-degree border around the edges.
• Oversize implants create a wide, often bony gap between the breasts.
• If they’re too big, fake breasts don’t fall to the side when a woman lies on her back.
• From the side, fake breasts can look as full on top as on the bottom.
• The nipples point down.  Naturally, nipples point straight ahead or slightly up, even with a moderate amount of sagging.  If the implants are too high, the nipples tip downward. – C.Q.O.

36DD : Today’s average bra size.  That’s up two full cup sizes from 2002.

Confessions of a Body Double

Shelley Michelle may have the world’s most famous breasts – she has stood in for Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, and Kim Basinger.  We asked Michelle, who has spent 20 years as a body-parts model, what tricks she’s picked up from her years on closed sets. – ELIZABETH SIEGEL

• I always massage a moisturizer with glycerin over my breasts to given them a pretty sheen.  A shimmery body lotion is the best for emphasizing cleavage – I apply it in a heart shape along the top of my breasts.”
• “Posture makes a big difference.  Pull your shoulders up, back, and then down, suck in your stomach, and stand up straight.  And anytime I’m on a bed – sitting, lying, or rolling on top of someone – I glue my elbows to my waist to push up my breasts and keep my cleavage in a straight line.  I swear I’ve added ten years to some actresses’ careers using that trick.”
• “I live in a sports bra and always keep my breasts covered in the sun.  And I’m always exercising.  I do chest presses against the wall in the shower and yoga against the kitchen counter.  But you’ll never catch a breast double doing chest presses with weights.  Big pecs mess with your cleavage.”

To Your Health

You may have the world’s most lovely breasts, but if you aren’t doing whatever you can to keep them healthy, it’s not going to matter how great they look in an Agent Provocateur lacy demi-cup.  Sure, we all know we’re supposed to check for lumps.  And most of us do.  Sometimes.  And we know drinking to excess is a risk factor for breast cancer.  But maybe having a couple of drinks isn’t so bad…right?  Breast-health experts clear it all up for us. – E.S.

• Diet is less important than you’d think.  “When it comes to breast health, ‘superfoods’ is a total misnomer,” says Elisa Port, chief of breast surgery and codirector of the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.  “There’s no hard evidence that almonds or kale or organic, hormone-free milk are associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.”  What scientists know is that obesity is a risk factor, as is habitual alcohol consumption, but the correlation only begins to appear when you drink in excess.  “We’re talking more than two drinks every day, seven days a week,”  Port says.
• Check yourself.  Do a monthly self-exam right after your period so you can monitor any changes.  Lie on your bed, raise one arm above your head, and check the breast and underarm on that side for lumps by making concentric circles or vertical lines.  Do the other side.  Then do it all again in front of a mirror.  Get checked out if you see dimpling under your breasts, a rash around the nipple, or retracted nipples.

NICE RACK!

We asked celebrities who has the best breasts in Hollywood.  And the Allure Anti-Sag Award goes to… (Spoiler alert: It’s a tie!) – JEFFREY SLONIM

• “I’m a fan of natural breasts, even though I have augmented breasts myself.  I love Scarlett Johansson’s breasts; they’re beautiful.” – Lily Ghalichi, Shahs of Sunset
• “Scarlett Johansson.” – Carmen Electra
• “I think Scarlet Johansson has really nice boobs.” – Christa Miller, Cougar Town
• “Halle Berry.  I’m obsessed with symmetry – and hers are in perfect symmetry.”  – Patti Stanger, Millionaire Matchmaker
• “Halle Berry has the best boobs on the planet.” – Katheryn Winnick, Vikings

Annie Hawkins-Turner has the world’s largest natural breasts.  Her bra size is reportedly 102ZZZ, and each breast weights 44.8 pounds.

Posted in Plastic Surgery on June 25th, 2013

New Jersey Tummy Tuck – Your Complete Guide

Pregnancy, massive weight loss or genetics contribute to the appearance of prominent fat and excess skin in the abdominal area. An abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, is recommended for men and women who wish to improve the appearance and contours of their abdominal area. Dr. Larry Weinstein is a New Jersey tummy tuck surgeon who combines both experience and expertise in his plastic surgery practice since 1988.

Ideal Candidates for a New Jersey Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is not for everyone. An ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

– within 10 percent of their ideal body weight
– protruding abdominal area which is also out of proportion to the rest of the body
– has stable weight for the past 6 months
– has excellent skin tone and elasticity
– has realistic expectations
– has done exercise and diet to no avail

An initial consultation with Dr. Weinstein could help fully assess your readiness, both physical and emotional, for a New Jersey tummy tuck.

Preparing for Your New Jersey Tummy Tuck

– Quit smoking for a month before the surgery. Cigarette use will increase the likelihood of complications post-procedure and may delay healing.
– Avoid using anti-inflammatory drugs which could result to increased bleeding after the procedure.
– Arrange for someone to drive you home after the surgery. If you’re living alone, you can also ask someone to stay with you for the first 2 to 3 days following the procedure.
– Fill prescriptions before your scheduled surgery.
– Prepare loose clothing to be used during and after the procedure.

Recovering from Your New Jersey Tummy Tuck
Recovery periods will vary from one person to another, depending on their overall health status and the extent of the surgery. By and large, recovery period could fall between 2 to 3 weeks. By the 6th week following surgery, you will most likely be able to resume to your normal daily activities.

1. Take pain medications as prescribed.
Pain is relatively subjective and pain perception could vary between individuals. However, it is best if you take your pain medications as scheduled following a tummy tuck procedure. This will help stop the pain from getting worse. As pain could interfere with healing, relieving pain as early as possible will surely accelerate the healing process.

2. Stick to your antibiotics.
Infection is one of the most common complications following any type of surgery. Strictly monitor your body temperature and make it a point to stick to your antibiotics. Do not ever cut your prescription short; this will only lead to you developing resistance to the antibiotics you’re taking and you may need a stronger version of it in the future. Be on the lookout for redness and swelling as they could also indicate infection.

3. Wear abdominal support consistently.
An abdominal binder aims to help you heal faster and prevent swelling following a tummy tuck. This girdle-like garment come in different sizes. You will be asked to wear one right after the procedure. Adjust and check your abdominal binder for any signs of bleeding twice a day.

4. Empty drains every day.
You will most likely be asked to monitor the amount emptied from your surgical drains. Most post-tummy tuck patients find this very disgusting but you have to keep in mind that making sure that your drains are regularly emptied and are clean will lead to your desired outcomes. Always squeeze the drains a little before you close it to produce negative pressure and facilitate drainage. You can empty the surgical drains once or twice a day.

Dr. Weinstein has the significant experience, expertise, and skill for a successful body-contouring procedure in New Jersey. Get in touch with us at our Chester Woods Clinic by calling us at (908) 879-2222 or by filling out this contact form. Make an appointment today and experience the life changing effects of plastic surgery!

Posted in Body Procedures, Tummy Tuck on June 14th, 2013

Your Breast Reconstruction Options in New Jersey

Thanks to Angelina Jolie’s recent revelation about her preventive mastectomy followed by breast reconstruction with implants, a lot of women are now aware about their options when faced with the diagnosis of breast cancer, or even how to prevent it from occurring if they have found out that they are highly susceptible to the mutation. Dr. Larry Weinstein, a New Jersey breast reconstruction surgeon, believes that the key to a successful breast reconstruction is all about understanding your options and consequently making an informed decision.

Angelina’s Three-Phases of Breast Reconstruction
Angelina’s breast reconstruction, by and large, had three phases.

“My own process began on Feb. 2 with a procedure known as a “nipple delay,” which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area,” Jolie wrote in her revelatory New York Times post. “This causes some pain and a lot of bruising, but it increases the chance of saving the nipple.

The second phase involved the major surgery which include breast tissue removal and replacing it with tissue expanders. Nine weeks later, the teardrop-shaped breast implants were put in place.

Jolie decided to have breast reconstruction when her doctors estimated that she had an 87 percent risk of getting breast cancer and another 50 percent risk of having ovarian cancer. It should be noted that her mother, 56 years old, died of breast cancer after battling the disease for almost a decade.

Your New Jersey Breast Reconstruction Options
Your choice of breast reconstruction techniques will depend on certain physical factors, complementary treatments, and your own preferences. The following are your breast reconstruction option techniques in New Jersey for a more natural and fuller look:

1. Breast Implants – You can choose to have saline or silicone implants. You can also choose to have it either one-staged or two-staged.

2. TRAM Flap – This option allows you to use your own fat and tissue from your lower abdominal region and have it transplanted to your breasts instead of the usual silicone or saline implants. While this option is more complicated than implants, TRAM Flap is a good choice for women who wish to have a more natural feel and look.

3. Latissimus FLAP Surgery – This technique is quite similar to the TRAM Flap option but the skin, tissues and fat are obtained from your latissimus area (that muscle and tissue which runs underneath the armpit and diagonally across your back).

To arrange your initial consultation with Dr. Weinstein and learn more about your breast reconstruction options in New Jersey, get in touch with us at our Chester Clinic by calling us at (908) 879.2222 or by filling out this contact form. Make an appointment today and experience the life changing effects of plastic surgery!

Posted in Angelina Jolie, Body Procedures, breast reconstruction, Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery News on June 7th, 2013

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