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Most women find excellent, long-term results with their breast augmentation procedure. However, it’s common to expect to undergo an additional surgery at some point after breast augmentation for various reasons. There’s no hard and fast age or number of years for an implant exchange or removal, but rather there are some things to watch out for that indicate it’s time to speak with your plastic surgeon.

Your implants are showing signs of wear

Although ruptures aren’t necessarily dangerous if they’re caught early, it’s still better to prevent them from happening altogether. It’s important to regularly examine your implants and, if you’ve had them for many years or believe they’re becoming prone to rupturing, you should see your plastic surgeon to discuss your options. If, after your breast augmentation, your plastic surgeon recommends regular MRIs to check for weaknesses, you should have them on a regular schedule. Although it’s not the case for every woman, implants generally last for upwards of ten years before they begin to require an exchange or removal procedure.

You’ve begun experiencing complication

Complications are always a risk with surgery, but implant surgeries come with specific complications to watch out for. The most common is capsular contracture, which occurs when scar tissue forms in excess around the implant. This can sometimes occur well after surgery, as well as other complications like rotation or migration of the implant (sometimes as a result of capsular contracture). It’s important to know your body and see your plastic surgeon if you begin to notice anything unusual, and they can determine whether it warrants an implant removal or exchange.

You’re no longer happy with your results

Both you and your body will inevitably change over time, and sometimes your implants change unfavorably. Whether you feel your results no longer fit your body or you simply would like to return to your natural breasts, your plastic surgeon can discuss your options for choosing new implants or removing them entirely. After all, it’s most important that you’re happy and confident with your body, so you should never feel like you have to live with unsatisfactory results.

Dr. Golosow is a top breast surgery specialist in the Ft. Myers area who can discuss your options for breast implants and achieving your intended results. To schedule a consultation, contact any of our offices by calling or filling out our online form.

Sometimes, patients realize they would like to undergo an additional procedure after a breast augmentation. Although sometimes this is elective and sometimes it’s the result of complication, a breast implant exchange procedure can effectively replace implants. No matter your reasons for opting for a breast implant revision, there are some things that you should be sure to discuss during your consultation with Dr. Golosow.

Your New Implants

Sometimes, patients opt for a different implant size, shape, or type with their implant exchange. For this reason, it’s important to learn about your new implants and what you should expect. With a different implant, you may need to watch out for different signs of complication or expect a different feel or appearance. For example, a patient that experiences complication or rupture with one type of implant may opt for another type, meaning they may need to learn about their new type. During a consultation, Dr. Golosow can discuss what to expect with your new implants and even recommend the right one to get the results you’re looking for.

Complications

Although this might seem obvious, it’s an important factor that can impact the course of your surgical plan. If you’re experiencing capsular contracture or a rupture, these will need to be addressed during surgery before the new implants can be placed. It’s also important to know what to watch out for after your exchange surgery. If you feel or notice any unusual signs with your breasts or implants, you should be sure to discuss these with Dr. Golosow who can look into it further.

Additional Surgical Techniques

Each patient’s procedure will be unique, but some patients require additional breast surgery techniques during their exchange procedure to get best results. This can sometimes include a breast lift or breast reduction to further refine results or restore the breasts after a life event like nursing or weight loss. In most cases, these surgical techniques can be performed in one surgical session, although you’ll discuss with Dr. Golosow beforehand which techniques will benefit you most.

Whatever your goals for an implant exchange procedure, Dr. Golosow can recommend the best techniques and procedure for you. To schedule a private consultation, contact our Ft. Myers offices by calling or filling out our online form.

Everyone wants a slim, toned physique. However, sometimes regular exercise and a healthy diet just are not enough. Liposuction is a comprehensive solution to getting rid of stubborn fat deposits to achieve the body you want. However, despite this procedure’s popularity, there are still misconceptions that surround it. Read on as we clear up many of these misconceptions.

Liposuction can Treat Cellulite

Truth: Liposuction is only able to remove soft, fatty tissues; and since cellulite is not simply an irregular pocket of fat, liposuction cannot alter the appearance of cellulite.

Liposuction will fix sagging skin

Truth: The main job of liposuction is to remove excess fat deposits. It cannot, however, fix sagging or lax skin. If you are dealing with noticeable areas of lax skin, your surgeon may recommend a skin tightening procedure to address it.

Fat deposits will return after liposuction

Truth: Liposuction results are long-lasting, and once those fat cells are suctioned out, they will not grow back. However, there will still be some remaining fat cells in the area that can grow in size if your calorie intake is excessive. That is why following a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy weight is important in maintaining liposuction results.

Liposuction is only for women

Truth: Liposuction is a great treatment for both men and women! In fact, it is quickly rising in popularity among men to achieve a trim appearance.

Liposuction is dangerous

Truth: While every type of surgery carries some element of risk, liposuction techniques have become more and more sophisticated over the years. If performed by an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon, liposuction can be as safe as any other surgical procedure.

If you are interested in learning more about liposuction, contact our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Golosow.

As you navigate your breast implant surgery consultation, one of the most important things to discuss is which implant suits you most. Whether you’re undergoing augmentation, revision, or reconstruction, there are some things to consider with the help of Dr. Golosow as you research your preferred implant. Here are some factors in deciding what will work best.

Size

Implants come in a huge array of sizes that are much more complicated than a bra cup size. Although bra sizes can be helpful in describing how large you want your breasts to be, they can be unreliable when it comes to translating them to cup sizes. Also, implants usually gain a higher profile as they become larger, meaning they protrude further. This can also be a valuable measurement when choosing your implant, so you can try looking at your profile sideways in the mirror to determine what you want your results to look like.

Shape

Although breast implants were once a little more obvious due to their shape, implants have come a long way. You’ve now got more choices in shape, and teardrop-shaped implants can offer more natural, subtle results if you don’t want as much projection or volume in the upper breast. However, round implants offer the opposite, so it all depends on what you’re looking for. One thing to consider is how much cleavage you would like to have, and what you want it to look like.

Filling

This is one of the most common ways of classifying implants, but each type offers simillar sizes and shapes, so you can make this decision independent of your other factors. The two types are silicone, which is filled with a silicone gel, and saline, which is filled with a sterile saline solution. Both types are contained within a silicone shell, and can be placed differently during the procedure. They each offer different feel and risks (for example, silicone can feel softer, but require MRI’s to check for leaks or ruptures), so Dr. Golosow can help you weigh each type for the best fit.

There are many, many things to consider during your breast procedure, but Dr. Golosow can guide you through the decision-making process. It’s important to ask any questions you feel that you need clarification on, as well as thoroughly describe your intended results. It can even be helpful to bring pictures of what you hope to achieve. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Golosow to discuss your options, contact our office by calling or filling out our online form.

Although it might seem like a breast augmentation procedure is permanent, many women opt to go under the knife again later on. There are plenty of reasons for this decision, but every woman is unique in her thinking. However, there are a few common reasons that can lead to another consultation process to remove or exchange breast implants.

You prefer a different implant

Despite the best augmentation techniques, your results can still change over the course of your life. The implants can shift, change, and sit differently on the body over the years, and you might prefer a different size, shape, or profile. Implant technology constantly changes, too, so you might even want to try out a new type. Each of these reasons are perfectly valid, and Dr. Golosow can help you select an implant that will achieve the new results you’d like.

You’ve experienced complication

Unfortunately, surgery with any kind of implant carries a risk of complication, the most common of which is capsular contracture. This occurs when the body forms a capsule of scar tissue around the implant, leading to hardness and possible shifting of the implant. Implants can also rupture inside the breast, leading to a risk to your health if it’s not addressed. These procedures are sometimes called breast implant revision, where complications with the implant are corrected, sometimes with a new implant.

You don’t want them anymore

For some women, life changes and they find themselves preferring their natural breasts. This is also a perfectly valid option, although you shouldn’t let your decision be affected by pressure from those around you. Some women simply prefer to return to their natural shape and size, although a breast implant removal procedure can sometimes be accompanied by a breast lift to shape the breast more naturally in the absence of the implant. After the implant is removed, the breast pocket naturally forms back together with the help of a compression garment.

Whatever your reasons for choosing to remove or exchange your breast implants, Dr. Golosow can help you create the best treatment plan to achieve your results. Dr. Golosow is a top board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in women’s breast procedures in the Fort Myers area.

If you’ve undergone liposuction, then you’re probably in love with your results. It can be a huge boost in confidence when you finally get rid of those stubborn pockets of fat. However, there are some steps you’ll need to take in order to maintain your new figure for as long as possible. The most important step is to continue your regular exercise schedule to keep fat at bay, but here are some additional tips to keep in mind as you enjoy your great results.

Adjust your diet

Relying on your exercise regimen to keep fat away will only be partially effective, so it’s important to keep your diet varied and healthy. Make sure that your chosen meals are low in fat and have lots of fruits, vegetables, and meat without any visible fat. It’s also important to keep track of your portions and intake versus your exercise routine. If you’re looking to also build muscle, you’ll want to visit your nutritionist or personal trainer to come up with a diet and exercise plan that’s unique to your goals.

Live an active lifestyle

Although an exercise schedule is important to your results, it should also go beyond the gym. If you work a job that requires you to sit for long periods of time, you should get up and move around regularly, or even use a standing desk. Things like taking the stairs and limiting your sitting time can add up over the course of your lifetime and can augment the results you get at the gym by keeping your body healthy and active. Conversely, be sure to take time to rest if your job requires you to be active for long periods of time.

Manage stress

More and more studies are beginning to show that stress can be one of the main causes of poor health and weight gain because of its tendency to induce cravings. In order to beat back the junk food cravings, one effective step is to manage the stress in your lifestyle. Things like practicing mindfulness and positive thinking can turn stressful situations into manageable ones. If you feel like it’s too big of a task to tackle, a mental health professional can help you create a plan to reduce stress and take steps towards a calmer, more positive outlook. This can be highly effective in keeping your diet healthy and beneficial.

There are many factors to consider in changing your lifestyle to get the best out of your liposuction, but an overall healthy lifestyle can be highly effective in keeping fat from coming back. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Golosow, who can recommend post-treatment steps for your unique lifestyle and goals.

You might have heard about tummy tucks or know someone who underwent one, but it can sometimes be hard to determine what a tummy tuck is or what it does. Tummy tucks, also called abdominoplasty, do a few specific things and may be the best solution to certain problems you might be having in your lower body. So, if you’re considering a tummy tuck, here is some information that may help you to decide.

You Have Stubborn Abdominal Fat

Although non-surgical fat reduction procedures exist, they can be ineffective in a few ways when working with stomach fat that can’t be tamed with diet and exercise. A tummy tuck can give you nearly-immediate, long-term results and is one of the most effective and time-tested methods for removing excess fat. Although not everyone may be able to undergo a surgical procedure, non-invasive techniques can sometimes be costly when they require multiple sessions and take many months before you see results.

You Have Excess Skin

This problem can be especially difficult for patients because excess skin can’t be reduced through diet and exercise like fat sometimes can. This can occur because of changes in the body like pregnancy and weight gain, leaving excess, saggy skin behind. A tummy tuck can trim this away when it’s around the abdominal area, leaving a slim and contoured profile. Your plastic surgeon can determine the right amount of skin that can be removed in order to give you the best results.

You Have Loose Abdominal Muscles

This condition, also caused by stretching during pregnancy or weight gain, can cause many problems that patients might not be aware of. Things like back pain or urinary incontinence can be caused by a lack of support from the abdominal muscles that become stretched, loose, and ineffective. Once this occurs, it can be impossible to restore them with exercise alone. During a tummy tuck procedure, they can be tightened and sutured together to restore them to their natural function.

If you have more questions about a tummy tuck procedure and would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Golosow, contact Associates in Cosmetic Surgery today! Dr. Golosow and Associates in Cosmetic Surgery are proud to be serving the Ft. Myers area.

The type of breast reconstruction technique performed primarily depends on the type of mastectomy that was performed to remove the cancerous tissue. The technique is also dependent on the timeframe in which the reconstruction will be performed from the mastectomy. While Dr. Golosow is an expert in all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, she takes a special interest in serving those who are in need of a breast revision or reconstruction.

What are the Indications for Breast Reconstruction?

A breast reconstruction is indicated for women who have undergone a mastectomy that wish to have breasts recreated. While there are no medical indications for reconstruction after mastectomy; many women wish to have a reconstruction to regain a sense of normalcy, and to feel comfortable in their body once again after a drastic physical change.

Reconstruction Techniques Available

– Implants and skin expanders: Implants and skin expanders are used to create the formation of a breast or breasts by using implants to create the volume and structure and a gradual skin expander to create an adequate amount of skin to cover the implant.

– Flap graft (vascularized autologous tissue): a flap graft is pulled from either the abdomen, back or buttocks; and as the name hints, contains veins for blood flow. While this method produces a natural feeling result, it does come with substantial associated scarring at the donor site.

– Fat graft (non-vascularized lipoaspirate autologous fat): This method utilizes a fat transfer to re-build the breast using a patient’s own fat, which eliminates the risk for negative reactions to a foreign material. This method must be done on a patient who maintains enough fat in a donor site.

The best way to understand which method is best for you is scheduling an appointment with Dr. Golosow to discuss your goals. Based on your mastectomy time frame, your goals, and the state of your health, she will help you to create a treatment plan that you are comfortable with.

Why Choose Lorraine Golosow, MD for your Reconstruction

If you are in the south Florida region, and beyond, and are in need of any kind of breast reconstruction or revision, you may have heard Dr. Golosow’s name. While her resume is certainly impressive, being the first female plastic surgeon in Lee County to become certified by the Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; it is her incredible results that she provides her patients that inspire patients to travel far and wide to be treated by her.

If you need a breast reconstruction surgeon in the Ft Myers area, please contact Associates in Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation with Dr. Golosow.

Facelifts are one of the most common and successful surgeries to combat signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and fat deposits while lasting for ten years or more. Like any cosmetic surgical procedure, a facelift is a major commitment and is intended to be permanent; making it very important that patients research questions to ask the surgeon in order to make the most of their consultation.

How is a Facelift Performed?

Before deciding on a facelift, it is important to understand what the surgery entails. A facelift procedure requires a general or local anesthetic and is performed by making an incision in order to separate the overlying skin of the face from the muscles and tissue beneath it. If necessary, excess fat is removed, and then the skin is re-draped. Any excess skin will also be removed in order to tighten and firm the skin over the face. There are different types of facelifts available which can be discussed with your surgeon to determine which type is right for you.

What Are The Benefits Of A Facelift?

The most notable benefits associated with a facelift are:

• Lifts the skin; causing jowls and sagging around the neck or jawline
• Softens or eliminates ‘marionette lines’ by pulling the skin to a tighter position.
• Smooths out the appearance of nasolabial folds
• Removes excess fat or volume that has been depleted due to aging

A facelift is an effective way to reverse aging and restore your skin’s firmness and youthful contour with long-lasting results. Regardless of the type of facelift you receive, the scarring will be minimal and well-hidden, so you won’t need to worry about any obvious scarring after the incision sites have healed.

Who is a Candidate for a Facelift?

Anyone who displays mild to moderate signs of aging and if you are bothered by any of the aforementioned items, you may be a good candidate for this procedure. Facelifts can correct many problematic areas of the face and are one of the best techniques for creating new contours of the face and neck. In order to be considered for any cosmetic procedure, it is important that you are healthy and have realistic expectations for the outcome. The facelift process does require some downtime and healing that may require additional precautions to ensure best results.

If you have any questions or are interested in scheduling a comprehensive facelift consultation, contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Golosow.

Your breast implants can be with you for a long time, but they are not meant to last a lifetime. At some point, you will probably need to have an implant exchange or removal if you choose. There are a few things that can occur to indicate that you need to remove your current implants.

You Change Your Mind

While you might have really wanted large implants at the time, you might be wishing you had gone smaller. Or maybe you were too modest with your implant size and now want larger ones. In these cases, you can have an implant exchange where your old implants are taken out and replaced with new ones. In some cases, women decide they no longer want implants at all. An implant removal can be done to give women their natural breasts back.

Implants Exceeding Lifespan

Implants generally last about ten years but could require a replacement sooner or much later. Your chances of experiencing a rupture increases the longer you have your implants, so having a replacement procedure can make ruptures less frequent and prevent complications. Regular visits to your plastic surgeon are necessary to check on the condition of your implants. If you have silicone implants, an MRI is also required every few years. An MRI can detect signs of a rupture and leakage that your surgeon cannot.

Rippling or Hardening

Rippling can occur over time because of pressure placed on the implants from the body. Folds in the shell can give a rippling appearance, indicating that your implants should be replaced. Implants can also start to harden and become over-firm or shift in position. In these cases, women choose to have a fresh implant placed so they can feel happy and confident with their breasts again!

If you wish to have an implant removal or replacement procedure, contact our office today. Dr. Golosow will discuss your concerns with you and determine the best course of treatment.