Cleveland Plastic Surgery Institute

Tummy tucks (Abdominoplasty) in Thin Patients in Cleveland

editor — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:43:44 +0000

Sometimes people ask if a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) can be done in thin patients. The short answer is “Yes”. Not everyone who would benefit from a tummy tuck has significant extra skin or fatty tissue. One of the aspects of a tummy tuck is muscle tightening. With pregnancy and weight fluctuations the muscles of the abdominal wall become stretched and sometimes do not snap back to their original positions. In these cases, all the sit-ups in the world won’t allow the abdomen to become flat again. Sit-ups will no doubt strenghten the muscles but the tummy will often still have a lower bulge. In these cases, even if the patient is thin, they will benefit from a tummy tuck. With a tummy tuck the muscles are tightened from the ribs down to the pubic bone. This creates an “internal girdle” which creates a flat tummy. The extra skin is then removed to make the tummy as smooth as possible. With thin patients the position of the scar sometimes needs to be modified and my preference is to use a “T” at the bottom of the scar. The reason for this is that in thin patients there may not be enough skin from the belly button to the rib cage to allow for removal of all the skin from the belly button to the pubic bone. In this case my preference is to keep the scar as low as possible in order to keep it hidden in a two-piece bathing suit and therefor create a small vertical component at the bottom. This will look better over the long run as opposed to a higher positioned scar on the body. If you are thin and think that a tummy tuck is not an option for you that simply may not be the case. The only way to find out is to come in for a consultation.

Treatment of the “11″s between the eyebrows

editor — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:55:38 +0000

Patients often come in interested in improving the appearance of the “11″ between their eyebrows. They usually state that people ask them if they are angry when they aren’t. The “11″s develop from muscle activity of the corrugator muscles which pull the eyebrows closer to each other. Initially the vertical lines are present only when the muscles are moving (dynamic wrinkles) but over time the wrinkles become fixed and established (static wrinkles). At this point the lines become visible all the time whether the muscles are moving or not. This is important to recognize because the treatment is different if the wrinkles are fixed.

Botox is the baseline treatment for the “11″s but it may not be enough. Since the muscle activity was the reason for the lines to develop in the first place it is best to first treat the muscles. Botox weakens muscle activity so the intensity of the wrinkles will often diminish. However, if the lines are “static” then despite having no muscle activity the lines can persist. In this case the treatment involves adding an injectible filler such as Restylane. This filler allows the wrinkle to literally be filled and smoothed. The end result is a much improved and softer appearance without the angry “11″s. With a filler the result will often last up to 6 months, however Botox alone will last for 3 months. If you are interested in fixing your “11″s call Dr. Leedy at the Cleveland Plastic Surgery Institute.

Botox for Forehead Wrinkles

editor — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:34:09 +0000

Botox is a nice way to treat the transverse wrinkles of the forehead. These lines develop as we age and are often the result of progressive droopiness of the brow. As the brow drops, it puts extra weight on the eyelids which makes it harder to keep the eyes open. In order to prevent the extra weight from the brow from pushing down on the eyelids we involuntarily lift up the brow with our forehead muscles which in turn creates the wrinkles. The treatment for the wrinkles is Botox. Botox works by weakening muscle activity and this prevents the forehead muscles from wrinkling the skin. This works well as long as the forehead wrinkles aren’t too low on the forehead. If Botox is given too low on the forehead the effect can be a smoother forehead but lower set eyebrows. This often creates a tired or angry look and is something to avoid. There are ways to smooth the forehead without drooping the brow but that requires an experienced, individualize approach to each patient’s anatomy.

Welcome to my Blog

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:54:15 +0000

Welcome to my blog! Within this regularly updated feature of my website, I will provide visitors with practice news and specials, as well as information regarding the most recent technological advances and new treatments in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

I believe that patient education and open communication with your doctor are the keys to achieving healthy, aesthetically-pleasing results and patient satisfaction, which is why I strive to provide the highest quality of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for patients of all ages. This is done by combining technical skill and broad experience with cutting-edge technology for impeccable medical and cosmetic results.

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to visit my new blog. Please check back often to learn about the latest news, updates and additions to the practice and within the field of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, and feel free to post comments and/or suggestions on any posts that you find of interest.