How do we choose the implant for my breast augmentation?

Once our patients have decided to pursue breast augmentation, they often ask how the breast implant is chosen for their augmentation. The answer to this is multifactorial, but it is carefully chosen based on your aesthetic goals and breast measurements. The size of the implant is chosen by the base diameter (width of the chest wall), skin pinch (amount of current breast tissue), and the patient's desired size. The shape of the implant can be round or anatomic. They also come in different projections or heights. Depending on your anatomy and desired look, the desired projection is chosen. Implants can also be placed above or below the pectoralis (chest wall) muscle. Depending on the amount of soft tissue in your breast, it may be safer to place your implant under the muscle to offer added protection. In addition with the FDA approval of silicone implants last November, we offer patients the choice of saline (salt water) or elastic silicone gel implants. There are advantages and disadvantages of each, which should be discussed in the initial consultation. Lastly, depending on the degree of drooping, or ptosis, a breast lift may be performed in combination with your breast augmentation to optimize the overall shape. Each patients aesthetic goals and breast anatomy require a detailed and individualized plan. Please go to http://www.drpaulgill.com/ to learn more about breast augmentation or call one of our offices for a complimentary consultation.

Important Considerations in Facelift Surgery

Many women may consider the late summer appropriate time to consider facial rejuvenation procedures. It is a time to allow adequate healing prior to the start of the holiday season. Facelift surgery is an area of cosmetic surgery that requires a thorough preoperative evaluation by your plastic surgeon with a detailed stepwise approach to your facial aging. The key to this procedure is creating a natural harmonious result. You want to look refreshed and more youthful, and also maintain a natural and elegant look. It is essential that your surgeon take the time fully understand your aging concerns and then provide you with a detailed analysis. Typically the face is divided into an upper, middle, and lower aesthetic unit. Each unit has unique aging characteristics and must be addressed individually. Next, these units must be assessed as a whole to ensure they blend into a natural look. It does not matter how good your surgeon is, but if your neck looks 40 and your eyes look 60, you will have a very unnnatural look. Depending on the analysis of your forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, central face, outer face, and neck; a detailed plan can be devised. A key understanding of facial anatomy and how to appropriately redistribute or enhance the facial volume to create a natural look is the essence of facelift surgery. Dr. Gill utilizes various facelift techniques tailored to your degree and type of facial aging; with the goal of providing the most natural, longest lasting results. Please learn more at http://www.drpaulgill.com or we look forward to providing more information during a consultation at one of our offices.

What should I ask my doctor about rhinoplasty?

80 percent of breathing is performed through the nose. Therefore, the key in primary rhinoplasty is preservation or correction of function, along with achievement of the aesthetic goals. Focus on aesthetic rhinoplasty has shifted over the last decade.

Leaders in the field have focused on "structural rhinoplasty", which involves augmentation of existing structures. This preserves function, in contrast to many of the reduction procedures of the previous decade, which would often cause functional loss in patients.

In addition to the importance of the functional result, it is also important that your surgeon evaluate your overall facial harmony. No two patients require the same aesthetic result, it is essential that your surgeon study your facial aesthetics and blend the nose into the overall aesthetics and ethnicity of the patient. Many of my patients have undergone simultaneous rejuvenation of the upper or lower third of the face to provide a natural harmonious goal. Chin augmentation with neck liposuction can be necessary to achieve harmony of the lower and middle third of the face.

In addition, we focus strongly on long term results. The nose as a unit undergoes aesthetic changes up until one year postoperatively. This is why most surgeons will not perform revisional rhinoplasty until one year. Many of the newer techniques focus on ways to camouflauge and provide structural strength that last a lifetime. By remodeling existing cartilage, and reserving grafts for lack of structural support, results are often more durable and longer lasting. Depending on the amount of deviation, or amount of dorsal hump resection, support grafts may be necessary. In addition, depending on the amount of tip support and stability, grafts may also be necessary.

Most patients desire an elegant, refined, and balanced nose that blends into their facial aesthetics. Studies of the ideal nasal shape are not surprising, most patients desire a flat to slightly concave nasal bridge, a subtle break or transition between tip and bridge, and a tip angled slightly above the horizontal.

However depending on ethnicity, facial shape, and nasal function, Dr.Gill can offer you a detailed and individualized plan to optimize your facial harmony and maintain or enhance your functional results. Visit http://www.drpaulgill.com to learn more about Dr. Gill, his practice, and rhinoplasty. He proudly serves the Greater Houston Area, the Woodlands, and Conroe Areas. Call for a consultation.

How does Botox work?

This is a question frequently asked by patients. Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox) is a purified protein from the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. Type A is one of 7 toxins produced by different subtypes of the bacteria. Its mechanism of action involves blockage of the overactive nerve endings that cause excessive muscle contractions or glandular activities. These overactive muscles contract at rest causing static wrinkles, or with volunteer muscle contraction causing dynamic wrinkles. Botox functions to block the nerve endings that cause these muscles to contract. Therefore, Botox can assist dynamic wrinkles of the frontalis (forehead), peri-ocular wrinkles (orbicularis oculi/crow's feet), and central brow wrinkles (corrugator and procerus muscles). Botox can be used in multiple other areas depending on experience of your physician. Botox also has FDA approval for axillary hyperhidrosis, or excess underarm sweating. It has proven efficacy in other areas to reduce excess sweating. Consult with your physician for further information. The therapeutic effect of Botox takes 7 to 10 days to become fully effective. The effect of Botox can last one to six months depending on the patient, indication, and number of uses. Please feel free to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gill to learn more about Botox, or learn more at http://www.drpaulgill.com/non-surgical_solutions.cfm

Plastic Surgery Aftercare

A great amount of importance should be placed on surgery aftercare. Meticulous attention to detail and a close doctor-patient communication are essential in the early post-operative period. Therefore, it is essential to ask your plastic surgeon, their postoperative regimen. The patient should feel completely informed with each of their concerns adequately addressed. In addition, it is important to have easy access to your physician in the event that a complication does arise. No plastic surgeon likes to have complications, but it is a defining quality on how they respond to one. Careful and frequent followup is essential to preventing and helping quickly resolving one. It is important that your plastic surgeon share with you the possible complications in regard to your desired procedure during the preoperative visit. Visit http://www.drpaulgill.com/ for more information in regards to plastic surgery aftercare.

Mommy Makeover

"Having a child is a rewarding experience for a woman, but the physical toll that pregnancy can have on the body is enormous. Juggling responsibilities of children, family and career often affords little time to address unwanted physical changes of pregnancy. At Sadler Clinic, we offer a solution to post-pregnancy problems. The “Mommy Makeover” combines breast and abdominal rejuvenation into one simple, customized procedure. Breast rejuvenation reshapes the breast with minimal incisions and occasionally implants. Abdominal rejuvenation can include liposuction, “mini” tummy tucks, or full abdominoplasty, depending on desired results. Call Dr. Gill today for a consultation on your customized “Mommy Makeover”." or visit www.drpaulgill.com to learn more.

Welcome

Today I begin The Woodlands and Conroe Plastic Surgery Blog. My name is Dr. Paul S. Gill, M.D., I am a plastic surgeon new to the Woodlands and Conroe communities. The idea of a plastic surgery blog was brought to my attention, while building my new website. I thought a blog would be an excellent opportunity to address questions I am commonly asked in regards to cosmetic procedures. I am very excited to bring this additional resource to The Woodlands and Conroe communities. It will be an up to date information source in regards to multiple plastic surgery topics. We hope that with the combination of these blog posts and the information found on my website at http://www.drpaulgill.com/, my patients can find answers to their important questions. I truly believe that my patients deserve the best information, such that I can ensure their understanding, comfort, and safety in every procedure upon consultation. For any questions, suggestions for further posts, or to schedule a consultation, please contact our office.