Summer is the time to get your body swimsuit ready! Many patients decide to have surgery in the spring so that they are ready for the start of summer. However, others prefer to wait until summer to have surgery since they have more flexible schedules with their children out of school. Many teachers also decide to have surgery in the summer since they have time off from work. Others prefer summer because they are more able to get friends or family to visit and help out during recovery. Whatever the reason, summer is a great time to get your body in shape.
Oftentimes, all the exercise and dieting in the world won’t get you to your body goals. There can be areas of stubborn fat, loose muscles after pregnancy, or loss of breast volume after breastfeeding. These problems won’t go away unless you have surgery. Not to say that plastic surgery is the easy way out. You should definitely get to a healthy weight before any type of plastic surgery in order to get the best result, but once you are at that weight, plastic surgery can help get you that final result you have been working towards.
To help achieve that summer body, the most popular procedures are breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, and fat transfer to the buttocks (known as Brazilian Butt Lift).
Tara Reid with Dr. Michael Newman
Breast augmentation is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed in the country every year. For those patients that lost volume after breastfeeding or those that just never fully developed enough breast volume to match their body, breast augmentation is an excellent solution. Typically, a breast implant is placed under the breast tissue to add volume. Breast implants can be filled with silicone or saline, depending on the patient’s preference. Both materials are known to be safe. Silicone feels more natural. Saline is easier to monitor. Implants do need to be replaced. The average lifespan for a breast implant is 10-20 years. Alternatively, breast volume can be increased by injecting fat into the breast. This procedure, known as Forever Breast surgery, leads to the most natural result and the fastest recovery. The fat lasts forever, in contrast to an implant. However, good candidates must have some extra fat around their waist or on their thighs in order to have enough fat to transfer. Additional breast volume is great for filling out bikinis, dresses, and bras.
Radiant Lady Victoria Harvey at Cannes Film Festival 2022, courtesy of Dr. Newman’s expertly done Botox treatment before the event.
Liposuction is also one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed in the country annually. Liposuction involves the use of a metal cannula, similar to a straw, that is placed under the skin in order to suction out the fat. This works great for contouring of the neck, arms, back, waist, stomach, and thighs. Additional technologies such as Vaser, Renuvion, and Smartlipo can be used to help remove more fat and tighten the skin. Recovery is relatively quick. Most patients can return to work within a few days and return to exercise within 1-2 weeks. A compression garment must be worn over the area of liposuction all day and night for several weeks in order to help shape the body and get the best results. Results are seen immediately, but residual swelling can last for several months. Liposuction is a great option for patients with stubborn areas of fat that won’t go away with diet and exercise, perfect for getting that summer body look.
(L-R) Heather Duffy, Dr. Newman & Anne Heche
Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, is a procedure to remove the excess skin and fat over the abdomen. In addition, the underlying muscles are tightened with sutures. This procedure leads to a major transformation in the contour of the waist and abdomen. It is most commonly performed in patients with excess abdomen skin and muscle laxity from massive weight changes or pregnancy. It is best to finish having children before proceeding with this surgery since additional pregnancies can stretch out the skin and muscle again. Liposuction can be performed at the same time for further sculpting of the abdomen and waist. Recovery time is a bit more involved with time away from work in the 2-4 week range and a return to exercise in 6-8 weeks. Tummy tuck surgery will give you the narrowest waistline, but to get the best results you need to be at your ideal weight prior to surgery.
Brazilian Butt LIft (BBL) is a popular procedure that is named after the Brazilian aesthetic of having a very full and perky buttocks. Typically, fat is removed from the waist, back, or thighs with liposuction and the fat is injected into the buttocks leading to a fuller, perkier, and sometimes wider buttocks. The final shape can be customized based on each patient’s aesthetic goals. The injected fat lasts forever. The result is immediate, but swelling can persist for several months. Recovery time is relatively short with most people returning to work in less than one week. Many plastic surgeons recommend avoiding sitting for long periods of time for two weeks after surgery in order to avoid compression of the injected fat in the buttocks. In order to return to work sooner, some patients will use a stand up desk. Brazilian Butt LIft surgery is definitely the best way to fill out the bottom half of that swim suit, leggings, or dress.
About Dr. Newman
Dr. Michael K. Newman is an award winning, board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills who embodies the characteristics desired by all patients: world-class training, a wealth of experience, and artistic talent. In addition, he is warmly regarded by patients for his thoughtful and compassionate demeanor. This ideal balance of traits allows Dr. Newman to produce amazing results and is precisely why so many of his patients recommend him so highly to family and friends. On top of that he is touted for his philanthropic efforts in the fight against breast cancer.
For more information on Dr. Newman please visit www.drnewmanbeverlyhills.com.
Cover photo: Rowan Daly
