Category: Health

How Long Do You Have to Wait Between Plastic Surgeries?

It’s quite common for one person to undergo more than one plastic surgery. In fact, the trend in having multiple procedures at the same time has increased in recent years, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, there’s no reason to rush things. For elective surgeries like cosmetic enhancements, it’s safest and healthiest to allow for a full recovery between two different procedures. You can talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon for personalized guidance.

Wait time between plastic surgeries

The wait time between plastic surgeries is largely dependent on how long it takes you to recover. Healing time will vary from one patient to the next, depending on issues like your overall health and your adherence to the surgeon’s post-operative care instructions. It also depends on the specific type of surgery. As a general rule of thumb, it may take up to six weeks for a full recovery from breast augmentation surgery, although you’ll likely return to light activities in about a week. A full recovery for liposuction might take a few weeks. It’s likely that your plastic surgeon will recommend that you wait until you’re fully recovered before having another surgery.

Combining multiple procedures

In many cases, patients who want to have multiple procedures will combine them into the same appointment. For instance, if you want to have a breast augmentation and a lift, you could get them done at the same time. If you’d like to have a facelift and a rhinoplasty, your surgeon may feel comfortable doing both in the same session.

The combination approach is particularly common among women interested in a mommy makeover. “Many women decide to combine a tummy tuck with a breast lift, or a breast augmentation with a lift.”

However, if you want to have more than two or three procedures performed, you may need to go into surgery on multiple occasions. There is always the potential for adverse reactions to the anesthesia, and the risk can be amplified the longer a patient is under anesthesia.

Signs You May Want to Wait on a Cosmetic Procedure

After you’ve decided you’re interested in a particular cosmetic procedure, the next thing to decide is when you should have it done. This decision involves everything from lifestyle factors, to financial considerations, to other reasons that may be unique to your case. Be very, very skeptical of a cosmetic surgeon who tries to encourage you to get a procedure done as soon as possible. Here are four scenarios in which the right decision may be to wait:

• You’re planning to have kids in the next couple of years. Pregnancy and breastfeeding frequently cause dramatic changes to your body. It’s typical to gain weight during the pregnancy but then lose it when your body is actively producing nutrients for the breastfeeding process. Many women also report that even after returning to their pre-pregnancy weight, the distribution of weight around their body is a little different after the pregnancy. For these reasons, if you’ve been thinking about a liposuction or tummy tuck procedure but think you may be having a child in the next couple of years, you may be better off waiting until after the pregnancy and breastfeeding to get these procedures done.

• You’re experiencing weight loss or weight gain. To look its best, a cosmetic procedure should be done on a body that’s fairly stable. So, if your weight is currently fluctuating, you may want to wait for it to stabilize before going in for the procedure. As an aside, if you’re having trouble with weight fluctuation, our on-staff registered dietician may be able to help you figure out a diet and exercise plan that works for you.

• Your body part has not fully developed. We’ve heard some inquiries from parents whose teens may be interested in a particular procedure. As a general rule, we discourage cosmetic surgery, because a teenager’s body is still changing—it makes the most sense to wait until the body has fully developed before moving forward with a procedure.

• When the procedure is new, or you’re new to the procedure. We tend to be inherently excitable creatures. If you hear about a brand new type of procedure, you may be excited to jump on the bandwagon and get it done. Or, maybe it’s a well-established procedure, but you’ve only really been thinking about getting it done over the past couple of weeks. In either case, you owe it to yourself to slow down and carefully consider whether your desire for the procedure is a rational, long-term decision (as it should be) or just some short-term excitement. Use your plastic surgeon as a sounding board if you’re not sure about something. He or she should be able to give you an experienced take on why you should proceed or wait.

How to prepare for your cosmetic surgery consult

A successful consultation with a board certified cosmetic surgeon will educate you about your options and put your mind at ease before scheduling surgery. Getting the most out of your consultation can be as simple as being prepared and knowing the right questions to ask.

The following checklist can help guide you through the process and ensure you take full advantage of your face-to-face time with potential surgeons.

Important questions to ask your surgeon:

• Am I a good candidate for my procedure of interest? If not, what is keeping me from being a candidate?
• How many times have you performed this procedure?
• What are the benefits?
• What are the risks?
• What board certification(s) do you hold?
• Where will the surgery take place?
• Is the surgical facility accredited?

During the physical exam, make mental notes:

• Is the doctor courteous and professional?
• Did the doctor seem to understand your areas of concern?
• Has the doctor informed you of the available options for meeting your goals?
• Did the doctor describe how they would specifically tailor the procedure(s) for you?
• Has the doctor helped you understand what to expect?

When and how much exercise after plastic surgery

As a general rule of thumb, patients should remain as inactive as possible for about 48 hours following any type of plastic surgery. After that, for the next 1 to 2 weeks, you must proceed very carefully regardless of the procedure you had. Your surgeon will probably recommend either no activity/exercise at all or you might get the go-ahead to do some very light activity such as walking around the neighborhood or walking very slowing on a treadmill.

Depending on how well you’re healing, a “light duty” routine can be undertaken so long as care is given with regards to things like heavy lifting or extreme exertion. Depending on the type of surgery, it may be a week or two before you have the energy to re-engage in any kind of exercise regimen. The initial efforts here should be around enjoying the psychological benefits of exercise rather than the physical – think more along the lines of feeling good rather than raising your heart rate too much. Light cardio activities such as neighborhood walks, slow treadmills, slow cycling (on a stationary bike) are good examples of how you should ease into a exercise after plastic surgery. Your surgeon will certainly have more specific advice on this but again, a general rule is no activity for 48 hours and then extremely light activity when you feel your energy returning.

Remember that your body is an interconnected system and you cannot exercise any one area without affecting the others. Sure, bench presses don’t work your nose muscles (!!), but they do raise your heart rate and increase your rate of breathing, both of which can adversely affect the healing of your rhinoplasty. Yes, doing squats works your legs and backside but it also raises your heart rate, raises your breathing and stresses your entire body so they are not a good idea immediately following your breast lift procedure.

More rules of thumb to go by:

• If you have any bruising at all, do not exercise (you may need to talk to your surgeon as well, if bruising persists too long)
• If you have any swelling, do not exercise
• If areas are still hurting or are overly sore, do not exercise
• A schedule for the first few weeks could be something like this:
• First week: Enjoy three 5-minute walks each day
• Second week: Enjoy three 10-minute walks each day
• Third week: Enjoy three 15-minute walks each day
• Fourth week: Enjoy four 15-minute walks each day. Talk with your surgeon at around this point to see if you can increase your level of activity
• Fifth week: Based on your surgeon’s advice, you may be able to ease back into an exercise regimen

Most Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures

Plastic surgery has become increasingly popular among both men and women. Part of this is due to the fact that more and more emphasis is being placed on looking and staying young. However, part of it is simply due to the fact that the cost of most surgical procedures of this nature have come down considerably from past decades, making it more affordable for people to have plastic surgery.

While plastic surgery in general has become more common place, certain types of cosmetic surgery are more popular than others. The most popular surgeries performed are rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, blepharoplasty, and face lifts. Each of these surgeries comes with its own risks and benefits, and each has its own unique recovery time and process.

Rhinoplasty is the type of plastic surgery where the nose is reshaped. It may need to be elongated, shortened, have a hump on the bridge removed, or change the shape and size of nostrils. The idea is to make your nose look like it belongs on your face naturally, and improve appearance. In the case of a hump on the bridge of the nose, the surgery may be undergone to improve comfort as well. It takes several weeks to recover from rhinoplasty, and during that time you will experience mild pain and swelling.

Another type of popular surgery is breast augmentation or reduction. Reductions are becoming as popular as augmentation procedures, because more and more women are turning to this solution to relieve back problems. In an augmentation, an incision is made into which a silicone bag filled with silicone or saline is inserted behind the muscle. The recovery time for breast augmentation is a total of a few months, although your comfort level will increase and you will be able to get rid of the surgical bra within a few weeks. There is generally more pain involved with this procedure than with rhinoplasty.

Liposuction, however, is possibly the most painful of all plastic surgeries. However, if you have been unsuccessful at losing weight while you have been dieting and exercising in a healthy manner, liposuction can give you new hope for a healthier and more attractive you. In these cases, the benefits far outweigh the risks and the pain associated with the procedure. Recovery time is up to two months, with the first two weeks being the most uncomfortable. Your first three to ten days will be the most painful, and you will be given pain medications to manage that trying time. However, once that part is out of the way, the worst you will have to deal with is some swelling.

Blepharoplasty is a less painful procedure that is a bit scarier but does not need to be, as the risks are surprisingly low. In blepharoplasty, fat and excess skin is removed from the eye lids, making you look younger. This procedure is not very invasive, and is no worse than a face lift, which is a similar procedure. Recovery time is a few weeks to two months.

MYTHBUSTERS

Chiropractic is one of the most contentious forms of health care. Millions of happy patients love their chiropractors, yet many others wouldn’t try it even if their health and wellbeing depended on it (which it does). There are many reasons for this dichotomy. Let’s expose some of the various myths so you’ll understand the safe and sensible discipline of chiropractic.

MYTH: YOU HAVE TO GO BACK FOR REPEAT VISITS.

TRUTH: Repeat visits are often necessary because our treatment is hands-on and typically requires a cumulative effect. When working in a physical way with a physical condition, repeat treatments are necessary to train the body just as repeat exercise is necessary to train for strength

MYTH: CHIROPRACTORS TAKE LOTS OF X-RAYS?

TRUTH: Like any physician, a history and exam will reveal if x-rays are required to further assess your complaint. Since chiropractors are skilled at assessing the physical structure, we often take fewer x-rays than other healthcare providers. You’ll find that at PCG, we prescribe x-rays judiciously.

MYTH: CHIROPRACTORS SIGN PEOPLE UP FOR LONG TERMS OF CARE.

TRUTH: Chiropractic care plays an important role throughout life, so this myth is partially true – we’d like to see you as needed, for the rest of your life. However, we believe that every type of doctor would say the same thing.

MYTH: CHIROPRACTORS WANT TO SEE YOU THREE TIMES A WEEK WHEN STARTING A TREATMENT PLAN.

TRUTH: There are different stages of healthcare – think of them as urgent, rehabilitative, and maintenance. In the urgent phase, more frequent treatment may be needed for the first few weeks, but rehabilitative care isn’t nearly as frequent (think 2-4 times per month) and maintenance care is much less often. We work with you to assess your treatment frequency.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHIROPRACTOR

this Questionnaire Guide is designed to help you choose the right chiropractic care. We are sharing insider secrets with you that some Doctors of Chiropractic may not want you to know including: the most important questions you must ask before agreeing to receive care from any doctor or chiropractic clinic.

What techniques do you practice?

Some chiropractors are only proficient in one single technique. The problem with this is not every condition that chiropractic care can help responds to just one technique. You need to know that there are many wonderful chiropractic techniques that can be used to successfully treat and relieve your specific condition. For example, at Aim High Chiropractic, our skillful doctors have training in many different types of techniques and use them according to our patient’s specific condition. We have many natural ways to relieve your pain and restore your optimal range of motion, flexibility, and function – without the use of drugs, medication, or surgery!

Do you take x-rays when necessary?

Be sure to seek a chiropractor who takes X-rays to rule out fractures or a gross pathology (English translation – some other serious problem) as indicated by the consultation, health history, and examination. X-rays help us determine the health of your joints and discs, gives us an estimate of how long it will take before you improve, as well as what specific chiropractic techniques will likely be the most effective for you. Caring for a patient without X-rays is like flying in the dark without radar: it’s dangerous if you don’t know where you are going. There are some life-and-death conditions that can first express themselves with back, neck, or bone pain. If the doctor you’re consulting with doesn’t take X-rays BEFORE recommending treatment, then you should probably consider talking to another doctor who can provide you with the care and treatment you need and deserve.

Will you give me your recommendations in writing?

This is very important: Recommendations in writing allow you to go home and think about your options before making a decision. It also gives you an explanation up front of what the care will consist of, how long it will last, and how much it will cost. It’s important that you’re provided with all the information you need to know in order to make an important decision regarding your personal health.

Can you provide me with references?

Ask for five references. Three of these references should be current patients, and the other two should be other chiropractors. There are three reasons for getting patient and professional references: First, any person in practice should have at least three satisfied patients they can provide you with as a reflection of the quality of their care and service. Second, if a chiropractic doctor cannot produce two other professionals that will attest to his or her ability as a chiropractor, he or she may not be respected by his or her peers. Feel free to call the references you receive. Many people ask for references, but never check them! Call all five people, because you can never learn too much about the person you are considering for your chiropractic and health needs. It’s worth to take the few minutes to talk to these people and find out if you are in good hands!

Things You May Not Know About Chiropractic.

Pain is always the last sign of a problem.

The human body is very strong and versatile when it comes to pain. The body can get by for months or even years before any signs of pain arise. Pain is usually the reason for visits to your chiropractor. If you are taking medication for your pain, the pain may go away, but the dysfunction that caused the pain still persists. Dysfunctions in the body present in different ways, for example: Headaches, diarrhea, asthma, allergies and so on are signs and symptoms for your body to alert you of something being wrong. Muscles, ligaments and joints are often injured due to long-term biomechanical dysfunctions, usually from past injuries that were not treated properly or not allowed to fully heal. These dysfunctions can lead to future injuries so it is important to keep your body healthly before your symptoms appear. Regular visits to your chiropractic are important not only when you feel pain, but periodically to prevent future injury and improve your overall health.

Athletes use chiropractors every day to stay on top of their game.

Chiropractors are one of the leading health care providers that help athletes remove the causes of pain and help increase range of motion in the body. We are biomechanical movement specialist. Chiropractors are noted throughout all of sports and are used heavily by professional teams all over the world. Athletes such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice, Derek Rose, Aaron Rogers, Terrell Ownes, Michael Phelps, and Tom Brady are just some of the top performing athletes in the world that use Chiropractic to stay on top of their game. Chiropractors not only help rehabilitate athletes for their return to play, but help prevent injuries, maintain flexibility, improving coordination and improve an athlete’s competitive edge through confidence and health.

Proper control of your nervous system helps maintain the bodies normal cascade function.

The human brain is the control center for the entire body. The spinal cord is a long, thin bundle of nervous tissue that extends from the brain and is how your brain communicates with the rest of your body. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS). Dysfunctions in the spinal column may cause a disruption in the transmission of these signals from the brain. These spinal nerves travel through the vertebrae of the spine and out to the organs and tissues of the body. When there is a disruption of this signal, it is term a subluxation by the chiropractic profession. Chiropractors don’t just treat symptoms of pain, but also the causes of pain and eliminating disruptions in the spinal nerve transmission caused by subluxations. Chiropractors have a vast education base in the spine and surrounding human anatomy.

Your Chiropractor does not have healing powers.

Chiropractors are not out to “fix your back” or “heal your pain.” Rather, our goal is to restore proper biomechanics of the human body and proper nerve flow from the brain.  By allowing for improved natural spinal motion and eliminating any tension on spinal nerves and muscles, we allow the body to regenerate normal function through natural healing. Chiropractors believe that the body is best at its natural state and disease is caused through disruptions of this natural state.  We as Chiropractors never treat the disease or signs or symptoms. Our goal is to find the cause of dysfunctions and treat the body through chiropractic manipulation (adjustments) in order to restore this proper nerve flow generated by the nervous system. As disruptions are removed, the body will naturally restore itself to a normal state.

Age does not matter when it comes to Chiropractic.

From newborns to seniors, everyone can benefit from Chiropractic care. There is no patient to young or too old. The Chiropractic art is practiced in order to help alleviate dysfunction of the body regardless of the age of the patient. Newborn babies endure unparalleled amounts of physical stress during the birthing process. Studies have found that 95% of newborns have subluxations in their neck and that removing these subluxations may prevent the development of several types of disease including, infantile colic, bedwetting, allergies, asthma and behavioral disorders (ADD/ADHD).

Rethink Chiropractic Care

It is that time of the year again. The time to look back on all the good things we were blessed to have and enjoy this year. We all know the quote saying, “A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.”, Every time we go through struggles, we have a choice to look at the lesson and be grateful or to stay in the struggle

Start a gratitude journal.

This is a common tip for this season, which also means you already know what to do. Change the usual drill by listing things you actively appreciate. It does not really matter how trivial those things are, as long as they mean something to you. It could be as small as finding the coin purse you have been looking for and realizing you left some money there–just when you needed it the most.

Focus on being thankful.

It could naturally be hard to do so, especially when you are experiencing struggles in your everyday life. Losing a job, failed relationships, or too much work may steal you of even the littlest joys in life. What you can do is focus on the good things happening. It is easy to say there is none when so much is going on, but you will surely find one when you look closer. You woke up healthy today, you are not late for work, and the barista in your favorite cafe has finally got your kind of cuppa joe, aren’t those things to be grateful for?

Make saying ‘thank you’ a habit.

We have been taught of this since we were kids, but for some reason we forego the habit. Being an adult actually prompts us more to say thank you more often, if we need that much of a reminder about the little things we have to be grateful for in our lives. It somehow makes us realize of the things we hardly notice when our hands are full

Appreciating the littlest things should not only be a November novelty, but a lifetime commitment. It’s power over our overall attitude and mindset about life is manifested by how we take every challenge that come our way. Appreciation translates to putting value in what we already have.

Secrets Your Chiropractor Probably Won’t Talk About

It’s More Than Just Sitting

While sitting is definitely not good for your back or your health in general, there are plenty of other things that send us off down the track to poor health, including:

Poor posture

Not getting exercise

Carrying too much weight on one side of your body (heavy purses for example)

Wearing high heels most of the time (or flip flops)

“Weekend Warriors” 

Ignoring the pain

While you might be skimming over the above list thinking to yourself, “Yes, I know, blah blah blah.” You might think that you just don’t have time to be concerned with those “little things.” Besides, your aunt so-and-so has been carrying a heavy purse for years and she’s fine. How does anyone know if those things are really bad for you? Doesn’t everyone do them?

Why Don’t People See a Chiropractor When They are in Pain?

First, most people don’t see any type of doctor until the pain is fairly severe. Whether it’s fear of the doctor or fear of what the diagnosis might be, there is another factor; insurance. The debate about how to fix America’s insurance problem goes on and we don’t want to discuss politics here, but the fact is that some insurance companies won’t cover chiropractic.

By the Way, There are a Few Things You Should Know First

Chiropractors are highly specialized and highly trained health care professionals. Some people believe that, because they do not write prescriptions, that they are somehow not “real” doctors. This isn’t the case.

When it comes to chiropractic, the focus is on the manipulation of the spine and treating the entire body, not just the symptoms. This means that a chiropractor won’t hand you prescription for pain medication and not treat the source of your pain. A chiropractor will!