Yearly Archives: 2016

Liposuction and Tummy Tuck: Two Procedures with a Different Focus

Liposuction, ,

Many patients of the Cosmetic Surgery Institute have questions about how an abdominoplasty (better known as a tummy tuck) relates to liposuction. Toronto’s Dr. Wayne Carman is always happy to explain the difference between the two procedures in person during a consultation visit, but these are the basics:

  • Liposuction: While this procedure is most commonly associated with reducing abdominal fat, it can actually be applied in a variety of areas around the body to surgically remove stubborn fat cells and provide sleeker contours. Liposuction can restore definition to a neck obscured by a double chin, reduce overly large breasts on women (and men suffering from gynecomastia), and slim down thighs, arms, the back, hips, buttocks, legs, and more. Liposuction is not a weight-loss method, but is designed to physically contour regions where excess fat creates an unwanted aesthetic bulge.
  • Tummy Tuck: More properly known as an abdominoplasty, it is less a single procedure and more a combination of elements that are applied as needed on a patient-by-patient basis. A tummy tuck can sometimes include liposuction as part of the transformative process. A tummy tuck is less about fat reduction and more about reducing a flabby appearance caused by excessive loose abdominal skin. The change involves tightening lax abdominal muscles, repositioning tissues, pulling skin taut and removing the excess skin and remaining fat. This is especially effective for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, or for women with overstretched abdominal skin following pregnancy.

Learn more about abdominoplasty and liposuction in Toronto by calling Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman at (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140. You can also visit drcarmanplasticsurgery.com.

Wishing for That Pre-Baby Body Back?

Plastic Surgery, Tummy Tuck, , ,

Childbirth is an amazing experience, but many women see photos of themselves in their pre-baby days and long to get that more youthful silhouette back. Hormonal fluctuations, skin changes, and even physical trauma combine to radically alter the female body throughout a pregnancy and birth, and while healing and recuperation help, not everything ends up back the way it was in the days before the delivery: Breasts can shrink, tummies can bulge, and no amount of exercise can reverse these changes.

Women looking to reclaim their formerly tightened and toned selves can get help with everything from a breast lift (or augmentation) to a tummy tuck at Toronto’s Cosmetic Surgery Institute. Learn more about what’s available:

  • Pregnancy and nursing cause breasts to grow in volume, making them heavier and more likely to be pulled down by gravity. Skin and other tissues that grew to accommodate the extra gland and fatty tissue may stay overstretched, even long after breast feeding is over. A breast lift places drooping breasts higher on the chest, making them perky and youthful once again.
  • Similarly, a tummy tuck addresses skin and tissues that stretched out to make room for the growing baby, but that didn’t fully shrink back down after the delivery. Excess fat can remain in the belly area despite constant exercise and dieting and muscles can stretch making them thinner and weaker. Removing the loose skin and stubborn fat while tightening the muscle layer results in a flatter, sleeker stomach, with no overhanging skin.
  • Correcting the problems of both tummy and breasts at the same surgery is often referred to as a “Mommy Makeover”.

Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman can answer any questions women have about breast lift, tummy tuck and liposuction surgery at Toronto’s Cosmetic Surgery Institute. Call (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140 to learn more.

Breathe Easy and Find a Surgeon You Trust for Rhinoplasty in Toronto

Plastic Surgery, ,

The cycle of rain and sunshine throughout spring, summer, and fall prompts all sorts of growing things to blossom, bloom, and dry up, which is beautiful for the eyes, but not so great for the nose of an allergy sufferer. The flowering season tends to make people fairly nose-focused, though a recent article in the Toronto Sun noted that there may be more indoor sources of dust and irritants than you realize, making the problem a year-long issue. No matter what’s causing you to focus on your nose, however, and whether it’s clear and fine or stuffed and runny, you should like what you see.

If you don’t, you may be ready for a rhinoplasty. Toronto-area residents who want to alter the size or shape of their nose are likely aware that they have options (rhinoplasty is in the top five most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in the world, and is the second-most popular such surgery for men, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). But the fact that it is so commonplace does not mean everyone who performs the surgery approaches it with the same degree of skill and attention.

At the Cosmetic Surgery Institute, rhinoplasty gets particular focus as the most individualized surgical procedure available. Not only must the results work for the nose itself, they must harmonize with the rest of a patient’s features. Anyone considering a rhinoplasty should select a doctor who has plenty of experience with the procedure and who can create a surgical plan that will result in a totally natural look.

You may not like how your nose feels when you can smell the season in the air, but you can like how your nose looks all year long.

Learn more about rhinoplasty in Toronto. Contact Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman by calling (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140. Visit the Cosmetic Surgery Institute at drcarmanplasticsurgery.com.

Breast Reduction for Gynecomastia in Toronto

Plastic Surgery, ,

For many men, warmer seasons are a time for taking off shirts and enjoying some sun. A number of men, however, may be reluctant to bare their chests due to gynecomastia, which is enlargement of male breasts. The problem can cause embarrassment, lead to clothes not fitting properly, and even be a source of physical discomfort. Breast reduction for Toronto-area men who want more traditionally masculine contours is available, but it is important they seek out a plastic surgeon who is experienced in dealing with this issue.

Gynecomastia can be caused by a variety of factors, so breast reduction for men is not a cookie-cutter process. It may involve the removal of fat cells via liposuction if the source of the condition is significant weight gain. Or the surgery could include eliminating glandular tissue that has formed due to hormonal shifts and testosterone levels being out of balance with estrogen levels. A breast reduction procedure may also be a combination of the two techniques.

Every man is different, and some may even be fine with their chest the way it is, breasts and all, but for those who want to make a change, breast reduction is available. Post-surgical down time generally lasts a week. There are other recuperation factors to consider, but patients can return to their daily lives relatively quickly—and start enjoying that summer sun in a way they didn’t before.

Learn more about the gynecomastia and male breast reduction in Toronto by calling Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman at the Cosmetic Surgery Institute at (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140.

Plan Ahead for Cosmetic Surgery in Toronto

Breast Augmentation, General

The cosmetic surgery techniques and technology available today allow patients to enjoy their results sooner than ever after a procedure is complete, but some recovery time is still necessary. Patients can expect to return to daily activities relatively quickly, but getting a breast augmentation one day then running down the beach in a bikini the next is not advisable. Dr. Wayne Carman encourages any patients seeking cosmetic surgery at Toronto’s Cosmetic Surgery Institute to do their homework and plan ahead.

Interested in surgically slimming down for the summer? The time to start the process is now. Realistic expectations and a thorough understanding of what a particular surgery can accomplish—and on what schedule—are important factors in getting the best outcome possible. Certain procedures, such as rhinoplasty, yield immediate changes, but continue to settle over time, with the ultimate result not becoming apparent until 6 to 12 months after the surgery.

Most cosmetic surgical procedures allow for a gradual return to regular life, starting with days devoted to healing, followed by a week or two of recuperation. Strenuous exercise, extreme heat, and other factors may need to be avoided for a period of time, and follow-up visits to ensure proper healing and aesthetic results need to be scheduled.

Of course, how you choose to live after your surgery is up to you, but following aftercare instructions and taking the time to properly heal as advised by the doctor will greatly benefit you in the long run.

Learn more about how to schedule a consultation and procedure at the Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Toronto. Call Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman at (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140, or visit his cosmetic surgery practice’s home page at drcarmanplasticsurgery.com.

The Many Uses of BOTOX® in Toronto

General,

BOTOX®, a Toronto favorite, is most famous for being an injectable cosmetic available by prescription, used by millions of people each year throughout Canada, North America, and the world. Many patients are interested to learn that the drug has a great many other applications, too, most of which are medical in nature.

The active ingredient in BOTOX®, botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin that excels at preventing chemical signals from arriving at intended delivery points. This trait means it can keep a muscle from contracting or a gland from carrying out its intended function. When injected with precision and in the proper amounts, the effects are both highly beneficial and temporary, fading over time to allow for standard function to return.

In hyperhidrosis sufferers, for instance—who deal with overactive sweat glands in the armpit—BOTOX® can eliminate soaked shirts by temporarily stopping the underarm glands from receiving the command to produce the dreaded sweat. The effects of this injection last just a bit less than seven months.

Similarly, BOTOX® can bring relief to patients facing debilitating muscle spasticity or spasms that impact the proper function of their eyes, eyelids, upper limbs, or neck.

It has also proven to be a helpful tool for people dealing with an overactive bladder, and for those who live with the disruption and pain of chronic migraines.

Doctors are continuing to research and develop new uses for BOTOX®, which is proving to be a versatile treatment in a variety of fields.

Learn more about the research behind BOTOX® in Toronto by contacting the Cosmetic Surgery Institute of Dr. Wayne Carman at (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140.