Yearly Archives: 2020

Body and Mind: Preparing for Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast Augmentation,

Although breast enhancement surgery in Toronto is commonplace, it is most certainly still a medical procedure. Any decision to surgically alter the body is a significant one. Dr. Wayne Carman advises that it should not take lightly. Before moving forward with any patient, he takes great steps to ensure she is physically and mentally a good candidate for the surgery.

Prior to any talk of surgical specifics, Dr. Carman establishes the emotional readiness and current state of health for each patient. Some women come into his practice with unrealistic expectations for what breast-enhancing surgery can do. It is not uncommon for someone to bring in a magazine or photo of a celebrity, point to her chest, and say, “I want that.” Simply put, not all changes are surgically possible for all bodies. A full-figured, 6-foot-tall actress’s large breasts, for example, would look hopelessly outsized on a skinny 5-foot-tall woman.

While Dr. Carman’s work is based on the foundation of helping people to achieve aesthetic goals, it is vitally important to ground all expectations in reality. This involves exploring a range of factors, from body proportions to overall health to reasons for choosing the surgery. If you think getting implants will solve all of your life problems, you should probably reassess your reasons for considering augmentation.

Only after Dr. Carman determines that breast augmentation is a suitable option for a patient will he begin the physical examination necessary for developing a specific surgical plan. Even this stage is made up of careful steps, with detailed discussions about implant type and placement, size, and more.

It is important to keep in mind that breasts exist in three dimensions. They are not viewed only from the front or side in photos taken solely from the chest up. Dr. Carman and you must consider how they will look bare and in snug tops, how they will change the look of the hips and other features, and even how they will age.

This may sound daunting, but trust Dr. Carman’s experience: Time spent getting everything as right as possible from the beginning of the process is certainly time well spent. Women who approach their augmentation surgery with a full grasp of what their likely results will be tend to be more satisfied with their outcome, both right after surgery and long into the future.

Learn more about how to prepare for an augmentation procedure by contacting Dr. Wayne Carman online. You can also call (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140.

What is a “Brazilian” Butt Lift?

Fat Injection,

Some doctors use silicone implants to shape patients’ backsides. A so-called “Brazilian” butt lift starts with the same premise—adding volume to reduce sagging and create a rounder appearance—but trades devices for microfat injections. Toronto Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman prefers the microfat technique over implants for its natural-looking results.

There is no clear answer to the question of how the procedure got its name. Some people attribute the moniker to the idea that Brazilian people generally pride themselves on perfect posteriors made mostly visible in revealing swimwear. Others point to a late-‘90s televised medical procedure that involved fat transfer on a patient who happened to be from Brazil.

No matter its origins, two things are definite: The procedure is popular today, and it’s known as the Brazilian butt lift.

Patients who want this look must have ample volume in a donor site elsewhere on their body, so Dr. Carman can carefully remove living fat cells and transfer them to the buttocks. Since the buttocks represent a fairly significant amount of “real estate” on the body, a healthy amount of fat is required. Even with maximum transplanted volume, patients should expect a modest increase. This procedure is not for a “Kardasian” bump in size!

Since there are no foreign materials being introduced into the body in this procedure, there is no risk of an allergic reaction. That said, Dr. Carman prescribes antibiotics following the surgery, to prevent infections and allow an event-free recovery.

Depending on the patient’s goals and available fat reserves, a Brazilian butt lift may be accomplished in a single session or completed over several procedures. A more dramatic change is possible with two or three stages.

In addition to buttock augmentation, fat transfer can also be used to add modest amounts of volume to the breasts, to smooth contours on the face and hands, and to enhance the lips.

Send a message online to request a consultation with Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman. You can also call (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140 for more information.

Nonsurgical Treatments Don’t Replace Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery, , , ,

Some people shy away from the idea of surgery, instead choosing minimally invasive treatments to rejuvenate aging areas of their faces. While BOTOX® and other injectables effectively smooth out wrinkles for months at a time, they are not always a substitute for plastic surgery procedures. Toronto’s Dr. Wayne Carman understands that a range of factors influences patients’ decisions. Cost and recovery time are two common elements cited by women and men who opt for needles over incisions.

While that mindset is definitely understandable, Dr. Carman works closely with patients so they can understand what they can reasonably expect from the approaches they choose. As an example, even the most ideal BOTOX® results will not duplicate the effects of a forehead lift.

If a person’s goal is to relax the severity of some facial lines to look generally refreshed, minimally invasive treatments are entirely appropriate. Patients expecting a more significant change, however, should know that surgery produces longer-lasting results and visibly dramatic—though natural-looking—results.

The key difference is in how the two options work. Injectables essentially work on a surface level, inhibiting muscle activity and adding volume just below the skin. Surgery, on the other hand, can involve the manipulation of deeper layers, with tissues repositioned and sutured into place to create more youthful contours that will age naturally.

There is no “right answer” when it comes to the question of which approach is best. Each person is different, so each consultation will yield a unique plan. The important thing is to come to an initial appointment with a clear cosmetic goal in mind. Articulating a desired outcome allows Dr. Carman to assess the situation and determine which treatment, procedure, or combination would best deliver those results.

Reach out online to arrange a consultation with Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman or call (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140 to learn more.

Why Choose Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast Reduction,

Breast augmentation with implants is practically synonymous with plastic surgery. The procedure is consistently one of the most popular—if not the most popular—cosmetic surgical procedures performed each year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, not all women want to increase the volume of their breasts.

With breast reduction surgery, Toronto Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman does the opposite of an augmentation. Using liposuction to remove fat cells through very small incisions, he changes the size and shape of the breasts to help women achieve their contouring goals.

Some of the reasons patients cite for choosing breast reduction include:

Balance

Asymmetrical breasts can create a lopsided look, and the solution is not necessarily making the smaller breast bigger. A carefully performed reduction procedure can create symmetry with minimal recovery time required.

Comfort

Overly large breasts can hang like weights that pull a woman’s shoulders forward and down, causing a hunch—or at least constant soreness from having to work to maintain good posture. Breast reduction reduces this pull, freeing women to stand taller without exerting the same effort or feeling the same chronic aches associated with breasts of considerable volume. Large breasts may also strain bras or other items of clothing they are in, causing straps to dig into the skin and leave red marks or impressions.

Fashion

Aside from the physical discomfort of ill-fitting clothes, shirts and tops stretched by large breasts may also fail to hang as they were designed, creating odd lines and proportions. Smaller breasts may better allow fabric to drape as it was intended.

Attention

Some women do not like the attention they receive—attention they attribute to having large breasts. A reduction can improve a patient’s self image, as well as draw less attention to her chest area.

No matter a women’s reason for choosing a breast reduction, Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman can explain more about the surgery and what to expect. Call (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140 to arrange a consultation, or visit www.drcarmanplasticsurgery.com.

Open vs. Closed: Two Approaches to Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty,

Nose surgery is a versatile procedure with many variations. The broad category of “nose reshaping” encompasses everything from reducing the width of overly wide nostrils to smoothing out a nasal hump to making any number of alterations intended to cause a nose to appear more in proportion with the rest of the face.

Since there are so many different possible variations, there are numerous techniques that may be employed by the surgeon. Of particular note are the two methods for creating incisions during rhinoplasty surgery. Toronto Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman uses both the “closed” and “open” approaches, each in specific circumstances.

The closed approach is the most common. It involves the creation of small incisions hidden within the nose itself. Surgeons who use this method are experienced in using specialized tools that allow them to trim cartilage, smooth bone and suture tissues all through these small internal incisions. Benefits of the closed approach include a lack of potential visible scarring and no sutures that require removal at a later date. All internal sutures are designed to dissolve on their own.

The open approach is often reserved for alterations to an asymmetrical or overly wide nasal tip. This technique requires the creation of a small incision in the columella, which is the technical name for the partition between the nostrils. This incision allows the surgeon to literally open up the skin and expose the otherwise hidden structures, figuratively opening up a range of surgical techniques possible only with this method.

Both approaches can yield natural-looking results and a nose that better harmonizes with the rest of a patient’s facial features. The main difference is in the fact that the incisions required by an open rhinoplasty will be sutured closed again, resulting in a thin line on the columella. A plastic surgeon experienced in rhinoplasty, such as Dr. Carman, designs this approach to minimize and camouflage any scarring.

All rhinoplasty patients will wear a plaster splint after their procedure—whether closed or open—and will experience swelling and bruising for a short time. Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wayne Carman can describe more of the similarities and differences in the two approaches at a personalized consultation. Call (416) 322-7108 or 1-888-451-1140, or visit www.drcarmanplasticsurgery.com.