Is a breast reduction the same as a lift? Our Toronto-based practice knows that patients are often unsure about which type of breast surgery will be the best option for them. Both a breast lift and breast reduction can be great options for women who want to enhance the shape of their breasts. Many patients are unsure about which of these surgeries is best suited for them. The best choice of surgery for you will depend upon what your personal goals and expectations are. Here’s what you should know about the differences and similarities between these procedures to help you decide which technique would be the right one for you or whether a combination of the two would be best.

• Breast Reduction

Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is designed to make breasts smaller. It can significantly reduce the volume and excess weight from the breasts. Excess skin, fat, and tissues are removed as a way of decreasing the size of the breasts. Large breasts are more than just a cosmetic issue. Patients often choose to have breast reduction surgery if they are struggling with physical activity limitations, discomfort in the neck or back, poor posture, difficulty breathing or sleeping, chronic skin rashes, and difficulties with finding clothing or proper support.

• Breast Lift

A breast lift or mastopexy surgery is intended for women who want to address sagging breasts. It involves reshaping and supporting the breasts as a way of sculpting a more youthful, perkier silhouette by repositioning them. Breast lift surgery is focused upon the shape of the breasts and – enhancing their overall appearance rather than changing their volume. Unlike breast reduction, only excess skin is removed but not actual breast tissue. If you are self-conscious about sagging breasts due to aging, weight fluctuations or pregnancy, have flattened or drooping breasts, have uneven breasts, or have stretched out skin then you may be an ideal candidate.

Is a breast reduction the same as a lift? Our Toronto-based practice of Dr. Wayne Carman can explain more about how each of these procedures work. Call us at (416) 322-7108 or submit a contact form online to request a consultation if you would like to find out more about breast reduction surgery.

It isn’t always easy to get our desired body shape. By the time we reach adulthood, we have a certain number of fat cells that remains stable throughout the rest of our lives. There’s no guarantee that after losing weight we can get the body shape we want because we can’t control where the fat is reduced from on our body. Due to genetics and other factors that are outside of our control, most of us have a problem area where we are more likely to store excess, resistant fat. Many of our patients have stubborn fat on areas such as the belly, thighs, upper arms, and flanks that they can’t get rid of naturally, so they turn to liposuction from our Toronto-based office as a way of reducing these areas, to sculpt the body type they’ve always wanted.

Liposuction sculpts the silhouette you want and provides immediate results. Aside from the positive results, patients also want to know about the longevity of the procedure. One thing our patients often wonder about when they’re having the procedure is whether the fat that is surgically removed could come back.

The fat cells that are surgically removed can’t come back. However, it’s still important for patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a stable weight after the surgery. It will still be possible to gain weight even after the surgery and the more you gain, the less impressive your results will look. You can get the best results by maintaining your post-liposuction weight – meaning the weight you are at after losing a few pounds through the surgery.

If you gain a few pounds after liposuction, it may not make much of a difference to your results. However, if you gain a larger amount of weight, fat may be more noticeable in other areas of the body that weren’t treated with liposuction. The treated areas have fewer fat cells so these areas will always be proportionately smaller than surrounding areas even if you gain a substantial amount of weight. For most patients, their physique will always look better regardless of body weight.

For more advice about liposuction, contact our Toronto-based practice to set up an appointment with Dr. Wayne Carman. Call us at (416) 322-7108 or submit a contact form online to request a consultation if you would like to find out more about this procedure.

During the colder months of the year, many patients consider undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures. As it takes several months to see the final results from many of these procedures, patients who have them done during the later months of the year will usually be able to enjoy their more sculpted body by the time spring arrives. Furthermore, recovery from these procedures is easier and more comfortable during the colder seasons. We tend to spend more time indoors, there’s less exposure to sunlight and we wear bulkier clothes, making it easier to protect our skin from sun damage and hide any of the side effects while we’re recovering. The primary reason why so many people have a tummy tuck at our Toronto-based practice is so that they can enjoy a slimmer, more balanced body shape.

A tummy tuck is ideal for reshaping and slimming the abdominal area, especially for patients who want to restore a flatter stomach after pregnancy or weight fluctuations, or those who have always been prone to having more stubborn, diet-resistant fat on the stomach because of genetics. However, what many of them may not realize is that in addition to making you look better, this form of plastic surgery can also have other functional and medical benefits. See below for some of the medical and functional benefits of this treatment that you should know about.

• Reducing Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a common concern, especially after pregnancy. A tummy tuck isn’t designed as a treatment for back pain, but it can be helpful. Diastasis recti often occurs due to pregnancy, causing the abdominal muscles to separate. By strengthening the core muscles and removing excess skin from the belly area, a tummy tuck can have the positive side effect of providing relief from back pain.

• Improving Posture

Bad posture can cause joint pain and other health issues. A tummy tuck can help you stand straight and taller by stabilizing the core muscles. When you’re standing taller, you’ll also look slimmer and more attractive, while also feeling more confident.

For more information about the functional benefits of a tummy tuck, contact our Toronto-based office of Dr. Wayne Carman. Call us at (416) 322-7108 or submit a contact form online to request a consultation if you’d like to learn more about how body contouring surgery can remove excess skin and sculpt your body shape.

Searching for treatments to rejuvenate your skin after summer? BOTOX^® from our Toronto-based practice is ideal for softening those wrinkles that are associated with squinting and wriggling your forehead in the bright sunlight during the hottest months. You may be surprised to learn that facial wrinkles aren’t only caused by aging. Although we associate wrinkles with aging and it’s true that many wrinkles are mainly caused by the decline in collagen production as we age, lots of wrinkles on the face are actually caused by the repetitive muscle contractions involved in facial expressions and movements each day.

These are what are known as dynamic wrinkles or expression wrinkles. They are only seen when the face is moving. Some examples include frown lines – vertical lines or “eleven’s” that develop between the brows, forehead wrinkles, and crow’s feet that branch out from the corners of the eyes. The repeated action of the skin being stretched and folded eventually causes lines to appear in certain areas. It’s common for dynamic wrinkles to appear for the first time during one’s twenties and thirties – they are usually the earliest visible effects of aging to show. Although skin products for reducing wrinkles can expensive, there are steps you can take to avoid them that are completely free. Here are some wrinkle causing habits that you should avoid if you want to preserve youthful skin.

• Squinting in Sunlight or While Reading

Don’t forget to wear sunglasses if you’re going outside to help you to reduce the need to squint. Wear eyeglasses if you’re squinting while reading or check your prescription if you need to. During squinting, your skin cells are being squeezed thousands of times.

• Drinking Out of Straws or Water Bottles

When you’re drinking out of a straw or bottle, there’s a movement around the mouth that can encourage collagen and elastin to break down at a faster rate, leading to wrinkles.

• Exaggerated Facial Movements

Be conscious of your facial posture. Avoid exaggerated expressions while exercising or taking photos.

For more advice about how you can reduce and prevent expression wrinkles with BOTOX®, contact our Toronto-based office of Dr. Wayne Carman Call us at (416) 322-7108 or submit a contact form online to request a consultation if you’d like to learn more about the advantages of temporary wrinkle injections for enhancing the skin.