Category: Blog

Summertime is your time to get out there and have some fun. But summer is not the best time to undergo some plastic surgeries unless you want to spend your vacation time recuperating indoors.

Chemical peels and laser resurfacing are definitely not a good idea during the summer months. That’s because you should not expose treated areas to the sun for more than a month after laser resurfacing.

So, if you’d like to find out what cosmetic procedures won’t interfere with your summer plans, read on.

CoolSculpting®

How would you like to naturally get rid of fat without having to move a muscle? You can, with CoolSculpting®. This safe, non-invasive procedure works by freezing fat cells underneath the skin and it’s great for areas of stubborn fat like the love handles, thighs, abdomen, back and flanks.

Here’s how it works. CoolSculpting® safely delivers precisely controlled cooling to target the fat cells underneath the skin. Treated cells are crystallized and then die. Over time, your body naturally processes the fat and eliminates these dead cells, leaving your body more sculpted. The results are long-term because the procedure removes the fat cells for good without doing any damage to other healthy body cells. It is non-invasive and it leaves no scars.

There is little to no downtime after treatment, which is different from procedures like liposuction, which is performed under anesthesia and often has a lengthy recovery period. Some patients do experience minor swelling or soreness with CoolSculpting®, so you may need to put your exercise routine on pause for a couple of days.

Dermal Fillers and Injectables

Summertime is a great time to get rid of those lines and wrinkles. You can be treated with Botox® or dermal fillers and it won’t interfere with your summer plans. That’s because there is no downtime for recovery and you don’t have to stay indoors out of the sun to recuperate.

What’s the difference between fillers and Botox®? Have you asked yourself this question?

Let us start by saying that one is not better than the other – they are just used on different parts of the face for different things. Here’s the basic difference. Botox® relaxes the muscle movements that contract to produce wrinkles. Fillers replace volume loss, occupying the space where a wrinkle has formed. They are both good options for treating different problems.

About Botox®

Botox® is a muscle relaxer that is made from bacteria. It works to relax the muscles that deepen wrinkles but it does not add volume. Botox® is a quick, convenient and effective non-surgical remedy for stress and age-related facial lines and wrinkles. It is FDA-approved and entirely safe for cosmetic use. The effects of Botox® are clinically proven to last up to six three months.

Botox® is best used in the upper part of the face, (no coma) for wrinkles on the forehead, between the eye brows, and around the eyes. This is an effective treatment for crow’s feet around the eyes, horizontal worry lines on the forehead and vertical frown lines between the eyebrows.

Botox® injections typically takes less than a 1/2 hour or so to complete, making this procedure one of the most convenient and popular cosmetic treatments available.

About Fillers

Fillers have no muscle relaxing effect. They are used to add volume to the deep wrinkles or volume-depleted areas of the face. Fillers are best used in the lower part of the face – the cheeks, the nasal-labial folds and around the mouth. Filler can also be injected into the lips to add fullness.

There are different types of fillers, including Juvederm® Voluma, Vollure, and Vobella, which increase hydration in the skin. All fillers show immediate results with some improvement over time. The results of filler injections last longer than Botox®. Fillers can last up to one year or more, depending on the type of filler that is being used.

To find out more about Botox® or fillers contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Harold E. Beam, MD Plastic Surgery is located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, serving residents of Glastonbury, New Britain, Vernon, Tolland, and Hartford and surrounding areas.

 

During pregnancy your skin must stretch to accommodate a growing baby. But pregnancy can sometimes stretch the abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. When this happens, diet and exercise will not be enough to help you regain your pre-pregnancy body. You’re going to need a tummy tuck.

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. It can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen, but it will produce a permanent scar that will possibly run from hip to hip.

First, a horizontal incision is made just above the pubic area and a second incision is made around the belly button. Then the skin is lifted, separating it from the abdominal muscles.  If the muscles need to be repaired, Dr. Beam will repair them at the time of the procedure.  Excess fat deposits are removed along with excess skin. A new hole is made for the belly button and the skin is pulled back down over the abdomen.

After a tummy tuck, most patients experience bruising and swelling. You will need to wear a compression garment for approximately 2-4 weeks. You should plan to rest at least one week to 10 days before returning to work.

When Should I Have a Tummy Tuck?

Your body needs time to rebound after childbirth, so wait until after you are done breastfeeding to have your tummy tuck surgery. Also, we typically suggest that you wait until you are done having children.  That is because vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during the surgery can separate again during a subsequent pregnancy. If you have more children after having a tummy tuck you will simply undo all the work you’ve had done.

The tummy tuck is designed to sculpt your midsection, giving you a flatter, slimmer waistline. A tummy tuck cannot correct stretch marks, but the stretch marks may be removed or somewhat improved if they are located in the area of excess skin that will be removed during the tummy tuck surgery.

The final results of your tummy tuck surgery may be obscured at first by some swelling and the inability to stand fully upright until healing is complete, but afterward you will notice a firmer, flatter abdomen.

To find out if a tummy tuck is right for you, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Harold E. Beam, MD Plastic Surgery is located in Glastonbury,

Connecticut, serving residents of Glastonbury, New Britain, Hartford and surrounding areas.

Summertime is your time to get out there and have some fun. But summer is not the best time to undergo plastic surgery unless you want to spend your vacation time recuperating indoors. You may think that you can recuperate by the pool or in the backyard shade if you decide to have plastic surgery during the summer months, but this is not recommended because the heat and sun can cause prolonged post-op swelling.

Chemical peels and laser resurfacing are definitely not a good idea during the summer months. That’s because you should not expose treated areas to the sun for more than a month after laser resurfacing.

So, if you’d like to find out what cosmetic procedures won’t interfere with your summer plans, read on.

CoolSculpting®

How would you like to naturally get rid of fat without having to move a muscle? You can, with CoolSculpting®. This safe, non-invasive procedure works by freezing fat cells underneath the skin and it’s great for areas of stubborn fat like the love handles, thighs, abdomen, back and flanks.

Here’s how it works. CoolSculpting® safely delivers precisely controlled cooling to target the fat cells underneath the skin. Treated cells are crystallized and then die. Over time, your body naturally processes the fat and eliminates these dead cells, leaving your body more sculpted. The results are long-term because the procedure removes the fat cells for good without doing any damage to other healthy body cells. It is non-invasive and it leaves no scars.

There is little to no downtime after treatment, which is different from procedures like liposuction, which is performed under anesthesia and often has a lengthy recovery period. Some patients do experience minor swelling or soreness with CoolSculpting®, so you may need to put your exercise routine on pause for a couple of days.

Dermal Fillers and Injectables

Summertime is a great time to get rid of those lines and wrinkles. You can be treated with Botox® or dermal fillers and it won’t interfere with your summer plans. That’s because there is no downtime for recovery and you don’t have to stay indoors out of the sun to recuperate.

Botox® is one of the world’s most popular cosmetic procedures. It is safe and it can be done quickly with no downtime for recovery. This is a great choice for treating wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, or for crow’s feet around the eyes. The results are seen in 3-14 days and will last up to three to six months.

Dermal fillers can add volume to deep wrinkles or to areas of the face where volume is depleted. Dermal fillers are typically injected into the lower part of the face – the cheeks, the nasal-labial folds and the areas around the mouth. Fillers can also be injected into the lips for more fullness. The results are immediate and will last up to 6 months sometimes longer. There is no downtime for recovery but some people do get slight bruising.  We recommend that you do not take aspirin or ibuprofen 2 weeks prior to your injection to help eliminate bruising.

To find out if these cosmetic procedures are right for you, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Harold E. Beam, MD Plastic Surgery is located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, serving residents of Glastonbury, New Britain, Vernon, Tolland, Hartford and surrounding areas.

While breast augmentation continues to be the most popular plastic surgery in the U.S., many women want to reduce the size of their breasts or to reposition their breasts without making them larger.

So which procedure is right for you – breast reduction or a breast lift?

These procedures have several things in common as well as several differences. Both procedures are routine and most women who undergo these procedures are happy with the outcome.

The choice of which procedure to choose is based entirely on the result you want to achieve. To make the best possible decision for you, it is important to understand the difference between the two procedures.

Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery can reduce your breast size by removing excess breast tissue. This procedure removes the excess skin, fat and glandular tissue. The result is a breast size that is more desirable to the patient. It can also help to eliminate the pain and discomfort that often comes from large breasts.

To find out if a breast reduction is right for you, ask yourself a few questions.

• Are you bothered by the appearance of your large breasts?
• Do your breasts feel too heavy?
• Do you get grooves along your shoulders from wearing a bra?
• Are your breasts causing you to experience neck, back or shoulder pain?
• Do you get irritation under your breast crease?
• Do your breasts limit your physical activity?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, a breast reduction may be right for you.

Many times a breast reduction is covered under your insurance if you are having back, neck, shoulder and/or breast pain. You would need documentation indicating any pretreatment that you have had (ex: physical therapy, weight loss, seen a chiropractor…). We suggest that you contact your insurance company to see if a breast reduction surgery is covered under your policy and what is recommended prior to surgery to get the surgery covered.

Breast Lift

The objective of a breast lift is to improve the shape of the breasts, especially if they are sagging. This can happen from pregnancy, breastfeeding or aging. This procedure also corrects the position of the nipples when they are pointing downward.

Unlike a breast reduction, a breast lift does not make the breasts smaller. A breast lift repositions the breasts, raising and firming them. This is achieved by removing excess skin and tightening the tissue, resulting in firmer, higher, perkier breasts.

To determine if a breast lift is right for you, examine your breasts.

• Do they look elongated or flat?
• Do your nipples drop lower than your breast crease?
• Are your areolas or nipples pointing downward?

If you answered “yes,” a breast lift could be the answer.

Only your plastic surgeon can help you to determine what procedure is right for you. Schedule a consultation to discuss your issues.

To find out if a breast reduction or breast lift is right for you, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Harold E. Beam, MD Plastic Surgery is located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, serving residents of Glastonbury, New Britain, Hartford, Vernon, Tolland and surrounding areas.