Facelift Archives -

What Time Is The Right Time?

Having children is a highly personal choice for each woman, and it requires a great deal of thoughtful consideration. So are elective cosmetic procedures including plastic surgery. When it comes down to decision time, it is important for women to consider their plans for pregnancy in relation to cosmetic procedures. Timing, before or after childbirth, can significantly alter the results of plastic surgery.

Before or After Children? That is the question.

A common point of conflict for many women interested in elective cosmetic procedures is whether or not to have a procedure before or after having children. It is unreasonable to assume that women considering plastic surgery, universally, have or do not have plans for children. It’s equally absurd to believe all women who have plans for children do not also have plans for cosmetic surgery. To make such assumptions would be counterproductive and inappropriate. Instead, it’s important to focus on helping women understand all the potential risks and rewards and provide the necessary information to help make decisions in planning cosmetic procedures.

What You Do vs. When You Do It

The particular cosmetic procedure you are seeking makes all the difference when it comes to planning. Though the process of having a child does not affect all cosmetic procedures, we’ve debunked the myths and provided facts on three common surgeries:

Breast Augmentation – While you may have heard that breast augmentation can interfere with breastfeeding, Dr. Rubinstein assures his patients that they have alternate options. Modern incision techniques allow for full function of the breast even with augmentation. The important pregnancy-related consideration for planning your augmentation is the preservation of your results. The changes to the body during pregnancy and childbirth may cause permanent alterations to your augmentation.

Tummy Tuck – It is common to hear women plan for a tummy tuck after they have had children. It is a wise decision given that the weight gain and development of excess skin associated with the process of pregnancy can completely undo the results of a tummy tuck. To maximize the effectiveness of this procedure, women who are not done having children may want to reconsider for later.

Facial Plastic Surgery – Generally speaking, the results of facial plastic surgery will not be impacted by pregnancy or childbirth. Patients should, of course, consult their physician when planning any procedure. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Rubinstein today to learn more.

While there are many procedures and possible outcomes, what is most important for patients to understand is that timing is a highly personal decision.

There Is No Right Answer

For each woman, the decision to undergo elective cosmetic procedures must be made to suit her unique needs and desires. Electing to undergo the procedure before or after children may have an impact on the results, so it’s essential for women to learn all the facts about their cosmetic procedure and speak with Dr. Rubinstein about childbirth plans. Only you can decide when the time is right.

You spare no expense in buying the latest anti-aging creams and undergoing a variety of treatments. You love staying up-to-date on the latest anti-aging innovations, and there’s nothing you wouldn’t do to shave five or even ten years off your look. But will facial muscle exercises really make you look younger? Facial muscle exercises were really popular in the late eighties; and there seems to be a trend towards bringing them back in a big way. Face and neck exercises are becoming popular with trendy gyms, and you only need to stop at your local exercise store to find facial exercise DVDs. But are facial exercises actually working to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other tell-tale signs of aging? To put it simply, no. Don’t get lured in to the idea that making some funny faces and tensing your neck on a regular basis will rejuvenate your face and neck. In fact, the truth is that these exercises show little benefits in terms of eliminating wrinkles and getting rid of fine lines. So what makes facial muscles so different from other muscles within the body, which end up looking sleeker and stronger when you work them out? You use your facial muscles constantly, all day long. That means that you’re not in danger of suffering from sagging or weakening muscles. While your body muscles often become weaker with lack of use, facial muscles are used to help you smile, laugh, talk, and even blink. Therefore, your facial muscles don’t need additional exercise to stay healthy. Actually, repeating some kinds of muscle movements can even cause wrinkles and fine lines to get worse – and that’s exactly the opposite of what you want! If you have some loose or hanging skin in your face or neck don’t count on a trendy facial exercise regimen to make things better. You may want to consider some of the many options we offer in the office that can help turn the clock back. There are lots of non-surgical techniques to keep you looking young. And if you’re looking for a little more oomph you can consider some more advanced options. Either way, discuss your goals with a board certified plastic surgeon and don’t rely upon making funny faces to turn the clock back.