Voted
Dr. Brown discusses the hottest plastic surgery procedures in the DMV, including Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting and PRP injections on Good Day DC.
Category: Uncategorized
The Impact of Animation Deformity on Quality of Life in Post-Mastectomy Reconstruction Patients
From The Aesthetic Surgery Journal
By Hilton Becker, Nicole Fregosi
Background: Animation deformity after subpectoral breast implant placement has been documented; however, the actual prevalence and effect on patient quality of life has not been studied much.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to show that all patients with subpectoral implants experience some degree of animation deformity and that it can affect their quality of life, including causing embarrassment and discomfort in reconstructed patients.
Methods: Patients who underwent breast implant surgery were contacted for inclusion in the study. Patients were obtained from a single surgeon’s practice but included patients operated on outside the practice, and those seen in the practice for a consultation. A six-item questionnaire was developed by the senior author (H.B.) and the medical student (N.F.) involved in the study, to assess quality of life related to animation deformity. Patients had their degree of animation deformity assessed by the senior author and a medical student.
Results: Of 25 patients who agreed to the questionnaire and assessment, 20% had grade I distortion, 44% grade II, 24% grade III, and 12% grade IV. Of the patients questioned, 80% were bothered by an animation deformity and 45% of those patients were bothered to a significant degree (≥6 out of 10). In addition, 48% of patients felt that the animation deformity interfered with their daily life, and 28% (7/25) of patients underwent, or were scheduled to undergo, revision of their reconstruction at the time of interview. The degree of the clinically observed animation deformity was correlated with patient dissatisfaction, with an R value of 0.47 (P value = 0.0145).
Conclusions: All patients with subpectoral implant positioning will experience some degree of animation deformity. Especially in the reconstructed breast population, animation deformity, and its severity, affects patients’ quality of life. Other approaches to reconstruction should be considered to prevent animation deformity in this population.
Read the original article here.
For more information regarding breast reconstructive surgery in the Washington DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia area, schedule a consultation with Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery.
Have you ever wanted to know more about Botox? In this post Dr. Brown answers the most common questions we get!
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about when to use Botox. We’ve heard and seen just about everything. Here, Dr. Brown sits down to answer the most common questions we get about Botox.
Q: When is the best age/time/signals you need to start considering Botox?
A:
As one might expect, people are very expressive, even in their sleep or just talking normally. The best time to start isn’t a specific age, but is when you notice that your expressiveness is leaving small creases in the skin.
It is easier to prevent than to correct, so patients are coming in earlier for preventative maintenance that keeps fine lines and wrinkles at bay for much longer. Coupled with good skin care and protection from environmental damage, the aged appearances of the past are becoming less frequent.
In our practice, most patients are in their 30s to 60s, with the bulk in the 40-55 range; I think it’s trending lower as more people realize it’s easier to prevent than to correct, so patients in their late 20s and early 30s are coming in, but maybe every 6 months instead of every 3-4.
Q: How should a patient consider using Botox in their 20s/30s/40s and so on?
A:
• 20s: It’s more preventative, so consider having it every 4-6 months
• 30s: You’re starting to correct wrinkles that show without moving, and these patients typically need it every 4 months
• 40s: This is more of a combination age, and these patients may need additional correction in the realm of skin care/PRP/etc; maybe having their eyes done and so forth to really help freshen the appearance
• 50s and up: This age starts to err more in the direction of correction (surgery) and Botox is more “icing on the cake” so to speak.
Q: Does it just work on the forehead and crow’s feet? Or are there other uses to consider?
A:
For me, the vast majority get it between the eyes and on the crow’s feet; next is the forehead and then ancillary areas such as the corners of the mouth, the bunny lines on sides of nose, neck bands and more. If you’re concerned about a particular set of wrinkles you’ve noticed and wonder if Botox is the right treatment, you should set up a consultation to discuss your specific needs.
Q: What gives some people the droopy eye and /or frozen look? How do you make sure you avoid having that happen?
A:
The tendency to treat fully the forehead lines allows the brow to drop, thereby giving the eyes a tired/droopy and frozen look. I go lighter on the forehead for this very reason; balance it with the elevation from the frown lines and the crow’s feet and it looks more natural.
Although we aim to get a perfect result every time, it’s often better to under correct as you can always add more if needed.
Q: At other med spas we’ve seen it as common practice to do big shots that leave us with a headache and the ‘mosquito bite’ telltale sign. Can you explain your approach?
A:
Every doctor has their own way but we use one of the smallest needles available and perform more precise injections in the muscle versus larger amounts; while there is always a chance to have a bruise or achy spot, using these techniques coupled with the application of ice minimizes our patients discomfort.
Q: How long do the results last?
A:
Results last about 4-6 months in certain areas, some people burn it off quicker; most patients return every 3-4 months.
We provide Botox to patients in the Washington, DC, Chevy Chase, MD and Norther Virginia area.
Are you interested in a consultation?
Click here!
DC Liposuction and Mommy Makeovers
If you are concerned about the effects pregnancy has had on your body, you may want to consider a mommy makeover. Using a series of body contouring procedures, the Washington DC surgeons at Chevy Chase Plastic Surgery can reshape and restore your body to its pre-pregnancy youth and vitality.
Liposuction is often one of the key procedures included in a mommy makeover. After pregnancy, many women find themselves dealing with stubborn deposits of fat on their:
- Abdomen
- Thighs
- Back
- Neck
- Face
These deposits of fat are sometimes resistant to diet and exercise. You can do everything right and still find yourself with fat you don’t want. That’s where liposuction as part of a mommy makeover comes in.
We can remove these deposits of fat using some of the most advanced liposuction techniques, each of which has an excellent safety record. When combined with a tummy tuck and/or breast surgery, liposuction as part of a mommy makeover can give you a tight, taut, attractive body shape.
If you live in the Washington DC area and you want to learn more about what’s involved in a mommy makeover, please contact Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation.
Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery specializes in top mommy makeovers DC and DC Liposuction.
One Real Life DC Lipo Experience
Read one patient’s story about her DC Liposuction journey:
Why I Considered Liposuction in DC
Here’s my back story: I was cursed with saddlebags. Even as a skinny, awkward teen, I was a size 3 on the top and 5 on the bottom.
15 years and 20 pounds later my thighs certainly haven’t gotten any better. Pencil skirts and skinny jeans? Forget it.
Why I chose Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery
I did a LOT of research online, asked friends and read reviews. I had consultations at two places, and decided on Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery. Their reputation is superb, the staff is funny and kind, and the doctors make you feel incredibly safe in their hands.
The Consultation
For plastic surgery novices like me, here’s how it goes:
• Talk to a friendly medical assistant about what you’re thinking
• Put on a robe
• Talk to the doctor about your goals
• Take the robe off so the doctor can see your problem zones
• Take some ‘before’ photos (your choice- I definitely wanted to see the before & after!)
• Re-robe and talk about the procedure and the doctor’s recommendations
• Ask any questions you may have- (As a side note, the consultation is free and they will email you a quote afterwards. I never, ever felt pressured.)
My questions were:
Q: How long until I can work out?
A: A couple days
Post procedure thought: While definitely true that you can, I didn’t feel up to it for about 4 days.
Q: How long until I can fly?
A: A couple days
Post procedure thought: You’re up and moving, but if you’ve had anything you need to sit on done, I think you’d be uncomfortable for about a week.
Q: How much does it hurt?
A: Not much at all- we’ll do everything we can to make you comfortable.
Post procedure thought: This is true. I’ll get to specifics below.
Q: How much time should I take off work?
A: Take the day after off- you can work from home, but you’ll be a little sore.
Post procedure thought: This was good advice as I definitely wasn’t up to going to the office the day after.
Liposuction Procedure Prep:
Nearly none. I took the afternoon and the following day off work. They’ll tell you roughly how long the procedure will take, so I had someone waiting to pick me up.
The DC Liposuction Procedure:
First, you put on a little blue paper underwear and a robe. The doctor comes in to re-discuss what you’re going to do and to give you the calming meds if you want them. (As discussed, no question. Of course I want them.)
From there, you walk to the procedure room and it’s go time. You get on what is essentially a hospital bed and they cover the areas that aren’t being worked on. You also get to keep your little blue underwear on, so I never really felt exposed.
Immediately post-procedure and recovery:
As soon as you finish, you have to put on compression pants. You will wear these for two infernal, seemingly endless weeks. I found myself taking longer showers to delay putting them back on.
They are like super-reinforced Spanx and they’re pretty tight so the medical assistant had to help me get them on. Somewhat ridiculously, this is probably the worst part of the procedure.
You’re fairly drugged when you leave and get a few more pain pills for the road. It’s sore but manageable. I walked up three flights of stairs about 90 minutes after the procedure finished.
Post-procedure pain scale: 4 out of 10
Day 1:
By far your worst day. Because of the area I had done, it felt like I did 500 squats the day before. Manageable, but not comfortable, and you’ll likely make a lot of noise getting in and out of chairs.
Pain scale: 5/6 out of 10 without Tylenol, 3/4 out of 10 with Tylenol
Bruising factor: Very little- but watch out, it’s coming.
Days 2-5:
Significantly decreasing soreness each day. On day 2, I went grocery shopping. I was definitely walking a little slower than normal, but it wasn’t that bad.
The worst part of this timeframe is definitely the compression shorts. The medical assistant told me that I should probably have my husband ready to help me if I took a shower early on, but I refused to let him see the bruising and marks, so I struggled through. I’d highly recommend not showering if at all possible until day 4 because taking the shorts on and off is by far the most painful part of the entire process. Again, expect to make some noises doing this.
Pain scale: Decreasing daily- I’d say about a 4 without Tylenol
Bruising factor: Pretty spectacular. You probably haven’t seen bruises like this since you were a kid learning how to rollerblade.
Days 6-7:
Very localized pain, and only when going up the stairs.
Pain scale: 2. I stopped taking Tylenol on day 5 and was fine.
Bruising factor: About half gone one-week post-procedure
Day 9:
Residual swelling, but no pain at all.
Day 14: Post-procedure visit
Celebration! This was the last day of the compression shorts. The bruises were pretty much gone, but I still had ‘staining’. The doctor estimated another couple of weeks before it cleared up and I would say that was spot on.
2-3 months:
Seeing complete results, which is so exciting! I think I saw about 85% of the total results after a month, but not 100% until about two and a half months in.
My Liposuction Results:
I went down an entire pant size, but, perhaps more important than that, the entire ‘size’ came out of my problem zone! Liposuction is more about sculpting and less about weight loss (I only dropped 2 pounds in total).
I went through my closet and put on all those things I loved but didn’t look great in and they suddenly worked. (I am not joking- I did this about 5 hours after the procedure).
I bought my first pair of skinny jeans and didn’t feel dumpy. I used to avoid pants (a serious pain in our snowy winters) and now I look in the mirror while wearing jeans and think I look good!
All in all, this is some of the best money I have ever spent on myself. Truly.
My only regret?
Waiting for years to make the decision.
So, to those of you that work out, eat decently(-ish), and have a problem area that just. won’t. die., I could not recommend this more. Very little pain, very quick healing, and an increase in self-confidence and happiness that will surprise you.
Good luck!
Are you interested in what DC Liposuction can do for you?
Get Your Holiday Glow Ready! Special offers on Micro-needling with PRP and ALL Injectables and Fillers!
THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED.
They’ll never suspect you stayed up all night cooking the turkey.
15% OFF ALL INJECTABLES AND FILLERS:
Botox– Diminishes fine lines and active wrinkles
Juvederm & Voluma – Increases facial volume, smooths wrinkles and reduces fine lines
Juvederm Volbella – created specifically for the lip and mouth area, provides a softer filler for lips and perioral age lines
FREE IPL photofacial with any Micro-needling with PRP (aka the ‘Vampire Facial’) package!
Micro-needling Therapy is a non-invasive procedure that triggers the body’s natural healing process by producing new collagen and elastin and improving the blood supply. Combined with the body’s own PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) the healing process increases significantly and virtually eliminates side effects.
$99 Introductory Offer —- Customizable Smart Peel with Signature Facial ($200 value)
- perfect for first-time peel patients
- requires no downtime or aftercare
- specially formulated for your specific skin type
- minimize fine lines, encourage new cell regeneration, increase hydration, and produce a more even skin tone and texture
Sara, our skin care specialist, makes continuing education a priority, and is always up to date on the newest advances in medical aesthetics. She looks forward to getting to know our patients to help them on their journey to beautiful, healthy skin.
(301) 215-5955
These appointments go fast! Schedule your consultation today!
Have you heard about Micro-needling with PRP? This ‘Vampire Facial’ will blow you away.
Am I a candidate for Micro-needling with PRP?
If you experience fine lines and wrinkles, you may want to consider the micro-needling procedure to reduce the signs of aging.
Micro-needling Therapy is a non-invasive procedure that triggers the body’s natural healing process by producing new collagen and elastin and improving the blood supply. Combined with the body’s own PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) the healing process increases significantly and virtually eliminating side effects.
Why Should I Consider Micro-needling?
Micro-needling can penetrate the top layer of skin while leaving it undamaged. Micro-needling will trigger the bodies repair process until the desired level of skin rejuvenation is reached. The results are remarkable and can last up to a year post micro-needling session. The most appealing aspect of micro-needling is that it is safe to use on almost all skin types and has very little downtime.
Micro-needling Special Offer – Get ready for the holidays! (Good through end of 2016)
Micro-needling is perfect for a holiday boost which is why Bruno|Brown is offering a free IPL photofacial with the purchase of a micro-needling with PRP package. Just mention this ad when you book! THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED.
For more information regarding Micro-needling with PRP in the DC area, schedule a consultation with Sara at Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery today.
The Bottom Line on Brazilian Butt Lifts
The Brazilian butt lift is designed to increase the volume and shape of your backside. Ultimately, you will notice the following benefits:
- Firms and tightens the buttocks
- Lifts the cheeks for a rounder, more perky appearance
Drs. Brown and Bruno will work with you to determine the ideal look, shape, and size you would like to achieve. In this meeting, the doctors will help you evaluate the following:
- How to determine exact specifications to achieve your desired look
- Your lifestyle, including activity and hobbies that may be impacted by this procedure.
This procedure uses Advanced Technique Fat Transfer to achieve your desired look. Fat grafting suctions fat from a donor site and is quickly processed for re-injection. This removed fat will be carefully injected into strategic areas of the buttocks.
For more information regarding our Brazilian butt lift procedure in Washington DC schedule a consultation with Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery today.
Am I Ready for a Mommy Makeover?
Mommy Makeovers in Chevy Chase, DC, Virginia
While motherhood is an exciting time for women, pregnancy and breastfeeding can affect your body in ways that may be difficult to combat with dieting and exercise. Fortunately, a mommy makeover can help you achieve the look you desire by targeting problem areas around your stomach and breasts.
The mommy makeover is generally customized for each mother and can include any number of the following:
A well-designed mommy makeover can leave you feeling and looking your best. The benefits of this procedure will help you get your body back.
- Removes excess, loose, or hanging skin, which may be the result of weight loss or pregnancy
- Enhances the breasts
- Reduces stretch marks
If you’re ready to rejuvenate your body and revive your youthful appearance, take the first step and learn about our mommy makeovers. To find out if the mommy makeover procedure is right for you, or for more information regarding our mommy makeover procedures in Washington DC schedule a consultation with Bruno | Brown Plastic Surgery today.
Breast Augmentation: What You Need to Know
If you’re feeling self-conscious about the size or shape of your breasts, you may want to consider breast augmentation. Breast augmentation can increase the fullness, symmetry and projection of your breasts to create the look you desire.
We offer several different types of breast augmentation, including the following:
Breast Augmentation: This procedure allows women to choose from saline implants, silicone implants and cohesive gel (“gummy bear”) implants.
• Increases breast symmetry and projection
• Increases and reshapes cleavage
• Returns breast volume and shape lost after aging, pregnancy, or weight loss
Breast augmentation with fat grafting: Patients who would prefer not to use silicone or saline implants might want to consider breast augmentation with fat grating. This procedure increases breast symmetry, projection, and fullness while also doing the following:
• Targets unwanted fatty deposits
• Returns breast volume and shape typically lost after aging, pregnancy, or weight loss
Breast lift: Don’t let the fear of aging take away your self-confidence. This procedure reduces the appearance of aging on dropping breasts by restoring a youthful, perky chest.
• Improves position of the breast and breast symmetry
• Can restore cleavage
• Tightens the breast skin and shape
Every woman is different which is why Dr. Bruno and Dr. Brown will work closely with you to achieve results you’ll love. At Bruno|Brown, our patient’s experience is just as important as the surgical result.
Are you a candidate for breast augmentation? You might be if you meet the following requirements:
• Are at least 18
• Are interested in breast enhancement
• Have breast asymmetry
• Are not currently pregnant or nursing
• Are in good health
For more information regarding our breast augmentation procedures in Washington DC, or to find out which breast procedure is right for you, schedule a consultation with Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery today.
