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Breast Uplift Surgery (Mastopexy) – Is It Right For You?

Posted on November 17, 2017November 17, 2020 by admin

Breast uplift surgery is designed to help those women whose breasts have sagged, either as part of the natural ageing process – sadly, gravity takes its toll on our bodies as well as our faces – or as a result of childbearing or weight loss.

What is it?

A mastopexy is aimed at lifting and recontouring the breasts to a more youthful shape and position.This usually involves repositioning the nipples and might also include Breast Augmentation Surgery (p 63) or Breast Reduction Surgery (p 65), depending on what your breasts look like to start with and the results you are trying to achieve.

Who is suitable?

You will need to undergo a thorough consultation to assess whether you are a suitable candidate. There are several different options depending on the degree of
sagging. The technical term for sagging is ‘ptosis’ and in breast uplift surgery the degree of ptosis is graded according to the distance between the nipple and the crease of the breast. In grade one, the nipple is about level with the crease; in grade two, the nipple is less than three centimetres below the crease and in grade three cases, it is more than three centimetres below the crease.
The surgeon will assess what grade of ptosis is present at the consultation and will then tell you which technique is most suitable for you. If you have only very mild sagging, you may only need a Breast Augmentation (p 63), but this will only lift the breasts by one to two centimetres and won’t halt further drooping as you age.

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What is mummy makeover surgery?

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Gary Ross

Discover what body contouring procedures are part of mummy makeover surgery

Mummy makeover surgery alludes to the combination of several surgical body contouring procedures designed to rejuvenate the body.

Most commonly this form of rejuvenation surgery includes a form of abdominoplasty (also know as the tummy tuck surgery) and fat removal, plus breast rejuvenation surgery of some kind. This can include mastopexy (breast uplift surgery) or breast augmentation surgery – with or without implants.

Not just for women seeking to improve their physical appearance post-pregnancy, multiple-procedure plans can also help women who may have lost a substantial amount of weight or are unhappy with the effects of the ageing process.

Mr Gary Ross is an expert in this field of cosmetic surgery and assists patients from across Manchester including areas such as Cheshire, Altrincham, Wirral, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Nantwich, Sale, Prestwich and Whitefield looking to combine abdominoplasty and tummy tuck surgery variations with breast rejuvenation surgery.

Which specific procedures will this surgery include?

This is an entirely individual and bespoke form of body contouring surgery, and therefore there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to undergoing a mummy makeover Manchester. Mr Ross tailors a treatment plan to maximise the surgical outcomes with the aim of improving the way a patient looks on the outside and feels on the inside.

Which combination of body reshaping and breast rejuvenation surgery procedures undertaken as part of a mummy makeover Manchester is determined during a consultation. This informal meeting with your plastic surgeon is designed to allow you to voice your concerns and receive some expert advice.

A mummy makeover Manchester can include several body contouring procedures including abdominoplasty; a surgical procedure know more commonly as tummy tuck surgery designed to reduce excess skin and fat as well as repair damaged or separated muscles where necessary.

Tummy tuck surgery as part of a mummy makeover

– There are several variations of abdominoplasty including ‘mini tummy tuck’ surgery options, so you can be sure Mr Ross will tailor a plan to directly tackle specific issues.

– Abdominoplasty forms part of a mummy makeover surgery because it helps to reduce excess skin, remove stretch marks and improve the overall contours of the mid section.

– A scar is inevitable, however, most prospective patients agree this is preferable to sagging, hanging skin that may occur due to pregnancy or significant weight loss.

Breast rejuvenation surgery as part of a mummy makeover

– Which form of breast surgery a patient requires depends on the specific concerns they present with. As part of mummy makeover surgery, mastopexy (breast uplift surgery) and breast augmentation may be offered.

– Breast uplift surgery is the most common procedure as part of mummy makeover surgery because it’s specifically designed to lift the breasts up, removing excess skin if needed. The nipple is usually repositioned and breast implants can be utilised during the same breast rejuvenation surgery procedure.

– Alternative options to breast uplift surgery include breast reduction and breast augmentation; this usually includes implants to improve volume which may have been lost due to breast feeding, weight loss or ageing.

Other body contouring procedures that are considered as part of mummy makeover surgery can include thigh lift surgery, brachioplasty (an arm lift to remove excess skin or reduce bingo wings) and full body lifting.

We help patients based in Manchester as well as surrounding areas including Cheshire, Altrincham, Wirral, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Nantwich, Sale, Prestwich and Whitefield. Call the clinic today on 0161 4014064 if you wish to learn more about this type of cosmetic surgery; alternatively you’ll find extensive information on the mummy makeover page.

Cosmetic Surgery and Body Image. A Public Health epidemic?

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Gary Ross

The reasons for patients wishing to undergo cosmetic surgery are complex. Although cosmetic surgery can improve quality of life and can help improve ones body image, patients should only consider cosmetic surgery after carefully considering the pros and cons and risks. It is also imperative that potential patients have realistic expectations and aspirations.

Patients must be fully informed and others should not influence decisions. Increasingly decisions to proceed are being made based on body image “norms” that have been created by fiends on social media and through aspirational peers within the media that may influence their decisions.

A new survey for the 2017 Dove Global Girls Beauty and Confidence Report, interviewed 5,165 girls aged 10 to 17 in 14 countries and showed that over 50% of girls had low body esteem. Having a negative body image was also linked to negative health effects.

The Dove “Real Truth About Beauty Revisited” also highlighted that only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful.

The negative self esteem of not feeling “normal” or similar to friends or peers can affect ones own body image and lead patients to explore cosmetic surgery.

The evidence would suggest that the prevalence of negative body image is increasing and there are increasingly more women looking to alter their body in an attempt to conform to a social “norm”.

Sadly advertisements and social media that are altering our perception of reality are affecting the social norm.

Although we have recently seen a move in Israel and France to reduce the use of overly thin models and a move to limit the prevalence of “photo shopped” or altered images within the media we have a long way to go to stop the epidemic that is upon us.

Within my own cosmetic surgery practice I now only offer cosmetic surgery to less than 30% of patients I consult with. I have seen a dramatic increase in very beautiful women with low self esteem who are incredibly vulnerable. More and more I am telling patients “the perception of yourself is not how others would perceive you”.

Sadly, it is very difficult to build self esteem when it has been negatively affected throughout childhood and cosmetic surgery is rarely the cure.

Prevention of a negative body esteem is undoubtedly a public health issue that threatens our society unless addressed urgently.

Rejuvenate the body with mummy makeover surgery

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Gary Ross

How would mummy makeover surgery improve your self-esteem?

For women seeking to improve their self-esteem post pregnancy, mummy makeover surgery can offer life-changing results, both physically and mentally.

Surgical body contouring procedures can be combined to improve the appearance of areas of the body most commonly affected when pregnant; in most cases this includes both the abdomen and the breasts. Breast rejuvenation, breast uplift and tummy tuck surgery can all be offered as part of one surgical visit, making this form of cosmetic surgery increasingly popular.

Mr. Ross is a body contouring surgery expert in Manchester, helping patients from across the region in areas including Cheshire, Altrincham, Wirral, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Nantwich, Sale, Prestwich and Whitefield look and feel fantastic again.

Who is mummy makeover surgery suitable for?

Pregnancy can take its toll on a woman’s body, affecting both the skin quality and the tightness of muscles. Regardless of how trim or ‘in shape’ a patient may have been before having a baby, the process of gaining and losing weight, as well as breast feeding, can leave the body looking remarkably different.

Of course, this can impact someone’s self-esteem leading to unhappiness – but there are body contouring options that can help. For women unhappy with the appearance of loose skin on the abdomen or empty, sagging breasts post-pregnancy (or alternatively due to the ageing process) Mr. Gary Ross offers a combination of procedures known collectively as mummy makeover surgery.

What is involved in combination body lift surgery?

Designed to surgically improve these aesthetic concerns and boost self-esteem, procedures can include abdominoplasty, liposuction and fat removal, breast augmentation, breasy rejuvenation and mastopexy/breast uplift.

Each surgical procedure offered as part of combination surgery offers patients a different aesthetic resolution, and Mr. Ross will tailor the surgical solutions to ensure your specific goals and issues are addressed.

Tummy tuck surgery: During an abdominoplasty several issues can be improved; excess skin and fat can be reduced, the abdominal wall muscles can be tightened, and – if required – hernias can be addressed. In terms of skin rejuvenation in this area, stretch marks can also be removed or the appearance improved. Abdominoplasty (also known as a tummy tuck surgery) is an effective form of cosmetic surgery that offers long term results.

Breast rejuvenation: For lifting and improving volume in the breasts, mastopexy/breast uplift or breast augmentation can be considered as part of the breast rejuvenation side of mummy makeover surgery. The position, shape and volume of the breasts can change during and after pregnancy, and each concern can be corrected during breast surgery.

A proportion of women will require a breast uplift whilst others may need mastopexy plus breast implants to address volume loss or to increase breast size. In some cases the nipple will need to be repositioned during breast rejuvenation surgery, which is discussed during your consultation.

Things to consider before undergoing surgery

Whether you choose to undergo breast uplift or other breast rejuvenation surgery procedures with a tummy tuck there are some things to consider before committing to undergoing cosmetic surgery. Scaring is to be expected with procedures such as abdominoplasty and breast rejuvenation procedures including mastopexy or breast uplift, but most women choosing this form of cosmetic surgery agree that this is a reasonable trade off for improved self-esteem and body confidence. The recovery process can also be demanding and you will require time away from work.

A consultation is required to determine suitability and every patient is given a bespoke treatment plan designed for their specific concerns. During a consultation you will also learn about the risks associated with the procedures involved, such as tummy tuck surgery and breast rejuvenation, and you’ll given time to consider your options before committing to mummy makeover surgery.

More information on mummy makeover surgery

You can improve your self-esteem and rejuvenate the body with a combination of body lift, tummy tuck and breast rejuvenation procedures. For more information about undergoing body contouring procedures such as tummy tuck surgery and breast uplift, or to book a consultation to discuss your needs, please contact the team on 0161 4014064.

Prospective patients from Manchester, and surrounding areas including Cheshire, Altrincham, Wirral, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Nantwich, Sale, Prestwich and Whitefield, can also find out more detailed information about this type of cosmetic surgery via the Mummy Makeover page.

Communicating with Patients Throughout the Surgical Journey

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Gary Ross

I recently consulted with a patient that underwent the removal of a lipoma from her shoulder performed by another surgeon at a different hospital. The surgery had only been performed 2 weeks previously.

She described attending her postop consultation, 48 hours previously, with her original surgeon and expressing concern about the appearance of her scar. She quoted that her surgeon’s response to her concern in relation to the appearance of the scar was “that’s the price you have to pay”. Following a series of email exchanges it was clear that the doctor patient relationship had broken down. Throughout the consultation with myself she was tearful and emotionally distraught.

Having examined the scar it was clear that the surgeon, having removed the lipoma, had opted not to remove the excess skin of the shoulder and had opted to approximate the deeper tissues that resulted in a degree of skin excess. The excess skin was prominent above the skin surface and it was the skin excess that was causing her the concern. The actual superficial scar had been sutured perfectly and looked to be well healed.

I explained the role of dissolvable stitches and how the scar would flatten with time. I showed her examples of how scar’s matured over time and how excess skin would flatten. I also explained that on the shoulder, which is a very mobile area, that excising the excess skin may have eventually led to a more stretched scar and in fact her original surgeon had likely technically performed the ideal operation.

What struck me most about this was that although an optimal operation had been performed the patient not only felt that she had not achieved the optimal outcome but no longer trusted either the surgeon or the hospital in which the procedure had been performed. Not only did she not trust the original surgeon but she had consulted with myself as a second opinion as she had convinced herself that the surgery had been performed negligently and that she needed urgent revisionary surgery.

It is very unlikely that this lady will ever consult with her original surgeon again and the negative impact of her journey has affected not only her but also her family and friends. Increasingly negative experiences are being detailed through social media and on line reviews leading to reputational damage to individuals and organisations.

As surgeons we need to be aware that the technical aspects of surgery are only a very small part of the patient journey and that providing information and empathising with patients throughout the journey both preoperatively / postoperatively is imperative in delivering the optimal outcome.

Although performing an optimal technical operation is what we aim to achieve surgically what we must focus on the needs of the patient and what will make them happy. In order to improve quality of care surgeons must engage with patient feedback and patient outcome measures in order to reflect on what aspects of their practices can be improved.

Why You Should Quit Smoking Before Surgery

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Gary Ross

Smoking and Surgery

To quit smoking, in general, is difficult but quitting before surgery, and continuing to refrain post-surgery, can make dramatic differences to your recovery and is one of the most beneficial changes any patient can make. Giving up the habit is a smart decision no matter what the circumstances are as there are so many positive impacts to your health. If you quit smoking before surgery, it can also significantly decrease the risk of complications for patients during and after surgery. Smokers are forever being inundated with information about the health risks of smoking, however, the benefits to your health by quitting prior to surgery are immediate and substantial.

When to Quit Smoking Before Surgery

With each passing smoke-free day, the overall risk of complications lessens. The earlier a smoker can quit, prior to surgery, the better. Even 12 hours prior to surgery, patients have noticed a difference when abstaining from smoking. Mr Ross advises his patients to have stopped smoking for a minimum of 6 weeks prior to surgery and quitting smoking for this long will have dramatic effects on your health and recovery.

8 weeks before surgery: the risk of clot-related problems decrease (i.e. heart attack and stroke), the body’s immunity will improve which decreases the risk of infection and the response to anaesthetic medications also improves.
3 weeks before surgery: the wound healing time is quicker.
2 weeks before surgery: less breathing problems will occur during surgery.
12 hours before surgery: improved oxygenation, blood pressure and heart rate.

A smoker’s cough can disrupt the abdominal healing of a tummy tuck, breast reconstruction complication rates are significantly increased by smoking and after breast reduction, healing of surgical wounds can be impaired. Smokers undergoing facelift procedures are 13 times more likely to experience skin necrosis compared to non-smokers. They also face a higher risk of a hematoma (bleeding) after surgery.

In general, being a non-smoker or giving up smoking is a key eligibility criterion for candidacy in all surgical procedures.

After Surgery

Continuing to abstain after surgery will improve recovery time and continue to decrease the risk of complications. It is found that by refraining from smoking after surgery – wound healing is improved; the risk of pneumonia is decreased and overall recovery time is minimized.

How to Quit Smoking

Quitting is not easy but the long-term results and effects make it completely worthwhile. For many people going ‘cold turkey’ is the best way for them to give up smoking, without the use of patches or similar products. Some find nicotine replacements effective, this is where nicotine can be obtained from a source other than cigarettes, such as nicotine gum, patches, lozenges and nasal sprays.
Long-term, the benefits of continuing life as a non-smoker are enormous, decreasing the risk of cancer, severe breathing problems, heart problems and early death from other causes.

Mr Ross always discusses the pros and cons of surgery with his patients, and if you are a smoker Mr Ross will be very clear on when you need to stop smoking before surgery, and if you want to carry on smoking after you have had surgery he will make it clear when it is safe to do so. To discuss any cosmetic surgery options with Mr Ross, book in for a consultation.

MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine. Improving quality of practice and making things better.

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Gary Ross

By Ben Chun Man Lee, Arshid Hussein Nabila Muzaffar Rajani Nalluri Gillian Yates

Has your cosmetic provider got a university degree or done a one day course?

The MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine at the University of Manchester is an intensive course that looks at all aspects of skin science and skin aging. Selection is competitive and the aim is to train future leaders in aesthetic practice by offering a high quality programme at an internationally recognized institution. A basic requirement is a medical or dental degree. Over three years only the best will succeed and will be able to apply these enhanced knowledge and skills in helping to empower patients.

MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine is a patient focused course and you obtain a perspective in the whole field of aesthetics enabling you to deliver an unbiased overview and deliver evidence based care. So what that means for you as a patient by choosing a practitioner with an MSc in skin aging – you will be given the most appropriate treatment options for your aesthetic and cosmetic concerns.

MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine is a programme taught by experts across all fields including dermatologists, plastic surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, maxillo-facial surgeons, dentists and psychologists in addition to skin ageing and wound research basic scientists.

MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine offers a unique perspective and allows you to be able to discuss the pros and cons of the various treatment options.

Looking youthful is a social requirement and is in increasing demand. Avoiding the pitfalls is essential. If you want the best quality look for a dedicated professional. When it comes to your face quality should be your priority.

Further details regarding the MSc in Skin Aging at the University of Manchester are available at:-
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/09805/msc-skin-ageing-and-aesthetic-medicine/course-details/

Five good reasons to demand your clinician should have an MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Gary Ross

By Deirdre Jones, Clare Kiely Tristan Mehta, Richard Morgan, Pavan Sambi, Jinah Yoo

Did you know that fillers can cause blindness?

Has your cosmetic practitioner every heard of central retinal artery?

Have you heard of the use of hyalase in cosmetic medicine?

Do you know what a granulomatous reaction is?

Is your practitioner insured?

The answer to these questions is likely to be no.

More and more people are looking to enhance their cosmetic appearance but what do they know about the skills and training of the practitioner. Do you know of the life changing possibilities of the treatments that you are receiving? Are you able to differentiate between practitioners?

The MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine at the University of Manchester is a unique industry-leading course, which develops advanced skills and knowledge required to deliver clinical excellence and improve patient safety.

The MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine led by an international faculty of dermatologists, plastic surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, maxillo-facial surgeons, dentists and psychologists in addition to skin ageing and wound research basic scientists. It aims to deliver evidence based care in cosmetic practice.

Participants in the MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine are trained in how to provide optimal outcomes for patients, understanding how to manage patient expectations and to provide a holistic approach to individualised care.

The MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine may perform the basis of Mandatory regulation, raising standards within Health Education England. This may lead to a public register of qualified practitioners to acknowledge all practitioners who have a postgraduate qualification in aesthetics.

Further details regarding the MSc in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine at the University of Manchester are available at:- https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/09805/msc-skin-ageing-and-aesthetic-medicine/course-details/

Could ‘bone lifts’ be the future of age-defying cosmetic treatments.

Posted on November 19, 2015November 20, 2020 by admin

As we get old, it’s not just our skin that sags, facial bones shift and droop with time, too.

Now scientists from the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, USA, have, for the first time, mapped these bony ageing changes in detail.

And they conclude that both medicines and ‘mechanical devices’ could allow surgeons not just to treat the symptoms, but to prevent these ‘facial skeleton changes’ from occurring in the first place.

Lead researcher Boris Paskhover, of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, says the venture could open a ‘whole new paradigm in facial ageing prevention.’

He studied a group of fourteen patients, aged between 40 and 55.

Over the course of eight years the patients underwent repeated facial imaging that included the entire mid-face and cranium.

He says skeletal changes were found to occur in the exact regions where cosmetic surgery is popular – around the cheeks, eyebrows, eye socket and forehead.

Dr Paskhover also noted decreases in three important angles used to measure facial geometry, as the facial bones appears to shift and tilt forwards, creating a more aged look.

He adds: “These bony changes likely contribute to the appearance of many common mid-face ageing changes, such as prominent nasolabial folds, facial hollowing, loss of dentition, and the senile nose.

“Ultimately, defining a methodology to longitudinally document the 3-D patterns and timing of facial skeletal ageing changes will allow us to objectively test specific treatments aimed at slowing or reversing these bony ageing changes.

“The timing of when intervention can be helpful can also be defined.

“Treatments already in use for osteoporosis such as hormone modulators, bisphosphonates, or calcitonin may be effective for ageing.

“Mechanical devices used in orthopedics and orthodontics, as well as novel pharmaceutical approaches, may allow us not only to treat but also to prevent these facial skeletal changes from occurring, opening up a whole new paradigm in facial ageing prevention.”

Leading UK cosmetic surgeon Gary Ross, based in Manchester, welcomed the new research, saying it promised to open-up new avenues of possibility when it comes to facial rejuvenation surgery.

Mr Ross, who recently became the first plastic surgeon to be officially certified by the Royal College of Surgeons professional standards system, said: “Certainly, we are aware of the ageing of the facial skeleton, the apparent growth of cartilage and the descent and reduction in volume of the soft tissues.

“Although implants and enhancement of the areas overlying the bony skeleton have been the mainstay of facial ageing there may be newer innovative mechanical devices and pharmacological treatments targeted at bony rejuvenation therapies that are worth exploring further.

“Cosmetic orthodontics and manipulation of the bony skeleton is a rapidly expanding field in facial rejuvenation surgery.

“Having read this new paper. I would be particularly interested to look at facial ageing in patients already undergoing treatments for osteoporosis, such as hormone modulators, bisphosphonates, or calcitonin and compare facial ageing against those not undergoing treatments.

“This may give us some insight into whether these pharmacological treatments may open a new paradigm in facial ageing prevention.”

Reference

Patterns of Change in Facial Skeletal Aging.

Paskhover B, Durand D, Kamen E, Gordon NA.

JAMA Facial Plast Surg. 2017 Aug 10.

The full article was published in the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4792038/Bone-lifts-future-cosmetic-treatments.html

Body Dysmorphia And The Role It Plays In Cosmetic Surgery

Posted on November 19, 2015November 20, 2020 by admin

Many of us have a different, and often more critical view of ourselves than how others perceive us. This is also very true of how we feel about the way we look, but there is a devastating condition which affects a small percentage of people called Body Dysmorphia.

What is Body Dysmorphia?

It is always shocking to see the extreme measures some individuals go to when it comes to changing their body shape or appearance through cosmetic surgery. Quite often these individuals have a psychological disorder called body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD as it can also be referred to, is an anxiety disorder that will cause a person to have a distorted view of themselves and how they look. They may spend excessive amounts of time worrying about their appearance, which often affect every aspect of their everyday life.

What may appear to be a completely normal looking feature to everyone else, to those that suffer with BDD they will often obsess over it daily and try to change their appearance in any way they can.

Is it responsible for a cosmetic surgeon to perform surgery on a person with body dysmorphia?

Mr Ross will recognise patients with this condition through conducting a thorough consultation. When this condition is identified Mr Ross will then refer these patients on to specialist councillors to ensure that these patients are treated appropriately by psychologists for this condition.

Surgeons have a moral obligation to the patient to ensure their safety. This includes not performing surgery on a patient with any psychological illness without a specialist psychiatric evaluation to guide their assessment. Mr Ross will always be truthful with his patients, and if he feels you are not a good candidate for surgery, he will refer you elsewhere to the right individuals and give you advice on how best to proceed.

Media culture and its influence with unrealistic expectations

We can often be quick to blame the media and its constant push for perfection. Most images commonly featured in the media of celebrities and size zero models will undoubtedly have been airbrushed. While many of us are quick to identify this, it frequently causes us to compare ourselves with these altered images, resulting in a negative view of how we see ourselves.

The media can make you feel inadequate, for example after a celebrity has a baby they’re incredibly quick to spring back to their pre-baby bodies and this puts an enormous amount of pressure on women to lose weight straight after birth.

What is often misunderstood is that behind the celebrity is a team of nutritionists, personal trainers, nannies and sometimes surgical or non-surgical procedures as well to help them look fabulous a few weeks after giving birth. Such transformations are not healthy expectations to put on yourself or achievable for the average woman. Although most people understand this and have a realistic view of what they are seeing in the media, such images to those suffering with body dysmorphia can have a devastating effect on those individuals.

Mr Ross is trained and well-practiced in recognising body dysmorphia as a condition and will encourage any individual to seek the appropriate treatment. Mr Ross’s professional and ethical standards ensure that he does not operate on individuals who may be vulnerable without a thorough and detailed evaluation of their medical and psychiatric history.