Alexandria Doctors

Will I Grow into my Nose? Nose is Bigger then All my Features (photo)

My family has pretty big noses, but the difference is for them, it works with there facial features. I'm 17 and my nose isn't bumpy, it's straight. The problem is it's very WIDE at the bottom and I don't think it goes with my features. My lips are small, my eyes are small, and im not a large kid. I don't understand why my nose is so unproportional. I want to be a actor someday and I don't think ill get to if my nose looks so bad. I feel if my nose was smaller i'd look good. Help? :(

I do not feel your nose looks extremely large for the rest of your facial features, except at the nasal base.  From your photogrphs it appears that you have thick skin  and this is responsible for the wide apperance of your nasal  base.  It is possible to narrow the base of your nose slightly, but the surgery must be done with caution as an overly narrowed nasal base looks ridiculous and is very difficult to correct.  Make sure you see a plastic surgeon who is very experienced in rhinoplasty surgery.

Rondi Kathleen Walker, MD

Washington Plastic Surgeon

Pregnancy Stretch Marks

When I was 8 months along in my pregnancy, I got PUPPP which created very severe stretch marks. I have these stretch marks little over a inch above my belly button, all over my lower tummy, and a little on my hips. I am 22 yrs old, 5'4", 148 lbs, and in the process of losing 38 lbs. I have one child but not planning on having any more. Will it get rid of the stretch marks? I have a C-section scar from geting an ovarian cyst removed when I was 16. Will the incision start from this scar?

Thanks for your question.

I agree with others here that it is good to be as close to your Ideal weight as possible eefore you proceed.  Ideal weight doesn't necessarily mean rail thin which may be unrealistic, but you should try to achieve a weight you are comfortalbe with.  If you starve yourself or use a fad died or medication you may fail to maintain your goals.

Being more slender helps the abdominal wall to stay flatter if your surgeon tightens the muscles that have stretched during your pregnancy.

As for the c-section and the stretch marks.  Most surgeons will make your tummy tuck incision at or below the c- section scar-- literally throwing the old scar away and trading it for the new one. 

Your surgeon will have to use judgement in removing the stretch marks. In most cases we can remove the tissue from the top of te belly button and below and sometimes more.  The goal is always to remove as many stretch marks as possible but to also be able to close the incision at surgery.

Hope this helps !

Adam Tattelbaum, MD

Washington DC Plastic Surgeon

How to Get Rid of Pregnancy Fat?

i have 3 kids and a doc i saw says i need a tummy tuck. i was given a lot of steriods during all 3 pregnancies and full bed rest. i dont want to be perfect, only shaped up. my main concern is the pubic area and the hips. no matter what i do i can not lose these areas. would smartlipo help with these issues and be less costly? should i try regular lipo and eat the cost? or maybe i should just continue not be happy with my reflection a little longer until the cost come down?

Thanks for your question.

You should always do your best to loose weight after pregnancy through diet and exercise.  Unfortunately, sometimes doing everything right just doesn't solve all areas. If your skin has been stretched from pregnancy and the pubic area is  saggy weight loss can make it worse. If the skin is loose liposuction regaardless of type may make it looser.  Hips are sometimes the last to go as they are a diet resistant fat.

If you embark upon tummy tuck discuss your concerns with your surgeon.  The pubic area can be thinned and elevated with the tummy tuck and the flanks can be liposuctioned or tightened at the same time.

Best of luck.

Adam Tattelbaum, MD

Washington DC Plastic Surgeon