Duet Plastic Surgery

A: Many of my patients ask about taking supplements before and after surgery that might help their recovery.  Unfortunately for all of us, there does not seem to be any "magic pill" that does just that - at least not yet.  

As far as what is available to us now, arnica does seem to help some patients reduce the amount of bruising and swelling they experience after surgery.  However, some patients also see no benefit at all from taking arnica.  If my patients ask if they can take arnica, I let them know that I think it is safe to use - scientific studies have shown no significant harm - but that it is up to them, and they might not see any effect.

Hope this helps, and best of luck,

Dr. Lim

A: If you are otherwise healthy, do not smoke, and have a stable weight and good exercise tolerance, being a type 2 diabetic should not prevent you from having breast augmentation and tummy tuck.  

It is important, however, to have your blood glucose levels as optimally controlled as possible.  Diabetic patients who have elevated fingersticks or A1c are at higher risk for complications like developing wounds at their incisions or infection postoperatively.  Tight glycemic control reduces your risk of having these types of issues after surgery.

You may consider checking in with your endocrinologist to see how else you can optimize your blood sugar levels prior to having an elective major surgery like mommy makeover.  And as always, be sure to consult with an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon who will be able to guide you safely through your journey.

Hope this helps, and best of luck,

Dr. Lim

A: You look great for just five weeks after mommy makeover - you and your surgeon have clearly done lovely work.  

Five weeks is still pretty early in terms of results, and I would imagine that as the next several weeks to months tick by, you will continue to see subtle but sure improvement.  Depending on their starting anatomy and the size/placement of their implants, some patients will see the final drop and fluff of their implants as late as 9-12 months after surgery.  

As you approach that postoperative mark and if you are still not completely satisfied with your results, your plastic surgeon should be able to help with a plan for revision - perhaps a larger sized implant and/or some additional capsule and soft tissue work - to get you closer to what you ultimately want.

Hope this helps, and best of luck,

Dr. Lim

A: Having an IUD should not interfere with having a mommy makeover.  

The Mirena IUD releases a very low dose of hormone, and these types of hormones (particularly higher doses associated with oral birth control pills or postmenopausal hormone replacement) have been associated with higher risk of developing blood clots in your legs or lungs (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT; and pulmonary embolism, or PE).  

As with any patient undergoing multiple surgical procedures like a mommy makeover, it is always critically important to start walking right away after surgery, to help prevent blood clots from causing problems.

Be sure to mention that you have the Mirena IUD when you talk with your plastic surgeon, so that you can best be advised on your preoperative preparation and postoperative expectations.

Hope this helps, and best of luck,

Dr. Lim

A: For my own tummy tuck patients, I tell them to avoid any exercise that might strain their core muscles (like the abs) for the first six weeks after surgery.  Even after being given the go-ahead to start exercising again, many patients are reluctant to dive back in out of fear of messing up their results.

Your surgeon gave you excellent advice - to take it easy when you feel ready to start working on your abs, and equally important, to listen to your body as you're exercising.  I tell my patients who are interested in getting back to their regular workouts that strange/weird sensations can be normal at the beginning, that gentle post-exercise soreness is fine, but pain is not and can be an indication that you're doing too much.

Five months after a tummy tuck, continuing a healthy lifestyle - which may include an ab-focused workout - can help you maintain and refine your great results.

Hope this helps, and best of luck,

Dr. Lim