Dr. Kelly Gallego is a board certified plastic surgeon who has built a strong reputation for being compassionate, skilled, and knowledgeable. He is a member of the Sutter North Medical Group and his practice is located in Yuba City, CA. After graduating fr
Asked By: kmCourtez_300
ANSWER
Breast augmentation is a very popular procedure and patient satisfaction rates tend by quite high. I can see why some patients might be tempted to select the surgeon with competitive prices. It is hard to wait and be patient. Still, I think it is best to find someone near you, or at least in driving distance. I typically see my patients back for a number of follow up visits even if everything goes perfectly. If you were were to have a complication, the proper management might be challenging. You would likely then need to see someone locally. In the end, it is better to make your choice based on experience, reputation, and your personal interaction with the office.
Asked By: cj_2014
ANSWER
It is always challenging to evaluate post-operative photos without seeing pre-operative ones as well. From the photo you submitted, it looks like you may still have a rectus diastasis. Pregnancy can cause a dramatic weakening and stretching out of the fascia (connective tissue) in between and overlying the rectus abdominis muscles. Most plastic surgeons experienced with abdominoplasty, consider repair of the diastasis to be a vital part of the procedure. You should discuss your concerns with your surgeon, and ask how your diastasis was intially repaired. It is certainly possible that your diastasis was repaired appropriately, but the repair failed early on, causing a recurrence.
Asked By: Shellygarcia1231
ANSWER
It can take up to three months for the swelling to subside after an abdominoplasty. Sometimes even longer. However, swelling tends to be relatively symmetric. If one side of your abdomen is noticeably larger than the other, it might be a sign of a persistent seroma. Small seromas are quite common, and typically resolve on their own without any treatment apart from compression. Larger or persistent seromas require aspiration in the office. Infrequently, it becomes necessary to place another drain. Seromas are typically diagnosed with physical exam, and can be confirmed by ultrasound.
Asked By: Fresno143
ANSWER
Well, five weeks after surgery is still pretty early to draw conclusions about your result. I think it takes at least 4-6 weeks for all of the swelling to go away after an abdominoplasty, and sometimes up to a year to get completely back to normal. If liposuction of the abdominal tissue was performed during the procedure, you might expect some skin retraction during the coming months. If not, I think it is unlikely the skin is going to drastically change in the future. You are doing the right thing by being honest with your surgeon and expressing your concerns. At this point it is probably best to try and be patient and continue to heal from your surgery.
Asked By: Sumer1
ANSWER
From the photos, it likes you are dealing with an exposed stitch, a.k.a. suture material. Plastic surgeons use a wide variety of dissolvable and permanent sutures. This could be either. Regardless, it can be taken care of in a matter of seconds by your plastic surgeon. The exposed portion will be grasped and then trimmed at or just below the level of the skin.
Asked By: las5203
ANSWER
Radiation is a vital part of breast cancer treatment. It has been shown to increase survival and decrease local recurrence of breast cancer. Still, it can complicate one's situation when it comes to breast reconstruction options. In someone like yourself who apparently underwent immediate reconstruction with an expander, and had complications from the radiation, your only good option is to your use your own tissues in the form of a flap. There are a number of flap options. The two most common ones are the TRAM flap and the Latissimus flap. A TRAM flap uses excess tissue from the abdominal region, while a Latissimus flap uses skin and muscle from the back typically with a small implant as well. Both options have their pros and cons. Your best bet is to find a local board certified plastic surgeon in your area who can review everything with you in detail.
Asked By: Rsa23
ANSWER
Frankly, it is hard to know how long a patient's breast implants will last. I tell all my patients that they are a man-made product, and that the implants do not last forever. We hope that the implants will last a minimum of 10 to 15 years. Therefore, young patients should plan on having the implants replaced at least once. However, there is not absolute time frame where the implants have to replaced. I presume that most plastic surgeons see patients who have had implants in for well over 15 years. If these patients are not having any issues, there is no real reason why the implants should be removed particularly if the implants are saline filled. With this being said, there are a variety of reasons why implants may need to be replaced: severe capsular contracture, implant rupture or deflation, and a desired change in size. In addition, some patients with saline filled implants may also elect to have their implants replaced with silicone gel filled implants for a variety of reasons.
Asked By: Naziazummard
ANSWER
Rhinoplasty is a common cosmetic procedure in the United States. The ASPS estimates the more than 220,000 were done in 2013. Patients typically have very high expectations. In my experience, it is normal form them to be anxious to know the final outcome. Unfortunately, it can take awhile when it comes to rhinoplasty surgery. First, there can be a fair amount of bruising and swelling after the operation. Although the bruising usually resolves in a week or two, it can take months for the swelling to subside completely. Also, the nasal tip can sometimes be a little numb afterwards. This problem can persist indefinitely, but usually it resolves in 12 to 18 months. Lastly, with any operation there is scar tissue formation. Scars can be firm, red, and more visible early on. It takes a minimum of a year for the scars to mature completely. With this being said, it becomes apparent why many plastic surgeons like to wait at least a year or more before considering any revisions.
Asked By: xo_trisha
ANSWER
Most plastic surgeons have their tummy tuck patients wear some sort of compression garment after surgery. I prefer the soft, elastic variety with plenty of cushion. I usually have my patients wear a garment for a minimum of six weeks. I think it helps with swelling, the prevention of seromas, and provides added support while the deeper, fascial layers continue to heal. If a patient develops a persistent seroma, I might make them wear the garment even longer. At eight weeks, it is unlikely that the garment is providing any real protective function. Of course, it probably does not cause any harm, and many patients just feel more comfortable with the garment on, at least when they first initiate exercise.
Asked By: Futureflatbelly
ANSWER
I am glad to hear that you've been able to lose 20 lbs. Losing excess weight after three kids is tough. More important though than the number of pounds would be your current weight in relation to your height. We use a number called the BMI (body mass index) which takes into account these two measurements. Most patients with a BMI greater than 30 are not good candidates for a tummy tuck, and in fact, they are at an increased risk of serious complications. My recommendation would be to lose as much weight as possible, and then discuss your situation with a board certified plastic surgeon.
dr. kelly gallego has received consistently positive reviews for his expertise in various plastic surgeries, including , , , and . patients consistently praise his precision, excellent bedside manner, and the natural results he achieves. many highlight his active involvement in the community and his perfectionist approach to surgery. his patients express high levels of satisfaction and confidence in their post-surgical bodies.
