RealSelf Verified doctors complete our multistep verification process to ensure they are in good medical standing, display their experience and most performed procedures, have high patient satisfaction ratings, and respond to consultation requests quickly. Just look for the RealSelf Verified badge.
FIND A VERIFIED DOCTORClaim your profile now— it costs nothing! Build trust by highlighting education, board certifications, and hospital privileges. List treatments, and include all procedures you perform. Get involved by uploading before & after procedure photos and answering questions from prospective patients.
CLAIM YOUR PROFILEIt is very common to have asymmetry in volume as well as shape of the breasts. Yours are minimally asymmetric and would be markedly improved with breast augmentation. There will still be some mild asymmetry after implants are placed but it should be very minimal.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Buccal fat pad removal or reduction can be performed either under local anesthesia after or before rhinoplasty surgery or at the same time. Four weeks should be plenty of time. There is no problem having it done at the same time as long as you are willing to have additional general anesthesia. This would result in only one recovery period. The decision shoild be made after discussion with you surgeon.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
No. Alleran smooth silicone gel implants (style 10, 15, and 20) are their Natrelle line and have not been recalled. The recall is only for the textured implants and expanders. Also, the “recall” is only for the unused implants on the shelf and there is no recommendation to remove textured implants already implemented in patients.
This is a recall of unused Biocell implants (Biocell inventory and sold Biocell products) but not Biocell implants that have been used in patients who are asymptomatic. The FDA does not recommend or suggest that asymptomatic patients be explanted; rather that that the company refrain from selling BIOCELL implants moving forward.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
It is possible to repair a narrowed or constricted belly button by a minor surgical procedure under local anesthesia. Most plastic surgeons are able to do this in a treatment room or small office based surgical suite.
If the original opening was made too small or of the wound did not heal properly, constriction can occur. An infection is also a common cause. A repair is done for more than aesthetic reasons. A narrow umbilicus is difficult to clean and will be prone to future infections as well. Once it is healed, you should seek out a surgeon who is able to repair it. You should have very little down time. Good luck.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious complication that can occur after any surgery but most commonly after operations greater than one hour, or those with prolonged immobility. The blood clot can form during surgery or even up to a week afterwards. The Caprini VTE Risk Assessment Model has been endorsed by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) as the tool to use in determining the proper risk and prevention in plastic surgery. Visit plasticsurgery.org/vte.
A previous history of a pulmonary embolism after surgery places you at a higher risk. Therefore, preventive measures such as post operative anticoagulation (blood thinners), mechanical leg compression and ceasing any hormone medications are in order. Placement of breast implants is reasonable in your case but your surgeon should consider which prophylactic measures are indicated.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
When your two breasts are significantly different in size or shape, you typically have the following options. First of all, make sure you are no longer noticing any more changes such as changes due to pregnancy, hormones or birth control or weight loss or gain. Then you can consider either augmenting the smaller one with an implant, reducing the larger one or a combination of both. A reduction will result in scars around the areola as well as vertical scar from the areola to the breast fold and perhaps a transverse scar in the fold. For best long term results, it is ideal to end up with equal sized implants, equal amount of breast tissue and equal amounts of skin. From your photos, I would recommend an augmentation on the smaller side along with a reduction and placement of an implant on the larger side. Be aware that the reduction involves removing some natural breast tissue and will probably prevent and future breast feeding on that side.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
SmartLipo (aka Laser Assisted Liposuction) is very effective in treating areas for stubborn fat such as previously suctioned areas and areas where the skin is moderately loose. The advantage is this technology is that it can stimulate skin shrinkage in addition to melting fat. It is not a subsitute for a tummy tuck in women who have had children and have loose abdominal skin and stretch marks.
The procedure is labor intensive and takes at least 1 - 1.5 hours per area. Four areas (ie: above belly button, below belly button and both flanks) could take 4-5 hours to do it correctly. The laser equipment is extremely expensive to purchase and maintain and the thermaguide cannula is disposable and costs $800. Typical pricing is between $1500 - $2500 per area so your quote is very fair.
There are no other technologies which tighten skin from underneath and melt fat at the same time. Other external treatments are being marketed to cosmetic surgeons as less invasive but the results are to be seen and the costs will be about the same. Remember, you get what you pay for. Choose the right surgeon and the correct technology and pay what it is worth. If not, you will be unhappy and end up paying much more in the future to make it right. Good luck.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
i’m a 25 year old patient and from 7th grade i knew i already had saggy breast and my areola pointed downward. finally did the research and got the courage to see multiple doctors and dr.otoole was my last stop and he was the one. the receptionist and financial lady sarah are amazing. the dr. himself is very experienced and told me he’s been doing surgery longer than i’ve been alive and it shows. crazy how someone else can change your self esteem after a procedure. i stare at my breast every chance i get and actually wanna show everyone lmao . he did a lift with no implants and i couldn’t be happier. he did such a great job they almost look fake. my scars vertically are nearly invisible after a month and a half and i’m african american
3 years ago I got a breast lift with implants with doctor O’toole and I love them! Doctor O’toole didn’t make me feel like he was up selling me and didn’t make me feel insecure about the body I already had. He was super professional and I felt I could trust him. The staff was also very attentive and I liked that the office had the operating room on locatio. I recommended a family member for breast reduction and she’s also happy with her results. I also got lipo on my waist and fat transfer to my butt. I’m really happy with my waist size now even though my bbl results didn’t turn out as I would have liked. I am a very petite woman at 4’11, 104 lbs. so I think it makes sense. Otherwise completely happy and will continue to recommend doctor O’toole for his services.
Hello ladies I’ve been doing my research and reading several reviews on this site for the past three years. Believe me, everything I’ve read has helped so much so thank you to all for sharing your stories. I am a mom of two kids which I had both via c-section. I’ve always been an A cup but with breastfeeding I ended up a C cup. So I am sure you can imagine the deflated breast I had to deal with for quite some time. I never knew something so small (A cup) would sag so much. I had my TT and BA last week so I am 8 days PO. I was really hoping I would be walking a bit more upright but I still have a ways to go ????. Updated on 18 Aug 2018: Today I feel like I had a setback. I am walking a bit more hunched over than yesterday ????. Last night the sharp pain in my left breast was so bad that it woke me. I’ve read that it is probably my nerves fusing together but wow! that was painful. Yesterday I was pretty active and determined to not take my pain meds except at night but today I am paying the price. I am also feeling CG envy. I didn’t get one and now I feel like I should have one. I am torn because part of me wants one to see if it will help me stand up straight or help with the swelling and the other part of me enjoys being able to take that comfortable breath. What if my PS forgot to give me one before he left for vacation. I don’t see him until the 27th so I am hoping that all this swelling won’t prevent me healing. I can’t for the life of me figure out how to post images on this darn app. I’ll work on it so that I can post some images....although not very good ones. Updated on 18 Aug 2018:
Highly recommended! Four years ago Dr. O’Toole did my “Mommy Make-Over”, demonstrating the utmost skill, kindness & professionalism. (My standards are very high because I work with some of the best surgeons in the world at Keck Hospital of USC) Therefore when became necessary to do another procedure, deep laser resurfacing of my entire face for prevention of further basal cell skin cancers, I did not hesitate to return again to his office. His staff are exceptionally responsive & compassionate. This procedure is painful, so when he suggested general anesthesia I agreed, particularly when he was willing to do liposuction with fat transfer from my very ample thighs to my now less ample buttocks. I am athletic, doing TRX resistance training, yoga & belly dance 3-5 days a week but I had three big babies & lost about 75 pounds over 20 years ago so my skin was saggy in specific places. I lacked self-confidence. People are now astonished to hear I am almost 60 years old thanks to Dr O’Toole’s meticulous care. It’s important to be realistic in your expectations. Remember that an ethical and highly-skilled surgeon will do the best he can with what he has to work with. Communicate carefully, be realistic & educate yourself first about the desired procedure. Don’t expect miracles. Follow his instructions completely both pre & post-operatively for optimal results. Even now, day 5 post-op, I am thrilled with my results. It’s not perfect but what a big improvement!
I really did my research this time. Although I previously used a plastic surgeon who was chief of staff at a local hospital, I was completely disappointed with my breast augmentations. Yes augmentation"s", I had an implant rupture 11 years after my first augmentation and just 3 years after that it happened again! With both surgeries my right breast was left slightly smaller. Not this time!!! Dr. O'Toole really listened to my concerns. He was very informative and allowed me to make the decision that was right for me. He wasn't trying to sell me on anything, that was a relief. I'm just a week post op and already am in love with my breasts. I'm looking forward to being completely healed. You don't need to look any further Dr. O'Toole is definitely the best!!! His staff was pleasant and all were helpful. Sarah and Nadia are amazing.
Everyone needs to stay for recover after having a mommy makeover!!!!!!!!!! Best experience I had was Trinity Aftercare. I was treated like a queen. I have never had nursing service like Trinity Aftercare has offered .... From transportation, to the rooms, to the food, to the owner, to the nursing staff everything was five stars!!
I've considered this surgery for years but hesitated to spend the money. It was totally worth it. The recovery was about 6 weeks. For the first time in my life I'm comfortable in my own skin. I feel so happy I chose Dr. Martin O'Toole. He is highly respected among his peers. Now I know why! Absolute artistry. Updated on 19 May 2018: Updated on 7 Jul 2018: Lower back is still a little swollen after 6 weeks but it takes up to 12 weeks to fully heal. I’m still wearing my compression garment for support & comfort.
I have my jawline back! I didn't how much I lost my jawline until I saw the before and after photos. The 'after' photo is 4 days post procedure. The doc told me that full results are in 3-4 months. Very happy! It is done by local anesthesia which is fine by me. The numbing part is the only painful part but they give you meds for that beforehand.
Well, I guess, here goes! I'm a single mom to an almost 4 year old little girl. I enjoy a very busy career and enjoy raising my daughter as much. My marriage to her father was, more often than not, full of stress and tension. We've been separated for 18 months now and almost divorced after 4 years together. So why a tummy tuck now? 1) 90% of my pre-pregnancy wardrobe remains untouched. Stuff goes up the legs and over the butt but I'll be damned if I can button up my pants again. So I don't wear my pants anymore. Dresses: they go over the shoulders but again, a little bit too tight going over the tire in the middle (enter sad face) or it goes over, but there's a Kuato bulge. I can't stand the muffin top that I get now when I wear my low rise jeans. Short floaty tops? Forget it! Everything I wear has an element of stretch to it and it needs to stop. 2) I'm single again. Dating is great, but I can't stand to look at my own post-preggo gut let alone have the potential man of my dreams look at my saggy tummy. I want to walk into a new relationship (or maybe even a fling!) feeling like hot stuff. I want to live my life again looking and feeling good about myself. I had a flat stomach 5 years ago, I've missed it so much so it needs to happen. I'm taking care of me now. 3) I can afford it, finally. And it's almost bikini-season! 4) I work out 5 days a week. I've always wanted a toned stomach. I'm in ok shape everywhere else; but no matter how hard I work it, the gut won't go. After my surgery, and following recovery, I'm setting myself a goal for a washboard stomach. The time is now! That's me. A new me. I live life like a warrior. Time to look like one! :P Updated on 27 Mar 2015: Sheesh. I'm only putting these up because I know it'll be history soon. Everyone, meet my friend Mary Muffinbelly. Updated on 7 Apr 2015: Ding ding, ring the bell! It's time to get over to the "flat" side! I'm feeling a lot of things, nerves, excitement, fear, anticipation, a little anxiety and relief - relief that it's finally it. No going back now! I've been busy nesting and prepping and what not (and busy getting my taxes done!)...so haven't really been able to post. And I'm starving!!! Wish me luck! Can't wait to post pics :) Updated on 8 Apr 2015: So it's 2am and I'm in a V position in bed sitting up kinda. It's comfortable. Just peed for the first time in my little female urinal (brilliant idea Chiklet3!!) and she will become my bestie, I can tell already. My friend is sleeping on the couch and I had to call her phone to have her help me off the bed. I couldn't do it myself and felt terrible for waking her up. We emptied my drains. The right side seems slower than the other. There also seems to be little clot-like pieces coming out AND fat. That's normal right? Otherwise it's bright and red. Managed to slowly get myself into the bed too. My bed's quite high so requiring tippy toes to get in which makes it easier I think. Earlier, I ate half a slice of bread with a slice of cheese and a few sips of soup. It's all I could get down me. I was walking around hunched over and walked into the bathroom wanting to drain independently but then a wave of nausea hits. And I'm sweating right away. I really felt like I was gonna barf and was so anxious at the pain but I stood still for a few minutes and it eventually went away. I felt weak like I might pass out. So I held on the sides of the basin while my friend emptied my drains for me. Starting the antibiotics tomorrow and will pop a stool softener...a vitamin C pill and a multi-vitamin. Otherwise a lot of stiffness, sides are a little sore from the lipo and pain pump pumping away. Updated on 9 Apr 2015: So I just took off all the gauze and dressings and finally met my new belly. If this is me currently swollen, I can't wait to see what it will look like when I'm not swollen. DOT has worked magic. That is all. So so so very happy! Even with the nausea and headache which is the most annoying thing right now! Updated on 11 Apr 2015: Well, yesterday I wrote a whole thing on how I finally took my OnQ pain pump off and then left the half-composed review to take a picture only to come back and find that it was gone. And there was a whole thing about how I was missing my little girl terribly; she's been gone during the entire time so far so I can recuperate (single mom life) but she's back tomorrow and thankfully, I feel well enough to deal with maybe having to take her to bed or bathe her or take her to the potty...basically be a mom. It feels so freeing to be rid of the pain pump. The tape that stuck the tubes down on my skin hurt peeling off. One side was more raw than the other and leaked a bit. Nothing a Hello Kitty band-aid couldn't help! And apparently a bag of prunes helped do the trick in getting me going. At one point, I was literally bursting at the seams because I'd eaten and was so full and everything felt so tight! But discovering a bag of prunes in my pantry was like finding the Holy Grail. Laxatives clog me up more I feel. So I'm glad something more natural and tasty worked instead. And I can use the potty! Yay! Today my shower chair arrives so I can't wait to get naked and under warm running water. It's the little things :) Updated on 11 Apr 2015: Shower chair arrived and I took a shower. And I felt so good, I'm standing up straighter too. I just rubbed my daughters calendula oil on my stomach and hips and anywhere I feel it's pulling. Yay or nay? It smells good and is soothing the itchiness. And boy is my stomach itchy! Updated on 12 Apr 2015: There is a little bit of grisle that is refusing to budge. And it doesn't look like there is any fluid collecting because of it. What should I do? Updated on 13 Apr 2015: ...6 days PO or is it 7? Anyway, right before I was hopping into the shower, I decided to get on the scales...and I'm 4lbs down! This of course had me jumping for joy - literally! Yes, I'm able to jump albeit little jumps but then I did some kind of a neked jig in front of the mirror! Haha oh man, this TT was so worth it. I'm still draining, at least on one side and I'm still super tight but almost up straight without a binder so can't wait to get a binder on. I also drove for the first time in a week and picked my little girl up from school. I found a nifty way to hide the drains - popped them inside the pain pump fanny pack! Job done. Updated on 15 Apr 2015: The drains have to stay in! :( Was hoping they'd be taken out but no chance. Which means I've got to come up with a genius way of hiding these drains for a memorial I need to go to on Saturday. Ideas? DOT also peeled away the tape over my scar...revealing the scar. Wow. A) longer than I thought it would be but can't imagine how I'd be the shape I am now without that length. And it's a nice, neat line too. So one more week of these liquid bulbs and that's it. Does it hurt when he takes out the drains? Anyone? Not looking forward to that! Happy Wednesday! Pics to follow when kid is asleep. Updated on 30 Apr 2015: Sorry I've been off the RS grid. Since my last update, a little girl came home to her Mommy, life took over, rest sorta ended etc. About 2 weeks post-op, I also started feeling rough - feverish but no fever at all. Just aches and the shakes and very tired. Quite honestly, it was the worst I felt since the actual surgery. Went to bed super early with the kiddo on Tuesday night of the 21st. Slept terribly. Woke up as tired as I went to bed, was very irritable with my little one (didn't have the patience for her tying her laces, awful mommy who was snappy :( ). Anyway, we finally get in the elevator to get her to school. As we reach the ground floor, I suddenly feel extremely light-headed and nauseous and I decided driving wasn't a great idea when I'm feeling this bad. Hit the button going back up again, mumbling something to my little girl about needing to go back home because I don't feel good. Stepped back to hold on to something and the next thing I remember is waking up on floor to her crying hysterically "Mommy wake up!". By this time, the door is opening and closing on my foot. Gathered myself up thinking "[RS bleep], I actually felt and my skirt is up and I have no underwear on, glad no one else was in here". Stumbled a few steps after I got up and passed out again. I was able to get up again and get to my apt and call my building manager. She's become a good friend and I called her first because she was home. Then I paged my surgeon who asked me to get to urgent care right away and get blood tests and what not. I was due to have my drains taken out at 1pm that day so I thought great, I'll go do that first and then schlep over to Pasadena for the drains. Little did I know that I was going to be admitted for 2 and a bit days with a seroma. At one point, the ER doctor on duty, a pretty senior doctor in the trauma unit was adamant about possibly operating to get the infection out. Everything was happening so fast; white count was high, BP super low and heart rate high. After a CT scan, the spotted fluid which in the end (thankfully) was drained via ultrasound guided aspiration...phew! Was afraid that I was going to be cut open again, ruining my perfect TT scar. But above all of that, I was worried that I was about to snuff it and my girl end up being a 4 year old orphan :( Anyway, cut to the chase, those were a terrible few days at the hospital. Was sent home last Friday with Bactrim antibiotics for 7 days (twice a day), and drains finally came out that following Monday. I finally wore underwear for the first time in 3 weeks and after a few hours of acclimating to underwear and a binder, I went back to the office for two hours. It's Friday tomorrow and this week was all about to getting back into my routine but very slowly. The binder felt very weird at first but after 4 days, it feels weird not having it on. It makes me feel secure strangely. I have my follow up next Monday and DOT will check for fluid and what not. But otherwise I feel much better as I near the end of my course of antibiotics. Having those drains taken out felt so good. I sang all the way home. So. In a nutshell. Had a bit of a scare but on the mend! I don't know how seroma's happen, whether I did anything wrong or whether the drains were in wrong or whether I should have been in a binder earlier. I don't know. All I can advise anyone is a) seriously take it easy after surgery and get help if you're a single mom like me who lives alone and has friends/family that live far away or don't know your little TT secret and b) at the first hint of feeling unwell, all of a sudden, or feeling feverish, light headed etc. CALL YOUR SURGEON and tell them something is wrong. On a lighter note, I took a picture last night of my tummy laying down with me in a binder and I liked it! After all that jazz, it feels good to be flat. Updated on 14 May 2015: I haven't been able to update in a while - life is sorta non-stop again after the three weeks off from work and Mummahood! I've started using Scaraway gel on my scar and took a picture yesterday. Look forward to updating as I go along and hopefully the line will fade more and more. I'm also looking forward to hitting the gym again. Will start off slowly but God, I miss my routine! For me, the gym = drinking more water (at all) = more protein intake = less Chinese chicken wings = less bloat = more good feelings ya? Cannot wait!
So. I wrote a whole bit about the background of these things and I just erased it. Doesn't matter. My story is not unique. Insecurity led to implants. I was 20 so I've had implants longer than I haven't. I first got saline - around 375, unders. I was a a 34A before and then a 34C. In the years since they've been ok. Looked natural. No big issues. Almost 2 years ago, with a new PS I got a tummy tuck and decided to exchange the implants as the left one had a CC - not visibly bad but felt like a rock. Lefty Lefterson was not happy. It didn't even occur to me to take them out - I just decided to go with silicone this time because I thought they felt a bit better in the squeeze test. So, I was smaller when I was 20 so now I was ok with being a bit bigger as I'm bigger all over. Woke up to DDD's. OMG. Almost immediately I had pretty severe joint pain in my shoulder - on the side that had a CC. I thought it was related to something during the surgery. It was hard to raise my arm. Fast forward months - still hurt. Mentioned it to doctors and was told possible RA - take Tylenol Arthritis. The timing kept gnawing at me though. Now - both shoulder joints are pretty sore most of the time and putting on my bra equals daily pain. Maybe it's a coincidence. Maybe. Which brings me back to Lefty Lefterson. Right after the switcheroo to silicone I developed a bad hematoma and went back in to the OR to drain the blood. Very soon after that the implant just didn't sit right - and enter Double Bubble for Lefty Lefterson. I thought briefly about downsizing but really I think issues with Lefty will just keep happening and I think my joint paints, etc. are related to implants. So - out they go. I have given this a LOT of thought and I'm still not convinced my husband will be into the little ones as much as he's enjoyed the mammoth ones but it's my body, my choice and I choose me. Maybe it's an age thing too - just ready to accept myself finally. So, I wish it were today, but on 11/7 I'll go to my PS office and under local will get these things out. I am very excited and very ready. I'll assess in the spring and decide on a lift or not. I'm hoping and assuming not. My PS is not charging me for the removal - I've had so many issues with the breast part of the work that I think he just really wants a good result for me finally. Updated on 3 Nov 2014: Updated on 6 Nov 2014: Really looking forward to it being done tomorrow and moving on to the healing phase. They moved my appointment to the late afternoon so it'll give me a chance to get some shopping done and clean out drawers of massive bras! For those of who who had local - were you ok to drive home on your own? Updated on 7 Nov 2014: Updated on 7 Nov 2014: Updated on 7 Nov 2014: Updated on 9 Nov 2014: So, I feel good! I am tightly wrapped and doctor said to make sure I keep my breasts in a good position and compressed because the nipples want to fold over. He said I could shower on Day 2 - yesterday. I figured I'd wait til Day 3 to be safe. Time is ticking on this Day 3 and I am so nervous about taking his bandage off, showering and not putting myself back together right! He said to wear a compression bra or a tight sports bra. I bought a Marena compression bra. I'm prepared for tiny boobies, asymmetrical boobs, lack of sensation, the new scar - but I don't think I'm ready for nipple concaving. I've spent most of the day reading all sorts of things - people taped up their breasts, others used breast pumps - nothing seemed like it "worked". Seems like either it happens or not. Oh my goodness. Still sitting here in my mummy gear from explant Friday afternoon but I can't go to work this way so I have to make the plunge... I thought showers were suppose to be relaxing! Updated on 9 Nov 2014: Ok. So I took the shower. Gotta say they are better than I expected but I have a new concern. The breast that had the dent - well it still has the dent. And that breast is sore! I had a cc on that side and the implant rode really high - it was tough for him to pull out at my explant appt. I feel hardness on that side, too. I'm hoping and expecting it'll resolve with time. Updated on 10 Nov 2014: So, I started taking collagen today. Mixed it right into my pumpkin soup! No flavor or smell - at least not when in my soup! It's called Meiji - it's from Japan thru Amazon. Anyone have any experience using a collagen supplement to help the healing along? Updated on 10 Nov 2014: Updated on 10 Nov 2014: Updated on 11 Nov 2014: Updated on 11 Nov 2014: Updated on 11 Nov 2014: Updated on 11 Nov 2014: Updated on 12 Nov 2014: Updated on 13 Nov 2014: Updated on 15 Nov 2014:
What’s trending? Who’s turning heads? Which TikTok myths need busting? We’ve got you. No fluff, no gatekeeping—just real talk. Get our free, unfiltered newsletter.