Jeffrey S. Williams, DO, FACOS

2002-2004 were some of the years in which the safety of silicone implants was being studied in the United States.  So, some surgeons had access to silicone implants for research purposes in cosmetic breast augmentation.  Silicone implants were available for use in reconstructive breast surgery.

Thank you for the question.

As I remind patients, liposuction is for spot treatment of areas which you have difficulty losing fat.  A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is performed to deal with excessive skin.  A combination of these two procedures is often done for better contouring.  It really depends on the areas which are problematic as well as your overall physical exam.  Pictures would help determine what the best treatment would be.

Thank you for the question.

Tattoo artists can do amazing things nowadays with 3-D tattoos, etc.  I agree with some of the other surgeons.  If the freckle is in an area where potential tightening would be performed, then allowing the tattoo to be removed with the tummy tuck may be the best option.

Thanks for the question.

As I tell folks, the bigger the implant the more that gravity will affect them.  While some folks would really like to have the full effect of 550cc, there are also newer implants such as overfilled implants which can give you fullness you may be seeking without the large volume.  It is important for you to discuss with your surgeon the aspects which you like of the 550cc implant and work together as a team to determine the best size and profile for you.

Finasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor and, as such, it blocks conversion of testosterone to the potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  DHT acts upon the follicle to cause thinning/loss.  Once you stop finasteride, you will lose that benefit and hair will resume thinning and/or loss.  While mostly anecdotal in their results, there are some products such as HairMedica, natural inhibitors (resihi mushroom, saw palmetto, green tea, alkalinization of the blood stream), and others which may help to inhibit the effect of 5-alpha-reductase.  Also mostly anecdotal in the results are treatments like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections.