Doctor Q&A

Thanks for your question!
You may begin light activity as soon as you feel able. No lifting greater than 10lbs or vigorous exercise for 3 weeks. Check with your surgeon for his/her guidelines and restrictions. Best wishes!

Thank you for your question, it is best to be evaluated in person to determine if this is capsular contracture or another issue going on. Typically capsular contracture does not present with rapid and quick onset in a short period of time but it is important to be evaluated in person to determine the cause. Implants can also flip at times and if they are higher profile and can appear "flatter" than previously if this is what happened. If that is the case this can be flipped back into...

Based on the photos, you appear to have mild ptosis and volume loss following weight loss, making you a borderline candidate for augmentation alone. This explains why you've received differing opinions. If preserving scars and delaying a lift until after future pregnancies is a priority, augmentation alone is a reasonable option, with the understanding that some sagging may remain. If your main goal is the best breast shape now, a lift combined with implants will generally produce a superior...

When doing a tummy tuck, I usually prefer my patients to be at a comfortable weight that they can maintain over time. Losing weight for the surgery and then gaining it back may certainly ruin the results. It is best when I do the appropriate contouring when you are at a stable weight that you will maintain over a long period.

I would begin with your breasts using a breast lift technique called the Bellesoma. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. The weight of the breast is transferred to the underlying pectoralis major muscle resulting in long term stability. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained. The horizontal crease in...

If your surgeon is suspicious that you may have BDD, it is highly likely that the concerns you have over your nose and the reason you want a nose job are not rational (it's your emotional brain thinking, not your rational brain), which may also be why a previous therapist tried to convince you out of it. That being said, most psych providers are open to you discussing your goals and why you want them and they shouldn't really push you for it or against it, they should be helping you see "the...

Thank you for your question. You are an excellent candidate for rhinoplasty, open or closed based on your surgeon's preferences. I think it is one of the most beautifying surgeries that we do as plastic surgeons. A large portion of my practice is dedicated to rhinoplasty surgery. It is important to only see plastic surgeons with extensive experience in rhinoplasty, ie perform at least 6 per month and have performed hundreds of cases. Also, critically evaluate on-line galleries to see if...

It is incredibly frustrating to look in the mirror three months after going through a major surgery like a BBL and feel like you don't see the dramatic curves or projection you expected. You've invested time, money, and a lot of physical discomfort into this recovery, so feeling underwhelmed at this stage is completely disheartening.

However, three months is a notoriously deceptive milestone in the cosmetic timeline.

To answer your question directly, you must wait a bare minimum of 6...

Your photos suggest you already have reasonable buttock volume, with some natural lateral hip-dip contour visible. From photos alone, this looks more like a question of how much refinement you want rather than whether you need a dramatic BBL. If your goal is only a little more roundness or hip-dip softening, a conservative plan may fit better than a high-volume change.

Transferred fat can decrease. Some of the grafted fat may not survive, and later weight loss can make both your original...

Based on your height of 5'4" and weight of 211 lbs, your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 36.2. This classifies your weight in the Class 2 obesity category.

Your eligibility as a surgical candidate depends entirely on the type of surgery you are considering the surgery that you are looking for, also I suggest you to get a consultation with the Doctor that you choose.
Dr. Luis Mejia
Let's make it better

Thank you for your questions and pictures. You are a reasonable candidate for an extended abdominoplasty with liposuction of the abdomen and flanks. This can be combined with a breast lift or breast reduction and liposuction of the axillae. You might also consider an upper back lift if the skin excess in your mid back is of concern. Neither of these procedures will address the skin laxity on your thighs or infragluteal region. You would need to consider a thigh lift to improve those areas.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Based on the procedures you've described, I would recommend staging your surgery into two separate operations. In the first, your surgeon would perform the liposuction, extended tummy tuck, and fat transfer to the glutes during the first procedure, then allow approximately four to six months of healing before returning for the breast lift and augmentation. This approach helps keep the operative time within a safer range of 6 hours while allowing each...

Thank you for your question. The key measurement here is your nipple-to-sternal-notch distance, but as far as I can tell from your photos, your distance does not appear long enough to require a free nipple graft. In practice sometimes we perform nipple-sparing breast reductions and lifts even when this distance is 40 cm — you can see similar patient results on our social media accounts. but of course there is a limit for reduction.
One important point: if you are still losing weight,...

Hello and thank you for your question. Upon reviewing your photos, you appear to be an excellent candidate for a breast reduction and lift.
The Nipple-Areola complex is typically reduced and lifted in a very symmetric fashion during this procedure. In my experience, patients are typically able to gain both a customized size to the areola and a reduced nipple as a result of these procedures. Best wishes.
David Shokrian, MD Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Thank you your inquiry! We would love to sit down with you to discuss your concerns. Removing excess breast volume will help remove the tension and weight on your back and neck as well as help with the other listed concerns. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

Based on your photos, the lighter appearance is likely due to thin under-eye skin, visible veins, and volume deficiency rather than pigment loss alone. Since filler has only partially improved the area, options such as fat grafting, laser treatment for visible veins, or skin-quality treatments may provide additional benefit. An evaluation by an experienced oculoplastic or facial plastic surgeon can help determine the most appropriate approach for a natural result.

Based on the photos, there appears to be residual asymmetry following your ptosis and eyelid surgeries. At 8 months, most swelling has resolved, although subtle changes may still occur. Revision surgery may improve the eyelid height, crease symmetry, and overall contour if the differences are due to residual ptosis or scar-related changes. It is not essential to return to Korea—an experienced oculoplastic surgeon in your home country who specializes in revision eyelid surgery can...

Hello, and thank you for your question. Waiting six months after your infection has fully resolved is generally considered an appropriate timeframe before replacing a breast implant, and the likelihood of a successful outcome is very high. As with any elective surgery, there remains a small risk of infection, typically in the range of 3 to 5 percent, with the greatest risk occurring during the early postoperative period. Before proceeding, your surgeon should confirm that the infection has...

It is very important that you try on sizers and be a part of the sizing process. At 11cm in width, you should be able to achieve upwards of 400cc in a higher profile implant. If you feel that the current sizing recommendations will leave you desiring more, it is important that you consult with other board-certified plastic surgeons.

No mesh. In my experience, the only two things that could possibly change your result of surgery after complete healing would be, significant weight change (~10%) or the possible stretching of the breast tissue from the milk of pregnancy. The mesh doesn't stop either of those possible changes. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Based on the photos, the indentation appears consistent with soft tissue tethering, which may be related to fibrous bands, ligament attachments, or localized volume loss. It becomes more noticeable when smiling because the facial muscles accentuate these underlying attachments. Treatment depends on the exact cause and may include subcision (scar release), fat grafting, filler, or a combination of techniques to restore a smoother contour. A thorough examination by a facial plastic surgeon or...

The benefits of surgery for improving under-eye bags are significantly greater than those of the non-surgical treatments you mentioned.
Based on the photos you kindly shared, I believe you are an excellent candidate for an endoscopic Deep Plane facelift, as it allows for a very natural improvement of the nasolabial folds. When combined with a lower blepharoplasty, the results are even more comprehensive, since the procedure not only rejuvenates the lower eyelids but also improves the...

Thank you for your question. These procedures are almost always done together for several reasons and in fact doing them separately probably will likely look worse than having them done at the same time where the excess in both areas can be blended into a more natural result than can be achieved if done separately. Also, staging these procedures will not lessen your healing time. Both procedures done separately will have the same amount of healing time as each done individually, meaning you...

Based on the photos, it is difficult to determine whether the fullness represents localized fat, a lipoma, swelling, a tendon-related prominence, or another soft tissue mass. Liposuction is generally not the first treatment for a lump on the top of the foot because of the complex anatomy in this area. I recommend evaluation by a foot and ankle specialist or plastic surgeon, and imaging such as an ultrasound or MRI may be needed before deciding on treatment. If the fullness is confirmed to be...