Doctor Q&A

Do I need a breast lift? You might not need one. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in...

I have reviewed your photos. A mini tummy tuck is not suitable for your case. The procedure would likely be either a 180-degree tummy tuck or an extended tummy tuck, which will be determined after a detailed evaluation. Regarding the tattoo, this depends on skin elasticity and surgical planning.

If you have a history of keloid scarring, this is an important topic to discuss with your surgeon before surgery. That said, it's worth confirming whether your previous scars are truly keloids or hypertrophic scars, as the two are often confused and are treated differently. A board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist can help make that distinction.

If you are prone to developing keloids, they can occur anywhere the skin is healing, including around the belly button after a tummy tuck...

That is a location where a "hemitransfixion incision" is usually executed to access the septum. That is likely scar of the anterior septum border. A properly trained plastic surgeon will be able to guide you through this process. I like to use a cone beam CT scan, ultrasound, and physical exam prior to making any recommendations. I would recommend seeing an American Board of Plastic Surgery certified plastic surgeon, ideally one who also completed an accredited Aesthetic Society fellowship...

Thank you for sharing that context. Having a clear picture of your frame, how your body distributes weight, and your history as a mom of two makes a huge difference when considering body contouring or any aesthetic procedures.
At 5'2" and 230 lbs, your body mass index (BMI) places you in a category where safety and realistic expectations become the absolute top priorities for any surgical consideration. In plastic surgery, weight distribution in the hips, butt, thighs, and arms is very...

A body fat percentage reflects all of the fat in your body, including fat around your internal organs and the fat just beneath the skin. Liposuction can only remove fat from the subcutaneous layer, so having a body fat percentage of 20 to 23% does not necessarily mean there is enough fat available for body contouring or fat transfer.

Based on your photos, you appear to have a relatively small amount of subcutaneous fat. In patients with a very lean body type, liposuction may provide only a...

Thank you for your question. External hemorrhoids generally should not interfere with the procedures you are planning. However, constipation is common after surgery due to anesthesia, pain medications, and decreased activity, which can aggravate hemorrhoids and make recovery more uncomfortable. I recommend discussing this with your board-certified plastic surgeon before surgery and following their recommendations for hydration, stool softeners, and constipation prevention. If you are...

Yes, it is possible to have a hysterectomy and a tummy tuck at the same time, and it has been done. However, there are a few important considerations.

A hysterectomy is considered a non clean procedure, while a tummy tuck is a clean procedure, so combining them can slightly increase the risk of infection. You're also combining a laparoscopic or robotic surgery with an open procedure, which means the overall surgery time, anesthesia time, and recovery are typically longer.

For that reason,...

Yes, you can absolutely still get a mommy makeover, but not immediately. Because a mommy makeover is a major elective surgery, your plastic surgeon will require you to get formal medical clearance from your primary care physician or a hematologist to investigate why your ferritin is high before clearing you for the operating room.

Dr. Luis Mejia
Let's make it better

There is a rough correlation between the grams of breast tissue removed and implant volume, so you're on the right track. As a general estimate, 1 gram of breast tissue is close to 1 cc of implant volume, but it's not an exact formula.

The reason is that an implant has a different shape and projects differently than natural breast tissue. Because of that, I would recommend scheduling a consultation so your plastic surgeon can take your measurements and recommend an implant size based on...

Thank you for your inquiry! We would love to sit down with you to discuss your concerns. Calling your surgeon and requesting this information from them. Your implant would have been registered with their manufactor. If there are any recalls, they reach out to the patient based on the contact information provided. Schedule your consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

Based on the photos, your concerns appear to be related more to soft tissue laxity and facial anatomy than simply excess skin. At 33, a traditional facelift is not usually the first recommendation unless there is significant tissue descent. Depending on your examination, options such as a deep neck contouring procedure, limited lower facelift, or liposuction (if excess fat is present) may provide a more defined jawline and neck contour. A detailed assessment by a facial plastic surgeon is...

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...

I have reviewed your concerns. Liposuction may help improve the back and buffalo hump areas, but skin elasticity must be evaluated for the best result. A consultation is recommended.

We have noticed your question, and we would like to recommend consulting an experienced eye specialist for further evaluation and guidance.

After reviewing your photos, your concerns appear to be related to volume loss rather than excess eyelid skin. We recommend consulting an experienced oculoplastic surgeon for a detailed evaluation, especially given your vision changes