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...

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...

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...

It is incredibly stressful to be caught in the middle of conflicting advice from your plastic surgeon and your post-op massage therapist. You want to follow your doctor’s orders to get the best possible result, but your therapist is the one physically working on your body every week and warning you of the risks, still The Doctor have The experience, and can give you adviced based on the experience.

Dr. Luis Mejia
Let's make it better

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

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.

In my opinion, the larger part of breast reduction surgery is its functional benefit. For a young person like you, this procedure can be truly life-changing. It can relieve back and neck pain, reduce the skin irritation and rashes between and beneath the breasts, and make physical activities and exercise much more comfortable.
Most importantly, it can significantly improve your self-confidence and overall quality of life.
If your main concern is the ability to breastfeed in the future,...

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

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 what you're showing, it looks like you're pinching some excess tissue beneath your chin. Part of that appears to be loose skin, but there may also be a small amount of fat contributing to the fullness. Since you're young and haven't had significant weight fluctuations, I would expect your skin quality to be relatively good.

To give you a more accurate recommendation, I would need to see your chin in a relaxed position rather than pinching the skin, as that allows for a better...

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...

Based on the photos, your eyes do not appear significantly close-set. The spacing is generally within a normal range, and the impression of closeness is more likely related to the round shape and relatively shorter horizontal eye opening. Procedures such as lateral canthoplasty or canthopexy may help create a slightly longer, more almond-shaped appearance in appropriately selected patients. An experienced oculoplastic surgeon can determine which option would provide the most natural...