Achieving a natural tummy tuck result

Getting a tummy tuck does not mean that your abdomen and waist should look like you've had something done.  An ideal tummy tuck result for me is one where the abdomen and waist look as good as they can without appearing that there has been surgery performed.  This means that the incision looks great and its well hidden, the belly button appears natural, and the tummy tuck results blend into the flanks and remainder of the waist.

For a quick overview of what I believe a natural appearing tummy tuck result can be please take a look at this brief video clip I have put together.

All the best,

Dr. Remus Repta

Mommy Makeover

What is a Mommy Makeover?

A mommy makeover is a term used to describe a procedure or group of procedures designed to improve or reverse the effects that having children has created on the body.  Most commonly, a mommy makeover is a tummy tuck and either a breast augmentation (breast implants) or a breast aumentation and breast lift.

Does a mommy makeover look natural?

It can.  When properly designed a mommy makeover procedure can produce a natural and aesthetically pleasing result.  See the video below.

All the best,

Dr. Remus Repta

Ethnic tummy tuck

Does ethnicity (race) factor in when designing a tummy tuck procedure?

The short answer is yes.  A tummy tuck is designed to fit the individual and all of the individuals characterirstics including skin type, amount of fat, shape and size of pelivis and hips, etc.  Accomplishing a balanced, natural, and aesthetically pleasing tummy tuck result requires taking into account all of these characteristics as well as the patients desired goal.

Below is a short video showing how ethnic differences can be incorporated into a great tummy tuck result. Enjoy!

Dr. Repta before and after photo book

Hello everyone,

I've completed and published a short 60 page book containing information about who I am and what I do including before and after photos of some of my patients.

Click on the link below to access a high resolution copy of my before and after book.

All the best,

Dr. Remus Repta

http://www.drrepta.com/photo-book.pdf

Prophylactic mastectomy and breast reconstruction options

The most prominent recent news related to breast cancer and breast reconstruction has been the mainstream story that Angelina Jolie has been diagnosed with the BRCA positive gene and that she underwent bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (removal of both breast tissue mounds) as well as breast reconstruction.  Her generous sharing of information related to this event in her life and that of her family has generated a lot of discussion of breast cancer detection, breast cancer treatment, and breast reconstruction.

Along with my plastic surgery colleagues at Advanced Aesthetic Associates, I founded Breast Resource Arizona (breastresourcearizona.org) as a source of information for breast health and breast cancer particularly aimed at local women and their families.  Within the breastresourcearizona.org site there is information that addresses many of the common questions that have arisen from the recent Angelina Jolie story including the BRCA gene, prophylactic mastectomy, and breast reconstruction options.

Breast cancer detection, treatment, and reconstruction have made tremendous clinical progress over the last decade and it continues to make advancements each year with the help of courageous patients and hard working surgeons and researchers.

All the best,

Dr Remus Repta

Tummy tuck repair

What can be done to repair a tummy tuck?

I have covered some of the issues that can occur with a tummy tuck in prior posts and wanted to focus a little more on the idea of starting over again with a tummy tuck repair.

There are a handful of issues that can detract from an ideal tummy tuck result including:
-poor tummy tuck scar quality (thick scar, irregular scar)
-poor scar location (high tummy tuck scar)
-poor belly button appearance (belly button too big, scar visible, poor belly button appearance)
-too much residual fat
-too much residual skin
-insufficient abdominal wall tightening
-pseudobursa

Each of these issues can be addressed independently, however, in my experience I have found that frequently more than one of these issues exists and the best chance at an excellent result is often a full tummy tuck repair--essentially redoing the entire tummy tuck.  Although it is desirable to perform a smaller procedure a full tummy tuck repair often has the best chance of delivery the best result and really giving the patient the tummy tuck contour and appearance that they envisioned.

A full tummy tuck repair involves a careful assessment of the issues that have contributed in a less than ideal tummy tuck result and then an equally careful plan of correcting the issues and improving all of the components than will provide an excellent tummy tuck result.  In the end, I usually perform additional liposuction, lowering of the scar, removal of pseudobursa and foreign bodies, additional tightening of the abdominal wall, repair of the belly button, and proper closure of the incision line.

Below is a link from my website that represent some of what can be accomplished with a full tummy tuck repair.

http://www.aaaplasticsurgery.com/photo-gallery/details.cfm?ID=119&StartRow=6

All the best,

Dr Remus Repta

Breast Augmentation Revision

Breast Augmentation Revision

Breast augmentation is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed both in the United States as well as worldwide. We have discussed the specifics of breast augmentation in previous blog entries including types of implants available, incision location options, and whether the implants are placed on top of the muscle or below the muscle. With so many breast augmentation procedures being performed and the number of variables involved as mentioned above, it is not unreasonable to expect some breast augmentation procedures to require or benefit from revision surgery.

What is breast augmentation revision?

In general, a revision procedure is a procedure designed to improve or correct an undesirable characteristic of the initial procedure. Therefore, breast augmentation revision is repair or correction of any of the unfavorable characteristics that may be seen following breast augmentation. These may include:

1) Implant related problems of breast augmentation:

a) implant too big

b) implant too small

c) implants not the ideal size difference for symmetry

d) implant diameter too small

e) implant diameter too big

f) implant projection too small

g) implant projection too big

h) desire for silicone instead of saline (and vice versa)

2) Breast pocket related problems of breast augmentation

i) breast pocket too wide on the side (aka laterally, this is most common).

j) breast pocket too wide near the cleavage causing either too much cleavage or symmastia (inner breast borders touch)

k) breast fold too low

l) breast fold too high

m) breast fold shape not ideal

n) upper breast pocket dissected to much (breast implant migrates toward the clavicle when laying down)

o) breast pockets not symmetric

3) Breast tissue problems with breast augmentation

p) breast tissue too thin and implant visibility or palpability is an issue

q) animation. Breasts move too much when pectoralis muscle is flexed

r) capsule contracture. The capsule around the breast is excessively thick resulting in firm and/or painful breasts.

Over the next few weeks I will cover the breast augmentation revision procedures involved in every one of the breast augmentation revision problems listed above. I will designate the topic by name as well as its corresponding number-letter combination, i.e. 3p-Breast tissue too thin.

All the best,

Dr Remus Repta

Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ