Keys to a Smoother Breast Augmentation Recovery
Recovery from a breast augmentation doesn’t have to be as difficult as it’s often portrayed to be. In fact, there are a number of techniques that plastic surgeons can utilize to ease recovery, as well as advice patients can heed in order to expedite the process themselves. Below is a Q&A session we conducted with our double-board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Lawrence Tong, to highlight the keys to a smoother recovery following breast augmentation surgery. Question: Most importantly, what do patients need to know about recovery from breast augmentation? Dr. Tong: Most patients are actually surprised about the ease of recovery. Many have read about the experiences of others on the Internet and expect something much worse. In general, patients only require the narcotic-based pain medications for a few days before tapering them significantly or stopping them altogether and opting for something without narcotics. Patients are usually back to work within five to seven days, but are not allowed to exercise until one month after surgery. Tightness of the chest is a common complaint. This occurs because the muscle and skin is stretched by the implant, giving the sensation of chest tightness. The good news is, this feeling generally fades within the first few days. Sleeping with the head and chest slightly elevated will decrease chest swelling much more rapidly while helping the breast implants to settle faster. Q: What techniques […]
SPF – Its Importance
Sunscreen – Its Importance I would like to start by introducing myself, my name is Annamaria, the medical Esthetician for Dr.Tong here at the Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery and I will be writing from time to time regarding our lovely skin care products as well as the many treatments that we offer. Our clinic stands out from the rest because it is not only a full medical clinic that customizes and tailors each treatment for each individual skin condition or concern but we incorporate a variety of treatments in one session. We love to pamper and indulge our clients with luxurious serums that treat conditions such as Rosacea or acne but are also highly effective as anti-aging creams. For my first blog and probably the most important one, I will be discussing the importance of SPF. I have come across many clients that choose not to use/wear sunscreen and repeatedly I cannot help but to stress the fact that it is detrimental to your skins health. We tend to forget how crucial SPF can be in our regular daily skin care routine. It is also very important to realize that we need sun protection both in winter and summer months. Surprisingly the sun’s rays bounce off the snow and reflect onto our skin, causing damage just at a slower rate. In my opinion, sunscreen is the #1 anti-aging product […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon on the Benefits of Mommy Makeover Procedures
Dr. Lawrence Tong provides individualized mommy makeover procedures at his Toronto plastic surgery practice and lets prospective patients know what they can expect for results and recovery. Toronto, Ontario – Dr. Lawrence Tong, a Toronto plastic surgeon, knows that while motherhood brings joyful changes into a woman’s life, the progression of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and child care often cause significant changes to her physical appearance. He notes that the post-pregnancy modification of exercise routines, eating habits, and lifestyle can result not only in physiological changes, but also can negatively affect self-esteem and confidence levels. For this reason, Dr. Tong says he offers his patients at Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery mommy makeover procedures in order to address their post-pregnancy concerns. According to Dr. Tong, about 20% of his plastic surgery patients receive mommy makeover procedures. The ideal mommy makeover candidate is a woman who is in good general health, not significantly over or underweight, and near her desired post-pregnancy weight. Additionally, he says the patient should also have completed breast feeding and be at least three to six months post-delivery if she is considering tummy enhancement. A mommy makeover typically consists of a combination of procedures that are individually customized to address each patient’s unique concerns. Common mommy makeover procedures can include: Breast augmentation Breast lift Tummy tuck Liposuction Each consultation is personally conducted by Dr. Tong, and a recommendation is […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon on Benefits of Fat Transfer Procedures
TORONTO — Dr. Lawrence Tong, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Toronto, says new innovations in surgical techniques have dramatically improved the number of options available to patients for improving their appearance as well as their self-esteem. According to Dr. Tong, one of the most influential advancements in plastic surgery over the past few years has been the use of fat transfer to achieve safe, natural results during procedures like facial rejuvenation, buttock augmentation, and breast augmentation. “Fat transfer is basically removing fat from one area of the body and placing it in another to improve the volume of the recipient area,” says Dr. Tong. “The most noticeable benefits of fat transfer procedures are that the results last longer than treatments such as dermal fillers. It has the ability to create a more natural-looking outcome, especially in cases where a significant amount of volume is needed.” Dr. Tong says he typically takes fat from places where patients have an excess amount, for example the flank, outer thigh, or abdomen, and carefully injects it into areas that have lost fullness or shape. While fat transfer can be used for procedures such as buttock enhancement or breast augmentation, he says a majority of his Toronto plastic surgery patients request the technique to enhance the appearance of their faces. Particularly with facial procedures, Dr. Tong says fat transfer has become a popular method because […]
Breaking Down the Facelift with Toronto Plastic Surgeon Dr. Lawrence Tong
TORONTO, ON, CA — According to the most recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), facelifts are the fifth most popular cosmetic surgical procedure, with almost 120,000 performed in 2011. Having increased in demand by over five percent, Dr. Lawrence Tong and his Toronto plastic surgery practice say the rising demand for facial rejuvenation and facial lifting treatments has necessitated improved patient education as well as an increase in awareness about the complexities of the procedure. As a board-certified plastic surgeon in Toronto, Dr. Tong focuses on a wide variety of treatments ranging from nonsurgical injections such as BOTOX® Cosmetic to breast augmentation and the mommy makeovers. He says patient education is an essential part of the plastic surgery process, and one he promotes no matter what procedure patients are interested in. For facelifts in particular, Dr. Tong says patients should be aware of how the procedure is performed and how plastic surgeons strive to create the most natural, youthful outcome possible before they choose to undergo any treatment. “The most common concern amongst my facelift patients is the desire to look younger but with a natural appearance,” says Dr. Tong. “When I perform a facelift procedure, there are two tissue layers that are lifted and tightened: the inner ‘muscle’ layer and the skin. Most of the lift effect is attained by lifting the inner layer, and […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon On the Importance of Exercise and Nutrition After Surgery
Toronto, Ontario – The Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery, a center for plastic surgery in Toronto, offers a variety of cosmetic surgery and med spa procedures, from skin resurfacing to breast augmentation to liposuction. After any plastic surgery procedure, Dr. Lawrence Tong says patients need to take care of their investment. He stresses the importance of exercise and healthy nutrition in order to maintain the results achieved from surgery, adding that without an effort to have some type of a diet and exercise regimen, individuals can jeopardize their aesthetic results. Dr. Lawrence Tong, a board-certified Toronto plastic surgeon, says although plastic surgery can make patients look thinner or more proportionate, cosmetic surgery does not prevent or cure disease (such as diabetes or high blood pressure). Plastic surgery, therefore, represents just one facet of looking good and feeling healthy. According to Dr. Tong, allowing the body to heal after surgery is just as important as exercising afterward. If an individual begins to exercise too early, they risk adversely affecting the healing process. Additionally, exercising too early can be uncomfortable and can lead to swelling, thus prolonging the recovery time. Premature exercise after surgery also places stress on both the healing incisions and muscles, which can negatively affect the end result. The timing to start exercising varies according to the procedure. Dr. Tong says once a patient has sufficiently recovered from surgery […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon on Latest Breast Augmentation -Trends
Toronto, ON — According to the latest statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), breast augmentation is the second most common form of surgical cosmetic enhancement, with more than 316,000 procedures performed in 2011. Liposuction was the most common procedure in 2011 with 325,332 procedures performed; however, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Tong says breast augmentation is still the most popular surgical procedure at his practice. According to the ASAPS numbers, of the 316,848 breast augmentation procedures performed, 31% of these procedures used saline implants, while 69% used silicone implants. At his Toronto plastic surgery practice, Dr. Tong says an even greater percentage of patients choose silicone implants: “In Canada, silicone implants have been available for many years longer than in the United States, following the moratorium. I believe this time difference has led to significantly higher utilization of silicone vs. saline implants. In my practice, silicone implants make up more than 95% of the breast implants I use.” Regardless of whether his patients choose silicone or saline implants, the Toronto plastic surgeon says he urges anyone considering a breast enhancement procedure to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon. He says the process of undergoing multi-year specialty training and passing rigorous examinations in order to become board-certified is unparalleled, and provides surgeons with the tools and techniques to ensure each patient receives the safest care and most […]
Dr. Tong featured in May/June 2012 issue of Elevate Magazine
One of Dr. Tong’s areas of expertise is surgical facial rejuvenation. This includes facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, browlift, and ancillary procedures such as fat grafting, dermabrasion, and chin and neck liposuction. Dr. Tong is quoted in this month’s issue of Elevate magazine discussing the different types of Toronto facelift and neck lifting procedures that are available.
Toronto Plastic Surgeon Discusses Latest Trends in Asian Plastic Surgery
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — According to the most recent statistics from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), Asia currently boasts the highest number of cosmetic procedures performed with over 5.8 million total enhancements in 2010, almost 32% of all aesthetic procedures performed across the globe. With North America in second at just over 4.5 million procedures, Dr. Lawrence Tong, a plastic surgeon in Toronto, says he has observed a similar demand for cosmetic procedures at his practice, noting that an estimated one-quarter to one-third of his patients are of Asian descent. In some Asian countries such as Korea and Japan, Dr. Tong says plastic surgery has been very popular for some time; however, he says Chinese patients are a newer trend. While Japan jumped up two spots since 2009 to the fourth most plastic surgery procedures performed per country, China sits just ahead with over 1.2 million cosmetic enhancements. Dr. Tong attributes much of the rising demand for Asian plastic surgery amongst the Chinese to cultural shifts, and China’s rising affluent consumer class. He says there is a greater emphasis on beauty in modern Chinese culture, and many Chinese are looking to enhance their appearance through following Western aesthetic trends. Ironically, the desire to pursue Western aesthetic trends has led to China’s cosmetic surgery industry to become a ‘Wild West’ of sorts. There is virtually no regulation of […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon Discusses Positive Experience with Innovative Gummy Bear Breast Implants
Development of advanced breast implant offerings over the past few years such as the cohesive silicone gel (‘gummy bear’) implant has led some plastic surgeons to see a surge in popularity of these implants for breast augmentation. Having offered the ‘gummy bear’ breast implants at his Toronto plastic surgery practice, Dr. Lawrence Tong says he is extremely satisfied with the results achieved, and plans to continue offering them as an important option for elective breast enhancement surgery. Cohesive silicone breast implants (also nicknamed ‘gummy bear implants’) are the latest generation of breast implants. Although these implants have been available in Canada for a number of years, Dr. Lawrence Tong, a plastic surgeon in Toronto, says the vast majority of them are used for breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The implants have some notable aesthetic and safety advantages when compared to traditional silicone implants. Despite this, the popularity of gummy bear implants still lags behind traditional silicone implants for cosmetic breast augmentation. Following his experience with using cohesive silicone implants for breast augmentation in Toronto, Dr. Tong believes they offer significant benefits for many patients, and has seen the implants become an increasingly popular option at his practice. Cohesive silicone implants originated from the desire by implant companies to create a silicone implant that could maintain a natural teardrop shape. To accomplish this, the silicone composition was chemically altered, making it firmer […]