Nov 25, 2014 | Uncategorized
We are all blessed with untold daily riches: family and friends, the beauty of the Tennessee mountains, and the opportunity to take a break from the day-to-day and enjoy a home cooked holiday meal. We know we’re not the only ones looking forward to a long weekend of cooking and eating, exploring, and relaxing on the couch with our favorite people and a football game.
Dr. Brantner and his staff would like to thank you for adding their daily blessings. We are grateful for each and every patient who allows us to share our expertise, who gives us homemade treasures, and who greets us with a smile. We hope that we are able to bless you in the same way that you have blessed us: with a kind word, a welcoming smile, and with an extra boost of confidence to help you face the day.
Happy Thanksgiving, Johnson City, from all of us at Jim Brantner MD, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Nov 21, 2014 | Face, Uncategorized
When you have any kind of facial or body rejuvenation procedure, Dr. Brantner will give you instructions for after your surgery. These include everything from post-op care to ensuring a low-pain recovery. But many patients ignore one crucial area of post-op recovery: skin care. Proper skin care after a surgery will improve results, help patients heal faster, and extend the life of a cosmetic procedure. Make the most of your plastic surgery with these post-surgery skin care tips.
Minimizing Scars
When performing cosmetic surgery, Dr. Brantner makes small, precise incisions to reduce scarring. However, all cosmetic procedures involve minimal scarring. Patients can reduce the visibility of surgical scars by:
- Following Dr. Brantner’s post-surgery instructions
- Keeping the wound clean and covered as it heals
- Keeping the scar out of direct sunlight
- Using mild, unscented soaps
- Applying fragrance-free moisturizer to the wound after suture removal
- Refraining from smoking and drinking, which dry the skin
Post-Facelift Skin Care
Patients who implement a regular skin care regime after facial rejuvenation have better results. Whether you’ve had a non-surgical chemical peel, an injectible filler procedure, or a facelift, you can increase the longevity of your regained youthful appearance by properly caring for your skin after a facial procedure.
- Follow any post-op instructions provided by Dr. Brantner and his staff
- Stop using topical medicines (for the timespan indicated by Dr. Brantner in your surgical consultation)
- Use mild, fragrance-free soaps and lotions
- Moisturize daily
- Stop using makeup until directed by Dr. Brantner, and always wash off makeup at night
- Avoid direct sunlight during recovery and apply sunscreen year-round
- Don’t touch or pick stitches, scars, or scabs
- Eat healthy foods and stay hydrated
A chemical peel, Botox treatment, or facelift surgery can reduce lines and wrinkles, giving patients more youthful skin. Make your cosmetic procedure more effective by practicing post-procedure skin care as recommended by Dr. Brantner.
photo from FreeDigitalPhotos
Nov 14, 2014 | Uncategorized
In a world of Victoria’s Secret ads and non-standard bra sizes, finding a bra that fits is nearly impossible. The American bra manufacturing industry is notorious for vanity sizing, a lack of proper measurement, and changing cup size based on band size. Some women wear a B-cup or a D-cup depending on where they’re shopping. Others’ bra sizes vary widely within the same store. Finding a properly fitted bra is difficult, but not impossible. Keep your breasts healthy and supported by measuring your breasts and trying on old bras for fit, whether or not you’ve recently had breast surgery.
Find Your Correct Band Size
Although many lingerie stores determine band size by measuring above the breasts, the best way to find your correct band size is to measure directly beneath the breast tissue. In a private space, measure directly below the breasts and write down the measurement (for best results, wear only a thin undershirt). A properly fitted band:
- Should rest flat across the back
- Should not dig into the skin
- Should be comfortable and supportive
Find the Right Cup Size
To properly measure breast tissue, first remove your bra. Measure at the widest point of the breast (usually flat across the nipple), taking care to keep the measuring tape straight. Write down the measurement. If you have an excess of breast tissue beneath the armpits, lean perpendicular to the floor before measuring to guarantee you’re measuring all of your breast tissue. A properly fitted bra cup should:
- Completely encase the breast tissue
- Support the breasts at a natural height
- Have no gaps or ripples
- Eliminate breast spillage
- Feel comfortable
Find a Bra that Fits
Subtract the band size measurement from from the cup size measurement and check a bra fit chart to determine your proper bra size. Many women have to change bra sizes based on where they shop. In the end you should buy bras based on fit instead of size. Buy a bra you can wear comfortably on the loosest hook. Bras stretch as you wear them, so you need to be able to fasten your bra more tightly in the future. A good bra will:
- Support the breasts, keeping them lifted
- Minimize back and shoulder pain from heavy breasts
- Not dig into the back, breast tissue, or shoulders
- Not feel flimsy or loose
Do you have questions about how poorly fitted bras affect breast and back health? Call Dr. Brantner’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery office.
photo from FreeDigitalPhotos
Nov 7, 2014 | Breast Reduction, Uncategorized
Many women struggle under the weight of overly large breasts. Heavy breasts can lead to a variety of physical and emotional discomforts, causing women with large breasts to develop self-image issues. A reduction mammaplasty, more commonly known as breast reduction surgery, is a highly personalized procedure that reduces the fat, tissue, and skin of large breasts to eliminate pain and give patients a balanced aesthetic.
Choosing a Breast Reduction
As with any cosmetic surgery, women have varied and highly personal reasons for choosing breast reduction surgery. Some of the most common include back pain due to large breasts, a lack of self-confidence, and difficulty leading an active lifestyle. Women should not undergo a reduction mammoplasty to please a loved one, but to reinvigorate her life, her health, and her self-image. You may be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery if:
- You are unhappy with the size of your breasts
- The weight of your breasts causes you physical discomfort (including back, neck, or shoulder pain)
- The size of your breasts limits physical activity
- Your nipples hang below the crease of your breast when unsupported
- The skin beneath your breasts is often irritated
- Your breasts have low-hanging, stretched skin and overlarge areolas
Breast Reduction Consultation
Before having breast reduction surgery, patients consult with Dr. Brantner about their health, the surgical process, and their desires for the outcome of the surgery. Some insurance providers cover breast reduction surgery if the size of the breasts causes back pain, neck pain, or other health problems.
If you’re unhappy with the size or shape of your breasts, call Dr. Brantner’s office to schedule a breast reduction consultation.
photo from FreeDigitalPhotos
Nov 3, 2014 | Uncategorized
Everyone wants to look their best for holiday pictures. Whether that means Botox, a chemical peel, or a facelift varies patient to patient. Dr. Brantner and his staff are here to help you find your inner confidence this holiday season. If you’ve been contemplating a surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedure, here’s what you need to know about looking your best for the holidays.
Schedule Your Surgery
The holidays may seem distant right now, but Thanksgiving is only a month away, and Christmas will arrive before you know it. Look your best for Christmas parties and Thanksgiving supper by planning any cosmetic treatments well in advance. If a chemical peel is on your pre-holiday to-do list, remember that skin may appear red and irritated for 24-48 hours after the procedure. Patients may also need several days to see the full effects of Botox and injectable fillers. Cosmetic surgery requires a more extended recovery time and may hinder your ability to haul 10 lb turkeys out of the oven. If you’re planning a facelift or body rejuvenation procedure, ask Dr. Brantner’s scheduling coordinator how much recovery time you’ll need before diving into the holidays.
Holiday Scheduling
If you’re planning cosmetic surgery around the holidays, book as far in advance as possible. For some women the holidays are an excellent time to take an extended leave from work and recuperate from surgery. For other women, the holidays are full of holiday shopping, days of cooking, and kids on vacation from school. Plan your holiday surgery at a time that’s convenient for your schedule, keeping in mind you may need 3-5 days of recovery time and an additional few weeks without heavy lifting.
Want an extra boost of confidence for the holidays this year? Schedule a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Brantner and reveal the you you know you can be.
photo from FreeDigitalPhotos
We are all blessed with untold daily riches: family and friends, the beauty of the Tennessee mountains, and the opportunity to take a break from the day-to-day and enjoy a home cooked holiday meal. We know we’re not the only ones looking forward to a long weekend of cooking and eating, exploring, and relaxing on the couch with our favorite people and a football game.
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