Many people get plastic surgery because they feel self-conscious about their appearance. However, it’s important to remember that plastic surgery is not a miracle reconstructive surgery! While it can do a lot for your self-esteem and appearance, our patients must reach a healthy weight before attempting most plastic surgery procedures.

If this is news to you, keep reading! In this post, we’re debunking some of the most common plastic surgery myths as well as what it can (and can’t) do for you. With over 34 years of experience, the team at Dr. Brantner M.D. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery knows the facts and what you can expect from plastic surgery in Johnson City, TN.

1. Plastic Surgery Can’t Help You Lose Weight

The purpose of plastic surgery isn’t to help you lose weight; in the end, it is only a cosmetic procedure. This is just one of many myths about weight and plastic surgery. Plastic surgery does not (and will not) help with weight loss, but liposuction and breast reduction surgery can take care of fat cells in areas that won’t budge, even with diet and exercise.

2. Liposuction Doesn’t Last Forever

Unfortunately, while many of the surgical procedures we do can last indefinitely (such as breast implants), not all of them do. Liposuction and Botox are excellent examples of temporary cosmetic surgery procedures that we offer.

The amount of time that liposuction lasts varies depending on how well you take care of yourself during recovery and beyond. For example, if you continue to lose weight or maintain your current weight after a liposuction procedure, the results can last for years. However, if you experience weight gain and don’t commit to a healthy diet and exercise routine after the liposuction procedure, the fat can grow right back.

For procedures like Botox, you don’t need to do anything differently to maintain the effects, but they will naturally fade on their own over time.

3. It’s Not Better to Lose Weight Before Surgery

While you must be at a healthy weight to receive many plastic surgery procedures, that advice comes with some caveats. While you must not be exceedingly overweight, it’s more important to be at a stable weight than it is to be at your “goal” weight. Many people work hard to lose weight before their procedure, then “rebound” after their breast augmentation or liposuction, and gain the weight right back.

If possible, avoid gaining extra weight after your procedure. You can always lose weight after your procedure, but gaining weight after can leave you with stretched skin and returning fat deposits. So, in the end, if you think you’d be at risk of a rebound, losing weight before surgery may not be for you.

Have you been considering plastic surgery? Maybe you’ve been wondering about how these myths about weight and plastic surgery might affect you? If so, don’t hesitate to contact our team of plastic surgeons at Jim Brantner M.D. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Johnson City, TN, today for advice or to set up your initial consultation. You can reach our office by calling 423-328-9000 or filling out the form on our website.

Why You Should Consider Plastic Surgery

There are many reasons why men and women of all ages choose to have plastic surgery. Oftentimes, plastic surgery is a want rather than a need. The want for plastic surgery may stem from an underlying insecurity an individual has within themselves. Or maybe, they just want to fit in with a group or feel more masculine or feminine. Whatever the desire, it is an important decision to consider.

Plastic surgery gives you the option to achieve a physical look that you’ve never been able to achieve on your own. Whether you want a proportional figure, a distinguished nose, a voluptuous bust, or even a smoother face, you may want to consider plastic surgery for peace of mind and satisfaction with your body.

Common Plastic Surgery Procedures

You can get cosmetic plastic surgery on virtually any part of your body. The most common types of plastic surgery procedures include areas of the body, such as:

● Facelift
● Buttock lift
● Liposuction
● Nose reshaping
● Lip augmentation
● Microdermabrasion
● Vaginal rejuvenation
● Laser skin resurfacing
● Botox injections & fillers
● Laser treatment of leg veins
● Breast lift, augmentation, or reduction

Advantages of Plastic Surgery

Improved Mental Health
When you’re more confident, it shows in your mental health. Your physical surgery has improved your mental outlook on life. Maybe you have less social anxiety and want to get out more. Positive changes in your body can affect every aspect of your life; maybe you can finally have that girls’ night with your friends or take on a challenge with your buddies.

Enhanced Physical Health
Depending on your plastic surgery, it might improve your physical health in addition to your outward appearance. For example, a rhinoplasty (reshaping of the nose) could change your breathing for the better. A breast reduction could alleviate back pain associated with the weight of having large breasts.

Disadvantages of Plastic Surgery

Unmet Expectations
Have you ever said something out loud, only to find it sounded better in your head? Plastic surgery tends to work the same way. You may have a vision of what you expect to look like after your facelift, breast enlargement, or liposuction. The doctor removes the bandages, and what you see is not what you want. For best results, talk with your doctor to make sure they understand exactly what you expect and what they can realistically deliver.

Potential Complications

● Scarring: For most cosmetic procedures, the chance of scarring is not an option. However, surgery of any kind typically results in some form of scarring. Scarring is most evident in tummy tucks.
● Infection: Doctors take the risk of infection very seriously. However, sometimes it occurs when patients ignore their postoperative care. Infections are very common in patients who undergo breast augmentation.
● Nerve damage: If you experience numbness or tingling after plastic surgery, you may have nerve damage from your procedure. Nerve damage is also very common in patients who have undergone breast augmentation. About 15% of women experience permanent nerve damage in their nipples.

Call Now to Schedule a Consultation Today – Be Confident, Feel Beautiful.

Call (423) 328-9000 or schedule your consultation online with Jim Brantner, M.D. today.
Dr. Brantner is located in Johnson City, TN. He also services the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee, including Kingsport, Johnson City, Bristol, and the surrounding smaller communities.

Gone are the days when celebrities are at the forefront of plastic and cosmetic surgeries. Such procedures have increased in popularity, especially for men, with a 40% rise over the past decade alone. While there are many procedures for men and women, what’s the most common?

Here we explain the six most common plastic and cosmetic procedures.

Rhinoplasty

Commonly known as a nose job, this surgery is cosmetic and medically beneficial for patients suffering from breathing or structural issues. During the procedure, the patient will be under general or local anesthesia. The surgeon will make incisions inside the nostrils to restructure the bone and cartilage. Sometimes the surgeon will make an incision on the bottom of the nose.

Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure. Once the procedure is done, patients will wear a nose splint for a week. Bruising and swelling are normal but eventually pass within seven days, though the scarring can take months to fade.

Botox Injections

Botox is a form of botulinum toxin, a naturally occurring toxin in bacteria that is used to treat wrinkles, migraines, and excessive sweating. In most cases, Botox for cosmetic use is directly injected into the face or neck, tightening the muscles to reduce wrinkles or sagginess. Botox is injected into the face and neck for migraines. In the case of excessive sweating, it’s injected into the armpit.

It doesn’t take long to inject, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes in the doctor’s office, depending on the patient’s treatment. Results last four to six months for cosmetic use and four to twelve months for migraine use.

Breast Augmentation

Also known as breast enlargement, this procedure restructures breasts to make them larger. Women who’ve undergone surgery for breast cancer use augmentation for reconstruction. This procedure is either inpatient or outpatient. Some patients undergo local or general anesthesia, depending on their plan.

First, the surgeon will make an incision at the areola or in the patient’s armpit. This creates a pocket for the surgeon to place the implant under the pectoral muscle, aligning it underneath the nipples. The surgery lasts for two hours, with the removal of stitches a week later. Patients may have a post-surgical bra to support the breasts during recovery.

Facelift

Otherwise known as rhytidectomies, facelifts are surgeries that help the skin tighten to erase fine lines and wrinkles. During the procedure, the surgeon will cut at the front of the ear and toward the temples and hairline. The surgeon will then lift excess skin and drape it to tighten, thus creating a smooth texture across the face.

Stitches will line the incisions, and patients can expect removal after ten days. There will be bruising and swelling, so it can take time to see results.

Forehead Lift

Popular among adults 40 and older, forehead lifts get rid of wrinkles and fine lines by tightening the skin of one’s forehead. Many patients use this and other procedures, such as facelifts, to diminish aging effects and unwanted skin. There are two surgery options to choose from:

● In the classic procedure, the surgeon will cut beside one ear and across the forehead to the other ear. The skin is lifted for the surgeon to remove fat and tissue while sometimes moving the eyebrows higher.
● An endoscopic lift involves up to five incisions on the scalp for the endoscope to observe the tissues and muscles. A tool will lift the skin in a separate incision to remove the fat and tissue and possible muscle realignment. In this procedure, the eyebrows may also move higher.

Both inpatient and outpatient options are available, depending on the patient’s needs. In the case of breast augmentation, either general or local anesthesia will be available based on the procedure plan. Some side effects may include numbness at the incision or scalp, swelling, pain, or bruising.

Blepharoplasty

An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, lifts the eyelids to correct sagginess and excess fat. This occurs on both the upper and lower lids and isn’t dependent on age. Many younger patients have droopy eyelids or extra tissue caused by genetics. That said, most people who have blepharoplasty are 35 and older.

Eyelid lifts are either inpatient or outpatient. General or local anesthesia will be available alongside the use of sedatives. Post-surgery, the patient might be sore, and their eyelids may be tight. Short-term vision problems, inability to close one’s eyes, swelling, acne, and ectropion are possible side effects of blepharoplasty.

Want to know more about plastic and cosmetic procedures?

With many procedures to choose from, our team of experienced doctors is here to help you on your journey to the body you’ve always wanted. For more information, contact Jim Branter, M.D. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at (423) 328-9000 for service in Johnson City, TN, and the surrounding areas.

Last year, 2020 was normal until around mid-March. Our world completely flipped upside-down when COVID-19 paid a visit to the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested that hospitals and outpatient facilities limit non-essential elective surgeries during the pandemic.

Now that coronavirus cases are declining, elective surgeries are on the rise again; however, hospitals and facilities still practice safety measures. Between quarantine and stay-at-home ordinances, people have had more time alone to think about cosmetic procedures. The pandemic also warranted more virtual work environments, which caused people to look at themselves more over their webcam.

A new year brings new trends to explore. Plastic surgeries in 2021 may look a little different, though some will be repeats of previous years. Trends fade in and out, but the following 7 trends are guaranteed to be huge and in high demand this year among patients and cosmetic surgeons.

1. Browplasty (Brow Lift)

Brow lifts are one of many ways to spruce up your face. Wearing face masks has made people hyper-aware of their eyes and eyebrows. A brow lift, known as browplasty, aims to reduce wrinkles and creases that form over time across the forehead and between the eyes.

This procedure also improves the vertical frown lines that appear between the eyebrows. Browplasty raises sagging eyebrows that hang over the upper eyelids. Overall, it reorients the eyebrows into a more youthful position.

During a brow lift procedure, other surgeries can be performed, such as upper and lower eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty) and facelifts.

2. Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping)

Even though our noses are mostly covered under face masks in the pandemic era, they are still a prominent facial feature that people are likely to notice, especially on a Zoom video call. Rhinoplasty, or the reshaping of the nose, is a common cosmetic procedure.

Rhinoplasty is now available as a surgery or “liquid” procedure. Contrary to classic nose surgery, liquid rhinoplasty is getting more popular because it’s a liquid injection of hyaluronic acid (HA). Rather than going under the knife, you can opt for the non-surgical approach.

The HA injection works to reshape the nose in a safer way than going through surgery. Choosing the best option for you depends on the extent of your desired nose job.

3. Laser Resurfacing

Rather than trying to reverse the signs of aging, 2021 is the year people are getting into anti-aging. Younger people are taking preventative measures to make their youthfulness last longer, especially because they may be under harsh lighting on camera.

Laser resurfacing is attracting a wider audience of young people. Many people starting in their early 20s are considering laser resurfacing, which refers to removing the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) and allowing it to grow back.

Once the laser removes the outer layer, it heats the dermis (the next layer of skin) and stimulates the collagen fibers to grow. As the epidermis heals, it comes back much smoother and tighter.

4. Facial Rejuvenation

Facial rejuvenation is a broad term for multiple ways you can revitalize your face. Types of facial rejuvenation include laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, and facelifts. Laser resurfacing is a common type of facial rejuvenation treatment among young adults.

Similar to a chemical peel, microdermabrasion is a non-surgical procedure that renews skin tone and texture. Patients who request microdermabrasion may have sun damage, age spots, acne scarring, melasma, or other skin conditions that have left them feeling insecure. This deep exfoliation treatment will leave your face feeling as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

Facelifts were more common among aging adults in the 1970s and 1980s. Their main purpose was to tighten the skin on and around the face, including loose skin around the neck. This treatment is the least popular option in facial rejuvenation treatments now because it’s age-reversing rather than anti-aging.

5. Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation, also called enlargement or enhancement, will continue to be a popular cosmetic surgery. Technological and surgical advancements have changed the science of breast augmentation.

These improvements have helped reduce recovery times and lessen pain. However, the procedure is still the same: the surgeon places silicone or saline implants in each breast to enhance its size and shape.

6. Non-Surgical Injectable Fillers

In general, there has been an increase in non-surgical treatments, mostly due to pain, cost, and recovery time.

Botox is a popular facial injection that temporarily smooths skin. Its popularity is due in part to its short recovery time. However, the results are not permanent, and treatment must be repeated two to three times a year.

Facial fillers are generally made of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and hydroxyapatite. Fillers reduce wrinkles, raise depression wounds from scarring, enhance lips, and restore soft tissue. Fillers are often used with Botox to lengthen the time before more treatments are needed.

7. Body Contouring

Liposuction and CoolSculpting, also known as body contouring, have been on the rise and will continue their upswing throughout 2021. During quarantine, many people gained the “quarantine 15,” which refers to a 15-pound weight gain resulting from the stay-at-home orders of COVID-19.

Liposuction uses a suction technique to remove fat from parts of the body. The most popular areas to remove fat among men and women are in the hips, thighs, upper arms, and abdomen.

CoolSculpting is a non-invasive body contouring treatment that essentially freezes and kills fat cells, causing the treated area to melt away. Following treatment, your body will naturally wipe out the dead cells in one to three months.

Call Dr. Jim Brantner, M.D. for Your 2021 Plastic Surgery Goals in Johnson City, TN

Make 2021 your year to look and feel your best. To schedule a consultation, call the office of Dr. Jim Brantner at (423) 328-9000 or send a message. Dr. Brantner services the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee.

Each and every year, thousands of individuals all over the world start the year by making a promise to themselves that now is the time for a change.   

With these resolutions, many of us vow to enhance our quality of life and well-being by taking positive steps to improve our happiness, health and confidence.

From kicking bad habits to starting healthier new ones, the possibilities are endless.

Such resolutions could represent the golden ticket to your dream job, weight loss goals, fitness aspirations, and more.

But it takes a strong will to see these resolutions through. We’re all too familiar with that feeling. The one that sets in a few weeks later when we realize that once again, we have failed to keep those promises to ourselves. There’s always a feeling that sets in when the motivation you had diminishes and the struggle of the challenge sets in.

We all know how hard it can be to change our lifestyles for the better, even when we desperately want to. Family, finances and work commitments can all get in the way of our personal goals and ambitions. Keeping resolutions is a hard thing to do and we all need a little help from time to time.

Is there Another Option to Reach Your Goals?

While hard work and determination are not to be ignored, sometimes we could all use a little extra help and motivation to keep pushing towards our goals.

If you haven’t yet considered how plastic surgery could help you to keep your resolutions and achieve your goals, maybe its time you took another look.

There are plenty of ways that plastic surgery can give you the confidence and motivation to succeed and break bad habits that are holding you back.

Plastic Surgery can:

• Improve self-confidence
• Aid in career advancement
• Enhance perception of yourself by others
• Offer health benefits
• And more…

Want to discover how plastic surgery can help you to change your life for the better this year? Read on to find out more.

How Plastic Surgery Can Help You to Get A New Job or Advance Your Career

While employers shouldn’t discriminate (for both moral and legal reasons), research has shown that when it comes to succeeding in the workplace, your image and appearance really do matter. A 2017 Forbes survey of 500 hiring professionals revealed that image and appearance played a huge role in affecting hiring decisions.

Research also shows that all things being equal, the “fitter” and “better looking” the individual is, the more likely they are to be hired in many cases. Employers can make judgements based on your appearance either consciously or subconsciously.

If you look overweight for example, your appearance could indicate higher insurance costs for the employer. It may also indicate a lack of motivation and the employer may worry that you will take more time off work, perhaps demanding more sick days. All of these factors can cause an existing or prospective employer to make unfair judgements about you, before you’ve even demonstrated your ability to succeed at your job.

If you feel like this could be happening to you then there is a way to take back control. Plastic surgery can help you to present the best version of yourself to your current or prospective employer. Showing yourself at your best means that your employer can focus on the quality of your hard work. Plastic surgery can give you the boost you need to go out and get that dream job or nail that promotion.

How Plastic Surgery Can Improve Your Self-Confidence

For better or worse, much of our self-confidence stems from our outward appearance and how we think others perceive us. When we feel good about our outside appearance, our confidence grows. Many studies have shown that self-confidence is directly linked to improved performance. When you feel confident you are more likely to achieve those goals you set yourself.

Whether you need a little boost to get you into the gym or the extra confidence to ask for that promotion, plastic surgery can improve your self-confidence by removing those little things that negatively affect your confidence, helping you to be your best self.

How Plastic Surgery Can Improve Your Health

If your resolution is to improve your health, plastic surgery could help you to stay on track. Some procedures, such as Liposuction can help to improve your overall health metrics, from your blood pressure to your cholesterol levels. If you’ve tried time and time again to reach those health resolutions but you just can’t seem to meet your goals, plastic surgery can be the kick-start that you need to make 2019 your year for success.

Ready to Explore the Idea of Plastic Surgery Further?

So why wait? If you’ve been trying and failing to keep those new year’s resolutions, perhaps something else is holding you back. It’s time to make that change once and for all. Plastic surgery can give you that boost of confidence and motivation that you need to make 2019 your year.  After all, you deserve it.

REFERENCES:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaroepe/2017/11/01/how-your-appearance-impacts-hiring-decisions/#a083a38153de

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/shyness-is-nice/201809/why-self-confidence-is-more-important-you-think