3 Minute Read:

Body contouring procedures, such as tummy tuck surgery and thigh lift surgery, tone and sculpt the body by tightening skin and muscles, while liposuction permanently removes excess fat cells. While these procedures help create a slimmer figure, they will not prevent you from gaining additional weight down the line.

Why Are Body Contouring Procedures Not Permanent? 

Many patients incorrectly assume that their body contouring results will be permanent—and with the financial investment and discomfort involved with the recovery period—you want it to be. 

Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Your metabolism is constantly fluctuating, and, just because you have a well-functioning one right now, there is no guarantee that you will still have it in two or three years if you stop being active and ignore proper nutrition. Your body is fragile, and it can be affected by weight gain, pregnancy, and age-related gravity.

How Can You Prevent Gaining Weight? 

Even though your body contouring results are not necessarily permanent, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be. A patient can maintain their results and trimmer physique for decades if they put in the work and take care of themselves. And fortunately, maintaining results is easier than one might think.

Break a Sweat

Believe it or not, the way to maintain plastic surgery results is no different than managing your weight naturally, and exercise is a vital element to staying slim and physically healthy.

While you cannot return to strenuous activity immediately following your body contouring, you can work your way back into it slowly. 

It is suggested to start walking the day after your body contouring procedure and gradually increase your level of activity after four to six weeks. 

A consistent exercise routine will help to keep your heart strong, your curves defined, and excess fat at bay.

Focus on Your Food Intake

Just like exercise, proper nutrition is essential for your physical and emotional health, and it is one of the best ways to keep your newly trim silhouette looking that way. 

While everyone has a specific combination of nutrients that work best for their body, it is commonly suggested to follow a diet that is high in lean protein, vitamins, and antioxidants and low in refined sugars and processed carbohydrates. These menus usually consist of fish, chicken, vegetables, berries, and nuts.

Get Your ZZZ’s

It can be hard (if not impossible) to get an adequate amount of sleep each night with busy work schedules and family commitments. And while you are hopefully taking our current quarantine as a time to catch up on some much-needed rest, it is a practice that should be continued once everything goes back to normal.

During your initial body contouring recovery, you were given instructions to rest often so that your body can heal and regenerate. The same recommendation follows even after you are healed. Getting enough sleep is essential for your mental and physical health and well-being. 

Not only will adequate sleep give you more energy for activities like exercise, but it is also shown to help increase your metabolism.

If you continue to follow healthy lifestyle habits, you may see your body contours improve far beyond your initial surgical result.

Want to Know More About Body Contouring Procedures? 

If you would like to learn more about body contouring procedures in Panama City, Florida, contact us at (850) 769-7270 or fill out our online contact form.

3 Minute Read:

You have done the squats. You have done the dieting. You feel like you finally see some muscle under those thighs again. But there is still something holding back that perfectly chiseled look. 

What is it? Is it excess skin that is causing chafing? Is it stubborn fat that just does not seem to go anywhere?

Having excess skin and fat around the thighs can significantly take away from the tone in your lower body. Fortunately, thigh lift surgery and liposuction can make it substantially easier to see the muscular definition in your legs. 

Here are some ways a thigh lift and liposuction can be performed to achieve the singular goal of amplifying your physique to the highest aesthetic. 

How Can Thigh Lifts Show More Tone In My Thighs?

Excess skin on the thighs occurs after significant weight loss or with the natural aging process. This skin often rubs together to create uncomfortable and unsightly rashes. 

Thigh lift surgery removes the excess skin on the thighs so that the legs appear firmer and more muscular. 

A thigh lift is unique in that its incision patterns are based on the area or areas of the tissue matrixes that need to be reshaped, tightened, or reduced to achieve the ideal proportions and contours. 

For example, it is common for incisions to exist in the groin and extend downward to wrap around the back of the thigh. Naturally, this makes the incision considerably harder to notice when the scars begin to heal. 

To bring out a better-toned lower body, some incisions may only occur in the groin area or extend from the groin around the hip. The smoothness and tightness that is bound to bring out all your tone are only going to look better with time, as your swelling subsides, and your body gets a chance to rest. 

How Can Liposuction Show More Tone In My Thighs? 

Liposuction precisely removes localized fat deposits to recontour one or multiple areas of the lower body for a smoother, youthful, and elegant look. 

For patients that are doing everything they can to show off their tone but are still having trouble with specific pockets of fat trouble, liposuction can be an essential tool in body contouring. 

Liposuction is most successful for those already close to their ideal weight, so if you have been waiting to show off all the hard work you did at the gym, liposuction may be the perfect treatment for you to top off your hard-earned results. 

Can I Workout After Thigh Lift and Liposuction Surgery? 

Those looking to maintain their new look and hit the gym as soon as possible should be happy to hear that you should start walking around in the hours and days following your thigh lift to reduce swelling and clotting in the legs. 

Yet, healing is different for everyone, and patients will be prompted to be careful in performing a rigorous activity for about a month. The follow-up visits you schedule will be designed to monitor your healing progress. 

Four to six weeks after your treatments, you should be able to notice a considerable difference in the tone and definition of your lower body. 

How Can I Learn More About Showing More Tone With Cosmetic Surgery?

If you are interested in learning more about thigh lifts and liposuction or would like to set up a consultation with Dr. Mockler, contact Panama City Plastic Surgery by calling  (850) 769-7270  or by filling out our online contact form.

3 Minute Read:

If age and weight loss have left you with stretched, hanging, and flabby skin, or pregnancy has resulted in stretched or separated abdominal muscles, tummy tuck surgery can restore a svelte and trim midsection. 

Tummy tuck surgery is performed by tightening the abdominal skin and muscles and removing stubborn fat pockets. This plastic surgery procedure offers physical and aesthetic improvement.

What Are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck?  

1. Removes Excess Skin

Sagging, hanging skin results in skin rashes and chafing, which can be uncomfortable and unsightly. Eliminating excess skin with tummy tuck surgery reduces these types of skin irritations.

2. Repairs Diastasis Recti

During pregnancy, your growing baby puts significant pressure on your abdominal muscles. This pressure can cause the two sides of your ab muscles to separate—creating a condition known as diastasis recti. 

Tummy tuck surgery is the only way to repair separated abdominal muscles. 

3. Corrects Ventral Hernias

A ventral hernia is a pocket of abdominal tissue that breaks through the ab wall. This is possible after pregnancy (especially in women who have had C-sections) or after significant weight loss. 

The surgery to repair a ventral hernia is not much different than a tummy tuck, and a tummy tuck will repair a ventral hernia. If you have a hernia that needs correction, it is smart to take advantage of the added tummy tuck benefits.

4. Improves Posture

Tightening a lax abdomen not only gives you the confidence to stand taller, but it also makes it easier for you to do so. Tummy tuck surgery strengthens the core by repairing the muscles, and this allows your posture to improve.  

Improved posture is also known to reduce back pain.

5. Reduces Stress Urinary Incontinence

Some women develop bladder control problems after having children, and occasionally, it is due to the weakened abdominal muscles. Since tummy tuck surgery tightens these muscles, it can relieve pressure and act as a treatment for stress urinary incontinence.

6. Increases Ease of Exercise

Having excess skin or weakened abdominal muscles can get in the way of exercise, and as we all know, exercise is essential for a healthy body and life. When you eliminate what is getting in the way of your activity, you may find that you are more comfortable and more willing to work out.

7. Offers a Wider Availability of Clothing

When you have hanging skin or a protruding stomach, you may feel obligated to hide these features under layers of clothes or feel self-conscious when you are at the beach. Tightening the abdomen allows you to move past these fears and embrace all styles of clothing.

Why Is Winter the Best Time for a Tummy Tuck?

Tummy tuck surgery cuts through skin, muscle, and fat on the abdomen. 

Since the core muscles (abdominal muscles) are the epicenter for all of your movements, injury to the core is an injury to your entire body. Therefore, you will need an adequate amount of time to recover. 

Most tummy tuck patients experience a downtime of one to two months. While you can return to work and your day-to-day activities far sooner than that (within one to two weeks), you cannot exercise or overexert yourself for at least six weeks. 

Since spring and summer are the months that most people typically want to go out and be active—especially with the sunny Florida beaches just a step away—they are not ideal seasons to be cooped up at home.

Choosing tummy tuck surgery in winter allows you to have plenty of time to rest in the colder months. Also, it is a lot easier to hide incision bandages and swelling under sweaters and jackets than it is with shorts and bathing suits.

Are You Interested in Tummy Tuck Surgery in Panama City, FL?

To learn more about tummy tuck surgery or to set up your consultation before the end of winter, contact Dr. Raymond Mockler at Panama City Plastic Surgery by calling (850) 769-7270 or by filling out our online contact form.

4 Min Read

Are you considering breast augmentation this year? If so, it may be time to start preparing yourself for what will come after your surgery. 

All surgical procedures require a recovery period, and breast augmentation is no different. As the 360,000 women that underwent breast augmentation last year can tell you, recovery from the procedure is not always a walk in the park; however, with proper preparation, it is quite manageable.

To help prepare you, we have collected some of the most common questions asked about breast augmentation recovery. 

When Can I Go Back to Work After Breast Augmentation?

Most women only receive a limited amount of vacation time each year. Therefore, it is essential to know how much of that time will be needed to recover from breast surgery.

It is traditionally suggested to take one to two weeks off of work and your regular activities. This timeline can vary either way depending on the difficulty of your job. Jobs that are more strenuous and require a lot of movement may require more time, but desk-type jobs may only need a few days.

When Will the Swelling Go Down After Breast Augmentation?

Swelling is normal and expected following breast surgery as swelling is your body’s natural response to trauma.

For most patients, swelling peaks during the first three days and then gradually begins to taper off. The majority of the swelling should subside within three to four weeks, but some residual swelling may be present for three to four months.

When Should I Start Massaging My Breasts After Breast Augmentation?

Breast massages are a useful practice following breast augmentation to keep your implants soft, reduce the chances of capsular contracture, and promote comfort. 

Breast implant massages should start once the incisions have closed, which typically occurs one to two weeks post-op. 

If you are interested in performing breast implant massages, ask your surgeon for appropriate techniques during your consultation.

How Long After Breast Augmentation Can I Work Out?

Your breast tissue and chest muscles need time to rest and heal after your breast augmentation. You should be wary about heading to the gym in the weeks following your operation. 

Straining your body compromises your healing process and can result in complications or a prolonged recovery period.

While everyone heals at a different rate, women should not lift, pull, or push any objects that are over 10 pounds for at least three to four weeks.

When Can I Sleep on My Stomach After Breast Augmentation? 

If you are a stomach-sleeper or a side-sleeper, you may be in for a surprise after your breast augmentation. Since sleeping on either the stomach or side may strain your incisions and irritate your implants, you must sleep on your back for at least two months.

Sleeping on your back will minimize swelling and enhance comfort. 

If you commonly move around or flip during the night, it may be beneficial to put pillows on either side of you that will prevent you from doing so.

How Long Will My Nipples Be Numb After Breast Augmentation?

It is not uncommon to experience changes in nipple or skin sensation or numbness following breast surgery. This numbness is usually temporary, and you should regain feeling in your nipples within a few months. 

Permanent numbness or sensation loss is very rare after breast augmentation. 

When Can I Start Wearing an Underwire Bra?

Many women are anxious to go bra shopping immediately after their augmentation. This is dangerous for two reasons. The first reason is that, since swelling takes several months to dissipate fully, your breasts will not take on their final size appearance for close to one year. 

Therefore, you will want to add to your bra collection slowly, so that you do not have a large pile of bras that are not the correct size for you. 

Secondly, underwire bras should not be worn for the first few months of your recovery. Underwire bras can irritate the area along the breast crease. Since this is where many augmentation incisions are, the wires can irritate the incisions, and even cause the incisions to separate on rare occasions. 

Women whose implants were placed through incisions made around the areola or in the armpit may be able to return to an underwire bra sooner than a woman whose incision was made along the breast crease.

Is it Normal to Have Shooting Pains in My Breasts?

While the feeling of intense, shooting pains in your nipples or breasts is disconcerting, it should not be cause for concern. These bursts of pain are a result of the nerve endings trying to heal and repair themselves. 

Shooting pains in the breast are most common during the first few weeks of your recovery, but they can persist for several months.

Interested in Learning More

If you are looking for more information about breast augmentation or want to set up a consultation with Dr. Mockler, contact Panama City Plastic Surgery by calling (850) 769-7270 tor buy filling out our online contact form. 

Dr. Mockler performs breast augmentation in Panama City, Florida.

3 Min Read

Men and women choose facelift surgery as a way to keep pesky facial aging at bay.

This goal is accomplished by surgically tightening the tissues on either side of the face to smooth wrinkles, reposition facial volume, and restore youthful contours.

How Is Facelift Surgery Performed?

Traditional facelift surgery makes incisions on the sides of the face that begin at the temple in the hairline, crosses in front of the ear, and ends behind the ear.

The time you spend in front of the mirror is where you contemplate your facial aging the most. Facelift surgery can correct many of the issues you notice every morning.

The underlying facial tissues are separated from the skin and tightened in a vertical direction.

Loose skin is then trimmed along the incision to create a taut—without looking overly pulled—contour.

To see if you are a candidate for facelift surgery, contact Dr. Mockler at Panama City Plastic Surgery by calling (850) 769-7270 to schedule a consultation.

How Long Does a Facelift Last?

Facelift surgery results in a refreshed and rested facial appearance.

This procedure will not make you look like an entirely different person, but it will reduce noticeable aging for many years.

Sadly, facelift surgery is not the fountain of youth, and this procedure will not prevent or even halt the aging process.

Visible facial aging is the result of tissue breakdown that results from natural collagen loss, sun damage, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and poor skin care.

Facelift surgery targets the lines, wrinkles, and sagging tissues that result from these things and restores them to a more youthful version.

Unfortunately, the facial tissues will continue to break down, regardless of whether a facelift was performed.

Think of a facelift as a rewind, not as a pause.

How Will My Facelift Age?

Many patients develop aging after a facelift in the same way and areas that they developed facial aging initially.

Lines will develop around the nose and mouth, the cheeks will lose some of their fullness, and the jawline will eventually soften.

Is Facelift Surgery Worth It?

Some men and women may doubt their desire for facelift surgery after hearing that the aging process will possibly create future wrinkles and sagging once again.

Although you will experience additional signs of aging, this may not occur for several years, and, even then, your skin quality will always be firmer and smoother than it would have been without the surgery.

What Is the Right Age for a Facelift?

Facelift surgery is beneficial for anyone that is looking to reverse the signs of aging, whether those signs are minimal or significant.

Facelift surgery is usually performed on patients between the ages of 40 and 60; however, that range does not mean that facelift surgery is not helpful for younger or older patients.

Your physical age means very little when it comes to facelift candidacy. Your skin quality, the amount of visible aging, your overall health plays a far more significant role in whether or not a facelift is for you.

How Can I Extend My Facelift Results?

Even though you cannot freeze your facelift, you can help to prolong the quality of your results.

This can be accomplished by following a healthy lifestyle, protecting your skin from the sun, and not smoking.

Non-surgical injectable fillers like JUVÉDERM® can temporarily reduce the appearance of lines and volume loss when they develop.

Interested in Learning More?

If you have additional questions about facelift surgery or would like to find facelift surgery near you, contact Dr. Mockler by filling out our online contact form.

Dr. Mockler performs facelift surgery in Panama City, Florida.

Having children affects every aspect of your life, especially your physique. Even though most women are aware of these inevitable changes before their pregnancy, it can still be surprising to see them developing in their bodies.

A pregnant mother cradling her stomach.

While some women consider these transformations to be a badge of honor and proof that they have given birth, other women decide they would be happier without the physical evidence displayed on their abdomens.

The childbearing process affects nearly every area of your body from your breasts to your thighs, but the area most affected is the abdomen.

What Happens to Your Abdomen When You Are Pregnant?

Over a 40-week timeframe, the abdominal area stretches an unimaginable amount to accommodate your growing baby.

While some women’s midsections can bounce back after this process, most women are not this lucky. The result is excess skin, excess fat, separated abdominal muscles, stretch marks, and unwanted C-section scars.

What Is Diastasis Recti?

Your abdominal muscles are separated into two sections (a right side and a left side). These two abdominal muscles are usually spaced one finger’s width apart.

During pregnancy, the abdomen expands due to increased hormone production and a growing uterus that protects and nourishes your baby.

Before you get pregnant, your uterus is roughly the size of a pear. Over the following nine months, it will grow to nearly five times that size.

This increase pushes the abdomen out, stretching the muscles and the skin that covers them. The pressure of this can cause the muscles to separate or tear.

This condition is known as diastasis recti, and it affects nearly 60 percent of postpartum women.

While the likelihood of diastasis recti is lessened when a woman starts her pregnancy with strong and toned core muscles, there is no way to prevent this situation from occurring. It can develop with any woman at any time.

If diastasis recti occurs, the abdomen will not shrink back to its pre-pregnancy form. Instead, women are left with a lower stomach pooch that consists of loose skin and the separated muscles.

No diet or exercise program can tighten this pooch because excess fat is not the cause. Surgical treatment is the only option.

What Can Be Done for the Abdomen?

A lax midsection can be corrected with a Mommy Makeover. This surgical makeover combines a series of cosmetic procedures that address the areas of the body that are affected by the childbearing process.

A Mommy Makeover is for women who have worked hard to lose their baby weight but are struggling with loose skin, separated abdominal muscles, and stubborn pockets of fat.

When addressing the midsection in a Mommy Makeover, a tummy tuck is typically combined with liposuction.

Liposuction can remove localized pockets of fat in the lower abdomen, upper abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, and back.

Tummy tuck surgery will then surgically tighten and restore the abdominal muscles and trim away stretched or loose skin on the lower abdomen.

It is recommended that women wait for their Mommy Makeover until they are finished having children.

Does a Mommy Makeover Remove Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks can develop anywhere on the body that experiences a rapid increase in volume. These are common during pregnancy.

While removing stretch marks is not the main focus of a Mommy Makeover, some may be removed on the lower abdomen if they are located on the area of skin that is trimmed away.

Can a Mommy Makeover Lessen a C-Section Scar?

Having a cesarean section during childbirth is an unexpected but sometimes necessary part of the childbearing process for many women.

Women who undergo a C-section are left with a horizontal scar across their lower abdomen. As scar aesthetics are not a primary focus for your doctor during a C-section, the scar is often more significant than it needs to be.

The C-section incision can be used during a tummy tuck. Since plastic surgeons are more aware and concerned about the appearance of the resulting scar, they can often smooth the scar tissue and lessen the visibility of the said scar.

While there is no way to eliminate a scar after a surgical procedure, it will be easier to hide beneath underwear and bathing suits.

To Find Out More

If you would like to learn more about the Mommy Makeover package or to find a Mommy Makeover near you, contact Mr. Mockler at Panama City Plastic Surgery by calling (850) 769-7270 or by filling out our online contact form.