How long after having a baby can a breast/procedure be done?
Generally, 3 to 6 months after you have stopped breastfeeding. However, everyone’s body is different and it’s possible you’ll want to wait even longer. Due to hormonal changes it is best to wait up to six months after lactation has stopped before getting any kind of cosmetic surgery done on the breasts. This gives your body time to adjust and allows your breast tissue to “settle” into its final shape.
Scar management after the procedure
One of the m most significant concerns that patients have is the post operative scarring. With numerous products being available readily, it is difficult to find a product that truly improve on the appearance of scars. Being a clinically proven scar adjunct, a Silicone Gel improves on the appearance of a scar. Silicone sheeting is recommended, however tapping a scar and applying the adjust to the scar has the same benefit. At Dr Deon’s practice, we recommend that patients start taping their scars from as soon as stitches are removed and all wounds are healing. A scar adjunct, Scar Science, is the applied twice a day over the tape. This keeps pressure on the scar, preventing it from becoming a raised scar, and the Scar Science will improve on the appearance of the scar.
How long after a procedure can I go back to work?
For most procedures you can expect to be booked off work for at least two weeks. Recovery will be six weeks and after most procedures you can gradually continue with you normal routine and exercise.
When can I start driving After my procedure?
From two weeks onward you will be able to gradually start driving again.
When can I have intercourse after the procedure?
After most procedures, it is advisable to wait for a minimum of six weeks.
How long do I need to wear my post-op garment?
For all procedures it will be a minimum of six weeks. Compression garments minimise the occurrence of swelling, bruises and scars. Also, their positive effect on blood circulation has been proven. Moreover, compression reduces the risk of infection and pain. Compression garments are important to shape contours and stabilise the implants after plastic surgery.
Smoking before surgery
If you are a smoker (even just an occasional smoker), you need to stop smoking at least six weeks prior to your surgery. Blood tests will be done before your surgery and if any nicotine is present in the blood, the surgery will not be preformed. Small blood vessels mean less blood flow, and less blood flow means less oxygen, and less oxygen can mean tissues die. Mixing nicotine with plastic surgery can result in other problems, too:
- Loss of cheek skin, nipples or tummy skin after a facelift, breast lift, breast reduction, or tummy tuck surgery
- Infections
- Death of fat cells (fat necrosis), causing hard lumps
- Delayed wound healing
- Thick, wide scars
- Blood clots, which can be fatal
- Increased pain
- Permanent small vessel damage adding risk even if you quit
- Loss of breast implants
- Life-threatening complications like stroke, heart attack, blood clots, and pneumonia.
How long do implants last?
Breast Implants is a Class III, FDA Approved Medical Device and therefore strictly monitored. Latest Technology Implants are guaranteed to last a lifetime without rupturing and usually a 10 year replacement warranty against a capsular contracture. So in short – you have a life time to enjoy your implants!
What additional help/aftercare would I need after Surgery
For most procedures, after you leave hospital, you would need some help around the house, getting dressed, cooking and general chores around the house. You will also need someone to drive you to and from your follow up appointments at the practice.
Will I have drains after my surgery?
Yes you will have drains. Drains are placed in the areas that Doctor has worked on. These will have to be drained and measured every 24hour period. The staff working with Dr Weyers will show you how this is done and the drains are usually removed between day 5 and 7.
Sleep positioning after the procedure
For most procedures you will have to sleep slightly elevated on your back for a minimum of 6 weeks. For procedures such as 4D Ultrasound Liposculpture (liposuction), a Full Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) and a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) you will sleep with your head elevated, a pillow/pillows under your lower back and a pillow/pillows underneath your knees.
What is a Prevena Dressing?
Prevena is a wound management system that is placed over a closed surgical incision. The device applies continuous negative pressure. This helps promote healing by holding the incision edges together, drawing fluid and exudate out of the wound, reducing oedema and stimulating perfusion. The device is single use and can stay in place for up to 7 days. Prevena is available in a range of sizes and can be customised to fit any incisions. Prevena uses a stabilisation layer to make sure there is full and airtight adhesion to the skin. The part of the device touching the incision contains 0.019% ionic silver to minimise bacterial growth within the dressing.
What is Renuvion?
Renuvion® (formally known as J-Plasma®) is a revolutionary technology that uses helium gas and radiofrequency energy to create cold helium plasma, which is used to treat the underside of the skin. The ionized gas stimulates collagen production, immediately tightening the skin. Skin retraction is almost immediate, but noticeable results will take approximately 4-6 weeks as the initial swelling subsides. Final results may take up to 4-6 months. In the case of neck treatment, several days of swelling and mild bruising are followed by 4-6 weeks of “lumpy bumpy” quality to the skin. The results are typically long-lasting and can remain for up to 3 years, depending on the patient’s initial quality of skin.
What is the difference between traditional Liposuction and VASER Liposculpture?
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction, or VASER (vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance) liposuction, is an alternative to the techniques used in traditional liposuction. This ultrasound technology uses powerful waves to break apart and loosen fat from your deeper tissues so that it can more effectively be removed with a cannula during the treatment. Dr Deon Weyers explains: “Advances [in liposuction] has had this whole realm of what’s called energy-assisted liposuction and [with that] you get various forms – vaser, laser and power-assisted liposuction.”
Like traditional liposuction, vaser liposuction also liquifies the fat, but surgeons using this method refer to it as ‘emulsifying’ the fat – “you can see it [fat] as melting … so that’s why it was developed – just to make it more comfortable with less bruising to the patient.”
The downtime is exactly the same as traditional liposuction and you still follow the same steps, says Dr Deon. However, it is a longer procedure because a step is added to the surgery. “But besides having less bruising and less discomfort, the other benefits are that you have less bleeding, so you can remove a larger volume of fat than you can with traditional liposuction without having that much blood loss,” explains Dr Deon.
Another benefit of VASER liposuction is that heat generated by the ultrasound energy also creates a degree of skin and soft tissue tightening, which gives a better 3D-toned appearance, says Dr Deon. “The ultrasound-assisted liposuction has also opened up the whole realm of what’s called liposculpture, or high-definition liposuction, which is basically now an advanced technique which typically originates from Colombia, where you can now create even more toned appearances.”