Pick Your Surgeon Carefully                                                                 

The quality of your results will depend on the skill and experience of the surgeon you select, and the approach he or she takes. A qualified facelift surgeon is well versed in techniques that create natural, long-lasting results, and will be able to recommend the right approach for your needs.

You will most likely achieve better-looking and longer-lasting benefits from a traditional facelift procedure — which addresses the underlying structures of your face, including the fat and muscle — than you would with a “skin-only” lift that simply tightens the skin. Traditional facelift requires the knowledge and expertise of a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Quit Smoking

One of the best things you can do to prolong the anti-aging effects of facelift is not smoke or use tobacco products. Smoking accelerates the aging of the skin, leading to wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.

Protect Yourself from UV Exposure

UV rays are also harmful to the health and vitality of the skin. Spending too much time in the sun or on a tanning bed can lead to wrinkling, sagging skin and fine lines that detract from the results of a facelift. After surgery, it is best to wear sunscreen when going outdoors, avoid the sun between peak hours and refrain from deliberate tanning (both outside and on tanning beds).

Consider Maintenance Procedures

Certain anti-aging procedures can help keep the face looking youthful in the years following facelift without requiring additional surgery. For example, Botox injections can soften lines around the eyes and forehead, and fillers or fat transfer can add volume to areas where it has been lost. Laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels will gently remove the top layer of sun-damaged or hyperpigmented skin while triggering the production of collagen for softer, smoother skin.

Dr. Greenwald can suggest the procedure or combination of procedures that he feels will offer the best benefits.

Contact Dr. Greenwald

For more information about facelift surgery or maintaining the results of facelift, Dr. Greenwald invites you to call or email us today.

The post Prolonging Your Facelift Results appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

Read on as Dr. Joshua Greenwald discusses key similarities and distinctions between male and female breast reduction.

Both Men and Women Can Be Affected by Large Breasts

For men with gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts, their chest can be a source of shame or embarrassment. They may feel as though their appearance doesn’t adequately reflect their masculinity. Male breast reduction is the best way to achieve the fit, “manly” appearance they desire.

For women, having large breasts can be a source of shame but also cause other issues affecting health and daily function. The weight and mass of the breasts can lead to chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. Women with oversized breasts may struggle with rashes, infections, deep grooves in the shoulders from bra straps digging into the skin, poor posture and/or breathing problems. These obstacles may interfere with simple, everyday activities and diminish quality of life. Breast reduction is tremendously beneficial for reducing or eliminating the discomfort and interference of large breasts.

Is the Procedure the Same?

Although male and female breast reduction share similarities, the surgical approaches are different.

With male breast reduction, the goal is to restore a classically masculine (i.e., very flat) appearance to the chest. Also, since a man’s chest is visible in a bathing suit, the surgery must accomplish this goal with as little scarring as possible. Normally liposuction is performed to eliminate excess fat on the chest area. Any excess glandular tissue is excised through small incisions made around the nipple-areolar complex. The incisions are designed so that scarring fades into the natural pigment of the skin.

The goal for female breast reduction is to reduce the amount of excess tissue, fat and skin while leaving enough to maintain an attractive, feminine breast shape. There is normally a substantial amount of breast sagging and drooping due to the weight and mass of the breasts that must be addressed through mastopexy (breast lift) techniques. The incisions are more extensive than those used in male breast reduction surgery; they usually extend around the bottom of the areola vertically down to and along the inframammary fold. But unlike men, women can hide surgical scars under a bra or bathing suit.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Greenwald

Breast reduction is a wonderful option for men and women with excessively large breasts that want to feel happier and more attractive. To schedule an appointment to discuss the surgery with Dr. Greenwald, please call or email our practice today.

The post Male vs. Female Breast Reduction appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

Read on as Dr. Joshua Greenwald reveals his best tips for making healthy choices during the holiday season.

Plan Ahead for Big Meals

If you will be hosting or attending an event centered around a big meal, plan the rest of the day’s meals and snacks with it in mind. Eat a light breakfast and lunch in anticipation of enjoying a large dinner. Or, if you indulge in a decadent brunch, try to stick to lower-calorie fare for the rest of the day.

Watch Your Portions

You don’t have to deprive yourself of delicious holiday sweets and treats. Instead of restricting what you eat, practice portion control. Take a small slice of pie or cake and fill the rest of your plate with fresh fruit. Or eat one cookie slowly, savoring each bite, instead of devouring an entire sleeve.

Stay Hydrated

With the hustle and bustle of holiday cooking, shopping and traveling, it’s easy to get dehydrated. But make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Drinking a glass of water before a meal can help you feel fuller, sooner.

Look for Fun Ways to Stay Active

Your busy holiday schedule does not have to completely derail your exercise efforts. While it may not be possible to squeeze in as many workouts as normal, look for fun ways to stay active throughout the holiday season. Is there a Jingle Bell Jog or an Ugly Sweater Run you can sign up for? What about a Christmas Eve candlelight yoga event, or a holiday-themed ride at SoulCycle? Sign the whole family up and enjoy quality time together!

It’s Not about the Food

A simple shift in perspective can help you keep yourself in check. The holiday season isn’t about what is on the table, it’s about who is around it. Focus on spending quality time with loved ones and showing them how much they mean to you. Savor simple pleasures like sipping a cup of tea as you catch up with an old friend, or making a snow angel with your children.

Contact Dr. Greenwald

If you eat healthy and exercise regularly, yet still struggle with unwanted fat or excess skin, you might want to consider body contouring surgery. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Greenwald to discuss how he can help you look and feel your best in the New Year!

The post Making Healthy Choices this Holiday Season appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

Many factors can cause the enlargement of male mammary gland tissue, a condition known as gynecomastia or male breast enlargement. Frequent marijuana use, some medications and an imbalance of hormones are all potential culprits.

Fortunately, Dr. Joshua Greenwald, a New York City plastic surgery provider, can help. By performing male breast reduction in New York, Dr. Greenwald helps his male patients feel more confident and virile.

However, many of Dr. Greenwald’s patients wonder if their “man boobs” will grow back after male breast reduction surgery. Generally, gynecomastia surgery affords patients with long lasting results, but in some cases, gynecomastia can return after male breast reduction surgery.

Factors That May Cause Your Man Boobs to Reoccur

If the initial cause of male breast enlargement was frequent marijuana use and the patient has not halted or drastically lessened the habit following their gynecomastia surgery, then their man boobs may return.

In addition, if the initial cause of gynecomastia was a medical problem such as an adrenal or pituitary tumor that has been left undiagnosed or untreated following male breast reduction surgery, then the patient’s man boobs may reoccur.

Another factor that may cause man boobs to reoccur is weight gain following male breast reduction surgery. Although removed fat cells will not grow back, significant weight gain may cause remaining fat cells to grow bigger. Significant weight gain may also cause new fat cells to form in treated and untreated areas.

Other factors, such as having a hormonal imbalance or taking certain medications, also may cause man boobs to reoccur. If you have additional questions or concerns regarding male breast reduction surgery, do not hesitate to call Dr. Greenwald at (914) 421-0113.

The post Will Your “Man Boobs” Come Back After Gynecomastia Surgery? appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

One of the questions that Dr. Greenwald’s tummy tuck patients often have is, “How long do results from tummy tuck last?” The simple answer is that tummy tuck results are intended to be permanent. However, certain occurrences may detract from the aesthetic results of tummy tuck surgery. To find out how to ensure long-lasting tummy tuck results, read on.

Tummy Tuck 101

To learn how to ensure long-lasting results from tummy tuck surgery, it is important to understand the basics behind tummy tuck surgery first.

Often, the natural aging process, major weight loss or pregnancy can cause abdominal skin to lose its elasticity, leaving many people with loose, sagging skin throughout the midsection. Pregnancy can also cause abdominal muscles to weaken severely or even separate. Fortunately, Dr. Greenwald provides tummy tuck surgery to correct these issues. He can also perform liposuction during tummy tuck surgery to remove stubborn pockets of fat from the abdominal area.

To begin tummy tuck, Dr. Greenwald first makes a horizontal incision in the pubic area that extends from hipbone to hipbone in an area that can be concealed by an underwear or bikini line. Dr. Greenwald then removes drooping excess skin before repairing the stomach muscles with internal sutures. If liposuction is needed, the New York City plastic surgeon performs this step next. Dr. Greenwald then re-drapes the remaining skin and repositions the navel to align with the new abdominal contour. He finished the abdominoplasty procedure by closing the incision with sutures and applying a bandage to the treated area. In general, tummy tuck surgery takes approximately 1-2 hours.

Maintaining Your Results After a Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck results are considered permanent in that the skin and fat cells that Dr. Greenwald removes during the procedure cannot grow back. Likewise, any internal sutures that he places to repair stomach muscles are designed to remain in place indefinitely.

However, significant weight fluctuations can cause the remaining abdominal skin to lose additional elasticity and start to sag again. Also, substantial weight gain can cause remaining fat cells in both the treated area and other areas to grow larger, and it can even cause the body to produce new fat cells in these areas. Pregnancy after tummy tuck can also have negative effects on the treated area, including causing further damage to stomach muscles.

Thus, to ensure that your aesthetic results from tummy tuck are long lasting, it is crucial to be at a stable weight (that you feel you can maintain after surgery) prior to undergoing tummy tuck surgery. If you are a woman, you should wait until you are finished having children before pursuing tummy tuck surgery. By maintaining a stable weight, following a healthy diet, exercising consistently and not smoking, you can ensure your aesthetic results from tummy tuck are long lasting.

The post How Long Do Tummy Tuck Results Last? appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

Fortunately, your plastic surgeon is a great resource for help with these decisions. In this post, plastic surgery specialist Dr. Joshua Greenwald gives some advice on an important decision for your breast augmentation procedure: how to pick the best breast implant size for your figure.

Visualize Your Ideal Breast Size

There are a number of methods for visualizing how your breasts will look with various sizes of implants. Some common methods are:

• Reviewing before-and-after pictures of women who have undergone breast augmentation surgery. Look for women with body types that are similar to yours and who have achieved the results you want.
• Computer simulations that show how you will look with various sizes and shapes of implants.
• Actually “trying on” a variety of implant sizes in your cosmetic surgeon’s office, using a method such as the Mentor® Volume Sizing System.

Each method of visualization has its own benefits. For example, actually trying the implants on will allow you to appreciate the weight of the implant. Take your time and use several different methods to help you reach your decision.

Get Some Firsthand Advice

Talking to women who have had breast implant surgery can lead to some important insights. You may get feedback that you hadn’t thought about previously, such as how their breast implants impacted shopping for clothes or exercising.

Your plastic surgeon can also relate stories to you about how women felt about their implant size choice after surgery. After spending many years performing breast augmentation procedures, your plastic surgeon has seen how many patients adapt to their new breasts, whether they opted for a larger or smaller implant size.

Remember: It’s Your Body

Your body size and shape will impact your implant choice in several ways. If you have a smaller figure, you may not want to carry the weight of a larger implant size. A smaller implant may also match your body’s proportions better, while larger women may find a bigger implant size to be more suitable for their figures.

Ultimately, you will have to make the final decision when choosing a breast implant size and shape. Both your personal preferences and your unique figure will play a role in selecting the perfect size breast implants and deciding how you want your new body to look.

Need Personal Advice about Your Breast Implant Size?

The best way to get customized advice about choosing your breast implant size is by having an in-person consultation with a plastic surgeon. Dr. Joshua Greenwald can listen to your goals at his New York City plastic surgery office and help you make the right choice. Please call or email our office to schedule your consultation.

The post How to Pick the Best Breast Implant Size for Your Figure appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

Placing Implants over the Chest Muscle

Placing breast implants over (or on top of) the chest muscle means that the implants are positioned between the chest muscle and the natural breast tissue. This is known as the subglandular approach. In Dr. Greenwald’s opinion, there are several advantages to this approach:

The implant and breast shape are not affected when the chest muscle contracts. If the implants are placed under the chest muscle and the muscle flexes while lifting weights or exercising, the muscle presses down on the implant and can slightly change the implant’s shape. Another advantage is that placing implants over the chest muscle is often regarded as a less invasive procedure with a shorter recovery time because the surgery leaves the chest muscle intact.

Placing Implants under the Chest Muscle

Placing implants under the chest muscle (i.e., the submuscular approach) offers its own set of advantages. The muscle provides natural coverage for the implants, so that they look as natural as possible. There is less of a chance of visible implant rippling, and less of a chance of an implant “bottoming out” with the submuscular approach. This approach is particularly beneficial for women with very little native breast tissue. Placing implants under the muscle also helps to slightly shape the upper portion of the breast, putting gentle pressure on it to give it a subtly sloped look (like a teardrop). Many women feel that this is more preferable to an overly round, symmetrical breast shape.

On the other hand, it can be challenging to create noticeable cleavage with the submuscular approach, and the surgery can be slightly longer and more uncomfortable because of the modifications to the muscle.

Deciding What’s Right for You

There is a third option: to combine both approaches and tuck the implant halfway under the muscle. This is known as the dual-plane placement. But the approach that is right for you depends on a variety of factors, such as your anatomy, the type of implants you select and the type of results you want. Ultimately Dr. Greenwald is your best source of information and guidance regarding breast implant placement.

To request an appointment with Dr. Greenwald to discuss your treatment options, please call or email our practice today.

The post Breast Implant Placement: Over versus Under the Chest Muscle appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

Read on as respected New York plastic surgeon Joshua Greenwald reveals why he has seen a steady increase in the number of men having plastic surgery.

Better Body Image

Men can struggle with poor body image as much as women can. Dr. Greenwald regularly meets male surgical candidates that suffer from poor body image and low self-esteem due to a perceived aesthetic flaw (e.g., “love handles,” oversized, feminine-like breasts due to gynecomastia). After cosmetic surgery, these men are able to enjoy better body image and a surge of self-confidence.

A Youthful Look

People tend to work later in life than previous generations did. Maintaining a youthful, refreshed appearance can help a man feel competitive in his workplace or confident enough to pursue a new job, promotion or raise. And thanks to the talent and skill of today’s board-certified plastic surgeons, the results can be very subtle. Patients can avoid many of the telltale signs that they have had work done (i.e., noticeable scarring, a frozen or surprised facial expression). 

Advanced Technology Leads to Less Invasive Treatment Options

The technology in cosmetic medicine has advanced so significantly that many of today’s treatment options offer fast results with little downtime and minimal scarring. Not all men require surgery to see the body contouring or facial rejuvenation results they want.

For example, CoolSculpting is a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that contours areas of the body without incisions, anesthesia, scarring or downtime. And injectables like Botox and dermal fillers remedy common signs of aging during a quick lunchtime in-office procedure. These are enormous perks that appeal to men who don’t want to take time off work to recover from surgery or want fast results without scarring.

Contact Dr. Joshua Greenwald

To discuss your personal aesthetic goals with Dr. Greenwald in person, please call or email our practice today and request an appointment.

The post Why Are More Men Having Plastic Surgery? appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

Fat Cannot “Grow Back”

After reaching adulthood, your body does not create more fat cells. Gaining or losing weight simply changes the size of the existing fat cells. If you gain weight, your fat cells enlarge. If you lose weight, the fat cells shrink.

During liposuction, Dr. Greenwald breaks up unwanted fat in an isolated area of the body (e.g., the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, back, arms). He uses a special instrument called a cannula to gently suction the fat cells from the body. Although Dr. Greenwald reduces the amount of fat cells in the treated area— enough to create noticeable results — he does not remove every single fat cell. In order to maintain a smooth body contour in the treated area, he must leave a thin layer of fat cells.

Once fat cells have been removed from the body, they cannot grow back and new fat cells cannot develop. But what can happen by gaining weight after liposuction is that the remaining fat cells get bigger. This is why it is so crucial to be vigilant about maintaining a stable weight after liposuction. Having liposuction does not prevent you from gaining weight, in turn diminishing or reversing some of your results.

The Key to Maintaining Liposuction Results Long-Term

Maintaining your liposuction results hinges on practicing healthy habits. Take in fewer calories than you burn by eating a balanced, healthy diet, practicing portion control and exercising regularly. Do not smoke, and drink only in moderation. It’s also helpful to get plenty of sleep and minimize sources of stress to maximize your chances of maintaining your weight.

The happiest liposuction patients are those that stay within 5 to 10 pounds of their weight at the time of their liposuction surgery.

Contact Dr. Greenwald

If you have additional questions on how to maintain liposuction results, Dr. Greenwald invites you to contact our practice. Please call or email us today.

The post Can Fat Return after Liposuction? appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.

“My breasts will be too big after surgery.”

One of the most common concerns about breast augmentation is that the breasts will look too large after surgery. It is very possible to achieve natural-looking breast augmentation results. Truthfully, most candidates seek a very subtle increase in breast size with modestly sized implants. If that is your goal, Dr. Greenwald will help you select implants that provide a slight boost for natural looking results.

“Surgery and recovery will be painful.”

As long as you select a reputable plastic surgeon like Dr. Greenwald, you should not expect to be in pain during or after surgery. For your operation, you will be placed under sedation and anesthesia to prevent you from feeling anything. After surgery, you may be sore or have slight discomfort, but Dr. Greenwald will prescribe medication to make you more comfortable.

“I won’t be able to breastfeed with implants.”

There is no convincing scientific research to prove that implants prevent a woman from successfully breastfeeding. Nursing with implants is certainly possible and many of Dr. Greenwald’s breast augmentation patients are able to breastfeed after surgery. Some women are unable to breastfeed but for pre-existing reasons unrelated to their implants. Nevertheless, if you hope to breastfeed after surgery, you should communicate your plans to Dr. Greenwald so he can take this into consideration when planning your surgery.

“Scarring will be noticeable.”

Although breast enhancement does leave scars, they are normally not noticeable because they are placed in very discreet locations. For example, Dr. Greenwald can create the incisions around the circumference of the areola (i.e., the darkly pigmented skin surrounding the nipples). As the incision heals, the scarring tends to blend in with the natural pigment of the skin. Alternatively, Dr. Greenwald can create the incisions within the breast crease, where the breast meets the torso. Not only does the scarring blend in with the natural fold of the skin, but the breast itself usually covers the scars so they are not noticeable.

Contact Dr. Greenwald

To address any additional concerns about breast augmentation with Dr. Greenwald, please schedule a consultation by calling or emailing our office today.

The post Common Concerns about Breast Enhancement appeared first on Greenwald Plastic Surgery.