body image What can be done surgically to keep my body looking younger? JULY 2017 | SCENE 55 Alissa M. Shulman M.D., F.A.C.S What can I do to keep my body looking younger without su r g e ry ? T hin is not necessarily young. Firm, moderately “padded” skin looks healthier. • Stable weight, good hydration and protective (firming) moisturizer help. • Remaining 5-10 pounds over your recommended weight will make you look younger • Slow and steady weight loss allows your skin to catch up. • Weight lifting produces muscle, which shapes your “body suit.” Stronger bones, better posture, and endurance are added benefits. Sovereign Plastic Surgery Medical Arts Building 1950 Arlington St., Suite 112 Sarasota, FL 34239 941.366.5476 • A good style or cut for your proportions are a must and black is not necessarily slimming. View yourself in a full-length mirror from all angles. Proper fitting clothes work wonders. • For a temporary quick fix to arms and legs, apply a tinted moisturizer to even out minor skin flaws. • For small areas of unwanted stubborn fat, we offer Coolsculpt, a nonsurgical way to eliminate small pockets of fat with no down time and minimal discomfort. Are the surgical “tradeoffs” of risk, scar and cost worth it? Talk with your surgeon regarding realistic expectations. • Excess skin at abdomen is best removed with a tummy tuck. It’s the most straightforward surgery in terms of expectations. • Breasts are more complicated. If you’re satisfied with your size in a sports bra, then a lift is the best choice. If the breasts are smaller than they used to be, but NOT too droopy, you can increase breast size through an implant or fat grafting. If breasts are deflated and droopy, then you need a staged set of surgeries, starting with a lift, and then 6-8 months later increase breast size by implant or fat grafting. • Arms and thighs are the most challenging. Significant scaring is inevitable and likely visible. • For the buttocks, my patients have been very happy with fat grafting (Brazilian). But with recent complications by other doctors nationwide, I am not recommending this until we truly understand all of the circumstances. // // Dr. Shulman was named Physician of the Year for 2016 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and is the Honorary Chair of Key to the Cure on October 12, 2017 benefiting women’s cancer care programs at Sarasota Memorial.
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