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Plastic Surgery: What’s age got to do with it?
Most of us would tend to agree that age isn’t just a number – it’s also a mindset. We hope that our old age will be illustrated through our hard earned wisdom and the care that we’ve shown our bodies, not the number on our driver’s license or birth certificate.
However, no matter how much we care for our physical self, there may still come a time when professional help is needed to get the body’s exterior to match our inner sense of youth. From facelifts to Botox, eye surgery or skin tightening, cosmetic procedures aim to get our physical appearance to reflect our youthful spirit.
But could you be too old for cosmetic or plastic surgery? Turns out that the answer is no – at least in terms of what studies have shown about factors in successful surgeries. Given the advancements in technology and techniques to perform a procedure, older patients are just as safe as younger patients to undergo plastic surgery, provided that they do not have overall health issues. There are many factors involved when one is considering a plastic surgery procedure, which is why it is essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in order to determine if you, at any age, are ready to have plastic surgery.
Read the full article HERE or learn more about the various procedures performed by Dr. Usha Rajagopal at the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center
Thigh Liposuction vs. Thigh Lift: Which is right for you?
When it comes to you and your appearance, a healthy diet and regular exercise can do a lot. But unfortunately, lean and sculpted legs are not always the end result. In fact, when it comes your thighs, sometimes genetics make it nearly impossible to have the size and shape that you want. Fortunately you’re not without options, thanks to plastic surgery!
There is much debate over whether a Thigh Lift or Liposuction produces a better end result for your thighs. In the end, it seems neither one procedure is better than the other and that the decision of which option is better for you is completely up to you and your doctor after thoroughly considering your health and overall situation.
LIPO VS. LIFT?
The only way to know which procedure is right for you is to talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Law says, “Procedure selection really boils down to the nature of one’s skin in the treatment areas. Youthful elastic skin will tolerate a significant amount of fat removal by liposuction without resulting in unfavorable skin laxity. As degrees of skin laxity increase, the amount of liposuction that can be performed decreases, and with significant degrees of skin laxity, liposuction alone is not a good option.”
If a healthy diet and regular exercise have not gotten rid of any stubborn or disproportionate pockets of fat, your weight is stable, and you’re close to your ideal weight, you might be a good candidate for one or both of these procedures. In general, “lipo” has an easier recovery than a thigh lift surgery but sometimes liposuction alone is not sufficient to achieve the desired results. In either case, it’s crucial to seek evaluation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is experienced with liposuction and thigh lift surgery. Dr. Law says, “There is no substitute for experience and expertise in the process of determining whether a patient should undergo liposuction versus thigh lift surgery, or a combination of the two as a single procedure or as staged procedures.”
Read the full article HERE
Click HERE to learn about liposuction offered by Dr. Usha Rajagopal of the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center.
Spider Vein Treatment
As posted on Smart Beauty Guide
Spider vein treatment is also known as sclerotherapy and laser vein treatment.
Spider veins (which should not be confused with varicose veins) are dilated or stretched blood vessels characterized by a branching pattern and are often found on the thigh, lower leg, or occasionally on the face. Spider veins are progressive in nature and usually increase in number and visibility with age. Sclerotherapy and laser vein treatments are used to treat these vessels, erasing them from your skin.
When to Consider Spider Vein Treatment
- If you have visible veins on your legs that exhibit a branching or web-like pattern
- If you have a pattern of branching veins on your face that you attempt to conceal
- If you feel that your spider veins are a sign of aging and that you would like to eliminate them
Read the full article HERE
Find out more about spider vein treatment by Dr. Usha Rajagopal at the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center.
Got Rid of My Bulge with Cool Sculpting
The More Natural Solution: CoolSculpting®
Cryolipolysis® popularly know as Coolsculpting is the non-invasive cooling of adipose tissue to induce lipolysis – the breaking down of fat cells – to reduce body fat.
Developed by Harvard scientists, the FDA-cleared, patented procedure uses a targeted cooling process that kills the fat cells underneath the skin, literally freezing them to the point of elimination, and requiring no knives, suction hoses, needles, or scars. Because only fat cells are frozen, your healthy skin cells also remain healthy. Once crystallized, the fat cells die and are naturally eliminated from your body.
Check out this article posted on Smart Beauty Guide to hear form a patient who’s satisfied with her CoolSculpting results:
“I was able to pick out a fat area that I didn’t like, starting with the saggy area on my back because I hated it. My doctor set me up the next week, each side took about an hour. I wasn’t uncomfortable in any way, shape, or form,” says Belinda.
Coolsculpting is a nonsurgical body contouring procedure that uses controlled cooling in an attempt reduce fat. The human body will then naturally flush out the treated fat cells. However, Coolsculpting does not produce the same results as liposuction.
Read the full article & see Belinda tell her story HERE
Learn more about Coolsculpting by Usha Rajagopal, MD and the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center.
Click here to see our full list of procedures on offer at SFPS
To read what people have to say about our service check out these Dr. Usha Rajagopal reviews.
Can a Mommy Makeover Restore Your Pre Baby Body?
Mommy makeover are a procedure that have been receiving a lot of media attention. Patients who have never previously visited my office requesting a “mommy makeover” even when they don’t know exactly what that means! I thought it might be a good idea to go over what the term means, and why it is becoming so popular.
What is a “Mommy”?
First off, every one should know what a “mommy” is – we all have one! (And I’m even married to one!) All joking aside, any woman who has children is a mom, and is aware of the changes that come along with childbearing. Some women were lucky and were not negatively affected by pregnancy and breast-feeding, while the process has literally devastated others. A mommy makeover is any set of surgical procedures aimed at reversing the changes associated with childbearing, with the goal of returning to the “pre-baby” body. Since the changes are not always the same for every woman, the procedure is customized to suit the individual patient’s needs.
Read the full article HERE
Learn more about mommy makeovers performed by Dr. Usha Rajagopal at the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center. Take the first step to getting back your pre-baby body today!
After Undergoing a Tummy Tuck, Here are the Top 9 Tips for Your Recovery
Certainly a part of anyone older than 30 who has a fantasy body makeover will probably involve a tummy tuck. Cut out your seemingly impossible to eliminate stomach fat and do it now! However, as miraculous as the results can be, it is still a surgery and there’s careful preparation and post-surgery considerations that need to be taken into account for the best possible recovery (and results!)
Proper diet before (and after)
As much as we may think we’re going to be instantly skinny post-surgery, we still have to pay attention to what we’re putting in our body, before and after. “I recommend a normal diet beforehand. There should not be any significant attempts to lose weight immediately before surgery,” says board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Antonio Gayoso. “We also advise our patients to be off of medications and over-the-counter supplements that are blood thinners,” he notes.
Avoid infections
With all surgeries, there are risks. But we can lessen those risks by prepping right. “Before surgery we ask patients to bathe with a chlorhexidine solution in order to decrease bacterial counts and therefore decrease the chance of infection,” explains Dr. Gayoso.
Read the full article HERE
Learn more about Dr. Usha Rajagopal’s tummy tuck procedure at the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center.
Eye Spy: 3 Ways to Un-Age Your Peepers
- By Corrie Shenigo
- April 7, 2015
- as posted on Smart Beauty Guide
If your shut-in winter status has left you with even more time to fixate on the ravages that Father Time is inflicting on you, you may have noticed that your eyes — once merely the windows to your soul — are now a reflection of the true digits on your driver’s license.
Your facial structure, genetics, the damage done from years of sun exposure and a too-lax skincare regimen all play a part in how the eye area ages. Fine lines and wrinkles, discoloration undereye baggage, and drooping eyelids are all common symptoms of eyes that may be giving away more info (read: your age) than you necessarily want them too.
If you believe that your eyelids are making you look sad, tired, or older than you really feel, cosmetic eyelid surgery (also called blepharoplasty) may be the right choice for you. Eyelid surgery by Doctor Usha Rajagopal at the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center can remove the drooping skin and excess fat of the upper eyelids, minimize bags under the eyes and tighten the lower eyelid skin. The result is a more alert and rested appearance.
Todays Trend: Thigh Gap
as posted on Smart Beauty Guide
It is interesting to see how trends have changed over time. Society’s idea of what we find attractive consistently changes. For example in the 1950s, the full-figured look was desired. Through the ’60s and ’70s the ideal body was very thin. The ’80s were characterized by an athletic shape. Most recently women have been striving for a very natural look.
However, the latest obsession in the female figure is the “thigh gap.” The thigh gap is the desire to have a separation between the upper inner thighs.
At the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center Dr. Usha Rajagopal counsels her patients about balance and achieving a natural look. The goal of any contouring procedure should be to bring out the best shape for that individual. When evaluating someone for plastic surgery there is no “generic body image”. Contact us to set up a consultation to discuss our procedures aimed at improving the appearance of your body.
Meet the Renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr. Usha Rajagopal
San Francisco’s premier board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Usha Rajagopal specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery with an emphasis in breast augmentation, body contouring, and facial surgery.
Dr. Rajagopal’s practice, the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center, also offers a full range of cosmetic dermatology procedures, advanced medical skin care services, and state-of-the-art laser treatments–all brought to you in the comfort and privacy of her accredited, in-suite surgery center.
Cosmetic surgery is a specialty in which female physicians are widely outnumbered, so finding an outstanding female plastic surgeon can be difficult. Fortunately, Dr. Usha Rajagopal, with over 20 years of experience, brings exemplary training and skill–along with a woman’s insight and sensitive touch–to the art of plastic surgery.
Her office has a very warm and welcoming feel and is dedicated to the highest standard of patient care and treatment excellence. Surgery consultations are done in a relaxing, pressure free environment.
Before and after pictures are available and patients are urged to contact past patients who can share their personal experiences.
Numerous affordable financing plan options are also available.
Dr. Usha Rajagopal cares about her patients and has CosmetAssure as added assurance for post surgery care.
Dr. Usha’s office is located in downtown San Francisco near Union Square. Parking is available in the building and BART is nearby.
To discover how cosmetic surgery can improve your appearance, confidence and outlook on life, call the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center–the offices of Dr. Usha Rajagopal–today.
Address:
- 490 Post St, Suite 430
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone:
- (415)392-3333
