Inverted nipple correction questions answered

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Around one in ten of the UK female population has a concern with their nipples that requires surgical correction – it is more common than you might think. It is typically one of three things that leads people to feel that they need to seek guidance from a surgeon:

  1. Inverted nipples – where instead of pointing outwards, the nipple points inwards
  2. Enlarged nipples – bigger than expected nipples
  3. Large areola – the area of lighter coloured skin which surrounds the nipple

Each of these issues can be addressed by a cosmetic surgeon and if you’re considering corrective surgery for one of these conditions then you have probably got a lot of questions, some of which we will aim to address below.

Q: When will I be able to wear a proper bra again after nipple correction surgery?

A: Typically, you should expect to have to wear a special compression bra for around six weeks after surgery. This type of bra offers special support and helps the breasts heal. You will need your surgeon to assess how well you’re healing before swapping a compression bra for a normal bra.

Q: Does nipple correction surgeon affect my chances of breastfeeding in the future?

A: This depends on the nature of the breast surgery you have. All nipple correction surgery tries to preserve the milk ducks as best as possible, but there are no guarantees and the success rate varies from person to person. Some people go on to breastfeed successfully afterwards whereas others find their milk supply is affected.  Ideally, wait until you have finished your family plans before you have nipple correction surgery if breastfeeding is something you wish to do.

Q: How does nipple correction surgery affect my sleeping positions?

A: While you are healing from surgery your breasts will be sore and swollen. You will find it most comfortable to sleep on your back rather than your side or front. This will be temporary, through the healing process, and if you’re a front sleeper then you will be able to return to this once you are properly healed.

Q: Can I expose my breasts to sunlight once I have had the operation?

A: It is recommended that topless sunbathing is avoided for around a year after the procedure as UV rays can affect the visibility of scars. After the first year, scars will have formed and settled which means they are less susceptible to darkening in the sun, however, it is still advised to apply high factor suncream.

If you have further nipple correction questions, call 01926 436341 to arrange a consultation with Mr Alan Park at his Warwickshire cosmetic breast surgery clinic.

revision cosmetic surgery

Is it possible to correct botched cosmetic surgery?

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Botched cosmetic surgery is something that is something that everyone hopes to avoid and everyone is naturally cautious about. Although there are steps you can take to ensure you are putting yourself in safe hands, even the most skilled surgeon can find that the work they have done doesn’t quite match up to their patient’s expectations. That said, the most common occurrences of patients feeling they have received ‘botched’ cosmetic surgery is where they have been tempted by cheaper alternatives to what is offered in fully regulated clinics in the UK.

First step if you’re not happy with your cosmetic surgery results

If you feel that your cosmetic surgery hasn’t quite given you the look you were expecting, the first thing you should do is contact your surgeon to talk things through. This is the best avenue to try and work out a plan to try and fix the issues you are concerned with.

It is also important to allow time to heal before jumping to conclusions is that many procedures take time to heal properly, and if you have not allowed your body to heal fully then there is a chance you may not be evaluating the finished results. Swelling, scarring and settling all take time and cannot be rushed, so it is worth being patient for the required amount of time following your surgery.

If conversations with your original surgeon don’t pan out quite as you hoped then it worth getting a second option from another surgeon to understand whether or not corrective surgery is required – or possible. It may be that you have to wait for a while before your body is ready for more surgery, or it may be that a different surgeon feels that what you are looking to achieve is not possible.

Understanding limitations of revision cosmetic surgery

Another thing to be aware of is that not all surgeons will accept work to correct another surgeon’s mistakes. Revision cosmetic surgery, as it’s known, can be challenging for a number of reasons. Firstly, patients who are requiring revision surgery are often feeling rather emotional; their levels of anxiety about undergoing further treatment can be high. Not only that, the presence of scar tissue makes the work – and the ability to heal effectively – more difficult.

For more advice on revision cosmetic surgery and your options, call 01926 436341 to arrange a consultation with Mr Alan Park at his Warwickshire cosmetic surgery clinic.

breast asymmetry correction

How is breast asymmetry corrected?

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Breast asymmetry is where your breasts are not the same size or shape and appear unbalanced. It is quite common and does not necessarily need medical intervention, but when the breasts are very different in size this can lead to self-confidence issues, emotional stress and anxiety, especially as the differences sometimes occur in puberty when the breasts are forming and it is a time of emotional and physical development.

There are a number of surgical procedures that can help address breast asymmetry, and these include:

  • Reducing the size of the largest breast
  • Reducing the size of the nipples or areolae
  • Increasing the size of the smallest breast with breast implants or fat grafting
  • Increasing the size of both breasts proportionally
  • Breast uplift – this can be done for one or both of your breasts

Quite often, women may opt for a combination approach which includes a number of these options.

It is entirely up to the individual whether they choose to enlarge the smaller breast or reduce the size of the larger breast. These discussions will be held with your surgeon at initial consultation before you progress with your corrective journey.

In some cases, when the feel (rather than the size) of the breasts has changed all of a sudden, your doctor may advise further investigation to understand more about what has caused the change. This can often be hormonal, but to rule out something more serious you may be recommended for a mammogram.

The important thing to remember is that no matter which option(s) you choose; you need to ensure you have realistic expectations. These procedures will most certainly improve the symmetry of your breasts, but no procedure will make your breasts 100% identical.

Once you have undergone your chosen surgery, or surgeries, you will no doubt be left feeling more confident about the proportions of your breasts. Many women report that clothes fit much better and they are able to buy underwear that they do not have to artificially fill on one side. As a result, their body confidence overall is often very positively affected.

Call 01926 436341 to arrange a consultation with Mr Alan Park at his Warwickshire cosmetic breast surgery clinic.

dermal filler safety

Cosmetic fillers industry under fire for safety concerns

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Interest in dermal fillers has shot up over the past few years – they are gaining in popularity and the celebrity influencers are leading the way. You’d be forgiven some days for thinking that everyone on TV has had their lips done – well, on certain channels anyway. The popularly of dermal fillers is showing no signs of waning, so just what exactly are we embracing here?

Dermal fillers are designed to help smooth, firm or enhance facial features. It consists of collagen or hyaluronic acid solution being injected underneath the skin or into the lips. The industry is massive, reportedly being worth a huge £2.75billion and they are thought to be the most popular non-surgical procedure.

Not only that, despite their popularity amongst the rich and famous, they are also accessible to the average consumer, with treatments ranging from £50 up to £2,000.

The concerning truth about dermal filler safety

Although this all sounds good, there is one major concern with this – the industry is not subject to the regulations that are put in place to ensure that the cosmetic surgery is safe, and consumers are protected. Anyone can administer these injections, which inevitably causes issues with dermal filler safety.

These problems begin where the injections are administered. Reports of unclean environments and non-sterilised equipment coupled with a lack of (or complete absence of) medical training from those who are offering these treatments. The results are equally worrying. Best case is that your features may not end up as you were expecting, worse case is that you could end up with permanent disfigurement, a serious blood condition such as sepsis or rotting tissue.

How to ensure you keep safe if you choose to have dermal fillers

Clearly not every practitioner who offers dermal fillers should be tarred with the same brush. At the other end of the spectrum, many have spent years in medical training, adhere to proper medical guidelines and patient safeguarding, and offer dermal fillers as one of a number of surgical and non-surgical procedures.

Many who have taken their love of dermal fillers too far, or who have relied upon shady practitioners, risk looking back with regrets. This includes celebrities, as TOWIE star Amy Childs explains “a few years ago I was addicted to lip fillers. My parents had to sit me down and say it was too much. When I eventually went to a practitioner to remove them, doctors found that my repeated use had led to a burst blood vessel in my upper lip. Now my lips are unlikely to go back to their natural shape. I wish I’d never had it done in the first place.”

The most important take out you can conclude from this is to always ensure you see an experienced and qualified injector. Look for bona fide qualifications and evidence of a broader portfolio of cosmetic procedures. Also, don’t be inclined to push things to the extreme. Things that are fashionable one day are often forgotten the next, so if you push your body too far with procedures such as these then you may, in time, be left wishing that you hadn’t been quite so enthusiastic.

tummy tuck combined with breast lift

My body looks really different after having children. Is it possible to have a tummy tuck combined with breast lift?

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Pregnancy puts a great deal of strain on the body of a woman, the process of growing a tiny human being can leave its mark for many years to come after the child has been born. Many women choose to have more than one child, meaning that the strains on the body are repeated and this inevitably begins to take its toll on how well the body can recover and ‘bounce’ back each time.

Some of the differences that women report about their bodies after pregnancy include:

  • Excess weight around the midriff, particularly the abdominal area which has been put under the most strain
  • Skin which appears to have lost some of its elasticity, again around this midriff. This can often look flabby and wrinkled or like there is too much skin for your frame
  • Wider hips – this is because the hips widen during pregnancy to accommodate the growing foetus and its exit plans
  • Differently proportioned breasts – many women report that their breasts are smaller after pregnancy. The grow initially, due to the fatty tissues in the breasts getting replaced by cells which prepare the breasts for their milk to become established. However, unless women gain a lot of weight after pregnancy then the fat cells are not replaced afterwards.
  • Extra weight more generally – it is said that around a quarter of women will still have an extra 5kg of ‘baby weight’ a year after the birth of their child.

We often see patients who have tried to restore their confidence by tackling some of these unwanted side effects of carrying and children, and quite often we are asked whether it is possible to help shift some of the weight around the abdomen – via a tummy tuck – and whether they can combine this with a breast lift to inject a bit of life back into their breasts.

The answer is most definitely yes. It is a very commonly combined set of procedures and one that women who have finished their families are often interested in. you will need to undergo a physical check to ensure that you are healthy and fit enough to endure having two operations carried out at the same time. Your body needs to be in good shape to heal properly so it is important beforehand that you have been looking after yourself, eating and drinking well and exercising where possible.

mummy makeover

What will happen if I choose to have a tummy tuck combined with a breast lift?

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We have discussed the feasibility of having a tummy tuck and a breast lift at the same time, and for some patients, this is a great way of maximising the time required to recover from a surgical procedure and it gets everything done in one go. So, if you decide that this combination sounds right for you and you have been assessed for medical suitability, then the next step will be discussing what will happen and getting you prepared for surgery. Here we give a summary of what to expect from the two procedures.

This surgery is often nicknamed the ‘mummy makeover’ as it is very popular with women who have been through either a single or multiple pregnancies and are feeling that the weight gain that naturally comes with that process has left them feeling rather different from their pre-pregnancy look. The two operations can usually be carried out in a four- to six-hour window, which means that they couple up well.

Let’s start with the tummy tuck…

The tummy tuck element is the most significant of this pairing. Typically, patients should expect to take it really easy for the first few days following surgery, and even if they are up and walking around quickly, they must not push themselves too quickly or it can hold back their recovery.

Usually, patients will need around two weeks off work before they are recovered enough to begin working again. This obviously depends on the nature of the job, but this is a good rule of thumb for patients who do not work in an environment which will put them under physical pressure. If you can remain more sedentary for the first few weeks this will certainly be beneficial for the healing process, and if this is not practical for you then at least try and avoid any work that leaves you with additional aches and pains afterwards.

And add a breast lift into the mix…

A breast lift complements a tummy tuck very well as it is one of the least painful surgical procedures for the breasts, so healing from this will be relatively simple and will allow you to focus more on recovering from the abdominal surgery. Some patients may even consider adding breast implants at this stage too, as a further extended approach to the ‘mummy makeover’.

Another good reason for combining these two (or three) procedures is that it will only mean one period of time off work while you are recovering, which is often much easier to manage. The support you need (from medical practitioners, friends, family or other caregivers) while recovering will also only need to be drafted in once.

tummy tuck options

What’s the difference between a mini and full tummy tuck?

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If you are troubled with the look and feel of your midriff and have struggled to achieve the look you’re hoping for, then you could be considering a surgical helping hand. A tummy tuck is designed to help smooth, tone and tighten the look of the skin and muscles around the abdomen, and there are two main types: a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck. Here we explore the differences between the two to help you make an informed choice of which feels like the best solution for you.

Tummy tuck options: mini tummy tuck

This is the ideal procedure for someone who isn’t carrying much additional fat, but who is struggling with a small amount of excess skin in the area south of the belly button. It is possible to tighten the muscles beneath the belly button too. The key thing to note about the mini tummy tuck is that all the work takes place beneath the belly button and there is no ‘circular’ incision around the belly button itself. With this approach, your belly button is not affected by the surgery and will remain in its original position.

As the mini tummy tuck is a smaller, less invasive procedure there is usually less scarring afterwards, so it is a more discrete option.

Tummy tuck options: full tummy tuck

As the name suggests, this is a more substantive operation. A full tummy tuck tackles loose skin and sagging muscles both above and below the belly button. A full tummy tuck removes lax skin and excess tissue from the upper and lower abdomen, plus allows for the repair of the underlying abdominal muscles if separation has occurred (this would be common after pregnancy).

The risk of opting for a mini tummy tuck can be that once the skin and muscles beneath the belly button have been tightened, this can exacerbate any loose skin and struggling muscles above the belly button. For cases where this is the expected outcome, it is often advised to try liposuction first, to see whether or not that is sufficient to address the problem.

If you are unsure which option would be best suited to you then it is best to arrange to speak to Mr Alan Park who will be able to assess your situation and guide appropriately. Both procedures can be carried out in isolation or can be combined with liposuction which will help supplement the overall result once the effects of the operation have settled down. They are usually done under general anaesthetic and often patients return home the same day as the operation.

To book your tummy tuck consultation, call 01926 436341.

facelift technique for bald men

Facelift technique suitable for bald men

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There has been a real trend towards men embracing the bald/shaven-headed look. Gone are the days of men trying to disguise the fact that their hair was thinning and the word combover has now thankfully been retired to the archives. This bolder, balder look has led to a new challenge for cosmetic surgeons. When men choose to have a facelift, often the scars are subtly concealed within the hairline. If there is no hairline then surgeons have been having to think more creatively about how to address this. A new study has confirmed that one facelift technique may well have the answer.

Typically, when a facelift is performed surgeons will make incisions around the temple. However, with as many as two-thirds of men experiencing some degree of hair loss in their 30s, by the time men are considering a facelift their options for hiding the incision scars are reducing.

Addressing new challenges

This particular facelift technique doesn’t involve a single, linear scar, it tracks a path around the front of the ear which makes it much more discrete. Experts explain that this facelift technique is still very effective, and “although somewhat shorter than the conventional incision, it still allows access to the deeper tissue layers for an effective, long-lasting facelift”.

Researchers at the University of Rome Tor Vergata have conducted an assessment of just under 70 bald men (with an average age of 55 years) who had a facelift using this new technique. The results have been extremely positive, with both patients and medical experts impressed with the efficacy of the facelift and the extent to which scarring is visible once the incisions have healed. Results indicate that “at least one year after surgery, the men completed a questionnaire assessing their perceived results and satisfaction. The study also included an evaluation of before-and-after photographs by a three-member jury. Both assessments focused on the appearance, quality and extent of scars”.

Researchers are excited by the findings of the research, commenting “our proposed approach has proven to be reliably effective in obtaining virtually invisible scars and helps to meet the challenges of face-lifting in men who are bald”.

Keeping up with demand

Innovations like this are great news for the cosmetic surgery industry, who are working hard to keep up with the growing demand from men (and women) for cosmetic surgical techniques to help them look and feel younger and more confident in their looks. According to Forbes, a massive 1.3 million men in the US elected to have some form of cosmetic surgery in 2017, and this trend is showing no signs of slowing down.

For more advice on which facelift technique is suitable for you, call 01926 436341 to book a consultation.

tubular breasts

Tubular breasts and how to treat them

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There are many different reasons why some women may not be entirely confident with the look, feel, shape or mass of their breasts, and one of the less well-known complaints is a condition called tubular breasts. This is where breasts are not the traditional rounded/oval shape but are long and tubular.

They may resemble a thin cone, with restricted skin around the base and also a large, prominent nipple and areola. The reason this occurs isn’t really known but it can affect both sexes and is thought to be linked to a genetic link in a disorder of collagen deposition.

Tubular breasts can occur during puberty and, as such, this is a problem that often affects younger women. Because this often occurs when the breasts are developing it can cause the growth of one or both of the breasts to be affected. The resulting tissue damage may cause the breast(s) to look small, saggy and often uneven. These factors can cause self-confidence issues for women who have this problem.

What can be done to help?

The good news is that cosmetic surgeons who specialise in breast work can help treat tubular breasts. There are different techniques that can be explored, depending on your condition and your own preferences, all of which can help address the issue.

Firstly, the breasts will need to be assessed to establish how severe the constriction of the breast tissue. Using a pre-determined medical evaluation scale, surgeons can ascertain whether the condition is ‘minor’, ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’, and treatment can be advised accordingly once this is known.

If the breasts are uneven as a result of this, then there are two probable routes to fixing this. One option is that a tissue expander is inserted into the most affected breast (or both if needs be) and this can help. This helps encourage the skin and muscles to expand and help balance out the look and feel of the breasts. This usually takes a few months to work effectively.

The other option is to insert implants into the smaller breast, or both, depending on the scale of the issue. Implants can help balance out uneven breasts and can also add mass to breasts which patients regard as being too small. It is believed that around 5% of those who seek breast augmentation treatment do so because of this condition.

For more advice on your best treatment for tubular breasts, call ‭01926 436341 to arrange a consultation with Warwickshire cosmetic breast specialist Mr Alan Park.

facelift advice

Is there anything I can do to look after the results of my facelift?

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A facelift is a popular surgical procedure which helps make the face and neck look and feel more youthful. The technique has been carried out by surgeons for decades and the facelift still one of the most desirable cosmetic procedures. During the procedure, the skin is stretched upwards and excess skin is removed. This removed the appearance of wrinkles, lines and sagging skin, it also leaves the skin more taught, which gives a more youthful appearance to the face.

Once you have made the decision to have this work done, people are keen to know how they prolong the look achieved and keep the good results for as long as possible.

The first thing you can do is make sure you have had the work done by a medical professional who is an expert in their field. The greater the skill of the surgeon, the better the work will be once it is healed. If you’re starting from the best place possible then it will be easier to maintain this good work. Thoroughly researching your practitioner is strongly advised. Read lots of reviews, ask other patients about their experiences and look at plenty of before/after photos of your surgeon’s past work.

Facelift advice: keep your skin well hydrated

Once you have had your facelift and you have allowed a couple of weeks for the swelling to go down and for the skin to heal, you should begin a facial routine to help keep the skin supple and moisturised. Regularly using a moisturising cream that contains vitamin E is recommended in order to keep the skin as hydrated as possible.

Facelift advice: try to avoid overexposure to the sun

If you’re a bit of a sunseeker then it is sensible to limit this where possible and to apply generous sun protection. Using SPF of 15 or above whenever you’re out in the sunshine will keep your skin protected from the sun’s UV rays. The sun’s rays age the skin so applying this layer of protection will keep the problem at bay and help ensure the longevity of your work.

Facelift advice: live a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle

What we put into our bodies can have a big effect in terms of how we look and feel, so ensuring you are eating a healthy, nutritious diet will give your skin the nutrients it needs to be as healthy as possible. Food such as mackerel and salmon (or other oily fish which contain omega 3), avocado, walnuts, broccoli and tomatoes all contain vitamins and minerals that help keep the skin healthy and help it generate collagen, which is what creates its natural elasticity. Combining this with enough exercise will give your body the fuel it needs to maintain the look of your facelift and to ensure your mind and body is as healthy as possible.

For more facelift advice, call ‭01926 436341 to arrange a consultation at Mr Alan Park’s Warwickshire cosmetic surgery clinic.