1. Post-surgical healing foods. Nutrients such as vitamin C, protein, and zinc are excellent promoters of wound healing, according to Lippincott’s Nursing Center. You can enhance your natural healing process by eating citrus fruits, green vegetables, meats, and milk products, or through multivitamins and nutritional supplements.

2. No strenuous activity. Rest and relaxation are essential for your recovery. No exercise for at least three weeks, and no heavy lifting. Driving should be avoided for the first week, or at least until you can make an emergency stop without discomfort.

3. Proper wound care. Moisture can aggravate the incision site and slow the healing process, so avoid getting your wounds wet for one week after the surgery. Don’t sleep on your stomach. If necessary, prop yourself up with pillows to remain comfortable.

4. Be on the lookout for complications. Alert your GP or plastic surgeon immediately if you experience unexpected symptoms. These include severe pain; intense burning sensations; unusual, unexpected or excessive swelling; deflated breast; a smelly or coloured discharge from your wounds; a high fever; or lumps or aching.

5. Sports bras are your friend. Too much movement can cause bruising and discomfort in the weeks following your breast augmentation. Many plastic surgeons recommend that their patients wear tight-fitting sports bras to minimize potentially harmful movement.

6. The art of deception. There are some tricks you can use if there are people you’d prefer not to tell that you’ve had breast augmentation. People will recognize that your appearance has changed, but you can deceive and misdirect them by dying your hair, changing your hairstyle, or using different makeup. Different fashion choices can also draw them off the scent.

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon about these and other tips that can help you during your recovery period.

Plastic surgeons and other surgical doctors often use sutures because of their ease of use. They are pliable and can be used to close incisions on many parts of the body. Surgical staples are also a popular wound closure device but in some cases, may result in scarring.

The new wound closure device being developed by SurgiMatix combines the ease of use of surgical staples and the strength and durability of sutures administered by a surgeon.

Pre-clinical testing of the device was completed in the spring of 2010 and the results showed many benefits over more standard methods of wound closure. It showed to heal wounds quickly and cause less scarring when compared to surgical staples.

To learn more about advances in plastic surgery, please join the mailing list of Munster plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson.

While previously, patients were instructed to get a breast implant MRI three years after surgery and every two years going forward, that requirement is no longer in place.

“Women should feel assured that the FDA continues to believe that currently marketed silicone breast implants are safe,” said Dr. William Maisel, chief scientist for the FDA’s Center for Devices.

While there are some types of damage that a breast implant MRI can detect, such as ruptures that may not otherwise be visible, patients may not be at a greater risk. Additionally, the cost of a breast implant MRI may be too high and deter women from undergoing regular testing.

The discussion of how to track the performance of breast implants, aside from breast implant MRIs, continued. One idea favored by many is to keep a registry of all breast implant patients, though the cost of such a venture could be cost-prohibitive.

Given this new confirmation of the safety of silicone breast implants, the responsibility of tracking may come down to each individual patient. While not required, a breast implant MRI may be the only way to discover a rupture. You should discuss your breast implants with your plastic surgeon if you have any questions about safety or maintenance. He will be able to provide you with specific information about the devices used and how to monitor them.

To learn more about options for breast augmentation in Munster, please join the mailing list of plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson.

During an interview on KVOA, the news station’s plastic surgery contributor spoke about popular procedures that she considers inexpensive plastic surgery options when compared to the results post-surgery.

The best option for body plastic surgery, according to KVOA, is a tummy tuck. This procedure is the only way to truly remove loose skin around the abdomen. For women, the waist-to-hip ratio is an important indicator of perceived attractiveness, according to KVOA. By removing excess skin, the midsection appears more toned and slim.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgeries performed today. Women who desire fuller breasts choose it as a long-term option. While implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime, they can last up to a decade.

For men and women who struggle with jowls or loose skin on the neck, a facelift or neck lift provides lasting correction. Since its skin tightening effects can last so long, KVOA considers it an inexpensive plastic surgery option, as well. Skin creams can be pricey and will not attain the more youthful look that is possible with a facelift.

To learn more about relatively inexpensive plastic surgery options that can show long-term improvements in your appearance, please join the mailing list of Munster plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson.

Celebrities who have downsized in recent years allegedly include Denise Richards, Victoria Beckham, Drew Barrymore, and Jordan. Taken together they represent a trend toward breast implants being smaller than was previously fashionable.

More everyday women are hopping on the bandwagon, tired of having breast implants that are too large for their bodies, according to CBS News health reporter Stephanie Stahl.

What are some reasons that women might be downsizing their breast implants?

• They may not want or need extra attention toward their breasts.
• Misalignment and capsular contracture made the implants look unnatural.
• Women want to look and feel more natural and comfortable.
• Large breasts make it more difficult to exercise or perform other physical activities.
• Overly large breasts have been associated with back problems.

While surgery to reduce implant size involves simply exchanging one implant for another, there’s usually some reconstruction required, since the pocket housing the implant needs to be modified. Risks of the surgery are similar to regular augmentation surgery, but the recovery time is typically shorter.

Harriet Bleiman, a breast implant reduction patient who spoke with CBS, loves her reduced bust size. “I just feel like this is the right proportion for me… I liked them at the beginning, and after a couple of years they felt like two large, standing out, almost cantaloupes, and that made me very uncomfortable.”

Now, Harriet says, it actually feels as if having a smaller breast size has helped everything from her self-confidence to her golf game.

After conducting an in-depth study of silicone implant safety, the FDA has confirmed that silicone gel implants “have a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness when used as labeled.” For consumers, this means silicone gel implant augmentations performed by a board certified plastic surgeon, and maintained as instructed, should present no extreme health issues for the patient.

The FDA’s silicone implant safety study also debunked a rumor that silicone breast implants share an association with “connective tissue disease, breast cancer, or reproductive problems.” Based on current data, the FDA said there is no detected connection.

Long-Term Silicone Implant Safety Tips

Women who are considering silicone breast implants should note that though breast implants are long-lasting, no such implant will last a lifetime. Over the course of her life, a woman who has gotten breast implants will likely need to have them replaced.

Patients will need to monitor their silicone gel implants over time and note any signs of complication to their surgeon. Some women may experience a hardening of tissue around the breast, called capsular contracture, or may have a revision or removal surgery.

Silicone implant safety monitoring also extends to visiting your doctor for screenings. Periodic MRIs can detect a “silent rupture” of the implant, which the patient may not be aware of. As an added precaution for women both with and without silicone gel implants, it is important to continue regular mammograms, as directed by your doctor.

Silicone gel implants are used not only for breast augmentation, but often as a part of breast lift surgeries, as well.

The survey found that women were not just willing to trade time for beauty but also suggested they would forfeit a promotion at work, part of their salary, time with loved ones and even their health.

These findings may be unsurprising given that the survey found 46% of the women had been subject to ridicule because of their looks and 93% claimed to have negative thoughts about their appearance in the previous week.

Nearly 40% of the women said they would elect cosmetic surgery, like liposuction to remove localized fat deposits. This, despite the fact that nearly 80% of the women were either underweight or within a “normal” weight range.

These statistics only stress the importance of choosing a cosmetic treatment, like breast augmentation or body contouring, for personal reasons, not due to outside influences.

While the approval numbers vary somewhat between income levels—56% with an income above $75,000 approve while just 45% with an income between $50,000 to $75,000 approve—there is an overall 3% increase in approval from 2009.

ASAPS President Felmont F. Eaves III, MD credits society’s growing dedication to maintaining a good physical appearance and adds that, “As both traditional surgical procedures have been improved and refined, and new nonsurgical options have become available, aesthetic plastic surgeons have more to offer our patients.”

These popular surgical procedures include breast augmentations for women, eyelid surgery to reduce wrinkles around the eyes and rhinoplasty. Non-surgical treatments like Botox, injectable fillers and chemical peels, which all work to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face, are also highly sought after.

The survey also found that 67% of Americans would not be embarrassed if their friends learned they had undergone a cosmetic surgery, while men and women 18 to 24 were the most likely to consider a cosmetic procedure for themselves.

Plastic surgeons in the Phoenix area say they are seeing a dramatic uptick in the number of individuals who are coming in during tax season, using their tax refund check to cover all or part of a procedure.

Kristy Harris in Phoenix chose to use her tax refund to pay for part of her breast lift surgery and used some savings to cover the rest of the $8,400 procedure (cost based on patient-reported averages on RealSelf.com). The mother of two said that raising children took a toll on her body and she wanted to do something to help herself achieve a “different look.”

Another popular procedure for the breasts is breast augmentation, which costs approximately $6,600. This surgery can improve shapeliness and body proportion.

Liposuction remains one of the most sought-after body procedures and costs about $5,600. Liposuction is often performed to remove stubborn fat deposits nearly anywhere on the body.

Even if your tax refund check is a bit smaller than you would hope, non-surgical treatments are available at a fraction of the cost of surgery. The ever-popular Botox, is used to reduce lines and wrinkles on the face. Chemical peels are also non-invasive and remain one of the key facial rejuvenation treatments and work to reduce many skin imperfections like a dry, dull complexion, blemishes and pigmentation issues. Botox and chemical peels cost about $472 and $610 for full treatments, respectively.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Erica, who underwent breast augmentation for what she called her “zero” breasts, actually an A-cup, said that her silicone gel implants made her feel like she had “the Bentley of boobs.” As an alternative to silicone implants similar to Erica’s, saline implants, which may feel less natural, are available at a lower cost. As well as the implant type, other options include the size, shape, placement and the location of incisions.

Another woman, Jeanne, underwent a breast reduction due to her D-cup sized breasts that caused back, neck and shoulder pains on her small frame. More than just the associated pain, she also experienced indentations from her bra straps and had difficulty finding clothing that fit comfortably. In the type of breast reduction procedure that Jeanne underwent, the surgeon removes excess skin and tissue that add weight to the breasts and often moves the nipple areola to a more youthful position.

In addition to the cosmetic breast augmentation and reduction procedures, breast lifts are often performed to lift breasts that have begun to sag over time or after weight loss. While excess skin is removed and the nipple areola often moved in a breast lift, implants may also be used to restore breast fullness.