Northwestern Plastic Surgery Blog

Healthy Tips for the Holiday Season

We are officially in the holiday season, and Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas are right around the corner! The holidays are traditionally a time to indulge, but many people struggle to maintain healthy diet and exercise habits in the face of so much temptation.

If you are concerned about staying healthy during the holiday season, here are a few tips.

Unusual Plastic Surgery Procedures

At the end of the month, we’ll celebrate Halloween and all things spooky. In honor of the holiday, we’ve compiled a list of unusual (and even a bit creepy!) procedures that some plastic surgeons around the world offer.

Teachers Prep for School Year with Cosmetic Surgery

The end of summer is understandably stressful, as you prep the kids to go back to school. Buying supplies, writing down schedules and coordinating carpools can certainly wear on the nerves. By the time the first day of school rolls around, you are likely feeling tired, rumpled and a bit frazzled.

To make matters worse, imagine this: Your child’s teacher greets you and your child for the first time, looking impossibly relaxed, rejuvenated and ready for the new school year.

You may wonder: How does she manage to look so fresh and youthful?

Well, the secret’s out: She may have treated herself to a cosmetic enhancement procedure over the summer. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recently reported on the rise in plastic surgery among educators during the summer months.

Does Eyelid Surgery Stop the Aging Process?

Eyelid surgery, known as eyelid lift or blepharoplasty, is a commonly requested procedure at Northwestern Plastic Surgery. The procedure rejuvenates the eye area, making the eyes look well-rested, alert and more pleasant.

Many eyelid surgery patients are curious whether eyelid surgery stops the aging process. Our Chicago plastic surgeons are honest with their answer: Eyelid surgery will not stop the aging process. In fact, no surgical procedure will stop the aging process. The area around the eyes will continue to age normally after surgery.

However, eyelid surgery will produce beautiful, long-lasting results. It corrects the visible signs of aging and gives the eyes a youthful, more attractive quality. Protecting the eyes from the sun with the help of sunglasses and hats helps our patients maintain their results for many years to come.

Summer Beauty Tips

Summer is officially here, and the warmer temperatures and longer days can disrupt your everyday beauty routine. To maintain an effortlessly cool appearance during your busy schedule of pool parties, exotic vacations and outdoor BBQs, try these summer beauty tips. We’ve also included some helpful product recommendations for your next trip to the beauty supply store.

Celebrity Moms Who Have Had Plastic Surgery

Ask any mother about the physical changes she’s experienced as a result of pregnancy and nursing, and she will likely describe — in detail! — how her breasts, abdomen, hips and legs have transformed. She may also describe the pressure of losing baby weight and snapping back to her pre-pregnancy body.

Nobody knows this pressure better than Hollywood celebrities, who are challenged by shooting schedules and publicity campaigns to look their best at all times.

The surgeons at Northwestern Plastic Surgery compiled a list of celebrity moms who’ve opted for plastic surgery to help improve their appearance after having children.

Will My Tummy Tuck Leave Scarring?

At Northwestern Plastic Surgery, we want our patients to feel well informed and educated about their treatment and what it entails. We have found that the most satisfied plastic surgery patients are the ones who approach the experience with reasonable and realistic expectations.

If you are considering tummy tuck surgery to sculpt and shape your abdomen, you likely are curious whether the procedure will leave a scar. Perhaps you’ve asked around or looked at before and after photographs on our site, but you’re still unclear.

Because it is a surgical procedure that requires a horizontal incision, tummy tuck will leave scarring. (Mini tummy tuck has a smaller incision and, thus, a shorter scar.) However, tummy tuck incisions are typically placed low enough that scarring can be easily hidden by a bathing suit or underwear line. The scars will be firm and pink for approximately six weeks. They will gradually fade and flatten six months to a year after surgery.

There are things that you can do to minimize your tummy tuck scarring. However, you must accept the likelihood that the scars will never completely disappear.

Common Breast Augmentation Myths

The Northwestern Plastic Surgery team is committed to educating you and informing you about your plastic surgery options. If you are considering breast augmentation, we want you to feel comfortable with your options and prepared when making decisions about your care. There is a lot of misinformation circulating about breast augmentation surgery; our plastic surgeons want to set the record straight by clearing up some common breast augmentation myths.