Mother’s Day Specials: Mommy Makeover and Eyelid Surgery

May 6th, 2013

 

Attention Mothers!

As you know, being a mother is one of the most rewarding jobs, but it also takes a toll on your body. In honor of Mother’s Day, Dr. DeMars is offering a special on the Mommy Makeover and Eyelid Surgery during the month of May.  So, if you’ve been wanting to get your pre-pregnancy body back, or get rid of droopy eyelids or under-eye bags you’ll want to take advantage of this deal! Contact us here or call (503) 253-3458 to schedule!

What Is The Special?

Mommy Makeover:   

  • Abdominoplasty with Saline Breast Augmentation $12,040.00…a savings of $3,480.00!
  • Abdominoplasty with Silicone Breast Augmentation $12,790.00…a savings of $2,730.00!

*All surgery must be booked by May 31st, 2013 and completed by September 30, 2013. For patients with BMI  not to exceed 30%


Eyelid Surgery:

  • Upper or Lower Blepharoplasty Special:  $4,140.00…a savings of $1,095.00!
  • Quad Blepharoplasty Special $5,650.00… a savings of $1,360.00!

*Surgery must be booked by May 31st, 2013.

Contact us here or call (503) 253-3458 to schedule!

 

What is a Mommy Makeover?
The Mommy Makeover is designed to help women fix changes that happen to their bodies after pregnancy, such as deflated breasts, loose abdominal skin, separation of abdominal muscles, fat deposits, and more.

What is Eyelid Surgery?
Technically called Blepharoplasty, this procedure rejuvenates your appearance with more youthful looking eyes. Get rid of the sagging eyelids and/or the puffy bags and feel years younger!

QuickLift: What is it and is it Right For You?

March 8th, 2013

Maybe you’ve heard about the QuickLift from friends or from browsing online; but what is it? To start, it’s one style of many types of facelifts. It is a true facelift but is slightly less invasive and requires less downtime than a traditional one.

The purpose of the QuickLift is to rejuvenate the lower half of the face for a more youthful appearance. The procedure tightens and lifts the cheek and jowl area. Here are some ways to tell if QuickLift might be a good option for you:

  • If you have loose, lax skin, especially around the cheeks.
  • If you have large smile lines around the mouth.
  • If the skin around under or around your neck is looser than you would like.
  • If you are interested in a more youthful appearance in the face from a less drastic procedure, or are a younger patient with early signs of aging.
  • If you have minimal time for recovery.

It is important to note that the QuickLift does not fix problems with the upper or lower eyelids and forehead areas. If you are a good candidate for the QuickLift but would also like to improve these other areas, you may need a separate surgery to get the results you are looking for. About half of the patients that visit Dr. DeMars for QuickLift also opt for an additional procedure for this purpose.

Still want more information, or would like to schedule a consultation? Call 503-253-3458 or visit our contact page.

 

 

What Questions Should You Ask During Your Plastic Surgery Consultation?

February 1st, 2013

Just last week there was a story in the news about a Florida man pretending to be a plastic surgeon and  offering procedures from a rented motel room. Unfortunately, there were several victims who opted for his services and have now been suffering serious complications and infections. While it might seem obvious to some that receiving plastic surgery services from someone out of a motel room is not a safe idea, there are several less obvious but important questions people should ask their plastic surgeon before opting for any surgery.

 

Below are recommended questions to ask your plastic surgeon during your consultation:

  •  How often do you do this procedure/how many of them have you done?

Ask your doctor this question about the specific procedure(s) you are considering. This will give you a good idea about his/her experience, but is also important to ask because although the doctor might be experienced, he/she  might specialize in “Procedure A,” but might not do “Procedure B” as often or as well.

If a plastic surgeon is not certified with this specific board, do NOT go to this doctor. Becoming certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery requires that a doctor complete hours of work and prove his/her work up to a certain standard. This is one of the best ways to tell if a doctor is qualified.

  • Do you do the surgery in your own facility?[If so,] Is it a certified surgical facility?

Some surgeons do their surgery in a hospital. In this case, you know that the facility is up to par. If a surgeon (like Dr. DeMars) does it in his/her own facility, it must be certified. Don’t go to a doctor whose own facility is not certified as it may not meet up with certain health and safety standards.

  • Do you use a board certified anesthesiologist?

Having a board certified anesthesiologist is a must and should be a requirement for any surgeon you consider. In very simple terms, an anesthesiologist is the physician responsible for putting a patient to sleep for a surgical procedure. For this reason, having a highly qualified, experienced and certified anesthesiologist is very important.

  • If there is a serious complication from the surgery, do you have privileges at a local hospital?

If your surgeon’s practice is in his/her own facility, it is essential that he or she have access at a local hospital. This means that the doctor and the hospital have an agreement allowing the doctor to take the patient to that hospital if a complication were to happen during/after the procedure for any reason.

  • What’s your policy on handling complications regarding financial issues?

This is always good, basic information to know especially if you will be financing your procedure.

 

Be sure to ask your potential doctor all of these questions, and any others that you may have! Dr. DeMars is happy to answer any questions – feel free to comment on this post or contact his office if you would like to have any of yours answered.

5 Ways to Tell if Your Plastic Surgeon Isn’t Right For You

January 9th, 2013

 

Deciding to have plastic surgery is a big decision. Deciding who performs the surgery equally as big and extremely important. There are several things to look for and keep in mind while researching doctors and meeting them and their staff during a consultation. Here are five ways to know if a doctor is not a good doctor for you.

  • He/she is not board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
    There are many other “board certifications” out there and they are not all equal. You must insist on a doctor that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. You can learn more about what that certification entails and confirm if your surgeon is certified by visiting the American Board of Plastic Surgery’s website.
  • The doctor does not meet with you personally on your first visit
    A good doctor will make sure to see you on your first visit to his/her office. Unfortunately, several doctors have their patients meet with a nurse instead. If the doctor doesn’t care enough about you to personally talk with you during that first trip to his/her office, the doctor likely will not care about you enough, period.He/she does not carefully answer all of your questionsIs your doctor evading any questions, rushing through answers, or speeding through your consultation? If so, this doctor is not the right fit for you. Only go with a doctor who cares enough to make sure that you’ve asked every question on your mind and who takes the time to make sure you understand each of his/her answers.
  • You have not seen or heard reviews from past patients
    Hearing about pleasant experiences of past patients is important. If there are no (or only negative) reviews about the doctor online, or you have not heard recommendations about him/her from friends, this is a big warning sign. If you do not personally know any of his or her past patients, try looking for testimonials about the doctor on his or her site, but more importantly on sites like Google Reviews, Yelp and RealSelf.
  • You don’t feel completely comfortable with the doctor
    After meeting the doctor, ask yourself, “Am I comfortable with him/her?”  You are going to develop a relationship with that person and be seeing him/her for awhile, so make sure you are comfortable seeing the doctor multiple times and follow your gut instinct. If you don’t feel completely comfortable or don’t completely trust him/her, it’s not the right fit.

If you have any questions feel free to call Dr. DeMars’ office at 503-253-3458 or visit www.drdemarsmd.com.

Common Plastic Surgery Patient Questions, Part 2

December 27th, 2012

 

Have questions about plastic surgery? See what questions most patients have for Dr. DeMars during their first consultation. (And find other questions & answers in Common Plastic Surgery Questions Part 1!)

1.)     How long do I have to wait before resuming my workout routine?
That depends on the specific surgical procedure performed and can run anywhere from 3-8 weeks. Please call our office to ask about the down-time for a specific procedure.

2.)    Is there a charge for follow-up visits?
No. Although the routine post-operative follow-up may only cover a few weeks, we never charge for follow-up visits for as long as a patient feels the need to come in. Sometimes questions pop-up that need to be answered and we are happy to see patients back whenever they like.

3.)    Can I still have children after breast or tummy surgery?
Yes. There is no reason you would not have a normal pregnancy after breast surgery or a tummy tuck; but the surgery may cause some post-pregnancy changes that will need more surgery to correct.

4.)    What type of liposuction do you do?
We use tumescent liposuction. In spite of many advertising claims, none of the other types have shown any scientific proof of superiority, but do occasionally increase cost and risk. The tumescent technique is the gold standard against which all other types are compared.

5.)    What is a QuickLift?
A QuickLift is a style of facelift. There are many ways to do the facelift procedure ranging from a seldom done mini-lift to a very extensive lift. The advantage of the QuickLift is in the more rapid recovery. It has a long lasting effect with a beautiful natural look.

6.)    Is a QuickLift done under local anesthesia?
Nowadays almost any cosmetic can be done under local anesthesia, but because a general anesthetic is so safe and it takes away all the anxiety and sensation of the surgery, most surgeons that have a fully-equipped surgical center like ours will use general anesthesia.

7.)    What is a Mommy Makeover?
That is a general term to indicate a combined breast and tummy surgery, intended to correct the changes that result from one or more pregnancies. It usually includes a breast  augmentation, sometimes with a breast lift, as well as a tummy tuck.

8.)    Are the abdominal muscles repaired during a tummy tuck?
After one or more pregnancies or a major weight gain and loss, the abdominal muscles may be separated. During the procedure we have the opportunity to repair the muscles if necessary.

 

Have other questions you’d like to have answered? Feel free to call Dr. DeMars’ office at 503-253-3458 and schedule a no-cost consultation or visit www.drdemarsmd.com.

 

Common Plastic Surgery Patient Questions, Part 1

December 17th, 2012

 

Have questions about plastic surgery? See what questions most patients have for Dr. DeMars during their first consultation. (And look out for Common Plastic Surgery Questions Part 2!)


1.)     Are your surgeries done as an outpatient?

Yes, we do almost all of our procedures as an outpatient. On the average a patient is ready to go home, with a driver about 2 hours after the surgery is completed. Just be sure you have someone available to take you home.

2.)     Are your surgeries performed in the office?
Our procedures are performed at our office in the same facility where consultations are done, but we have a separate area that is a fully-equipped, hospital-like surgical suite and we are Licensed by the State of Oregon as an Outpatient Surgical Center.

3.)    What does the price of the procedure cover?
The total surgical fee covers the surgeon and anesthesiologist’s fee, the cost of the surgical suite and all follow-up visits. If the surgery is a breast enlargement, the cost of the implants will also be included. All medications are separate but most patients’ health insurance includes drug coverage.

4.)    What is the difference between saline and silicone breast implants?
Simply put, saline is saltwater. It is the same fluid given as an intravenous fluid and is used to fill saline implants during the surgery. Silicone is not a liquid like saline, it is a mass of gelatinous substance and those implants come pre-filled from the manufacturer. Many patients prefer one or the other depending on price, feel and other factors discussed during the consultation.

5.)    What is the price of Saline versus Silicone?
For both procedures the cost of the surgery, the surgical suite and the anesthesiologist are the same. However, the actual silicone implants cost a few hundred dollars more.

6.)     Are silicone implants safe?
Several years ago the silicone implants were taken off the market by the FDA, not because they were unsafe, but because the FDA felt they had not been adequately studied for their safety. They were re-released by the FDA for public use in 2007 once the FDA cleared them.

7.)    Are the breast implants placed under the muscle?
For most patients, we get a better more natural result by putting the implants behind the muscle. This is also a subject discussed and decided on during a consultation.

8.)    What is the difference between implants under or over the muscle?
When placing an implant under the muscle, the muscle does not cover the entire implant, but it covers the top edge of the implant as well as the inner edge near the breast bone. By hiding the edges of the implant it looks more like a natural breast. In a thin patient, if the whole perimeter of the implant is easily seen the result looks more like an implant and less like a breast.

9.)    What is the difference between textured or smooth implants?
In the 80s and 90s, the implants available at the time that were rough or textured surface often gave a softer result. That is no longer true and most modern implants have a smooth surface and still give the soft result.

 

Have other questions you’d like to have answered? Feel free to call Dr. DeMars’ office at 503-253-2458 and schedule a no-cost consultation or visit www.drdemarsmd.com.

 

 

Liposuction – what makes an ideal candidate and what results you can expect

August 4th, 2012

A common misconception about liposuction is that it is used for weight loss. Although it will help a person lose weight, the main goal of liposuction is to remove excessive fat in problem areas and help re-sculpt the body. Consequently, an ideal candidate for the procedure is someone who is near a healthy body weight but may have a stubborn area that is excessively hard to reduce through proper diet and exercise.

A liposuction patient should expect slight weight loss (depending on the size of the patient) and a desirable shape change. Results can last several years or decades as long as the person maintains a sensible diet, healthy lifestyle and activity levels.

Why do the results last? The procedure removes certain fat cells from the area treated, making it less likely that the area will become a problem spot in the future. Immediately and over time, one can expect to see a more even distribution of weight over their body.

Don’t worry about scarring – the incisions are typically very small and your surgeon will make sure to hide them as much as possible.  The scars should heal over time and again, it is beneficial to use a scar treatment gel if you are concerned.

Feel free to contact Dr. DeMars if you have further questions about liposuction or are wondering if it is right for you.

Will I have a scar from my plastic surgery?

June 7th, 2012

Any plastic surgery procedure may result in slight scarring. However, good plastic surgeons study and train for years to achieve the best techniques intended to minimize or hide scars. Often times, the surgeon will create incisions on areas that are in natural creases, such as under the breast, under hair, or inside the armpit. For other surgeries, the scar may be hidden beneath undergarments.

If you have any concern about scarring, bring it up with your plastic surgeon! He or she should be able to clearly explain where the scar will be or what other options may be possible.

While using quality lotion or cocoa butter is good for your skin, it may not actually prevent or reduce scarring. After surgeries I generally recommend my patients use an ointment like Mederma twice a day for about 3-6 months or until the scar is reduced.

Do you have any questions about scarring? Leave your question or concern in the comments below and  Dr. DeMars will get back to you!

How can I avoid getting a pulled up look from a face lift?

May 4th, 2010

A facelift should give you a rested youthful look, not a tight look.

There are so many different ways to do a face lift, some giving the soft youthful rested look you should have and others a “surgical” look. A skilled surgeon will analyze with you the aging changes that are happening and what options are available to improve them.

For most faces that will involve lifting and repositioning the cheek fat to a higher level in some manner. Simply pulling on the skin rarely ever gives an attractive look. Go through any magazine at the grocery checkout counter that has photos of the people our culture considers beautiful.

Virtually all of the young attractive faces have soft round fullness in the cheekbone area. That is what a good facelift will create for you. Lie back on your bed and look up into a hand mirror. Like that look? It looks good because your cheek fat moved up when you took away gravity!

Ask Dr. DeMars a question

I am concerned about scars from a Tummy Tuck

May 4th, 2010

There are various ways to do a tummy tuck in Portland, the most common is a low scar in the pubic area stretching from hip to hip. You need to realize the scar will migrate up slightly from where the markings are made prior to surgery, so always make it just a little lower than you think it should be.

I prefer to have a patient wear a favorite bathing suit style while we mark her so we make sure and keep the lines inside the material of the swim suit. A good surgeon has several techniques to minimize the scar, but ultimately your genetic disposition to making scar tissue will determine how thick or thin or red or white the scar is.