How To Know If You’re a Good Candidate For a Tummy Tuck

DR TIM LOVE - TUMMY TUCKHave you thought about a tummy tuck? How do you know if you’re a good candidate? Here are four things to consider.

Excess of Fat and Skin

There must be an excess of fat and skin in your lower abdomen in order for you to be a serious candidate for an abdominoplasty (a tummy tuck). Simply being overweight is not a reason to want to have surgery. There are many methods for weight loss in a healthy way without having to undergo a surgical procedure. But if you have an excess of fat and skin, consult a qualified plastic surgeon so they can explain the procedure and the risks involve

Female patients should be done having children if they want to have a tummy tuck procedure. A pregnancy will stretch the skin and result in excess fat and skin on the body. Be sure you and your partner have discussed your decision to stop having children before consulting with a plastic surgeon.

Healthy Enough to Withstand Anesthesia

Undergoing an anesthetic is not to be taken lightly. While risks are small, you should be healthy enough to be placed under a local anesthesia and healthy enough to withstand the procedure while under. Consult carefully with your physician and the anesthesiologist to ensure that you are not at risk. The older you are the more careful you should be, and those patients with a history of heart issues should consult their cardiologist. Many plastic surgeons require that a patient has a history of physical exams with a primary care physician before they can be considered for a tummy tuck.

 

Appropriate Body Type

Not all body types will work for a tummy tuck. The ideal candidate has a skinny body and happens to have excess skin or fat in the lower tummy. This could be due to child birth or drastic weight loss through normal means. A tummy tuck can only remove the fat and skin that rests outside of the muscle layer. Any fat in the abdomen cannot be removed.

If you think a tummy tuck might be right for you, contact our office for a consultation.

Do Your Homework: Why You Need a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in Oklahoma City

Choosing a physician is a very important decision that people take seriously. This extends to any form of medical services including plastic surgery. If you’re searching for a plastic surgeon in Oklahoma City, make sure he or she is board-certified. There are risks involved and you want to make sure you’re in good hands.

This video from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) details a case where a young woman made an important decision before learning enough about the physician. As the ASPS says her “story highlights the importance of always doing your homework when considering plastic surgery and choosing a highly-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon to ensure the safest outcome.”

Dr. Tim Love is a board-certified plastic surgeon located in Oklahoma City. He has been practicing for more than 30 years. Contact his office if you are considering a procedure.

Why You Should Choose a Credentialed Plastic Surgeon

DR TIM LOVE - TUMMY TUCK (7)Would you let an untrained, untested laborer work on the plumbing in your home? Would you want that person swinging a wrench as they work their way through the pipes running underneath and through the place where you live? No? Then why would you allow a non-credentialed surgeon to work on your body?

Surgery is a delicate and intimate procedure, no matter what type of surgery it is. Don’t trust it to a surgeon who isn’t fully accredited. If you’re considering a procedure such as breast augmentation, a butt lift, or hair transplant, it’s important that you seek out a physician who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) was organized in 1937. As a subsidiary of the American Board of Surgery, the ABPS maintains the highest level of standards and ethics. Plastic surgeons certified by the board are listed with the American Board of Medical Specialties. The ABPS is one of 24 boards that comprise the ABMS. The purpose of the board is to protect the public by ensuring a consistent and high standard of excellence and certification in medical practices.

Dr. Tim Love was one of the first plastic surgeons in Oklahoma to be board certified by the ABPS and he’s been certified by the board for more than three decades. As a result, Dr. Tim R. Love, MD has been sought after for work in clinical studies and to speak on several occasions in front of his peers.

Staying current with industry techniques and trends

One of the benefits of choosing a credentialed and board-certified plastic surgeon is to ensure that you’re getting the most current care. Board-certified surgeons are required to take part in periodic educational seminars and training to learn new techniques and procedures. For more information about your options with plastic surgery in Oklahoma City, contact Dr. Tim Love’s office.

OKC Plastic Surgeon Dr. Tim Love Supports Skin Cancer Prevention Guidelines

6The dangers of skin cancer are something to remember all times of the year, not just when the sun is high and the rays are hitting us during the summer months. Dr. Tim Love of Oklahoma City supports the skin cancer prevention guidelines as established by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, an organization that Dr. Tim R. Love, MD has long been an esteemed member of.

For complete information on prevention techniques, consult with your general physician. Here are several prevention techniques that are supported by Dr. Tim R. Love, MD and ASPS.

Use Sunscreen

When planning to be in the sun for any extended time (more than 15 minutes), use sunscreen. You should be using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Take special care to apply the sunscreen to all exposed areas especially when you’ll be taking part in any physical activity or if you’re going to be on the water. Consult the directions to apply properly and seek out an SPF rating that is suited for your skin type. Apply the sunscreen before going outside (about 15-20 minutes prior) so it has a chance to interact with your skin and absorb, making it less likely to wipe off. Choose waterproof sunscreen when going to the beach or out on a boat or to an outdoor water park.

Make sure your kids are lathered with sunscreen and protected at all times. Never let newborns stay in the sun for an extended time.

Seek Shade and Cover Up

When possible, seek shaded areas. Any direct exposure to the sun can increase your risk of burning the skin. Be mindful that you can get burnt even when in the shade on sunny days, so apply sunscreen no matter what.

The warmest and most intense sun rays are from 10 AM to 4 PM, so if you can avoid extended periods in the sun at these times. If you are out, use sunscreen. One of the worst things for your skin is to burn it. Follow the steps outlined here or stay out of the sun if you are prone to burning.

Wear clothing that covers your legs, torso, arms, and neck to protect them from harmful rays.

Don’t forget about your eyes! The eyes are sensitive and vulnerable to sun rays as well. Wear sunglasses that are rated for UV (ultraviolet) blocking.

Check Yourself

Every month do a careful examination of your skin from head to toe to keep an eye out for moles, spots, or abnormalities. Have your partner help you by looking at your back and keeping tabs on any moles that weren’t there before.

Don’t Fake It

Never use tanning booths. The harmful artificial rays and lamps can cause severe damage, especially when used consistently.

Have Regular Check Ups

See your primary care doctor at least once per year for a physical. If you are concerned about a problem with your skin, make an appointment with a dermatologist. Your primary physician can refer you to a dermatologist near you.

Hair Transplant Procedures Have Come a Long Way

DR TIM LOVE - TUMMY TUCK (8)Thinning and receding hair pleases no one – except perhaps Sir Patrick Stewart, who is definitely pulling it off. If, however, you are not the fabled actor, you’re probably wondering just what your options are when it comes to hair replacement. Luckily, transplant technology has come a long way in the past several decades. Clumsy hair plugs and older techniques have been replaced with automated technology and scientific breakthroughs that stand to revolutionize the world of hair transplantation.

Follicle Unit Transplantation

Commonly referred to as the strip procedure, follicular unit transportation (FUT) means that all the follicle units are harvested from a single strip along the middle of the donor area. This requires removal of an entire piece of scalp along the back of the patient’s head.

Originally, the hair harvested had a plug-like effect because it was re-implanted in relatively large chunks up to a few millimeters across. As technology has advanced, allowing surgeons to implant hair in smaller and smaller sections, the procedure has come to look more natural.

Follicle Unit Extraction

A newer procedure, follicle unit extraction (FUE) is much less invasive than FUT. Rather than cutting a strip of scalp away from the patient’s skull, surgeons use FUE to remove follicles directly from the scalp a few hairs at a time. FUE does have some disadvantages – most notably, a higher attrition rate of implanted hair. Because hair is partially removed from zones more prone to hair loss and because follicles are not as well protected during transplant, patients should expect to lose more hair after the procedure. Specialists use robotic technology to remove the hair.

Follicle Hair Cloning

As opposed to traditional hair relocation techniques, which simply move hair from one part of the patient’s scalp to another, hair cloning is the first transplant technology that promises to grow entirely new hair. Although it is still in its infancy, this technique involves taking samples from a patient’s head, multiplying the resulting hair cells in a lab culture, and then transplanting them back to the patient, explains Medical News Today. Once mainstream, this process will require far less of the patient’s actual hair, minimizing the invasiveness and healing time of the process, and maximizing comfort and discretion.

Minimizing Hair Loss

Before you go the surgery route, of course, it’s worth looking into the myriad noninvasive treatments available today. Silicone, for instance, is a great product for thinning hair. By coating hair in a layer of strengthening silicone (a fantastic, natural-feeling substance that leaves hair shiny and is also the main ingredient in popular “gummy bear” breast implants), you give your hair the best chance of withstanding breakage and remaining on your scalp.

Several pharmaceuticals that specifically address hair regrowth are also available, so you may want to look into them. While hair loss is unfortunate, technological advances mean that it’s not necessarily permanent – and that’s very good news.

 

Contact our office for a consultation if you’d like to discuss hair transplant options.

Hair Transplant Procedures Have Come a Long Way

DR TIM LOVE - TUMMY TUCK (8)Thinning and receding hair pleases no one – except perhaps Sir Patrick Stewart, who is definitely pulling it off. If, however, you are not the fabled actor, you’re probably wondering just what your options are when it comes to hair replacement. Luckily, transplant technology has come a long way in the past several decades. Clumsy hair plugs and older techniques have been replaced with automated technology and scientific breakthroughs that stand to revolutionize the world of hair transplantation.

Follicle Unit Transplantation

Commonly referred to as the strip procedure, follicular unit transportation (FUT) means that all the follicle units are harvested from a single strip along the middle of the donor area. This requires removal of an entire piece of scalp along the back of the patient’s head.

Originally, the hair harvested had a plug-like effect because it was re-implanted in relatively large chunks up to a few millimeters across. As technology has advanced, allowing surgeons to implant hair in smaller and smaller sections, the procedure has come to look more natural.

Follicle Unit Extraction

A newer procedure, follicle unit extraction (FUE) is much less invasive than FUT. Rather than cutting a strip of scalp away from the patient’s skull, surgeons use FUE to remove follicles directly from the scalp a few hairs at a time. FUE does have some disadvantages – most notably, a higher attrition rate of implanted hair. Because hair is partially removed from zones more prone to hair loss and because follicles are not as well protected during transplant, patients should expect to lose more hair after the procedure. Specialists use robotic technology to remove the hair.

Follicle Hair Cloning

As opposed to traditional hair relocation techniques, which simply move hair from one part of the patient’s scalp to another, hair cloning is the first transplant technology that promises to grow entirely new hair. Although it is still in its infancy, this technique involves taking samples from a patient’s head, multiplying the resulting hair cells in a lab culture, and then transplanting them back to the patient, explains Medical News Today. Once mainstream, this process will require far less of the patient’s actual hair, minimizing the invasiveness and healing time of the process, and maximizing comfort and discretion.

Minimizing Hair Loss

Before you go the surgery route, of course, it’s worth looking into the myriad noninvasive treatments available today. Silicone, for instance, is a great product for thinning hair. By coating hair in a layer of strengthening silicone (a fantastic, natural-feeling substance that leaves hair shiny and is also the main ingredient in popular “gummy bear” breast implants), you give your hair the best chance of withstanding breakage and remaining on your scalp.

Several pharmaceuticals that specifically address hair regrowth are also available, so you may want to look into them. While hair loss is unfortunate, technological advances mean that it’s not necessarily permanent – and that’s very good news.

 

Contact our office for a consultation if you’d like to discuss hair transplant options.