Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

The body-positive conversations have helped. And as they continue to increase in frequency, the more inclined we’ll be to feel comfortable in our own skin. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop striving to be the best version of ourselves. Only that the goal will be better aligned with our physical and emotional qualities, rather than a steady stream of photoshop-ed images we absorbed during our most formative years.

We each have our own relationship with fat, and that’s not going to change overnight. But simply being able to focus our attention and energy on a particularly problematic area or two, like the belly or thighs, is so much more useful than thinking of ourselves as just plain fat.

To that end, there have been some really exciting innovations, most notable of which has been the advent of a non-invasive fat-reducing procedure called CoolSculpting. You’re probably already familiar with it on some level. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering it.

What’s the procedure like?

CoolSculpting for women can treat just about any unwanted bulge, but it’s FDA-approved for the abdomen, love handles, thighs, upper arms, “bra fat,” back fat, “banana roll” underneath your butt, and double chin.

An applicator that looks kind of like a big vacuum hose applies suction to the area you want to target. It then applies carefully regulated cooling plates to bring fat cells down to a temperature at which they’re irreversibly damaged. For most areas, the treatment takes a little over a half-hour.

The frozen fat cells will then die and be eliminated by the body over the course of the next few months. You’ll start to see results within a few weeks, but it should take about three months for the final effects to become apparent.

Key to the process is having enough fat for the applicator to adhere to. In other words, enough to pinch.

The treatment itself is relatively gentle. You may feel some initial discomfort as the cooling begins, but it’ll dissipate. And then you’ll be able to catch up on email, scroll through Instagram, or even close your eyes and appreciate a bit of solitude.

What about after it’s done?

There’s no downtime with CoolSculpting for women. So you can return to the office, run errands, or even hit the gym following a treatment.

Over the coming weeks, you can expect up to a 25 percent reduction of fat in the treated area. The results are permanent—once the fat cells are frozen, they’re gone for good. Though the remaining fat cells will still function as normal, which means they’re subject to getting bigger with weight gain. (Contrary to popular belief, fat cells expand with weight gain. They don’t multiply.) So, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are as important after the treatment as they ever were.

When we think of ourselves as fat, it’s very hard to ever gain any meaningful traction. But by focusing on key areas, momentum is much easier to come by—and sustain.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular kinds of plastic surgery performed in the United States. And while it’s common for women to arrive at their consultation with a pretty well-formed concept of what they want, many tend to gloss over the recovery.

But that phase is critical to ensuring you achieve your desired shape. So here’s a little insight into what you can expect over the days and weeks immediately following your surgery.

The first few weeks

During the first week after your breast augmentation surgery, focus on resting and following your plastic surgeon’s recovery instructions to a T. Everyone heals at their own pace, but those two acts will go the furthest toward facilitating a quick and complication-free recovery.

Any drains or sutures may be removed within a day or two after the surgery.

Your breasts are likely to feel tight and tender, but that should gradually dissipate with each passing day. The surgical bra or compression garment recommended by your plastic surgeon will help. As will applying cool packs to swollen, bruised, or tender areas.

There should be a significant improvement in the swelling and bruising after the first week. The swelling and associated discomfort generally peaks over the first three days or so. From there, the vast majority of swelling usually goes down within six weeks.

Sleeping with your torso elevated will help limit the swelling. It may take a little getting used to, but it should be relatively short-lived. You will, however, need to sleep on your back for a couple of months to avoid unnecessarily straining your incisions and to continue to keep the swelling to a minimum.

Within a week or two of their surgery, most women are able to return to work and other light activities, like walking. That’s important because it’ll improve your circulation and boost your mood.

You’ll still, however, need to avoid the more strenuous stuff, including high-intensity exercise and, sorry to say it, sex for a few more weeks. Raising your blood pressure too soon after an operation can lead to complications that could harm your health and compromise your results.

Month 2 and beyond

Maybe the top question on every woman’s mind as she proceeds through recovery is, “How long will it take for my implants to settle?”

Your implants will sit high and firm on your chest until the surrounding tissue and muscle adjust to their presence. Once they relax, your breast implants will settle, or “drop and fluff,” into their intended position. Generally, the process takes three to four months, but it can take up to six months if your implants are especially large or your breast tissue is firmer than average.

But that’s a much subtler transformation than it sounds. Beyond that, most women are nearly completely recovered from their surgery within a few weeks. Over the course of the next several months, your incision scars will fade to thin lines that will be all but invisible when you’re wearing a bikini or a low-cut top—leaving just you and your captivating new breasts.