Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

The tummy tuck is one of the most transformative procedures in plastic surgery. Scanning before-and-after images, it’s easy to be swept up by the dramatic changes in appearance. But in doing so, you may miss the subtler nuances, like the proportions of the navel and the discreet contours of the abdomen, that signal next-level outcomes.

Like so many avenues of cosmetic plastic surgery, the tummy tuck has evolved considerably in recent years. Dr. Davis has refined his techniques and learned how to safely enhance their results. When choosing surgical providers it usually comes down to small differences in those results. To help with your decision, here are three details you want to make sure to note while reviewing galleries.

A low-profile scar

Ideally, a tummy tuck scar heals as a fine line just above or slightly within the pubic hair. The goal, of course, is for it to be completely concealed when you pull on a standard bikini bottom. Mind you, that’s a big ask, considering the average tummy tuck incision runs from hip bone to hip bone. And because most people’s hips and backs aren’t perfectly straight to begin with.

That said, the scar, while remaining out of sight, should actually accentuate the overall result. The tummy tuck involves tugging, contouring, and a bit of geometry. By creating a low-sitting scar, the surgeon’s able to change the way the sides look and the way the abdomen itself looks. So, also look for a scar that’s balanced and symmetric.

A contoured midsection

Appealing as a tight-looking abdomen might sound, it doesn’t look natural. The current standard (which does) is softer and shapelier, with subtle curves and depressions. To achieve those contours, liposuction is usually incorporated into the tummy tuck.

In addition to removing fat from the hips, flanks, and back during the surgery, meticulous surgeons will carefully sculpt the area above the belly button, which creates a barely-perceptible little groove that’s inherent in a youthful abdomen. Details like that may be very subtle, but they all contribute to the overall result.

Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is here to assist you to get the goals you want. Please contact us and we are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right procedure and answer your questions via a virtual consult.

When it comes to improving dull skin, rough texture, hyperpigmentation, and acne, chemical peels and lasers remain the gold standard. Both help to reduce the appearance of pores and soften fine lines. Both entail relatively minimal downtime (a few days of redness, swelling, and peeling). And both can be exceptionally effective—in the right situations. Here, I’ll help you pin down which treatment is right for you.

How do they work?

First, let’s take a closer look at each treatment. A chemical peel uses various acids, such as lactic, salicylic, or trichloroacetic (TCA), to resurface the skin and remove surface pigmentation.

Which treatment is right for me?

Regardless of your skin type or the issue you want to address, both peels and lasers will require multiple treatments in order to achieve the best results. The total number can be as few as two, but it’s generally between three and six. 

With that in mind, if given a choice, a chemical peel is the better option if you’re on a budget. Its price depends on the strength and concentration of the peel, but the range is typically less than that of a fractionated laser treatment.

Both types of treatments can provide you with more radiant skin, though, if you have dark skin and you opt for a lower-energy fractionated laser, like Clear + Brilliant, you’ll want to make sure the treatment is done by someone who has a lot of experience using this laser on dark skin types. It’s considered safer than a stronger laser resurfacing procedure, but the results can vary in under-experienced hands.

For the most part, however, a chemical peel is the safer means to resurface and tighten dark skin. The heat of a fractionated laser can contribute to hyperpigmentation. (For everyone else, a laser is the clear choice for skin-tightening. The heat will spur the production of natural collagen and elastin, the basic building blocks of firmer skin.)

Some plastic surgeons will start with a peel and move to a laser if the results aren’t meeting their expectations. In those instances, they’ll use a lower-energy fractionated laser at low strength over a few treatments in order to avoid post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

A similar approach is often used when aiming to erase persistent patches of acne. A series of salicylic acid peels exfoliate the skin and penetrate the pores to unclog them. At which point, a long-pulse laser can shut down overactive sebaceous glands. It’s safe for dark skin because it won’t burn the upper layers.

If you want to learn more about our med-spa services and chemical peels. please contact us at info@daviscps.com and our team will be happy to help you and schedule a virtual consultation.