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If you’ve committed to losing weight this year, that’s great!

We recommend a slow and steady approach of shifting to healthier foods that you enjoy, in smaller portions, paired with a regular and sustainable routine of increased physical activity. The combination of fewer calories in and more calories burned, accomplished by adopting a set of habits that become second nature to you, can be the key to losing weight and keeping it off. Beyond that, it’s all about what works for you.

But have you thought about what you’ll do after you lose the weight?

Body Contouring

If you’re lucky, your weight will come off in all the right places and you’ll be delighted with your slimmer body contours. But weight loss doesn’t always work that way. Many people are left with stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. Those might be around your waist, on your arms or thighs, or under your chin. Wherever the last bulges of fat persist, there are ways to get rid of them without going to extremes in dieting or at the gym.

Once you’re close to your weight goal — within about 10 or 15 pounds of your ideal weight — you might think about a body-contouring procedure to put the finishing touches on your self-improvement efforts. These procedures reduce unwanted pockets of fat on specific areas of your body in ways that eliminate those fat cells forever. They aren’t weight-loss treatments, but they make great complements to weight loss through healthy eating and exercise.

Breast Surgery

Weight loss can sometimes affect a woman’s breasts in ways that are less than desirable. Stretched breast skin can sag when the fat is gone, or your breasts can lose more volume than you would prefer.

Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover combines procedures—typically a tummy tuck, breast surgery, and liposuction—to restore a more attractive, younger-looking figure. A mommy makeover can provide the finishing transformation after successful weight loss to give you the body you want.

Facial Rejuvenation

As you get your body in beautiful shape, you might consider treatments to make your face look younger, too. You have many options for facial rejuvenation, including:

Learn More About Body Contouring and Other Rejuvenating Treatments in Beverly Hills

Find out more about the possibilities of cosmetic treatment in a personal consultation. Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery have developed an impeccable reputation for stunning, natural-looking cosmetic treatment and plastic surgery results, attracting patients from all over the world. Contact our practice today at (310) 746-5475 or send an online request to schedule an appointment.

Mommy Makeover 

Recovery time for a mommy makeover procedure varies from one patient to another depending on the extent of the surgery performed. Although you can expect a safe and quick recovery, you should plan to take leave from work for about two weeks. It may be difficult to care for your children during the early recovery phase, so you may find childcare during this time. 

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides mommy makeover surgery to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding communities.   

Recovery process 

After your mommy makeover, it is best to have someone responsible to drive you home from the surgical center or hospital. It is normal to feel groggy or discomfort for some time. You will also experience some swelling. While the inflammation and irritation will dissipate by the end of the first week, you should consider taking plenty of rest. You should also gently walk around your house to avoid the formation of blood clots.  

About a week or 10 days after your plastic surgery, you will have to visit your surgeon’s office for having your drainage tubes removed. Depending on your recovery rate, you will have your sutures removed around the same time. You should maintain your post-surgical appointments as scheduled.  

You should be able to go back to your regular routine within a week, but, if you had to undergo a major procedure such as a lower body lift, it may take more time to recover. Refrain from doing strenuous exercises and heavy lifting for the first few weeks. It will take about 4 to 6 weeks for you to return back to the gym.  

Swelling is common after a mommy makeover cosmetic surgery, but it would subside within a few weeks. Even though you will start noticing the changes in your body almost immediately, it will take a few months for your body to permanently settle down and transform into something a little more trimmer.  

Faster recovery  

In order to have a quicker recovery, you should abide by the guidelines provided below: 

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas for mommy makeover.  

Schedule a Consultation with Beverly Hills California Plastic Surgeon Dr. Kim

For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim.  Click here to contact us today.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

A tummy tuck can work wonders in transforming your midsection. The procedure removes excess skin and fat and tightens your abdominal muscles for a smooth, flat, youthful look. But it’s a major surgical intervention and requires time for recovery. That includes plenty of rest and some special steps for healthy sleep.

Why Elevated Sleep is Important After a Tummy Tuck

As with any plastic surgery procedure, you will experience some swelling in the treated area in the days after surgery. Sleeping in a gently propped-up position helps drain the area and reduce swelling while your body heals.

With a tummy tuck, there’s an added need to keep the abdomen from stretching during the early stages of healing, which can pull at the incisions. We’ll instruct you to sleep with a slight bend at your hips and your knees as if you are reclining in a beach chair. This position lets the tissue recover and helps minimize discomfort.

How to Sleep Comfortably in a Raised Position

There are two main ways to prop yourself up for elevated sleep after a tummy tuck: using pillows on your bed or sleeping in a recliner.

A basic arrangement on your bed might include two or more pillows under your head and upper torso, one to lift your knees, and one under each arm. The goal is to have the pillows support a flex at your waist, not just raise your head and shoulders. It’s a good idea to experiment with the pillow arrangement before your surgery and practice sleeping in this elevated position. That way, you’ll have the needed pillows on hand when you come home from the surgery, and it will be a familiar and comfortable sleeping position to you.

You may want to buy a wedge pillow. This specially shaped cushion raises your upper body and is less likely to move while you sleep. If you find your normal pillows too thin to lift your knees, you might try a bolster, such as those used for yoga.

If you have a recliner, that can be an even better option for sleep after your tummy tuck. Most recliners are adjustable to support your back and your legs at different angles. And, a recliner provides support on both sides, so you are less likely to move out of position during sleep. Some recliners also tilt forward to help you get up after sleep.

How Long to Sleep Elevated After Your Tummy Tuck

How long you’ll need to sleep in this reclined position will depend on the type of tummy tuck surgery you have. Your surgeon will advise you as part of your recovery care plan. After a mini tummy tuck, you’ll need to sleep in an elevated position for a least a week and possibly for two or three weeks. After a full tummy tuck, you should expect to sleep with your upper body raised for at least two weeks and up to four to six weeks.

In addition to following the advice of your surgeon as to the timing, listen to your body. Until it’s comfortable to straighten your torso, it will likely be painful to lie flat on your back or your stomach. If you are naturally a side sleeper and have trouble adjusting to propped-up sleep, your surgeon may advise you to try sleeping on your side, without extra pillows, once the swelling from the procedure has gone down.

Rest and sleep are crucial to your healing after surgery. Follow a regular bedtime routine, just as you normally would, to get your body into a healthy sleep cycle. Wearing compression garments at all times, even while you sleep, can ease discomfort, as can appropriate use of pain medication.

Learn More in a Personal Consultation

Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery have developed an impeccable reputation for stunning, natural-looking plastic surgery results, attracting patients from all over the world. Contact our practice today at 310-746-5475 or send an online request to schedule a consultation.

It’s a big decision to have a breast lift. It’s an investment in yourself that can give you a huge boost to your self-esteem. And you want the results to last. 

Clearly, you need to follow your doctor’s guidance in the days and weeks immediately after the procedure to promote healing and optimal results. But what steps can you take longer-term to help your breasts stay perky? 

Here are some habits you can adopt at home to maintain your youthful shape.

Maintain Your Weight With Healthy Eating

The see-saw effects of weight gain and loss can take a big toll on the appearance of your breasts. Weight fluctuations cause the skin on your breasts and the supportive tissue inside to stretch and contract. Over time, this leads to a loss of elasticity and sagging. 

Diet and exercise both contribute to weight changes. Exercise is important to your health, and we’ll get to that next. But healthy eating habits are a powerful factor in tipping the scales in the right direction. 

If you want to keep your breasts in their newly perky form, it’s important to break the cycle of seasonal dieting and weight gain. Instead, get into the habit of eating healthy food in moderate portions as your new normal. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Switch to whole grains and stay away from refined carbohydrates. Drink water throughout the day. Keep unhealthy foods, like ice cream and fattening desserts, out of your house to eliminate temptation. 

Once healthy eating becomes a habit, you’ll find that you enjoy eating better-quality food and that you have more energy. Good nutrition also contributes to healthy skin and is critical to your overall well-being.

Exercise

You know that exercise is important to your overall health. The right kinds of exercise habits can also help you maintain the perkiness of the breasts.

First, we should dispel a myth. Many women avoid vigorous exercise out of fear that the bouncing will cause their breasts to sag. However, there is no connection between bouncing and breast sag. Especially with the use of a supportive sports bra, you shouldn’t worry about any exercise negatively impacting your breasts. On the other hand, there are loads of scientific evidence tying exercise to maintaining a healthy weight. And maintaining your weight is key to keeping your youthful breast shape and position.

So find a way to work regular exercise into your daily and weekly routine until it becomes a habit — something you do to feel good rather than something you have to force yourself to do.

Certain muscle-strengthening exercises can also help firm up the shape of your chest and improve your posture, both of which can have a modest effect on maintaining your breast-lift results. These include bench presses with dumbells, push-ups, and planks. If you belong to a gym, a trainer can show you other exercises to improve your upper body posture and strengthen your pectoral muscles, the muscles that lie just below your breasts.

Take Care of Your Skin

Use quality moisturizers and sunscreen to help your skin stay strong and firm. Skin tone and elasticity are factors in breast droop, and exposure to the sun’s UV rays is one of the biggest factors in skin damage. The chest is a common spot for sunburn, and that can weaken and coarsen the skin on your breasts. 

Make it a habit to keep your skin moisturized. Use sunscreen regularly and avoid harmful overexposure to the sun.

Wear a Well-Fitted Bra

You’ll need to wear a supportive bra while you heal from your breast lift. After that, a well-fitted bra continues to be important, but for different reasons. Bras that give too much lift can actually weaken the muscles supporting your breasts. They may look great while you’re wearing them but aren’t the best option for everyday use. Instead, get yourself fitted with bras that provide some support but that allow breasts to do some of the work themselves. It’s worth getting a professional fitting at a lingerie store now that your breasts have been reshaped. The bras you had from before your surgery may not be providing the support you need.

Get a Free Professional Consultation

To learn more about how a breast lift can transform your appearance, make an appointment with Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery. Contact them today at (310) 746-5475 or send an online request to schedule a free consultation.

While a rhinoplasty may be one of the least invasive plastic surgeries, the procedure still requires a robust recovery to enjoy the best results. We want you to rest, relax, and enjoy your recovery process. Preparation before your procedure is key to a successful recovery.  

What should you have on hand for a rhinoplasty recovery? If you’re getting ready for a nose job, stock up on these goodies recommended by our Beverly Hills plastic surgeons. For more tips for a speedy rhinoplasty recovery, be sure to call Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim at (310) 746-5475. 

1. Lots of Pillows

Elevate, elevate, elevate. To reduce swelling, you’ll want to keep your head elevated in the days and weeks following surgery. Propping yourself up with plenty of pillows or a large wedge pillow can help you’re your head held high and ensure a comfortable night’s rest without the risk of accidentally rolling onto your new nose. 

2. Icy Cold Compresses

We recommend getting small gel ice packs and plenty of them. The smaller size will make it easier to hold to your nose without weighing uncomfortably on the swollen tissue. Make sure you have several. You’ll want enough so that you can easily reach for a freshly frozen pack without having to worry about constantly replacing spent packs back to the freezer. 

While cold compresses are a valuable key to fighting post-procedure swelling, remember that a little cold goes a long way. It is possible to over-ice the nose, creating damage and causing recovery complications. Limit your icing to 10-20 minutes per hour, spread throughout the day.  

3. Well-Stocked Fridge

Protein and vitamin-rich foods will give your body the nutrition it needs to heal properly. Healthy foods will help rebuild damaged and healing tissue from the inside out while supporting a weakened immune system as your nose heals. 

4. Humidifier

We’re warning you now – the internasal surgical packing will dry you out. Setting up humidifiers around your home and staying well hydrated can help alleviate the discomfort caused by a dry mouth or throat.

5. Chapstick

Speaking of drying out, patients should be prepared to exclusively mouth breathe for the first weeks following treatment. In addition to drying out your mouth, constant mouth breathing can also make dry out your lips and add to recovery discomfort. Use a lip balm frequently in the days and weeks following surgery to protect lips from chapping or cracking. 

6. Nasal Spray

While our surgeons will give you a set of post-surgery instructions on how to best care for your recovering nose, sterilized saline spray can help keep your nose hydrated in the weeks after your splint is removed. 

7. Curtains

Direct sunshine after any surgery can impact recovery and even increase your risk of sunburn or damage. When it comes to rhinoplasty, exposure to the sun can put you at risk of darkening scar tissue and increased swelling. We recommend recovering indoors, where it’s cool and staying out of direct sunlight.  

8. Zip-Up Tops and Sweaters

When it comes to post-rhinoplasty recovery, the less your nose has to touch anything, the better. This extends not just to Kleenex, but also to sweatshirts and jackets. Zip-up hoodies and loose neck t-shirts can help keep you comfortable and minimize the risk of accidentally getting the bulky nose splint caught on clothing.

9. Facial Cleansing Pads and Tissues

Nothing feels better than a freshly washed face, but after rhinoplasty, you’ll need to take a brief hiatus from your usual skincare regimen. To help stay clean, you can wash with facial cleansing pads. Avoid getting water on your face until you’re cleared by your surgeon. 

Get More Tips by Visiting Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery

Ready for your rhinoplasty? Learn more about this ever-popular procedure by scheduling your first consultation with the surgical team at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery. Our specialists have years of experience reshaping noses and improving patients’ self-confidence with this facial surgery. Call 310-746-5475 today to get started!