Breast augmentation, also known as breast implants, is a surgical procedure that enhances the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. While the procedure is popular, it can also be confusing and overwhelming. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about breast augmentation in an informative and easy-to-understand way.

Why Women Choose Breast Augmentation

There are many reasons why a woman may choose to undergo breast augmentation. Some women may have naturally small breasts, while others may have lost breast volume after pregnancy or weight loss. Breast augmentation can help increase breast size and enhance the shape of the breasts, resulting in improved self-confidence and body image.

Breast enhancement, also known as breast augmentation, is a popular cosmetic procedure that involves the use of implants to increase the size and improve the shape of the breasts. Women choose breast enhancement for a variety of reasons, including a desire to improve their self-confidence and body image.

Many women who undergo breast enhancement may have naturally small breasts or may have lost breast volume due to pregnancy or weight loss. Breast enhancement can help to restore or enhance the size and shape of the breasts, resulting in a more youthful and attractive appearance. Additionally, breast enhancement can help to balance out asymmetrical breasts or correct congenital defects, such as tubular breasts. For many women, breast enhancement is a way to feel more confident in their own skin and achieve a more proportional and balanced figure.

To learn more about this procedure, click here.

Types of Breast Implants

There are two main types of breast implants: saline and silicone. Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater, while silicone implants are filled with a cohesive silicone gel. Both types of implants have their own advantages and disadvantages, and your surgeon can help you choose the best option based on your individual needs.

The Breast Augmentation Procedure

Breast augmentation surgery typically takes between one and two hours and is performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon will make incisions in the breast crease, around the nipple, or in the armpit, depending on the patient’s anatomy and the type of implant being used. The implant is then inserted into a pocket created either under the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle.

Recovery and Results

After the procedure, patients can expect to experience some discomfort and swelling for a few days. Most patients are able to return to work within a week or two and resume normal activities after four to six weeks. Patients will begin to see the results of the procedure immediately, but the final results may not be fully visible for several months.

Risks and Complications

Like any surgical procedure, breast augmentation carries some risks and potential complications. These include bleeding, infection, scarring, and implant rupture or leakage. However, with proper surgical techniques and postoperative care, the risk of complications can be minimized.

Choosing a Surgeon

When choosing a surgeon for your breast augmentation procedure, it is important to do your research and find a qualified, experienced, and board-certified plastic surgeon. The surgeon should be able to provide you with before-and-after photos of previous patients and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.

Choosing a qualified and experienced surgeon is crucial when considering breast enhancement surgery. A good surgeon will have the necessary training and expertise to perform the procedure safely and effectively, reducing the risk of complications and ensuring optimal results. When selecting a surgeon, it is important to do your research and look for someone who is board-certified in plastic surgery and has a track record of successful breast enhancement procedures. You should also consider the surgeon’s level of communication, their approach to patient care, and their willingness to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Ultimately, choosing the right surgeon can make all the difference in the success and satisfaction of your breast enhancement journey.

(Dr. Vanek’s state-of-the-art facility in Concord, Ohio)

In Conclusion

Breast augmentation is a safe and effective way to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. With proper research and the help of a qualified plastic surgeon, patients can achieve their desired results and improve their self-confidence and body image. If you are considering breast augmentation, talk to your doctor to learn more about the procedure and whether it is right for you.

Click here to contact Dr. Paul Vanek. 

Here is a minimally invasive skin tightening procedure using the power of radio frequency (RF) plus cold helium plasma.

Doing all the right things to battle the signs of aging—using sunblock, eating healthy, and a great skin care regimen—does not always stop the signs of aging.

Traditional procedures like facelifts, brow lifts, and eyelid surgery used to be the only choices for minimizing sagging skin for a more youthful appearance. During the past ten years, some truly remarkable cosmetic procedures have produced fantastic results to tighten skin without the downtime, discomfort of surgery, and cost.

Dr. Vanek and his talented team are excited to offer Renuvion as a skin-tightening solution for patients who are not ready for surgery.

About Renuvion

The Renuvion skin tightening treatment is the first minimally invasive procedure that uses two technologies that are energy based: radio frequency (rf) energy and cold helium plasma.

• Radio frequency Energy has been used for years by heating the deep tissues under the skin to encourage collagen production. RF has a long and proven record of efficacy and safety. With new collagen growth, smooth skin is achieved by thickening and firming the skin over time for natural improvements in texture, tone, and firmness.
• Cold helium plasma forms when helium gas is charged electrically and converted to plasma. This plasma cools the skin while at the same time treated with RF. This helps to maintain comfort and protect surrounding tissues.

Because the skin is being heated and cooled at the same time allows Renuvion to heat the tissues to higher temperatures than before with other devices using RF. Treating more severe sagging in only one treatment can provide improved and even drastically better results. There is minimal recovery, and you are kept safe and comfortable.

Renuvion Uses

The Renuvion device has been built to be very versatile, so it can be used virtually anywhere to stimulate collagen production on the body where there is sagging or loose skin, crepiness, or small areas of fat.

Common problem areas of treatment:

• Upper face, including the forehead, between the eyebrows, and around the eyes

• Under the chin and the lower cheeks, jawline (jowls)

• Decolletage, chest, and neck

• Pectoral area or breasts

• Upper arms

• Abdomen

• Inner and outer thighs

During your consultation, Dr. Vanek will discuss your areas of concern to see if Renuvion (or another solution) is the best choice to provide optimal results.

Renuvion Treatment: What to Expect

If you and Dr. Vanek have agreed that Renuvion is an excellent choice for you, your procedure will be performed at Dr. Vanek’s Mentor Plastic Surgery & Med Spa. To achieve great results, minimally invasive incisions are made so the Renuvion device can be inserted under the skin.

Dr. Vanek will discuss which form of anesthesia will be used as he develops your treatment plan.

Once you have received anesthesia and are comfortable, Dr. Vanek will insert the Renuvion probe just beneath the skin’s surface. Once inserted, the probe will provide RF energy which will heat the tissues and at the same time cold helium plasma will cool the tissues. This allows for precise, targeted treatment.

During this procedure, Dr. Vanek will control the device’s location, timing, and temperature to ensure you receive effective and safe treatment. A bandage is placed over the incision sites, and you can return home. Depending on where you received treatment, Dr. Vanek may recommend a compression garment to support optimal healing and minimize swelling.

Renuvion Procedure Discomfort

Some patients choose general anesthesia for their assured comfort during the procedure, and after patients may feel mild discomfort. If you choose to do the procedure in the office, you may experience tolerable discomfort during the procedure time.

There can be some local soreness and swelling after your Renuvion treatment typically lasting a few days. Mild discomfort likened to what patients experience after liposuction has been described.

Recovery Time after Renuvion

Taking it easy for a few days after the procedure is expected, but this does not mean you will be bedridden. Patients may walk the same day and shower normally the next day. Most patients usually feel comfortable resuming all their normal activities in about one week.

Renuvion Results

You can expect to have noticeable changes after about one to two months’ time. These results should last for a very long time because Renuvion causes your natural tissues to build collagen.

This procedure can be perfected as you age to restore a youthful appearance

Dr. Vanek would love to discuss Renuvion with you or help you explore other options for minimally invasive procedures at the Mentor Plastic Surgery & Med Spa. Contact us today for a consultation! (440) 205-5750

I appreciate the gift of life for all my patients who wonder how we develop additional surgical skills!

If you ever wonder if your surgeon maintains up-to-date skill development, you can rest assured that I am constantly in a mode of article review and surgical science participation. In order to maintain skills, it is sometimes appropriate to refresh one’s ability to review the anatomy of the situation and discuss with other surgeons the most current and up-to-date methods of achieving the best outcomes possible. Of course, there are certain host factors associated with healing and outcome. However, the surgeon who is constantly evolving methods of improving outcomes is to be appreciated. It has been my sincere pleasure to participate in a surgical symposium where we can have an open forum of surgical discussion and then go to the anatomy lab to discuss and perform surgical procedures using new techniques.

These techniques would be impossible without the exploration of skills of the very selfless people who have donated their bodies to science in order to facilitate the learning and development of new techniques. Those who have donated their organs have a special place in heaven for me, as my brother has benefited from the gift of life in a successful heart transplant at Vanderbilt University. He has a new lease on life in every way after being on the precipice of leaving our world because of his cardiomyopathy.

That being said, I have the most significant appreciation for my ability to participate in the anatomic exploration of new techniques with other innovators at the forefront of surgical outcomes. As a medical student, It was my personal motivation to pursue Plastic Surgery as a career so that I could continue to innovate using the known and emerging principles of Plastic Surgery, biochemistry, wound healing, physiology, and anatomic knowledge to innovate in order to achieve the best outcomes possible for patients.

A heartfelt “Thank you” from one surgeon! I am sincerely grateful to those of you who read this and are contemplating the donation of your organs and body in the pursuit of scientific endeavor. You’re part of the medical profession in constant pursuit of improvement in humanity’s plight and the mitigation of suffering with your selfless gift.

By: Dr. Paul Vanek

For more information on organ donation, please click here.

If you’d like to contact us, please click here.

Aging causes lengthening of the upper lip skin, reducing the visible mucosal surface. Loss of subcutaneous fat flattens the lips and reduces the definition of anatomical landmarks such as the vermillion border, Cupid’s bow, and philtrum columns. This thinning combined with the repetitive movement of the orbicularis oris muscle results in “lipstick lines” or vertical rhytids emanating from the vermillion and extending onto the white upper lip skin. The skin is further thinned by degradation of elastin and collagen fibers which occurs with aging, and women have thinner soft tissue in the perioral region compared to men.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are commonly used to improve lip volume and to sculpt and define the vermillion and philtral border as they flatten with age. Filler placed between the skin and the orbicularis muscle provides improved skin structure and support to the upper lip. Filler should not be placed in the orbicularis oris muscle as the muscle houses the labial vascular supply, risking intravascular injection and subsequent necrosis. Neurotoxins, while they help weaken muscles causing lines, are detrimental to upper lip rejuvenation, as they do nothing to improve skin structure and may exacerbate elongation of the upper lip. Injectable agents do not shorten the elongated upper lip. Surgery, such as a lip lift to shorten the vertical skin in this area, may be a good adjunctive procedure.

For more information, please click here.

To contact us, please click here.

“A VISIA Complexion Analysis is an eye-opening, objective analysis of skin health,” says Dr. Paul Vanek. “It blows patients’ minds that the different components that affect the appearance of their skin can be objectively measured with spectral analysis.”

The VISIA is a skin health evaluation tool that helps Dr. Vanek develop a custom skin care and rejuvenation plan that is individualized to your needs.

“We incorporate the VISIA analysis right at the beginning so we can set objective metrics to measure the success of the treatment programs we propose,” says Dr. Vanek. “It only takes about 20 seconds to complete a scan. Patients are often surprised by the results because it makes them see their skin in an entirely new way. But, they love that it’s objective, that we can propose and proceed with a treatment path, re-scan, and judge the success of the treatment in a purely objective manner.”

How It Works
The VISIA uses multi-spectral imaging to highlight six key areas of concern: wrinkles, spots, pores, color variation/vascularization, bacteria population and sun damage. The results of the imaging are visualized, detailed and compared against a database of over one million scans allowing you and Dr. Vanek to quickly see how your skin health currently compares to the population. The ability to see and identify problematic areas in your skin’s complexion allows Dr. Vanek to suggest treatment options for prevention and rejuvenation.

“We recently had a 46-year-old woman come in to have shallow and deep acne scars on her chin evaluated. She’s of Eastern European decent, grew up in Arizona and recently moved to Mentor, Ohio. She wasn’t surprised that results of the VISIA showed she had oily skin, but she was taken aback that she’s in the lowest quintile for skin cleanliness as defined by a bacterial count of her pores,” says Dr. Vanek. “Based on the results, we did deep-cleanse exfoliations and a glycolic peel to treat the porphyrins (bacteria in the pores) and the Mentor Peel℠ to improve the appearance of her acne scars. After three months, we re-scanned her with the VISIA, and it objectively proves what she sees in the mirror: her fine-line wrinkles and scars are diminished, her pores are smaller, and her bacterial count is down. She’s experiencing fewer and fewer episodic acne breakouts, her skin looks clearer, and she couldn’t be happier.”

Complimentary Analysis, Always
Because of the VISIA’s ability to set objective standards, Dr. Vanek offers complimentary VISIA scans to all of his patients.

“You will always be offered a VISIA analysis. There’s no charge. Even our patients who come in for non-skin care related treatments have the opportunity to have the condition of their skin objectively evaluated.”

As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who has been practicing aesthetic medicine since 1996, Dr. Vanek can offer a variety of treatment recommendations to match your goals and anatomy. During the consultation, Dr. Vanek will be able to explain the risks and benefits of treatment paths in a forthright way so you can make an informed, medically sound decision.

“Give us a call if you are interested in improving the condition of your skin, in the New Year” says Dr. Vanek.

It sounds like you may wish to have a consultation to discuss your options to improve the appearance of your tired eyes. As we age the muscle around the eye sags, and the fat pads that cushion the globe protrude, giving a tired, unrested appearance.

Sun and fun, with aging gives us wrinkled skin that worsens the look we enjoyed when we were younger. There are no creams or fillers that refresh that particular combination of aging changes. If your physical examination confirms this, you may be a candidate for an outpatient procedure called lower blepharoplasty. The procedure involves some anesthesia in your vein to keep you relaxed as an outpatient procedure. There is a fine line incision that is placed at the lower lash line and a suture is placed directly under the skin. The fine line scar is imperceptible in appearance once healed. The suture slides out on day 7 after surgery. With our current Zoom life, most patients who are seeing their own tired under eye bags in the camera can have a very refreshed result in a few weeks after surgery. You may drive, shower and walk a mile the day after the surgery.

Because my practice focuses on facial rejuvenation you may have your upper lids and brow surgery performed at the same time to refresh your entire upper face. A natural, rested look is the goal. Patients correctly are afraid of having an “operated look” or un-natural look. When the lay person sees an unnatural appearing media-personality with altered appearance, it makes our whole society shudder. I will review photographs of patients who have generously shared their before and after results at different times from surgery, to demonstrate to you the pathway you will be on in my practice.

I have found that actual videos of patients and how they move and appear are the most powerful demonstration of the natural result of any facial rejuvenation result in my hands. You will have opportunity to review these with me at the time of your consultation. I will review your after-care instruction in my office before your surgery. After your procedure you are advised to avoid contact lens use for about 2 weeks, and use drops and ointments 2-3 weeks to moisturize your eyes. Once your incisions are healed, I also include lasering the scar to make it the least perceptible. This happens in your follow-up appointments at months 2,3, and 4 after the surgery. I will follow you for years after any procedure, and it is all included in your surgery fee. If you don’t like your eyelid appearance and are ready to explore your options for improving your tired under eye bags or unapproachable look, then call my office for a consultation.

I have video tapes of eyelid incision closure at the time of surgery on my website gallery. Click here to view.

Please visit MentorPlasticSurgery.com photo gallery on eyelid surgery for more photos of patient results
you’ll love!

Clearly the removal of fat from unwanted areas leads the most popular procedure in plastic surgery. But since we are in the age of camera-ready social media, boomers are proudly proclaiming ’60 is the new 40. Of the 17.7 million cosmetic surgery procedures performed in the US in 2018 (the most recent data), 23% were performed on those 55 and older.

Facial rejuvenation, Filler injections, eyelid lifts, liposuction and breast augmentations are leading areas of concern and procedure frequency in the US. Radio-frequency body contouring with non-surgical technique called Trusculpt ID, which tightens and tones the body areas of concern.

These surgical and non-surgical techniques have high popularity and patient satisfaction remains high. Increasingly patients who have had minimally invasive injections with off the shelf items like Restylane, Juviderm and RHA fillers are turning to board certified Plastic surgeons for more long-acting biologic agents- their own autologous fat grafting to plump up their lips, lines, breasts and faces. The fat from the tummy or thighs are harvested with a little local and then the fat is processed in the office or OR, then placed immediately in the target area. This can be readily combined with eyelid surgery. The incision in the crease of they eye can be done as an office procedure, or require light twilight anesthesia to refresh the upper face.

Very popular with men who are competing in the work force with younger co-workers, this procedure has skyrocketed in the era of Zoom awareness of one’s tired appearance. Zoom work culture has made many people take note of their tired under-eye appearance. Simple solutions for the under eye tiredness may be the addition of a little filler in the naso-jugal fold. More severe under-eye bags may need an outpatient surgery called lower blepharoplasty to give a more long term and natural, rested appearance. Breast augmentation popularity and frequency remains high.

Innovation in the use of internal support for the implant using Galaflex, Alloderm and Strattice biological materials has made the results more long lasting and predictable. As you are contemplating your beauty goals for the upcoming year, come in and see me at Mentor Plastic Surgery & MedSpa so we can talk over your pathway!

Click here to contact us. 

I have been happy with wrinkle control Botox, but more recently my brow position is getting slumped. What should I do?

You may be experiencing brow ptosis. This is defined as the lowered position of the brow and forehead laxity that comes with genetics, sun damage, age, and sometimes the dosing of your Botox or neurotoxin of your choice. I first need to examine you to determine what is going on. We will review your injection experience and perhaps recommend a lower dose of the neurotoxin you may be receiving in your frontalis muscle, the muscle that elevates your brow and contributes to forehead wrinkles. If the lower dose lets you compensate, then the problem is solved for a time. But if your examination shows slumping of your brow in the outer rim of your orbit, you may be a candidate for a one-hour procedure that repositions your brow through three 1 inch incisions, called an endoscopic brow lift. This long-lasting procedure restores your upper facial eye brow position, it relaxes the crows feet around your eyes, and it takes away the hooding between your eyes (over your nose) in a way that Botox, Juveau, Dysport, and Xeomin cannot. The appearance change is very natural, and involves very small incisions in your hair, that allow me to restore your youthful appearance with a 5 mm endoscope! You don’t need your hair shaved. You can shampoo and style your hair the next day. The incisions usually heal in about 10-14 days. Your softened upper face looks well rested, not surprised. You can resume most business activities in a few days after surgery. While bruising is possible, there are no incisions around the eyes for endoscopic brow lifting, unless you wish to remove the under-eye “bags” the same day, or you have a lot of excess upper eyelid skin. If you look in the mirror and like the appearance you see when you softly raise your eyebrow with your fingers, and see that your nose bridge looks less tired and grumpy and your face looks more rested. If this is your desire, you can contact my office and arrange for a complimentary consultation to evaluate what’s going on. We will discuss the options, and perhaps use some digital imaging to show you how you will look with your new look. I will show you gallery photos of patients who have undergone this revolutionary procedure! Merry Christmas to my readers!

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What is the state of the art for body contouring?

After we get up from our Thanksgiving celebration, there is a tendency to reflect upon our good fortune, our family, and our waistline! If you are experiencing hard to lose areas of your body, you may wish to address them with some lifestyle modifications to see if they improve with that effort. But some body areas are stubborn reflections of our genetics and life events like childbirth, that nagging knee injury that precludes the same amount of cardio, or just not enough hours in the day.

If you are inclined to seek improvement in your body shape, then you may wish to call for a consultation for body contouring. The gold standard mommy make over (or dad bod make-over) is a lipo-abdominoplasty, which combines the technology of Vaser ultrasound and helium plasma Renuvion. These technologies are selective to reduce fat in areas of the thighs, knees, abdomen, flanks, back, buttocks, and love handles. A 4 mm incision is created to instill a little IV fluid mixed with local anesthesia, so that when your treatment is over you are comfortable. The Vaser probe is passed under the skin, selectively reducing the fat in a permanent way.

The results are smoother body areas, tighter skin, and a thinner you! Because the elasticity of skin is one of our problems as we age, Renuvion energy has been shown to tighten areas that have had fat removal by liposuction technique to improve overall contour and stimulate a more youthful appearance.

The Renuvion technology is also passed under the skin at the time of Vaser use to further optimize the surgical outcome. These technologies are combined in my practice with other more advanced techniques like tummy tuck, face lift, buttock lift, arm lifts and Brazilian Buttock lifts. If you are interested in improving your body contour, and have been frustrated with your current situation, it is time to give my office a call to start your journey! My staff and I welcome your inquiry and will teach you about your options for body contouring in the coming year! We at Mentor Plastic Surgery & MedSpa are thankful for your support of our practice!

Ultrasound energy is a wavelength that can be used externally to “see-through” the tissues and let us determine anatomic detail. Its most prevalent use is to see babies in utero and measure growth progress, including a heartbeat, facial features, and hand formation from as early as 6 weeks of gestation! This same energy is now available to guide a needle into the body to place anatomic blocks of local anesthetics to help you recover from tummy tucks and breast augmentation surgery. The TAP block and PEC blocks are incorporated into my practice at the time of surgery so that when you wake up from the procedure you are moving more freely and comfortably. This lessens your narcotic use as well as makes you generally feel better in the most critical 1-2 days after your procedures.

Another state-of-the-art use of ultrasound waves is with Vaser liposelection. This liposuction technique uses sound waves created by a crystal handpiece that is sterilized and used in the operating room. The crystal handpiece is connected to a sterile titanium 3.9 mm probe, which is passed under the skin allowing the sound waves to break the fat cells selectively. In the areas of unwanted fat, as well as unwanted male breast tissue [called gynecomastia] this selectively and gently pops the fat cells like a water balloon. Because it is selective, it preserves the nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and collagen, which allows you to recover more quickly with less blood loss, numbness and swelling, and bruising. Older techniques are hollow cannulas that indiscriminately rasp away everything under the skin. We only need to treat the fat- which is why Vaser is the state of the art for liposuction. The Vaser Ultrasound also stimulates more “shrinkwrap” of the areas treated. I participated in clinical studies as a scientific investigator studying Vaser compared to other techniques. Our multi-center study demonstrated that VASER energy had 53% more shrinking of skin than hollow cannula lipo, and also showed 23% less blood loss. Our study scientifically concluded that Vaser has better tightening, less blood loss, and less bruising and pain than older methods of liposuction.

Another area of research in my past at Cal Berkely, Lawrence Berkely laboratories was in the biological effects of radio waves and microwaves on human cells and wound healing. Since then, the use of radio waves to activate helium gas came into the market to treat and tighten human skin and subcutaneous tissues. This energy is called Tesla energy and is delivered at the time of liposuction with Vaser to further improve body contour and tighten skin in all areas. I utilize Vaser ultrasound and Renuvion radio wave energies at the same time in the operating room and in the office to selectively improve body contours. These state-of-the-art body contour modalities are available at Mentor Plastic Surgery & MedSpa. They can be done with tummy tucks, arm lifts, thigh lifts, or breast reshaping surgeries to enhance your shape and improve your outcome. Single areas can be performed in the office with a little ProNox gas to keep you happy during the awake procedure.

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Click here to learn more about sound waves.