Rachel Hollis, Mom of 3, Sparks Movement to Embrace Pregnancy Stretch Marks

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tummy tuck for stretch marksIn recent news, a viral photo of a mother in CA gained a huge liking in a very short amount of time. The photo was a fun shot of the woman featuring her bikini body after having gone through 3 pregnancies over the years. Her children are now 8, 6, and 2, but her message is what encouraged many other mothers out there to embrace their bodies despite how self-conscious they may feel:

“I have stretch marks and I wear a bikini. I have a belly that’s permanently flabby from carrying three giant babies and I wear a bikini. My belly button is saggy… (which is something I didn’t even know was possible before!!) and I wear a bikini. I wear a bikini because I’m proud of this body and every mark on it. Those marks prove that I was blessed enough to carry my babies and that flabby tummy means I worked hard to lose what weight I could. I wear a bikini because the only man who’s opinion matters knows what I went through to look this way. That same man says he’s never seen anything sexier than my body, marks and all. They aren’t scars ladies, they’re stripes and you’ve earned them. Flaunt that body with pride!”

I Don’t See A Problem?

If you view or have viewed her photo* (link below), most will come to the conclusion that nothing really seems wrong with her body. Sure, signs of pregnancy show, but really what’s the big issue here?

The issue lies deeper than what you see in the photo. It’s an issue many pregnant mothers battle with after carrying a child for 9 months: stretch marks. Stretch marks cause many formerly pregnant women to feel very self-conscious about ever stepping back into a bikini again.

This is why a tummy tuck procedure performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon offers so much relief to pregnant mothers who are not satisfied with their stretch marks. A tummy tuck can fully smooth out or tone the abdominal area and remove a large area of stretch marks, while also restoring shape and definition.

As we can see here, this woman took an approach many do not: embracing the stretch marks as a statement to being blessed with pregnancy. Certainly a great outlook! It resonated so well with other mothers that it compelled them to post their own bikini shots. It was great to see that mothers can be happy with or without the use of plastic surgery!

*The photo can be viewed on her Facebook or Instagram.

Dr. Golshani is a board-certified tummy tuck surgeon in Beverly Hills with ample experience in dramatically changing lives through the use of cosmetic surgery. Dr. Golshani performs a wide range of surgical procedures including breast augmentation, Botox, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, liposuction, and many other procedures designed to bring out your beauty.

FDA Issues Warning to Beware of Bogus, Counterfeit Botox

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The FDA has recently sent out a warning
on April 16, 2015 regarding a fake, counterfeit version of Botox circling around that eager consumers should be
aware of. The FDA has deemed these counterfeit versions as “unsafe and should not be used.”

How to Spot Counterfeit Botox

The real, actual Botox (100 units/vial) used by certified doctors is manufactured by Allergan, which has been
approved for use by the FDA. Counterfeit products can be spotted one of these 3 ways:

  • The counterfeit vial does not feature the lot number.
  • The counterfeit vial displays the active ingredient as “Botulinum Toxin Type A” instead of “OnabotulinumtoxinA”
    .
  • The counterfeit outer carton does not have any entries next to the LOT: MFG: or EXP: notes.

The Seal of Approval – Board Certification

botox beverly hills Dr. Golshani is a double-board certified plastic surgeon that administers
Botox and other dermal fillers to his patients. Board certification is a seal of approval given by prestigious
accredited associations to top tier plastic surgeons.

You will not find fake, bogus, or counterfeit versions of any product – including Botox – in Dr. Golshani’s office.
If you are looking for trusted Botox treatment in Beverly Hills, then look no further
than Dr. Golshani.

Contact Dr. Golshani for a FREE Botox Consultation Today.

Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction

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Your ability to produce sufficient milk following breast reduction surgery depends on a few factors including:

  • The type of surgery – implants or reduction
  • Technique used in surgery – location of incision
  • Damage to nerve ducts and pathways
  • Duration of time since surgery occurred

Understanding How Milk is Created in the Breasts

Milk is produced in the alveoli, or little sacs contained in the breast. When your baby is sucking, nerve endings in the nipple are stimulated, activating the release of two hormones prolactin and oxytocin: the first facilitates milk production, and the second causes your muscles to squeeze milk out of the breast (letdown). The milk then flows through the ducts, and when your baby is properly latched on the breast, he/she is able to compress it out of the ducts.

Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Overview

In general, breast reduction impairs a woman’s ability to nurse. The biggest impact on a woman’s milk supply occurs when the areola and nipple are severed. However, this does not necessarily mean that moving the areola and nipple, or scarring the outside of the areola, will sever the ducts and nerve pathways.

Breast surgery, in general, also impacts the amount of breast tissue and nerve supply to the breast, both of which are essential for producing and releasing milk. Fortunately, research shows that breast tissue can re-grow, connecting the severed milk ducts. The regeneration of damaged nerves and ducts depends on how much time has passed since the surgery; thus, the longer a woman waits to breastfeed after breast reduction, and the longer she nurses, the more likely she will be able to produce more milk, especially with subsequent children. Actually, research shows that a woman has better milk supply when the surgery occurred more than five years before her pregnancy.

Will you be able to breastfeed?

The least harmful breast reduction procedure is the inferior pedicle, since the areola and nipple are repositioned while remaining attached to the pedicle – a mound of tissue that contains connected milk ducts and nerves. But if the nipple had to be removed and placed on a reconstructed breast, the damage to breast tissue, nerves, and milk ducts may limit sensation in the nipples and reduce milk flow.

It is difficult to know the full impact of breast reduction until you start nursing your baby, and will probably need to seek guidance and support from a lactation expert or your breast reduction surgeon.

Brotox: More and More Men Getting Plastic Surgery

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Today’s society values youth and beauty very highly, even for men. Over the last decade, there’s been a significant increase in men’s aesthetic surgeries, with the most common ones involving liposuction, nose jobs, eyelid surgery, male breast reduction, and hair transplants.

So, why are men interested in plastic surgery?

The reasons for seeking aesthetic surgery, including anti-aging and rejuvenating procedures, are different for every man. Men are secretive about their procedures and prefer those that are less obvious with well-scheduled healing times, such as Botox, which is a cost-effective, low-commitment option.

Upper and lower eyelid surgeries can be performed for cosmetic or practical reasons when you notice changes around your eyes, such as puffiness and drooping lids. If the changes affect your range of vision, or perhaps make you feel less attractive for your woman, you can consult a cosmetic surgeon for the necessary adjustments. You can also opt for a complete facelift if there are noticeable changes around the whole face, though it is not usually necessary.

Men also want plastic surgery to look physically appealing to their romantic partners and remain competitive in the job market. In a marketplace where looking younger, fit, and more masculine is imperative, aging men need to look better to increase their chances of scaling the corporate ladder.

4 Types of Men Who Seek Plastic Surgery

  • The male model: this man wants a jaw-line enhancement, pectoral implants, gluteal implants, and hi-def liposuction to show off abs.
  • The bodybuilder: this man wants similar procedures to the male model, though he wants to look more muscular. A bodybuilder wants big glutes, big chest, but muscularly defined.
  • The CEO or board member: this man is typically at the height of his career and feels young and confident, though he is not convinced that he looks the part. They want a few wrinkles to look trustworthy and sexually attractive, so they seek an eyelift, neck lift, liposuction, and jawline re-contouring, for the “Forbes Facelift’.
  • Athletic dad: this look does not reference any specific career. The middle-aged man just wants to look good and young in the family pictures, so he seeks liposuction, a small eyelift, and jawline re-contouring.

Plastic Surgery for Men Outlook

Cosmetic surgeons argue that it is much tougher to get men interested in altering their appearance since they are not as accustomed as women, who already experiment with makeup and hairstyling. So, when men choose to go ahead with a particular procedure, it is the duty of a good plastic surgeon to educate them of the available options, so they feel more comfortable with their decision.

Dr. Golshani provides board-certified plastic surgery for men and women at his office located in Beverly Hills. Contact him @ (310) 274-3481 for a free consultation.

Why Is There a Surge in Male Breast Reduction?

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New figures indicate a record number of male breast reductions over the years (also referred to as gynecomastia), as the surge in demand outstrips that for all other cosmetic procedures, including women’s breast enlargement. In the last few years, overall male cosmetic procedures have increased by 21 percent, corrective surgeries for gynecomastia in men rose by 80 percent.

Possible Causes of the Rise in Breast Reduction for Men

Gynecomastia is the scientific name for what is commonly referred to as ‘man boobs’, a condition that affects thousands of men across the globe today. While surgeons have encountered the condition in many cases, it is rarely talked about. But increased media attention has enabled men to realize the positive results that can be achieved from breast reduction surgeries, increasing patient and consumer confidence.

Gynecomastia is caused by several medical conditions that cause a disruption of hormone levels – testosterone and estradiol, as well as certain medications, like anti-depressants, some cancer drugs, and heart and liver pills. But health experts argue that obesity and anabolic steroid use are the major causes for increasing cases of male mastectomy. Most men undergoing the procedure are between the ages of 25 and 34, followed by those aged 15 to 24.

The increasing awareness among men for their grooming needs, combined with common symptoms of breasts, such as tenderness around the nipples, discomfort, and embarrassment, has also led to the increase in male breast reduction procedures. There has also been a lot of pressure on men, especially between the ages of 15 and 35, to shape up. They want to have less prominence in their breast area as it affects their usual activities.

The Amount of Discomfort Involved

For instance, a teenager with large breasts is shy about taking off his shirt in the swimming pool or at the beach; a problem that also discourages him from taking up sports because he feels uncomfortable when undressing with team members in the locker room. Such patients are reluctant to report the problem to their parents, causing them to prolong their dilemma of inactivity in sports while inviting their peers to tease them.

It’s More Common Than You Think

All human beings have breast tissue, though some men’s breast tissue is more responsive to surges in estrogen hormone during puberty; hence, the high number of teenagers seeking male mastectomy procedures. Generally, male breast enlargement is a very common issue that many men experience, and some choose to fight it with dieting and exercise, while others look for an alternative way through surgery to remove the breast tissue.

Dr. Golshani is a board-certified male breast reduction surgeon in Beverly Hills.

Popular Plastic Surgeries by Country

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Most Rhinoplasty Procedures

Who wants a nose job? Iran does! According to the UK’s Daily Mail, Iranians book 7 times more rhinoplasty procedures than the US. Why? Thank magazines and Hollywood images of what they want us to believe are the hottest women and men in the world, with their perfect noses and perfect lives. The ironic part is that many of the “hottest men and women” have had nose jobs! However, the average person would not be able to detect the difference if the plastic surgeon performs the procedure correctly.

Most Breast Augmentations (includes Breast Implants)

Ever wonder which country has the most breast augmentations? Ding, ding, ding! You probably guessed it: United States. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 313, 700 breast augmentation surgeries were performed in the US. Breast augmentation includes a variety of procedures designed to enhance the breasts.

Most Liposuction and Tummy Tucks

Reports from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery say Brazil leads the world in liposuction, but the US beats out Brazil for the number of tummy tucks, also known by actual doctors as abdominoplasty.

Most Brazilian Butt Lifts

From the same source, doctors reported 7 times more procedures performed on the derriere in Brazil than the average of any other country. The Brazilian butt lift isn’t just a clever name… it’s a lifestyle.

Interesting fact: Did you know Brazilians are eligible for tax deductions for elective plastic surgeries? Now that’s what I call having your country’s support!

Most Blepharoplasty Procedures

Of course, we can’t forget about countries such as South Korea, China, and Thailand, which lead the world in eyelid procedures. Per capita, they take the prize for the most blepharoplasty procedures, which aims to improve the appearance of the eyelids.

In East Asian countries take eyelid surgery much more seriously than others. It’s done to “Westernize” their faces as the Western countries have been known to have a large influence in many of these types of personal decisions, including fashion.

In Conclusion

In short, the US has a tremendous amount of power on the way people across the globe view themselves. This is why many tourists, visitors, and foreigners will actually fly into plastic surgeons (mainly residing in Beverly Hills) to improve the quality of their life through professional procedures.

Dr. Golshani offers a fly-in program known as destination surgery for this reason.

Burning Question: Does Sunscreen Really Work?

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With Spring fast approaching (3 days from now) – I figured it would be appropriate to talk a little in depth about sunscreen’s effectiveness as temperatures are expected to rise, meaning more and more people will be heading to the beach.

The Brand You Use Matters

Sunscreen can be a life-saver. Its purpose is to protect our epidermis from the sun’s potentially harmful UV rays, which can lead to skin discoloration (the bad kind of tan), premature aging, and skin cancer. However, the degree of protection depends on which brand you use. A survey of 1000 sunscreen products proved quite varying results. In addition to sun safety, we now have to consider the health risks of our sunscreen.

 What Are Large, Credible Organizations Saying?

The Skin Cancer Foundation and the Environmental Working Group determined that 4 out of 5 sunscreen products do not protect the skin adequately, and/or contain ingredients that may affect one’s health. There is a scientific standard for these products that is often not upheld. Companies that manufacture sunscreen have developed their own system for evaluating the effectiveness of the protection their products offer. It has no basis in the actual science of these chemicals and the body.

The Environmental Working Group found they could recommend only 143 brands of the 1000 reviewed. Most are little-known brands with the classic UV blockers, zinc, and titanium.

What’s The Problem?

The troublesome ingredient with little scientific research to back up its effectiveness as sunscreen is oxybenzone. A study published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine determined that sunscreens with oxybenxone could lead to free-radical damage to the skin, which in theory can lead to skin cancer. Also, in 2003 the CDC found oxybenzone in 97% of urine samples from 2517 samples. If you go by the vitamin quality standard, that means the chemical is not working, it’s being absorbed, but if it’s being excreted, it’s not effective. Still, there is not yet enough research on actual human beings to determine if oxybenzone is a health risk, or if we just need to be applying our sunscreen more often to properly protect our skin.

What Should I Buy?

Using a broad-spectrum product should cover all the issues with chemical breakdown. As with anything, moderation is key. Our skin needs some sunshine for the best source of Vitamin D on the market; 10-15 minutes of morning sun is the gentlest. If you want more sun, old-school sunscreen with the minerals zinc and titanium seems to be the most body-friendly. Avoid the hottest part of the day if possible, and eat your antioxidant fruits for some extra sun protection. Mmmm, frozen blueberries!

Natural Ways of Reducing Dark Circles Under the Eyes

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Dark discoloration of your skin under the eye, commonly referred to as dark circles, dark rings, or shadows, are not a serious kin problem, though they make you look tired, unhealthy, and older.

The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your body. Blood traveling through capillaries near the skin surface show off as a bluish tint, and the thinner your skin, the darker the effect. While dark circles can be hereditary, they can also be caused by other things like anemia, aging, lack of sleep, hyper-pigmentation around eyes, and liver problems.

3 Natural Home Remedies to Reduce Dark Circles Under Eyes

There are some natural new age treatments for those dark discolorations, though you can also use home remedies to get rid of them. Some solutions to consider include:

Cold Compressing:

You can dab anything that is cold around your eyes to shrink blood vessels. Use iced water, an ice bag, cold milk, a frozen spoon, or anything else that is chilled and the dark circles should reduce.

Cool Cucumber:

Researchers suggest that cucumber contains multiple antioxidants, such as vitexin, cucurbitacins, isiscoparin, and orienting, as well as vitamins C and K, which help to reduce discoloration under the eyes.

Simply place chilled cucumber slices on your closed eyes for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with water to reduce the dark circles and any puffiness under your eyes. The remedy can be repeated twice a day for a week or two.

You can also use raw potato slices, tomatoes, turmeric, lemon juice, pineapple, and buttermilk to treat discoloration under eyes. They contain different nutrients with bleaching properties that provide a great remedy for dark shadows.

Almond Oil:

Application of a little almond oil over dark circles and massaging it gently before going to bed can help fade under-eye circles, and then wash it off in the morning with cold water. Vitamin E oil can also be used to treat the delicate skin around your eyes.

Avoid Dehydrating Your Skin

Using too much salt in food, drinking too much alcohol, and smoking can dry and weaken the skin on your face by pulling water out of your skin. If you can’t stop, drink water before going to bed and use moisturizers with vitamin C and other essential antioxidants that help support collagen under the eyes.

Lastly, UV radiation from the sun is very dangerous to your skin, so you should consider applying sunscreen every day to prevent dark circles from forming.

Post Op Weight Gain After Tummy Tuck: Should I Be Worried?

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The key to long-lasting results relies on dedication to looking slim.

So you decided to get a tummy tuck, and everything went smoothly, literally and figuratively. Great! Congratulations! Getting your body the way you want it is not only a confidence booster, it’s… well it’s pretty much just a confidence booster. Let’s be honest. What it can do is give you a viable shortcut to what looks like good health, but if you don’t properly maintain your food intake and stress and hormone levels, you could gain weight in the very area you’ve just “lost”.

“It’s Not a Cure All”

Dr. Daniel Golshani, a Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, agrees that weight gain is always a possibility, tummy tuck or no tummy tuck. And abdominoplasty is not a cure-all.

He mentions that “we have fat cells superficial to the abdominal wall and inside the abdominal cavity. Weight gain will stretch the skin and will stretch the muscles to allow for the fat cells to grow, so you lose the benefit of the muscle and skin tightening.”

Thinking Long Term…

With this in mind, tummy tuck patients have little to worry about if they plan to incorporate a solid lifestyle of exercise and healthy eating. Over-eating or falling back into poor lifestyle runs you the risk of losing that muscle and skin tightening effect you paid for. You can incorporate moderate exercise and start retraining those abdominal muscles roughly 6 weeks of recovery. Prior to that, walking and light exercise, such as elliptical or cycling is safe to start just a week after surgery.

There’s one positive aspect of weight gain after abdominoplasty, but men don’t apply. Women can, and should, gain weight if they become pregnant post-tummy tuck. If this happens, women can have a completely normal pregnancy and the tummy tuck procedure, if done properly, should not affect the quality or term in any way.

That being said, tummy tuck results can be permanent, with no weight gain, but it’s up to you!

I’m Having Trouble Deciding on a Regular or Mini Tummy Tuck?

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Men and women all over the world experience excess fat in the midsection. We gain weight, we lose weight, and the cycle goes on and on. Fat and loose skin does not discriminate against gender, race, creed or color. The battle of the bulge happens to the best of us, for many reasons – stress, emotional over-eating, pregnancy, and/or addiction. If you’re experiencing weight gain and loss that results in loose skin, or tired of looking at that tummy pouch that no longer serves the purpose of carrying a child, you might be considering a tummy tuck.

What Route to Take? Mini or Regular Tummy Tuck?

First, it is important to understand what each procedure is.

Dr. Daniel Golshani explains that a mini tummy tuck is “a procedure for the area from the belly button to just below the ‘swimsuit line’. It’s also referred to as a lower tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck covers the entire abdomen, above and below the belly button.”

How do you choose?

It is in fact, up to the belly button. If the skin around the belly button needs firming, only a full, regular tummy tuck will remedy any stretching or loose skin there. Otherwise, a mini tummy tuck may be the best option.

Both options essentially re-drape the skin, correcting or tightening any loose or overstretched skin on the abdomen. The scarring is minimal for both surgeries. Dr. Golshani understands the right techniques to make the scar lines on par with lines we get from our clothing – hiding any scarring that may be present.

Tummy Tucks After Pregnancy

For women who have been pregnant, the skin’s fascia beneath the abdominal wall can have separated, no longer giving proper support to the organs in that area. This results in protruding fascia, filling out the loose skin. So again, if this is occurring below the belly button, a mini tummy tuck will correct the problem. However, in this particular case of a once pregnant woman, plastic surgeons must be careful to properly evaluate exactly how damaged the fascia is. If they perform a mini tummy tuck without doing their homework, the patient could experience ballooning of the upper abdomen, which would result in the need for a full abdominoplasty after all.

Board-Certified Advice

Whichever tummy tuck you are deciding on, mini or full, follow this advice:

  • Do your research.
  • Receive a full opinion/evaluation from a board-certified tummy tuck surgeon.
  • Be sure to give yourself enough time to heal regardless of the procedure.