Plastic Surgery Blog
Breast Asymmetry Correction
Most women have some slight variance between their breasts, but for some women this difference is more pronounce. Women with a breast size difference of a cup size or more often feel self-conscious and deal with low self-esteem about their bodies. This issue can be corrected in a number of ways. The underdeveloped breast may be increased with a breast implants or the overdeveloped breast may be decreased through breast reduction. In either case, a breast lift or repositioning of the nipple may also be necessary to create the most ideal, natural appearance.
The best way to find out if you may be a good candidate for a breast reconstruction is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shermak. If you are a good candidate for the procedure, she will work with you to find the best plan to create the results you desire. Learn more about breast asymmetry correction here.
Baltimore Cosmetic Surgery Photo Gallery
If you are in the process of looking for a Plastic Surgeon, it can be overwhelming to know what to look for and ask. The first thing you’ll want to check is if they are board certified. Check out the Plastic Surgeon’s training and education and how long they’ve been a Plastic Surgeon in your area. These are all important things to know. True success in this business is marked by the patient’s satisfaction in the Plastic Surgeon’s work. The best way to asses this is by reading patient testimonials and viewing Before and After photos.
Before and After photos are very beneficial for prospective patients to look at. As you look at a Plastic Surgeon’s work, ask yourself if you would be happy with the results achieved in the photo. Keep in mind that each patient comes into the office with different sets of goals and needs, but if, in general, you feel positive about the results achieved, that is a good sign that that Plastic Surgeon may be able to achieve your goals. As always, it’s important to remember to have realistic expectations and not aim to look like anyone other than an enhanced version of yourself.
View our previous patients Facial Rejuvenation, Body and Breast Procedure results!
Baltimore Fat Transfer – Smooth Out Old Lines and Creases
With time is happens to all of us… the signs of aging. First, there’s the fine lines, then creases, finally full-on wrinkles and perhaps even the dreaded “sunken in cheeks” look- which really only seems to be appealing on the cat-walk. Did you know this is due to a loss of fat? Strange to think that many of us struggle to lose weight all our lives only to find out that a bit of it is actually needed to keep us looking young and healthy. Even some skin scars from youth acne or chicken pox can be helped by Fat Transfer treatments.
In a Fat Transfer procedure, fat is taken from another part of your body and then processed, purified and the best of it is re-injected into the needed area. The great thing about opting for a fat transfer vs other options, is there is literally no-risk of allergic reaction to worry about. Before you make any decisions, however, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with a board-certified, skilled plastic surgeon. Give us a call or send us a message!
Buttock Lift – Baltimore
Many people are dissatisfied with their backside. Sometimes no amount of diet or leg lifts can sculpt your buttocks into the shape you intend. For these people a Buttock Lift may be the best way to achieve the results they seek. A Buttock lift will reverse the effects of drooping and sagging. In certain cases, liposuction may also be used to remove any excess fatty deposits. In any case, Dr. Shermak is thoroughly experienced in creating beautiful, natural-looking results. Every patient’s wants and needs are different, and Dr. Shermak works personally with each patient to create the ideal plan for optimal results.
To learn more about this and other cosmetic procedures Dr. Shermak offers, contact our office and schedule your confidential consultation today.
Baltimore Otoplasty
Children with overly-prominent ears can be subject to terrible teasing from their peers causing them to lose confidence and suffer low self-esteem. This emotional scarring can occur in children and teens and last on up to adulthood. Board certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Shermak has helped many Baltimore area children, teens and adult achieve higher self-confidence and a more normal appearance of their ears through Otoplasty surgery.
Otoplasty, also known as Ear Surgery, is a procedure to pin back the ears, thin and/or re-sculpt the ear cartilage to re-shape and re-size the ear as necessary. The exact procedure is determined on a patient to patient basis based on the patients specific needs and goals. If you are dissatisfied with the shape or prominence of your ears and would like to discuss your options, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.
Male Breast Reduction – Baltimore Gynecomastia Treatment
The condition known as Gynecomastia, or overdeveloped breasts in men, is actually a fairly common one. In many cases this condition will be grown out of, but for those in which that is not the case, it can be an extremely uncomfortable condition to have to deal with emotionally. Men with gynecomastia are often very self-conscious and teased by fellow peers. It can be very emotionally traumatizing. There are varying degrees of severity about men with gynecomastia ranging from slight to very severe. Some may even only develop it in one of the breasts.
The only treatment for gynecomastia is through Male Breast Reduction surgery. In this procedure an incision is generally made around the areola and excess fatty tissue and skin is removed. In some cases liposuction may also be used, depending on the case. The remaining skin will be closed creating a flatter, more masculine chest. Want to learn more? Contact our office to schedule your consultation today!
Spring is coming! Are you ready Baltimore?
Once the sun’s warmth starts hitting our faces in February, you can’t help but feel that something good is coming around the corner. Spring is almost here, and you’re ready to get outside, shed layers, and show some skin. You are becoming more active, fueled by the energy of the improving climate and more green environment. Are you ready?
Beyond diet and exercise, which are crucial to improving your body, plastic surgery procedures help you make that extra step to transform areas that have been stubborn to respond to healthy, non-surgical means. Exercise can only do so much.
Facial procedures from minimally invasive to surgical may help. Injectibles can be performed in an office visit and smooth lines and furrows in the face, turn the sides of the mouth up, and/or combat early neck banding. Eyelid surgery can open the eye, and treat the bags and loose skin that impair smooth makeup application. A necklift can make all the difference in refreshing your look, leading to a smoother neck and jawline.
Breast surgery ranges from augmentation to reduction. Breast augmentation is amongst the top surgical procedures performed by plastic surgeons. Both saline and silicone implants are available, and breast implant company is sponsoring some nice deals (See Promotions). Breast augmentation can provide better balance and enhancement to your body, not to mention the boost in your self-confidence. Breast reduction can also provide balance, enhancement, and self-confidence. But to women who are large-breasted, and may be functionally impaired breast surgery is a major focus for plastic surgeons in the springtime.
Body contouring surgery is another area men and women pursue in the springtime. From Liposuction to Tummy Tuck, body contouring procedures sculpt and tighten areas on the torso impacted by pregnancy, weight change, aging and genetics. Liposuction is perfect for treating focal problem areas, like the abdomen, thigh, flank and knees. Tummy Tuck is an impactful procedure that can convert an unshapely abdomen to a more fit, trim look with muscle and skin tightening. Tummy tuck and Liposuction can complement each other to achieve the best results.
If any of these plastic surgery topics strike a chord in you, please contact Dr. Michele Shermak at 410-616-3000 to arrange a free consultation soon. Get the leg up on Spring!
Safety First in Plastic Surgery – in Baltimore
Plastic surgery is exciting. It’s typically something individuals actively pursue to reach goals they set for themselves: a flatter abdomen, a perkier breast, or a more youthful face, for example. But just because you choose to have plastic surgery, does not mean the possibility of risk is absent. Surgery, whether elective or required, is surgery. Here are 5 tips for optimizing safety for your plastic surgery experience:
1. Make sure your surgeon is Board-certified by a “real” board, one that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The American Board of Plastic Surgery, for example, demands from its members a very comprehensive, strict process for certification through written and oral examinations, and maintenance of certification. Boards of cosmetic surgery are not ABMS-regulated and membership requires very little to qualify. Check on your surgeon’s credentials. You can check www.plasticsurgery.org to make sure your doctor is an ASPS member.
2. Is your health profile as optimal as it can be? Are you eating well? Do you exercise? Do you smoke? The more you do up front to improve your health through excellent diet, exercise and cessation of smoking will optimize outcome in plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is not a substitute for weight loss and good health. This is especially important when you are choosing to pursue a surgery for which you will be paying.
3. Communication must be open and easy with the surgeon you choose. In my practice, the more questions a patient asks, the better! These patients are amongst the best prepared for their surgical experience. Do not be shy with getting all the information you need! And don’t be afraid to share your complete medical history – you need to be honest and frank if there are any issues that may impact your surgery.
4. Check on the facility in which your surgery will be performed. If it is an outpatient, ambulatory surgery site, don’t overdo it. There are safe limits to outpatient surgery. Not every patient is a good candidate for outpatient surgery and may require a hospital-based operation. Individuals who have sleep apnea or latex allergy must go to the hospital. Make sure the surgical center is certified and ask what emergency procedures are in place.
5. Talk to your surgeon about postoperative recovery and duration, and be compliant with instructions. More activity than recommended early after surgery may result in wound healing problems – plan for help if you need it. A little time to rehabilitate will go a long way, considering that a complicated outcome prolongs recovery for an unknown length of time.
Baltimore Cosmetic and Corrective Nose Surgery
Rhinoplasty is a procedure to improve the aesthetic and/or function of the nose. Many people, both men and women, do not like the appearance of their noses for various different reasons. Some people find that their noses appear too large or too small for their faces. Some people have bumps or indentations that are very apparent especially in profile and still others take issue with their nostrils for being too large or misshapen. All these examples are of aesthetic or cosmetic issues that people have with their noses.
On the other side of the issue is nose function. These problems would be described as structural abnormalities which make it very difficult to breath easily through the nose. One of the most common examples of this is the deviated septum. Trauma to the nose is often another cause of functional and aesthetic problems which can be fixed through nose surgery. If you are interested in learning more about Rhinoplasty, you can read more here, of contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shermak.
Baltimore Abdominal Contouring 411
Many men and women come to the plastic surgeon looking to improve the appearance of their abdomen. Genetics, weight changes, pregnancy, surgery and medical issues can lead to an abdominal appearance that may cause personal dissatisfaction and merit improvement. Here is the 411 on abdominal contouring.
Generally abdominal contouring falls into two main categories: liposuction and tummy tuck. Sometimes the 2 methodologies may be combined.
Liposuction is a method of removing fat through barely perceptible incisions. Whether performed with traditional, power-assisted or ultrasound-assisted technique, the goal is to flatten the abdomen and reduce the torso through fat removal only, with the expectation of some skin retraction from scarring. If the fat is believed to be inside the abdomen around the bowels, liposuction is not beneficial. If someone has lax skin or abdominal muscles, significant abdominal scarring or hernias, liposuction is not typically the best option. The benefit of liposuction is that when performed in the right patient, a healthy individual with focal fat deposits, the results are fabulous and recovery is easy.
Tummy tuck is a more involved approach to abdominal contouring. It improves contour by tightening the abdominal muscles that may split with pregnancy, weight changes, or prior surgery; with significant skin removal and tightening, and adjunctive liposuction to the waist and hip, as needed. The incision tends to travel from hip to hip, and around the belly button. Recovery may take as little as 2 weeks, or longer depending on the exact procedure performed. The results of tummy tuck are tried and true. It is important to follow instructions around the time of surgery to achieve the best results and recovery.
It is important to meet with a Board-certified plastic surgeon with all the tools in her/his belt to achieve the contour results you desire most safely and appropriately. Other doctors who provide cosmetic surgery are typically limited in their scope, training and knowledge about complex abdominal issues. Tummy tuck and liposuction are amongst the top 5 surgical procedures performed by plastic surgeons because the results are successful in reaching a high level of patient satisfaction.
