Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery | Dr. Desman

Breast Augmentation and Scarring

2009-06-29T12:19:00.000-05:00

If you are concerned about scarring following breast augmentation surgery, you are not alone. While scars are an inevitable part of this procedure, the incision will be made in a discreet manner, and the scar will be very difficult to notice unless you point it out.

Whenever your skin is cut, your body forms a scar as part of its healing. Extra collagen, a fibrous protein, replaces the damaged cells and connects the edges of your skin.

Your degree of scarring will be influenced by:

Your age
The location, length and depth of your breast enlargement incision
Your heredity
Your ethnicity

You have several choices for the location of your incision. These include underneath your breast, in the crease (that will be covered by your breasts); around your areola, (the change in skin texture and color will camouflage the scar), and in your armpit (only exposed by a sleeveless shirt and raised arms).

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of scarring after breast augmentation surgery:

Keep your surgical tape in place covering your incision for as long as possible
Do not smoke for several weeks before and after your surgery (tobacco reduces your ability to heal)
Ask about recommended over-the-counter creams or gels

Does breast augmentation surgery sound like something you can benefit from? If so, and you live in the Alexandria, Virginia area; please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office today to set up your free, initial consultation.

Post Surgical Recovery

2009-06-18T12:17:00.000-05:00

Following plastic surgery, the recovery period will vary by person. The key to minimizing your recovery period and getting the best possible results from your plastic surgery is following Dr. Desman's postoperative instructions exactly. The length of your recovery largely depends on the type of procedure you are having, and whether you are having one or multiple treatments performed.

For example, if you are recovering from something like liposuction, your recovery period will be shorter than if you are recovering from a tummy tuck.

After surgery, you will have bandages placed to prevent swelling. Once you return home, you will need to leave those bandages on for however long you are instructed. It is a good idea to create a relaxing, personal space in which you can recover. You should keep anything you need within close range to limit your movement while you are recovering. You may not be able to return to work for days, even weeks; especially if you have bandages in visible areas.

The first few days are the worst. Generally, you should start to feel good no later than 10 days after your procedure. However, the swelling will likely remain for longer. In the beginning, your scars will appear large and pink. Do not be discouraged. They will fade.

It generally takes a month until you can resume your normal fitness routine. However, gentle walking can help your blood circulate and aid healing. You can discuss a fitness regimen with Virginia cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman.

If are interested in making permanent enhancements to your body and you live in Alexandria, Virginia or the surrounding area, please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office to schedule your free consultation today.

New Botulinum Toxin Approved

2009-06-10T13:09:00.002-05:00

Dysport (TM) has just been approved by the FDA for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines. Dysport uses a proprietary form of botulinum toxin (abobotulinumtoxinA) to smooth wrinkles and improve your looks. It essentially works the same way as Botox Cosmetic, but due to differences in manufacturing, the dosing strengths between the two products is different. For example, with Botox Cosmetic, it may take 15-20 units to treat the vertical lines between your eyebrows (glabellar area). With Dysport, it may take 40-50 units. You will get the same effect, but with different doses. Call the office at 703 924-3144 if you would like to speak with Dr. Desman about Dysport or Botox Cosmetic.

Liposuction for Men

2009-06-03T12:15:00.001-05:00

Women have always been the most common recipients of plastic surgery. Although this is still true today, the number of men receiving plastic surgery has grown significantly and continues to grow.

Liposuction is the third the most common plastic surgery procedures sought by men, after nose reshaping and blepharoplasty. Liposuction on men is commonly used to address exercise-resistant fat deposits found in the:

Belly
Love handles
Face and neck (especially using VASER Liposelection)
Gynecomastia (male breasts)

In many cases, these fat deposits do not respond to diet or exercise. They are often the last to go, and may only disappear after a person has reached an unhealthy weight.

Men's fat is different from women's. Men store fat in different locations. Men's fat is also deeper than women's, and it is often structurally different. Men seeking liposuction should seek to work with a doctor who has experience performing male liposuction.

If you have long tried to sculpt your body with exercise, but have found that no matter how hard you work, some parts of your body do not improve, schedule a male liposuction consultation at the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery today.

Signs that a Breast Augmentation Went Wrong

2009-05-28T17:24:00.001-05:00

Breast augmentation is the most popular type of cosmetic surgery for women. And while many are successful, there are some that do not go according to plan. Here are some indications that your breast augmentation surgery may have gone wrong.

High fever, swelling, discolored or odorous fluid leakage: These may all be signs of infection. While any surgery carries a risk of infection, if this happens to you, you may need to have the implant removed. Some symptoms of infection include fever, swelling, tenderness, inflammation and redness. If you suffer infection during the postoperative period, you can normally have new implants placed in a few months.

Deflation: Deflation is a sign that your saline implant has ruptured. Anyone who has implants is at risk for rupture at some point in their lifetime. In fact, about 10 percent of implants rupture within the first five years of implantation.

If your silicone gel-filled breast implant ruptures, on the other hand, no one may be able to tell. This is why it is important to have routine MRIs to screen for ruptures. Symptoms of a silicone rupture include lumps surrounding the implant or in the armpit, change or loss of size or shape of the breast or implant, pain, tingling, numbness, swelling, burning, or hardening in your breast.

Breast implants are covered by a warranty that covers replacement costs due to rupture for a certain length of time.

Breasts that grow hard and painful: These are often a sign of capsular contracture. Sometimes, the scar tissue that forms around your breast implant will constrict and pull tightly against the implants. If this starts to happen to you, your breasts may start to feel hard, misshapen or painful. Capsular contracture happens in about 5 percent of patients, though there is no way to predict this condition.

If you live in Alexandria, Virginia and you believe that your breast augmentation surgery may have gone wrong, please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office to see how Virginia cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman can help.

What to Do if a Breast Augmentation Is Unsuccessful

2009-05-18T17:22:00.000-05:00

If you have undergone breast augmentation surgery and are unhappy with the result, your first action should be to call your surgeon. The surgeon who performed the first surgery will be best able to identify what might be the problem. At the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery, we work hard to help our patients out on the rare occasions that they have less than ideal results. Other doctors are sometimes as accommodating, and some are not.

If your doctor is uncooperative or you are really dissatisfied, we can give you a professional assessment of your results and/or schedule you for breast augmentation revision surgery.

Breast augmentation has a very high success and approval rate, with nearly 90% of patients saying they would have the surgery again. In the rare instance that something does go wrong, know that we will be here for you.

If your breast augmentation surgery did not go as planned and you live in the Alexandria, Virginia area, please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office to see how Virginia cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman can correct your procedure.

Proper Placement of Breast Implants on the Chest

2009-05-08T17:20:00.001-05:00

Breast implants can go either under your chest muscle or over. Your placement will depend on your physical characteristics, such as the amount of breast tissue you have, and the effect you want to achieve with your breast implants.

Here are the different breast implant placement options:

Subglandular placement

Also known as retroglandular or submammary placement, with this technique, your breast implant will be placed above your pectoral muscles but below your mammary gland. Technically, all implants are subglandular because breast implants placed below muscle are also below your mammary gland. However, this term refers to placement just below the mammary glands and over your chest muscle.

Subglandular placement of breast implants is best for women with adequate breast tissue to cover the breast implant. Subglandular breast implants are also more visible, and are better for women who are less concerned about a natural-looking result than a dramatic one. Subglandular placement is also recommended for women who want large implants.

Subpectoral placement

Often described as "subpectoral" placement because full submuscular placement is very rare, subpectoral placement means your implant will go below your pectoralis major muscle. With a subpectoral placement, the implant is only partially submuscular because only the upper half of the implant will be underneath your pectoral muscle; the lower half will not be. A subpectoral placement is also called a retropectoral.

Subpectoral or submuscular placement is best for women with insufficient breast tissue to cover the breast implant. It also often gives a more natural-looking appearance. And it is a slightly safer option, since it reduces the chances of capsular contracture and is less likely to interfere with mammograms.

If you are interested in breast augmentation surgery and you live in the Alexandria, Virginia area, please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office. Our staff can schedule your complimentary consultation with Virginia cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman today.

How Botox® works

2009-04-28T11:43:00.000-05:00

Botox® Cosmetic is the brand name for Botulinum Toxin A – a protein produced in a lab and made from the toxin of a bacterium called Clostridium Botulinum. Contrary to popular belief and some reports, the purified protein that is Botox is not poisonous or toxic. Only the toxin before the purification process is.

Many facial wrinkles such as those between the eyes, on the forehead and around the sides of the eyes are caused by repeated muscle contraction. Botox works by blocking the message to those muscles, preventing them from contracting and thus greatly reducing the appearance of the wrinkles that form from the contracting muscles. Keep in mind that Botox does not work on wrinkles caused by sun damage, but only on wrinkles caused by contracting muscles.

The result is a fresher, relaxed and more youthful appearance than before. Botox is temporary and does not permanently reduce or eliminate wrinkles. Most people find that they need to repeat the procedure every four months or so to retain their new look.

If you have wrinkles and want to consider Botox® Cosmetic as a possible solution, please contact the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery in Alexandria, VA to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Desman. If Botox isn’t the right choice for you, we offer many other procedures, surgical and non-surgical, that may be able to help you. Email or call us today at 703.924.3144.

Breast Augmentation and Pregnancy

2009-04-20T12:27:00.000-05:00

We are frequently asked if it’s better to have breast implants before or after planning to start a family. In our opinion it’s perfectly safe to do either and there are benefits to both.

Women who choose to have implants before starting a family should know that implants, made from saline or silicone, are not harmful to your body or your baby. And for the majority, implants do not interfere with breastfeeding for those who want to do it. Another benefit it that you won’t see as many changes to your breast volume and size after breastfeeding as women without implants do.

For those women who choose to have breast enlargement after having children, the benefit is that you can have implants and a lift at the same time if you need it as part of a Mommy Makeover. You can restore sagging breasts and breasts that have lost volume due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. You’ll look like your old self (or even better!) in no time.

If you’re interested in breast augmentation and want to schedule a free breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Desman, please contact the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery, conveniently located in Alexandria, VA. You can email us or call 703.924.3144. We’ll answer all of your questions and help you choose the implants that are the right size and shape for you!

Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery Receives 2009 Best of Alexandria Award

2009-04-15T14:56:00.001-05:00

For the second consecutive year, Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery has been selected for the 2009 Best of Alexandria Award in the Physicians & Surgeons category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2008 Award recipients qualified as 2009 Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

Choosing the right implant size and cup size

2009-04-05T12:21:00.000-05:00

Most of our breast enlargement patients come to our offices with an idea of the cup size they want to be after their procedure is complete. Before they reach their goal, though, a lot of work has to be done beforehand by Dr. Desman and his staff.

There are several steps and factors to consider to before choosing the implant size for the correct resulting cup size:

• Your frame and build
• How much breast tissue is present
• How you want your final result to look (regardless of cup size)

After your free breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Desman, he will take very precise measurements of your breasts to help determine which implants (size, type and shape) will best help you achieve the appearance you’ve been hoping for and dreaming about. He’ll answer all of your questions about breast augmentation and educate on the risks and benefits of the procedure. Dr. Desman will review with you the details of our Rapid Recovery program that gets most women back to normal activity 48-72 hours after surgery. You’ll be able to see Before & After photos of other patients and see what great results they’ve achieved. We also have a patient to patient network, which will allow you to speak with some of our patients who have already been though the procedure and can tell you first hand about their experiences. You may even find that after talking with Dr. Desman your goals for size and appearance are different that what you originally thought.

If you’re interested in finding out more about breast augmentation at the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery, please contact our Alexandria, VA office today to schedule a free breast enlargement consultation with Dr. Desman.

Study Shows No Cancer Risk for Breast Implants

2009-03-29T14:59:00.000-05:00

When silicone breast implants were temporarily banned by the FDA from sale for breast augmentation in the United States, one justification was a suspected tie to breast cancer. But a recently published study with the longest follow-up of any study to date, shows that this charge was unjustified. According to the study, there is no increased breast cancer risk for women with breast implants.

The study was published in the January 2009 issue of the International Journal of Cancer. It followed 3486 Swedish and 2736 Danish women who received breast augmentation between 1965 and 1993. The women's cancer rates through 2002 were ascertained and compared to nationwide cancer registries. Women were followed for an average of 16.6 years, and some women were tracked for 37 years, the entire length of the study from 1965 to 2002.

According to the results, the women in the study actually had statistically significantly lower rates of breast cancer, with an incidence only 73 % of that in the general population. This may be due to the presence of less natural breast tissue, and the study's authors certainly did not attribute the reduction to breast implants. The only cancer that occurred among the women with frequency above that of the general population was lung cancer, which was probably due to the prevalence of smokers among the study population.

Although there are legitimate risks associated with breast augmentation as with any surgery, most of the so-called risks that led to the temporary ban of silicone breast implants seem to have been more the product of hysteria rather than good science. If anecdotal horror stories have kept you from considering breast implants, schedule a breast augmentation consultation with Washington, D.C. plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman today to learn the truth.

Is VASER or Tumescent Liposuction right for me?

2009-03-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

The addition of VASER liposelection increases our options for areas that can be targeted with liposuction. It also allows us to give better results with less bruising, less discomfort, and a shorter recovery time. But tumescent liposuction is still a good procedure for some applications.

Tumescent Liposuction is still good for use in areas where fat is soft, and where large fat deposits may make using the smaller VASER cannulae (suction tubes) impractical and where nerves and blood vessels are less dense. This includes the belly and love handles and the upper arms.

VASER Liposelection is better for most applications. It is better in areas where small amounts of fat are being targeted to give better definition to muscles and/or bone structure. This includes ankles and calves, neck and chin area, and "body etching" applications to improve the appearance of muscles you have worked hard to achieve but are lost below stubborn fat deposits. It is also good for the neck and face because it results in less bruising and damage to the dense nerve and blood vessel structure in the area. Vaser is also better for fat deposits that are more fibrous, such as the upper back.

VASER is a great leap forward in terms of liposuction technology, and it is our method of choice for most applications, but in some cases tumescent liposuction may still be chosen. To learn more about which might be best for you, schedule a liposuction consultation with Arlington plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman today.

How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon

2009-03-05T14:52:00.000-05:00

In choosing a plastic surgeon, remember that you are putting not only your appearance, but your life in this person's hands. There are so many plastic surgeons in the Washington, D.C. area that you should never settle for good enough. To help you decide on the best plastic surgeon for your procedure, we have devoted several pages to helping you make the best, most informed decision. Here is our helpful overview page on choosing a plastic surgeon, and don't forget to look at our phone consultation questions for a plastic surgeon and personal consultation questions for a plastic surgeon. In addition, here are a few more helpful tips.

Talk to more than one doctor. This should be self-evident, but not everyone realizes the importance of talking to several doctors to find out which one is right for you. At the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery, Washington, D.C. plastic surgeon Eric Desman is confident that he is the right surgeon for many people and is not afraid of comparison. Also, he wants those who will do better with another surgeon to find that perfect match.

Don't shop price. Again, this should be self-evident. Don't look for a bargain price on your plastic surgery. The potential risks of working with an unqualified surgeon far outweigh any monetary savings you may see. But also don't assume that a doctor that charges more must be better. Look at the quality of a doctor's work, judge qualifications independently, and find someone you can work with personally.

Make sure your surgeon knows your procedure. During the phone interview and the personal consultation, make sure the plastic surgeon's experience with your procedure comes up. Some doctors know a facelift, but don't have much experience with a rhinoplasty (nose job). Others may know breast augmentation, but not a tummy tuck.

Check credentials. Anyone can call themselves a "cosmetic surgeon." Ophthalmologists, dentists, and other medical professionals do this on a regular basis. Make sure you're really choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon for your procedure.

Whether we are the first plastic surgical practice you talk to, or the last, we invite you to interview us about our qualifications and results. Please schedule a plastic surgery consultation today.

The Importance of a Licensed/Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to Perform Surgical Procedures

2009-02-26T16:32:00.000-05:00

Before you decide to have a cosmetic surgery procedure like breast augmentation or a tummy tuck, there are many factors to consider. You have to think about when you’ll have the procedure, how much time off work (if any) you will need, if you want to have more than one procedure at a time, can you afford it and do you want to pursue financing.

By far the most important decision you will make is selecting the right surgeon to perform your procedure. When you’re researching the internet and talking to your friends about who performed their procedures, make sure the person you choose is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). When you select a surgeon that is ABPS certified, you can rest assured that he or she has had rigorous training including 5 years of surgical training plus additional training in plastic surgery. He or she has passed arduous written and oral tests to become certified. Obtaining board certification is optional and not all cosmetic surgeons are certified by the ABPS. So make sure you ask not only if your doctor is board certified, but ask which board are they certified by.

For more information on Dr. Desman’s board certification by the ABPS, please contact the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery today by emailing us or calling 703.924.3144. We can schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation or an in-person consultation with Dr. Desman.

Is Botox safe?

2009-02-13T12:27:00.000-05:00

The short answer is yes. When Botox® Cosmetic is administered by a licensed and experienced professional like Dr. Desman, using Botox to decrease the appearance of wrinkles is a safe procedure.

While Botox injections appear to be simple on the surface, the administration actually takes quite a bit of skill and knowledge of the facial muscles to get it right and produce a natural look. It is possible for side effects like drooping or a “frozen” look to occur if the drug is injected in the wrong place or improperly.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), of which Dr. Desman is a member, over 4.6 million Botox procedures were performed in 2007. Botox is by far the most requested and performed cosmetic procedure in the United States today and has been FDA-approved for cosmetic use since 2002. Since 1989, it’s also been used or other non-cosmetic medical treatments and found to be safe.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Botox® Cosmetic, please contact Dr. Desman of the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery for your free Botox® consultation. We offer 15-minute phone consultations or in-person consultation at our Alexandria, Virginia office.

Breast Augmentation and Cancer Screenings

2009-02-06T18:17:00.000-05:00

One concern that many of our breast enlargement patients have is how breast implants will affect the results of their mammograms – a very valid concern.

It’s important for every woman, especially women with implants, to conduct breast self-exams (BSEs) on a monthly basis and report any changes to your doctor. If you’re over 40, schedule a mammogram every year. Breast implants can make mammograms a little bit more difficult and here are a few guidelines to make sure you get the most accurate results possible.

When you call to make your mammography appointment, be sure to tell them then that you have implants so that they can schedule a slightly longer appointment for you. It is also important to work with a screener who has experience working with women with implants, so ask about the screener's experience.
On the day of your appointment, remind the technician that you have implants and let her know whether they are silicone or saline implants.
The technician will take more views of your breasts than someone who doesn’t have implants but this is necessary.

There is some research suggesting that submuscular placement of implants reduces the obstruction on the mammogram readings. If you are considering breast enlargement and are concerned about their affect on mammograms, please contact Dr. Desman at the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery for a free consultation at his Alexandria, VA location. He’ll be happy to answer all of your questions.

Grow Your Eyelashes

2009-01-30T12:29:00.007-05:00

Latisse is here and is available in our office!

Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%) is the only FDA approved drug that can actually improve the appearance of your eyelashes. Simply apply the serum to your upper eyelid at the lash line nightly, and in about 4 weeks, you will start to see fuller, longer eyelashes. Maximum results are seen at 16 weeks.

We expect nearly 4 out of 5 patients to see a significant increase in eyelash length, fullness, and darkness. A one month supply costs about $120.

What happens after 16 weeks? In my opinion, nobody knows exactly. The official party line is that if you stop using Latisse, your eyelashes are expected to return to their previous appearance over several weeks to months.

In my opinion, I suspect that a maintenance dose may work out fine for most patients where you don't need to use it every night, but maybe only once or twice a week. This stuff is so new that nobody has a vast experience with using the product. We will keep you up to date with our experience on this blog.

Some people (less than 5%) do experience itchy or red eyes. This may resolve itself with continued use, but there is no guarantee. Therefore, some patients may need to stop using Latisse in order to get rid of their red or itchy eyes.

How did they come up with this wonder drug? Well, the active ingredient, bimatoprost, has been used to treat glaucoma patients. Doctors prescribing Lumigan, the brand name of bimatoprost, noticed the unintended side effect of increased lash growth and density. Allergan, the company that makes Botox Cosmetic, diluted and repackaged the stuff, and now we have Latisse. If I may digress, this is how they discovered minoxidil, a drug initially used for high blood pressure that was noted to improve baldness. This was repackaged as Rogaine.

How does Latisse work? Well, nobody knows for sure. Hair, including eyelashes, has several different phases of growth. (Anagen -growth, Catagen – transition at end of anagen, and Telogen – resting phase) Experts believe that Latisse prolongs the growth phase (anagen). This increases the percentage of hairs in the growth phase and allows lashes to grow longer, thicker and darker.

Call Kelley at (703) 924-3144 if you have any questions.

Virginia Center For Plastic Surgery Receives 2008 Best of Alexandria Award

2008-08-08T10:04:00.003-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON D.C., August 8, 2008 -- Virginia Center For Plastic Surgery has been selected for the 2008 Best of Alexandria Award in the Physicians & Surgeons category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

VASER Liposelection Now Available

2008-08-01T14:03:00.002-05:00

I am pleased to announce the addition of VASER liposelection to the practice. This technique is a form of ultrasonic liposuction. What distinguishes VASER is its ability to differentiate the targeted fat from other important tissues, like nerves, blood vessels, etc.

The VASER probes emulsify (liquefy) the fat while ti is still in your body, preserving the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The next part of the procedure removes the liquefied fat with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues. This allows for a faster recovery with less pain and bruising compared to traditional methods.

In contrast, traditional liposuction removes unwanted fat via avulsion (forceful tearing), causing your body more trauma. The tools used in traditional liposuction cannot differentiate between fat, nerves, and blood vessels, thus removing other important tissues along with the fat, which can ultimately lead to a longer and more uncomfortable recovery process.

Call (703) 924-3144 for more information.

The Classical Nose

2008-04-23T15:46:00.002-05:00

The Greeks were mathematicians, and much of their art reflects this. From their cities to their temples to their sculpture, everything was assigned an ideal mathematical ratio. Sometimes, these ratios were completely arbitrary, but in other cases, they seem to have some real significance, like the precisely-expressed ratios of harmonies in music.

In their sculpture, the Greeks worked for centuries to find the ideal form of every part of the human body, and their discoveries have shaped our ideals of beauty ever since, although some are more subject to taste than others.

One area where the Greek ideal still holds significant sway is in the nose. To the Greeks, the ideal nose had a geometric perfection. The bridge was straight, and its ratios were precise. If you drew a vertical line drawn through the crease on the side of the nostrils and a horizontal from that line to the tip of the nose, you would define a pair of triangles. The larger, vertical triangle should have a 3-4-5 proportion, while the smaller triangle, defining the lower portion of the nose, should be closer to a 1:1:√2 proportion. Although when you look at Greek sculpture, the noses are of course rounded, not triangular, many of them incorporate these mathematical proportions.

In fact, modern nose surgery (rhinoplasty) derives much of its success from utilizing the precise proportionality established by classical sculpture, adjusted, of course, for the unique structure of your face, including the proportions of your forehead and chin, as well as your ethnicity to create a nose that is at once mathematically precise and personally pleasing.

To learn more about the science of rhinoplasty, please contact the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery to set up a consultation.

Mommy Makeovers: Feel Like a Woman Again for Summer

2008-04-15T16:36:00.002-05:00

Motherhood is one of the greatest joys of a woman's life. Once you have a child, you look into their eyes and the world is a different place, suddenly sunnier, fresh and newly-created like the world's first spring.

Although you would never trade your child for anything, you probably don't want to hold onto that baby weight forever. And wouldn't it be nice if you could have your child, and have the breasts you had before pregnancy and breastfeeding? And what about stretch marks and slack abdominal muscles that keep your body from being bikini-ready? And then there's the effects of stress on your face, and the neglect you have been showing your skin while caring for the new skin of your newborn.

If you are suffering from any or all of these effects of motherhood, a Mommy Makeover can help you look as good as you did before the ravages of childbirth. Although your package can be tailored to your personal situation, Mommy Makeovers often include:

Liposuction to get rid of your baby fat and a tummy tuck to tighten up the muscles, remove the stretch marks, and give you a bikini-ready body for the summer swimsuit season. If your breasts have lost tone, a breast lift can bring them back up to where they should be, and if they've lost volume, breast implants can make them look as good as ever.

Finally, you can make your skin look fresh and young again with a combination of procedures from vitalize peels to spider vein removal to Botox injections.

Just because you have a child, it doesn't mean your life is over. In fact, the best years of your life are to come. Why shouldn't the best appearance of your life be to come as well? Please contact the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery today for a consultation.

Patient to Patient Network

2008-02-29T14:35:00.004-05:00

Are you considering surgery? Are you curious about the experience? Message boards are one way of getting information.

However, at the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery, we have started our own Patient to Patient Network so that you can speak directly to past patients who have had surgery done with us.

We will put you in touch with people who have had the surgery, and you will be able to talk to them from the privacy of your own home. Chat them up. Ask about how they liked the office. What they thought of the surgical facility. How did their results match their expectations. Whatever you want to ask, feel free & they will give you their honest answers.

We think this takes our testimonial page one step further - live, interactive testimonials from our patients. Call (703) 924-3144 & ask for Kelley to get you started.

Valentines Special

2008-02-01T13:45:00.000-05:00

February is a time when people think about their loved ones. Plump lips are sexy. As a secondary sex characteristic, lips send signals that register deep in the male brain. Whether men consciously realize it or not, they’re programmed to desire women with succulent lips. Now that cosmetic surgery has made buttery, pleasing lips available to everyone, they’ve become more popular than ever.

During the entire month of February, you can receive a free lip plumper with each Juvederm injection. Juvederm is a wonderful filler that lasts about a year that can be used to plump your lips, or even soften the jowl lines or lines in your cheeks (nasolabial folds).

Get Summer-Ready Now with a Breast Augmentation Procedure

2008-01-30T18:19:00.000-05:00

It may still be cold outside, but it's time to start thinking fun in the sun if you are considering breast augmentation. If you have sundresses that have never fit you right because your breasts never fully developed, or if they used to fit you right, but have shrunk or sagged following pregnancy, you don't have to dread the coming of May. Instead, you can look and feel better than ever with breast augmentation surgery. However, to look your best in the spring, it's best to plan now, since breast implants can take several months to fully heal and settle. If you are interested in doing a little springing of your own, contact the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery to schedule your initial consultation today.