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Wish your lipomas could be “gone in 30 seconds?” Well, it turns out that you can!

Lipomas can form in many shapes, sizes and places on the body.

Lipomas are the most common soft-tissue tumors formed with adipose tissue. Patients with lipomas are most often referred to plastic surgeons to help ensure safe, effective removal and to minimize and conceal scars.

A few facts about lipomas include:

• Lipomas are a common reason for referral to a plastic surgeon
• They occur more often in adults between 40 to 60 years of age
• Lipomas are soft to touch, moveable, and usually painless
• Lipomas often grow to more than six centimeters in diameter
• While rarer, they can also occur in younger adults and children

What Treatments Are Available for Lipoma Removal?

Lipoma removal treatments have typically included the following:

1. Endoscope-assisted removal
2. Suction-assisted removal
3. Minimal incision removal
4. Remote incision lipoma extraction

These all work and have been used by surgeons for decades to remove lipomas of all types. 

But, some of these techniques are tedious and require extra equipment (even though they are advanced treatments). 

Dr. Davison of DAVinci Plastic Surgery helped pioneer a simple, safe, and effective method that involves a small incision and a “quick squeeze” to remove lipomas without the extra instruments used in other methods.

Why Choose the Quick Squeeze Method for Lipoma Removal?

While not as well known as other options, the quick squeeze method for lipoma removal deserves attention, especially amid today’s array of modern, advanced techniques that require extra time, attention, and technology.

Once surgeons learn this new lipoma treatment 2021 and start using it, they realize the significant benefits it presents. This technique is safe, quick, simple, and effective with a very low rate of recurrence.

How Does the Quick Squeeze Lipoma Removal Work?

When performed by a skilled plastic surgeon, like the surgeons at DAVinci Plastic Surgery in Washington, DC, the quick squeeze lipoma removal method is the easiest way to treat this condition. Most patients are thrilled with the results and claim that, “my lipomas are gone!”

The quick squeeze lipoma removal method is performed using the following steps:

1. The lipoma is identified by palpation and its margins are outlined. 
2. The area is then infiltrated with local anesthesia and is prepared and draped in standard fashion. 
3. An incision — approximately one quarter to one third the diameter of the lipoma — is made (carried down to the lipoma capsule). 
4. The lipoma is then squeezed out through the incision…without any additional dissection.

What Do the Studies Say About the Quick Squeeze Method?

In a study performed, 140 lipomas were removed from 50 patients. These lipomas were located on the face, scalp, neck, thorax, back, flanks, hips, pelvis, and on both the upper and lower body extremities. 

Of the 140 removals, there were only two recurrences, and there were no complications or revisions.

Dr. Samir S. Rao, M.D., Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C. and Steven P. Davison, M.D., DAVinci Plastic Surgery, Washington D.C. carried out this study to demonstrate the efficacy of their “simple lipoma squeeze method.” 

This method was first described by Kenawi in 1995, and this exposure encouraged the literature to focus more on minimally invasive lipoma removal methods. 

The quick squeeze method is best suited for subcutaneous lipomas with overlying mobile skin. Deep intramuscular lipomas often found in the back or shoulder region may require longer incisions and more dissection for complete removal. However, the method is still safe, simple, and effective in spite of these factors. Also, this method does leave a small scar directly over the lipoma, but most incisions can be hidden along skin tension lines.

Scars typically fade of time…and today we have cosmetic scar topicals that help this process move along quicker.

Safe and Quick: Remove Your Lipomas in 30 Seconds!

At DAVinci Plastic Surgery, we successfully demonstrated, and continue to demonstrate, that only a small incision is needed for a safe, effective procedure, lipoma removal! Certainly, this deserves more attention!

The sun is here!. The days of beach going and picnics, etc., are upon us…skin cancer awareness month is May…look for helpful info so you can enjoy your playtime. Now is the time to schedule those procedures that will get you “beach body ready!”

“DAVinci….where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.”

Looking for Lipoma Removal in Washington, DC?

If you are looking for lipoma removal near me or would like to learn more about lipoma removal cost, contact the team at DAVinci Plastic Surgery today by calling (202) 966-9590 or filling out our contact form. You can also schedule a virtual consultation!

We offer expert removal of lipomas with the quick squeeze method as well as a collection of other plastic surgery and skin care treatments.

The back to school season has started. Depending on your temperament and the ages of your children, you’re probably crying tears or breathing a sigh of relief to see them go… maybe a mix of both. Once you get settled with the new routine of things and get the machine moving smoothly, it’s time for you to take some time for yourself. Get some projects done and breathe a bit before the holidays kick in.

It’s important to schedule for yourself some “me time,” whether that’s working out, socializing, volunteering, pampering… or all of the above. Consider it part of your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. When mamma is happy, everyone is happy, except toddlers and moody teenagers, but hopefully those are just phases.

There are a variety of beauty treatments you can choose to invest your resources into, but in the rejuvenating realm, there’s something so gratifying about the age defying results of getting Botox or fillers like Juvederm. The treatments are so quick you don’t have to schedule any more than a lunch break. Also, they don’t require any recovery time so you’re keeping the same pace with your schedule. Smooth forehead, no crow’s feet, a smile without the smile lines and fuller lips… how fantastic.

Another treatment with no downtime and can help you feel more confident and comfortable in your clothes is SculpSure. This FDA approved treatment is perfect for those little stubborn fat pooches that just won’t go away. You can firm up the belly or trim down those “muffin tops” to fit more comfortably in your fall jeans. With no time in your schedule to waste, you can get clinically proven results of 24% fat cell reduction in the treatment areas.

This back to school season is great for you to schedule in some “me time.” We can help you look and feel your best with “in and out” rejuvenating facial and body contouring procedures. Visit www.davinciplastic.com to schedule your consultation today!

Steven Davison M.D.

Triple Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Radiesse and Sculptra are the last injectables that I’m covering in this series. While they may not have achieved the mainstream brand recognition as Botox and Juvederm, they are well known within the cosmetic industry for offering well established and proven volume restoring, wrinkle fighting results. They accomplish this through very different methods. Sometimes Sculptra and Radiesse are called the tortoise and the hare.

The Tortoise

In the Aesop’s fable The Tortoise and the Hare, the slow moving tortoise actually wins the race with a hare because of its steady effort. In a seemingly similar way, Sculptra offers visible results that are slower to appear, but achieve a big win because the results usually last a lot longer than any other fillers. It does this because it actually stimulates the skin to make it’s own collagen.

• Medical: Sculptra is made of a poly-L-lactic acid, which is a manmade polymer that is biodegradable and biocompatible. In the medical arena, it has also been used for over a decade with FDA approval to restore the hollowed facial features caused by HIV. This material is also used in absorbable stitches and bone screws.
• Cosmetic: The FDA approved Sculptra for cosmetic use in 2009. With 1 to 3 injections over the course of 6 to 12 weeks, Sculptra stimulates the skin’s collagen enough to effectively restore volume and smooth out wrinkles. If not under any event’s time constraints, some people prefer the gradual results because they come on less drastically and obviously. Generally, most onlookers notice the youthful results, but can’t pinpoint when or how they exactly occurred. It just looks like a mini facelift happened gradually over the course of 2 months. Also, unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvederm or Restylane, Sculptra can last much longer, such as 2 years or more.

The Hare

Instead of hyaluronic acid, which is used by Juvederm and Restylane, Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a gel. Calcium hydroxylapatite is a kind of mineral that is normally found in human teeth and bones. In addition to instantly adding volume, the scaffolding created by the calcium hydroxylapatite in Radiesse promotes collagen production. This offers benefits to the skin’s foundation that lasts beyond when Radiesse dissolves.

• Medical: In 2007, the same year it was approved for cosmetic use, the FDA approved Radiesse for treating facial wasting experienced by HIV patients. The medical community has also used Radiesse in therapeutic treatment for vocal cord deficiencies.
• Cosmetic: Radiesse is an injectable filler that also restores volume in a thicker gel than Juvederm and Restylane. Its dense formula is great for moderate to severe facial wrinkles, nasolabial folds and volume loss. It also is a phenomenal way to take 10 years off your hands, which tattle on your age.

I hope that this blog series, All About Injectables, has informed and encouraged you about the safety and efficacy of the top injectables. Isn’t it interesting that there are such helpful medical uses for them, as well as cosmetic? I think that just adds to their credibility.

As you can tell, at DAVinci Plastic, you’re certainly not lacking for great options for your cosmetic needs. Fortunately, you don’t have to be the expert in which of these injectables would be the perfect fit for you. Our expert injectors can help you find the best fit for your beauty goals. Schedule a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com today.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Absolute evidence exists that our lifestyle, stress, and what we put on and in our bodies will affect the health of our skin. Apart from sun damage, what many people may not realize is that the environment our skin is exposed to affects it, as well.

Inside

The majority of our time is spent inside at work or home. This is why it’s important to consciously craft your inside environment to support your health and skin. Here some tips to do this:

• Heating your home takes out any natural moisture in the air, which affects your skin. You can easily replace this by running a humidifier or essential oil diffuser. You may need one in each room.
• Harmful chemicals mix in the air from cleaning products, plug in fragrance, and many kinds of candles. We not only breathe this in, but they settle onto surfaces and skin. Switch to an essential oil diffuser or candles that use a cotton wick and any other wax than paraffin. Open up windows and turn on fans when using harsh cleaning products or switch to natural ones. Thoroughly wash, rinse and moisturize after using cleaning products.
• Real Plants inside will help pull toxins from the air and reduce stress. An option for those who don’t have a green thumb, is to use an air purifier to clean the air of chemicals and other irritating particles, such as pollen, dander and dust. Home updates including carpets, pressed wood and insulation should air out because they offgass volatile chemicals like formaldehyde.
• Laundry soap can deposit skin irritants into the fabric of your clothes and bed sheets. Many include fillers and chemical fragrance. Try using an unscented “free and clear” laundry detergent. If you want to infuse fragrance into your clothes, use wool dryer balls with a couple drops of essential oils rather than dryer sheets.
• Creating a good environment to rest well is important because sufficient sleep is important for healthy skin. To help your mind get into rest mode, dim the lights in the evening, shut off electronics an hour before bed, and write down any issues or “to do’s” that need to be addressed in the coming days. Nightly using moisturizers and serums for clean face on a clean pillow case, as well as a fresh pillow every few months will also help your skin during the night.

Outside

While exposure to the outside environment may not be in as much quantity as inside, its affects on the skin shouldn’t be disregarded. These factors can have a powerful influence in the health of the skin:

• Sun… everyone knows the damage and aging caused by the sun when we’re not careful. In addition to staying in the shade or indoors during peak UV hours and wearing protective clothing, precautions should include using a makeup foundation or day time moisturizer that has a SPF… even on the snowy mountains or cloudy days.
• Pollution… urban air contamination is a mix of volatile chemicals that causes skin irritation and aging.
• Extreme weather… cold, wind and dry air all steal moisture from skin to crack, irritate and age it.

Taking good care of your skin gives it the best chance to stay healthy and youthful. It also helps your cosmetic procedures to last. Schedule a consultation today at www.davinciplastic.com to discuss how we can partner in your healthy lifestyle routine to look and feel great.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

It’s not too late to show your love with the gift of a Liquid Facelift. The spring is coming and there is no better feeling than going into a new season with a refreshed feeling and look. The new and rejuvenating experience can catapult confidence and productivity for not only a more youthful appearance, but invigorated feeling.

The Liquid Facelift, also called a Filler Facelift, is a visible, yet subtle rejuvenation involving multiple injection locations and kinds. While it doesn’t have the complete capabilities of an actual Facelift, it does address concerns throughout the facial features to provide a no downtime “refresher” for the face. It smoothes out wrinkles and restores volume to those trouble areas that are unique to each person. These are the benefits:

• Erasing forehead lines with Botox
• Brow lifting by replacing volume with Juvederm
• Revolumizing the eye area with Juvederm to minimize sunken eye sockets, hollowed temples or deepened tear troughs
• Plumping flat cheeks with Juvederm, Radiesse or Sculptra which gently lifts the entire midface, including the effects of volume loss on nasolabial folds
• Smoothing the “parenthesis” lines around the mouth
• Plumping thinned out lips with Juvederm
• Balance the chin definition with Radiesse or Sculptra

The Filler Facelift addresses these issues not in isolation, but within the facial framework and contours. This comprehensive injection session rejuvenates the entire face and not just one feature by utilizing different kinds of injectables. The Liquid Facelift is a great way to hold off the need for a surgical facelift. Results can last a couple of months to a couple of years.

The different kinds of injectables used in different areas of the face all work together for the Liquid Facelift rejuvenation. Here are the typical players we use in our office to give our patients beautiful results:

• Juvederm naturally attract water to the plump up the cells with hyaluronic acid. This sponge like effect, plumps up the cells at the injection site to fill in the creases. Its plumping abilities are fantastic for restoring youthful facial contours and lip fullness.
• Botox inhibits muscle action that stops the movement creating the wrinkles and creases. This stops forehead furrows and frown lines in their tracks.
• Radiesse immediately stimulates your own collagen renewal for your skin to work on replacing volume and firmness.
• Sculptra takes time to reveal the youth enhancing effects, but is well worth the wait. Its scaffolding stimulates the body’s own ability to rebuild collagen with long lasting results that can endure twice as long as hyaluronic fillers.

Experience the refreshing look that a Filler Facelift can offer. Give the gift to yourself or a loved one. To schedule your Liquid Facelift our highly trained injectors, visit www.davinciplastic.com

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Beyond the face, the neck is one of the most visible of the body’s features that can reveal age. Fortunately, there are some effective treatments to refine and rejuvenate the neck and minimize the “turkey neck” or “double chin.” This is especially important to many people coming into the holiday season where there will be pictures and parties galore. Today I’m going to highlight 2 non surgical treatments for making the neck area look younger and that won’t take you away from your busy schedule leading up to the holidays: Kybella and Botox.

Kybella

If your concern with your neck is the double chin or bulge, Kybella could be your answer. It is a non surgical alternative to liposuction since the treatment simply involves a series of injections. They contain a naturally occurring molecule called deoxycholic acid. This natural acid dissolves fat and then the body flushes it out naturally. The extensive clinical trials conducted with Kybella demonstrated a 50% improvement in fat reduction with 2 treatments a month apart.

The injection treatment itself only lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, with a little prep time before and after. These precisely placed injections can be done on any part of the neck and can treat the largest to smallest bulge. Some people have a double chin due to carrying extra weight, yet others may be thin but have a genetic predisposition to a double chin. Also, Kybella can help to slightly tighten the skin, but it cannot remedy loose, hanging skin.

Even though Kybella is considered an “in and out” procedure, it does have mild side effects to which the degree varies for each person. While some people tolerate the injections with only a level 3 of 10 pain ranking, others would consider them more painful. Also, while everyone can return to regular activity immediately, some patients will experience some temporary swelling and redness or some soreness and numbness depending on how much Kybella is being injected in a session. The winter is actually the perfect time to hide any of these issues with a turtleneck sweater or scarf.

Botox

If your concern with your neck is the prominent vertical bands, Botox may be able to help. While it is most known for eliminating frown lines between the eyebrows or forehead, the basic function of Botox is to relax the muscles so it can be used on most any muscle groups that are contracting to create lines, which includes the neck. Over time the neck develops bands in a V shape from the platysma muscle, which can accentuate any neck bulge or waddle. Botox will relax these muscles and so good clients are those who have a prominent platysma muscle along with good skin tone.

There is no need to feel self conscious of your neck even if you want to avoid surgery and don’t have time for recovery. Kybella and Botox could be your answer to get rid of your turkey neck for Thanksgiving and beyond. Schedule a consultation to see if these effective treatments are a good fit for you at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Taking care of your skin is crucial for effective healing after sun exposure and after surgery success. Summer months mean that skin damage from sun exposure is at its height. As summer comes to a close, it’s time to check your skin because detecting melanoma as early as possible makes it treatable. It is the deadliest cancer, but it doesn’t have to be if it it’s caught early. Regular self checking is a key part of immediate diagnosis is to do a regular self check.

AFTER SUN

What are you looking for? You’re at higher risk for melanoma if you’ve been sunburned frequently, have fair skin or a large amount of moles, live in a tropical or have a family history of melanoma. When you’re self checking, there’s a common acronym to help us remember what to look for. This is called the ABCDEs of warning signs for melanoma. This stands for:

• Asymmetry: draw an imaginary line through the middle and it should look the same on both sides
• Border irregularity: ragged or blurred, undefined edges
• Color changes: a variety of colors within the same spot or mole
• Diameter: greater than .25 inch (6 millimeters)
• Evolving: changes over time

Where should you look? Important to look from head to toe, back and front. Using the angles from a hand mirror and a wall mirror to see the harder parts of the body from behind, literally start with the top of your scalp, especially if you haven’t worn hats to protect your head or have fine, thinning hair. Then move downward, examining the face, neck, shoulders, underarms, chest, torso, arms, hands, and nail beds. When checking the lower body, its easier to sit down, but don’t forget to check your buttocks, especially if you wear brazilian or thong bikinis. Look over your legs and feet, even the heels, soles of the feet and toenail beds.

AFTER SURGERY

What extra steps should I take? Whether your cosmetic procedure is invasive or non invasive, you should take some special care of your skin to promote healing and longevity of the effects of the procedure. Here are some simple tips to care for your skin after a cosmetic treatment:

• Follow physicians directions. Each procedure has a unique protocol for optimal healing. This may include salves and the herbal supplement or cream version of Arnica Montana to reduce bruising.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is good practice in general, but will help flush the area of toxins and empower healing. Avoiding alcohol and other dehydrating beverages so you don’t work against your natural healing processes.
• Protect yourself from the sun. The skin is more vulnerable after a procedure. UV rays darken scars and this is what you want to prevent, so stay out of the sun.
• Leave the recovery site alone. This means no picking or poking of the area. Disturbing the area could cause infection or unwanted scarring.
• Use gentle skin care products. Make the extra effort during this time to pamper your skin while it’s healing. Use only mild, no fragrance skincare.

Help me to help you have beautiful, youthful skin by taking these precautions. From beginning to end, I look forward to helping you in the rejuvenation process. To schedule your consultation, visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Many patients are coming into my office for liposuction…because they are not happy with how they look in their bikini or swimsuit!  Liposuction has proven to be a safe, effective method for getting rid of unwanted body fat…to sculpt the body.

Is liposuction right for you? Whether it’s genetics or aging, some of those stubborn fat pouches just won’t budge even with diet and rigorous exercise. If you are in healthy condition, liposuction can help sculpt and smooth them away. Liposuction is not a complete body transformation surgery, but it is safe and effective if you’re in the right hands.

What’s Involved?

After our consultation, surgery is scheduled and will be performed in our state of the art surgery outpatient center. General anesthesia is used to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. I do this using an infusion of saline solution with lidocaine before your surgery.

Liposuction requires one or more incisions to accommodate the cannula, a small tube with a suction vacuum, used to loosen the fat and safely suction the excess fat and which sculpts the area.  For small areas, such as the face, a syringe can precisely harvest fat that is purified and used for grafting other areas.

Liposuction for the large and small areas… The advances in technology, specialized tools, and my expert techniques allow me to target large or very small localized areas with more precision and less trauma than with older techniques.  Liposuction can be used to remove fat from the:

• tummy
• breasts
• thighs
• buttocks
• back
• face
• neck

Liposuction along with other procedures… Liposuction is an ideal compliment to other body contouring procedures, such as a Butt Augmentation, Thigh Lift, and Tummy Tuck. Any of these could be part of a much desired Mommy Makeover to restore your body after all the changes that take place through childbearing.

Banish those stubborn bulges with liposuction…Call now for your appointment.
Steven Davison MD

More men are seeking enhancements than ever before.  
Their perspective on it has changed and they believe cosmetic surgery creates a competitive career edge… and is a confidence booster. Also, men today see plastic surgery and non invasive cosmetic treatments as part of their regular health care routine, like going to the gym or eating healthy.

Botox for Bro’s = Brotox
Botox for men has been coined  -“Brotox.” Brotox can reshape a tired or gruff appearance into a more friendly, rested look. Men also like this because there is no down time – so no productivity loss. Brotox is often done in our office during a lunch break or in between meetings. Also, Brotox allows for gradual minor – subtle changes. Men love being told that they look more rested, happier or healthier…and no one but you knows why!

Move Over– Mommy Makeovers — Here Comes Daddy Do Overs
The most recent years have seen big increase in “Mommy Makeovers” to help women get their pre- baby body back. It’s a well deserved group of rejuvenation procedures for women who have sacrificed physically and emotionally for their their family. Yes, The effects are different for men, but raising kids takes its toll on men’s bodies too. So …They want to look and feel younger and have many more years to enjoy their children and grandchildren. This is also why more men are choosing to get “Daddy Do Over” surgeries as part of their health routine.

More Popular Procedures for Men…

• Along with Brotox, Injectables like Juvederm are popular because they don’t require down time.
• They minimize deep forehead creases, crow’s feet or nasolabial folds.
• They can also fill in pock marks that give the skin a smoother appearance.

Blepharoplasty reduces hooded eyelids, bulging under eyelids that can age and impede vision. This rejuvenates the upper and lower eyelids to rejuvenate a tired or gruff appearance.

Male Breast Reduction corrects the gynecomastia (male breasts) to sculpt their upper body and help restore their feeling of masculinity.

Men want that masculine “V” shaped torso again, which can be restored with Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) to remove fat and extra skin or Liposuction to remove fat.

Through roughhousing and sports, guys are more likely to have their nose broken, which affects the appearance, and ability to breathe. Rhinoplasty restores the appearance and breathing caused by blocked nasal passages.

Men still desire a strong chin as a sign of masculinity, which can be accomplished by a Chin Augmentation with implants or Injectable Fillers. Also a double chin can be removed with Liposuction or Kybella.

Men, let’s talk about what I can do to help you with confidence, performance and satisfaction with your appearance and physique.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Bikini season is in full swing. This time of year everyone is conscious of how they look in a swimsuit or more revealing summer wear. But since we’re already in the midst of the summer season, it’s not an ideal time to get surgery, such as liposuction, without having to miss out on the enjoyment of the outdoor fun. This is where a fat reducing solution like Cynosure SculpSure can help.

Trim Tummy and Summer Fun with Cynosure
Even with a healthy diet and regular work out sessions… some areas of fat just resist going away. This often “dampers”  your confidence to wear those lighter or tighter summer outfits. Fortunately, Cynosure SculpSure is a non surgical solution to reduce body fat in those stubborn areas – like the abdomen and love handles.

Cynosure SculpSure requires no downtime or recovery that will keep you from enjoying the fun outdoor summer activities. With SculpSure you can have a natural looking slimmer appearance without scars or any effect to the skin’s surface. You can also return to everyday activities immediately after a treatment, so you’ll never miss out on the fun while undergoing SculpSure treatments.

How does Cynosure Sculpsure work?
This innovative body contouring treatment is clinically proven to reduce stubborn fat in problem areas. It uses light based technology that targets and destroys these fat cells cumulatively over short 25 minute session. Each 25 minute session destroys up to 24% of treated fat cells. Results can be seen as early as 6 weeks with optimal results at 12 weeks.

Schedule a consultation today to see how SculpSure can keep you enjoying summer while looking trimmer and healthier. Visit: www. http://Davinci Plastic Surgery

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

I wrote some blogs on breast surgery a few weeks ago and then took a break to focus on summer sun precautions.   Now I want to finish the breast series with this blog on scarring and incisions.  Scarring is always a concern when choosing a cosmetic surgery. We want to be able to focus on the beautiful results of the surgery, not the incision scars it may leave behind. Fortunately, with a Breast Lift, there are a variety of incisions, some more inconspicuous than others. However, different techniques may be required based on how much sagging you want corrected. The incision I recommend will be based on your personal goals, existing breast tissue, and the amount of excess skin to be removed. Here is an explanation of each of the possibilities.

Minimal Sagging: Crescent Incision
This incision is very small and traces around the upper half edge of the areola. While this is minimal scarring sounds ideal, it can take away only a minimum amount of skin. This makes it only an option for patients who have very little sagging to correct. For this reason, it is the least frequent incision technique and is usually only done in combination with a breast augmentation.
Mild Sagging: Peri Areolar or “Donut” Incision
The Peri Areolar incision is a circular incision tracing around the outer edge of the areola. This technique can also be used to reduce the size of the areola if that is desired. Like the Crescent incision, this “Donut” incision is commonly performed along with a Breast Augmentation and can address mild sagging.

Moderate Sagging: Vertical or “Lollipop” Incision
Two incisions are required for this technique, as it can accomplish more extensive reshaping of sagging breasts. They form the pattern of a lollipop, hence the nickname. The first incision is around the outer edge of the areola and the second runs down vertically from the bottom center of the areola to the underlying crease where the breast meets the torso, called the inframammary fold. This is a very common incision technique since it allows for the removal of a moderate amount of excess skin and reshaping of the entire breast. Fortunately, these scars are easily hidden in bras and bikini tops.

Extensive Sagging: Inverted T or “Anchor” Incision
Dramatic results for reshaping the breasts are available with the Inverted T incision. Getting its nickname as the “Anchor” lift because of the incision pattern, this technique involves 3 scars. One is around the outer edge of the areola, then another is down vertically from the bottom outer edge of the areola to the breast crease, and the last one is hidden in the horizontal crease of the inframammary fold. This technique allows for the removal of a significant amount of excess skin and sagging tissue. It is also used when the Breast Lift is combined with a Breast Reduction. This gives beautiful correction for reshaping pendulous breasts, which is when the nipple is below the edge of the crease of the inframammary fold and it is pointing downward.

In my expert hands, these incisions will be as minimal as possible, and over time, with your proper care these scars will fade. Regardless of which incision technique is required, your scars will be concealed and far from your mind when you see how lovely your lifted breasts look in your clothes and bathing suit. Contact me for a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

The sun provides some wonderful health benefits, but as I’ve recently shared in previous blogs, there is good reason to protect yourself from its skin damaging UV rays. Here are the main ways to protect yourself when in the sun.

Sunscreen
Sunscreen can definitely be helpful in protecting your skin from the UV rays, but some sunscreen has toxic chemicals that should be avoided. For example, a recent study published in Environmental Science Technology has demonstrated that the common sunscreen ingredients, methoxycinnamate, oxybenzone and PABA are estrogenic chemicals linked to cancer.

Mineral sunscreens are preferable, as they are considered “broad spectrum” and protect against both UVB and UVA rays. They contain titanium or zinc, which do not breakdown in sunlight and are therefore more effective at also blocking UVA rays. These minerals are non allergenic and not usually absorbed into the bloodstream so they don’t affect the body’s hormones.

Clothing
You can’t go wrong by wearing a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing when in the sun. There is even special clothing that is enhanced with greater protection against UV radiation and laundry detergent that adds sunscreen to your clothes. The laundry detergent doesn’t add much, but a plain white Tshirt that normally only provides 8 SPF can be boosted up to 15 SPF with a sunscreen detergent. The main benefit to SPF laundry detergent is that it’ll help keep some SPF in the garment for longer, as it does tend to start to slowly wear off after 3 or 4 washings.

UPF vs SPF
Most commonly you’ll see the terms UPF (Ultra Violet Protection) on sun protective clothing, while the sunscreens say SPF (Sun Protection Factor). UPF measures a fabric’s protection against both UVA and UVB. Sunscreen’s SPF only rates its protection against UVB rays, which cause sunburn.
What does the number mean?

A UPF rating of 25 means that only 1/25th (or 4%) of the UV radiation can penetrate the fabric, giving a 96% protection against both UVA and UVB rays. A minimum UPF 15 clothing is good (94% protection), but 50+ (98%) is excellent, especially considering the effectiveness of sun protection will lessen over time, you’ll have longer lasting protection.

Regarding the measurement of sun protection, SPF is a bit more variable as the number is calculated based on increasing the amount of time you can spend in the sun before getting sunburned. For example, if the average person would burn after 20 minutes in the sun, a sunscreen with SPF 30 is supposed to protect against sunburn for about 10 hours. This effectiveness varies widely because some people’s skin burns more easily, the mid day hours have more intense UVB rays, and even most water repellant sunscreens wear off with sweat and water. Also, the SPF calculation does not account for the UVA rays.

Diet

Most people haven’t considered that foods and supplements that can actually help protect your skin, too. The American Cancer Society states that oxidative damage can increase your cancer risk, including skin cancer. Fortunately, there are lots of delicious, healthy foods that help reduce oxidation.

These are some suggestions for foods and the antioxidants they contain that help your skin:
Salmon and fish oil contain astaxanthin and omega 3 fatty acids.

• Green and white tea contains catechins.
• Red wine, blueberries and red grapes contain resveratrol.
• Almonds, asparagus and pumpkin seeds contains Vitamin E
• Carrots and red bell peppers contain Beta carotene.

I hope you take these sun protection tips and have a safe, fun summer!

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon