Breast lift

Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy

Bloomfield Hills, MI – If you are a breast cancer survivor, you’ve already been through so much, and having to feel self-conscious about your body is not something you should have to worry about. While breast cancer treatment has advanced tremendously, and in many cases mastectomy is no longer needed, there are still many women in the U.S. who undergo total mastectomies each year. And for these women, breast reconstruction can provide relief and healing.

In most instances, breast reconstruction will need to be done in stages. Together with her plastic surgeon, the patient will decide which type of reconstruction procedure is right for her – breast implants, flap surgery, or a combination of both. You may be able to combine your reconstruction with your mastectomy, or you may choose to wait until you have healed from the mastectomy to move forward.

In the first stage of the procedure, the surgeon will place a tissue expander under the chest muscle. The expander will be gradually filled with saline to stretch the muscle and create a pocket for the implant to be placed. After reaching the desired size, the expander will stay in place for several weeks to ensure the scar tissue has a chance to heal.

The next step for the patient is to choose the type of implant that will be ideal. Silicone implants are more natural and softer feeling than saline implants. During the procedure, the expander will be removed and replaced with the implant. The surgeon will then reconstruct the nipple, and an areola will be tattooed to give the reconstructed breast the most natural look possible.

Some patients may not desire a breast implant, but would still like to undergo breast reconstruction. For these patients, flap surgery may be an option. A TRAM flap uses muscle, fat and skin from the patient’s own abdomen to reconstruct a breast. Depending on your surgeon’s preferences and ability, the flap can remain attached to its original blood supply and then moved up through the chest wall, or it can be removed and formed into a breast-shaped mound. In some cases, patients require both flap surgery and breast implants, if there isn’t enough tissue to create a full breast mound.

Patients will be required to wear an elastic bandage and/or support bra to minimize swelling and provide support for the newly reconstructed breast. A draining tube will be inserted under the skin to remove any excess fluid or blood, but will be removed within a few days following surgery. You will be given a prescription for pain medication to help with discomfort.

Over the following weeks, as the swelling subsides, patients will see their newly reconstructed breasts taking shape.

“Breast reconstruction surgery is one of the most rewarding things I do,” says Dr. Ali, a Michigan plastic surgeon. “A cancer diagnosis can be devastating, and then to have to worry about your physical appearance after can just put added stress on patients. Being able to provide patients with natural looking breasts after a mastectomy can help them gain back some confidence that may have been lost after their diagnosis, and I am so humbled to be able to be a part of their journey back to health.”

To learn more about breast reconstruction, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali today.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Cosmetic injection of botox

Which Facial Filler is Right for You?

Bloomfield Hills, MI – Are you looking for a way to erase the signs of aging in your face, without having to undergo an extensive plastic surgery procedure? Dermal fillers may be a great solution for you, but there are so many on the market, how do you know which one is the best to treat your issue?

There are numerous types of fillers on the market today. You’ve know doubt heard many of the names – Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, but what is the difference? Which one should you ask your plastic surgeon about? Michigan plastic surgeon Dr. Ali breaks down the different types of facial fillers on the market today.

  1. Botox, or botulinum toxin type A, is probably the most well-known type of filler, and it’s probably the one you think of when you think of facial injections. It is most commonly used to smooth the wrinkles in the forehead and brow, and crow’s feet lines around the eyes. It can also be injected in the underarms to stop excessive sweating. It typically lasts three to four months, and is best used to treat deeper lines and wrinkles. If you have more fine lines, Botox may not be the ideal option for you.
  2. Restylane, or hyaluronic acid, is used to treat the nasolabial folds, smile and brow lines, and for lips and beneath the eyes. It typically lasts between six and eight months, but like Botox, it is best to treat deeper folds.
  3. Juvederm is a 3D hyaluronic acid matrix filler. It is most often used to plump lips and to treat nasolabial folds. It can last up to one year, and offers a great and natural look for patients.
  4. Radiesse is calcium hydroxyapatite particles that are suspended in a hyaluronic gel. It treats smile lines, broader folds and cheeks. It lasts 12 to 18 months. Unlike other fillers, until it dissipates on its own, it cannot be reversed.
  5. Belotero is monophasic double cross-linked hyaluronic acid. It is great to treat the deep furrows of the brow, for lip augmentations, facial outlines, nasolabial folds, and facial depressions. It generally lasts for six to nine months, and because there is minimal risk of lumpiness, it is safe to use in most locations.
  6. Sculptra is a poly-L-lactic acid that can last up to two years. It is used to treat the deep folds between the nose and mouth, folds in the corners of the mouth, sunken cheeks, and deeper wrinkles or scars. It works to stimulate production of your body’s natural collagen.
  7. Fat fillers are your own fat cells that have been removed from another part of your body, and then treated before being injected back in the desired location. Fat transfer can be used to treat sunken cheeks, thin lips, lines below the eyes, or to fill out buttocks and breasts. The results are permanent for the fat cells that survive the transfer, but it can be unpredictable.

“The best type of filler for you will depend on the areas you are hoping to treat, and the look you desire,” says Dr. Ali. “In the hands of the right plastic surgeon, all facial fillers should have natural-looking and beautiful results. They can turn back the hands of time and have you looking and feeling your best.”

If you are interested in learning more about how facial fillers can erase fine lines and wrinkles, without undergoing surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali today.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Permanent Makeup MI

Is Permanent Makeup Right for You?

Bloomfield Hills, MI – Do you get tired of having to reapply your eyeliner, or making it through the day and realizing it was smudged? With permanent makeup, you no longer have to spend time applying and reapplying eyeliner, lip line, or trying to sculpt your eyebrows.

“Permanent makeup is gaining a lot of popularity,” says Michigan plastic surgeon Dr. Ali. “Through tattoos, women can have the benefit of permanent color enhancement on the eyes, lips, eyebrows and other areas of the face. We also can use tattoos to restore or enhance the areola following breast reconstructive surgery.”

Patients in Dr. Ali’s office can enjoy the benefits of permanently enhanced eyebrows, permanent eyeliner and permanent lip liner.

Do you spend a lot of time trying to shape the perfect eyebrow? Or are you missing fullness in your eyebrows, due to aging, chemotherapy or another issue? Permanent makeup is a great way to enhance and beautifully shape your eyebrows.

A medical aesthetician will work with you to determine the best look for you, and use the technique to either simply fill in areas that are missing hair, or two create dramatically colored brows that can add new expression and definition to your face.

All women know that good eyeliner can dramatically alter the appearance of one’s eyes. But bad eyeliner can leave you looking like a clown or a raccoon. And if you suffer from allergies or limited dexterity, applying eyeliner can be a nightmare. But with permanent eyeliner, you never have to worry about it again. Your aesthetician will work with you to create a look that is natural and that will bring out the beauty of your eyes. Permanent eyeliner can be applied above or below the eye, or both.

Permanent lip liner can improve the definition of your lips by making them appear fuller. The tattoed pigment can make subtle corrections in the shape of the lip, or restore color that has been lost over time. Your aesthetician will work to help you find the ideal color and shape to give you beautiful, natural-looking and fuller lips.

Permanent makeup is like any other tattoo – while it is long lasting, it can fade over time, especially when proper care isn’t taken to protect from the elements. Patients may want to touch up their makeup periodically.

Having permanent makeup applied can be mildly painful, as any tattoo can be. Your aesthetician can use topical anesthetics and analgesics to minimize your discomfort.

Dr. Ali’s team follows the strictest sanitation and safety standards, so you can always be sure receiving permanent makeup at Amae Plastic Surgery Center is safe. Always do proper research before having permanent makeup applied to be sure you receive your treatment from only those with the highest care standards.

If you’d like to learn more about permanent makeup, call Dr. Ali’s office today.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.