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November 2008 Q & A with Dr. Levens
(Dr. Levens’ monthly column is carried by the Coral
Springs Forum newspaper.) Dear Dr. Levens: What can be done about
dark spots on my face? Can lasers fix this? --CR
Dear CR: Dark spots can be a difficult problem
to resolve. In some cases, topical bleaching crèmes,
applied repeatedly, can minimize them sufficiently. If that
doesn’t work, vascular or pigment lasers
can produce good results though again, multiple treatments
will likely be required.
Dear Dr. Levens: Is breast reconstruction
usually done at the same time as a mastectomy or after the mastectomy
has healed? ---WP
Dear WP: Reconstruction can be done at the
same time as a mastectomy or after the mastectomy has healed. Sometimes
medical issues mandate that reconstruction be delayed. Also,
some patients don’t want to have more surgery than is absolutely
necessary. When given the option, most patients choose to have
reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy to spare themselves
the experience of waking up with no breast or breasts. Reconstruction
has no known effect on the recurrence of cancer in the breast, nor
does it generally interfere with chemotherapy or radiation treatment,
should cancer recur. Breast reconstruction usually involves more than
one operation. The first and more complex stage, whether done at the
same time as the mastectomy or later on, is usually performed in a
hospital. Follow-up procedures may also be done in the hospital.
Or, depending on the extent of surgery required, the surgeon may prefer
an outpatient facility.
Dear Dr. Levens: How long does a breast
lift typically last? I’m 35 and am very saggy after nursing
4 children. If I have surgery now, will I need to have it again
when I’m 55? --AS
Dear AS: Several factors impact how
long any plastic surgery results will “last”. These
include the quality of the patient’s skin (especially its elasticity),
and significant changes in the patient’s weight over a period
of time. If you have a breast lift only, without adding the
weight of implants, the lift may last longer. Over the period of 20
years that you’re asking about, your breasts will begin to sag
again. Plastic surgery can correct existing problems, but can’t “stop
the clock” on aging. However, if you have a breast lift at 35, you
will look far better at 55 than if you hadn’t had it.
Dr. Levens: Is there any way to get rid of
the droopy, hanging skin on my upper arms and thighs, short of surgery? ---VT
Dear VT: Sorry, no. Non-invasive techniques
which claim to shrink skin can sometimes produce modest results after
multiple treatments, but significant excess skin can only be removed
by surgery.
Dr. Levens is a Board-certified plastic surgeon.
He has served as Vice Chief of Staff and
Chief of Surgery at Coral SpringsMedicalCenter.His
column appears monthly. Send questions to Cosmetic
Surgery Today, 1725 University Dr., Suite 440, Coral
Springs, 33071 or email info@DrLevens.com.
Interested in seeing past questions? Please
see our archived Q
& A section.
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Dr. Levens has been providing plastic, cosmetic
and reconstructive surgery procedures for patients in Boca Raton,
Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Davie, Delray Beach,
Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Lauderhill, Margate, Miami, North Lauderdale,
Parkland, Plantation, Sunrise, Tamarac, West Palm Beach, Wellington,
Weston and throughout South Florida since 1989.
