December 19, 2011

Dear Dr. G.,
I wanted to say THANK YOU so much! I, as well as my family, are so ecstatic about the results of surgery! If I had the choice to do it again, I would say “yes” a million times over with you and your wonderful staff.

I also wanted to say that I never once felt like I had to be in & out with you or your staff. You all have made me feel so comfy, like family! I am so very blessed to have all of you in my life, because not only are you all the very best doctor’s office in the world, but I feel like I have extended my family with all the amazing people in your office!

I also do want to say thank you to Mary (the Patient Care Coordinator) for taking her time with me (six months of “I’ll set a date” calls) and for easing me on my journey and path for surgery! And thank you to my Gudrun! I could not have done it without her calming personality (since I am such a busy body … lol). Her demeanor is by far so wonderful and amazing, as well as every other nurse that I met along the way!

I want to say thank you to you again! We were talking at dinner the other night with the family and said, “You are just like Santa, since you continue to give all year long! But then again, you are like Jesus, working one miracle at a time.” LOL!!!

We want to say thank you so much. Merry Christmas and many blessings for a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,
K.

PS: You Rock!

Only one could win, however, and so we are proud to announce that the winner of our $2,500 donation is…

Helen Woodward Animal Center

And the winner of the $250 gift card is…

Linda Shreve ! Check your email; we’ve notified you with an email message.*

Our final vote counts were:

1. Helen Woodward Animal Center: 1,383
2. Ronald McDonald House San Diego: 1,054
3. San Diego Rescue Mission: 630

Do you know of a charity you’d like us to feature in a future contest? Please leave a shout out about them in a comment.

* If, for some reason, we are not able to get in touch with the gift card winner within 24 hours, we’ll draw a new name and contact that new potential winner. This fallback option just applies to the gift card; the winner of the charity donation is Helen Woodward Animal Center. Thanks for your help and support!

Actual La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre patient

Living in Southern California certainly has its perks. One of the biggest is that we can spend almost all our free time in tank tops, shorts, or bathing suits. Wearing body-conscious clothing year-round makes plastic surgery, breast augmentation in particular, popular in San Diego.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 296,000 breast augmentation procedures were completed nationwide in 2010—in fact, it’s the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure for women.

Breast augmentation San Diego: Let’s take a look at 10 reasons why it is so popular.

1. Easier to shop for and wear clothes. Bathing suits and tops will fit better, and you’ll look better too.
2. Greater self-confidence. Many women feel more confident after improving the appearance of their breasts. Studies by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery confirm that breast augmentation sparks renewed self-confidence.
3. Rapid results. While you need time to recover from breast augmentation, you’ll notice rapid and obvious changes to your breasts right away. Within about a month, you will be shopping for new lingerie and bathing suits.
4. Restoring breast volume. If you’ve lost breast volume due to pregnancy or weight loss, breast augmentation can help you restore breast volume and firmness. Your surgeon may recommend a breast lift done at the same time.
5. Procedure satisfaction. After improving their appearance through plastic surgery, San Diego women report increased self-esteem and satisfaction with their procedure. The fact that our San Diego board certified plastic surgeons have performed so many breast augmentation procedures over the past 23+ years is a testament to the level of satisfaction our patients get from this procedure.
6. Long-lasting results. The results of your breast augmentation will be long-lasting, reports the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The newest generation of breast implants are more durable than ever before.
7. More beautiful aging breasts. Like pregnancy, aging can cause your breasts to lose volume. Breast augmentation can “fill out” aging breasts, giving them a more youthful appearance.
8. Breasts that feel natural. Our surgeons offer breast augmentation with Memory Gel®, the latest version of silicone gel-filled breast implants, which make your augmented breasts feel more natural. Women who have had saline implants for years are changing to silicone gel breast implants for their more natural feel.
9. Balancing breast size. For women who have one breast that is noticeably smaller than the other, breast augmentation can provide a more proportional, symmetrical look.
10. Look better without clothes. While San Diego breast enlargement certainly helps you look better in clothes, it can also make you look better in the buff too!

All-in-all, by choosing breast augmentation, you may find that you have more confidence and simply just feel better about yourself. Is it any wonder that it is such a popular procedure?

In this season of giving, the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre wants to help our local community. We will donate $2,500 to a local charity. We just can’t decide which one!

Enter the contest: http://www.ljcsc.com/charity The contest winner will be announced on Jan 10th, 2012.

You get to decide which charity gets the money!

We have narrowed the recipient list to three lucky charities, all local to the San Diego area:

• Helen Woodward Animal Center
• Ronald McDonald House San Diego
• San Diego Rescue Mission

As an extra incentive:

When you cast your vote, you are automatically entered into a drawing to win a $250 VISA gift card (good wherever VISA is accepted).

You can enter only once. Find out more about the charities below and then go to the contest page to vote. You also have the opportunity to provide the e-mail addresses* of up to two friends to earn two extra votes in the contest.

*We will never spam you or your friends. Your friends will receive a single e-mail notifying them of the contest so they can enter, too.

Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center is not just another no-kill animal shelter; it is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to saving animal lives while enriching people’s lives. For over 30 years, the Center has provided not only humane care and adoption services for orphaned animals, but also animal-centered educational and therapeutic programs for people. In addition, they teach organizations around the world how to promote their humane animal adoption programs and stop the needless animal deaths.
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Ronald McDonald House San Diego

When a child is hospitalized, the day-to-day lives of parents and siblings are thrown into chaos. Everyday needs like meals, showers, sleep, and laundry can fall by the wayside. Ronald McDonald House Charities® of San Diego provides a home-away-from-home for those families with a child who has been admitted to a local hospital for a serious, often life-threatening illness or injury. The organization’s Family Care Center in San Diego makes life easier for the entire family so they can deal with the child’s medical crisis.
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San Diego Rescue Mission

Began in 1954, the San Diego Rescue Mission spreads the good news of salvation through Christ by serving the needs of the poor, abused, addicted, and homeless. SDRM believes in the inherent worth of every homeless man, woman, and child, and strives to improve the quality of their lives. Their rehabilitation and discipleship programs achieve positive, lasting change that creates better lives for those they serve, as well as for their families and the community as a whole.
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This is truly a win/win contest: your favorite charity gets closer to a big donation and you get a chance to win $250! Help LJCSC give to a worthy cause this holiday season: vote in our contest and maybe you’ll find something special in your stocking!

If you think about it, looking good and feeling good are two sides of the same coin. You’ve heard of a person having “that healthy glow?” Nature, however, doesn’t always grant an ideal figure in exchange for healthy habits. Sometimes, nature needs some help.

Do the diet first and cultivate good habits

Many San Diegans make natural, healthy choices, including what they eat. At LJCSC, we encourage all of our patients to maintain a health-conscious lifestyle. A nutritious diet—along with healthful habits and regular exercise—can shed those extra pounds and keep them off. That’s the theory, anyway.

For some, the reality is often different. You may find that, no matter how hard you try, you can’t change some contours of your body. Is it simple genetics or those times chocolate cake proved irresistible?

Regardless of the reason, nature doesn’t have to win. San Diego liposuction has become a safe choice for men and women looking to rid themselves of stubborn fat deposits. If you are close to your ideal weight, liposuction can sculpt your body to give you the finishing touches on the look you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Learn about liposuction surgery

Liposuction is not a method for weight loss, nor can it achieve the dramatic results of a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). It is also not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise. What it can do is effectively redefine your body’s natural curves. Liposuction is sometimes called liposculpture because of its contour-enhancing capabilities.

A popular procedure with both men and women, liposuction is commonly performed on the stomach, hips, or thighs, but can be performed on almost any part of your body plagued by unwanted fat deposits, from your neck to your arms to your ankles. Review your surgeon’s before and after photos to understand what changes are possible.

Liposuction permanently changes the contours of the treated areas. Your body has a fixed number of fat cells—once removed, your body does not replace them. You can still gain the weight back, but your results may encourage you to maintain your shape with a healthful diet and regular exercise. Now you can let nature work for you instead of against you.

The recovery time for this procedure is reasonable. You can expect a few days of discomfort, which is controlled with medication. Some swelling lasts longer—the final results are visible in two to three months. Our patients tell us that the reasonable period of downtime they experience with liposuction is well worth it.

A few words of caution

The immense popularity of liposuction has led many inadequately trained doctors to offer the procedure. A less qualified surgeon may endanger your safety by using unsuitable anesthesia or by operating in an inadequate environment. Be sure to put your health and safety first—choose a board certified plastic surgeon. When considering liposuction in San Diego, know that the plastic surgeons at the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre are all board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They are experienced and considerate, and put your safety first. Come in for a free consultation.

Giving birth to two children within 15 months of each other changed Lisa’s shape. She recalls “living in a sports bra 24/7” and feeling out of place at the pool. Her biggest challenge was the significant transformation in the shape and size of her breasts, causing her to “feel self-conscious and embarrassed.” She finally decided to do something about it.

Based on a friend’s “amazing” surgical results, Lisa scheduled a consultation with Michael Roark, MD,at the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre to discuss a breast lift procedure. While her friend’s recommendation mattered, Lisa wanted a surgeon who really listened. She had to be sure she and Dr. Roark could communicate effectively. She wanted him to understand what she hoped to achieve, and she needed to confirm the results she imagined were both possible and likely. During her initial visit with Dr. Roark, Lisa immediately felt they were in sync. “We were on the same page from Day 1. There was no reason to see anyone else.”

Other important factors for Lisa were the knowledge and experience of her surgeon. In addition to feeling confident and comfortable with Dr. Roark, Lisa had other standards that a practice needed to live up to her expectations:

• The quality of care—a knowledgeable & warm staff
• Board certified anesthesiologists and a facility with suitable accreditation
• A reputation for excellence over many years

“I was putting my life in this doctor’s hands. I felt very strongly to [be able to] have communication with him and his staff before and after.” LJCSC and Dr. Roark satisfied all her requirements. Moreover, she loved Dr. Roark’s “caring personality” She also enjoyed being treated like an equal—a person, not just a patient.“On one occasion, I had brought my baby to one check-up appointment. He was patient and sweet with her, and that showed me his true character.”

One of the more memorable moments during Lisa’s surgical experience was waking up in the recovery room and the nurses allowing her to hold her baby. To her, this was a key part of her recovery process. When Lisa remembers this, she says, “I was most excited to see her smiling face that I think it made my recovery go by quicker.”

Looking back on her experience at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, Lisa wouldn’t change a thing. “I still feel happy with my results, and my confidence and self-esteem are so much better today. I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.” They fulfilled my needs, and in the end, I would go back for future needs … no question.”

She feels she formed a genuine relationship with Dr. Roark and his nurses. On her return visits to the Centre, Lisa observed, “It almost feels like home, starting at the front desk—everyone is so nice and makes you feel welcome.”

She attributes a great deal of her positive experience to the fact that she felt very prepared and educated about what to expect—from the risks involved to the feelings of anxiety to the recovery process. “I would say go in with a positive and realistic attitude, and in the end, you will get that as your result.” Thanks Lisa, great advice!

The important thing to remember is that this is not your mother’s, sister’s, or best friend’s life. It’s yours. You are the only person who can decide what’s best for you, so embrace whatever it is that gives you the positive self-image and self-confidence you desire.

If you believe that breast augmentation is the answer for you, give yourself time to become certain. Carefully weigh your reasons for considering San Diego plastic surgery. Be honest—do you want to do it because you think your boyfriend (or husband) would like it? Or because it could impress your friends or co-workers? While such motivations are understandable, don’t make the decision for them; make it for yourself! Make the choice you think will make you happiest.

Know Your Reasons

Breast augmentation will not change your life. It will not solve all your problems or transform who you are at your core. What breast surgery might do is give you some new-found confidence that will allow your inner beauty to shine through more brightly than ever.

Whether you are a breast cancer survivor who is eager to erase some of the scars from your hard-won battle or simply a woman who would like to look as beautiful on the outside as you feel on the inside, know this: as long as you have chosen breast surgery for yourself and not for anyone else, you have made the right decision. Take pride in the fact that you have taken positive steps to improve yourself and enhance your self-esteem.

Trust Yourself

With that realization and with the confidence that San Diego breast enlargement is the best choice for you, you are ready to discuss your decision with the loved ones in your life. After all, you have reached a place of peace and self-assurance, and you want to share your decision with the ones you love.

Explain to your family and friends why you believe this plastic surgery procedure will improve your self-confidence. Patiently describe what you hope to accomplish. No matter how eloquent you are, though, be prepared for the likelihood that not everyone will support your decision. While some will certainly understand, accept that you don’t need everyone’s approval in order to find happiness and fulfillment in your decision.

It’s important to maintain a positive state of mind as you prepare for (and recover from) the surgery. While you’re healing, surround yourself with those who support your decision. Then, after you’ve healed from your breast augmentation plastic surgery procedure, display your new self-confidence with style! Show them what a positive decision you’ve made.

Congratulations—the hard part is over. Now comes the easy, but no less important, part: enjoying and protecting your results.

Here are some tips to help you keep your results looking great for years to come:

1. Follow your doctor’s instructions! Regardless which procedure you had, your LJCSC plastic surgeon provided you with post-op guidelines and instructions. Follow them to the letter; they are based on years of experience. These guidelines are designed to promote healing and to prevent anything that may impact your results.
2. Limit your exposure to sunlight. Scars take at least one year to fade completely. During this time, you must protect them from the sun. A good deal of sunlight can reach the skin even through a bathing suit. Wear sunscreen with a skin-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 at all times when you are outside.
3. Take care of your body. Preserving your plastic surgery results can be great motivation for a healthy lifestyle change. Eat nutritious meals. Exercise regularly. The healthier you are, the better you’ll feel, and the longer your results will last.
4. Learn about skin care. While beauty is more than skin deep, it doesn’t mean you can ignore your skin. Proper skin care maximizes the results of your surgery. Glowing skin is a sign of health—and youth. Find out about our SkinMedica Skin Care products.
5. Don’t overdo your exercise program. If you love to exercise, skipping workouts during the healing process can be one of the most difficult parts of plastic surgery. Once you’ve been given the doctor’s OK to resume normal activities, make a gradual transition back into your full exercise routine. This is not the time to train for a marathon. Give your body plenty of time to heal.
6. Get regular massages. While healing, you may have been encouraged to get lymphatic massage. Now that you’ve healed, you may want to continue with massages to help your circulation, muscle tone, or just to de-stress … which in turn can increase your longevity.

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If you’ve been considering breast augmentation surgery, one of your first questions may be whether or not breast implants are permanent. While many believe that breast implants last forever, the fact is—although they do have a long lifespan—they are not considered lifetime devices

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons: “You will likely [have to] undergo implant removal with or without replacement over the course of your life. Whether you are undergoing augmentation or reconstruction, be aware that breast implantation may not be a one-time surgery.”

Why Don’t They Last Forever?

Women with breast implants usually have surgery again to correct changes due to aging, to reflect a lifestyle change, or to insert a different size or type of implant.

Some women experience complications—such as capsular contracture or infection—that require implant replacement or removal.

Another possible reason for a second operation is unacceptable appearance. Cosmetic issues can include asymmetry, unnatural shape, unsatisfactory size, or rippling of the breast implants. This highlights how important it is to choose a fully qualified, experienced plastic surgeon San Diego. We stand by the past results, testimonials, and artistry of our surgeons.

How Long Do Implants Last?

No one can predict how long an implant will last because of the many factors involved, but plastic surgeons expect a 10– to 15–year lifespan. Some implants have been reported to last as long as 30 years. The older they get, the more likely that at least one will develop a problem.

It’s easy to tell if a saline implant has leaked—your body absorbs the saline solution, leaving the breast noticeably smaller. The newest generation of silicone gel implants, often called “Cohesive Gel” or “Gummy Bear” implants, are designed to withstand damage without leaking. They hold their shape and eliminate any risk of silicone leakage.

What You Can Do

You should have annual check-ups. Mammograms are recommended for women with older silicone implants. If you discover an implant has a problem, you have the option of replacing it or removing it.

Fortunately, implant manufacturers like Mentor (the implants we use at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre) offer warranty programs. In the event that a saline implant deflates or a silicone implant ruptures, the manufacturer will replace the implant free of charge for the rest of your life.

To improve your chances for a favorable outcome, find a plastic surgeon whose past work inspires confidence. Get to know the surgeon and talk frankly about your goals. The time to do all this is at your consultation, when you can also “test-drive” different implant sizes with LJCSC’s Curves Connection.