Last month I was running through my morning routine and took one last look in the mirror to make sure I didn’t have anything in my teeth before my 9:00 meeting. What I saw astonished me. When did I start looking so old and why didn’t my husband tell me?! Many of us have had these moments when the ideal image of ourselves as the nubile 22-year-old co-ed is shattered. “I may be 40-ish, but I’m certainly not taking this lying down,” I said. I did my homework and decided to consult with Houston plastic surgeon, Leo Lapuerta, M.D. to find out what I could do to start looking the age I feel. I’d had friends who had gone the route of Botox and dermal fillers, but I wanted something more permanent and long lasting. Dr. Lapuerta advised that a face lift would address my concerns such as loss of tone in the face, the slack jaw-line and the deep set wrinkles. I even decided to add on an eyelid lift for an extra-fresh look. After my surgery, I hid out hoping no one would discover my secret. Of course, I told my best gal pals, but what about colleagues and strangers? Could they tell? Did I have a scarlet F for facelift embroidered on my blouse? When I finally went out of the house, I realized that what did it matter if people knew I had a facelift? It’s my business. But, what I learned was that with good plastic surgery, there is no drastic change; rather, the patient looks like a more rested, younger version of him/herself. That’s exactly what I got with my experience from Dr. Lapuerta, and I’ll be forever grateful. What you tell people about your cosmetic surgery experience is up to you, but this Houston gal is going with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!
Bras for Breast Augmentation – A New Market Niche
Houston plastic surgeon, Leo Lapuerta, M.D., is a renowned breast surgeon who has performed countless breast augmentation procedures. The before & after photo gallery shows the impeccable results. After breast augmentation surgery, women find that the bras they wore before are no longer a good fit – usually due to increase in cup size. While the patient may have been a 30 C before surgery, she might be a 30D or DD thereafter. Some Houston women report having a difficult time after breast augmentation surgery finding bras that are the right size, comfortable, and show off their new breasts. For example, some women say that it can be difficult to find a 30DD bra, and even if they can, it covers up the sexy new breasts they want to show off. No one who has voluptuous new breasts wants to wear their grandmother’s bra. TV celebrity Jessica Wright recently launched her own lingerie line designed especially for women who have undergone breast enlargement through surgical augmentation. The line of bras and panties is designed to be comfortable, supportive and just as attractive as the woman’s breasts. If you have been considering breast augmentation, consult with board certified plastic surgeon Leo Lapuerta, and let him put his 20+ years of experience to work for the perfect version of your breasts.
Baby Boomers Embrace Cosmetic Surgery
The Baby Boomers are coming of age – becoming senior citizens that is! Just because they can get cheap tickets to movies and discounts at Luby’s, don’t expect them to grow old without a fight! The fact is that Baby Boomers are living longer and remaining active longer, but they’re not looking as young as they feel. Trends show that many are opting for both surgical and non-surgical procedures such as facelifts, neck lifts, injectables like Botox, Restylane, and Juvederm. Houston plastic surgeon, Dr. Leo Lapuerta, routinely sees such patients. Lapuerta advises that a facelift is the most effective method for reducing fine lines and wrinkles because it actually repositions the facial skin and muscles. Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm are very effective and help in reducing the appearance of light wrinkles, but they are not permanent and therefore cannot correct deep set wrinkles in the same way as a facelift. If you’re an active Boomer who wants to look as vibrant as you feel, then contact Dr. Leo Lapuerta. He and his knowledgeable office professionals can help you decide on the best treatment to restore the real you.
Cosmetic Surgery – Yes, There’s an App for That
The Internet has changed the way we work, conduct business across the globe, purchase goods, and now apparently, how we shop for cosmetic surgery and all of this can be done from a smart phone. Apple recently approved an iPhone app called BuildMyBod. The purpose of the application is for patients to research and compare pricing for various procedures in their geographic area, and contact participating plastic surgeons to schedule appointments. While this may sound like a good idea, the app only has 48 reviews and 2.5 out of 5.0 stars. Houston plastic surgeon, Dr. Leo Lapuerta, wants his prospective patients and patients to do their homework to become knowledgeable about procedures such as breast augmentation and liposuction. In fact, Dr. Lapuerta appears on local Houston news to help do just that. Though the Internet and consumer technology helps people obtain information about plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures, there is a major component missing – the one-on-one interaction between the patient and physician. Dr. Lapuerta believes that each patient is an individual with his/her own special needs. Neither plastic surgery is a “drive through one-size-fits-all” procedure. If you’re doing some preliminary research for a procedure such as breast augmentation, have fun with the free iPhone apps, but when it comes time to get serious and determine what procedure and technique is best for you as an individual, contact Dr. Leo Lapuerta’s office to schedule an appointment. Dr. Lapuerta has over 20 years experience delivering outstanding results to his patients.
What to Expect from Otoplasty
After you and Dr. Lapuerta have consulted and agree that otoplasty (ear surgery) is right for you or your child, the procedure is generally performed on an outpatient basis at the Plastic Surgery Institute of Southeast Texas. During surgery, a general anesthetic is administered by a physician anesthesiologist, and Dr. Lapuerta is assisted by a licensed surgical technician and/or registered nurse. During surgery, and incision is made in the back of the ear, and this exposes cartilage. The cartilage is either sculpted or removed so that the ears have a more natural looking fold. It’s common for non-removable sutures to be used to hold the new shape of the ear. The recovery is fairly minimal from this procedure. Dr. Lapuerta has performed hundreds of plastic surgery procedures, and the before & after photo gallery demonstrates his success with otoplasty. Contact the Houston office of plastic surgeon, Leo Lapuerta, M.D. to learn more about this procedure.
Otoplasty – Not Just for Dumbo
Otoplasty is plastic surgery designed to correct problems with the ears such as: position, shape, proportion, defect at birth, or defect from an accident. Dumbo, the adorable Disney elephant, was severely teased for his overly large ears, but they eventually became very useful. Unless you’re a flying elephant, overly large or misshapen ears are neither aesthetically pleasing nor functional for you. If you are looking to correct your ears or your child’s ears, then Dr. Leo Lapuerta, a board certified facial plastic surgeon in Houston can help. In children, Dr. Lapuerta performs ear surgery after the cartilage in their ears is stable, which is generally between 4 and 5 years of age, but Dr. Lapuerta will carefully examine pediatric patients to make an individual assessment. Ear surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. For more information on otoplasty (ear surgery) for yourself or your child, contact Dr. Lapuerta’s office today to set an appointment.
Do Your Thighs Say “NO!” to Shorts or Swimsuits?
Over the long, hot Houston summer most of us survive by wearing shorts and bathing suits when we don’t have to be in business attire. The downside is our thighs are visible for the entire world to see. If the skin on your thighs lacks tone and appears dimpled, then a thigh lift might be the procedure for you. This procedure is designed to reshape the thighs by reducing excess skin and fat so that the thighs appear better proportioned and smoother. Areas that can be treated are the hips, inner thigh, and the medial thigh. A thigh lift is performed under either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, and your surgeon will determine which is best for you. Usually the incisions are made in areas that are easily covered by clothing and swimwear. Following surgery, the patient may need to wear a compression garment for a short period of time. Patients should expect some bruising and minor discomfort following the procedure, but the results will be noticeable immediately after surgery. Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Leo Lapuerta has over 20 years experience treating patients and performing thigh lift procedures. He is also board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. For more information on thigh lift or body lift procedures, contact Dr. Lapuerta’s caring and professional staff to schedule an appointment. Don’t make your thighs scream “No! when it comes to shorts and bathing suits.
Tumescent Liposuction – What is It?
When asking people about their perception of liposuction, we found that many associate this cosmetic procedure with a very invasive process causing lots of pain and bruising post-operative. These people would be right if we were talking about dry liposuction, which was the only option prior to 1985. It’s amazing what can happen with advancements in cosmetic surgery in just 25 years! One of the most popular techniques used in Dr. Leo Lapuerta’s office is called tumescent liposuction because it reduces blood loss, tissue trauma, and provides a smoother surface area. The word tumescent means swollen or firm. This process involves Dr. Lapuerta injecting local anesthesia and saline into the area(s) to be treated. Thereafter, the fatty tissue rises to the surface and becomes firm so that Dr. Lapuerta can remove the fatty tissue without distressing the surrounding tissue. Dr. Lapuerta is a triple board certified plastic and cosmetic surgeon in the Houston area who has more than 20 years of experience. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Lapuerta’s professional office staff today.
Liposuction for the Chin
Whether you’ve got a double chin, triple chin, or a sagging chin, it’s not good for your profile or your overall image. So, what’s a person to do since exercising away loose skin and fat from the chin is not an effective solution? If this description sounds like you, then consider having liposuction for your chin. When people think of liposuction, they usually envision fat taken from the thighs, abdomen and buttocks, but fat can be removed from delicate areas of the face as well. Fat is removed with a small cannula, and the end result is tighter skin and removal of fat so that the jaw line is cleanly defined. A complimentary procedure often performed with liposuction around the chin is a neck lift. Before you decide to have plastic surgery, be sure to research your procedure and Houston area plastic surgeons before making a commitment. Dr. Leo Lapuerta is triple board certified and has performed numerous plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures to help his patients put their best face forward. For more information, contact Dr. Leo Lapuerta’s office to schedule an appointment.
The Benefits of Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure used to contour the body by removing deposits of fat and cellulite from between the skin and muscle. Areas where people commonly deposit this annoying excess fat include the abdomen, buttocks, hips, upper arms, back, medial thigh, and even the knee. The ideal candidate for liposuction is someone who employs a healthy exercise routine and eats a balanced diet. Liposuction is not meant to be a cure for obesity, though some obese patients have benefited tremendously from the procedure. The results following liposuction are immediately noticeable and long lasting so long as the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle. Many patients are amazed because they are able to wear clothes that have been too tight for years (like those skinny jeans from college), or they feel comfortable sporting a bikini for the first time since the age of 19. Houston plastic surgeon, Dr. Leo Lapuerta, has performed countless liposuction procedures as evidenced by his patient before and after photo gallery, and he has over 20 years of experience in plastic and cosmetic surgery. Additionally, Dr. Lapuerta uses the Tumescent liposuction procedure. For more information on a liposuction procedure, contact his office today for an appointment.
