Houston Tummy Tuck

Tummy Tuck, Tummy Tuck, Tummy Tuck.... What Do You Need to Know about Tummy Tuck?

(Photograph courtesy of twentyythreex.tumblr.com)

 What is the Perfect Body? 

• —Having an hour-glass figure is considered to be extremely attractive by men throughout human history.
  

  The hour-glass figure is the equivalent of having a 36-inch hips and a 23-inch waist.
  The perfect hip-to-waist ratio (hour-glass figure) is the best way to assess women to be fertile.  Universally, men find "fertile women" to be attractive.

The "Belly Button" or Umbilicoplasty Involved in a Tummy Tuck

• A tummy tuck procedure almost always involves repositioning of your belly button (procedure is called umbilicoplasty.)The only time when the umbilicus is not repositioned is when your plastic surgeon performs a mini-tummy tuck, which has very limited indications (very few are candidates for a mini-tummy tuck.)There are several methods of doing an umbilicoplasty performed by different plastic surgeons.

The Ideal "Belly Button" or Umbilicus

• Although the ideal shape of the "belly button" has been debated, studies have shown that in a young thin female, the umbilicus tends to have a small, vertically oriented umbilicus.
• As the young attractive woman ages, the hooding of the "belly button" and deepening of the stalk develops.
• With weight gain and after pregnancy, the umbilicus widens and deepens resulting to an unattractive "belly button."
• A wide umbilicus and the presence of an outward protrusion called an "outie" are considered to be unappealing.
• An ideal "belly button" according to studies of young women with an attractive abdomen shows desirable characteristics that is small in size, vertically oriented, and the presence of a superior hood.

Before & After Photos of a Tummy Tuck Procedure with VASER Liposculpture performed by Emmanuel De La Cruz MD, PLLC

Pregnancy and Abdominoplasty

• —Some of the benefits of abdominoplasty may be reduced or eliminated by pregnancy. 
  Thus it is wise to postpone the procedure if a pregnancy is anticipated in the near future.

Stay tuned for more information about Tummy Tuck....

Emmanuel De La Cruz MD, PLLC

References:

Craig et al.   In search of the ideal female umbilicus. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 105(1) Jan" 389-392, 2000.

El-Sharkawy, etl al. A study of the Aesthetic Patterns of the umbilicus among Egyptians with a ew Technique for Umbilical Reconstruction de Novo.

De La Cruz, et al.  The Celtic-Cross Technique for Immediate Umbilical Reconstruction.  Journal of Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery.

Baroudi R. Umbilicoplasty. Clinics of PLastic Surgery. 2 (3) July: 431-48, 1975.

Hodgkinson DJ.  Umbilicoplasty: Conversion of a "ouie" to "inneie".  Aesthetic Plastic Surgery7(4):221-2, 1983.

The Perfect Breast | Houston Breast Augmentation

Engineering the Perfect Breasts

In today's society, women are subconsciously bombarded with images of larger breasts overflowing out of low-cut dresses.  These images are reflected from magazines, reality TV shows and celebrities with enlarged breasts.  Because of our society's infatuation with large breasts, the tendency toward favoring larger breast volume with breast augmentation may result to a deviation from the natural shape of the breasts.  When the breast is excessively augmented with breast implants, the tear drop shape of the breast becomes more round which is not harmonious and looks unnatural.  But then again, the ideal breast is different for every woman.

Photograph Courtesy of http://celebrity-stuff.popsugar.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
               

Breast Symmetry
Ideally the perfect breasts would be symmetric.  Although this seldom comes to mind, perfect breasts aren't what one would expect. One study showed that breast asymmetry in women is a commonality amongst the population. Nearly 80 % of women have asymmetric breasts.  Breast asymmetry is measured by several parameters, such as nipple areolar complex size & position, breast size/breast mound volume, breast/chest wall shape, degree of ptosis (sagging), and inframammary fold location. With this in mind, when one seeks a breast augmentation, any subtle difference of the breast may become more obvious after surgery.

What is the Ideal Breast Shape?

• The nipple should be pointed outwards and parallel to the ground.
• The upper pole of the breast should be full and not "deflated" as found in a "swooping breast."  The upper pole of the breast typically becomes "deflated" with aging, pregnancy or even with significant weight loss as seen in athletic women.
•  The lower pole of the breast should be fuller than the upper pole of the breast.  The lower pole should also have a round shape.
• The upper pole should have a slope from the upper chest down to the level of the nipple. 

(Photograph Courtesy of MedIndia.net)

Breast Ratio (Photograph Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)

Ideal Breast Dimension

• According to a recent British Study by Dr. Malluci, the proportion of the upper to the lower pole should have a 45:55 ratio 
• The angulation of the nipple should be pointing upwards at a mean angle of 20° from the nipple meridian

• According to the study, the upper pole slope should be linear or slightly concave, and the lower pole should be convex.

With the advent and popularity of larger breasts, like Pamela Anderson in Baywatch, the perception of the perfect and ideal breasts have changed.  Mild to moderate fullness of the upper pole will produce a more youthful and more beautiful breasts as seen after a breast augmentation.  Excessive upper pole fullness due to an overly-sized breast implant will look unnatural, and thus will have an appearance of a more obvious "boob job."

Before & After Photos of Breast Augmentation using the Dual-Plane Technique performed by Emmanuel De La Cruz MD, PLLC. Natural slope achieved after breast augmentation.

With this in mind, what is the perfect breast?  The perception of the perfect breasts may vary from culture to culture and may vary individually.  The unnatural appearance of an overly-sized breast augmentation may be perceived as more beautiful.  Women who wants a "more natural look" may want the ideal "traditional" perfect breasts with a natural slope.  Regardless of what one perceives the perfect breasts to be, you should communicate with your plastic surgeon the ideal breast shape that you would want to achieve after your breast enlargement.

Taylor Swift recent Breast Augmentation? (Photo courtesy of Hollywoodlife.com)

Emmanuel De La Cruz MD, PLLC
Plastic Surgeon in The Woodlands

References:
Malluci, et al.  Concepts in Aesthetic breast dimensions: analysis of the ideal breast.  Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.  2012 Jan;65(1):8-16. Epub 2011 Aug 24.

Smith et al.  Breast volume and anthropomorphic measurements: normal values.  Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.  1986. 78(3):331-335
Stark et al. Breast asymmetry: An objective analysis of posteperative results. European Journal of Plastic Surgery. 1991; 147: 173