In recent years, statistics have revealed a marked increase in the number of breast reduction surgeries being performed. Interestingly, of the nearly 47,000 breast reduction procedures performed in 2017, 26,000 of them were conducted as gynecomastia treatment. Men don’t like having breasts, and they should know that treatment can put an end to this problem for good.

The interest in male breast reduction is not new, though procedures have increased over 30% since the turn of the century. Clearly, more men are getting the treatment they need to feel better about their bodies. We think we may know why.

The Stigma has Decreased

It used to be that cosmetic surgery and aesthetic procedures were associated with the face that women want to look good for themselves and their mate. Men weren’t altogether left out of ever-expanding beauty trends, but they were largely overlooked. Because of the stigma that may have ridden along the line of “real men don’t get work done,” many men simply lived with their cosmetic concerns. Not anymore. Overall, the number of men getting treatments like Botox and facelifts has increased 23% just in the last 15 years. Not only that, they are talking about it. As men have become more open about their cosmetic treatments, they have paved the way for others to feel more comfortable attending to their aesthetic needs.

The Motivation has Increased

Gynecomastia is not a small problem. For men with excessive breast tissue, the emotional toll can be great. Breasts are a physical feature that many associate with obesity. A man only has breasts if he’s overweight. Not so. Men who are otherwise fit may still have enlarged glandular tissue beneath the breast that causes puffiness around the nipples. Gynecomastia of any degree can severely affect a man’s lifestyle and sense of self. Achieving the toned, masculine physique he envisions provides substantial benefits that extend far beyond the physical.

The Process is Simple

Gynecomastia treatment involving male breast reduction surgery does not have to be a complicated matter. Dr. Claytor has treated many men in the Philadelphia area with excellent results. The treatment process is personalized for each patient and requires much less downtime than many people assume. Most patients are able to resume light activity within a few days of their procedure.

Learn more about male breast reduction by contacting us at 610.527.4833.

In our office near Philadelphia, we consult with many women regarding breast augmentation surgery. Of the various questions that are commonly asked, one comes up quite frequently: “can my breast implants pop?” Yes. Breast implants can pop, or rupture, as we refer to it. Breast implant rupture is an uncommon occurrence, though. Furthermore, if an implant were to rupture, the problem is easy to correct.

Why would a breast implant rupture?

There are a few reasons why an implant may rupture or leak. The most common cause is capsular contracture. This complication from breast implant surgery involves the formation of scar tissue in the pocket that holds the implant. A bit of scar tissue is usual. In the case of severe capsular contracture, scar tissue becomes so tight that it presses against the implant. Capsular contracture could develop on one side or both, and it may occur with saline or with silicone implants.

Other reasons why breast implants may rupture include direct trauma to the breasts, such as may happen in an auto accident, and spontaneous rupture due to deterioration of the implant shell or defect. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, approximately 15 percent of patients with breast implants may experience a rupture.

What happens if a breast implant ruptures?

The evidence of a breast implant rupture or leak varies based on the type of implant a woman has. Saline implants are much more apparent in terms of deflation. If a saline implant ruptures, the non-toxic fluid that filled the sac gets absorbed by the body, and the size and shape of the affected breast will diminish noticeably. Treatment for a saline implant rupture may involve replacing the failed implant or removing the implants from both breasts.

Silicone implant ruptures are much subtler. It can take years for deflation to become noticeable. This could be because the thick, viscous silicone filling is slow-moving. When it does leak from its shell, it typically localizes within the tissue capsule that surrounds the implant. Treatment for a silicone implant rupture may involve removing all leaked silicone from the capsule and replacing the implant. It is also possible to have both implants removed.

Breast implant ruptures are rare and easily correctable. If you are considering the value of breast augmentation surgery and have questions or concerns about the outcome of this treatment, we invite you to contact us to schedule a consultation at 610.527.4833, where we can discuss the details of the procedure.

Facelift surgery has commonly been performed to help men and women look younger and feel better about their appearance. As much as this procedure has evolved over time, many people express a desire for a more conservative approach to a rejuvenated face. In our practice near Philadelphia, we can accommodate this with The PrecisionTX™ Knifeless Facelift.

If you wish to reduce the signs of aging on your face but don’t want to commit to a conventional face or neck lift, PrecisionTX may be an ideal solution. This laser treatment addresses the loss of elasticity and firmness that naturally occurs with age. As a result of laser targeting, superficial tissue tightens and the appearance of jowls, a double-chin, and “turkey neck” diminish.

What is PrecisionTX?

This non-surgical treatment isn’t just laser skin tightening. During treatment, the 1440 nm wavelength of YAG laser energy targets excess fat cells in a small treatment area. These liquefied cells can then be easily removed with gentle liposuction. After this initial fat-reducing phase of treatment, overlying skin is redraped and treated once again with the laser. The thermal and photomechanical effects incite an ongoing and robust increase in collagen production. As the skin is infused with healthy new collagen, it thickens and firms.

Improvements Achieved with the PrecisionTX Non-Surgical Lift

Learn also about our men’s facelifts »

Lines and Wrinkles

Adjustable settings in the laser treatment platform allow Dr. Claytor to accurately target facial contouring and wrinkles at varying depths. This is a genuinely customizable treatment.

Texture

Aging skin is collagen- and moisture-depleted. This typically results in a noticeable loss of elasticity and vibrancy. Dull skin looks rough and often exhibits large pores. By encouraging cellular turnover, PrecisionTX treatment gives the skin the refresher it needs to look radiant and smooth.

Loose Skin and Jowls

When loose skin and jowls are problematic, the PrecisionTX laser cannula can be inserted beneath the surface through the tiny incisions made for liposculpting the chin and neck. The direct contact between laser energy and subdermal tissues substantially increases collagen production in the areas where sagging is at its worst, such as the neck and jawline.

We have several ways to approach facial aging without surgery. To learn more about PrecisionTX and other non-surgical techniques, contact us at 610-527-4833.

Historically, anytime there was excess fat that a person wanted to have removed from the body, plastic surgeons would turn to liposuction. Over the years, the liposuction procedure has evolved in significant ways. Innovative uses of energy such as ultrasound and lasers have improved patient outcomes and expanded the reach of the liposuction procedure (not to mention the safety).

As streamlined as liposuction has become, there has continued to be a keen interest in non-surgical treatment options. Botox has made it possible for some people to put off that brow lift, for example. Injectables have also made it appear as though the need for liposuction may go away, at least in some cases. In our Bryn Mawr office, we routinely use Kybella to reduce double chin fat. However, liposuction is still an option. To choose the best approach for your desired outcome, it helps to know how your two options stack up against one another.

Liposuction for a More Contoured Neck and Jawline

Neck and chin liposuction has been performed using the SmartLipo technique for many years. This procedure has a proven track record of reliable outcomes. Because the laser portion of the procedure melts fat cells before they are removed with a cannula, the overall process usually takes less than an hour. Because heat is involved in dissolving fat cells, there is also the pleasant side effect of skin tightening. SmartLipo of the chin and neck is minimally invasive and requires little downtime. Some patients are advised to wear a compression garment for a few weeks to support healing tissue. The initial improvement in the chin area can usually be seen within a week or so, but swelling continues to dissipate over several weeks, so patience is necessary as recovery progresses.

Kybella for Double Chin Removal

Kybella treatment takes place in the office using local anesthetic such as numbing cream, if necessary. The process includes mapping the treatment area with a grid and marking the numerous injection sites. A few dozen injections may be required depending on the degree of fat removal desired and size of the neck and chin areas. The region that can be treated with this injectable solution lies between the crease of the chin and the “Adam’s Apple” on the neck. The area below the jowls can also be treated, but not the jowls themselves. The reason for these boundaries is that it is vital to keep Kybella away from structures such as blood vessels and nerves, which may be affected by the deoxycholic acid in the injectable.

Kybella or Liposuction: Which Do You Choose?

During your consultation in our Bryn Mawr office, we will observe your skin and listen to your concerns before recommending treatment. We will explain what can be achieved surgically as well as non-surgically, so your choice is made easier.

Learn more about the assistance available for reducing double chin fat: Contact us by calling 610-527-4833.

Over the past two decades, we have witnessed the development of multiple non-surgical treatments to fight the signs of aging. Because we have Botox and dermal fillers and lasers and light therapies and more, the idea of a facelift may seem outlandish. Not so. As many adults learn, facelift surgery is still the best way to achieve the long-term results that are desired. A Philadelphia facelift can restore a youthful appearance without disrupting natural features. To know if a facelift is right for you, it is important to become familiar with the finite details of this procedure.

What You Should Know About Facelifts

• Facelift surgery doesn’t eliminate all wrinkles. A facelift focuses on the lower face and neck. It does not address the lines and creases that may develop around the eyes. A facelift also will not lift the brow. What patients do notice after this procedure is that the lines and creases around their nose and mouth are gone, and so are their jowls.
• A facelift doesn’t restore volume. Recent research has taught plastic surgeons that tightening the skin is only one of the valuable aspects of a facelift. While we reposition tissue that has drooped over bony structure during facelift surgery, this does not bring back the full extent of volume. To achieve optimal results, we often complement the facelift technique with volume replacement using fat or fillers.
• Effects last for years. A facelift is an investment that offers lasting rewards. The only caveat is that you need to take good care of your body and skin. Sun exposure without the protection of sunscreen will cause your face to age more quickly even after a facelift. So will smoking. It is possible for a facelift to take ten or more years off the face and for those results to last ten years or more. Maximize the return on your investment with quality skin care and healthy lifestyle habits.

Schedule a Consultation

The techniques involved in Philadelphia facelift surgery focus on restoring the proper position of tissue to reduce the signs of aging. The results of our efforts look like you, only younger. We offer facelifts for women and facelifts for men. To learn more about how a facelift can help you feel better in your skin, contact our Bryn Mawr office at (610) 527-4833.

Whether it is for the first time or the fifth, becoming a mother is a powerfully meaningful experience. Anytime a child is birthed into a family; there are bound to be some big changes ahead. Interestingly, the small and subtle changes to a woman’s body may become even more glaringly obvious to her than the significant ways in which life has been transformed. There is no ignoring the fact that pregnancy and childbirth affect the body.

There is also no reason to overlook the frustration a woman may feel about her appearance. It is possible – and entirely reasonable – to feel both grateful about being a mother and disappointed in the way the body looks.

If you are in this boat, it’s time to sail on over to our Philadelphia area office to discuss what a mommy makeover can do for you. But first, let’s talk about a few particular items of interest.

1. A mommy makeover is a fraction of a whole. The procedures involved in a mommy makeover are intended to achieve specific goals. One may lift and shape the breasts; another may remove stubborn fat from a stomach pooch, the buttocks, or the thighs. As beneficial as each technique is, the makeover process is only a complement to healthy living. For a woman to optimize her mommy makeover, we suggest that a diet and exercise routine be well-established before surgery. This way, the body is faster to recover and easier to maintain for many years.
2. Beauty sleep is crucial. Mommy makeovers are no joke. The series of surgical techniques involved in this process creates an intense need for rest. Moms should prepare for at least one week of feeling pretty depleted. Like bedrest depleted. After the first week, physical movement will gradually become more comfortable. This can feel like a slow process. Emotional preparation is as necessary as the physical preparation for surgery. Even the best-prepared patients can experience mood swings. Make sure to get plenty of help at home so your primary focus can be where it belongs: on your recovery.
3. Future pregnancies are not forbidden. Because doctors recommend that patients wait until they are finished having children to undergo their mommy makeover, there is a misconception that pregnancy after a collection of surgeries may be unhealthy or unsafe. The treatments involved in a mommy makeover do not inhibit a woman from carrying a child. Future pregnancies may, however, degrade the results of a mommy makeover.

Discover what a mommy makeover can do for you. Call 610-527-4833.

Body contouring and facial rejuvenation procedures have become popular across all age groups. However, the cosmetic concerns that a person faces do change with age. Whatever those concerns are and whatever age you happen to be, we realize that a desire to improve something about appearance can create a chronic sensation of self-consciousness. We prioritize hearing each of our patients and developing a customized approach to help them resolve what is troubling them about their aesthetic. Here, we discuss some of the common complaints of varying age groups.

Children and Teens

Ear pinning is the only cosmetic plastic surgery procedure that is commonly performed before adulthood. One reason that doctors encourage early treatment for ear protrusion is that surgery is easier to conduct when cartilage is softer. The ears are one of the only physical aspects of the body that reaches maturation in childhood. Otoplasty during childhood is also beneficial for the patient’s emotional well-being. In some instances, such as deformity or breathing problems, rhinoplasty may be performed during childhood.

Twenty-Somethings

The twenties may just be the decade of life during which appearance is relatively stable. No apparent signs of aging have developed at this point (all degradation is happening below the surface). The common complaints expressed by patients in their twenties typically revolve around breast size and shape, nose size and shape, and sometimes excess body fat. Many twenty-somethings are now seeking preventive treatment with Botox to postpone the onset of lines and wrinkles.

Thirty-Somethings

By the time adults reach their thirties, the face and body may have begun to change to the point of concern. Weight fluctuations and the effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding lead many women to seek some type of body contouring, such as abdominoplasty or breast augmentation. During this decade, the early signs of facial aging are also commonly treated with injectables like Botox and dermal fillers.

Forty-,Fifty-, and Sixty-Somethings

It is during our forties and fifties when we see the most dramatic changes in the face and other areas of the body. By age 60, the problems that developed years prior intensify. This is because collagen and elastin have depleted enough for visible manifestation to occur. Physical changes include fat displacement from the cheeks to the lower face, loss of muscle tone (including the vagina), facial hollowness, skin and tissue sagging, and more. Facelift surgery is commonly sought by men and women in their forties and fifties, as are injectables to reduce double-chin fat and sagging brows.

Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery offers an array of services to meet cosmetic concerns for patients of all ages.  Contact us online or call our Bryn Mawr office at 610-527-4833.

The eyes are one of the primary facial features that get noticed. We may wear dark sunglasses at times, but we cannot hide cosmetic eye concerns from everyone, least of all ourselves. Often, we discuss the frustration of age-related eyelid changes. There’s just something about undereye puffiness and upper eyelid sagging that makes a face appear older and less friendly. These are widespread concerns that may worsen as we age. But there’s something else, something that can affect younger adults as much as older adults: dark circles.

Why do some people get dark circles?

Dark circles under the eyes are not related to age. In fact, statistics indicate that many younger adults are seeking treatment for this frustrating problem. When darkness exists during early adulthood, there is a chance that it may worsen as collagen-depletion progresses. This isn’t because more pigment accumulates in the delicate skin around the eyes; it is because more shadowing occurs.

The undereye area is a particularly interesting part of the face. The skin is thinner and more fragile here than on other facial structures, which makes it susceptible to damage. For instance, rubbing the eyes can lead to lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Younger adults may notice dark circles because their natural facial structure exhibits slight hollowness beneath the eyes. The degradation of delicate skin can exacerbate this. In combination, these two very small factors can lead to the very big problem of shadowing beneath the eyes.

What can be done about dark circles?

Products exist to lighten the skin. However, if dark undereye circles is a shadow problem created by hollowness and loss of volume in the mid-face, no amount of topical lightening cream will achieve the desired result. In our Bryn Mawr office, we can administer dermal fillers into the cheeks and tear troughs (the curved boundary between the lower eyelid and the cheek) to plump superficial tissue. When tissue is raised to a consistent level, shadows disappear and, along with them, dark circles.

Not all dermal fillers are appropriate for use around the eyes. It is important to obtain treatment for dark circles, undereye puffiness, and other concerns from an experienced clinical injector. We would love to help you feel your best. To learn more about dermal filler treatment or to schedule your visit, contact us online or call 610-527-4833.

Millions of people around the world have undergone liposuction to spot-reduce fat. They’ve done this because they have come to realize that there is no other way to accomplish spot-reduction. We here this from fitness trainers all the time, and yet the accumulation of stubborn fat in specific areas continues to be something we try to manage with diet and exercise. If you’re like the millions who have grown tired of this rut, you may have thought about liposuction for your hips, thighs, or love handles. If you’ve thought about liposuction, you may also be questioning the validity of this procedure for long-term results.

It is valuable to question how liposuction can work for you. The more you know about what this procedure can and cannot do, the more realistic you can be about the potential for your situation. We appreciate questions like this because it indicates a sense of seriousness about expectations. The fact is that liposuction has been performed millions of times because it works. Now we just need to discuss how to take what has worked and make those results last.

Fat Cells: One of These Things is Not Like the Others

The body has hundreds of thousands of cells. Many of them go through the cycle of life, death, and life. For instance, the skin cells that make up your epidermis today won’t be there a year from now; they will have died and fallen off so healthy new cells can take their place. Fat cells aren’t like this. The fat cells that you have today are pretty much all you’re going to get.

The way that fat cells work is that they expand and shrink. This is why we can gain weight and lose it without changing the number of fat cells we have. This is something to celebrate because if you’re considering liposuction to remove a certain amount of fat from a trouble spot, you can know that no new cells will grow in that area. You can also feel confident knowing that the body will not compensate for those missing cells by holding on to fat or shifting fat from one area to another.

So What About Post-Lipo Weight Gain?

We have seen evidence that liposuction “doesn’t work.” That’s not the full truth, though. Liposuction works. It provides a clean slate for body contouring. It removes unwanted fat and refines the shape of the body. What happens from there is up to the individual patient.

Remembering that existing fat cells can grow and shrink, your liposuction results can be easily maintained. Choosing to exercise at least several days a week and to feed your body well, you have the ability to keep looking and feeling your best years after your liposuction spot-reduction treatment.

Contact us to learn more about liposuction and our non-surgical body contouring treatments at 610-527-4833. We would love to see you in our Bryn Mawr office.

Anti-aging is a booming business. What can we say; we like looking young! The idea of graceful aging originated centuries ago. We hear about this concept a lot these days not because it has become more important but because we have numerous strategies that can help us achieve our goals. Some people who visit our cosmetic surgery practice do so to get a head start on graceful aging with injectables and high-tech treatments. Others question if they are the right age for more; and by more, we mean facelift surgery.

The Progression of Aging Through the Ages

We begin to age as early as our twenties. The thing is, we don’t see the effects of biological aging right away. Collagen degradation resulting from UV exposure compounds the collagen decline that begins during this decade of life, but we don’t see how this affects the skin until sometime during our thirties. During this decade, we may start to see a few sunspots on the cheeks or nose. Subtle laugh lines or frown lines may also take up residence. By the mid-forties, most people start to become somewhat preoccupied with the way their face has changed. Perhaps this is why the average facelift patient is about 50 years old. Dr. Claytor offers facelift for men too.

Your Time is the Right Time

To think that facelift surgery is something you do later in life, or at a certain age, can keep you from feeling your best at the earliest opportunity to do so. Only you can determine the perfect time for facelift surgery. Because so many options exist, from injectables to eyelid rejuvenation and more, you may find that you continue to postpone that facelift because you love the way your face is aging. On the other hand, if you grow tired of seeing jowls and sagging facial tissue or sunken cheeks, a facelift may be ideal.

However you decide you want to age, we can help you do so gracefully. To schedule a consultation in our Philadelphia area office, call 610-527-4833. In-depth discussion of your concerns and goals and a brief evaluation of your skin is all that is needed to begin your exploration of suitable treatment options.