Blog - Krummen Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

September Is Plastic Surgery & Healthy Aging Month: What You Need To Know

senior lady looking at camera touching her face September is Plastic Surgery & Healthy Aging Month! This is a great time to learn more about keeping your skin looking its best as you age. In this blog post, we’ll share tips on keeping yourself looking young and healthy.

What’s Healthy Aging Month?

As people live longer and healthier lives, it’s essential to take steps to age well. Healthy Aging Month is an annual observance month designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. The focus of Healthy Aging Month is to promote the concept of healthy aging and encourage people of all ages to make lifestyle changes that can lead to healthy aging.

Promoting Healthy Aging Habits Among Plastic Surgery Patients

While plastic surgery can effectively promote healthy aging, it is essential to remember that it is only one part of the equation. To maintain a youthful appearance, patients must also adopt healthy lifestyle habits. This includes eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Patients should also avoid smoking and excessive sun exposure, which can contribute to aging.

What You Can Do This September to Support Healthy Aging Month

Throughout our lives, our bodies undergo changes that sometimes make it challenging to maintain our health. To help support older adults, September has been designated as Healthy Aging Month.

Here are some things you can do this September to support healthy aging:

Get your annual physical exam: This is an excellent time to check in with your doctor and ensure you are up to date on your vaccinations and screenings.

Make sure you are getting enough physical activity: Exercise is vital for maintaining your health as you age. Make sure you get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise most days of the week.

Eat a healthy diet: As you age, your body needs different nutrients to stay healthy. Ensure you get enough protein, calcium, and vitamins D and B12. You may also want to talk to your doctor about taking a daily multivitamin.

Stay socially active: Social isolation can lead to declining health. Make sure you stay connected with family and friends and consider joining a social group or club.

Quit smoking: If you smoke, now is the time to quit. Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in older adults.

These are just a few things you can do this September to support healthy aging. For more information, visit the Healthy Aging Month website.

Let’s Talk

Take advantage of Healthy Aging Month by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Donna Krummen in Cincinnati, OH. Contact us at 513.985.0850 if you have any questions.

What You Need To Know About A Mini Tummy Tucks

Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty)

sexy woman wearing hat sunglasses and bathing suit standing on wooden vintage wall In recent years, tummy tucks have become increasingly popular. While you may be familiar with tummy tucks, did you know about mini tummy tucks? In this blog, we’re here to answer your questions plus more about this popular form of cosmetic surgery.

What Is A Mini Tummy Tuck?

A mini tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery procedure that can help improve the abdomen’s appearance. The surgery involves removing excess skin and fat from the lower stomach area and tightening the abdominal muscles.

Benefits Of A Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck can provide several benefits, including a flatter and more toned stomach, improved self-confidence, and a boost to one’s self-esteem.

Other benefits of mini tummy tucks include:

1. A mini tummy tuck can help create a flatter and more toned stomach area.

2. It can help improve the appearance of stretch marks and other scars in the treatment area.

3. It can also help tighten the skin in the stomach area, providing a more youthful appearance.

4. The procedure is often less expensive and has a shorter recovery time than a full tummy tuck.

Recovery Time For A Mini Tummy Tuck

Most people with a mini tummy tuck will need to take approximately two weeks off work to recover. It is important to rest and take it easy during this time, as the body needs time to heal.

Recovery Time

A mini tummy tuck can be an excellent option for those unhappy with their stomach area. The surgery can provide significant results while having a relatively short recovery time. However, as with any surgery, risks are involved, and it is essential to consult with a qualified surgeon before proceeding.

While the surgery is relatively simple, it does require some recovery time. Most patients will need to take approximately two weeks off from work to recover properly. During this time, patients will need to rest and avoid strenuous activity. They will also need to wear a compression garment to help heal.

Overall, the recovery process for a mini tummy tuck is fairly straightforward. However, it is important to follow your surgeon’s instructions and take the necessary time to rest and heal. Doing so can ensure that you have a successful surgery and achieve the best possible results.

Schedule a Consultation

Would you like to get a mini tummy tuck in Cincinnati, Ohio? Donna Krummen is the woman you need to know. You can reach our office at 513-985-0850.

Gynecomastia Surgery Recovery Tips

Male Breast Reduction

Handsome smiling man enjoying day on the beach. For many men, regardless of how long they might spend at the gym or otherwise working on their physique, overdeveloped or enlarged breasts can destroy self-confidence or cause them to avoid certain physical activities or even intimacy with others. This condition is called gynecomastia and it can affect men at any age.

Gynecomastia can be caused by several factors, including hormonal changes, excess weight, or excess development of the glandular tissue of the breasts. Regardless of the cause, gynecomastia generally presents itself as overly large breasts in men, either with both sides being disproportionately large or with one side larger than the other.

Fortunately, breast reduction surgery for men is a safe and proven way to reduce the size of overly developed breasts. Whether the enlargement is caused by the over-development of fatty tissue or glands, your surgeon will use a liposuction or excision procedure to reduce the volume of tissue in the breast and create a toned and proportional look.

While it is a more invasive procedure than other treatments, most men can return to unrestricted activity within a month and depending on their specific job, may return to work as early as a week after surgery. Initially, patients are advised to take at least 2 weeks of rest, and protect their chest from aggressive movement or use.

In some cases, drains will remain in place during the first 2 weeks. Since this is the primary time of recovery, pain and general swelling will subside during the third and fourth weeks. So long as a healthy and active lifestyle is maintained, the results will be permanent, and there is no need for follow-up surgeries or treatments.

If you are a male suffering from gynecomastia and want to regain your confidence with a smaller or more proportional chest, call Dr. Donna Krummen in Cincinnati, OH, at 513-985-0850, or visit www.krummenplasticsurgery.com to schedule an appointment, today. Dr. Krummen and her expert staff will provide a thorough examination and work with you to develop the best treatment plan for your situation.

How Kybella Injections Can Dissolve Your Double Chin

Kybella

nice long hairdo optimistic lady without clothes hand neck closed eyes When your profile shows off the dreaded double chin that just won’t go away despite your efforts at diet and exercise, do not distress. You can improve your profile from any angle and be free from those annoying fat deposits under your chin by treating yourself to Kybella. Using Kybella injections, submental fat can be contoured away from your under-chin area by the skills of Donna Krummen, MD FACS, practicing in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Kybella Injections Are Designed to Dissipate a Double Chin

Approved by the FDA in 2015, Kybella is the first non-surgical, treatment designed to dissolve the double chin fat pocket that is exasperating for many men and women. Kybella is an alternative to liposuction or other invasive surgery. A synthetic version of deoxycholic acid injected into the target area of concern to destroy fat cells. This cytolytic medication breaks down subcutaneous fat by destroying the cell membrane in one’s digestive tract. Over a span of several weeks, the dissolved fat becomes cellular debris and is cleared through the lymphatic and circulatory systems, ultimately to be excreted as waste.

Candidates for Kybella Injections

It is very challenging to address double chin fat through contemporary weight loss and exercise regimens. This is because submental fat is very resistant to even the most stringent diet and exercise regimen.

The following factors will determine if you’re an ideal Kybella candidate:

You want a non-invasive procedure to reduce your double chin
You are close to your BMI and weight goals
You have a double chin that is diet/exercise resistant
You lead a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and exercise regimen

Kybella is not a weight-loss tool. It is a very effective cosmetic procedure to lose your unwanted double chin fat and have a smoothly defined facial profile from every angle.

Melt Away Your Double Chin with Kybella Injections

Get rid of your bothersome double chin by scheduling a consultation with Donna Krummen, MD FACS, at her Cincinnati, Ohio practice, by calling 513-985-0850. Bolster your self-confidence by taking advantage of Kybella injections or other nonsurgical profile procedures Dr. Krummen offers, such as a facial peel.

SkinPen Microneedling Away Your Facial Imperfections

Microneedling

35 year old blonde woman with clean fresh face and hands with long hair SkinPen Microneedling continues to gain popularity as the latest, non-surgical, minimally invasive cosmetic treatment for reducing facial imperfections. Microneedling is collagen induction therapy. Donna Krummen, MD FACS, endorses SkinPen as the latest microneedling technology for achieving a glowing, youthful facial profile. SkinPen is a device used to rejuvenate the skin for a younger facial profile that you can fall in love with.

SkinPen Microneedling Benefits

SkinPen is a tool designed to stimulate the skin’s natural ability to produce new collagen with no recovery time or major side effects. Collagen induction results in cell turnover and rejuvenation.

The production of new collagen creates healthier skin and is used to lessen the appearance of:

Acne scars
Stretch marks
Age spots
Sun damage spots
Hyperpigmentation
Fine lines
Wrinkles

The benefits of SkinPen are accelerated by helping your skincare products penetrate the deep layers of skin as a further means of reducing the signs of aging.

SkinPen and Acne Treatment

SkinPen is known for its treatment of severe acne and scars.

The SkinPen Microneedling device produces extra collagen to encourage cell turnover by:

Unclogging pores and helping acne medications be more effective
Shrinking enlarged pores to prevent the overproduction of oil by the skin
Replacing discolored skin cells scarred by acne by replacing dead, upper layer cells with new, healthy, young cells

SkinPen Procedure and Results

Before the procedure begins, you will be topically numbed with cream for comfort during treatment.

SkinPen Microneedling treatment lasts approximately 60 minutes and entails:

The use of tiny needles to create microscopic injuries in the epidermis and dermis over the target areas of skin condition concern
These microscopic injuries to the skin trigger the production of collagen and elastin to rejuvenate smoother, younger-looking skin
Healthy skin cells are rejuvenated from the inside layers to the outer layers

The resulting goal is to achieve evenly toned, firm, and glowing skin. The number of SkinPen sessions a client needs will depend on the skin condition being treated and their desired result.

Try SkinPen Microneedling to Boost Your Self-Confidence

Schedule a SkinPen Microneedling consultation with Donna Krummen, MD FACS, at her Cincinnati, Ohio practice, by calling 513-985-0850.

Here’s How to Enjoy Lasting Results from Cosmetic Treatments

Plastic Surgery

woman is swinging on a swing in summer pine forest. One of the most phenomenal feelings is to see yourself as you’ve always imagined. We witness this every day as we follow-up with patients after various plastic surgery procedures. As surgical side effects diminish, the beautiful outcome of surgery becomes more apparent. For patients who’ve refreshed using injectables, there is very little time in between their treatment and their Big Reveal. Once these improvements are out in the open to be thoroughly enjoyed, patients often want to know how long they can last. It’s important to know what you can do to prolong the beauty that has been achieved through your chosen cosmetic treatment. Here, we discuss all things maintenance.

Follow Your Surgeon’s Advice

Your post-operative care instructions may seem relatively general, but they are put together in a way that reflects familiarity with both the procedure and your unique medical history. The intent with post-op care instructions is to ease the recovery process, maximize healing, and decrease the risks of complications like infection and prolonged pain. If you have questions about your post-op care, contact the office right away. We’re here to support you!

Protect Your Skin

Sun exposure is incredibly detrimental to the skin, especially after plastic surgery or other cosmetic treatments. It is critical to understand that some UV light can permeate a thick cloud layer, and that UV light is damaging to the skin. After cosmetic treatments, make it a habit to apply about half a teaspoon of sunscreen to the face every single day. Apply a sufficient amount of sunscreen to the skin on the body that is exposed to sunlight, and strictly avoid direct UV exposure to operative areas. For example, it is not recommended to lay by the pool wearing a bikini and no sunscreen after having abdominoplasty or breast surgery.

Stay Healthy

Regardless of whether you’ve had a facelift for rejuvenation or you’ve had liposuction and a tummy tuck, there are significant benefits to maintaining a healthy diet. Clearly, eating whole, fresh foods supports weight management that can foster long-term results from body-shaping procedures. Additionally, though, this type of diet, one that is low in processed foods, salt, and sugar, nourishes the body with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that work against premature aging.

Engage in Maintenance Treatments

There are ways to maintain just about every type of cosmetic improvement one gets from plastic surgery or other treatments. If you’ve had a facelift, for example, you could manage your long-term results by getting skin-tightening treatments every now and then, or by getting injectables like Botox and dermal fillers to ward off new signs of aging. If you’ve had a body-contouring procedure, consider how occasional massages or lymphatic drainage can help promote the longest-lasting physical improvement.

We love performing cosmetic treatments to help our patients feel their best, and assistance for the long-term management of their beautiful results. To schedule a consultation at our Cincinnati office, contact us at 513.985.0850.

Does My Weight Factor Into My Tummy Tuck?

Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty)

Muscular man measuring his body with tape measure in studio Many people want better body contours. This can look different for every patient we see. Some want to build an hourglass figure by enlarging their breasts. Some want to slim their thighs or their midsection. When it comes to the abdominal area, tummy tuck surgery and liposuction are the two leading procedures known to achieve outstanding results. A tummy tuck is a procedure in which contours are refined by the tightening of the abdominal muscles, connective tissue, and the skin. Liposuction, on the other hand, is a fat-reduction procedure. It should come as no surprise to hear that the vast majority of people who seek abdominoplasty are slightly overweight. Still, there is a limit to how far away one can be from their ideal weight and still be a good candidate for this surgery. Even if liposuction were to be performed as an ancillary contouring technique, some patients are advised by their surgeon to lose weight before they can be considered for a tummy tuck. We understand that this can feel deflating, so we want to discuss the matter here.

Does Weight Really Affect Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Your weight does affect your candidacy for a tummy tuck, but what your doctor really measures is your BMI. This is your body mass index. It indicates your weight in relation to your height. So, for a person who is 5 feet 10 inches, a weight of 150 is well within a healthy BMI range. A weight of 150 for a person standing 5 feet 2 inches would be within a BMI considered overweight. However, even in this scenario, the body mass index would be right around 28, which would still be within range to have a tummy tuck, provided that other criteria are met. Where we come up against concerns is when body mass index measures higher than 30. At that point, we not only face greater surgical risks but also more significant risks of post-operative complications. For these reasons and more, doctors usually recommend that patients lose enough weight to reach a BMI of 30 or lower and also maintain that BMI for at least six months before having surgery.

Why Weight Matters

There are a few reasons why it is beneficial to have abdominoplasty after reaching a goal weight, which should be within a healthy BMI range. Both are equally important but one tends to have a little more pull with the patient. If you have a tummy tuck and then you decide to lose more weight to feel even better about your appearance (this is not uncommon), your weight loss could result in a puckered appearance in the abdominal area. This can happen because the fatty tissue under the skin provides some amount of volume and, with fat loss can come deflation. Your surgeon is also very likely concerned about your final cosmetic outcome because they are in the business of helping patients look and feel more beautiful inside and out. Furthermore, the surgeon must consider the ways in which a higher BMI affects the body as a whole. The physical systems of the body all play a role in healing after surgery and BMI affects them all. The higher your BMI, the more taxed your immune system is and, as a result, the higher your risk of infection and post-surgical complications. In this regard, the recommendation to lose weight before a tummy tuck is made to enable the body to heal optimally and provide you with the longest-lasting results.

Abdominoplasty is a leading plastic surgery procedure that offers the reward of significantly better body contours. To learn more about the procedure and what it can do for you, contact our Cincinnati office for a consultation. 513.985.0850.

Does Breast Augmentation Hurt?

Breast Augmentation

sexy young woman model in sexy dress If you are considering having breast augmentation, you should feel filled with excitement and empowerment, not worry. Having breast augmentation can be an enjoyable journey that results in years of rewarding confidence and satisfaction. But thoughts about potential pain or complications can blunt the process right from the start. If you’re thinking of breast augmentation, it’s only natural that you may be thinking about pain. You may be wondering if the procedure will hurt and how much pain may occur. Most patients have this question, but not all of them ask about it. So, we will discuss it here.

What Should I Expect with Breast Augmentation?

Does breast augmentation surgery hurt? This is part one of a two-part question. Each part deserves a clear and thoughtful response. Breast augmentation surgery is performed using general anesthesia. Before your surgery begins, a board-certified anesthesiologist ensures that you are in the “sweet spot” of sedation. In this sweet spot, your brain will not register pain. Your brain will not form memory, so you will not feel anything nor will you be aware of time in the present moment. General anesthesia is the most commonly used form of sedation and pain management during all kinds of surgeries performed today. It has a long and strong track record of safety and efficacy, so you can feel confident knowing that you will not feel a thing during your breast augmentation procedure.

Does breast augmentation hurt? Clearly, the process of placing breast implants beneath the skin, fatty tissue, and muscle causes some disruption to nerve endings, blood vessels, and more. Even with the most careful techniques, the surgeon will alter the formation of these tissues. Pain is the natural byproduct of this disruption. That said, patients do not describe their breast augmentation recovery as painful. When patients wake up from general anesthesia, they usually say something along the lines of “my chest feels heavy.” This is due to the combination of pressure from the breast implants themselves and pressure from the compression garment that is applied to minimize swelling. The heaviness can feel like someone is sitting on the chest. It isn’t the most comfortable but also isn’t necessarily painful. What may feel painful is the tenderness and soreness that result from incisions and tissue expansion around the breast implants. To ensure that pain does not become worse, patients are advised to take their prescription painkillers exactly as directed, even when they feel like they may get by without it. It’s important to keep in mind that, for at least three to four days, it is the prescription pain medication that is creating comfort. Within about a week, it becomes possible to comfortably switch to over-the-counter medication.

Now is a great time to schedule breast augmentation surgery. To arrange a visit to our Cincinnati office, contact us at 513.985.0850.

Tips for Healing after Blepharoplasty

Eyelid Surgery/Forehead Lift

Eyelids that are hooded, heavy, bulging, or saggy make the face look older. This is true even when the signs of aging on other parts of the face are relatively mild. The effects of blepharoplasty, a surgical eyelid procedure, can be so profound that the entire face looks younger and more energetic afterward. Some people who were considering facelift surgery but decided to focus first on their eyes have been so impressed with their results that they lost all thought of the facelift they felt they needed. Now, is that true for everyone? Probably not. The point is that eyelid rejuvenation surgery is popular for a reason, it significantly improves appearance. Here, we discuss what patients can do to improve their recovery after this conservative procedure.

Your Blepharoplasty Recovery

Blepharoplasty patients are advised to anticipate a recovery period of 10 to 14 days. It is during this time when the vast majority of surgical side effects resolve and the rewards of surgery are most profound. It is also during this time when patients may not feel completely thrilled about their appearance. After blepharoplasty, the area around the eyes looks bruised and swollen. Incisions are red and the stitches may be visible on the upper eyelids. In light of this, patients can prepare for their blepharoplasty recovery by understanding that they will have to wait a short time for the results they expected. A healthy mindset and lots of entertainment can go a long way in this regard.

Self-Care After Blepharoplasty

There is something about blepharoplasty recovery that can be challenging if you’re not prepared. Yes, you understand that you will need to rest, but the way that you rest may be different in real life than it is in your mind before you have your procedure. As you prepare for your eyelid rejuvenation surgery, consider ways to keep boredom at bay that do not involve using your eyes. When we hear that we should rest, we might envision playing some computer games or binge-watching a season of that show we’ve heard so much about. With this in mind, the reality of resting after blepharoplasty may come as a shock. While you can watch a show here and there while you recover from this procedure, screen time should be limited. This is because your eyes tire more easily and we want to prevent unnecessary fatigue and dryness. These can cause more discomfort than is necessary. Instead of watching or reading activities, consider something new, like listening to podcasts or a few audiobooks. As long as you wear sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat, you might feel up to taking short walks outdoors or sitting outside in the shade. The rest in blepharoplasty doesn’t have to feel boring. It can be truly reinvigorating when you plan well for this short time-out from life.

Would you like a fresh outlook on your appearance? Contact us at 513.985.0850 to schedule your consultation at our Cincinnati office.

Is Brow Lift Recovery Painful?

Brow Lift

Beauty woman healthy skin fresh clean beautiful face The upper areas of the face have come into the limelight in the last year and a half. With many people wearing masks when they go out of the home, we’ve become much more aware of how our eyes affect our appearance. Problems like undereye bags make us look tired. Issues with the upper eyelids, such as hooding and heaviness, can make us appear sad or angry. The upper eye area is influenced not only by thinning eyelid tissue but also by the position of the eyebrows on the forehead. This is why a plastic surgeon may recommend a brow lift instead of an eyelid lift. Some of our patients choose a combination of the two.

A brow lift focuses on lifting and repositioning the tissue on the forehead. The procedure can release the muscles that form frown lines and place the brow line back along the upper orbital rim, where it belongs. This procedure smoothes horizontal forehead lines and can also improve the symmetry of the eyebrows. Here, we discuss what patients often want to know about this procedure, what it’s like to recover from a brow lift.

Brow Lift Recovery

Fortunately, the majority of patients who have a brow lift experience very little postoperative pain. The recovery timeframe is 10 to 14 days, but patients can expect comfort to improve significantly within the first week. Patients are advised to set aside the first two days after their brow lift to simply rest and sleep as much as needed. The procedure may be performed with general anesthesia or a local anesthetic and sedation. If general anesthesia is involved, nausea may occur during the early postop phase. The surgical team may be able to recommend an antinausea medication to ease this side effect. A light dressing is placed over the brow area after surgery. Sometimes, the surgeon will place a drain tube to prevent the buildup of excess fluid beneath the skin. These are usually removed in a day or two. Pain is usually minimal after the effects of anesthesia wear off. Patients can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen to manage their comfort.

After brow lift surgery, patients should sleep with the head elevated on two or more pillows. It may be helpful to sleep in a recliner with soft pillows on each side and a neck pillow for support. Elevation helps fluid drain more efficiently away from the surgical site, so can keep swelling and bruising to a minimum. It is possible to shower and wash hair beginning two to three days after surgery. Knowing this, patients should bathe and wash their hair the day before surgery. Strenuous activity must be avoided for a few weeks. The doctor can discuss when normal activities can resume during the post-op visit. This usually occurs about one week after surgery. For the most part, patients generally return to work after two weeks and gradually ease into exercise and other activities three to four weeks post-op.

Some degree of residual swelling and bruising may remain after two weeks. This is typically mild enough to cover with makeup. The final outcome of the brow lift continues to settle in for two to three months. However, patients enjoy beautiful results well before that time.

Learn more about brow lift surgery and what it can do for you. Contact our Cincinnati office at 513.985.0850 for a consultation with Dr. Donna Krummen.