Monthly Archives: February 2021

What are the risks and benefits of breast reduction?

While many women spend their days wishing their breasts were fuller, other women have just the opposite problem. In fact, having breasts that are too large is becoming an increasingly common problem that has women searching for a solution. While healthy lifestyle changes like nutrition and exercise can help decrease overall body weight and thus take some weight off the breasts as well, unfortunately for many women that just isn’t enough. Fortunately, breast reduction surgery, also called reduction mammoplasty, is a safe and effective surgical option for women to consider who are bothered by their large and cumbersome breasts. This blog post will talk about the risks and benefits of this surgery that addresses an increasingly common complaint experienced by women today.

Firstly, breast reduction has the risks associated with surgery of any kind, including bleeding and infection. These risks are typically very small if the surgery is performed in a fully accredited surgical facility by a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Traci Temmen who is well-equipped to manage any potential complication that could arise during or after surgery. As far as risks that are specific to breast reduction, there are a few. One of these is changes in nipple sensation due to surgery impacting some of the small nerves that supply the area. Along similar lines, women who have a breast reduction may have difficulty breast-feeding down the road due to some loss of sensation as well as some glandular tissue. This is not always an issue for patients, but it should be discussed with the surgeon if the patient plans to try to breastfeed in the future. Another very rare complication is loss of the nipple areola complex, but this can almost always be prevented by proper patient selection (only operating on patients who are healthy and don’t smoke). Lastly, there is always a risk that the patient will be unhappy with the result. This can be minimized by taking time to do your research to select a plastic surgeon who is board-certified, understands your goals and concerns, and consistently gets great results. Dr. Traci Temmen has performed many breast reductions with beautiful results, and her patients are always impressed by her kind bedside manner and gentle hand. To see for yourself, just read one of her many raving reviews left by real patients, and view the images of real patient results in the photo Gallery.

Now that we’ve covered some of the risks of breast reduction, let’s move on to the fun part – the benefits! For most women, breast reduction surgery has both functional and aesthetic benefits. From a functional standpoint, breasts that are large and out of proportion to the rest of the body often cause chronic back pain, neck pain, and headaches from the excess weight. Large breasts can also make it very difficult to exercise, perform normal daily activities, and find clothes that fit well. Some women also experience painful rashes underneath the breasts from chronic irritation of the skin. After breast reduction, many of these problems are improved or even disappear completely, dramatically improving quality of life. Women often feel like a great burden has been lifted off and now they can finally enjoy life without all that extra weight and pain. From an aesthetic standpoint, most women are also very happy to have breasts that look more proportional to their body after surgery. Usually, breasts that are very large become low and saggy due to all of the excess weight. During surgery, the breasts are lifted back up to their normal anatomical position, creating a more youthful and natural look. In addition, women seeking breast reduction are often also bothered by areolas that are very large and out of proportion to the breast. During surgery, Dr. Temmen can decrease the size of the nipple areola complex so that it is in proportion to the rest of the breast. Overall, women are usually very pleased with the look of their new breasts that are lighter, perkier, and more proportional to their body.

Hopefully this post has shed some light on the potential risks and many benefits of breast reduction surgery. Of course, the best way to learn more about if you may be a good candidate for reduction mammoplasty is through talking to a board-certified plastic surgeon. To find out more, call 813-771-6393 to book your one-on-one consultation with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Traci Temmen, MD, today!

Are plastic surgery and self-love mutually exclusive?

Valentine’s Day is here, and love is in the air! While many people might be thinking about red roses, chocolate hearts, and spending time with that special someone, this post is about a different kind of love that is just as important – Self-love! When thinking about self-love, chances are plastic surgery isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, some people may even believe that the two are mutually exclusive. This post will unpack the concept of self-love and show how cosmetic surgery can actually be a wonderful way to show love to yourself.

The concept of self-love has become increasingly popular over the past several years, often gracing the covers of magazines accompanied by a woman smiling while they do yoga. Indeed, the world seems to have adopted a specific formula for self-love that typically includes green smoothies, French-pressed coffee, and morning routines that involve sun salutations. Needless to say, this is highly glamorized and does not apply to most people. In reality, everyone practices their own unique form of self-love based on what makes them feel good. Just as there is no single winning algorithm for romantic love that works for everyone, there is also no single best way to practice self-love. Some people feel empowered by wearing high heels and a dress, others feel their best in casual comfy clothing. Some show love to themselves by cooking a delicious meal, while others get the most joy out of ordering take-out. None of these choices are wrong, it’s just about the individual. Plastic surgery can be thought about in a similar way. For some women, self-love means embracing their bodies just as they are. But for others, self-love means taking the first step towards affecting positive change in their appearance through the power of plastic surgery. Either of these approaches is healthy as long as the person is acting true to their values and desires and doesn’t feel pressured by someone else. For those who have long struggled with insecurities about their body, cosmetic surgery can be the ultimate gift to themselves that helps them feel radiant and beautiful like never before. After all, your outward appearance is what you see when you look in the mirror every day, as well as how you face the world. Being consistently unhappy with your appearance can take a huge toll on one’s self-confidence and quality of life. Despite what some magazines may say, there is no need to feel pressured into loving every single part of your body. It is okay and perfectly normal to want to change something, whether it’s due to genetics, aging, weight gain, or just bad luck! With the power of plastic surgery, people finally have a chance to make the changes they want to see and smile every time they look in the mirror. This can have many far-reaching effects, including building self-esteem, feeling more comfortable exploring romantic connections, and increasing confidence in social settings – Overall, getting get more joy out of life!

The self-love movement is often portrayed as a specific trope, but the truth is it’s really about doing things that make you feel beautiful, loved, and valued. If you feel like some part of your appearance is making you feel unattractive, insecure, or holding you back from living your best life, you don’t have to just tolerate it anymore. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Traci Temmen has used her surgical expertise to help countless patients get the body of your dreams, and frequently performs procedures on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, and face with beautiful results. To view real examples of patient results, please explore the Gallery tab of this website. If you’re ready to take the first step towards realizing the body of your dreams, call 813-771-6393 to book your one-on-one consultation with Traci Temmen, M.D. today!

What Are Sculptra Butt Injections, and Who Should Get Them?

Have you always been unhappy with your flat butt and wished it was more round and curvy? If so, you’re not alone! It is very common for women to be dissatisfied with the shape of their buttocks, causing them to feel less confident or attractive. Although some women are able to change the shape of their glutes through vigorous exercise, others unfortunately just don’t have the genetic foundation to change their shape. Luckily, there are a few options available to enhance the appearance of your booty without doing a single squat! From a surgical standpoint, butt implants and Brazilian butt lifts are offered by many plastic surgeons to sculpt the buttocks into a rounder, fuller shape. For those wishing to explore nonsurgical choices, Sculptra butt injections are another great option for many patients. This post will go into detail about how Sculptra butt injections work and who may be an ideal candidate for this safe and effective procedure.

When considering injections to enhance the appearance of the buttocks, it is important to remember that not all injections are created equal! In fact, while injections like Sculptra are very safe when performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Traci Temmen, others that are not FDA approved can have potentially dangerous consequences. Sculptra injections have a well-established safety profile, and actually have been used for years to fill in wrinkles and creases in the face. This poly-L-lactic acid filler has recently been cleared by the FDA for use in the buttocks as well. During the procedure, Sculptra is precisely injected into targeted regions of the butt where the added volume is desired. Once injected, the Sculptra starts to work on the surrounding tissues to stimulate collagen production. Thus, while patients may notice some difference after injection, the bulk of the change will happen gradually over a few months as the body slowly generates collagen in the areas that were injected. This helps ensure a gradual and natural-looking progression in the size and shape of the buttocks.

There are many benefits to Sculptra injections that make it a popular choice for many patients. For one, the procedure itself is not a surgery, eliminating the need for anesthesia, reducing pain, and virtually eliminating the recovery period. In fact, the injections themselves typically only take about thirty minutes. However, it should be noted that many patients benefit most from multiple injection sessions, so this is not typically a “one and done” procedure. In addition, the effects of the injections typically last 2-3 years, leading many patients to return for “maintenance injections” at the end of this time period. Sculptra may be an especially good fit for patients who are very thin with little fat available for harvest with a Brazilian butt lift, since it uses a filler instead of autologous fat. That being said, Dr. Temmen is also highly skilled in performing so-called “skinny BBLs” on slender patients as they typically don’t desire a large volume fat transfer to get the result they desire. For these patients, both Scrulptra injections and skinny BBL may be good options to consider. To pick the best choice for each patient, Dr. Temmen offers one-on-one consultations where she considers the patient’s lifestyle, anatomy, and aesthetic preferences to choose the best option for them. Overall, patients who are thin and like the idea of not having to undergo a full surgery to get results are probably the best candidates for Sculptra butt injections.

Lastly, it is important to share a quick word of caution on butt injections. While having Sculptra injected by a board-certified plastic surgeon is very safe, there are unfortunately plenty of providers in the world who are not licensed or trained in these procedures and try to lure patients in with low prices and promising patient anecdotes. Not only are these providers not qualified to perform butt injections or manage the potential complications, but they may also be injecting a substance that is not FDA approved to cut costs, such as industrial-grade silicone (or heaven forbid, cement!) These substances are not approved for butt injection and can have serious, potentially even fatal consequences such as deadly embolism or abscess. A famous example of this is the rapper Cardi B who experienced a horror story of butt injections gone wrong when she went to someone who was not board-certified for a low price and ended up with a botched result and costly complications. While the cheap price tag on these procedures can be alluring, do not be deceived! It is not worth risking your health (or your life) to save money on a cosmetic procedure.

People today have many options to choose from when it comes to butt augmentation including both surgical and non-surgical options. In the right patient, Sculptra butt injections can be a great choice for those hoping to stay out of the the operating room without sacrificing results. Dr. Traci Temmen is highly skilled in performing Sculptra but injections for her patients with beautiful results. If you would like to learn more about if you may be a good candidate for this procedure, simply call 813-771-6393 to book your one-on-one consultation with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Traci Temmen, MD, today!