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Why Choose Breast Augmentation?

Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast AugmentationThere are plenty of reasons why individuals engage in breast augmentation surgery. Even though it is one of the more common forms of cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation surgery is still an important procedure and many factors must be considered before scheduling a consultation.

There are many medical and aesthetic reasons for seeking breast augmentation surgery. Some of the more common reasons are listed below.

Breast Augmentation and Weight Gain

Breasts shift as time progresses. Weight gain can have an impact on a breast’s size, shape and placement on the body. Breast implants can provide better balance and present a more visually aesthetic appearance, years after nature and time have taken their toll.

Breast Augmentation and Weight Loss

During childbearing years, breasts often lose volume and may appear droopy. While there are no proven exercises or diets that can restore a woman’s body to the way it looked pre-childbirth, breast augmentation has been proven to be a viable option in re-shaping breasts.

Athletes and Breast Augmentation

Having a large chest can lead to back problems in more active candidates. Marathon runners, for example, complain about back pain being an issue and will often opt for breast reduction surgery. Athletes may also opt to enhance breast size, and there are many options in choosing the correct implant size that will not interfere with athletic performance.

Cancer and Breast Augmentation

After suffering through the long, oftentimes arduous journey of breast cancer, many women opt for breast reconstruction surgery. A mastectomy may be required to remove one or both breasts, resulting in a massive shift in physical appearance. By restoring a woman’s figure and creating a new shape, a patient feels a sense of normalcy in the wake of such a traumatic experience.

Undergoing a breast augmentation procedure is a serious decision. Whether a potential patient has gained or lost weight, survived cancer or is seeking to reshape themselves with more athletic contours, it is important to weigh the options and understand the reasons behind making such a decision.

Are You Interested in Enhancing Your Breasts? Contact Dr. Ryan Frank in Calgary

If you would like more information on the breast procedures Dr. Frank offers, please give us a call at (403) 245-1228, or contact us.

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Five Myths About Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgeryAs plastic surgery continues to grow in popularity, many myths and misinformation about these procedures have grown as well. Let’s take a look at some common myths and misconceptions about plastic surgery.

Five Myths About Plastic Surgery:

  1. Plastic surgery is only for vain people. Plastic surgery is performed for many reasons, and not for vanity alone. For example, women who suffer from having overly large breasts or who have undergone treatment for breast cancer may opt for a breast reduction or reconstructive breast surgery to restore their appearance. Plastic surgery can also corrects defects, such as a cleft palates, or deviated nasal septum, giving a patient a more natural appearance.
  2. Only the wealthy can afford it. While plastic surgery was once considered a luxury that only the wealthy could afford, financing plans have made it more accessible and affordable than ever before. Today, patients undergoing plastic surgery come from all income levels and age ranges.
  3. Plastic surgery is only for women. These days, more and more men are exploring plastic surgery procedures. Popular procedures for men include liposuction, facelifts, and even breast reductions.
  4. The results of plastic surgery last forever, and won’t leave scarring. While plastic surgery can give you years of satisfaction, results are usually not permanent. Many factors determine how long your results will last, including your overall health as you age. As for scarring, cosmetic surgeons are more adept than ever at reducing visible scarring following surgery. However, all types of plastic surgery leave behind some scarring, though the scars will fade with time.
  5. Plastic surgery is the same thing as cosmetic surgery. While these two terms may seem interchangeable, cosmetic surgery focuses on enhancing a person’s appearance. Plastic surgery focuses on repairing certain defects on a person’s body, restoring a more normal appearance.

Are You Considering Plastic Surgery? Contact Dr. Ryan Frank.

If you are considering undergoing plastic surgery, or have any questions about how it can benefit you, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Ryan Frank today. Our office is located in Calgary, Alberta, and we can be reached at (403) 245-1228. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Three Things To Consider Before Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation

Breast AugmentationBreast augmentation is one of the most in-demand procedures among women today. The procedure involves the insertion of implants to make a patient’s breasts larger, correcting breasts that are uneven or “deflated-looking” following life-changing events, such as pregnancy or weight-loss. While breast augmentation has many benefits, including restoring the patient’s appearance and self-esteem, there are several things women need to keep in mind before electing to undergo surgery.

Three Things to Consider Before Breast Augmentation

  • Breast augmentation is not risk-free. Like with any surgery, breast augmentation does have its risks. Some of the most common risks include changes in nipple sensation, swelling, pain, and possible scarring. However, if the procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon, risks of the surgery are considered minimal. We use a infra-areolar incision, made underneath the nipple to conceal any scarring.
  • Breast augmentation will not make you perfect. While breast augmentation can help improve your appearance, as well as your self-esteem, it is still a surgery that requires downtime and a recovery period. The procedure cannot make you perfect, and ideal candidates for this surgery are those with a healthy self-image, who have realistic expectations about what the surgery can do for them.
  • The results of breast augmentation may not last forever. While there is no “expiration” date on breast implants, your results may not last forever.  Weight gain or loss, as well as hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause, may cause your breasts to sag or lose their shape. As a result, some patients may need to undergo an additional breast augmentation surgery or breast lift to restore their original results.

Before your decide to undergo any cosmetic procedure, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the surgery. Do your own research, and ask your plastic surgeon as many questions about the procedure as possible.

Interested in Exploring Breast Augmentation? Contact Calgary Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Ryan Frank.

If you are considered undergoing breast augmentation surgery or have any questions about the procedure, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Ryan Frank today. Our office is located in Calgary, Alberta, and we can be reached at (403) 245-1228.

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Is Breast Reduction Surgery Right for You?

Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast ReductionWhen most people hear about “breast surgery,” they immediately think of breast augmentation. However, not every woman wants to make their breasts larger. Each year, many women choose instead to undergo breast reduction surgery to reduce the size of breasts which they feel are too large for their body.

Is breast reduction surgery right for you? Take a look at these common questions about this procedure.

Top Four Questions about Breast Reduction Surgery:

  1. Am I a candidate for breast reduction surgery? The best candidates for this procedure are women who feel uncomfortable with the unwanted attention often associated with having overly large breasts. In addition to causing self-esteem problems, large breasts can also cause physical discomforts to patients, including back pain. Breast reduction surgery can significantly reduce these issues. During your initial consultation, Dr. Frank will evaluate your medical history and determine if breast reduction surgery is right for you.
  2. Are there different types of breast reduction surgery? Yes. Traditional breast reduction surgery is performed on women with very large breasts, while Vertical Incision Breast Reduction is used for women with moderately large breasts.  Occasionally, liposuction alone can be used as a means to reduce breast size. Dr. Frank will determine which technique will be best for you.
  3. How long will it take to recover from a breast reduction surgery? The exact recovery period will depend on the individual patient. Immediately following surgery, most patients experience soreness, swelling, and bruising, which will subside after several days. In most cases, physical activity should be limited for about two weeks after surgery.
  4. Are there any complications associated with breast reduction surgery? Complications are possible following any surgery. The most common complications associated with breast reduction surgery are scarring, infection, bleeding and a partial loss of sensation in the breasts. Fortunately, most complications can be treated without requiring further surgery.  These will all be discussed at your consultation with Dr. Frank.

Contact Dr. Ryan Frank about Breast Reduction Surgery

If you are interested in learning more about breast reduction surgery, or would like to learn more about any of the other cosmetic surgery procedures we offer, contact Dr. Ryan Frank today. Our offices are located in Calgary, Alberta, and we can be reached at (403) 245-1228. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Breast Augmentation: Is There An Ideal Contour?

Breast Augmentation

Breast AugmentationIt’s no secret that breast augmentation is popular. In fact, it’s the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in Canada, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. While the effectiveness of this procedure is well-known, researchers recently set out to find out what people thought was the “aesthetic ideal of the breast.” What they found was that breasts with an “upper pole to lower pole ratio of 45:55” have almost universal appeal.

As reported in the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, researchers from the Cadogan Clinic and the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust in London conducted several surveys aimed at discovering if there is truly an ideal breast contour. These surveys contained images of breasts of all different sizes, digitally altered to fit a number of different proportions. These proportions were based on the ratio of the upper pole to lower pole of breast, and included 35:65, 45:55, 50:50, and 55:45. The nipple was defined as the dividing line, meaning that 45% of the breast would be above the nipple, and 55% would be below.

Out of the 1,315 people who participated in the study, which also included 53 plastic surgeons, the 45:55 ratio was almost unanimously found to be the most popular — it was favored by 90% of men, 87% of women, and 94% of plastic surgeons. While there has long been a commonly-held belief that men prefer larger, oversized breasts, the results of this study have marked a change in that more people are interested in breast augmentation for natural-looking results.

So what can be taken from all of this? While the 45:55 ratio was found to be the most popular amongst several different groups, breast augmentation is still a personal procedure that’s unique to each individual patient. Together, you and your plastic surgeon will be able to decide what size and shape is right for you. If you’re ready to find out what this procedure can do for you, contact us and schedule a consultation today.

Breast Augmentation in Calgary

If you’re interested in learning more about breast augmentation or any of the procedures we offer, contact Dr. Frank today. Our offices are located in Calgary, and we can be reached at (403) 245-1228. We look forward to hearing from you!

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The Most Important Things to Know about Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation

Breast AugmentationIn the world of cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation is one of the most requested procedures among patients. Breast augmentation is performed for various reasons, like to restore breast size following events events as weight-loss or pregnancy, which may cause breasts to shift in size or shape.

Are you considering breast augmentation? If so, here are some of the most important things to know about this procedure.

  1. You must have realistic expectations about your surgery. Since any cosmetic surgery comes with risks, patients must have realistic expectations about their procedure. Despite what many people think, plastic surgery cannot make you perfect. However, breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and restore a sense of self-confidence.
  2. Patients must be involved in planning their surgery. It is important for patients to ask questions before any surgery, so they will be aware of both the risks and benefits of the procedure they are about to undergo. When it comes to breast augmentation surgery, patients must choose a breast implant size that is suitable for their body so that they will look natural. Patients are not advised to choose an implant size that is too large for their body, since this can lead to complications.
  3. Breast implants are not considered permanent. Women’s bodies change frequently, especially due to pregnancy, weight gain, and menopause, all of which may cause implants to shift or breast shape to change. At some point in the future, the patient may need to undergo a second breast augmentation or lift.
  4. No surgery is the same for every woman. Breast augmentation surgery is a highly personal procedure, and it is tailored to meet the specific needs of each patient.
  5. Risks during this surgery are rare. There are risks with any surgery, and breast augmentation is no exception. Possible early complications may include swelling, pain, scarring, and infection.  The most common possible late complication is implant displacement and capsular contracture.  These complications will be discussed with you in detail during your consultation.

Contact Dr. Frank  for more information about Breast Augmentation.

If you are interested in having breast augmentation surgery, or want to learn more about any other procedures we offer, contact Dr. Ryan Frank today. We can be reached at (403) 245-1228!

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The Top 5 Cosmetic Surgery Procedures In The World

Plastic Surgery

Breast-Implant-OptionsApproximately 23 million cosmetic procedures were performed throughout the world in 2013, and those numbers are expected to rise as plastic surgery surges in popularity, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, which recently released statistics on surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures around the world.

Botulinum Toxin (usually known by its brand names, BOTOX and Dysport) took the top spot as the number one cosmetic procedure. Here are the top five plastic surgery procedures in the world:

  1. Breast Augmentation: Breast augmentation has long reigned supreme in the world of plastic surgery, so it’s no surprise that it took the top spot again in 2013, with 1,773,584 procedures performed. With so many options available including implant size, type, shape and minimal down time, it’s easy to see way so many women choose to enhance their appearance with this surgery.
  2. Liposuction: Liposuction has been around for decades, though the techniques and technology used have evolved over time. This procedure is easily tailored and is targeted to remove unwanted fat from several areas of the body, including arms, thighs, abdomen and even neck. In 2013, 1,614,031 patients underwent some form of liposuction to sculpt their bodies.
  3. Blepharoplasty: Also known as eyelid surgery, blepharoplasty rejuvenates the appearance of the eyes by removing extra skin and fat. Many people with sagging, tired-looking eyes tun to this procedure to give them a more youthful an alert look. Aside from its cosmetic application, blepharoplasty can also help patients whose vision is hindered by sagging or drooping skin. Last year, 1,379,263 men and women opted to undergo eye surgery to improve their appearance.
  4. Fat Grafting: Fat grafting, also referred to as lipostructure or lipofilling, is a technique that uses a person’s own fat to fill in areas of the face that have become sunken or hollow, such as the eyelids or  cheeks. The fat is removed through a small liposuction procedure, and then transferred to the new area in small pieces, sometimes called “pearls”. There were 1,053,890 reported fat grafting patients throughout the world in 2013.
  5. Rhinoplasty: Rhinoplasty, also known as nose surgery, is another procedure that has remained in-demand over the past few decades. This surgery has both cosmetic and reconstructive purposes, as it can reshape or reduce the size of a patient’s nose or correct defects from birth or caused by trauma. There were 954,423 rhinoplasties performed in 2013.

Plastic Surgery in Calgary

If you are interested in learning more about any of the cosmetic procedures we offer, contact Dr. Frank today. We can be reached at (403) 245-1228. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Breast Reduction Techniques: Which One Is Right For You?

Breast Reduction Surgery, Male Breast Reduction, Plastic Surgery

breast reductionBreast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a solution for women who are unhappy with their appearance, or who suffer from back pain or breathing problems due to overly enlarged breasts.

This procedure involves removing excess fat, skin and breast tissue to reshape smaller breasts that are more proportionate to the rest of the body. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes about two hours.

There are a number of breast reduction techniques used by plastic surgeons, each with its own set of pros and cons. Some surgeons specialize in several techniques, so that they can tailor the procedure to each individual patient’s needs and desired outcome. The breast reduction technique used in each surgery should be chosen with care, based on a number of factors. During the consultation process, Dr. Frank carefully examines each patient and offers his recommendation on the technique that will work best and is in alignment with the patient’s goals.

Here is a guide to the three breast reduction techniques most frequently performed by Dr. Frank:

Traditional Breast Reduction

The most widely used technique, this method involves the surgeon making an anchor-shaped incision to remove fat, skin and glandular tissue from the lower breast. The incision is then closed, lifting the skin, and the nipple and areola are repositioned. This technique is ideal for women with very large breasts. However, scarring is more apparent with this method.

Vertical Incision Breast Reduction

Also known as a “lollipop” or “short scar” reduction, this technique requires the surgeon to make incisions which extend around the areola and down to the breast crease, creating a scar that resembles a lollipop shape. The vertical incision technique is ideal for women with moderately large breasts, since it creates a shapelier breast profile and the scarring is minimal. However, this technique cannot be used for women who require extensive breast tissue to be removed.

Scarless Breast Reduction

This method of reduction uses the liposuction technique to remove fatty tissue from the breast area. This procedure leaves little to no scarring, however it only removes fat cells. Therefore, the patients who would best benefit from this technique are those who have a large amount of fatty tissue as opposed to glandular tissue. This technique is commonly used on men who suffer from enlarged breasts.

Breast Reduction in Calgary

If you are interested in undergoing breast reduction surgery, contact Dr. Frank today. We can be reached at (403) 245-1228. We look forward to hearing from you!

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What Is An Abdominoplasty?

Abdominoplasty, Tummy Tuck

tummy tuckAbdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure that improves the contour of the abdomen and waist. A tummy tuck flattens the stomach area by removing excess fat and skin and tightening the muscles.

What does the tummy tuck procedure involve?

In most cases, the abdominoplasty procedure takes about two to three hours, and is performed under general anesthesia. The surgery requires two incisions– one from hipbone to hipbone, close to the pubic area, and another around the navel.   The skin is then separated from the abdominal muscles which are then pulled together and stitched. This provides a taut abdomen and smoother waist. Next, liposuction is performed on the abdomen and flanks. The remaining skin flap is then pulled down over the tightened muscles and excess skin is removed. The navel is reattached in a natural position.

Who is a good candidate for a tummy tuck?

This procedure is designed for individuals in overall good health and who have a normal body weight, but loose, sagging or stretched skin in the abdomen that does not respond to diet or exercise. These conditions are common in women who have experienced pregnancy and delivery, or those who have undergone significant weight loss. It is also important that abdominoplasty patients do not smoke.

Women who are considering future pregnancies are encouraged to postpone a tummy tuck until they are done with child bearing. This is because pregnancy can have an adverse effect on the results of the surgery.

How long is the recovery for a tummy tuck?

The complete recovery time following a tummy tuck varies from case to case, but typically takes up to 3 months. The recovery process may include the insertion of a temporary tube to drain excess fluid from the site of the surgery.

The procedure will leave a scar spanning the length of the abdomen, from hip to hip. Dr. Frank will make the incision as low as possible so that the scar can be covered by a bathing suit.

With proper diet and exercise, the results of a tummy tuck will be long-lasting.

Abdominoplasty in Calgary

If you are interested in abdominoplasty or would like to learn more about any of the other cosmetic surgery procedures we offer, contact Dr. Frank today. We can be reached at (403) 245-1228. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Explore The Benefits of A Breast Lift

Breast Lift

breast liftOver time, a woman’s breasts can become droopy or saggy due to factors like pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging, weight fluctuation or simply gravity. This change can be a source of discomfort and insecurity for some women who long for the firm, youthful breasts they used to enjoy.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, offers a solution to sagging breasts. This procedure raises the breasts by trimming excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissues to support the new breast contour.

The mastopexy procedure produces a number of benefits, some of which include:

  1. Rejuvenated, firmer breasts. Breasts are lifted to a higher position on the chest, and drooping skin is removed. What remains is smooth and firm.
  2. A more youthful contour. A breast lift helps to restore a more youthful appearance to the overall body.
  3. Smaller areolas. In some cases, the skin of the areola (dark circle of skin surrounding the nipple) can become stretched out, causing them to sag or become disproportionately enlarged. During a breast lift, Dr. Frank can trim excess skin from the area and reshape the areola. This is performed at the discretion of the patient and the surgeon’s recommendations.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy) in Calgary

If you are interested in a breast lift, or would like to learn about any other procedures we offer, contact Dr. Frank today. We can be reached at (403) 245-1228. We look forward to hearing from you!

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