Should I Consider Vitamin IV infusion after surgery?

It has been understood that Vitamin C is essential for the body’s production of collagen. Collagen in turn is essential for wound healing and provides the skin with much needed support. When the body undergoes surgery or endures a trauma, nearly 100 times more Vitamin C is required for quick healing. This is rapidly drawn from what your body has been storing and can lead to multiple vitamin deficiencies. The period after surgery is also when you are most vulnerable to becoming sick because most of your energy will be put into tissue repair. IV infusion increases the amount of vitamins your body can absorb and allows it to enter the bloodstream quickly. If you attempted to take this much Vitamin C orally, you would suffer additional side effects such as diarrhea or abdominal discomfort. The addition of IV glutathione helps to reduce inflammation and encourage tissue healing. Our office is happy to offer Liquivida IV infusion kits that are specifically tailored to improve your overall recovery period.

The Liquililft is our go to vitamin IV drip designed to help improve your overall health, particularly when preparing and/or healing from surgery. It includes the following ingredients:

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Vitamin C – A powerful tool to reduce pigmentation and sun damage

Topical vitamin C serums are a natural antioxidant that can help reduce skin pigmentation and prevent future spots from showing up. Vitamin C has long been known for its ability to protect the body from immune system deficiencies, reduce heart disease, strengthen bones and teeth, and prevent against premature aging. Vitamin C is not something that is naturally found within the body and needs to be supplemented with diet, vitamins, and products containing vitamin C.

Benefits

• A pure vitamin C serum has the ability to quickly exfoliate the surface of the skin to reduce pigmentation and create a brighter more even skin tone.

• It continues to work one step deeper by targeting melanocytes below the skin’s surface to prevent new pigmentation from forming.

• Natural antioxidants protect the skin from free radical damage caused by sun and pollution leading to early skin aging.

• It creates lipid hydration to rebuild the protective skin barrier and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Our Product of Choice – ZO C-Bright 10% Vitamin C serum

We love this product because it does not activate until it comes into contact with the skin. Many other vitamin C serums on the market oxidize quickly and have a very short half life, usually only a couple of weeks. This is a water free formula that relies on the natural water present in the skin in order to be activated.

Active Ingredients

10% Ascorbic acid – generates a brighter complexion by exfoliating existing pigmentation on the surface of the skin

Co-Q10 – a powerful antioxidant that reduces inflammation and protects the skin from outside damage

Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate – targets a deeper level in the skin to prevent 80% of new pigment formation by blocking melanin functions and produces collagen to decrease appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Squalane – provides additional hydration by replicating the body’s natural moisturizing mechanism

Tips for Use

• Since C-bright does not contain water, it relies on the water within the skin in order to be activated. This should be the first product applied to the skin after cleansing and toning. It will not penetrate well through other products on the skin.

• It can be used morning and night and should be started every other day, working up to daily use.

• It glides easily under make-up and provides additional hydration to your normal skin care routine.

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The short answer to this question is: Absolutely!! Let me take some time today to go everything you need to know about breastfeeding after a breast augmentation, breast reduction, and breast lift. Breastfeeding your baby is, without question, very beneficial for you and your baby, so taking away that ability is avoided at all costs. Keep in mind that every woman’s body is different, so the original state of the breasts can give an indication of how much milk a mother will be able to produce after a breast augmentation. The size of the breast has no correlation with the amount of milk produced, but there are some breast types that are a risk factor for low milk production, even before surgical procedures occur. These breast types include tubular-shaped breasts, widely spaced breasts (greater than 1.5 inches of flat space between them), undeveloped breasts, and asymmetrical breasts. During breast augmentation, the implants are placed under the breast avoiding essential nerves and ducts for milk production.

Breast Augmentation

During a breast augmentation, where the incision is made and where the implant is placed can determine how much milk you will produce. There are a variety of incision sites, as seen in the picture, but Dr. Hobar prefers the transaxillary (armpit) site for most of his patients who are candidates. In patients with prior surgery or those who simply prefer it, he will also place the implants through the inframammary site (under the breast). The transaxillary placement is ideal for future breastfeeding as it preserves the breast tissue already there. The implant can be placed in two different ways, directly under the glandular tissue, or behind the chest muscle. Dr. Hobar only places the implant behind the chest muscle, which is ideal for breastfeeding because it does not put pressure on the glandular tissue and impede milk flow, like an implant under the glandular tissue would. This also provides increased support to hold the implant higher on the chest wall.

Breast Reduction

With advances in surgical techniques, women are increasingly able to breastfeed after a breast reduction. Surgeons are often able to preserve milk-producing tissue so you can breastfeed like normal. There are a variety of techniques for a breast reduction, but for future breastfeeding, the ones that do not completely sever the nipple and areola are preferred. Even if the nipple and areola are moved, there are several techniques that keep them intact.

Breast Lift

In most cases, there is little to no damage to the ducts and nerves during a breast lift. Typically, the nipple is repositioned, not completely separated, meaning the nerves and ducts remain intact. Each individual’s breasts are unique, so the technique performed depends on what the woman wants, what her natural breasts look like, and if there is an underlying condition (i.e. tuberous breasts due to polycystic ovary syndrome).

Tips for Increasing Milk Production

• Get as much milk out as possible in the first 2-3 weeks as this time period determines how much milk your body will produce from there on out.
• Avoid pacifiers as they can affect your baby’s latch
• Switch nurse: switch sides 3 or more times during feeding
• Try pumping between nursing
• Ultimately, the best way to deal with low milk production is to first determine the underlying cause. Talk to your doctor to help you determine the cause and how to best treat it.

For more information visit https://www.bfar.org/index.shtml. This website is dedicated to keeping breastfeeding mother’s who have had breast surgery informed and educated.

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What are the risk factors associated with smoking and surgery?

Smoking can be detrimental to the body’s normal function, especially when healing after a surgery. Dr. Hobar recommends stopping smoking at LEAST 30 days prior to and 30 days after his procedures, especially those involving the face, breasts, and abdominal areas. Continuing to smoke can put you at a higher risk for serious complications during and after surgery including:

• Increased risk of blood clots
• Increased risk of infection
• Impaired healing of bones, skin, and wounds
• Increased difficulty in breathing during and after surgery
• Change in the breakdown of drugs in the body

Why does smoking cause an increased risk with surgery?

Nicotine in tobacco (or any kind) constricts the small blood vessels that supply your skin and the underlying tissues with blood and other nutrients. The healing process is greatly impeded by any nicotine in the bloodstream because the surface vessels are not able to do the repair work that is required of them. The risk to successful healing is so great that for many cosmetic surgeries, patients are not to be exposed to nicotine prior to surgery. Please contact our office for additional information to help quit smoking prior to surgery. Please let us know if you have been exposed to nicotine through smoking, secondhand smoke, smokeless tobacco, or any nicotine replacement products.

What can I expect with quitting?

Within 24 hours: Most of the nicotine and carbon monoxide will be eliminated from your body and improve heart rate and oxygen levels within your blood
Within 1 week: Your lungs begin to recover and cells clear out excess mucus
Within 2 weeks: Your lungs and large airways begin to recover and become less sensitive to stimuli such as a breathing tube that will be placed during surgery. This will decrease risk of breathing difficulties with intubation.
Within 3 weeks: Your body’s repair process has improved and your ability to heal wounds has greatly increased
Within 4 weeks: The smaller airways in your lungs begin to improve and will continue to repair over the next several months
Within 6 weeks: Your lungs begin producing normal mucus amounts that will decrease breathing complications
Within 8 weeks: Your risk of lung complications is much lower than if you would have continued smoking. Your blood consistency will be improved and your heart rate will decrease. Your immune system and overall ability to heal surgical wounds will improve.

Why do I need to avoid smoke after surgery?

Being exposed to smoke after surgery increases your risk for adding extra stress to your heart, increasing your blood pressure, and reducing the amount of oxygen that travels to your blood and body tissues allowing healing.

Still need help?

National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation – “Become an EX” Program
The American Lung Association – “Freedom from Smoking” Program
The American Cancer Society 1-800-227-2345

If you have any questions regarding our practice policy on smoking or need additional information to quit please call 972-566-7300

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Reduce fine lines and wrinkles by harnessing your body’s own repair mechanism – Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Cutting Edge Technology for Total Skin Rejuvenation:

Our practice is pleased to announce the addition of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to our nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatments. PRP is combined with micro-needling to rejuvenate your skin and improve fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks. Did you know your plasma contains life-giving protein growth factors that help cells regenerate and rebuild? As we age, the fullness and elasticity of our skin significantly change. The Eclipse MicroPen creates channels into the skin allowing PRP to fill them and enhance the body’s natural ability to replenish collagen and elastin. This, in turn, improves skin texture and firmness; essentially the new skin is replacing the old.

Day of Treatment:

During your visit, a small amount of blood (similar to a routine lab test) is drawn and we are able to isolate the red blood cells away from the platelet-rich plasma with use of a centrifuge. Since the PRP is coming from your own body, there is very little risk of allergic reaction or rejection as opposed to some other treatments available. Once the plasma has been isolated, it is topically applied to your skin in a thin layer. The micropen is then used on top of this layer to help push the PRP into micro channels made in the surface of the skin. Immediately after, your skin will appear reddened, similar to a mild sunburn. This will improve over the next 24 hours and the pH of the plasma actually acts as a soothing agent for the skin. The plasma is left in place for 4 hours after the treatment and can be washed off with water alone.

What Can I Expect?

Patients can expect to see an immediate glow to their skin over a few days with improvement of overall skin texture and color. Visible changes of fine lines and wrinkles could take several weeks as the collagen and elastin production takes place.

Why Does PRP work?

Platelets have largely been known to help direct wound healing and to create an environment that allows tissue regeneration. When there are tiny micro-injuries made to the surface of the skin, the body starts sending platelets and growth factors to that site to begin the repair process. By adding PRP topically and directly into these channels, the body can repair faster and more effectively. The use of PRP along with micro-needling has been seen to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks.

To read more on micro-needling click HERE

If you would like to speak with one of our providers for more information please call 972-566-7300 or visit our website at www.drhobar.com

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