Grainne Farrell, Author at Lotus Medical International


Opting for a tummy tuck procedure can be an intimidating decision to make. This is because it involves time investment that goes to the recovery process and also a financial investment.

Normally, a tummy tuck procedure includes a long incision, then skin and fat removal, plication or suturing of abdominal muscles, as well as liposuction. Because of this, the recovery period can take longer.

To help the process go more smoothly for you, below are some of the best recovery tips following a tummy tuck surgery.

  1. Get Enough Rest And Sleep

Make sure that you get enough rest, and for comfort, place two to three pillows behind your head and another under your knees. When getting out of bed, start by sitting up, then move the legs over the edge of your bed. Then stand from there. During this time, you might need a caretaker to help you out of bed for the first few days.

  1. Follow Your Surgeon’s Advice

When you simply follow the advice given by your surgeon, it will help you with fast and smooth recovery from your surgery. Also, it will reduce the risk of suffering complications.

From time to time, patients might engage in some activities that can cause complications or even slow down their recovery. This can happen when the patient’s don’t follow their surgeon’s instructions. Keep in mind that postoperative instructions are given — to help ensure you heal well, protect you and to give you good cosmetic results.

  1. Arrange To Have Help

You must arrange to have your friend or relative come help you post-surgery. If you are considering undergoing this surgical procedure, having an extra pair of hands will go along way during your recovery period.

It is recommended that you have your friend or relative staying with you for about 24 – 48 hours post-surgery. Since you will not be in a position to stand up straight for some time after the procedure, you will require help doing tasks like showering, getting up from your bed, and removing garments. Although you might prefer to stay in bed, you are encouraged to have some movement, meaning getting out of bed as it helps increase your circulation.

  1. Taking a Shower:

It is best to confirm with your surgeon as to when you should take a shower post-surgery. But generally, holding off for some days until your first follow up is recommended. Knowing how to handle the drain tube and replacing the binder can be cumbersome. The binder must be worn often for the best results. Once showers start, a cheap necklace or lanyard to pin the drain in one place may be used. Also, a bathrobe tie can be tied around your waist as another option.

  1. Focus On Getting Quality Nutrition

With a poor diet, the ability to heal becomes very low. Patients suffering from malnourishment have more fluid accumulations or seromas. About 50 per cent of those who have undergone surgery may experience seroma when they are not stabilised nutritionally. So, make sure you have quality nutrition both before and also after the procedure.

In addition, there are specific foods that help in faster healing. Some of the recommended foods include pineapple along with dark leafy greens as well as foods rich in vitamin C. Take note that foods that can cause gas, like beans and cabbage should be avoided.

Additionally, avoid having very salty foods, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and always eat small portions.

  1. Walker/Cane

Typically, a tummy tuck procedure will put tension on your horizontal closure. Also, when completely upright, tightening of abdominal muscles can create some discomfort; consequently bending slightly at the waist will be more comfortable for the first week and it will take the pressure off the incision. This can, however, result in temporary back strains. For some, a cane or walker can come in handy. Although not very necessary, it can help take off the pressure on the back.

  1. Do some Light Movements

It is advisable that you start walking immediately after surgery. Doing so is crucial as it helps reduce the risk of forming blood clots. It also helps prevent the body from getting tight and stiff, as well as keeping the tissues relaxed and soft. Hence it speeds along the going down of swelling. But avoid doing too many movements, too early.

Also, avoid engaging in heavy lifting and any strenuous activity. Allow yourself sufficient time to rest and get the level of sleep that the body requires during recovery.

  1. Toilet Seat Booster

After surgery, squatting low can be a daunting task and especially if you are hydrated enough and have to go every few hours. Since most toilets are quite low, probably to allow for those who are shorter to get on there. Getting a toilet seat booster can be valuable in making it more comfortable when using the toilet.



After lots of planning for your surgery, the day has finally come. It’s normal to overlook the healing process and only imagine the final results. However, you need to consider the recovery period post-surgery. And by following your surgeon’s instructions and looking after yourself well, you will be back on your normal routine soon enough. But, a smooth recovery might depend on a few factors, like how ready you are to give yourself time to heal during the first critical days.

Here are some tips to help you have a healthy recovery period after having your breast augmentation surgery in Thailand.

Plan for some help

Although recovery after breast augmentation is not very difficult, you still have undergone major surgery. Consequently, for the initial few days, you’ll be tired and sore. For six weeks, avoid doing the heavy lifting, including picking up a child under 20 pounds. Also, avoid driving until you’ve finished taking all narcotic pain medication. Consider scheduling for some help with the kids and household chores for your first 24 – 72 hours. Simply having a relative or friend stop by every day to check on you can be helpful.

Avoid Strenuous Activities

Fight the urge to indulge in any strenuous activity during the first week following your breast augmentation procedure. Avoid stretching and bending over for about a week post-surgery. And, though it might be difficult, try to sleep in an upright position to help with faster recovery. It is not advisable to sleep on your stomach for about 14 days after your breast augmentation procedure. Avoid exercises like weight lifting post-surgery for about 4 weeks. Be sure to consult with your doctors about the right time to start your exercising routine.

Manage pain properly

You are likely to have mild to moderate discomforts soon after your breast augmentation surgery. Some patients might feel tightness and pressure across their chests. Your plastic surgeon will prescribe several days of pain medications to make it more comfortable for you during your early days of recovery. However, most patients find that after their first post-operation day, they only need over-the-counter pain medication. You should fill your prescribed medications ahead of the breast augmentation day. This way you will have your medication at hand when you experience nausea or pain.

Monitor your incision

It’s important that you keep your incision dry. Avoid getting any creams or liquids to settle in the incisions as this can result in irritation and inflammation. As you heal, you will use antibiotics prescriptions given by your surgeon. Therefore, make sure you complete the whole prescription. Monitor your temperature now and then to check that you don’t have a fever, which could indicate having an infection.

Get lots of rest and sleep

Getting sufficient rest during the breast augmentation recovery period is highly recommended. Arrange to have a quiet area set aside, and a comfy bed to rest in, especially for your first few days post-surgery. Make sure you have lots of pillows to allow you to prop yourself up for added comfort. Some books, magazines and DVDs can help you pass time. With enough rest and sleep, you will soon be walking and slowly regain your strength. Above all make sure you relax, listen to your body, and get lots of sleep as you heal.

Recovery Time

Keep in mind that the actual period of recovery after any surgery will differ from person to person, and breast augmentation surgery is no exception. You may have a recovery period of 24 to 48 hours post-surgery plus a 5-day period that is recommended for relaxing and rest. It is normal for a patient to feel sore and swollen post-surgery for several days. Your plastic surgeon will provide you with some instructions on how to care for your body after surgery. However, always ask your specific questions which can include the pain medications you can use, both applied and oral, stitches, changing dressing/ bandages, and also the time you need before you resume exercises and your normal activities.

Eat Healthy and Dink Lots of Water

Before going in for your breast augmentation procedure, ensure that you have stocked your kitchen with plenty of water and some easy to prepare foods. For your first post-operation day, toms”>you might feel nauseous from the anaesthesia or you might not feel like eating anything. Therefore, soft and light foods can work well for you. Also, ensure that you have a variety of healthy foods on hand that can give the body strength and energy to heal over the weeks to come. It’s very easy to get dehydrated during the recovery period, so be sure to drink plenty of water.

Carefully follow your doctors, instructions to help you have a smooth recovery experience. Healing from any kind of surgery may be unpleasant, but once the pain and swelling subside you can resume your normal routine much easier than ever and with a boost of confidence.

 



While liposuction helps improve the shape of your body by ridding it of fat deposits. This procedure is not intended for weight loss.

Typically, liposuction is a procedure of choice for people who wish to eliminate localised fat pockets in stubborn areas. The liposuction procedure can be done on your face, thighs, hips, arms, stomach, buttocks and back. Also, liposuction may be used in getting rid of lipomas (fat tumours) as well as help reduce the breast size for men. This surgical procedure can be performed on multiple areas on the same day.

Below is a look at top recovery tips which can help you have a non-interrupted and speedy healing process after your liposuction.

  1. Attend All Your Scheduled Follow-Ups

Attending all your follow up appointments will allow the doctor to monitor and gauge your healing progress after liposuction. So, make sure to go for your follow up post-op appointments.

  1. Know What to Wear

Wearing the right kind of clothing is very important in ensuring you have a fast recovery process. Clothing that fits too tight will irritate the skin hence slow down your recovery process. Ensure that you are comfy during the healing process. To help patients, many surgeons advocate for comfortable and loose-fitting clothing as you heal.

  1. Eat Healthy Foods

For a speedy and an uninterrupted healing process, having a good diet is very important after liposuction. By maintaining a healthy diet, you are likely to experience less swelling. A good diet means including antioxidants, vitamins and other essential nutrients that can help the body recover its strengths. As concerns a proper diet to help with healing, take note of the following rules:

to-reduce-salt-intake-every-day/”>Reduce your salt intake as it encourages your body to hold water which will worsen swelling. To help with the wound healing and regrowth of muscles and skin, increase your protein intake. Each snack or meal should include good sources of protein.

Reduce your sugar intake as it will suppress the body’s immune system. It will also increase the blood glucose level, and cause mineral imbalance. Above all, eat small quantities of food regularly each day to avoid bloating or nausea.

  1. Hydrate on Low-Calorie, non-carbonated Beverages

During recovery post-op, proper hydration will help prevent dehydration. Typically, the recommended amount of water one should take is 8 glasses of water a day. However, following your liposuction, consider increasing the amount to between 10 to 12 glasses. In place of water, other beverages you may take include flavoured water, tea, skim milk, and diluted fruit juice. Avoid taking Gatorade as it contains high sodium levels.

In additions to watermelon, there are several high water-content vegetable and fruits that you can take. This includes celery, strawberries, zucchini and grapefruit.

  1. Ditch the Bathtub

You might be tempted to take a warm bubble bath, but this isn’t the best time to soak yourself in a bathtub. Soaking yourself in water will reduce the recovery rate and increase your risk of getting an infection. Rather than soak yourself in the bathtub, consider getting a gentle massage.

  1. Keep the Area Clean

Changing bandages regularly helps keep the liposuction area clean hence preventing infections from developing. Although you might feel tempted to clean the area with water or other products, avoid doing so over the first few weeks.

  1. Keep Moving

To start, you should have plenty of rest during the first 24hours after your lipo procedure. After that, you may indulge in light exercises like taking short walks which will accelerate the healing process. Remember that you should avoid intensive exercises during the initial few weeks following your liposuction. Additionally, your plastic surgeon will issue you with very precise instructions of what you can do and what you cannot do as concerns physical activities.

  1. Lymphatic Massage

A lymphatic drainage massage focuses on getting rid of accumulated toxins from your lymph nodes. This kind of massage has shown to reduce the recovery time and even minimise pain and discomfort experienced by patients. It is recommended that you do this massage weekly as it will boost your immunity and lower your risk of getting an infection.

  1. Use Sunscreen

Since newly formed scar tissues have no pigmentation, you must avoid exposing them to the sun for at least a year post-surgery. Exposure of scars to the sun may result in permanent discolouration. Use a stick sunscreen to enjoy the most protection. As an alternative, an SPF 15 sunscreen lotion, Parsol 1789 and broad-spectrum protection are also acceptable. However, make sure that you consult with your doctor for specific sunscreen recommendations.

  1. Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions

To help you in your healing and recovery process, your physician will give you post-care instructions which you should stick to. You will be provided with a compression garment. Although this piece of clothing is not as comfortable, it helps improve post-surgical results. Be sure to wear this garment as long as it is needed. All medication provided should be taken according to your physician’s instructions. Above all, contact your surgeon if you have specific questions relating to your recovery process for clarification.

 



September 22, 2019 Grainne FarrellRhinoplasty

While most cases of and nose reshaping are purely for cosmetic purposes, this procedure can be used in correcting birth defects and fixing injuries.

After your rhinoplasty surgery in Thailand, you will experience some pain which should fade relatively fast. To help relieve the pain, many patients report taking pain relievers for several days after the surgery. Then they proceed on to use milder pain relievers weeks following the procedure.

Keep in mind that swellings and recovery time will vary depending on the type of rhinoplasty you undergo. This can either be open rhinoplasty or closed rhinoplasty. Your plastic surgeon will recommend the procedure that they consider to be best, based on the technique they prefer and your particular goals.

To help you along the recovery journey, there are several things you could do to make the entire process go by easily.

  1. Listen to Your Surgeon

It is important that you follow your surgeon’s instructions. Even when you read the numerous articles available online about rhinoplasty process of recovery, keep in mind that the instructions you get from your plastic surgeon are specific regarding the medication to take, ways to care for the area operated on to prevent infection, when to take your medication, and when to go back for follow-up exams.

  1. Get Lots of Rest

Following your nose job procedure, you might have some congestion that might make it harder for you to fall asleep. However, rest is key in the recovery process. The body uses energy to heal itself, and to helps restore that energy, it is important to get a solid seven to eight hours of sleep every night.

  1. Avoid bumps and injury

Injury to your nose during recovery can lead to complications and even cause additional setbacks. During rhinoplasty recovery, most of the nasal tissue will be tender and swollen. Therefore, any injury can be detrimental to the healing process not to mention painful.

Make sure you avoid bumping the nose and talk to your doctor immediately should you injure yourself when in recovery. You might have to undergo a quick check-up or have detailed imaging to establish the level of injury.

  1. Use Cold Compresses

During the first 72 hours after your surgery, use a cold compress to help reduce the swelling. Be careful not to use the cold compress directly onto your nose. But instead, use it on the cheeks to avoid accidentally shifting any cartilage and bones.

  1. Stay Cool

Relaxing sauna, steamy showers, and a hot bowl of soup might seem like a good idea, but they are not good for the swollen nose. Heat can cause the nasal tissues to swell more, that’s why it advisable you take a cool diet and room-temperature foods. Also, take lukewarm showers, and avoid the heat in weeks to follow your rhinoplasty procedure.

  1. Eat Healthily

Taking a balanced diet after your surgery can help speed up your healing process as this provides the body with the nutrients it requires to heal itself.

A diet made up of eggs, nuts, fish, meat, yoghurt, and other protein-rich foods will help your body in rebuilding damaged tissues in and around the nose.

Also be sure to include lots of vitamins in your diet, especially Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Vitamin A is a good immune booster which will help fight infection and can be found in dark, leafy greens such as kale and spinach. Vitamin C helps in collagen regeneration, a protein that helps connect your skin tissues. Some great sources of Vitamin C include broccoli, citrus fruits, and Brussels sprouts.

  1. Avoid Blowing Your Nose

You will experience congestion for several weeks or months after surgery. Such a feeling is as a result of the swollen nasal tissues. Fight the need to blow your nose. You can also talk to your surgeon about using saline nasal sprays to help moisturise the nasal passages as the swelling reduces. You could start blowing your nose 6 weeks after surgery.

You might be wondering about sneezing. When you feel like sneezing, try to sneeze using your mouth rather than your nose. It might sound gross, however, it is a preferable option than damaging the fragile nasal passage which would lead to slowing down recovery.

  1. Avoid Vigorous Exercise

For most patients, it takes close to 6 weeks following surgery for the nasal bones to heal. During your recovery time, avoid engaging in strenuous exercise. Also, some movements that you might consider harmless such as bending over, lifting, or stretching can result in increased nasal swelling. So it is best that you wait until your surgeon gives you the go-ahead to resume regular activity before you ease back into a regular workout routine.

  1. Be Patient

Most importantly be patience. Healing takes time but soon enough you will be enjoying the surgical results you’ve always wanted. While following the above tips won’t make the recovery process shorter, these tips will help speed up the process and improve your recovery experience.

 



September 22, 2019 Grainne FarrellFace Lift

Rhytidectomy, also known as a facelift, helps improve the visible aging signs caused by effects of sun exposure, stress, and gravity. This surgical procedure involves the removal of excess fat and skin, tightening of the underlying muscles and also re-draping the neck and facial skin.

As you plan for your facelift procedure in Thailand, it is important to factor in the recovery time after the surgery. Also, keep in mind that the healing period will vary from individual to individual. But, generally, for most patients of good health, a noticeable level of swelling may be reduced at least the first 10 days post-surgery.

However, since this procedure is a major surgery, you should expect to have a lengthy healing process. Also, based on the type of facelift surgery you have received, you might have to stay all night in a hospital. Alternatively, you might need to recover in your hotel room and your surgeon will make sure that you have a registered nurse present in the first 24 hours post surgery to cater for any needs you might have.

Below are several helpful tips that you can use during your recovery journey after a facelift.

Minimal movement is recommended

After the initial 24 hours following your surgery, you are encouraged to slowly get out of the bed and move around to get the circulation going which works towards speeding recovery. Taking small bathroom trips or moving around the house is encouraged, however, do not overdo it. You’ll still be feeling rather fatigued. Suitable activities for the first week are watching TV, reading quietly, sitting up in bed, or performing light housework.

Sleeping

To help minimise swelling yet speed up healing, be sure to keep the head elevated for 2 to 3 days. It is important to elevate your head as it will reduce the recovery time. Failing to do so might prolong the recovery time and can result in disturbing facial asymmetry.

Shampoo and Shower After The Dressings Have Been Removed

You might experience some numbness and tightness on the face and neck which will generally resolve after two months. This tightness you feel is usually because of the swelling. When the swelling starts to go down, the skin will loosen and stabilise. When you notice this do not panic that the procedure didn’t work. Also, immediately after surgery, the face will normally look less wrinkled due to swelling. However, numbness might persist for a few months and then will gradually improve.

Do light physical activities

Avoid engaging in strenuous activities like working out and only keep it light such as doing light housework or light walking. You might want to resume work after your second week which you could do unless your work involves serious physical exertion. Again, your doctor will offer you information on how you can apply light and friendly post-op make up if you getting self-conscious about the residual bruising.

Stay positive

The healing process after surgery can be quite slow, and it can often be outright painful or uncomfortable. Due to this, it is so important that you adopt a positive outlook and attitude as you go into recovery. Staying positive during your healing process after your facelift will go along way in reducing your anxiety levels. Studies show that a positive attitude can influence the speed of the recovery period.

Keep reminding yourself as to why you opted to have plastic surgery and proceed to imagine how happier you are going to be with the new look once you’ve healed. Talk to your doctor when you notice you are getting anxious or becoming depressed about your looks.

Allow time for healing

Most people take one week off of school or work to recover. For the first several days, patients will experience some level of discomfort, but this will usually resolve within a week post-op.

It is also advisable for patients to sleep with their head elevated during the first week. This helps bring down any swellings. Based on how complex the case might be and individual factors, you might have some bruising around your eyes and the facelift areas. However, it will typically resolve within a week or two.

Monitor Your Incisions For Signs Of Infection

Lookout for any swelling, spreading redness, tightness, excessive pain, pus or drainage, increasing warmth. An indication of infection is having a fever of about 101 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Before getting your surgery, your doctor will give you specific instructions on ways you are to care for the operated area, medications to take orally or apply externally, specific conditions to look out for, and also when you will follow up with the surgeon or aesthetic nurse.

The Next 12 Months

Your final results of the facelift will be fully evident in the next twelve months. Typically your facelift will take this much time for it to completely mend and “settle” into the final result. In the months to come, you will be able to notice subtle shifts as the facelift continues to heal and rejuvenate your appearance.

 



You might have noticed the loss of definition to your jawline due to excess fat tissue or sagging skin and you’d like to restore that youthful look. If that’s you, then a mini facelift might be the thing for you. Learning more about the basic principles of this procedure can help you have an informed consultation with your surgeon and sum-up a treatment plan that will give you beautiful and natural-looking results.

Mini facelift surgery is appealing to many women and men as it addresses some of the most conspicuous signs of aging. For instance, some people experience hormonal changes and are genetically susceptible to losing definition to their jaw. Due to this, many patients opt for mini facelift surgery to reconstruct this definition.

mini facelift in thailand

Planning and Preparation

To start, you’ll need to consult with your surgeon. As you consider having any cosmetic surgery, your doctor must give you several different options, instead of one-size-fits-all or excessive procedures. Also, before having any facelift procedure, it is particularly important to pick a plastic surgeon who consistently delivers excellent results and performs face-lift surgeries frequently.

Men, it’s noted, should choose a surgeon specifically trained in performing male facial cosmetic surgeries. Since the male facial anatomy differs from that of females, this step will guarantee natural-looking results. Again, you should find out the cosmetic options available for you should the results of the procedure fail to meet the goals you discuss.

After you and your plastic surgeon have come up with your surgical plan, proceed to schedule your procedure. You might have to ask a relative or a friend to drive you from the clinic.

Before the mini facelift, anaesthesia will be administered. Often local anaesthesia is suitable for a mini facelift as it guarantees a patient’s comfort, and it can be administered and not require a breathing tube. At the same time, the patient’s jaw will stay in its natural position, thus allowing a surgeon to deliver accurate treatment.

The Procedure

For the mini facelift procedure, your surgeon will create an incision in front of the ear, then extend from bottom of the earlobe to the hairline, behind the ear. The pattern and length of the incisions will depend on your desired results and the surgeon’s technique.

Next, your tissues are pulled upwards and outwards toward the ears. This method reduces the appearance of wrinkles, decreases sagging jowls and skin.

Once the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) and skin stretch to a position that shows your natural facial contours and bone structure, they are stitched into place, while excess tissue is clipped away. Here a surgeon might use permanent sutures, surgical staples or the removable sutures for the SMAS.

Generally, a mini facelift might take nearly two hours to complete. SMAS mini-lift has become standardised of care since skin-only (cutaneous) facelift surgery cannot deliver natural-looking results.

Getting The Most From a Mini Facelift

While no surgery can have a middle-aged patient looking like a teenager, still conservative procedures such as a mini facelift will help restore facial contours for an attractive look at any age

A mini facelift aims at giving patients results that are natural-looking. Also for maximum benefits, choose a skilled surgeon who has a reputation for delivering beautiful results, as you are likely to get an enhancement that will give you a rejuvenated and refreshed appearance.

Maintaining Your Mini Facelift

Results from a mini facelift can last 5 to 10 years. There are different kinds of non-surgical methods that are minimally invasive that may help improve and maintain your mini facelift results.

Some popular treatments to consider before and after getting a mini facelift procedure include:

  • Dermal fillers to give you youthful volume to cheeks, lips, and other parts of the face.
  • Fractional and ablative laser treatments for skin blemishes such as acne scarring and large pores.
  • BOTOX injections to stop muscle contraction temporarily that cause wrinkles and fine lines.
  • Fat grafting (fat transfer), which involves the removal of unwanted fat from one body part, like from the neck, then injecting it to the face.
  • Using Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, also know as Vampire Facelift that uses your isolated growth factors for increasing blood flow and collagen production, which is said to support skin tone rejuvenation.
  • Surgical fat removal or liposuction to get rid of stubborn fat deposits while restoring definition for specific parts of your face.
  • Exilis treatments that use radio-frequency technology for tightening the skin and increasing collagen production.

Besides having non-surgical and surgical treatments, staying healthy in general will be very beneficial to how you look. It’s also recommended that you avoid smoking before your surgery as it will help you heal thus you will look your best after recovery.

Your surgeon might prescribe specific skincare products and vitamins to take ahead of and after your surgery to retain your skin’s health. Also, ensure to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercise, taking a balanced diet, avoiding tobacco and limited alcohol consumption.

Having a mini facelift can shave off some years and with a great skincare regimen and leading a healthy lifestyle can slow down the development of new aging signs.

Learn more about our Thailand facelift surgery procedures

 



Having an elegant neck contour will not only give you a youthful appearance but it is associated with health and vitality. Neck lifts are a set of procedures aimed at enhancing how your neck looks. Commonly referred to as a facelift or chin lift, a neck lift will give skin that has lost its elasticity a more toned and smoother appearance.

This popular cosmetic procedure attracts thousands of women and men to come to Thailand as it removes excess fat and skin around the jawline, to give you a well-defined youthful looking neck. And the results can last a long time, but keep in mind that neck lift surgery will not stop the process of ageing.

neck lift before and after

Know Your Goals

It’s important to learn about the different options available for you during your consultation. You should be in good health before going for a neck lift. Also, consult your surgeon well in advance. Here, you should know your goals and what you wish to change.

Some common concerns that may be addressed using a neck lift include excess fat, turkey wattle neck, or too much skin.

How Is a Neck Lift Performed?

There are a variety of ways that Neck lift surgery may be performed.

An incision is made behind the ears or as an alternative both in front and behind your ear, just like for facelift incision. This technique allows for the removal of excess neck skin through the incisions made behind your ears.

Another method involves making an incision under your chin without necessitating the removal of any skin and there’s no need for making incisions in front of your ears. This helps release the neck skin from underlying muscles thus allowing your skin to contract without it being removed. The platysmaplasty (platysma muscle) is tightened through incisions to the chin.

In the elderly, a zigzag incision is made on the chin to remove excess skin. Therefore, no incision is made behind or in front of the ear which helps reduce the complexity of the surgery.

Do I Qualify For a Neck Lift Procedure (Chin Lift)?

The aging process of the neck is normally a combination of some excess fat, loose muscle and skin. This results in a term popularly known as the “turkey gobbler.” For people who prefer having this area addressed and not the whole face, getting a neck lift procedure (chin lift) will be beneficial. Also, it can work for patients who want to enhance their neck contour. Typically, patients are between the 30 and 70years old.

Good candidates for chin lift(neck lift) surgery include:

  • Patients with excess skin that has lost elasticity often around the neck and under the chin area.
  • Those with excess fat under the neck and chin area.
  • Individuals who don’t have medical conditions which can increase the risk of surgery or impair the healing process.

For a chin incision technique, the level of profile improvement is best linked to skin quality. Thus, to qualify for neck lift done using chin incision technique, a candidate:

  • Should be young or middle-aged
  • Should have mild, minimal, or moderate excess skin
  • Should have moderate to mild subplatysmal fat

How To Prepare

  • Medications and food

Your doctor might advise you to avoid taking aspirin and other blood-thinning medications for several days before the surgery. Such medications may include warfarin (Jantoven, Coumadin), aspirin and heparin. Other medication include ibuprofen (IB, Motrin, Advil, and others).

  • Other precautions

Since smoking tobacco encourages wrinkling of the skin as well as slow both healing and recovery, your doctor might ask you to quit smoking before getting a neck lift surgery.

Arrange to have someone pick you up after your procedure. Also, have someone stay with you for the first night after the procedure.

 

What To Expect

Before the Surgery

Before having a neck lift surgery, your doctor will evaluate your health and discuss with you about your expectations and surgical goals. Your surgeon will then pick the surgical technique that will work best for you. Your surgeon might suggest other additional procedures — like eyelid surgery, brow lift, or skin resurfacing — that can help achieve the results you want.

Your face will then be examined and measured, and your surgeon might have photographs taken to help you compare how you look before and after the surgery.

During the Surgery

This procedure may be performed with sedation and using local anaesthesia, whereby only part of the body will feel numb, or even under general anaesthesia.

The most common procedure used is Liposuction. The surgeon creates a tiny incision under the chin and behind each ear. Specialised equipment is used to suctions fat from beneath the chin and on your jawline. If the only dissatisfaction you have is due to excess fat and your skin in this area is resilient, liposuction can help give you a well-defined neck.

However, Liposuction does not correct structural problems which affect your neck’s appearance. Your surgeon will discuss with you on the type of procedure that best suits your condition. This will be based on several factors, such as your desired results, cost and the cause of dissatisfaction with your neck an chin area.

What Is Involved In Recovery?

You must be patient with the recovery process from a neck lift as this takes time. Most people may resume work after 7 – 14 days. If you are physically active or participate in sports, you might have to wait for about three weeks before resuming those activities.

Your doctor may also ask you to use a medical compression bandage which helps decrease post-operative swelling. Usually, you’ll wear day and night for 5 to 7 days and thereafter only at night for some time. To ensure proper recovery, it’s important that you follow your doctor’s instructions.

Ultimately, to get the most out of the procedure, give yourself time to heal.

Results

Visible improvements following a neck lift will become evident as bruising and swelling subside. The final results will not only give you a more rested and youthful appearance but will also boost your confidence levels.

This might take a few weeks to several months for bruising and swelling to fully disappear while the incision line will take about six months to fade. Meanwhile, ensure to protect the skin from the elements, avoid wearing clothing you’ll have to pull over your head. Again, be gentle with the surgical incisions. Our award winning staff here at Lotus Medical can assist you with any questions you may have about a neck lift in Thailand.



Different Types of Breast Implants

Breast augmentation or Mammoplasty is a procedure intended to increase fullness, shape, or size of breasts. Sometimes patients refer to breast augmentation as a “boob job“. It involves the use of fat transfer or breast implants to enhance the appearance of your breasts.

During the procedure, a surgeon places saline, silicone, or alternative composite implants under the breast tissue or chest muscles. Typically, on average implants last between 7 to 12 years.

 

What are breast implants?

Breast implants are medical prosthesis’ that are placed inside the breasts to reconstruct, augment, or create a physical form of your breasts. Implants may contain saline, silicon, or another compound.

Since there are different choices to make regarding the style of the implant, it is critical that you discuss the options available to you with your surgeon.

 

Different types of breast implants available

Saline breast implants

The saline breast implants contain sterile salt water. That means in case the saline implant’s shell leak, the saline gets absorbed and then expelled naturally by the body.

The saline breast implants give a uniform firmness, shape, and feel. They are also FDA-approved for breast augmentation in women from age 18 years and older.

 

Silicone breast implants

These implants have silicone gel which feels similar to natural breast tissue. Should the silicone implant leak, this gel might remain inside the implant shell or it could escape into the breast pocket. Leaking breast implants containing the silicone gel will not typically collapse.

When you opt for silicone implants, it is advisable that you regularly visit your plastic surgeon to ensure that the implants function properly. MRI screening or an ultrasound can be used to determine the condition of your breast implants. These implants are FDA-approved for breast augmentation in women aged between 22 years or older.

 

Structured saline breast implants

The structured breast implants contain sterile salt water and have an inner structure that aims to make your implants feel more natural.

 

Gummy bear breast implants

These form-stable breast implants are sometimes known as gummy bear implants since they retain their shape even after the breast implant shell has broken. The silicone gel consistency inside this implant is much thicker than that of the traditional silicone gel breast implants. Additionally, these implants are firmer than traditional implants.

The shaped gummy-bear implants are tapered towards their top with more projection at its bottom. When a shaped breast implant rotates, it could give an unusual appearance to the breast which might require a different procedure to correct. Surgical procedure for gummy bear implants placement requires slightly longer incisions in the skin.

 

Round breast implants

The round breast implants tend to make breasts look fuller than the form-stable implants. And higher profile implant options can offer you even more projection.

Since round implants have the same form all over, there is little to worry about should they rotate out of place.

 

Textured breast implants

The textured implants create scar tissue to help stick to the implants, thus they will not move around in the breast and get repositioned.

Usually, texturing has some advantage as it diminishes the risk of getting tight scar capsules.

 

Smooth breast implants

The smooth breast implants have the softest feel and can move in the breast implant pocket. These tend to have a more natural movement. The smooth breast implants will have some visible or palpable rippling under your skin.

 

What To Expect

Breast augmentation is a surgery, therefore patients should think carefully before choosing a specific procedure. The breast implants can go over or under the pectoral muscle.

Before undergoing any surgical procedure, the surgeon should assist their patients in picking the right size of the breast implants. This is achievable by placing different sized breast implants into a bra, to get a feel.

During the procedure, a general anaesthetic is used, to keep the patient asleep. On occasion, local anaesthetic may be used, and a patient remains awake.

 

Wrapping up

Occasionally, implant manufacturers introduce new types and styles of breast implants, meaning there might be additional options currently available.

Whether you opt for silicone or saline implants, it is essential that you monitor your implants and visit your plastic surgeon regularly for appropriate checkups.



While some surgeries are done for reconstructive or medical reasons, many aim to enhance a patient’s aesthetic appearance. This includes several procedures like facelifts, liposuction, brow lift, mammoplasty and tummy tuck. Cosmetic surgery helps tighten and enhance the appearance of the skin, remove or add hair, adjust facial features, and much more.

In addition, plastic surgery can be used for medical reasons, for instance for people who’ve had accidents, to repairing scarring from surgery, or in restoring the function of different body parts.

While many procedures are available today, here’s a look at the most common types of plastic surgery:

  1. Tummy Tuck

Commonly referred to as ‘tummy tuck‘, Abdominoplasty is used in improving the shape of our abdomen. This procedure helps remove excess skin, fat and restore separated or weakened abdominal muscles thus improving the profile. Tummy tucks help enhance the appearance of sagging or loose skin, but it will not get rid of stretch marks.

Even then, a tummy tuck does not replace healthy eating for weight loss or exercise routine. While tummy tucks offer permanent results, it is critical that you maintain the proper weight in order to maintain these results.

  1. Breast Augmentation

These are procedures that change the shape or increase the size of the breasts. If the breast size is increased, the procedure is also known as ‘breast implant surgery’. Again, breast augmentation is different from breast reductions or breast lifts, which are in fact different kinds of procedures.

  1. Facelift

Facelift procedures repairs loose, sagging, wrinkled or drooping facial skin. During the procedure, tissues of your face are lifted, the excess skin removed, then skin replaced over the repositioned contours. Also, neck lifts are done alongside facelifts.

Other facial procedures commonly done in conjunction with facelifts include eyelid surgery, nose reshaping, or forehead lifts.

  1. Dermabrasion

In our dermatology treatments, a specialized tool is used to gently ‘sand down’ the top skin layer. Once your top skin layer has been removed, this area heals with new skin replacing the old giving you smoother-looking skin.

Usually, dermabrasion is used for:

  • Age Spots
  • Acne scars
  • Sun-damaged skin 
  • Crow’s feet
  • Wrinkles
  • Lesions or growths on the skin
  1. Rhinoplasty

Any surgery that reshapes or repairs the nose is known as Rhinoplasty. While some people choose rhinoplasty for cosmetic purposes, others use it for medical reasons like correcting birth defects or difficulty breathing.

Rhinoplasty may be used to:

  • Correct birth defects
  • Reduce or increase the size of your nose
  • Correct problems from an injury
  • Improve or relieve breathing problems
  • Change the nose bridge shape
  • Narrowing the shape of your nostrils
  • Changing the angle of your nose
  1. Hair transplantation

Also referred to as hair restoration, hair transplantation surgery is aimed at improving the appearance of baldness. During this procedure, a bald area receives hair from areas of thick hair growth.

In one session, over a thousand hairs can be moved. However, some people might require several sessions. Hairs that are transplanted are permanent, meaning no long-term care is needed. Most hair transplants will lead to successful hair growth following the procedure.

  1. Lip augmentation

In order to have fuller-looking lips, lip augmentation may be performed. Normally, to help increase lip shape, volume or structure injectable dermal fillers can be used. This procedure is not permanent and its effects often last for about 6-months before necessitating a second procedure to restore volume and shape.

  1. Liposuction

This cosmetic procedure improves body shape by getting rid of fat deposits. Liposuction is not meant for weight loss.

Usually, localised fat deposits under the skin are removed using a pen-shaped instrument, a vacuum-suction cannula. Also, ultrasound may be used for breaking up fat deposits before it’s removed with suction.

This procedure is performed on your thighs, arms, stomach, face, hips, back and buttocks. Additionally, liposuction can get rid of fat tumours (lipomas) and even reduce the breast size in men. The procedure may be done on multiple areas in one day.

Considering Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

When you are content with how you look, you often are more confident in yourself and feel happier. But before opting for any cosmetic surgery, be sure to work with authorised surgeons and dermatologists, such as the team at Lotus Medical, who prioritise your health and goals as they help you attain your ideal look.

For those who want to change their appearance and attain their beauty goals, learning more about the specific surgery is the best way to know what to expect from the procedure.



What made you want to become a plastic surgeon?

My parents are doctors and my father who is a surgeon inspired me to become a surgeon too. When I was young, I was interested in art and design and I think it’s an advantage to use knowledge of art and design as a plastic surgeon.

How many years have you been practicing as a plastic surgeon?

More than 20 years

What do you like most about your job?

Facial surgery, Breast surgery and Body contouring surgery, especially liposuction and lipo-filling

What do you find to be the biggest challenges for you with your job?

Biggest challenge is how to propose the operative plan and perform the operation to meet every patient’s expectation.

What do you like to do outside if work, in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?

Bike riding, Running

 

 

Dr. Pongsatorn’s surgical techniques are state-of-the- art. He is particularly interested in facial rejuvenation, breast surgery, and advanced body contouring surgery and the results of the micro surgeries that he has conducted are also widely admired.

The beautiful, natural results of the procedures he performs will increase his patients’ self-confidence and self-esteem. Dr. Pongsatorn’s goal of improving a person’s quality of life through plastic and reconstructive surgery will certainly be met.

Services:

Patients for cosmetic surgery often requested by Dr. Pongsatorn’s patients include Breast Augemntation, Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation with Lift, Breast Reduction, Liposuction, Vaser Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Face lift, Neck lift, Under Chin Correction, Nose Augmentation. Also for non-surgical skin treatments, such as Botox, Juvederm, Restylane and Skin Cancer Test (Mole, Carsinoma).