If you’re a stomach sleeper, you may worry about your quality of sleep after having breast augmentation surgery. Will you need to change your sleeping habits entirely? What if you can’t fall asleep comfortably on your back?

Luckily, there is no need for you to change your sleeping position permanently after undergoing a breast augmentation. While you should not sleep on your stomach for the first week or so, after your breasts have mostly healed you will be able to go back to stomach sleeping. Of course, you should pay attention to your body, though – if it is uncomfortable for you to sleep on your stomach, that’s a sign that you’re not ready to do it yet.

If you are interested in breast augmentation surgery, please call Dr. Gehaan D’Souza of Iconic Plastic Surgery in Carlsbad at 760-691-5165 today to schedule your consultation.

Why Can’t You Sleep On Your Stomach Right After Breast Surgery?

Technically, you can sleep on your stomach right away after having breast augmentation surgery. However, there are a number of reasons why this might be a bad idea, including:

• It will probably be painful or uncomfortable for you to put so much pressure on your breasts so soon after surgery
• There is a small chance that your implants may not settle properly in their pockets if you disturb them by sleeping on your stomach immediately

While we recommend at least trying to sleep on your back for the first few weeks following surgery, don’t worry if you roll over in your sleep and end up on your side or stomach. Lying on your stomach for a few minutes or hours shouldn’t cause any significant complications.

Most patients feel fine sleeping on their sides after just a week or so, while it may take longer to be comfortable on your stomach. Listen to your body, and sleep in whichever position is most comfortable for you.

Will Breast Implants Make It Uncomfortable to Stomach Sleep?

At first, the answer is probably yes. Aside from the potential pain that comes from pressure on your incisions, breast implants are a foreign object that you will need to get used to. Even once you are fully healed, there may still be some discomfort lying on your stomach due to your breasts being larger and firmer.

However, that being said, most women do not find it to be a problem in the long run. Although there may be a period of adjustment, after a while your breasts will feel natural again and you should be able to sleep on them comfortably, just as you did before breast augmentation surgery. Just be patient and give yourself time to adjust.

Dr. D’Souza will give you detailed instructions regarding your breast augmentation recovery, including when it’s okay to start sleeping on your stomach again. He will be available for you throughout every step of your recovery.

Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation

If you are interested in breast augmentation, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. D’Souza by calling 760-691-5165 today to schedule your consultation. We serve patients in Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, and other nearby areas of northern San Diego.

A tummy tuck is a fairly major plastic surgery procedure. It can give dramatic results, but it also takes some time to recover from. Typically, recovery time for a tummy tuck takes around two weeks, after which patients can return to their everyday activities with some restrictions.

It’s best to have realistic expectations about recovery from a tummy tuck, so Carlsbad plastic surgeon Dr. Gehaan D’Souza will take the time to explain the recovery process and what you can expect during your consultation.

If you are interested in flattening your stomach through a tummy tuck, please call Dr. D’Souza today at 760-691-5165 to schedule your consultation.

Tummy Tuck Recovery General Timeline

Each patient will be different, but the general timeline for tummy tuck recovery is typically as follows:

• Week 1-2: Rest and no strenuous activity. Walking is good, but don’t try to lift anything heavy (including a child) or push yourself beyond your limits. Take prescription pain medication as needed.
• Week 3-4: Return to work or school (as long as it doesn’t involve strenuous activity). By this point (or even earlier) you can switch to Tylenol for pain management.
• Week 4-8: Gradually resume exercise routine, but continue to hold off on heavy lifting unless you get the okay from Dr. D’Souza. Light cardio is typically fine. You may still be swollen, so don’t worry if you can’t see your final results yet.

By the third month, you should be mostly healed and able to see your results. There may still be some residual swelling, but it shouldn’t be too noticeable. Residual swelling can take up to 6 months or a year to fully dissipate, so patience is key.

It’s important to stay in contact with Dr. D’Souza and go to all of your follow-up appointments to make sure your recovery is on track. Check with him before deciding to do things like travel by plane, go swimming, or do any lifting at the gym. Even if you feel great, don’t try to do too much too soon or you could compromise your recovery.

How Long Do Tummy Tuck Results Last?

The results from a tummy tuck can last indefinitely, as long as you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Most patients only need one tummy tuck in their life. However, if you put on a lot of weight or have a child after your tummy tuck, your results may be compromised and you may need a revision tummy tuck at a later date.

This is why we always recommend waiting until after you’re finished having children before undergoing a tummy tuck. In addition, we recommend waiting until you’re at a healthy, stable weight that you can maintain.

A tummy tuck is not a magic weight loss tool. It can help repair loose muscles, get rid of loose, sagging skin, and eliminate stubborn excess fat that doesn’t go away despite a healthy diet and exercise routine. It will not actually help you lose weight.

Schedule Your Tummy Tuck Consultation

If you are interested in a tummy tuck, call Carlsbad plastic surgeon Dr. Gehaan D’Souza at 760-691-5165 today to schedule your Consultation. We serve patients in Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, and other areas of northern San Diego.

One of the most common questions we get about tummy tucks is whether or not it’s okay to have kids after one. The answer is that it is perfectly safe to have children after a tummy tuck. However, if you do, you will most likely lose your tummy tuck results and need to have revision surgery to get your flat stomach back.

Dr. D’Souza advises his patients to wait until they are finished having children to undergo tummy tuck surgery. If your family is complete and you are interested in flattening your stomach with a tummy tuck, call us today at 760-691-5165 to schedule your consultation.

When Is The Best Time for a Tummy Tuck?

The best time to have a tummy tuck is around a year or two after having your final child. Your body needs time to heal and recover from childbirth, and you need enough time to lose most of your baby weight before having elective surgery. It is usually not a good idea to try to have tummy tuck surgery within 6 months of childbirth. In most cases, you should wait at least a year.

Things to consider before having a tummy tuck include:

• Have you lost most of your baby weight?
• Do you have someone who can help you look after your baby?
• Are you planning on having any more children?

The closer you are to your ideal weight, the better your tummy tuck results will be. In addition, in order to maintain your results, you need to be at a stable weight that you can realistically stay at or near. Most women are able to lose the majority of their baby weight within a few years, and need a tummy tuck to help repair their abdominal muscles and get rid of excess skin and fat.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a tummy tuck requires a fairly lengthy recovery period. During your recovery time, you will not be able to look after an infant or small child by yourself. Make sure you have a relative or trusted nanny who can help you with your children and household chores while you rest and recover.

What If I’m Not Sure I Want Kids?

If you are interested in a tummy tuck but are not sure if you want to have more children in the future, then you may want to consider going ahead and having the surgery. There are no health risks to having a child after a tummy tuck, so you may want to enjoy the benefits of one for many years before deciding to have another child later in life.

Some women decide to have a tummy tuck despite knowing that they want to have more children in the future, because they think the immediate benefit is worth the risk of needing revision surgery in the future. It’s completely up to you, and we strongly encourage you to discuss this issue with Dr. D’Souza during your consultation.

Schedule Your Tummy Tuck Consultation Today

Schedule your free tummy tuck consultation with Dr. D’Souza today by calling 760-691-5165. We serve patients in Carlsbad, Oceanside, and other nearby areas of northern San Diego.

Gynecomastia is a condition where men develop breasts. It is fairly common, and while it goes away on its own in many men, others are not so fortunate. Gynecomastia can cause intense embarrassment and even depression in men who suffer from it, and may interfere with intimate relationships.

If your gynecomastia is causing problems with your self-esteem and self-confidence, you may benefit from gynecomastia surgery. This surgery can take the form of either simple liposuction or full breast reduction surgery that removes the breast glands and excises excess skin. The end result of gynecomastia surgery is a flatter chest with masculine contour.

Call Dr. Gehaan D’Souza today at 760-691-5165 to schedule your consultation.

Causes of Gynecomastia

The main reason men develop breasts is due to hormonal imbalance. All men have some estrogen, but when estrogen levels in males rise above normal, it can result in breast tissue. There is also another type of gynecomastia called “pseudo-gynecomastia” where the breasts are due solely to fat, not breast tissue. This type of gynecomastia most often occurs in overweight men.

Some of the typical causes of gynecomastia can include:

• Medications which alter hormone levels, such as certain antidepressants
• Hormone changes during puberty
• Hormone changes due to aging
• Anabolic steroid use
• Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism

Gynecomastia Treatment Options

If your gynecomastia is simply due to being overweight, the best treatment may be to lose weight. If you have trouble getting rid of the fat on your chest even after losing weight, liposuction may be an option.

When gynecomastia is due to underlying hormonal imbalance, you should talk with your primary physician to try to find a solution. There may be medications or treatments you can try to get your hormone levels back to normal.

Sometimes, male breasts don’t go away even with medical treatment. In other cases, doctors may recommend a “wait and see” approach to see if the breast tissue goes away on its own. If you are bothered by your gynecomastia and want a fast, visible solution, surgery is probably a good option for you.

Gynecomastia surgery is minimally invasive, using small incisions around the nipple in order to leave the least amount of scarring. Breast tissue and fat are removed through these incisions. In some cases, you may need more extensive surgery, which may require longer incisions. However, Dr. D’Souza will always use the most inconspicuous locations possible for incisions, and most patients feel that the surgery is well worth it even with potential scarring.

Recovery after gynecomastia surgery is relatively quick and painless. You may experience some soreness and swelling, but you’ll typically be able to return to work within just a few days.

Gynecomastia surgery can immeasurably improve the lives of men who suffer from this condition. After your surgery, you can confidently wear tighter-fitting shirts, swim in the pool or at the beach, and you don’t need to be as self-conscious letting a romantic partner see you undressed.

Schedule Your Gynecomastia Surgery Consultation

Take the first step towards a flatter, more masculine chest by calling Dr. D’Souza today at 760-691-5165 to schedule your consultation. We serve patients in Carlsbad, Vista, Oceanside, and other areas of northern San Diego.

Blepharoplasty is another term for eyelid surgery. There are two types of blepharoplasty: upper and lower. Upper blepharoplasty refers to surgery of the upper eyelids, while lower blepharoplasty refers to surgery of the lower eyelids or eye bags.

A blepharoplasty is a great way to rejuvenate tired, drooping eyelids or to reduce the appearance of large eye bags. Upper and lower blepharoplasty can be done separately or together, depending on your individual needs.

If you are interested in rejuvenating your eye area, call Dr. D’Souza at 760-691-5165 to schedule your Consultation today.

Will You Benefit From A Blepharoplasty?

A blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure with a relatively quick recovery time, but it is not for everyone. If you are still fairly young, you may benefit more from a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment or under eye fillers to get you the look you want.

BOTOX® is great for treating crow’s feet, and can be used to slightly lift the brow for a more open eye area. Fillers can be used underneath the eye to add volume to the tear trough, which brightens deep under eye circles and helps fill under eye creases.

The best candidate for a blepharoplasty is someone who:

• Has upper eyelids that are significantly drooping
• Has significant excess skin in the upper eyelids
• Has large bags under the eyes caused by displaced fat pads
• Has drooping lower eyelids

Dr. D’Souza often combines fat grafting with lower blepharoplasty to achieve a beautiful, youthful look. Under eye bags are caused by fat pads under your eyes shifting due to age and gravity, and by removing these fat pads and replacing the lost volume with fat grafting, Dr. D’Souza can achieve a smooth, bright appearance.

Is Eyelid Surgery Covered By Insurance?

In some cases, blepharoplasty can be covered by insurance. You will have to be able to prove that your drooping upper eyelids are causing you serious vision problems. Generally, in order to qualify for insurance coverage on eyelid surgery, you will first need to visit an eye doctor for an exam to determine the extent of vision obstruction your eyelids are causing. Then, you will need to talk with your insurance to find out how much of the procedure they will cover, if any.

If your insurance does not cover your eyelid surgery, we offer plastic surgery financing plans to help you afford the procedure. These financing plans are flexible and allow most people to be able to fit the procedure they want into their budget. Please feel free to ask us about financing during your eyelid surgery consultation.

Schedule Your Eyelid Surgery Consultation

If you want to brighten your eye area and take years off your appearance, call Dr. D’Souza today at 760-691-5235 to schedule your consultation. The eyes are one of our most prominent and noticeable features, and rejuvenating the eye area can make a dramatic difference in how awake and youthful you look.

We serve patients in Carlsbad, Oceanside, and other areas of northern San Diego.

Recovery after breast augmentation performed by Dr. D’Souza is very fast and easy. His Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation® technique ensures that the majority of his patients will not need to deal with the hassle of drains or wraps, and in fact most don’t even need narcotic painkillers – Tylenol alone is usually enough.

Each patient has a different pain tolerance and heals differently, so this technique is not an absolute guarantee. However, it does significantly lower the amount of pain and discomfort experienced after a breast augmentation, and shortens the healing timeline.

If you are interested in breast augmentation in Carlsbad and surrounding areas of San Diego, call Dr. D’Souza today at 760-691-5235 to schedule your consultation.

Breast Augmentation Recovery Timeline

After your breast augmentation surgery, you will need to take some time for recovery. No matter how meticulously your surgery is performed, it is still surgery, and will necessitate time for healing. That being said, Dr. D’Souza is a firm believer in getting back to your daily activities as soon as possible, and he doesn’t want his patients to become reliant on narcotic medications.

Your general timeline should look something like this after surgery:

• The night of: If you’re up to it, go out with a friend or partner for a relaxed dinner or coffee (but make sure to avoid alcohol). This will help you to feel normal, instead of sitting at home focusing on any discomfort you may have.
• The next few days: Take some time off of work so that you can relax and focus on healing well. Try to walk around and perform as many of your everyday activities as you feel comfortable doing, but don’t overextend yourself. Avoid strenuous exercise for a few weeks.
• Three to five days after: Return to work and continue to perform everyday activities you feel comfortable with.
• Two weeks after: You can resume light cardio exercise that doesn’t strain your chest muscles.
• Four to six weeks after: You should be able to resume lifting and more intense exercise at this point. Check with Dr. D’Souza beforehand, though.

Your breasts will be swollen and sit high on the chest at first. Do not be concerned; this is normal. It is also normal for breasts to look asymmetrical after surgery, due to uneven swelling. It can take up to 3 months for breast implants to fully drop into a more natural-looking position, so it’s important to be patient.

Dr. D’Souza cares about each of his patients, and is there for you throughout the recovery process. You can feel free to call our office with any questions or concerns you have. We will schedule follow-up appointments to make sure you are healing well and everything is looking like it should, but if you have an urgent concern, please call us.

Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation

If you are interested in enhancing your figure through breast augmentation, give us a call today at 760-691-5235 to schedule your consultation. We serve patients in Carlsbad, Oceanside, and other nearby areas of northern San Diego.

Dr. Gehaan D’Souza received his training from some of the most prestigious institutions in America, including Johns Hopkins University and the Cleveland Clinic. He has been practicing plastic surgery for years, and he believes that patients should be well-informed about any surgical or non-surgical procedure they are considering.

In this blog, you can expect to find information about our practice as well as the services we offer, including, among others:

• Breast surgery
• Tummy tuck
• Rhinoplasty
• BOTOX® Cosmetic

We believe that education regarding different procedures can help patients to make more informed choices, and to understand what a particular procedure may or may not be able to do for them. It is important to have realistic expectations in line with what your personal anatomy will allow.

Of course, the only way to know for sure whether a particular procedure is right for you is to visit Dr. D’Souza for an in-person consultation. Dr. D’Souza takes great pride in his perfectionism and patient selection, and will let you know honestly which procedures he think would benefit you most. He will also not hesitate to let you know if a procedure you are considering will not get you the results you desire.

Whether you are just starting out in researching plastic surgeons, or whether you are a returning patient, we hope that this blog will be an informative resource for you in your quest to be the best version of yourself.

To schedule a Consultation with Dr. D’Souza, please call 760-691-5235 today. We serve patients in Carlsbad, Oceanside, and other nearby areas of north San Diego.