How Plastic Surgery Changes each Summer?
With summer approaching, the kids will be out of school and families take more vacations. Plastic surgery also undergoes a seasonal change. At Bluemont Plastic Surgery, we see this trend take place every year beginning around Memorial Day and ending in mid-September. Here are some plastic surgery procedures where we see an uptick during the summer.
Rhinoplasties
Many college age students have time off from classes. They know they will have time for swelling to dissipate, making July and August popular times for a dorsal hump reduction, or nasal tip elevation. Patients typically wear a nasal splint for one week after surgery, and then restrictions are minimal.
Otoplasty
Otoplasty is a common surgery used to pin back prominent ears. The aftercare of an otoplasty surgery involves wearing a headband to keep the ears back. As otoplasty is more frequent in younger patients, the summer allows time for recovery and healing. Otoplasty incisions are located behind the ears, allowing for easy concealment.
Botox/Dysport
During the sunny summer months, we see an increase in the number of patients who come for neuromodulator treatment – to relax the muscles that cause wrinkles when squinting. In addition to wearing sunglasses and sunscreen, neuromodulator muscle relaxation is a key component to treating and preventing frown lines and crow’s feet. Botox/Dysport treatment takes only 15 minutes, and the effects will last all summer long. Botox/Dysport is also used to treat excessive sweating under the armpits, hands, or feet. Patients have recounted how neuromodulator treatments have given them the confidence to wear cute cocktail dresses again, knowing that copious armpit sweat will no longer be a problem.
Blepharoplasty
We have seen an increase of patients saying their eyes make them look tired. An upper blepharoplasty can be performed in the office – we say it is like going to the dentist, but no one is in your mouth. Extra skin is removed from the upper eyelid under local anesthesia and sutures are removed in about a week. Some patients prefer being completely “asleep” under general anesthesia – where both the upper and lower eyelids can be addressed. Dark circles and hollows under the eyelids can be corrected and loose lower eyelids can be tightened. As blepharoplasty incisions heal very well, summer is an excellent time for eyelid surgery.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is a popular summertime plastic surgery – and the reasons are many. Some patients have underdeveloped breast size and wish to just look to have a shape proportional to their body. Others are looking for increased fullness after multiple pregnancies. We allow our breast augmentation patients to shower the next day and resume activities gradually. While we would recommend patients avoid baths and swimming for at least two weeks, many patients find summer an excellent time for breast augmentation.
Because operating room time is the limiting factor, we do note that some patients miss out and have to put off their procedures till next year or the winter holidays. For that reason, we are seeing many patients book their summer procedures far in advance.
You can find Dr. Domanski’s articles discussing plastic surgery topics in “Your Health Magazine”.
