Abacoa & Alton Neighbors - April 2021

A p r i l 2 0 2 1 | Abacoa &Alton N E I G H B O R S 9 Defying Gravity By Craig M. Forleiter, MD I have always valued friendship and pride myself on being a good one. I am loyal. I can keep a secret. I always call you back. Perhaps the greatest testament to that is the trust my friends put in me when discussing their own bodies. Most people don’t wake up one morning and decide, “I’m going to get cosmetic surgery!” Long before someone stands in front of me in an exam room, they have already stood in front of their own mirror. They have googled. They have lifted parts of their body up to where they feel they once were. Whether via text, phone call, or even Instagram direct message, dozens of my friends and their spouses have reached out to discuss very personal things that are bothering them. I love being the first line of defense and relish in the opportunity to reassure someone I care about, who may be in a very vulnerable state, that what they are experiencing is totally and completely NORMAL. In my previous piece, we discussed how the process of facial aging affects us all similarly. It is no secret that pregnancy and the subsequent postpartum weight loss yield some often undesirable changes in shape and form in their wake. Most women have tried various pieces of “shape wear” to help achieve a smoother, lifted look in their clothing, but we can offer options to achieve that look without having to wrestle into SpanxÒ or push-up bras. To be absolutely clear, these changes are normal and beautiful, and nothing NEEDS to be done whatsoever. But for those women who are interested, there are many interventions just waiting for your inquisitive mind to uncover. A “Mommy Makeover” is a term given to the group of surgeries performed on the breasts and body to restore a pre- pregnancy shape. Many of my friends think they need breast implants, but what they really need is a breast lift. For deflated breasts, we can discuss implants. For a change in nipple position, we can discuss breast lifts. Many patients need both, but not all! For excess abdominal or thigh fat, we can discuss liposuction. For post-pregnancy excess skin, we can discuss tummy tucks. Again, many patients think they need one, but would be better served with the other. Some of my patients are extremely fit, but have one “problem area,” such as their lower abdomen or inner thighs. For them, we can consider noninvasive options with less downtime, such as CoolSculpting. With so many confusing buzz words out there, it all starts with an honest consultation with a non-judgmental and enthusiastic surgeon you can trust. Your surgeon should be warm, honest, helpful, and make you feel heard and valued. You should feel comfortable. He or she should call you back. If something is bothering you and “Dr. Google” is leaving you with more questions than answers, give our office a call. The qualities you look for in a plastic surgeon should absolutely overlap with the qualities you look for in a friend. EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR ARCH MORTGAGE CORPORATION Buying or Refinancing.... call your Mortgage Broker for Life! 2560 RCA Blvd. Ste 114, PBG, FL O: (561) 775.2724 ~ C: (561) 262-5626 ARCH MORTGAGE Steven Maione President “27 years of Service with Integrity!” steve@archmortgage.com ~ archmortgage.com N MLS 334279-184989