Traditionally, December is the month when most plastic surgeons are fully booked.  This is not surprising as most people would like to take advantage of the long vacation, allowing them to enjoy enough rest during their recovery instead of taking a leave off work.

Also, cooler weather (December to March) requires people to wear “bulkier” clothes—this is an advantage to patients who want to conceal swelling and bruising, which are symptoms often associated with facelift, brow lift, neck lift, and liposuction.  Another bonus is that sun exposure can be minimized.

It is important to note that exposing the incision site from the sun can result to hyper-pigmentation and more visible scars.  For this reason, the treated area should be covered by clothing; trousers, scarves, jackets, and even wide-rimmed hats can be helpful in protecting the skin.

On the other hand, people who want to undergo plastic surgery to prepare their body for summer (hello tiny bikinis!) are often recommended to have the procedure in spring (April to June); in this way, they will have enough time to recover and wait for the swelling and bruising to subside.

Liposuction, body lift, breast augmentation, buttock enhancement, and tummy tuck are just some of the most popular pre-summer preparations among plastic surgery patients.

And just like in winter, spring (only applicable in Northern states) allows patients to wear bulkier clothing that can conceal their post-surgical swelling, bruising, and other symptoms; they will also enjoy long holidays and spring break.

By contrast, summer is not a great time to have cosmetic plastic surgery unless for those who want to use their vacation time to recuperate.  But if a patient chooses this season to have her procedure, a reasonable option is to stay indoors, making sure that she stays in an air-conditioned room to enjoy a comfortable recovery.

Patients should remember to stay away from the sun and never hang out in the backyard or poolside (even under the shade) as the heat may still exacerbate the swelling and bruising, which in turn leads to longer recovery.  Also, they run the risk of developing hyper-pigmentation which can darken the incision sites.

Laser resurfacing is particularly not ideal during summer because the treated area should not be exposed under the sun for at least six weeks.

While butt implant surgery is popular among female patients, this procedure is also performed on men who have a deflated-looking “rear.”  However, the most important is that the patients are at least 18 years old and in good physical health.

As with any invasive cosmetic surgery, this procedure starts with consultation that will allow doctors to determine if a patient’s expectations are realistic enough to be attained.  After this, they will conduct physical examination and laboratory testing to determine if a person is suffering from serious health condition that may predispose him to higher risk of complications and delayed healing.

Buttock implant surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and typically as an outpatient procedure that can last two to three hours.  Once the drug has put a patient to sleep, plastic surgeons will make an incision in the buttock crease or along the area where the cheek meets the back of the thigh.

For patients who are concerned with visible scarring, the most recommended incision site is the buttock crease, although this has a higher risk of infection compared to placing the surgical cut along the vertical fold between the thigh and cheek.

Once the incisions are made, doctors create a pocket from each cheek where they can secure the silicone implants.  However, they make sure that the pockets are not too large for the materials to move free and become out of place.

In order to create a natural result, the silicone implants are placed behind the muscles instead at the back of the tissues.  With this placement, a thicker amount of skin and tissue can cover the shell which means that there is a less chance that it will become visible.

Meanwhile, there is a wrong notion that butt implants may rupture or leak inside the buttocks.  First and foremost, these are made of a solid silicone unlike the breast implants which are filled with a silicone gel that may “bleed” out; these are also placed above the “sitting area” so they are not squeezed by a patient’s weight.

After securing the solid silicone implants, plastic surgeons will suture the incisions and apply compression garment around the buttocks in order to support the new contour.

Patients who have enough fatty deposits especially in their abdominal area are an ideal candidate for fat transfer which is noted for its relative safety and almost no risk of allergic reaction.  In many cases, doctors collect fats from two or more sources in order to create a noticeable change in the butt size.

And since the buttock augmentation via fat transfer also involves liposuction, patients can further improve their body’s contour by removing the hard-to-treat, fibrous fats especially in their abdomen.

However, transferring the grafted fats to the buttocks without the proper purification method will only lead to short-lived result.  To purify the fatty deposits, plastic surgeons separate and remove impurities such as connective tissue and blood in order to increase the survival rate of the fat cells between 65 and 85 percent.

It is important to note that the final result of fat transfer varies from patient to patient; for this reason, some of them may need more than one procedure in order to achieve a noticeable result.

Despite the benefits of buttock augmentation through fat grafting, some people are not advised to have this procedure, particularly those who have limited amount of fats or those who want to achieve a significant increase in their buttock size.  For these patients, butt implant surgery is the most ideal approach in which plastic surgeons augment the “rear” using solid silicone, a synthetic material noted for its high tissue compatibility.  (The picture below shows Kim Kardashian who is said to have had butt implant surgery.)

Contrary a popular belief, butt implants will not burst or leak.  First and foremost, these materials are made of a solid, rubbery silicone and they are placed above the “sitting area” so they will not receive the body’s weight.

While butt implant surgery usually provides a more dramatic outcome than fat transfer, this has a higher risk of infection since it uses incisions which may be placed near the buttock crease or in the area between the cheek and back of the thigh.

Through the incisions, plastic surgeons can create a pocket for each cheek where they can place the solid silicone implant.  Meanwhile, most of them prefer the under-the-muscle implant placement (rather than behind the tissue) to create a more natural appearance.

Oneal Ron Morris, 30, and her accomplice Corey Alexander Banks, 40 were arrested and held in Miami-Dade County jail, according to the police report.  The two have extremely disproportionate derriere which is also believed to be injected with cement and other materials that are not compatible with the human tissue.  (See her picture below.)

It is quite appalling for someone to inject cement together with “Fix-a-Flat” tire sealant to the buttocks as a way to augment them.  But what is more appalling is that someone would allow herself to undergo a cosmetic surgery inside a house instead at a hospital or surgical facility.

To be exact, Morris and Eubanks mix a lethal concoction of cement, tire sealant, and mineral oil that was injected to the buttock area.  The small incisions were then closed using an “industrial” glue.

In previous reports, one of the victims said she paid $700 to Morris to receive six injections in her buttocks in order to augment them.  She also claimed that the suspect used superglue to seal the incisions.

It is not surprising that within hours following the procedure, the victim fell sick and was rushed to the hospital to receive revision plastic surgery to correct the deformity.  And to make matters worse, she had also developed pneumonia and drug-resistant infection in her wound—symptoms which commonly occur if the cosmetic surgery is performed by a “fake” doctor.

Right after Morris’ arrest, police said they received several calls from people who claimed that they were also victims of similar botched cosmetic surgeries.

Meanwhile, Morris is still adamant about her innocence and was even quoted saying that the “victims are lying and are just trying to ruin her life.”

Buttock augmentation surgery is becoming popular in the US probably due to the influence of Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and other curvy celebrities.  If performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, the procedure is reasonably safe although this is not the case if conducted by an unlicensed practitioner.

With countless stories of botched surgeries, patients should check if their plastic surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to make sure that they are in good hands.  Perhaps this is the most effective way to avoid becoming a victim of quack doctors like Morris.

In cosmetic plastic surgery, doctors usually perform butt implant surgery under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation that will put their patients to a state similar to sleep.  The procedure is typically conducted as an outpatient basis, although some patients may choose to have an overnight stay at the hospital.

Once the anesthesia has taken its effect, plastic surgeons place an incision along the butt crease or in the region where the back of the thigh and cheek meet.  The butt crease incision has a slightly higher risk of infection than the other surgical site, although this is more preferred because the scars are unnoticeable.

Through the incisions, cosmetic surgeons will create a pocket for each cheek where the implant can be placed.  The pocket is created above the “sitting area” so the implants will not receive the weight of the patients and it will reduce the risk of implant displacement.

To create the most natural result, most plastic surgery specialists prefer to put the solid silicon implants under the muscles—rather than behind the tissue—so the biocompatible materials will be covered by more tissue and skin.

Because of the use of synthetic materials, butt implant surgery involves risks such as rejection and adverse immune reaction.  For this reason, it is important for patients to be physically healthy with no serious medical conditions that may impede the healing process.

After their surgery, patients will experience pain and discomfort which can be alleviated with certain medications, ice packs, and compression garments.  In most cases, they can return to their work within one or two weeks, although full recovery usually takes several months due to residual symptoms.

During their recovery period, patients should avoid strenuous exercises and heavy lifting, however, they should perform stretching exercises that will promote better healing since the muscles will loosen up.

To further promote faster recovery, most plastic surgeons advise their patients to avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time within one week and instead lie on their stomachs during leisure time or while they are sleeping.  By following this post-operative instruction, the incision site will heal faster and the soreness will easily subside.

For patients who want to achieve a significant result, going for silicone implant surgery is one of the most recommended options.  In this procedure, plastic surgeons place an incision along the area where the “cheek” and back of the thigh meets, or along the butt crease where the scars are not as noticeable.

Once the incisions are made, plastic surgeons will create a pocket for each “cheek” where they can position the butt implants.  Ideally, these synthetic materials are placed under the muscle (instead behind the tissue) so there will be more tissue and skin that can serve as a “padding,” thus resulting to a more natural appearance.

After making sure that the implants have created symmetrical cheeks, plastic surgery specialists will then close the incisions with sutures and put compression garment to protect the surgical site.

As with any cosmetic plastic surgery, butt implant procedure requires recovery which may extend for several months, although most patients can resume to their work several days after the operation as long as it is not physically demanding.

Since there is a risk of implant rejection, some patients prefer fat grafting to augment their buttocks.  Called as the Brazilian butt lift, this involves collecting enough fats from the abdomen (or other parts of the body where fats accumulate) and then injecting these to the “back side.”

To increase the survivability rate of the transferred fats, doctors perform purification method that can separate the tissue and blood from the fats.  However, it is important to note that some of the grafted fats will be reabsorbed by the body, which makes the result sometimes unpredictable.

With this consideration, the Brazilian butt lift is only ideal for patients who want to slightly augment their buttocks.

Meanwhile, plastic surgeons also “liquid implants” to increase the butt size.  Some doctors agree that this procedure is safer than using solid silicone implants because there is no incision made in the butt area while providing a permanent solution.  In this procedure, doctors inject the “cheeks” with “liquid implants” through small needles, and as a result, there is no risk of visible scarring.

There are two ways to perform buttock enhancement surgery: through the use of butt implants made of a solid silicone material, and via fat grafting in which plastic surgeons use a patient’s own fats and transfer these to her buttocks.

For patients who want to significantly increase their butt size, the most recommended approach is buttock implant surgery which is typically performed as an outpatient procedure.  In this surgery, plastic surgeons create incisions in the buttock crease or in the area where the cheek meets the back of the thigh; through these incisions, they can create a pocket where they can place the synthetic materials.  (See picture below.)

To reduce the risk of shifting and rupture caused by a patient’s own weight, plastic surgeons place the implants above the “sitting area.”  With this, only the upper poles of the buttocks can appear fuller and not the lower region.

Meanwhile, the implants can be placed either above or under the muscles, although most doctors in LA plastic surgery prefer placing the biocompatible materials below the muscles so that more tissues and skin can serve as a “natural” padding.  However, patients should expect that this implant placement involves longer recovery and more post-operative pain and discomfort.

Patients can expect swelling, pain, and discomfort during the first few days of their recovery.  But after a week or so, most of them can perform “light” activities and return to their work, although full recovery may take three months or even longer.

While butt implants are safe and effective to a significant number of patients, these synthetic materials still involve potential risks such as adverse immune reaction.  With this concern, some people prefer fat grafting over buttock implant surgery, albeit that this approach does not significantly increase the butt size.

Doctors in LA plastic surgery perform butt augmentation through fat grafting by collecting fats to the abdomen, thigh, back, arm, or area where the fatty deposits tend to accumulate.  After this, the collected fats will undergo a purification method to remove impurities such as tissues and blood.

If the purification method is done properly, the transferred fats can have a survivability rate of more than 50 percent (or even higher) and they can last a lifetime or at least for several decades.

Compared to synthetic implants, fat grafting method does not involve any risk of allergy and rejection since there is no introduction of any foreign materials.  In certain procedures, this plastic surgery technique also provides a more natural result compared to the use of body implants.

To increase the survival rate of the collected fats, plastic surgeons perform a complex purification method in order to separate the biomaterials such as the connective tissues and blood to the fats.  This is carefully done to make sure that the fats will not be contaminated by any foreign materials.

Because the biomaterials are separated, a 200cc of fats can only produce 25cc to 40cc of purified fats.  With this, plastic surgeonsusually perform several liposuction procedures if they have to collect more amounts of fats (to reduce the level of surgical trauma) to augment large areas such as the buttocks and breasts.

If fat grafting is performed as a substitute to buttock augmentation and breast enhancement, the fats are injected in several sessions to promote better absorption and ensure symmetrical appearance.  But when treating small areas such as lips, cheeks, and hands, plastic surgeons can perform liposuction, purification method, and fat injection all at the same time.

In most cases, fat grafting is performed under local “twilight” anesthesia that makes people feel sleepy and numb but still awake.  And once the drug has taken its effect, doctors will collect fats from the abdomen, thighs, and areas where the excess fats tend to accumulate.

The result of fat transfer is usually long-lasting, and in some cases, even lasts a lifetime.  However, this procedure is usually performed several times since a significant amount of fats are absorbed by the body, leaving about 40 percent in place.

The best candidates for this plastic surgery procedure are patients between the age of 30 and 70 who have shriveled hands, downturned and thinning lips, hollowed cheeks, and sunken eyes.  This treatment is also ideal to women who want to augment their buttocks or breasts without the use of body implants.

Despite the countless benefits of fat grafting, this is not ideal or even possible to patients who have limited body fats.  If this is the problem, surgeons usually recommend implants to these people.

For this reason, patients with buttocks that are almost flat will benefit more with butt implant surgery which uses a solid silicone implant to augment the area and create a shapelier body.  But with the introduction of synthetic material, people should remember that this plastic surgery involves risk of adverse reaction and rejection.

In most cases, plastic surgeons conduct buttock implant surgery as an outpatient procedure and under general anesthesia.  Typically, the procedure takes two to three hours to complete.

To insert the implants and create “pockets” where these can be positioned, plastic surgeons create incision along the butt crease (where the scars are not noticeable) or in the area where the “cheeks” and back of the thighs meet.

Meanwhile, most plastic surgery specialists prefer placing the silicone implants under the muscles (rather than behind the tissue) so the tissue and skin can serve as a natural padding.  This implant placement is particularly ideal for patients with an almost flat “behind.”

Once the cheeks look symmetrical, plastic surgeons will then close the incisions and place compression garment which can support the new contour and protect the surgical site from impact.

Some patients think that if they sit on the implants, these may leak or rupture.  Fortunately, this will not happen since the implant is made of a solid silicone and not cohesive gel like the breast implants.  Also, there is no chance that they will sit on their implants because plastic surgery specialists place these above their “sitting area.”

But with the placement of the implants, it is important to note that the surgery will only augment the upper region of the butt and not its side or lower part.

As with any cosmetic surgery, this procedure does carry some risks, although these can be avoided by following the pre- and post-operative instructions of doctors.  This surgery also requires recovery which may take several months, however, most individuals can return to their work a week after their operation (as long as it is not physically demanding).

It is also important for patients to have a normally functioning immune system and physically fit body.

Cosmetic plastic surgery procedures that influence changes in diet and exercise often include:

• Liposuction

Plastic surgeons say liposuction is not a means of weight control. But once the bothersome pockets of fat are gone, many decide to devote more time to exercise.

A University study shows why: 209 people who had liposuction between 1999 and 2003 were studied. Later, 43 percent gained around five and 10 pounds. Among this group, only 10 percent increased their exercise level while 22 percent consumed a better diet.

But of the 57 percent who gained no weight, 35 percent said they exercised more while 50 percent ate better foods.

• Buttocks augmentation

When a man or woman’s derriere is made more round and shapely, these patients also take up exercise to maintain the new look. Many are rewarded because they can again wear – and look good in — stylish clothing.

• Tummy tuck

These patients also look good again in clothing and are rewarded during beach season and at poolside.

• Lap band procedure

After the procedure, patients experience what doctors know as massive weight loss, or MSL, for short. Studies reveal these patients experience a much better love life and take up sports and other activities they once had to give up.

• Body Shaping

After losing massive amounts of weight – like 100, 150 or more pounds – the patient is usually left with stretched skin hanging from their bodies and limbs. The hanging skin makes it difficult to move and creates health problems due to sheets of skin rubbing together.

But after body shaping, the loose skin is no longer in the way, the skin problems go away and they also can again take up activities like jogging, roller blading or bike riding.

Clothing is also much easier to find.

What activities do you think best keep you in shape after surgery?