Menopause Makeover

OP. DR. YUNUS DOĞAN

Pressing “-pause” on aging

Getting older is a privilege some of us take for granted. In our younger years we may have anticipated the next birthday as a stepping stone to growing up and becoming amazing adults. Who doesn’t look forward to sweet 16 and the independence of driving a vehicle? Some American teenagers can’t wait to turn 18 and buy scratch-off lottery tickets. Then in three more years they can make a more exciting gamble with tobacco and/or alcohol. But is that where the fun ends? Do we peak at 21?

The answer depends on your individual perspective. Some people say college/university was the best time of their lives, while others seem to find happiness at advanced ages. Do you know what else can be found as we get older? Wrinkles and saggy breasts! Exercise and nutrition can help with overall physical fitness, but can plastic surgery recover what the hands of time have snatched?

You have probably heard of the Mommy Makeover. (You DO read our blog, right?!) A combination of different plastic surgery procedures to rejuvenate momma after she’s done birthing children, the Mommy Makeover can include breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, tummy tuck, Brazilian butt lift (BBL,) and/or vaginal rejuvenation. Read this by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for more details about the Mommy Makeover.

Grab your quarters for this Fountain of Youth

If your Golden Years are glowing right in front of you but you’d rather not walk toward that light just yet, consider the Menopause Makeover. While it may not contain all of the same procedures as the Mommy Makeover, the Menopause Makeover is tailored to the needs of the aging patient and can include:

• Things to help you put your best face forward like blepharoplasty, facelift and dermal fillers,
• Breast augmentation surgeries like breast lift, breast reduction or breast implants, and/or
• Body contouring procedures like 360 liposuction and abdominoplasty.

As we age, our skin thins and loses its elasticity. We gave you some ideas regarding how to maintain your youthful skin here. If natural, DIY remedies fail to help you pack up those under-eye bags, you might want to consider an eyelift. Also known as blepharoplasty, this type of plastic surgery rejuvenates the upper and lower eye area.

If keeping your eyes on the prize extends past your lids and encompasses your whole face, you may want to talk to your surgeon about a facelift. Botox and other dermal fillers can also help round you out in a youthful way.

As we age, gravity continues to try and keep the breast of us down. A breast lift can bring your girls back up where you prefer them to be and maintain that girlish bounce you desire. Breast reduction surgery can alleviate back pain and make excessively large mammaries more manageable or if you’re pointing in the other direction, consider breast implants.

Have years of improper nutrition caught up to you? Or maybe now that you’re a little older, your shifty metabolism has you on your toes on the bathroom scale. A session of 360 liposuction could be the ticket to a more vibrant body. Just don’t rely on this type of plastic surgery as your maintenance tool. Instead, use it as a catalyst to make THIS time of your life the best time.

Usually paired with abdominoplasty, 360 liposuction can tighten up an aging midsection and remind you of those high school days when you could eat anything you wanted. (Just remember that you’re more, um, mature now, and should be eating a little more healthily and wisely.) A healthy, balanced diet and exercise will benefit you in other ways besides keeping fat off. UK health website Bupa recommends a few ways you can move your body for some actual relief from menopause symptoms.

The last stitch

If you pick the right surgeon, his or her hands can slow the hands of time! Are you wondering if you’re “too old” for plastic surgery? Obviously, we think not, although there are other factors you should consider before you even talk to a surgeon. Put on your reading glasses and skim our tips first.

Some patients are concerned that a little nip-and-tuck might make them stand out for the wrong reasons. If you’re wondering if plastic surgery can be beneficial and still look natural, take a sigh of relief! Discuss this and all your other questions with your chosen surgeon and remember, only you can decide how gracefully and in what manner you want to age.

American actress Frances McDormand said something positive about getting older is that “Your life is written on your face.” What do you see when you look in the mirror? What do you want others to see when they look at you? Is it time to rewrite your story for a happy ending?