Beautiful Breasts After Mastectomy

If you have undergone breast reconstruction following a mastectomy you may wish to complete your new breast/s with a reconstructed nipple areola complex.

Ocean Clinic Marbella offers two nipple areola reconstruction methods – reconstruction using tissue or a 3D nipple tattoo (micropigmentation). Read on to discover more about each technique…

Nipple areola reconstruction using tissue

Around three to four months after breast reconstruction surgery, once your new breast/s has had time to heal, you can have a simple surgical procedure to recreate a nipple from existing breast skin.

The surgeon makes small incisions around the site where the nipple would usually be located in order to create several flaps of skin. This skin is then elevated and shaped into a nipple mound.

The areola can be recreated with skin taken from elsewhere on the body, such as the inner thigh or buttock crease. 

The new nipple and areola is then tattooed to simulate the natural colours, which will be matched to your existing nipple in the case of singular mastectomy. 

Nipple areola reconstruction using 3D micropigmentation

It is also possible to reconstruct the nipple areola non-surgically, via 3D micropigmentation (also know as medical tattooing). This allows colour pigmentation to simulate the nipple areola without the contour of an actual nipple.

Biopigments are tattooed permanently into the skin’s epidermis with a thin, sterilized needle. Our skilled micropigmentation specialist is able to use pigment in shades that make the flat tattoo look three-dimensional.

The result can be highly lifelike and this method avoids the need for further surgery, which patients may prefer following the trauma of mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Micropigmentation of each nipple takes between 45 to 60 minutes and is not painful. 

3D micropigmentation in other breast surgeries

Micropigmentation can also be used to correct areola asymmetries following breast augmentation or reduction or to restore pigment in white scar tissue around the areola.

If the patient has suffered from areola necrosis, micropigmentation can also be used to reconstruct the nipple.

Equally, micropigmentation can be used independently of surgery, where patients desire to change the shape or colour of their areolar. As women age, areola tone begins to fade however Micropigmentation can be used to restore youthful colour. This technique can also be used to correct nipple areola asymmetries, which often appear at puberty, or simply improve on a patient’s natural shape.

Reconstruction of the nipple areola helps put the finishing touches on your new breast after a long journey in reconstruction. To find out more, book a free consultation.

Do Your Hands Give Away Your Age?

As we age, we often fret over lines and wrinkles appearing on our face. In fact, facelifts are one of the most frequently requested procedures here at Ocean Clinic Marbella.

However, there is another part of our body, which can give away our age just as accurately – our hands. Hands can even make us look older than we actually are, because they can be prone to premature aging.

The good news is, there are an increasing number of hand rejuvenating treatments that can turn back the hands of time. Read on to find out more…

Why hands can age prematurely

Hands are the workhorses of the body – in constant use and exposed to sunlight, water and soap more than any other part of the anatomy.

In addition to this, the skin on the backs of the hands is thinner than elsewhere, which is why hands can age even faster than the face. Those with pale skin are particularly prone to premature ageing of the hands because sun exposure plays a big role in the ageing process.

The first signs of age tend to show on our hands around age 30. At this point skin-cell production decreases by 10%, making skin less efficient at repairing itself. Skin can become wrinkly and crepe-like and dry out more easily.

And because there is very little fat on the backs of the hands, they can also quickly lose plumpness as collagen and elastin breakdown. This causes veins, tendons and knuckles to look more prominent, giving the appearance of old hands.

Rejuvenating treatments for ageing hands

Ocean Clinic Marbella offers three different treatments that help improve the appearance of ageing hands:

    

·      Injectable fillers

·      Restylane Skinboosters

·      Fat grafting

·      Chemical peel

All three are non-surgical cosmetic procedures, performed on an outpatient basis and require no downtime.

Injectable fillers

To plump out hands that have lost volume we can use the same wrinkle-filling injections that are used on the face, such as JUVEDERM, Restylane or Emervel.

Once injected, the filler is massaged across the back of the hand to plump up and fill in the entire area, and smooth out wrinkling. It is a very low risk treatment and takes less than 20 minutes.

Results can last significantly longer than fillers injected in the face because the back of the hand has fewer muscles and less muscle activity capable of breaking down the filler. Patients may only need to visit for a top-up every couple of years.

Restylane Skinboosters

Before

After

Restylane Skinboosters can be used to improve the quality of the skin on the hands, increasing its smoothness, elasticity, thickness and firmness.

Each treatment involves a series of hydrating microinjections of long-lasting hyaluronic acid, also called stabilised HA, a water-loving substance found naturally in the body that maintains hydration in the skin. 

The hyaluronic acid is injected into the skin over a course of three treatments, each approximately four weeks apart. Results last around six months and the treatment can also be used alongside fillers to achieve an enhanced result.  

Before

After

Fat grafting

We can also replace lost volume in the backs of your hands with your own fat.

Donor fat is taken from another area of the body, such as the stomach or thighs. Only a small amount of fat is required and it is removed with a very fine needle-like cannula.

It it is transferred to the hands via microinjection; tiny droplets are injected, ensuring the fat is spread smoothly and evenly across the backs of the hands.

Using a patient’s own fat as a filler offers a number of benefits. The fat is transplanted as living cells – 40 to 60% of which are able to obtain a blood supply and become permanent tissue. This means that the appearance of the hands is improved permanently.

In addition to filling and plumping, the transplanted stem cells also help improve the texture of the skin, improving the appearance of crepeness.

Chemical peel

Liver spots, also known as age spots, are another sign of ageing hands. These brown freckles are caused by sun exposure and are very common amongst sun worshipers here on the Costa del Sol!

To help reduce the appearance of liver spots, and also fine lines, we can carry out a light chemical peel. A chemical peel removes the top layers of skin, to reveal new skin underneath and stimulate collagen production.

You will probably need two to three treatments at two to four week intervals to achieve optimum results. The treatment is very easy to carry out and will not prevent you from using your hands. Your hands will, however, be especially sensitive to the sun after treatment, so it is important to protect them with a high SPF sun cream.

Keeping your hands youthful

Frequent washing of hands and exposure to the elements strips them of their protective oil mantle, so it’s vital to replace lost moisture with a good hand cream.

Look for creams with ingredients such as shea butter, macadamia nut oil, olive oil, vitamin E, and glycerine, and moisturise your hands at least once a day (just before bed is best).

To keep hands looking young it’s also important to protect them from the sun. If you’re going outside (even if it’s cloudy) apply sunscreen to your hands, and re-apply each time you wash them.

Would you like younger looking hands? Contact us for a consultation and find out what we can do for you.

Kick-Start New Year Weight Loss with a Gastric Balloon

Ocean Clinic is delighted to announce its partnership with Dr. Michael Peters, an experienced gastroenterologist and internal medicine specialist.

Dr. Peters will be expanding the range of treatments on offer at Ocean Clinic Marbella with the addition of gastric balloon endoscopy, which offers a safe, temporary aid to weight loss. 

What is a gastric balloon?

A gastric balloon is a silicone balloon filled with between 500 and 700 millilitres of sterile solution, which is inserted into a patient’s stomach to help them lose weight.  The balloon fills up half of the stomach so there’s not much room left for food. This means the patient will feel full quickly.

What kind of patient is suitable for gastric balloon treatment?

The balloon can be used in two ways. The first is for extremely obese patients with a BMI (body mass index) of 34 or over. They can use the balloon to lose weight before having a gastric bypass operation, where they have part of their stomach removed. They need it to be fit for the operation because the risk is increased the heavier they are.

The second way it can be used is to help moderately overweight people who are struggling to lose weight. The balloon is licenced for people with a BMI starting at 28. The balloon is ideal for them because they can loose between 10 to 15 kilos in six months. During this time, people are very aware of what they eat and drink. It helps them focus on their nutrition and start making lifestyle changes.

How is gastric balloon treatment carried out?

The treatment is carried out in hospital because we need to protect patients’ airways when we insert or remove the balloon and it requires a general aesthetic. The operation involves two gastroscopies, one to put the balloon in and another one to remove it after 6 months. These gastroscopies (or upper endoscopies) take in total about an hour from coming in and leaving. You wake up feeling like you’ve had a nice sleep.

Are there any risks involved?

We’re using the balloon that’s been on the market for the longest time and is totally safe for up to six months. It’s removed after six months because if it’s left longer ruptures could appear.

The balloon is filled with blue liquid and if it ruptures the blue colour will appear in the patient’s urine so they know immediately and we can remove it. The risk is that the balloon travels into the intestine, where it could cause a blockage, but this is truly rare.

Can you feel the balloon inside your tummy?

At the beginning people say yes, but after a couple of days it settles in the right spot and then people don’t notice it any more. They only know that they start eating something and after a couple of spoons they’re full. They don’t have any desire to eat anything more and that’s how it works.

How quickly does weight loss start?

Immediately. Patients lose weight every day – roughly half a kilo to a kilo per week. People are extremely enthusiastic about that, but that’s the easy bit. The hard bit is changing their lifestyle and understanding how they’re going to maintain their weight after the balloon is removed.

Do patients on a restricted diet suffer from low energy or any other side effects?

They shouldn’t. Even the small stomach has enough room for them to feed properly. We do blood checks after four to six weeks to check there’s no misbalance and we have regular follow ups to make sure they’re eating well and getting all their nutrients. 

When the balloon is removed does normal appetite instantly return?

Yes it does. People will put on some weight after it’s removed. It’s vital patients learn during the six months how to eat well, manage their food and how to integrate sport into their daily life, so they can maintain their weight loss.

Do you help people to adjust their lifestyle?

In the follow-up appoints we talk about what they eat and how often they eat. They don’t have to count the calories – the important thing is they eat a balance diet of fresh, unprocessed food.

If necessary we can organise a personal trainer and a nutritionist to help the patient in adjusting their diet. We can also arrange for them to see a psychologist. Some patients need that more than anything else in order to learn how to control their anxiety or desire to eat.

The balloon gives patients six months to change their habits. After that time, if they’re not ready to go it alone or want to wait a bit longer before having a gastric bypass they have the option of another gastric balloon.

Gastric balloon surgery at Ocean Clinic Marbella starts at €4,500 including monthly follow-ups with the doctor. Contact us for a consultation.

A Patient’s Experience of Checking in for Treatment at Ocean Clinic

Eloise Long recently travelled from the UK to Spain, to have rhinoplasty at Ocean Clinic Marbella. She talks about her experience, from initial consultation through to cast-removal.

Why did you choose to have your cosmetic surgery at Ocean Clinic Marbella?

A friend of mine recommended Dr. Kaye and said he had a very good reputation. This was very important to me because I had already had rhinoplasty in the UK, which I was unhappy with. I’d also had a revision, which still didn’t correct the problem, so I needed a surgeon I could trust.

There’s only a certain amount of times you can have your nose done. You don’t want to risk it collapsing, and unfortunately, the surgery was going to be much more complex because of the previous operations.

I also wanted to keep out of the way of friends and family at home by recovering abroad. In terms of cost, it was better value than having it done at home but that wasn’t my main reason for coming to Spain.

Why were you unhappy with the cosmetic surgery you’d had in the UK?

I had surgery four years ago; I was just meant to have lump removal – minor surgery, really, but afterwards the lump was still there. I had a revision a year later and the lump was still there. When I compared my nose with pre-surgery pictures it looked exactly the same.

This time I wanted a dramatic change and decided to have a curve put in.  I wanted to find a surgeon who could give me what I wanted.

Have you found the standard of care in Spain to be any different to that which you experienced in the UK?

It’s been much better here. The staff have been absolutely amazing, so kind and so caring. In the UK, everyone was a bit more clinical, a bit colder.  Everyone here has been very friendly and that’s very important as you do need to feel very cared for.

The staff were also really accommodating to my husband, letting him stay with me. He could have stayed overnight if he wanted, which is something that wouldn’t have happened in England. It made me feel so much better that he was there with me.

The other difference I found was in the management of pain relief. Here, the team did everything they could to make me comfortable, but back home they weren’t so concerned.

What did you think about the facilities at Ocean Clinic?

The facilities were brilliant. One thing I didn’t have before was an ice mask and I think it’s really aided my recovery. I’ve had swelling but hardly any bruising. Previously the surgeon said he’d never seen someone bruise so badly, so I think keeping the ice mask on really made a difference.

My room was really luxurious and the food was also amazing. I had a prawn and avocado salad for a starter and then salmon with dauphinoise potatoes.

What did you think about Dr. Kaye?

Dr. Kaye had a really warm and friendly persona. I was also reassured by the fact he takes good care of his appearance. It’s like going to a hairdresser with bad hair; you just wouldn’t trust them so much.

I was confident in his abilities. At the first consultation he drew on a picture of me, explaining what he thought should be done and he just got it, without me needing to explain.

He also did a virtual simulation for me and we went back and forth on that until he had a good understanding of what I wanted.

He explained a lot of things to me in the pre-surgery consultation to manage my expectations. He explained that you have to match up the nose to the face – for example, you can’t have a dead straight nose if your lips are off centre. There has to be symmetry.

After surgery, he had a lot of confidence in his work, which also reassured me.

How did you find the recovery?

I was allowed to go home the day after surgery. I was staying in an apartment nearby. The first couple of days I was quite swollen, but I was amazed at how quickly my face returned to normal and how little bruising there was. I was even able to get on with work on my laptop and that kept me really busy.

I had to keep the splint on my nose, so I didn’t want to go out much, but I did go for a couple of walks. I would have preferred to be at home, with my dogs and my home comforts, but I don’t have any regrets about coming to Spain.

The climate has been nice for my recovery. Winter is the ideal time to come to Spain for surgery, as it’s sunny but not too hot. The views and the beauty of the place has been nice, too. I was trying to view the trip as a retreat, although it has been hard as I’m a bit of a workaholic and I find it difficult to take it easy.

You were able to return to Ocean Clinic 10 days later to have your cast removed. Were you happy with the results?

I was prepared for it to be quite swollen underneath – I know that you won’t see the full results of a rhinoplasty for up to a year – but I could immediately see that I had the curve I so badly wanted. I was absolutely delighted!

Dr. Kaye is an excellent surgeon and I would definitely recommend Ocean Clinic to other people.

Thinking about cosmetic surgery? Book a consultation and discover Ocean Clinic Marbella for yourself.

8 Ways to Help Prepare Your Body Prior to Cosmetic Surgery

If you have decided to take the plunge and book your cosmetic procedure, you’ll no doubt be looking forward to your surgery date with a mixture of excitement and nerves!

You may well be wondering if there’s anything you can do to make sure you’re in good shape for undergoing surgery, or if there are any vitamins or supplements you can take to aid the healing process post-operatively.

In addition to eating well, exercising and getting enough rest, there are a number of complementary medicines and vitamins you can take to help prepare your body. There are also some that you should avoid.

Here are Ocean Clinic Marbella’s top 8 actions you can take to ensure you’re in tip-top condition before surgery, and speed up your recovery after.

1) Stop Smoking

For better healing, avoid smoking in the weeks before surgery. The nicotine found in cigarettes increases the level of a pituitary hormone called vasopressin, which causes tightened blood vessels. This leads to decreased blood flow and results in poorer and more prolonged healing.

Of course, if you have undergone surgery with the aim of looking younger, you should stay off the cigarettes for good, because many studies have proven that smoking exacerbates the formation of wrinkles.

2) Use Arnica

Although science is yet to definitively prove the effectiveness of arnica, a herbal remedy, many people believe it can reduce bruising.

You can start taking arnica pills 48 hours before surgery, and continue taking them for 7-10 days. In many patients, this herb appears to lighten dark bruising, especially after rhinoplasty or blepharoplasty, and makes it easier to use concealer and resume normal social activities. You may also apply arnica topically as a cream.

3) Start taking vitamin C and zinc

Vitamin C is important for the formation of collagen (i.e. healing tissues) and will speed up wound repair. Studies also indicate that vitamin C helps prevent surgical shock.

Take 1,000-1,500 mg for three days before surgery and, because surgery depletes your body of vitamin C, up the dosage to 2,000-2,500 mg for two weeks after.

Zinc also plays a major role in wound healing, so increase your zinc intake to 30–50 mg for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery.

Starting three days after surgery, you can also begin taking 250 mg of vitamin B6 twice a day. Use it for a week to reduce post-surgical fluid retention that can cause swelling.

4) Stop taking vitamin E

You should stop taking vitamin E around two weeks prior to surgery. This is because it is a blood thinner. Thin blood can lead to increased bleeding during surgery and impair healing afterward. If you’re taking multivitamins, check the label to see if they contain vitamin E and discontinue use if it’s a high dosage.

Other minerals and supplements that may affect bleeding and should be avoided include fish oil, dong quai, feverfew, cayenne, flaxseed oil, niacin, bilberry fruit, ginseng and ginko biloba.

5) Don’t pop painkillers (or diet pills)

If you have an ache or pain in the run up to your surgery don’t reach for the aspirin or ibuprofen because they may inhibit blood clotting and cause extra blood loss during and after surgery.

Avoid any medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen for 10 days before your procedure. Many medications for colds, flu, headaches and other ailments contain aspirin, so it’s important to read the label. If you need a painkiller, choose paracetamol or one that’s paracetamol-based.

Diet pills commonly contain ephedra, which helps control appetite, however it can also interfere with blood pressure and heart functions so should be avoided for at least 48 hours before surgery.

6) Try a bromelain supplement

Like arnica, bromelain is a natural substance believed to speed up the surgical recovery process. Bromelain, a digestive enzyme, is derived from the stems of the pineapple plant and is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling.

It should be taken twice a day, on an empty stomach, for 3 days prior to surgery, and continued for 7 days following surgery. Bromelain can also be taken in conjunction with arnica.

7) Avoid cooking with garlic and ginger

Garlic and ginger are another two things to be avoided before surgery because they also have blood-thinning properties and are associated with cardiovascular risk.

Used as seasoning in small amounts they are fine, but you should stay away from consuming food or drink rich in garlic or ginger, such as garlic prawns or fresh ginger tea. You should also discontinue taking any garlic or ginger supplements.

8) Give up these herbal supplements

Many commonly taken herbal remedies or natural supplements can actually be potentially dangerous for those undergoing surgery. It is vital you tell your surgeon about anything you have been taking (not just prescription medications).

For example, Kava, St. John's wort and Valerian root have a sedating effect that can prolong the effects of anesthesia.

Meanwhile, supplements that can interact with other drugs and pose a potential risk include echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, Kava, Valerian and St John's wort.

In addition, St. John's wort and dong quai increase photosensitivity, which can be especially problematic for patients having laser skin procedures.

Because there are so many different types of supplements available, and not enough research has been conducted regarding their safety when it comes to undergoing surgery, the best advice is to quit all herbal supplements two weeks prior to your procedure.

Follow these 8 steps and you are giving yourself the best chance of a quick recovery. Don’t panic if you have taken anything you’re advised not to, simply speak with your surgeon for reassurance – in most cases it won’t prevent you from having surgery.