Blog Archive

 Getting cosmetic treatments is more common than ever, with a five percent increase in a variety of invasive and noninvasive procedures from 2022 (1,498,361) to 2023 (1,575,244). The need for millions of people to look their best has led to liposuction, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty (tummy tucks), mastopexy (breast lifts), and...

Time is relentless when it comes to the changes in our bodies; for years, you’ll feel you’re at your best, and then age starts to affect everything about how you feel and look. As we get older, everything inside and out changes, including our cardiovascular and digestive systems, bladder, memory,...

Cosmetic treatments are as popular as ever, with about 20 million surgical and nonsurgical procedures done annually, and a larger number of adults in their 30s and 40s opting to get some work done. Injectables, a minimally invasive way to target parts of the body through injections of materials, is...

Your skin is also prone to various health problems, including the development of cellulite much to the frustration of people trying to keep weight under control. There’s a lot people tend to get wrong about this substance in your skin, so let’s try to get to the bottom of this...

Hormones are important chemicals in our bodies that affect almost everything about how our bodies work. We often think of them because of their role in our development into adulthood, but our endocrine system creates over 50 different types. Imbalances in our hormones lead to a wide range of problems...

Syringes and the needles used to pierce the skin for injections have existed for hundreds of years (as early as the late 1600s) to help provide medicine and draw blood. Drs. Alexander Wood and Charles Gabriel Pravaz developed the syringe in 1853 to help administer morphine. However, the evolution of...

If you’ve been feeling like your eyes always look tired even after a good night’s sleep, you’re not alone. An eyelid lift or blepharoplasty procedure can rejuvenate your appearance and boost your confidence by addressing sagging or drooping eyelids.  At Advanced Plastic Surgery Center, our specialists understand how excess eyelid...

Many people are unhappy with the shape of their arms. It’s not enough to have a toned rear end or tight abs; you must also have slender, shapely arms. If nature didn’t give you the arms you desire, you still have options. Dieting and exercise can help, but sometimes, neither...

You may have already researched a Brazilian butt lift, and you’re pretty sure that you want to get it done. You’re expecting to have a curvier shape, particularly your backside. But there are a few essential steps between where you are now and achieving the rounder behind that you want....

If you want full, luscious lips, they’re certainly in fashion. But if nature didn’t bless you with naturally plump lips, you can get some cosmetic help to give you what nature didn’t.  You have a couple of options for creating a fuller smile: lip fillers and a lip lift. The...

More is not always better when it comes to your bustline. While some smaller-chested women may envy more bountiful breasts, you know the pain that it can cause your back to carry around. Getting a breast reduction surgery is also called a reduction mammoplasty. This is normally done on an...

Liposuction is one of the most remarkable tools in cosmetic surgery. It’s one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries every year, and for a good reason: the results you can get produce dramatic results.  From reviews of people who have had this procedure, 87% overwhelmingly say it was “worth it,”...

If you’re still in the middle of your childbearing years and you’re not sure whether or not your family is complete yet, you may wonder if you have to live with the changes to your body as a result of pregnancy. You may feel unhappy with some of the changes...

If the skin on your eyelids is sagging, it’s not just a cosmetic issue or an annoying feature you must learn to live with. It can even affect your vision. Some people with this condition have difficulty seeing out of the corners of their eyes (called peripheral vision.) However, you...

You’ve been steadily watching your diet and hitting the gym, but you may feel frustrated by a lack of the results you want to see. While diet and exercise are essential to keep your body healthy, they may not always be enough to target some of your trouble spots. Maybe...

If you have excess fat on your chest, it could form the dreaded “man boobs.” Sometimes, this happens because of genetic factors. Other times, it can be caused by having previously built up your pectoral muscles, then getting lax with the workouts. Regardless of the cause of your “man boobs,”...

If you have large breasts, other people may think it's desirable, but you know about the chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain that often results from a larger bustline. Some people with large breasts are in nearly constant pain. While you could take prescription painkillers to manage the pain, this...

You can remove fat from almost any body part, especially in areas with more fat than you find optimal. Liposuction is a great way to remove fat and get a slimmer appearance. But what you do with the fat we remove in liposuction is up to you. Sometimes, we can do a fat...

Have you spotted vertical lines forming above your lips? These wrinkles are often called “smoker’s lines.” Although smoking is the most common cause, other factors like sun damage can contribute to them as well. Another name for these wrinkles is “perioral rhytides” or “perioral wrinkles,” which simply means that they...

A nose job–a rhinoplasty–remains one of the most common surgical procedures. Most often, this is done to reshape your nose to make it more aesthetically appealing, but sometimes it is done to improve your breathing. While this surgery is common, you may need to figure out what to expect from...

When your eyelids start to droop, it’s usually not a welcome sign. In many cases, it tends to make you look older and more tired. But drooping eyelids aren’t just a cosmetic issue. When your eyelids are drooping, they can interfere with your vision. It can become more challenging to...

Having children is one of the most fulfilling experiences in many women’s lives. But there’s also no question that it also changes your body in ways that you might not feel too happy about. Maybe you’ve considered getting breast augmentation surgery to make your bustline look fuller. But you can’t...

If you’ve wanted to have 6-pack abs but can’t seem to achieve them in the gym, you don’t have to give up on your goal. Many men are discovering that a new technique called high-definition liposuction just might give you the results of your dreams. High-definition liposuction can create the appearance of...

Your neck doesn’t usually get as much of your attention as the rest of your face. Because your neck is subject to many of the same forces that can age your face, like environmental factors and sun damage, this can leave you with a young-looking face but a neck that...

Dermal fillers are one of the most popular cosmetic options for many reasons. It’s a minimally-invasive procedure with a quick recovery time. You may have thought about getting it done, but you may wonder if you can still achieve a natural look with fillers. Fortunately, you can get a natural...

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is one procedure that provides dramatic results. If your eyelids are sagging, they may make it difficult to see. They also can make you look tired, no matter how much you’ve rested, and even like you have aged more than you have. Eyelid surgery is usually...

If you have chosen to have body contouring treatments, you have lots of company. These procedures are very common and are growing in popularity. Many of these procedures are nonsurgical and minimally invasive, so you don’t have to worry about significant downtime for recovery. Some of the procedures are surgical....

If the proportions of your facial features seem to change, that may have to do with the normal aging process. The skin on your face loses elasticity over time, which can cause your features to change unattractively. But you can rejuvenate your face and give yourself a more youthful look...

If you have lost a breast, whether due to cancer or other reasons, you may start thinking about your options for breast reconstruction. You may be surprised to learn that breast reconstruction can produce extremely natural-looking results and may offer something better than you had before. Breast reconstruction is more complicated...

Fat transfer almost sounds too good to be true. You can get liposuction to remove excess fat from unwanted body parts and then transfer it to areas where you want to be a little plumper. Fat transfer is also sometimes called fat grafting. The procedure itself has a lot of advantages....

If you’ve taken on an exercise and diet program and are still unhappy with your results, liposuction could be the answer. It can get rid of your unsightly lumps and bumps, giving your body a smoother appearance.  While liposuction is an excellent answer for many people, it’s not right for...

Having children is one of the highlights of life for most women. But you may not feel as happy about the changes to your body after having children. Even if you have lost most of your pregnancy weight, you probably noticed that your body still looks different. The skin on...

If you’ve always wished for larger, fuller breasts but wondered if you had any alternatives to breast implants, the answer is that you do. Fat transfer can give you plumper breasts without any risks of rejection of implants. Fat transfer is what it sounds like: we take the fat out...

A Brazilian butt lift is a popular cosmetic procedure that uses fat to transfer it to your buttocks. It can give you the appearance of a round, sculpted bottom, which is considered very popular by modern aesthetic standards. But some people have concerns about the safety of this procedure, largely based on...

You may want to transform your body, but you’re wary about going through surgery and the associated recovery time. But you don’t need to get surgery to reshape your body. Several methods of body contouring can dramatically transform your body. Your body goes through several changes throughout your life, from...

You might focus on your eyebrows when you want to enhance your appearance. After all, your eyebrows make a bold statement and can dramatically transform your looks. Especially as we get older, our eyebrows may look more sparse and thin. You can fill in your brows with makeup, of course....

When you’re getting breast implants, you have a lot of significant decisions to make. One of the most important decisions is one of the most basic: saline or silicone implants for your breast augmentation.  Silicone implants sometimes bring up negative connotations, but these concerns are based on outdated beliefs about...

Do people often think that you’re tired when you’re not? Dark circles under your eyes can make you look permanently tired and more disinterested in others. They can even make you look older than you are. If you’ve tried all the over-the-counter eye creams and nothing has helped, you may...

You know that you can do a lot to try to change your physique. You can regularly work out and eat a healthy diet, and it might produce dramatic results. But sometimes, it doesn’t produce the results you want. If you have already put in the effort to eat right...

Having children is often one of the highlights of a woman’s life, but it changes your body in ways that you may not like. Everything about your body may feel softer and may sag. If you miss your pre-baby body, you’re not alone; many women feel the same way. After...

If you think that the only natural way to change your facial appearance is with dermal facial fillers like Restylane® or Juvederm®, think again. You can still smooth out the appearance of wrinkles, fill in sunken cheeks, or even plump up your lips by undergoing a facial fat transfer procedure....

If you have stubborn pockets of fat that you can’t seem to get rid of, a procedure called CoolSculpting® can help. It works by freezing your fat cells in a targeted area of your body. Even better, this procedure doesn’t require any downtime, so you won’t have to face a...

When you’ve been working hard in the gym and still can’t see the results you want to see, high-definition liposuction might be the right answer. You may be able to get the much-wanted “six-pack abs” with a little bit of surgical help. Traditional liposuction still has its place in helping...

Having children is one of the most rewarding parts of a woman’s life. While there’s no question that pregnancy and childbirth are highly worthwhile, you may be less than thrilled by the resulting changes to your body. Fortunately, these changes don’t have to be permanent. A series of cosmetic procedures,...

If the skin around your eyes is sagging, it can make you look older than you are. In addition to looking older, it can also make you look tired, angry, or sad, even when you’re happy and well-rested. An eyelid lift can be the solution that transforms your appearance. The...

If you have small breasts, you may be considering breast augmentation surgery with saline implants. However, you do have an alternate option that offers the benefit of a shorter recovery period. Using the fat transfer to contour your breasts can add volume without implants. While the results aren’t usually quite...

Few things can make you look as dramatically younger as a facelift. While it’s usually considered a fairly significant procedure that also comes with a substantial recovery, most people find that the results are well worth it. A facelift can erase many cosmetic issues like loose and sagging skin, jowls,...

If you’ve tried everything to lose weight and still have an unappealing tummy bulge, you may have wondered if you’re a good candidate for a surgical procedure called a tummy tuck. Also known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck removes the excess fat and loose skin from your tummy and...

A nose job or rhinoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. It can do everything from reshaping your facial symmetry to correcting breathing problems. However, it’s vital to know what to expect from the procedure. It’s also important to know that a couple of different procedures can be...

While many women wish for bigger breasts, women who are large-busted know that it’s not always all that it’s cracked up to be. Larger breasts are heavier, which means that you often experience more back and shoulder pain just carrying their weight.  Many women with large breasts, especially those who...

Plastic surgery procedures can have a dramatic impact on your body’s appearance. One of the procedures we perform includes body contouring, which can eliminate unsightly bumps and areas of loose skin. Almost any area of your body that needs improvement can benefit from body contouring. In addition to helping you...

Choosing to get breast implants is a big decision in itself. You may already know that you’ll likely feel more attractive and self-confident when you have a fuller bustline. But the decision to get implants is only one part of the process. Another aspect that you’ll have to consider is...

Giving birth is one of the most significant moments of your life. But as proud as you may be of your children, most women are often less than thrilled with their bodies’ changes after childbirth. Even if you lose all the weight you gained during pregnancy, your body’s shape has...

If you love the way you look when wearing makeup, it seems like a worthwhile hassle to put it on. There’s no question that it can be time-consuming to apply makeup every day. Permanent makeup seems like the perfect solution: after just one procedure, you can look put-together every day....

You may have noticed some signs of aging started to creep up on you. Perhaps the skin on your neck and chest has gotten a bit looser, or you’ve noticed more sagging on your face. While the only old solution would have been to get a facelift, now you have...

When you hear the phrase “high-definition,” the first thing that may come to mind is of plasma television. While you may not yet be familiar with high-definition liposuction, you should--its results are much sharper than traditional liposuction. That well-defined, even chiseled physique you often seek just can’t be found in...

You may be noticing more visible signs of aging and wondering what you can do about it. Aside from spending a lot of money on expensive creams, you may not think there’s much that can be done to make you look younger. But a procedure called a lip lift is...

Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. Nearly 500,000 liposuction procedures were performed in 2017, a 5 percent increase over 2016. If you’ve been thinking about getting liposuction, you’re in good company. But like all types of cosmetic surgery, liposuction should be approached with caution and well-informed expectations....

You love your kids, and there’s no question having them was worth it. However, pregnancy and nursing change your body in some ways you might not particularly love. For as much as you love your kids, you’re not alone if you miss your old body. Today’s moms want to look...

If you’ve been losing weight, regardless of whether you’re on a medically supervised diet, had bariatric surgery, or are just doing this on your own, having stubborn fat and loose skin on your abdomen can be frustrating and disheartening. The fact of the matter is that everyone has a “trouble”...

Breast Reconstruction After Cancer   Patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer face many choices with regard to both their cancer treatment and reconstruction. During your consultation with Dr. Economides, you will have time to ask any questions that may come to mind to fully understand your reconstructive options. The goal...

Recently, certain textured breast implants have been linked to an extremely rare lymphoma called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).  While the incidence of BIA-ALCL is exceedingly rare, it has been found to be roughly six times higher in Allergan Biocell textured implants.  Accordingly, Allergan has recalled all Biocell...

If acne is getting in the way of achieving healthy and radiant skin, Isolaz® might be right for you! Isolaz®  helps clear existing acne while preventing further breakouts for a healthier looking complexion. Here are five important things to know about our favorite acne treatment: The treatment can benefit all...

If you’re considering breast augmentation to enhance your appearance and improve your self-confidence, you’re not alone. Approximately 400,000 women get breast implants each year, and 75% of those cases are for cosmetic reasons alone. In the D.C. area, many women have trusted our talented team at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center...

What is breast reduction? Reduction mammaplasty, or breast reduction, is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the breast while reshaping and lifting the breast into a more upright and youthful position. For most women, the surgery may be performed as an outpatient and the patient goes home that...