It’s our muscles that move us—each time you blink your eyes, take a step forward or cram your carryon bag into the overhead bin, it’s your muscles that make it happen. We should do our best to maintain them, both through exercise and innovations like TruSculpt Flex

Research from the Biochemistry and Molecular Exercise Physiology Lab at Cal State Fullerton reveals that the amount of muscle on your body’s frame is an indicator of longevity and health. Their 2017 study finds that lean muscle mass is a better predictor of overall health than BMI (body mass index). Echoing this finding, The Lancet published a study in 2015 that suggests grip strength can more accurately predict death by heart disease more than blood pressure. 

Here are four reasons to increase your muscle mass for a healthier, longer life:

1. Muscle Mass Combats Obesity

Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. That’s why there is a diet section in every lifestyle magazine, and exercise equipment is a hot retail item year-round. When energy intake (calories consumed) outstrips energy expenditure, body fat increases, and muscle mass decreases. 

We burn calories with our 5,000 daily steps and spin cycles, but did you know you also burn calories while “at rest?” Muscle mass contributes to our “resting metabolic rate,” or the amount of energy burned while sitting behind the computer or even sleeping.  

If you’re building your strength, you’ll soon be losing weight. And strengthening any muscles helps. Overall toning achieved through yoga and pilates is just as effective as bicep curls, squats, and bench presses. When you spend 30 to 40 minutes per week in muscle-toning and building activities, you can really enjoy your downtime because you know you’ve optimized your resting metabolic rate.

2. Muscle Mass Helps You Battle Illness

When your body confronts a sickness, it requires protein to fight the illness. As a key structural component for all tissues, protein keeps the organs functioning properly. We get protein from our diet, but it’s stored in our muscles to be distributed to the heart,  liver and other organs as needed. If you have insufficient protein stored in your muscles, the body begins breaking down the muscles themselves to feed the organs.

3. Muscle Mass Contributes to Stronger Bones

Frailty or osteoporosis is a major concern for men and women as they get older. Falls and accidents lead to breaks, hospital stays and a spiral of life-threatening issues. Mobility may become an issue after a mishap, as well. The Mediterranean Intensive Oxidant Study found that lower skeletal muscle mass correlates with weaker bones in older men. Optimal muscle mass, on the other hand,  correlates with stronger bones.

4. Muscle Mass Protects Against Insulin Resistance

Excess fat creates too much glucose in the system. When the human body can’t flush the blood of excess glucose because of fatty free acids, insulin resistance follows. Type 2 diabetes results when insulin resistance becomes significant over time. An increase in muscle mass can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes by ensuring a better ratio of fat to muscle and reducing glucose levels.

When Diet and Exercise Fall Short

The older we get, the tougher it is to maintain optimal muscle mass. Diet and exercise are crucial to maintaining peak health but may fall short in attaining body contouring goals or removing excess fat from certain parts of the body. TruSculpt Flex is a non-invasive body contouring procedure that uses electrical muscle stimulation to increase Muscle Mass. 

If you would like more information on how you can build muscle and get leaner, contact board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. David Dreyfuss to schedule a consultation today.

There are few procedures which improve body contours like a tummy tuck. Eliminating excess skin and fat and reinforcing the abdominal wall will pay huge dividends not only in addressing cosmetic concerns but also increases confidence and self-esteem. Because the operation involves wide-ranging correction to the abdomen, it requires extensive recovery to ensure a successful outcome. Sleeping is an integral part of the body’s medicinal course toward healing and should be taken seriously after tummy tuck surgery. 

One of the challenges for patients is to find a comfortable sleep position after surgery and to prepare your home to make you as comfortable as possible. Because surgeons often combine liposuction with a tummy tuck, it makes sleeping comfortably all the more difficult.  Here are some helpful hints to make sure you get the rest and sleep you need during tummy tuck recovery. 

Get Ahead of the Pain After Surgery

When you wake from a tummy tuck, you may experience some discomfort, especially after your anesthetic wears off. If this happens, you should ask for something in the recovery room to relieve the pain. When you get home, start taking your prescribed pain meds immediately as directed to get ahead of the pain. Next, take as directed for the next few days until you feel confident you can manage without the pills. This medication will help you sleep as well, so if your struggling to sleep at night, they can be used as a sleep aid for the first week or two. 

After one week of taking your medication, you should look to wean yourself off. The healing process will advance quickly with the need for pain medication decreasing daily. 

Don’t Sleep Lying Flat

Extending your body straight from head to toe may put pressure on your incisions and hamper their healing. It’s best to find a comfortable position that relieves this pressure and allows those sutures to stay in place without any pulling or stretching. Although sleeping on your side may be acceptable, many may find themselves tossing and turning, which can cause wounds to be pulled or open. Because you can’t sleep on your tummy, we recommend finding the most comfortable position on your back. 

Recliners offer the optimal position to ensure there is little to no pressure on your wounds. The head is slightly lifted with the knees up and the buttocks down. This position is ideal for healing but may not be the best for many to fall asleep. To prepare for your surgery, you may want to start sleeping in this position before your tummy tuck to get used to sleeping soundly like this before your recovery. 

If you don’t own a recliner, you can create the same scenario with incline or horseshoe pillows designed to elevate certain parts of your body. Many patients feel a large, body-sized horseshoe pillow will give them the position they need in their bed. Using a large pillow under the knees will give you the best position in your lower extremities as well.  

Prepare Your Home 

It’s essential to have everything you need within reach when you get home after surgery. Water, snacks, reading material, digital devices, and remote controls should be within arms reach in a spot where you can get comfortable. This convenience will help you fall asleep throughout the day while you recover at home. 

Although you should walk gingerly at least once a day after surgery, you should make sure you have a comfortable resting area where you can sleep undisturbed. 

Learn More

If you would like more information about tummy tuck surgery and its recovery, contact us today and schedule a consultation

Call us at 815-806-9400 or Contact Us Today!

The success of your plastic surgery procedure is an important deciding factor for your entire plastic surgery experience. The more enriching and productive your consultation is, the better you’ll be able to understand the entire process and the more comfortable you’ll be. So how do you ensure a successful plastic surgery consultation? Let’s look at 5 ways you can prepare for your consultation to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible.

  1. Do Your Research

The best way to go into your procedure with eyes wide open is to do some preliminary research before your consultation. Learn some basic details about your procedure. Why is that procedure effective for a certain condition? You should learn about what to expect, what will happen during the procedure, and what your results will be like.

  1. Bring Questions

You can show your surgeon that you’re ready and serious about the procedure by bringing a set a questions and concerns to the consultation. Having questions at the ready is a great way to make sure you’re informed about the details that are important to you. Once you ask basic questions about the procedure and what to expect, you and your surgeon can dive into a more complex and detailed discussion about plastic surgery.

Your surgeon is also an unbelievable important part of your plastic surgery journey, and it’s essential that you get to know them better. Plan on asking questions like “What’s your experience with this procedure?” or “How many times do you perform this procedure a year?” Establishing trust with your surgeon is an essential step before your procedure, so make sure you feel comfortable with them before moving forward in your plastic surgery journey.

  1. Gather Your Medical Records

You should come to your consultation with detailed records of your medical history. This medical history should include your history with certain diseases and conditions, as well as list of medications you’re currently taking. There are certain conditions and medications that disqualify you from certain procedures, so for the sake of your own safety, it’s essential that you be honest and detailed about your medical history. It’s also essential that you answer honestly about any drug or alcohol use.

  1. Schedule Around the Consultation

A calm, comfortable consultation is key to a detailed, thorough discussion. Make sure you schedule your consultation on a day where you can devote as much time as your need to talk to your doctor. A rushed consultation is a recipe for misunderstanding and miscommunication.

  1. Think About It

The ideal plastic surgery patient is someone who has realistic expectations for their procedure. Before your consultation, take some time to think about why you’re really considering surgery. Is it to fix a flaw that you’ve been dealing with for years? A way for you to feel confident about your body? Do you want to turn back time for a more youthful face? What exactly do you hope to accomplish? By the time you walk into that consultation, you should be able to communicate your goals clearly to your surgeon.

Now that you’re a little closer to a successful plastic surgery journey, it’s time to schedule a consultation with a caring, compassionate surgeon. Contact Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery now, for a consultation.

Springtime is coming fast, and like a flower in springtime, it’s your time to blossom. If you’ve ever felt unfeminine or self-conscious because of small breasts, then this is your chance to finally feel pride and confidence about your body. Spring is a time of growth and renewal, which is why the perfect season to embrace a new, more feminine you. Let’s take a look at how breast augmentation can let your beauty, and your inner self, bloom.

What Can Breast Augmentation Do?

Breast augmentation is your ticket to fuller, more shapely breasts and an enhanced cleavage. Using implants that move and feel like real breast tissue, breast augmentation can increase the volume of the breasts and in some instances, reshape them. With a more feminine figure, you’ll be able to fit better in your beautiful spring sundresses and feel more confident during trips to the beach and the pool. You can restore breasts flattened by breast feeding and aging and transform them to their fuller, firmer selves.
Once your breast augmentation results have fully emerged, you can enjoy the remaining springtime by showing off your new silhouette and newfound sense of confidence. In the warm, radiant, glowing springtime, you can finally look as good as your feel.

The Power of Choice

Along with being the most popular plastic surgery procedure of all time, breast augmentation is also one of the most customizable procedures available. Many surgeons emphasize that your breast augmentation should reflect your lifestyle, aesthetic goals, and personality. With the help of your surgeon, you’ll be able to choose between the types of incisions used, the kind of implant chosen for the procedure, and the placement of the implant. Every single choice you make will directly affect your results, so you’ll be able to find the right combination for you, and only you.

What’s Right for You?

Enhancement means different things for everyone. To one person, enhancement might mean dramatic change. To another person, enhancement might mean a more natural, subtle improvement. Whatever your goals are or whatever you plan to accomplish with breast augmentation, Dr. Dreyfuss will be there help you achieve them.

It takes a kind, compassionate surgeon to understand your goals and help personalize your procedure just for you. For the chance to work with a surgeon like Dr. Dreyfuss for your procedure, contact Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery now for a consultation.

When it comes to treating yourself, there are many different ways that you can do so. Maybe you prefer to get a massage, visit a hair salon, or even participate in a fitness class. Whatever your favorite may be, this list has a place for you! Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery compiled a list that includes the top five places to treat yourself in Orland Park. Treat yourself and visit one of the businesses listed below!

The Center for Body and Soul

The Center for Body and Soul is a holistic wellness center where you can undergo thermography, receive therapeutic massages, and participate in yoga classes.

Alison Andrews Day Spa

Alison Andrews Day Spa is a famous mixing lab that can help you achieve healthy skin with facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and collagen induction therapy.

Refresh Pilates & Wellness Studio

Refresh Pilates & Wellness Studio is a comprehensive wellness center that teaches yoga and pilates while providing physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, and more.

Tamara Makeup and Hair Artistry

Tamara Makeup and Hair Artistry is a talented team of makeup artists and hair stylists that are dedicated to making you look and feel beautiful, especially on your special day.

SPINclub Cycling Studios

SPINclub Cycling Studios is an indoor cycling studio that offers a variety of cardio, strength, and conditioning classes to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Treat Yourself in Orland Park

Dr. Dreyfuss is very happy to be the first Plastic Surgery practice in Chicago to offer the TruSculpt, an in office non-surgical method for fat removal and cellulite reduction.  The advanced RF technology, just brought to the public market by Cutera, allows doctors to contour numerous areas of the body without any anesthesia or surgery.  This 30-60 minute painless procedure can be used on any area of the body below the neck.  This is unlike other office fat reduction methods, that were only limited to the abdomen and flanks.  Patients begin to see results after only 4 weeks and have maximal improvement by 10-12 weeks.  Our Plastic Surgeons recommend 2 sessions, 4-6 weeks apart to achieve the best results.

Visit our website at www.dgplasticsurgery.com to learn more and watch a video animation of the procedure.  Then give our office a call @ 815-806-9400 or contact us via the internet to schedule a consultation to discuss your options with Dr. Dreyfuss. Remember that our doctor is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. We always provide the highest quality surgical results for all your body and facial rejuvenation desires.

Check back next week to get the exciting details on a new technology available at our Frankfort location.  Our practice will be the first  in Chicagoland to offer this Breakthrough new option for in office fat reduction and improvement to cellulite!

Since pregnancy and childbirth can take a toll on a woman’s body, the mommy makeover is a combination of any of the following procedures geared towards counteracting the physical effects. For more information on the mommy makeover procedure, or to schedule a consultation, please contact Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery.

Breast Augmentation

A breast augmentation involves enlarging the breasts with implants to restore the volume that was lost during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck tightens and firms abdominal skin, which may have stretched and created excess during pregnancy and childbirth.

Breast Lift

A breast lift, often performed in conjunction with breast augmentation, reshapes the breasts and corrects breast asymmetry.

Liposuction

Liposuction removes stubborn fat deposits that have accumulated around the thighs, hips, abdomen, knees, back, arms, neck, and chin.

 

Click here to view the full infographic.


 

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If you have ever wondered what sort of changes happen in your skin during a chemical peel, wonder no more, because I’m here to answer all your questions. Having done many many peels on clients and being a licensed esthetician for over 9 years, you would think that I would have at least once tried a chemical peel myself. It’s not that I’ve been afraid to or have “chickened out” before, I honestly have not had the opportunity or possibly the desire to. Now that I’m in my (yikes!) mid thirties, I thought it was time, and quite honestly, necessary for my skin to experience a chemical peel. I’ve never had any major skin problems; except for the occasional break out here and there, I have never had acne or problematic skin at all. Once I hit my 30s, I have noticed many changes in my skin, that quite frankly, I had never ever experienced. Now, I must admit I’ve been “blessed” with good genes; both my grandmother and my mother have exceptional skin and I am lucky to have inherited that from them.

 2Of course being a bit obsessed with my skin, I do notice things that maybe others do not notice. I have a tiny wrinkle on the side of my mouth, a few enlarged pores that I obsess about, and some congested pores along my cheek and jaw line. So I decided to try this peel to see if it would help with my concerns.
ought it was time, and quite honestly, necessary for my skin to experience a chemical peel. I’ve never had any major skin problems; except for the occasional break out here and there, I have never had acne or problematic skin at all. Once I hit my 30s, I have noticed many changes in my skin, that quite frankly, I had never ever experienced. Now, I must admit I’ve been “blessed” with good genes; both my grandmother and my mother have exceptional skin and I am lucky to have inherited that from them.

I decided the perfect time to try it was Christmas night. I was already done with my festivities; I wouldn’t see anybody or go anywhere until New Year’s Eve, so I figured it would be nice to have my skin ready for the New Year. I gathered everything I needed, step 1 of the peel is the peel solution itself; step 2 is the Retinol cream and step 3 is the calming cream.

Before I explain the process, I have to put my disclaimer here: under no circumstances do I advise anyone who is not a licensed esthetician or physician to perform a peel on themselves. In other words, don’t try this at home. It is not because the process itself is necessarily difficult, but if you do not know what you’re doing, and don’t know what signs to look for to avoid burning your skin, you can end up doing serious irreversible damage to your skin. So, if you want a chemical peel, please please go to someone who is licensed and preferably under the supervision of a physician.

3I applied the peeling solution, being careful not to apply it too close to my eyes and the corners of my mouth. I noticed a tingle, but it really wasn’t uncomfortable. Some people who have had this peel, have experienced more stinging and discomfort. I think it is really dependent on your skin’s tolerance.

After the peel solution, I applied step 2, the Retinol cream and then shortly after, followed with step 3, the calming cream. Overall, my skin was not very red, a bit pink, especially around the cheek area. Day one of peel, was complete and now it was time to wait and see the results.

Day 2 was similar to day 1. My skin was still slightly pink, and this time it felt a little tight and dry.  No major changes as of yet.

Days 3&4 is when I really started to see and feel the effects. I started experiencing some flaking, especially around my mouth and chin.  Now it’s important not to pick at the skin, or you can end up with some unwanted scarring.

My skin looked blotchy, and the “older” skin was starting to look darker, even gray in some areas. It was definitely not a pretty sight. I do also have to say that this peel, is not a deep chemical peel. It is a superficial peel, meaning it does not penetrate the dermis, so your skin won’t be “weepy”, but it will still be pretty flaky and dry. If you have a special event, date or reunion to go to I recommend doing this peel about 2-3 weeks before your event.

At about day 5-7 the flaking skin continued and progressively become better.. My skin did continue to feel a little tight and dry, especially after cleansing. I refrained from using my  Clarisonic until all my skin was completely healed and no longer peeling. I avoided  all scrubs and exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs and BHAs as well as Retinol.  I do feel that my skin started to look better and better as the skin healed, and by days and even now, a couple of weeks post peel, my skin looks the best it has ever looked. By day 7 the flaking was very minimal; I still had some dryness around my nose and eye area. Even though I did not directly apply the peel solution to my under eye area, the skin around my eyes did feel dry and flaky, including my eyelids.

4Now that I am more than one week post peel, I am really loving the results! My skin looks a lot clearer, brighter, and less blotchy. I still have a bit of pore congestion along my cheek area, but I have noticed that it has lessened. My skin’s texture has dramatically improved! I have also gotten away with only wearing a tinted moisturizer instead of my usual medium coverage foundation. I would say, overall I am extremely pleased with the results!

I will do another peel in about 4 to 6 weeks, which is generally the recommended time to wait between treatments. I also recommend to do about 3 peels total within the year. I do not recommend getting a peel done in the summer months if you spend a lot of time outdoors and especially if you are prone to hyperpigmentation.

It’s important to use the ZO Calming Cream that is included when you receive your peel. It will help to calm and moisturize your skin during the peeling phase, and also extremely important to use a sunscreen regularly. After your skin has healed and stopped flaking, you should continue to use your regular skincare routine to maintain the results of your peel. If you follow post peel directions, your skin will have a healthy glow that you will love!