Giovanna Ghafoori, M.D.
 
Procedures:

 
 

Dr. Ghafoori performs a wide variety of plastic surgery procedures, including breast augmentation, breast lift, abdominoplasty, liposuction, arm lift/reduction, thigh lift, buttock lift, total body lift, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, eyelid surgery, browlift, facelift, and fat grafting. Dr. Ghafoori also performs several office procedures, including Botox injections, Restylane filling, and superficial peels and skin care (established patients only.) Dr. Ghafoori has a special interest in massive weight loss patients (e.g. following gastric banding/bypass.) Depending on the procedure, your health, your support system, and your desires, many of these procedures may be performed on an out-patient basis. Some procedures may also be combined, while some other procedures may be safer or have more optimal results if staged.

Please browse the procedures Dr. Ghafoori offers, or click on the shortcuts below to view a desired procedure.









 

Abdominoplasty- Abdominoplasty can significantly improve the abdominal contour, repair the muscle, and remove bothersome and embarrassing loose/hanging skin, particularly the lower abdomen. Abdominoplasty is often indicated in men and women alike, and in those of various sizes, shapes and weight. Many often find it impossible to reach their goals of improving the appearance of their abdomen, even with a strict commitment to diet and exercise, and an abdominoplasty can do the trick. Time off from work for most is approximately one month (although some patients go back as early as three weeks) and time away from strenuous exercise is two months.
Body Contouring- Body contouring, in addition to liposuction and abdominoplasty, includes a variety of lifting and reduction surgeries. These procedures become particularly important following weight loss. Excess fullness of the arms may be addressed with liposuction alone, or may require removal of skin, known as brachialplasty. In patients who have undergone extensive weight loss, this skin removal may require removal of skin through the armpit/axilla and perhaps the chest wall, back area, and/or breasts. Also depending on your findings, similar skin and tissue removal may be required for inner thighs, outer thighs, or buttock area. A belt lipectomy includes an abdominoplasty with an extension to the back, incorporating a buttock lift at the same time.
Botox (brand name)(Botulinum toxin A)- Botox can very effectively temporarily reduce the bothersome animation lines and wrinkles of the face, such as the frown lines, forehead lines, bunny lines, and crow's feet. (FDA approval pertains to use in the frown lines, and other areas are "off label" use.) Botox has a very limited recovery (15-20 minutes of small welts and no exercise the day of the procedure) and is performed in the office. Regular Botox use may also delay some of the negative aging changes to the skin due to repeat shearing and creasing from the underlying muscle activity.
Breast Augmentation- Breast contour can be significantly improved, as well as enhancing volume with breast implants. Additionally, changes occurring in the breasts following pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging, or weight loss can be much improved with augmentation - some women may benefit with the addition of a breast lift. A wide variety of implant shapes and sizes are now available. Time off from work for most is approximately one week (mainly because Dr. Ghafoori recommends no driving during this period) and time away from strenuous exercise is one month.
Breast Lift (mastopexy)- Some women, particularly those with sufficient breast volume, may not desire implants, but only wish to improve the breast contour. A breast lift relocates the nipple/aerola to a more youthful position and reshapes the breast tissue. Different patterns of skin removal are available, depending on the skin quality, nipple position, and breast volume. Similar to augmentation, time off from work for most is approximately one week (mainly because Dr. Ghafoori recommends no driving during this period) and time away from strenuous exercise is one month.
Breast Reconstruction- Breast reconstruction is a personal and quite individual decision. Reconstruction may be performed at the same time as the cancer surgery, or may be performed at a later date, once all of the cancer treatment has been completed. There are a number of reconstruction options, including implants vs. the use of your own tissue. For improved results, breast reconstruction is a process, involving staged procedures. Consideration may be given for modifying the other breast, reconstructing the nipple, and performing revisional surgery.
Breast Reduction- Women with large breasts (even beginning at a D cup) are often plagued by bothersome neck, back, and shoulder pain, as well as skin irritation along the fold and between the cleavage. A breast reduction, removing breast tissue and incorporating a breast lift, provides immediate relief of these symptoms (noticeable even in the recovery room!) Time off from work for most is approximately one to two weeks, and time away from strenuous exercise is one month.
Facial Surgery- A variety of surgical procedures are available for addressing the aging changes of the face. These procedures may be done singly or in combination, and may be staged as needed. Excess eyelid skin of the upper lid may require removal, known as upper blephoaroplasty. Drooping of the eyebrows may require lifting and/or reshaping. A browlift may be limited to only the temporal area of may involve the entire forehead; a browlift may be performed by direct excision, through an endoscope, or through opening the scalp. Often times, the excess skin of the upper eyelids is due to drooping of the brow. The lower eyelids may require fat removal, fat repositioning, skin removal, and/or repositioning of the muscle and lateral tendon (canthopexy); alternatively, filling of the hollows that being to develop around the eyes may eliminate (or delay) the need for surgery. A facelift can help improve the appearance of the lower eyelid/cheek area, the folds along the nose and mouth, the jowls, and the neck, including the "turkey" neck. Recovery following facial surgery is determined primarily by the need to allow bruising and swelling to resolve.
Liposuction- Liposuction, like abdominoplasty, is often indicated in men and women alike, and in those of various sizes, shapes, and weight. Liposuction is particularly indicated for addressing bothersome contour problems, often caused by "storage fat," such as "saddle bags," "love handles," inner thighs, inner knees, "double chin," and pad on the back of the arms. While liposuction is not a weight loss mechanism, for some the procedure may provide a "jump start." Depending on the areas to be addressed, and the amount to be removed, liposuction may be performed under a variety of anesthesia options, including local vs. "twilight" vs. general. Time off from work will vary depending on the extent of the surgery, and may range from a few days (although Dr. Ghafoori may restrict driving for longer) to a few weeks. Time away from strenuous exercise, will also vary, but is usually one week.
Restylane (brand name)(Hyaluronic acid)- Hyaluronic acid is a starch molecule found throughout the body, including the skin and joints. This chemical attracts and draws in water. Restylane serves as a temporary filler of the skin, most commonly for the cheek folds around the nose and mouth area. Different particle size and different means of "stabilizing" the product will have an impact on its effectiveness (different products are available on the market, some with and some without current FDA approval). Hyaluronic acid was widely used in Canada and Europe prior to FDA approval in the U.S. Like Botox, Restylane is an office procedure. However, there is more recovery (redness and swelling in the injection sites, as well as possible bruising for several days, and possibly a couple of weeks, depending on the areas injected).
 
 

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