Florence Mussat, M.D.
680 N Lake Shore Dr. #1030 Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 751-9000

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Category: Breast Augmentation

Get Ready for Valentine’s Day – 10 Ways to Look and Feel Your Best

Valentine’s Day comes at the perfect time of year. The joy and excitement of the Christmas season are but a memory. As we eagerly begin to anticipate the arrival of spring, February brings us Valentine’s Day and, with it, a much-needed dose of fun, romance, and excitement.

With more and more people going the extra mile to look their best for Valentine’s Day, why not schedule a visit with Dr. Florence Mussat at her Chicago plastic surgery office?

Be on your way to a fresh, vibrant look with one of these 10 solutions from Dr. Mussat.

1.     Restore Youthful Fullness to Your Face

Perhaps it’s due to genetics, aging, or simply your facial structure, but parts of your face could be lacking in volume and making you appear gaunt. Well, it is possible to enhance your facial volume and improve the appearance of your face with a facial fat transfer expertly performed by Dr. Mussat.

2.     Fall in Love With Your Skin

Taking care of one’s skin is essential throughout the year, and there’s no better time than now to get back your radiant glow in time for Valentine’s Day with a nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatment.

With medical-grade, topical retinoids, various conditions, including mild to moderate acne, signs of sun damage, freckles, fine lines, and wrinkles, can be treated.

3.     Refresh Your Eyelids

Your eyes may be the window to your soul, but drooping eyelid skin or undereye bags could be concealing and aging your eyes, making you look tired, sad, or angry. If so, you could be a good candidate for an eyelid lift, also known as blepharoplasty. It could take years off your appearance and give your self-esteem a big boost.

4.     Repair the Sun Damage

Even though summer is long gone, your skin could still be showing signs of too much sun with dryness, new lines, and wrinkles. Dr. Mussat offers a range of treatments to undo the harsh effects of summer, and just two of these are highlighted below.

Chemical Peel: Replaces thickened and damaged skin with fresh, youthful cells, eliminating uneven pigmentation and skin discoloration.

Microdermabrasion: By rubbing fine crystals across the skin with a medically-calibrated wand, the rough outer layer is removed, and new skin stimulated.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation: A concentrated beam of light is used to gently exfoliate the skin’s sun-damaged outer layer.

5.     Reclaim Your Youthful Shape

Becoming a mother can be one of the most rewarding experiences. However, pregnancy and breastfeeding can leave you with unwelcome reminders such as stomach flab and flattened breasts.

While diet and exercise can go a long way towards reclaiming your youthful appeal, a mommy makeover as a Valentine’s gift to yourself could be all you need to restore your youthful figure.

6.     Get Back Those Perky Breasts

Full, perky breasts may be a distant memory of the days before gravity, weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding changed things. To regain confidence in your appearance this Valentine’s Day, a breast lift could be exactly what you need.

7.     Slim Your Jawline

Whether it’s the result of age or weight gain, a double chin can be one of the most frustrating facial flaws to have. Through a facelift, Dr. Mussat can tighten loose skin under your chin and neck area, lift those sagging jowls and restore a youthful appearance.

8.     Tone and Tighten

Are you plagued by problem areas of flab that won’t go away? Regardless of how much you exercise and eat healthily, do you find that lean, sexy stomach continues to elude you?

Well, you might consider a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, which surgically removes excess skin and flesh from the abdomen and even repairs abdominal muscles damaged during pregnancy or weight gain.

9.     Restore Those Smooth Contours

If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight either through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery, you could now have excess skin in areas of the body where large amounts of fat used to be. Through one or more body contouring procedures, expertly performed by Dr. Mussat, you could be well on your way to having your body’s contours restored by Valentine’s Day.

10.            Put Your Best Face Forward

Despite taking good care of yourself and trying to age gracefully, age-related changes in your face are still inevitable.

With facelift surgery, Dr. Mussat can tighten and lift the soft tissues of your face, tighten lax, excess skin and surgically reposition sagging facial tissue giving you a more youthful, rejuvenated look.

Regain Your Sexy, Youthful Look in Time for Valentine’s Day!

What better to get a self-confidence boost and bring some excitement back into your love life before Valentine’s Day than a visit to board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat in Chicago, IL?

Too look your absolute best before Valentine’s day, schedule a personal consultation or call (312) 751-9000 today!

Lopsided Breasts? Let Breast Augmentation Balance You

Lopsided breasts are common. You may be surprised to learn that as many as 88% of women report some degree of breast asymmetry. However, when breasts differ by one or more cup sizes, this common problem can have an extraordinary impact on your psychological well being. If you suffer from a noticeably lopsided bosom, you may feel self-conscious. You might avoid swimsuits, tight-fitting shirts, and revealing dresses out of fear that others will notice your uneven chest.

Improving uneven breasts is possible. You don’t have to cover a lopsided chest with padding or oversized sweaters anymore. Surgeries like breast augmentation or breast reduction can correct an irregular bust and give you the even, well-formed bust of your dreams. Doctor Florence Mussat in Chicago, Illinois, has years of experience performing breast surgeries on patients from all walks of life.

Choosing the right surgery for you

The surgery you undergo to correct your lopsidedness will depend on your breasts and your aesthetic goals. If you wish to make your smaller breast larger or increase the size of both breasts, you should opt for a breast augmentation. In breast augmentation, Doctor Florence Mussat places an implant in one or both breasts to boost their size. If you believe that the larger breast or both of your breasts are too big, you can undergo a breast reduction

Correcting Asymmetry by Increasing your Breast Size

A popular way to create an even, symmetrical chest is by increasing the size of one or more breasts through breast augmentation. Before the operation, Doctor Florence Mussat will work with you to select the right implant size for your body shape. Though you do not need to put implants in both breasts, it is recommended that you do so to ensure a uniform appearance.

Doctor Florence Mussat has experience working with Saline, Silicone, and Form-Stable Silicone (gummy bear) breast implants. When you meet for your consultation, you and your doctor will decide which implant type is right for you. If you opt to implant only one breast, you might choose an implant that matches the feel of your larger breast. Implant incisions are discreet. You can discuss with Dr. Mussat whether you want the incision under your breast, around your nipple, or hidden inside your armpit. 

You can also increase the size of one or more breasts with an autologous fat transfer. In this procedure, fat is taken from an area of your body like thighs, butt, or hip and grafted to your breast. This treatment is advised for those with a smaller degree of asymmetry.

Following your procedure, you are advised not to drive for 24 hours. You are encouraged to arrange for a friend or family member to pick you up. Bruising, swelling, and discomfort are common side effects, but should subside within a few weeks to a month. Most patients are able to manage any pain they experience with Tylenol.

Correcting Asymmetry by Reducing your Breast Size

Many people long for bigger breasts, but others know the toll that having a larger bust can take. Back problems, downward-pointing nipples, and difficulty exercising are just a few of the reasons you might want a breast reduction. If you are satisfied with the size of your smaller breast, or wish to reduce the size of both breasts, then a breast reduction is right for you. Depending on the extent of your lopsidedness, Doctor Florence Mussat will make one of three incisions: Lollipop, Periareolar, or Anchor. 

If you want to create a perkier, more youthful appearance while reducing your chest size, a Lollipop incision is right for you. If you are making a significant change in the size of one or more breasts, then the Anchor incision is ideal. In addition to a breast reduction surgery, you might also consider a breast lift. This procedure helps ensure uniformity in both the size, and the position of both breasts by removing excess skin and creating a higher nipple placement.

Asymmetry caused by a breast implant is best treated with breast revision surgery or a breast implant removal with a breast lift.

Schedule Your Appointment with Dr. Mussat in Chicago Today

You don’t have to let unsightly unevenness get you down. You can improve the size and shape of your breasts by scheduling a consultation with Doctor Florence Mussat in Chicago today! To make your appointment, call us at 312.751.9000 or message us online.

The Potential Benefits of a Breast Reduction

Ill-fitting blouses, bra strap imprints, and sore shoulders make having large breasts not as desirable as many would think. Women with breasts too large for their body type often vent these complaints. In many cases, breast reduction surgery may be the only option to correct a disproportionate bust line and cause these types of discomfort. If you are a healthy woman who doesn’t smoke and have large breasts causing a whole lot of discomfort; this solution may be what’s best for you!

Why Consider a Breast Reduction

Having large breasts is more than finding clothing that fits. They can prevent a woman from living an active lifestyle comfortably and having confidence in her own skin. The extra weight at her bust line can cause physical and emotional distresses, including:

  • Shoulder, back, and neck pain
  • Irritation near the bra straps and at the breast crease
  • Makes exercising uncomfortable
  • Causes headaches
  • Loss of self-esteem
  • Depression

There are multiple causes for breasts to become out of proportion with the rest of a woman’s body. They include weight fluctuation, pregnancy, and growth spurts during puberty. Breast reduction offers a safe resolution to ease the physical and emotional issues resulting from breasts which are too large. 

Breast Reduction Benefits

Okay, if you’re reading this article because you are considering a breast reduction, nobody has to tell you why you’re here. The benefits are the most important topic of any surgical procedure. Breast reduction surgery has many upsides, which will improve a patient’s quality of life. They include:

Aesthetics

Just like women seek breast augmentation surgery when their breasts are too small, breast reduction has a cosmetic value to patients who have breasts too large. Creating a sleeker body outline is essential to women who are concerned with their figure. Reducing breast size can bring harmony between her breasts and the other body parts. This physical accordance will not only improve her appearance but her self-confidence as well. 

More Active Lifestyle

Women who enjoy leading an active lifestyle may find sudden movements to be difficult with large breasts. Breast reduction surgery will help the patient avoid stress injuries like “jogger’s breasts,” which forms from repetitive motion. Physical activities like jogging, tennis, or going to the gym will help a girl stay in shape and remain healthy. Once recovery from breast reduction is complete, exercise, and hobbies like golf and skiing can become more fun.  

Shopping

Because clothing off the rack will fit comfortably, shopping will become more an enjoyable outing and less a chore. When breasts are too large, finding clothing which fits comfortably can be an issue. Sizes and fashions are more in line with a streamlined figure. Slimming down the bust line to align more with the rest of your body will make those trips to the shops delightful again. You will have more of a selection and can take advantage of more deals. 

Improved Quality of Life

Women who choose breast reduction surgery are generally very pleased with their results. Not only is there a cosmetic benefit, but the elimination of discomforts like back pain and headaches are a welcome effect. Combine these benefits with wearing what you want when you want to, working out with your friends, and not relegated to specialty stores to find clothes that will fit will have a significant impact on improving your quality of life. You will be happier with yourself and the way others see you. Your confidence will rise, as will your self-esteem. To learn how you can achieve these benefits for yourself, it’s simple. Just contact us to schedule a consultation today.

Understanding Breast Implant Illness

Going to the doctor with a variety of debilitating, mysterious symptoms is difficult enough; being told those symptoms have no cause can be crushing, embarrassing, and hurtful. Unfortunately, this is the experience thousands of women suffering from breast implant illness are forced to endure. At this time, breast implant illness is not recognized by the scientific community. Still, Dr. Florence Mussat has personally treated numerous women who claim their symptoms were relieved after they underwent  breast implant removal. In her view, it’s essential that medical practitioners retain an open mind and persist in trying to understand the causes of breast implant illness.

What is Breast Implant Illness?

“Breast implant illness” is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of symptoms believed to be related to silicone breast implants. Breast implant illness is different than having a ruptured implant. Ruptured silicone implants leak silicone gel into the body and usually cause the rapid onset of localized irritation (requiring immediate explant surgery). On the other hand, women with Breast implant illness complain their symptoms developed gradually after having undergone breast augmentation with implants. Patients with breast implant illness report experiencing fatigue, brain fog, chronic pain (either around the breasts or throughout the body), skin rashes, an irregular heart rate, anxiety, hair loss, and endocrine dysfunction, among other symptoms.

What Causes Breast Implant Illness?

The confusion over breast implant illness stems from the fact that silicone is thought to be a biocompatible material. Silicone is inert, meaning that it shouldn’t—in theory—react with human tissue or leach chemicals into the body. For this reason, silicone is used in a wide range of implantable medical devices, as well as being the material of choice for cosmetic implants.

This does not, of course, mean that silicone is guaranteed to be without risk. For many years, experts believed that the plastics used in baby bottles were safe; today, however, we know that the BPA they contained can cause a wide range of health problems. And silicone, while it appears to be inert, is not a completely natural substance. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not derived from sand alone; it’s actually a composite material that contains a number of synthetic additives. It’s, therefore, possible that silicone contains a compound we simply don’t yet realize can be harmful.

Furthermore, it’s important to remember that everyone’s body is different. Substances that don’t cause any adverse reaction in one individual can provoke a dramatic immune response in another; this is why allergies exist. It’s possible that some patients’ bodies identify silicone implants as “invaders,” and this sets off a cascade of troubling symptoms. Emerging evidence has already linked silicone breast implants to a slightly elevated risk of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a type of cancer that begins in the immune system, lending credence to the idea that silicone implants can disrupt normal immune function. According to a large-scale study of 99,993 breast augmentation patients, silicone breast implants may be linked to an increase in the risk of developing other autoimmune diseases (Sjogren syndrome, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis) and cancers (melanoma). This study, which was conducted by the Department of Plastic Surgery at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, also found that having breast implants can lead to reproductive challenges, notably stillbirth.

Bacteria may also play a role in the development of breast implant illness. Research has shown that most cases of breast implant illness occur in patients who have had textured (rather than smooth) silicone implants inserted. It is thought that the textured surface of these implants gives bacteria a better “foothold,” allowing it to proliferate. The patient’s immune system must then constantly fight back against this low-grade infection, giving rise to ongoing flu-like symptoms.

Regardless of what causes breast implant illness, it’s obvious that this condition is a genuine phenomenon. Many women complaining of breast implant illness who have undergone explant surgery report that their symptoms resolved shortly afterward. Clearly, more research needs to be done: Only when we understand this puzzling condition can we make breast augmentation safe for everybody.

The Ideal Candidate for Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world! While many women are opting for breast augmentation, not everyone is an ideal candidate for the procedure. If adding volume to your breast size has been on your mind, check out this infographic to learn what makes an ideal breast augmentation candidate!

The ideal candidate for breast augmentation is:

  • A non-smoker in good health.
  • Desires larger breasts and more cleavage.
  • Made the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery on their own.
  • Is aware of potential risks and complications.
  • Believes that the benefits outweigh the risks.
  • Understand that replacement surgery may be necessary in 10 to 15 years.

If you’re interested in learning more about this procedure or are ready to have your best breasts ever, schedule your consultation with Dr. Mussat, here!