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

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Category: plastic surgery

Dr. Mussat’s Philosophy: Beauty in Harmony

What is beauty?

Ask anyone this question and you’ll hear varied answers. Some people would define beauty as purely physical. That it possess all the qualities that mainstream media define as beautiful, such as clear skin, long hair, slim body frame, or a tall height. Other individuals define it as something subjective or abstract. That it’s something that you feel inside yourself. That even if you don’t possess the beauty standards society have set, you’re beautiful if you’re kind and gentle.

For Dr. Florence Mussat, though, her philosophy about beauty is different. Not in a way that sets her apart from all other individuals, but that her philosophy has allowed her to provide beautiful results to all her patients consistently.

La Beaute en Harmonie

Dr. Mussat believes in beauty in harmony. In other words, an attractive person is someone who possesses not only physical attractiveness but also inner charm, refinement, elegance and grace. For her, there should be a balance between inner and outer beauty. They should go hand in hand.

Dr. Mussat, a recipient of the 2015 Top 10 Chicago Plastic Surgeon Award, views each person uniquely. This allowed her to tailor each plastic surgery procedure to each patient’s needs. As each person is unique, the course of treatment should also be one of a kind.

Her Secret to Success

Experience, artistry, and her deeply rooted philosophy about beauty have made this board-certified plastic surgeon successful in each of her surgical and non-surgical endeavors.

One of her secrets is personalized patient care, from the initial consultation up to the last day of follow-up visit. To achieve beautiful, natural-looking aesthetic results, Dr. Mussat meets with each patient, ask questions, and answer individuals concerns to ensure that both parties understand each other. There should be harmony on both sides. Dr. Mussat doesn’t proceed with the process until she fully comprehends the patient’s aesthetic goals. The patient should also have a full knowledge of the procedure he or she will undergo before making a commitment.

Mutual understanding is beneficial and critical to the success of each procedure.

Our cultural differences make it difficult to come up with a single definite answer as to what beauty is. Many individuals agree, though, that beauty is not all about flawless skin, perfect makeup, a sexy body, and/or shiny hair. One can feel beautiful when goodness also radiates inside.

To see how Dr. Mussat puts her beauty philosophy into action, consult with her about your aesthetic goals. Request a consultation today.

How Your Breasts Naturally Change Throughout Your Life

Like the skin, a woman’s breast goes through natural changes throughout her life. The changes may be subtle, but they occur. The alterations could range from appearance to size and from shape to texture. Sometimes, the changes are a result of pregnancy, weight gain, or a debilitating illness.

This is why women should know what is going on with their breasts at each stage of their lives. If you’re not familiar with the different stages that your breasts go through, read on so you can learn what you can expect as each year passes by.

During Your 20s

As you cross the teenage stage, your body will start to settle into your adult weight. Your metabolism may drop, so the size of your breast changes as you add or drop some weight.

Pregnancy may happen within this decade, and will enlarge your breasts to prepare for lactation. Pregnancy can also change the color of your areolas and the size of your nipples. After pregnancy and lactation, your breasts may return to their pre-baby state. It may be unlikely, however, especially after multiple pregnancies.

You may also feel some lumps and bumps in your breasts, which are due to fibrocystic changes and are common for women in their 20s. These common lumps are often normal. Regardless, you can check with your doctor if you notice lumps, especially the ones that aren’t painful, as they are usually associated with cancer.

During Your 30s

If you have multiple pregnancies in your 20s, your breasts’ skin may start to stretch. In most cases, extended skin leads to stretch marks and ptosis or drooping breasts. Ptosis can still occur even in the absence of pregnancy as you deal with weight changes in your 30s.

During Your 40s

Once you reach this period, your body will start to transition to the menopausal stage. As the estrogen production in your ovaries decreases, your breasts will go through a stage called involution, in which fat will replace the breast tissues and make them feel soft.

You may feel lumps in your breasts, but they’re mostly soft. If the lumps are firm, consider them a red flag and should be evaluated immediately.

It’s normal to see changes in your breasts. However, it’s difficult to determine whether the changes are normal or due to a disease. That’s why it’s always best to do a self-breast exam so you can notice differences that may be worth a visit to the doctor.

If you’re unhappy with your breast shape and size at this stage in your life, you have the option to have a breast enhancement surgery. Contact Dr. Mussat today if want to learn about the procedures that can enhance your breasts.

Implant Incisions: Can I Choose the Type of Incision?

 

Successful breast augmentation procedures involve several important decisions that you and your doctor will have to make together. One of those decisions is what your preferred type of breast implant incision will be.

Like types of implants and size, implant incision placement is a personal decision that you need to make. Although Dr. Mussat will guide you in this regard, the choice is still up to you. After all, it is only you who truly knows what you want your breasts to look and feel after the surgery.

Breast Implant Incision Types

As there are several types of incisions, you may be confused as to what incision to choose for your procedure. Take a close look at the most common incisions, which includes their pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision.

  • Transaxillary

Dr. Mussat will make an incision in the natural folds of your armpit to create a channel from the underarm down to the breast. This point of access will allow her to insert the breast implant and place it just behind the nipples. The advantage of this type of incision is the distance between the incision site and breast, which leaves no scars on the breast.

The incision scar may be visible in the armpits, especially when you lift your arms or wear a bikini or a sleeveless top. However, the scars will fade overtime.

The disadvantage of this type is it has a risk of breast asymmetry. Therefore, this is more suited for saline breast implants, as they’re not filled upon insertion.

  • Periareolar

Dr. Mussat will make this incision around the outer perimeter of your areola, that dark pigmented skin that surrounds the nipple. This makes the incision scar less visible.

The biggest advantage of this type is that the surgeon has greater control of the implant placement, which provides higher accuracy of the implant’s position.

The downside to this is there’s a higher risk of loss of nipple sensation. If you plan to have a baby in the future, this type may not be for you as breastfeed may not be possible.

  • Inframammary

The incision site is along the crease found at the bottom of your breast, where the breast and skin meet. This incision will create a pocket for the placement of the implant, which provides better visibility and accuracy.

Although the scars are visible, they should fade with proper care. They’re easily covered with clothing as well. Also, there’s minimal risk of nipple sensation loss with this type of incision.

Now that you know the common incision types, you can choose which one you feel will work best for you. Feel rest assured knowing that Dr. Mussat is confident and competent to perform these incisions. For more information about breast augmentation, call her practice today.

Breast Augmentation Recovery: What You Can Expect After Surgery

 

Women get breast augmentation for a myriad of reasons. One of the most common is to feel more feminine than before. Yet, before a woman can enjoy the full benefits of her breast enhancement surgery, she needs to go through the recovery stage first. Like the pre-surgical preparations, recovery period is an essential part of any woman’s breast augmentation journey.

If you are wondering what your breast augmentation recovery will be like, here are some things you can expect during this stage.

The First 24 Hours

You can expect grogginess and weakness after you wake up, so it’s best to arrange for someone to drive you home, or to your accommodation if you live outside of Chicago. You can also expect pain once the anesthesia wears off, but you can find relief with prescription pain medication that Dr. Mussat will prescribe to you.

The First Seven Days

Continue to expect soreness, bruising, and swelling after 24 hours post surgery. You can also feel pain, but it will become less intense as each day passes. At this time, you can take over-the-counter pain medication, like Tylenol, to find pain relief. However, Dr. Mussat advises to avoid aspirin and ibuprofen, as they can increase the risk of hemorrhage. With Dr. Mussat’s consent, you can take a shower after two days.

The First Two Weeks

You may return to work in the first week after surgery. You may resume your normal activities as well. However, you’ll need to limit them to less strenuous ones, as heavy lifting or bending may strain and open the incisions. Your surgeon may remove the bandages at this time, and will ask you to wear a surgical bra or compression garment to help the implants settle at their proper, permanent position.

Six weeks after

The pain, swelling, and bruising will have subsided by this time, and you may return to your exercise regimen. You may also start bra shopping at this time, and flaunt your new curves.

Throughout your recovery period, Dr. Mussat will check up on you regularly to ensure that you’ll heal properly.

As you can see, the most crucial part of the breast augmentation recovery is the first two weeks. After that, you can slowly return to living your amazing life. If you have more questions about breast augmentation, or would like to book an appointment, call Dr. Mussat’s office today.

5 Least Common Areas You Didn’t Know You Could Get Liposuction

 

Regular exercise and a healthy diet play a role in giving you a sculpted figure. There are cases, though, that these two might not be enough. There will always be stubborn fat lying around in certain areas of your body that just won’t go away.

If you’re frustrated with the slow to zero progress of your efforts, consider getting a liposuction. This minimally invasive procedure will not only trim away excess fat around your abdomen, hips, buttocks and thighs, you can also use the procedure to vacuum away the fat in other areas of your body.

That’s right! The areas that liposuction targets are not limited to these four areas alone. It can also suction fat in areas that you didn’t know could benefit from a light or small procedure.

The following are the top areas that liposuction can target to give your body a more sculpted contour.

  1. Torso

The belly usually gets the most attention with liposuction, but other areas of the torso can also benefit from this procedure. For example, a small procedure can target the back part of the torso where the love handles usually poke out. Your surgeon can also target the excess fat deposit that bulges out along the bra band. By targeting the area with precision, you can wear a swimsuit or a low-cut backless dress with confidence.

  1. Legs

The thighs are not the only ones that can benefit from the procedure. If you have bulges and folds due to excess fat around your knees and ankles, you can definitely include them in your list of target areas. The procedure can add definition to your legs and make them look more toned. Plus, it can help banish the fat that gives you the infamous ‘chunky ankles’ or ‘cankles.’

  1. Neck

As you gain weight, some of the fat settles in the upper neck area. This leads to the formation of the double chin, which may make you feel self-conscious. If you have a double chin and it’s ruining every selfie shot you take, a light procedure can banish it. In addition to that, liposuction can also give your jawline definition.

  1. Chest

Weight gain or hormonal imbalance in men causes gynecomastia, a condition that results in the abnormal growth of breast tissue in men. Most men who have this condition can greatly benefit from a light liposuction procedure to remove excess breast tissue.

  1. Arms

If you want to have toned, well-defined arms, you can use liposuction to achieve your aesthetic goal. You can also use the procedure to target the fatty bulges in the underarms while you’re at it.

By targeting these areas, in addition to your abdomen, hips and buttocks, you can have a sculpted body sooner than expected. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Mussat, please call her Chicago practice today.