Why I love New York City

Click to read Dr. Devgan's full profile in the Why I Love New York City photo documentary project

I recently had the pleasure of doing a photoshoot for Eljay Aguilo, a New York City street photographer and creator of the Why I Love New York City project (blog, book, Instagram, and social phenomenon). Eljay, also known as @Misterhattan, is one of the most passionate and talented photographers of his generation, and has over 70,000 followers, fans, and friends of his work on various forms of social media for @WhyILoveNewYorkCity.

Not only was I thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in Eljay's wonderful project, but it also gave me a moment to consider all the things I love about New York City. Although I am a Southern California native, New York is my adult home, and I've grown incredibly fond of it over time.

My interview with Why I Love New York City is here:

#365 Dr. Lara Devgan

(@NYPlasticSurgeon on Instagram) I moved to the City to become a surgeon. I spent six years working 100 hour weeks in sterile operating rooms and crowded surgery clinics at Columbia and Cornell.  I lived in fluorescent-lit hospital hallways and barely saw the light of day. While most of the city slept, I purchased meals from vending machines.

Years have since passed, and I love New York more than ever.  Here is where I met my wonderful husband, had my three (soon, four) sons, and built a busy Upper East Side plastic surgery practice.

One of my favorite places in the city is Café Boulud.  It’s delicious and equally perfect for a milestone celebration or an impromptu night out.  But no matter how times I sample their scrumptious truffle pasta or perfectly prepared cappuccino, a little part of me will never forget the 2am vending machine granola bars that fueled my journey. (For more information about Dr. Lara Devgan, CLICK HERE)

Image credit Eljay Aguilo, aka Misterhattan, for Why I Love New York City

Image credit Eljay Aguilo, aka Misterhattan, for Why I Love New York City

Image credit Eljay Aguilo, aka Misterhattan, for Why I Love New York City

Image credit Eljay Aguilo, aka Misterhattan, for Why I Love New York City

10 Places I Love in New York City

1. Gramercy Park, where I met my husband

2. New York Presbyterian Hospital, where my three sons were born

3. Cafe Boulud, where I love to have a celebratory dinner or a casual night out

4. The Guggenheim Museum, where I am on the Acquisitions Committee of the Young Collectors Council and help choose which works of art the museum will purchase

5. Central Park, where my husband and I got engaged, and where we take our sons to play on weekends

6. Carnegie Hall, where I enjoy listening to classical music

7. Sant Ambroeus, where I have lunch almost once a week

8. My state of the art office, where I see patients, operate, and am lucky enough to do what I love every day

9. The Frick Collection, where I steal away on Wednesday evenings whenever I can to sketch the gorgeous artwork and architecture

10. Park Avenue, my favorite street for a weekend stroll with my family

Abdominoplasty and Liposuction after Massive Weight Loss

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 3 weeks after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction, following massive weight loss.

After losing a significant amount of weight (whether via post-pregnancy weight loss, diet and exercise, gastric bypass surgery, lap band surgery, or some combination of those), many people notice an excess of skin and fat that remains.

This is because tissue elasticity is permanently damaged by carrying excess weight, and your skin envelope loses its ability to "bounce back" into position. A frequently used analogy is that of a rubber band that gets stretched out and loses its ability to snap back.

In situations like this, surgery can be a fulfilling and effective solution. 

Generally speaking, the first procedure weight loss patients opt to have done is a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) with or without liposuction. This provides a significant improvement in the contour of the trunk, the way clothes fit, the way the body proportions appear, and the way people feel about themselves. In addition, many endocrinologists feel that fat tissue is "metabolically active," so removing excess abdominal skin and fat may help people lose even more weight and become even more active.

Here are some examples of a recent tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and liposuction patient of mine, who lost a great deal of weight through diet and exercise. She is pictured before and 3 weeks after surgery.

If you are interested in body contouring surgery, please feel free to make an appointment to see me and discuss your concerns by calling my office at (212) 452-2400.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 3 weeks after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction, following massive weight loss.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 3 weeks after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction, following massive weight loss.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 3 weeks after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction, following massive weight loss.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 3 weeks after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction, following massive weight loss.

Depending on your size, 5-15 pounds of fat can be excised during tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery. Pictured is the resected specimen of the above patient.

Tummy tuck and breast lift: a real patient's experience

Body contouring surgery after weight loss, pregnancy, or the epiphany that you deserve to enjoy the best version of yourself is an enormous decision.

I see many patients who are interested in tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), liposuction, breast lift (mastopexy), breast augmentation, breast reduction, arm lift (brachioplasty), thigh lift (thighplasty), and some combination of those procedures. While each patient is different, there is one thing everyone has in common: they want to know what it's like.

Below is a patient review from one of my recent tummy tuck and breast lift patients, submitted via RealSelf.com, and verified via IP address and email address. This patient wrote this review just 2 weeks after surgery, so she is far from seeing her final results, which usually take 6-12 months to fully materialize. Still, reading her comments will help you understand what the early recovery period after surgery is like.

To schedule a consultation appointment with me regarding body contouring or any other procedure, please call my office at (212) 452-2400.

Dr. Devgan's expert commentary on how to get younger-looking hands and fingers

72 year old woman, before and 1 week after hand rejuvenation with Radiesse injectable filler. Radiesse treatment is virtually painless, takes about 2 minutes per hand, and results last for up to 1 year. For more information on Radiesse hand rejuvenation (or hand rejuvenation with Juvederm, Restylane, or autologous fat grafting) by Dr. Devgan, please call 212-452-2400.

A recent article in Aesthetic Surgery Journal described the technique of lipomodeling (or autologous fat grafting) to the fingers and hands in order to restore a youthful appearance to aging appendages.

Dr. Devgan's expert commentary on this topic, including her use of Radiesse for this procedure, was featured on Healio.com, an online medical journal for physicians.

Click to read the full article on Healio.com

After age 30, most women's hands look older than their faces. In fact, plastic surgeons often regard the hands as the easiest way to determine a person's age, as aging hands tend to appear more sinewy, veiny, pigmented and thinner than younger hands. This article describes a popular technique for hand rejuvenation: autologous fat grafting.

In my practice, I employ both autologous fat grafting as well as injectable fillers to rejuvenate aging hands. While fat grafting has the advantage of being durable and using one's own tissue, injectable filler (such as Radiesse, Juvederm, or Restylane) is quicker, less expensive, and has a faster recovery. Both techniques are an essential part of a plastic surgeon's armamentarium, and each technique has a role in hand rejuvenation. The authors also draw attention to a valuable finer point in hand rejuvenation: that both the dorsum of the hand and the fingers deserve attention.

Lara Devgan, MD, MPH
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery

How to get a gorgeous smile: An invited article by Irina Starik, DMD

Image credit Stuart Miles

I'm pleased to introduce Dr. Irina Starik, a fabulous dentist on the Upper East Side whom I have trusted with my own teeth. Read her article on what you can do to maintain and achieve a beautiful smile and great teeth, below.

How to Get a Gorgeous Smile by Irina Starik, DMD

Guest Blog Post for Lara Devgan, MD, MPH

"The world is like a mirror, if you smile it smiles back, and vice-versa."  

                                                                                                            - Ras Obenn

A recent study conducted by the Max Planck Institute in Germany concluded that smiling can make you appear younger. The question then becomes, how do we keep this healthy smile throughout our life? 

As we age so do our teeth and gums. Enamel (the outside layer of teeth) changes color, wear over the years shortens the length of the actual tooth, the gum line begins to recede and our teeth move and become misaligned.   

Oral Hygiene

The first line of defense is oral hygiene. This includes brushing and flossing your teeth every day as well as regular checkups by your dentist semi-annually. The best time to brush your teeth is after breakfast and after you have had your last meal at night. Flossing should be done every night prior to brushing and incorporating mouthwash helps reduce the bacteria count in your mouth. Seeing your dentist regularly will ensure that any problems that develop are treated right away and that your daily oral hygiene technique gets the professional stamp of approval!  

Whitening Your Teeth

However with time and aging other factors start to affect your smile. As you age, it becomes vital to understand how food and drinks affect your teeth. Coffee and wine stains the teeth and other foods such as sugars and citrus fruit even break down your enamel. Whitening your teeth professionally is the best way to restore what time has diminished and monitoring your diet will help slow the wear of your teeth.

Teeth Grinding

One of the biggest obstacle to a healthy smile early on is smoking and teeth grinding. Symptoms of grinding include excessive wear of the teeth, increased sensitivity, and jaw pain. The best way to treat this is to have a night guard made by your dentist. Recently there have been new treatments developed, including Botox therapy of the specific muscles (masseter and temporalis) that control closing and clenching of the jaw.

Invisalign

With age, teeth also begin to shift and change position, even if you have had orthodontics (braces) in the past. The best and least invasive way to realign your teeth is through Invisalign treatment. This is a modern approach to braces that uses virtually invisible retainers that gently re-position your teeth. 

Lip Fillers

Facial aesthetics also have a direct affect on the beauty of your smile. Enhancements such as lip fillers will help hide receding gums. Other ways to improve your smile is to use these fillers in your gums to help plump and lower them.

There are many ways to help you maintain your youthful smile, ask your dentist about other specific options that you may have! 

Click to learn more about the author of this post, dentist Irina Starik, DMD