Dr. Devgan featured on Inspiring Women in Surgery: Faces of Surgery

Click to view Dr. Devgan's feature on Inspiring Women In Surgery.

I am honored to be featured on Inspiring Women in Surgery: Faces of Surgery, an online platform dedicated to motivating women to succeed in the male-dominated profession of surgery.

For years during my education and training, I wished that I had more female surgery mentors to model myself after. Now, I am trying to BE the role model I always wanted. Thank you Inspiring Women in Surgery for showing the next generation examples of how surgery is an equal opportunity field where the only thing that matters is being a good person who is good at your job.

I encourage you to look at this interesting page (linked above, by clicking on my photo) and read the stories of dozens of amazing women who work in all aspects of the field of surgery. There are many ways to contribute to the science and humanity of surgery, and the women featured on this page provide rich examples for anyone needing a bit of motivation and inspiration.

Gummy bear breast implants vs silicone implants: What do women in NYC prefer?

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and after breast augmentation with highly cohesive gel silicone implants.

One of the big decisions with breast implants is what type of implants you will get. In this day and age, over 90% of the patients in my New York City private practice opt for silicone implants. This is because silicone implants tend to look and feel more natural than saline implants. In addition, in thinner women, silicone implants are less likely to demonstrate visible wrinkles or folds.

Within the category of silicone implants, women have the option of choosing "gummy bear" silicone or traditional highly cohesive gel silicone implants. Both types of implants have their advantages, and I am happy to accommodate my patients' preferences about implant type. However, overall, most women in New York City tend to prefer traditional highly cohesive silicone gel implants over gummy bear implants.

Gummy Bear Breast Implants

Gummy bear breast implants are form stable, meaning that, much like a gummy bear, if they are cut in half, they will keep their shape. Gummy bear implants can be round or shaped like a teardrop. They tend to be firmer and harder than traditional silicone implants. 

Traditional Highly Cohesive Gel Silicone Implants

Highly cohesive gel silicone implants also maintain their shape if cut in half, however, they are softer and more bouncy feeling than gummy bear implants. Women who have traditional silicone implants report that they feel like a soft, natural breast at a higher rate than women who have gummy bear implants.

Gummy bear implants versus silicone implants

Think of a gummy bear implant like a jelly bean and a traditional silicone implant like a cube of Jell-o. Both are soft. Both are form stable. Both will maintain their shape if cut in half. But a gummy bear implant will feel firmer and be less squeezable, while a traditional silicone implant will be softer and more pliant.

For this reason, most women in my practice (and most women surveyed overall) report a preference for traditional silicone implants.

If you have questions about breast augmentation surgery, including silicone, saline, or gummy bear implants, please feel free to contact my office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at (212) 452-2400 or office@LaraDevganMD.com.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and after breast augmentation with highly cohesive gel silicone implants.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and after breast augmentation with highly cohesive gel silicone implants.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and after breast augmentation with highly cohesive gel silicone implants.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and after breast augmentation with highly cohesive gel silicone implants.

What age is the right time for Plastic Surgery?

Patients are often curious when they should have a plastic surgical procedure. There is no magic time frame that is right for everyone, and there is no correct answer to that question. Plastic surgery is highly individualized and depends on a variety of factors, including physical maturity, emotional maturity, readiness, and optimization of overall health.

There is a wide age range for people who undergo elective plastic surgery. From teens who are growing into their bodies to seniors who want to reverse signs of aging, plastic surgery has varying prevalence across age groups. Though many procedures can be performed at any age after puberty, data published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports the following plastic surgery trends by age group:

• Rhinoplasty – ages 13 to 19

• Breast Augmentation – ages 20 to 29

• Liposuction/body sculpting procedures – ages 30 to 39

• Eyelid (blepharoplasty)/eyebrow lift – ages 40 to 45

• Facelift and necklift – age 55 and older

What does this say about your age group?

RHINOPLASTY (ages 13–19): The nose changes the least out of all of the facial features, and it is often a cause for concern starting in one's teens. I advise patients to wait until the craniofacial skeleton has finished growing (typically around age 15 in girls and age 17 in boys) before thinking about rhinoplasty or nose job surgery. This allows your surgical result to match your facial features without causing any disturbances in facial growth. Surgery in minors always requires the consent of a parent or guardian.

BREAST AUGMENTATION (ages 20-29): Once puberty is complete, a woman can assume her breasts are fully formed. While I have performed breast augmentations in teens as well as women in their 70s, the twenties and thirties seem to be the most popular time for first exploring this procedure.

LIPOSUCTION/ BODY SCULPTING (ages 30-39): Usually by the time both women and men are in their thirties they have begun to go through metabolic changes. When exercise and a healthy diet no longer suffice in getting rid of stubborn body fat, people begin turning to different forms of liposuction and body sculpting techniques. These surgical procedures have proven to safely and successfully remove fat.

EYELID SURGERY/ EYEBROW LIFT (ages 35 to 45): Men and women’s eyes typically begin to show signs of aging in their thirties and forties. The periorbital skin is the thinnest on the body, and genetics, sun damage, time, and stress can reveal themselves in the form of wrinkled skin, excess tissue, puffy bags under the eyes, and dark undereye circles. A subtle way to give aging eyes a renewed look is upper and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Blepharoplasty is one of my favorite, signature procedures, and one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in America.

When skin around the eyes and on the forehead begins to sag, it can also cause eyebrows to droop. Depending on each person’s unique anatomic characteristics as well as their desired look, either a non-surgical or surgical option can be offered to give eyebrows a refined raise.

FACELIFT/ NECKLIFT (ages 50 +): From the forties, fifties, and onward, many people realize that parts of their face and neck are not exactly how they remember them. Sagging skin can cause more prominent nasolabial folds, loss of definition in the jaw line, and loose, hanging skin on the neck. When done correctly, a facelift and necklift are incredibly subtle operations that can have significant and dramatic effects in improving a person's overall appearance.

So what is the best time for plastic surgery?

In my New York City practice, I see patients at all points on the age spectrum, from childhood to older ages. The right time to have surgery is different for every person, and there is no single cookie-cutter mold for every single patient. If you are physically healthy, emotionally stable, and concerned about a particular feature of your face or body, seek the opinion of a board-certified plastic surgeon to learn more about your options and the best time for your potential procedures.

For more information about a given procedure, or the correct timing for you, please call my office at 212-452-2400 or email office@LaraDevganMD.com.

Reference: Malek, Marc. "Some Things Never Change: Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures by Age." Some Things Never Change: Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures by Age. N.p., Web. 29 June 2016

Dr. Devgan featured in "The Youth Obsession" documentary

Dr. Devgan is honored to have been featured in the documentary "The Youth Obsession." In the clip included here, she is speaking about her approach to facial rejuvenation, including facelift, eyelift (blepharoplasty), and Botox. These are powerful procedures to gently but dramatically rejuvenate an aging face, allowing patients to age gracefully and beautifully over time.

For more information about facelift, necklift, eyelift (blepharoplasty), and Botox in New York City, contact top NYC plastic surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan at 212-452-2400 or office@LaraDevganMD.com.

Breast augmentation with internal lift (no scars on the breast)

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 2 months after breast augmentation with internal lift. Note the improvement in 1) symmetry, 2) droopiness, and 3) contour of the breasts-- all without scars on the front of the breast.

When I perform a breast lift (mastopexy) in my New York City practice, many patients are concerned about having scars on the front of their breasts. A traditional breast lift requires either a donut (periareolar) scar, a lollipop (vertical) scar, or an anchor (Wise pattern) scar. All of these are effective for different patients, but each of them carries the downside of creating a scar on the front of the breast.

I use a technique for breast augmentation with an internal lift that allows me to give my patients a modest breast lift of about 2 centimeters, without placing any scars on the breast. This technique doesn't work for every patient because if you have a significant amount of droopiness, you will need one of the other techniques. However, for the right patient, this is a great way to get a beautiful result without obvious scarring. 

If you are concerned about sagginess, droopiness, asymmetry, or deflation of your breasts, you may be a candidate for a breast augmentation (breast implants), breast lift (mastopexy), breast implants with lift (aug pexy), or another procedure. Please call my office at 212-452-2400 to come in for a consultation, or email office@LaraDevganMD.com with questions.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 2 months after breast augmentation with internal lift.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 2 months after breast augmentation with internal lift.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 2 months after breast augmentation with internal lift.

Actual patient of Dr. Devgan, before and 2 months after breast augmentation with internal lift.