October Procedure of the Month: Menopause Makeover
Posted September 23, 2020
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and a decrease in the production of estrogen and progesterone. Every woman’s experience is different and there is no specific age that it begins to occur or ends. The process is gradual and can create physical changes, such as a difference in weight distribution, and hot flashes. There may be disrupted sleep patterns associated with menopause and a decrease in libido or sexual drive. Intercourse may be painful as the decrease in hormones removes some of the natural lubrication the body produces. Just as in puberty, emotions can also be erratic and heightened.
Many patients come in with concerns about their bodies and the changes that are occurring because of their hormonal fluctuations. There is little that can be done through diet and exercise alone and they are not happy with the way this makes them feel. Liposuction is a common procedure that is used to remove excess fatty tissue on the body. Menopause can create fatty areas on the mid to upper back, thighs and hips, upper abdomen, and pubic region. These areas can be addressed using Liposuction with excellent results.
Tummy Tucks can be used to surgically address excess skin to the abdomen. A Breast Lift may be needed to reshape and recontour the breasts. A Breast Reduction can be used to address an increase in volume because of hormonal changes.
Excess skin to the face and neck area along with a decrease in the volume are common concerns for women as they age. A Face Lift or Neck Lift can be used to surgically remove the excess skin and a Fat Transfer can be used to add volume to areas that look hollow. Injectables are a non-surgical option that can also be used to add volume throughout the early stages of aging.
A Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery can be done to address hooding or excess skin to the eyes.
Due to the hormonal changes, the skin, especially on the face, begins to lose elasticity, and the texture changes. Lasers and other aesthetic devices are commonly used to alleviate wrinkles and fine lines, tighten the skin, improve skin texture and tone and reduce scars and blemishes. Collagen production can be stimulated, and damaged skin removed to reveal younger, healthier skin.
Menopause Makeover is a platform designed to educate women on the combination of procedures available to address the changes that occur to their bodies because of Menopause. There are many surgical procedures and non-surgical treatment options that can be used to improve a woman’s self-confidence and restore her self-esteem. Feeling healthy and strong from the inside out is important, as is our quality of life as we age. The choices we make to eat right, exercise, and stay socially engaged are as important as liking what we see when we look in the mirror. Menopause Makeover is a platform created to provide options should a woman choose to address changes to their body that occur as a result of menopause.
