Serving all of San Francisco and The Bay Area
The Minimal Incision Breast Reduction or Lift
Upper breast flattening and breast drooping are expected consequences of childbearing and aging. Some women find that their breasts are too large and cause them problems with neck pain, back pain, shoulder strap grooving, etc. They also find that clothes and braziers don’t fit properly. For others, the volume of breast tissue is deficient or appropriate but the breasts themselves droop. If this sounds like you, keep reading. There is a newer breast procedure, with minimized incisions, that offers correction of these problems.
This procedure, called the ‘modern’ vertical mammaplasty, lifts the breast, reduces the volume (if necessary), and improves shape. If you have back, neck and breast pain due to large breasts, it will most likely disappear after surgery. Another advantage of this procedure over the traditional breast lift or reduction is less scarring. Traditional breast procedures have scars around the areolus, vertically from the areolus the fold underneath the breast, and horizontally along the fold underneath the breast. The ‘modern’ vertical mammaplasty has a scar only around the areolus and vertically from the areolus to the fold. The horizontal scar in the fold is eliminated. This is fortunate as the horizontal scar is usually the worst of the three areas of scarring.
The ‘modern’ vertical mammaplasty is based on different concepts than the traditional breast lift or reduction. Traditional breast surgery changes the shape of the skin and adjusts the breast tissue to fit into the new envelope of skin. The result is much more incision and a flatter, wider breast in a tight skin envelope. The weakness of this approach is that the skin stretches and the drooping can recur. The newer procedure first reshapes the breast tissue into a narrower, projected, conical shape. Next, the skin is adjusted to the new, improved breast shape. The result is much less incision and more beautiful shape. In addition, the vertical mammaplasty breast procedure holds up better over time.
Breast reduction and lift procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. This means that you go home the same day as the surgery. Most people can return to work in about a week. Dissolving sutures placed under the skin help make the recovery period easier on you. Many people combine their breast reduction with other procedures such as a tummy tuck, liposuction, or facial rejuvenation. Some patients have lost enough breast tissue (or never thought they had enough in the first place!!) and combine augmentation with a lift.
Explore the possibility of sculpting a new you.
Dr. Ronan is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. His specialty is aesthetic or cosmetic surgery. If you would like to discuss this or any other aesthetic procedure in detail, please call (925) 736-5757 or email us for a complimentary consultation.
Abdominal Contouring after Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes many changes in the body, especially in the abdomen. The ability of the abdomen to ‘rebound’ after childbirth decreases with each delivery. The typical patient that presents for abdominal contouring complains of extra skin, extra fat, a stretched or loose abdominal wall, stretch marks, and/or poor lower abdominal skin quality. Some patients complain that they can’t see their belly button and others that their clothes don’t fit properly. The abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure addresses all of these issues.
Eyelid and Brow Lift Surgery for Men and Women
Do you wake up, even after a good night’s sleep, and find that the loose skin above your eyes or bags below your eyes make you look tired? Do the wrinkles and frown lines on your forehead and the heaviness of the brow bother you? Do you look tired but feel awake? If you answered ‘yes,’ you are not alone. Eyelid (blepharoplasty) and a brow lift procedures are commonly performed to help restore a more energetic and youthful appearance.
Wrinkles? Why not BOTOX® them?
What is all the fuss about BOTOX®? What is it and what can it do for me? Facial expressions like smiling, frowning, and laughing cause wrinkling of skin, especially between the eyebrows and in the lateral eye area (crow’s feet). BOTOX® is a medicine which treats wrinkles in an office setting with little or no downtime.
The Midface Addition for the ‘Modern’ Facelift
The youthful face is curvilinear with fullness in the upper midface, graceful curves, and a relative hollowness in the lower midface. The lower lid appears vertically short. With aging, there is an inevitable descent of cheek tissue which creates a depression hollowness of the lower lid area, emptiness of the upper face area, fullness in the lower face, and jowling. The lower lid sags and appears vertically taller. The neck skin and muscle loosen creating central fullness and blunting of the youthful, sharp distinction between the jaw and the neck.
Breast Enhancement for the Modern Woman
The breast is the universal symbol of femininity, nurturing, love, and sexuality. Most women interested in breast augmentation or enlargement are intelligent, successful and well-adjusted individuals who are concerned with inadequate breast size. The overwhelming majority of women who undergo breast augmentation are very satisfied with their result. Because of such high patient satisfaction and improvement in self-image, it is not surprising that breast augmentation is one of the more common aesthetic plastic surgery procedures performed.
Wrinkles, Sagging and Laxity of the Jowls and Neck
As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. There is an inevitable descent of cheek tissue which creates a depression hollowness of the lower lid area, fullness in the lower face, and jowling. The neck skin and muscle loosen creating central fullness and blunting of the youthful, sharp distinction between the jaw and the neck.
Stars and the Scalpel
Fashion Wire Daily NY December 26, 2001 - Can we talk? Joan Rivers, the self-proclaimed arbiter of Hollywood style, talks as much about her own plastic surgeries as she does about other stars' fashion gaffes. But while famous folks like Rivers, Phyllis Diller, Michael Jackson and Jocelyn Wildenstein (aka The Bride of Wildenstein) can pass off their multiple body modifications as aesthetic adventurousness or a plain old sight gag, there's a fine line between people who get numerous nips and tucks, and those on a compulsive quest for perfection.
Maliniac Circle welcomes youngest member
The Maliniac Circle is an opportunity for all ASPS members – at any stage of their careers – to make a donation to PSEF to support future research and educational programs.
Stephen Ronan, MD, an ASPS candidate-member, exemplify the fact that it is never too early, or too late, to become a Maliniac Fellow.
At age 32, Dr. Ronan is the youngest member to join the Maliniac Circle. He hopes that other young plastic surgeons will follow his lead in making a deferred contribution to PSEF.
I Was Talked Out of Plastic Surgery
By Tammy Duggins
I’m 28 and recently became worried about sagging around my eyes. I live in an affluent area around San Francisco, and frankly, people judge you by appearance here. In my job as a secretary, I deal with the public and want to look my best. I’ve had friends who’ve had minor plastic surgery, and they look great.
So I went to a plastic surgeon, Dr. Stephen Ronan, and asked for a brow lift. I’d made my mind up to have it done, and I was floored when he said, “You don’t need an eye job or brow work or anything else. You don’t need plastic surgery.” That’s what every woman wants to hear! I know my husband likes my looks, but I didn’t expect a surgeon to say no to my request to change them.
Dr. Ronan suggested I pluck my eyebrows into more flattering arches, and now I do that. He didn’t charge me for the consultation (or the beauty tip!). I came away feeling like I got a gift-a confidence boost-for free.
The Midface Addition for the ‘Modern’ Facelift
The youthful face is curvilinear with fullness in the upper midface, graceful curves, and a relative hollowness in the lower midface. The lower lid appears vertically short. With aging, there is an inevitable descent of cheek tissue which creates a depression hollowness of the lower lid area, emptiness of the upper face area, fullness in the lower face, and jowling. The lower lid sags and appears vertically taller. The neck skin and muscle loosen creating central fullness and blunting of the youthful, sharp distinction between the jaw and the neck.
Breast Enhancement for the Modern Woman
The breast is the universal symbol of femininity, nurturing, love, and sexuality. Most women interested in breast augmentation or enlargement are intelligent, successful and well-adjusted individuals who are concerned with inadequate breast size. The overwhelming majority of women who undergo breast augmentation are very satisfied with their result. Because of such high patient satisfaction and improvement in self-image, it is not surprising that breast augmentation is one of the more common aesthetic plastic surgery procedures performed.
Abdominal Contouring after Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes many changes in the body, especially in the abdomen. The ability of the abdomen to ‘rebound’ after childbirth decreases with each delivery. The typical patient that presents for abdominal contouring complains of extra skin, extra fat, a stretched or loose abdominal wall, stretch marks, and/or poor lower abdominal skin quality. Some patients complain that they can’t see their belly button and others that their clothes don’t fit properly. The abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure addresses all of these issues.
MD Plastic Surgeon Joins Top-end Local Practice and Offers New Procedures, Techniques
Before you undergo cosmetic surgery, you may want a consultation with expert plastic surgeon Stephen J. Ronan MD. This month, after ten years of East Coast training, Dr. Ronan returns home to the Bay Area and combines extensive knowledge, new procedures, and technologic know-how in a very reputable and successful private practice located in Blackhawk, CA.
Dr. Stephen J. Ronan
Dr. Ronan was born at the Presidio in San Francisco. He was raised in Petaluma where he attended St. Vincent Grammar and High School. He graduated St. Vincent H.S. with more than 20 awards and scholarships. He participated in sports year round (football, basketball, baseball and tennis) throughout these years and was chosen for multiple All-Star teams, MVP awards, etc.