If you’re dreaming of lying on the beach this summer in a teeny bikini showing off a perfectly flat stomach, it’s not too late to make that dream come true.
We at The SHAW Center believe you should feel confident when you rock your swimsuit regardless of your size. But we also understand that you’ll feel your best when you have the body you desire.
Enter abdominoplasty – or a tummy tuck. This surgical procedure removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall, creating a beautifully sculpted stomach.
The tummy tuck is ideal for women who’ve experienced pregnancy or a large amount of weight loss and have loose skin they can’t get rid of despite diet and exercise. It is also ideal for people who are experiencing loss of skin elasticity due to age.
A tummy tuck is a surgical excision of excess skin around the abs. An ellipse of skin is removed between the navel and the hairline of the mons area, eliminating C-section scars as well. The skin above the navel is lifted off the abdominal wall muscles up to the level of the rib cage, then pulled down to the level of the mons and closed. During the procedure, the abdominal wall muscles are tightened, resulting in a narrower waistline.
A tummy tuck procedure lasts about two and a half to three hours and does require some recovery time. Most patients can return to work after two weeks and to more strenuous activity after four to six weeks (sometimes more).
If you’re considering getting a tummy tuck here at our office, please consider this testimonial one of our happy patients posted on Realself.com:
“Dr. Shaw and his team are absolutely amazing! Some may say that plastic surgery is only skin deep, but I completely disagree. After having my son later in life (I was 38) and he was just over 9 lbs. (and I am just 5’1 1/2″ and 105 lbs. normally) – I was left with not so beautiful breasts and a sagging tummy – yuck! Dr. Shaw performed Breast Augmentation for me in 2005 – AMAZING… but no matter how much I worked out and lost all of my weight, I would still look in the mirror and feel like I was still too young to look as old as my tummy made me feel. I finally decided (after much deliberation) to have a tummy tuck in December 2011. OH MY GOSH! I wish I would have had this done 7 years ago!! It is so wonderful to be able to go to my closet and find clothes that show off my curves and flat tummy instead of trying to find clothes to hide behind. My husband absolutely LOVES the results too. He loves the curves, the flat tummy, and the restored confidence I have again. No more “lights off”… LOL! Dr. Shaw did an amazing job with pulling in the sides to give me back my hour glass figure, and also did a great job on my belly button.” — VIEffects
Leave comment
We don’t like to blow our own horn… we’d much rather let our patients do it for us! And they have. We’d like to share with you some testimonials from some of our very happy patients.
One shared on RealSelf, “I never experienced even the slightest inconvenience along the way. After researching many ‘top’ plastic surgeons it became quite obvious how courteous, professional, and dedicated Dr. Shaw and his team are. They went above and beyond to set me at ease throughout the process! I recently had breast augmentation and a lift and had been a bundle of nerves leading up to the procedures! I cannot stress enough how EASY the whole process, as well as, my recovery was! Dr. Shaw is a genius and made my entire experience ‘a walk in the park’! I had absolutely NO pain following the surgery and was beyond ecstatic about my results… my experience with Dr. Shaw far exceeded any of my expectations and my new body has me feeling more feminine and secure than I ever imagined possible. My loyalty now lies, without question, with Dr. Shaw’s expertise and very professional staff!”
Another recommends us to her own daughter. She wrote, “I had my breast augmentation from Dr. Shaw in 1995. I have never regretted my choice. I have never had a problem with my implants. My breasts still look great, completely natural. I’ve yet to have them replaced. My daughter is scheduled to have her augmentation on the 15th of Feb. and I wouldn’t feel comfortable trusting her to anyone else.”
Breast augmentation is one of our specialties. Board-certified Dr. Shaw specifically has more than 25 years experience in breast enhancement surgeries, and we use the latest, most innovative techniques to provide our patients the ultimate in satisfaction with their surgery.
We offer superior-medial pedicle breast reduction and breast lift surgery, resulting in a superior overall breast shape and a “dual-plane” — “biplanar” breast augmentation technique. This implant placement gives the benefit of being below the muscle without the implant being too high on the chest. Dr. Shaw uses all available types of both silicone and saline implants when performing breast augmentation surgery. 
We offer a number of breast enhancement procedures including:
Breast augmentation, known as augmentation mammoplasty, which enhances the size of the breasts as well as shape with silicone of saline implants. 
Breast lift, or mastoplexy, involves removing excess skin, repositioning the nipples, reshaping and lifting up sagging or drooping breasts. This procedure can be done simultaneously with a breast augmentation.
Breast reduction is ideal for women whose large breasts cause them neck, back or shoulder pain or restriction of physical activity due to the size and weight of the breast, or whose breasts are sagging due to their weight.
Breast revision refers to breast surgery following a previous breast enhancement surgery to improve shape, symmetry, appearance and feel.
We also offer accredited surgical facilities, high surgical standards and excellent care to our patients seeking any kind of cosmetic surgery or services with us.
Leave comment
Many people turn to plastic surgery to turn back the hands of time or enhance their look in a natural way. However, there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to plastic surgery.
Need proof? Just look to Hollywood.
Have you heard of the reality star Heidi Montag who had 10 cosmetic surgery procedures in one day back in 2010? The former The Hills star is now only 26 years old but already has admitted that she was “in over my head.”
In an interview with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush and Kit Hoover in October of 2012, she said of the marathon surgeries, “I would never do it again and I never recommend it for anyone.”
She added, “I wasn’t told really the repercussions and what would happen, emotionally and psychically and the pain I would be in. I was kind of in shock.”
Cosmetic surgery can help people who suffer with self-esteem issues because of the way they look. But it can get out of hand, as Heidi suggested.
The best thing to do is speak with a cosmetic surgery professional. Our staff at The SHAW Center can help you determine how to achieve a natural beautiful result without going overboard which can sometimes result in a fake or plastic look.
Our experts have the experience and professionalism to guide our patients through the process – properly preparing them for the entire experience including downtime needed for recovery.
We also have in-depth consultations with our patients to ensure that they are getting exactly what they desire – and nothing more without their consent.
With the professionals at The SHAW Center, cosmetic surgery is designed simply to enhance your natural beauty, not change your entire look.
Leave comment
Getting a face-lift is a big decision so you’ll want to make sure you proceed with an expert. Dr. Shaw is a board-certified expert in cosmetic surgery, with more than 25 years of experience, so you can rest assured that you’ll end up with the best possible results.
There are many face-lift procedures available at The SHAW Center. Be sure to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shaw to discuss the bet options for you.
Some to consider:
 Injectables – Injectables like Botox and JUVÉDERM can be the perfect thing for people who don’t need a full face-lift but are simply looking to refresh and rejuvenate their face without surgery.
Face-lift – Called a rhytidectomy, a face-lift eliminates sagging skin along the jaw line and neck. It can also reshape fat tissue and sagging skin on the cheeks and jowls.
SmartLipo – SmartLipo is another option for creating a younger look by thinning the face and neck. This facial liposuction procedure, which usually takes less than an hour, gives patients a slimmer, more youthful appearance.

Eyelid and Brow lift – Eliminating sagging and loose skin on and around the upper and lower eyelids can give patients a much younger appearance as well. The brow lift does just that – lifts the brows, eliminating a “tired” or even “angry” look. With a brow lift, Dr. Shaw can also smooth wrinkles on the forehead.

Rhinoplasty – Nose reshaping is a popular procedure to transform the size and shape of the nose to become more proportional to the rest of the face.
Whatever look is desired, Dr. Shaw can often combine many procedures at once to create a whole new look at one time. A consultation with Dr. Shaw can help you customize your facial reconstruction desires – both surgical and non-surgical – and welcome back a more youthful, happier face in the mirror!

Leave comment

–>

We at the SHAW Center are proud of the variety of outpatient, minimally invasive treatments that we offer that can change a life, or an outlook, with just a few hours of surgical “adjustment” and minimal recovery time for the patient. But there are certainly circumstances when a greater amount of surgery in called for, and the recovery time for the patient is increased. Preparation for these circumstances, such as a “tummy-tuck,” will need more planning and organization to assure the optimum, least stressful, outcome.
First of all, listen closely to the physician and the staff as they explain the procedure, and don’t be afraid to ask specific questions regarding recovery times. How many days will you be “off your feet?” Some recovery conditions make it imperative that there is minimal movement during the first few days. This means arrangements will have to be made to provide meals and laundry service for you and your family, not to mention making arrangements for car-pooling and other duties.  You can’t be bouncing in and out of bed to find someone’s shirt or shoes. No matter how supportive your spouse might be, taking on all your duties can be daunting.
This leads to the issue of whom you tell about your surgery, as we covered in a prior issue of The SHAW Center Blog. If you have another close, discreet friend or family member upon whom you can rely to help cover you during your recovery, that’s excellent.  You will need at least one trusted advocate to help you make decisions. It is too confusing to have a committee of well-meaning people inundating you with their personal opinions.
This is why many women would prefer not to get outside family too involved. In such cases, it makes perfect sense, and is extremely acceptable, to look into services available in the community that can take up the slack.  Investigate grocery delivery services in your area. There are many temporary maid services that can cover the household chores and on-call nursing services to attend to your specific recovery needs, as there are many mother’s helper or errand-running services, that can also provide valuable assistance. Perhaps the staff will even know of such services, and be willing to recommend the most reliable ones.
This is the time to contact your insurance company to find out exactly what will be covered. You might qualify to have in-home care covered. See if you can have post-operative medications filled ahead of time.
Your first priority is your healthy recovery. This is no time to be thinking of yourself as a Super-Woman. You have to acknowledge that there will be down-time and prepare for it. The belief that “nothing’s gonna’ break my stride,” is what gets many women into overwhelming situations, unprepared for the physical and emotional strain of a major surgery.  Recovery is a relatively small amount of time, compared to the rest of one’s life. As so many women have joyfully noted, the benefits of having the surgery far outweigh the amount of inconvenience and discomfort that come with the recovery time. We here at The SHAW Center want to do everything we can to help you have that joyful feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment of a well-planned surgical recovery.
Leave comment

In days not too long ago, many people regarded cosmetic surgery as an expensive exercise in vanity. Now, in an age when people are living longer than ever before, and remaining in the work force longer, the question of vanity goes out the window. Consider this: for the first time in history, women are living long past their child-bearing years. Not only that, they are expecting to have happy, vibrant lives. No longer relegated to being only grandma, and waiting to die, woman feel it is their right to be as attractive as they can be, well into their 60’s and 70’s. If that involves cosmetic surgery, well then, they are worth it. 
The attitude regarding “surgery vs. vanity” has changed drastically for men, as well.  More men are availing themselves of a variety of procedures as a way to boost the odds of getting and keeping good jobs. With competition for jobs increasing for both sexes, the issue goes far beyond vanity – it’s become an economic necessity.
Sometimes the decision regarding the “worth” of surgery, or of “surgery vs. vanity,” is easier to make if you equate the care and maintenance of your appearance to the maintenance of a piece of property. What would you think of the owners of property who allow it to become ramshackle? The doors and windows are sagging, the stairs are chipped, the whole place looks neglected and out-of-date? You wouldn’t think much of them. Why would you give your own appearance any less attention than a piece of property? You wouldn’t. You shouldn’t. You don’t have to.
One of the more popular, least invasive, appearance enhancing procedures done at the SHAW Center is the SmartLipo Necklift. For both sexes, the first sign of aging is a “double chin”. Fat accumulates around the neck and jaw, pulling down the entire face. 
According to Dr. Shaw, “SmartLipo actually has the ability to tighten the skin by heating the dermis from the underside and causing contraction.” Dramatic results can be obtained in one procedure, erasing years off the faces of happy men and women. 
Don’t let doubts, uncertainties and too much worry about the opinions of others hinder your decision to update your look. There are so many new procedures available to improve your appearance. Dr. Lawrence Shaw and the SHAW Center invite you to call us for a consultation.
Leave comment
If you undergo a major cosmetic augmentation, there may be some downtime involved in your recovery. Avoid the boredom blues with these fun tips.
Pick up a good book
Chances are you’ve been too busy to do much reading lately. But with a few days off of work or in bed, you can get engrossed in a good novel.
Enjoy the break from the gym
A major surgery may require some time away from the gym. While we’re not encouraging you to go soft on us, it’s okay to take a break from the gym while under doctor’s orders. If your surgeon allows, take a brisk stroll around your neighborhood (or around the mall in inclimate weather.
Get some rest
There isn’t a person out there that couldn’t use a few more hours rest each night. If your procedure requires significant downtime, take advantage of it to catch up on some shut-eye.
Connect with friends
Jump on your computer and send out a few emails to friends you’ve been meaning to connect with over the past few weeks, months or even years!
Don’t freak
Remember that part of the downtime process includes allowing swelling to go down and bruising or cuts to heal. So try not to freak out if you don’t look exactly how you envisioned right after your cosmetic surgery. This is why downtime is required after most major cosmetic surgeries.
Respect the downtime
No matter how long or short your surgeon recommends downtime after any procedure, be sure to heed his advice! Aside from allowing swelling to go down and cuts and bruises to heel, downtime is required to allow you to recover from your procedure. If there are any specific things your doctor requires you to do during your downtime, make sure to follow his instructions to ensure optimal surgery results.
Leave comment

–>

So you’ve had a little lift, a nip here or a tuck there – does it have to become public knowledge?
The choice is yours
Choosing to have cosmetic surgery is certainly nothing to be ashamed of, especially as popular as it is today. However, even if you decide to have a minor augmentation such as Botox or something more apparent like breast enhancement or liposuction, don’t feel obligated to share the news. After all, it’s really no body’s business but your own, right?
Be selective about who you tell
If you decide to share your news, be choosy about who you tell. You don’t have to announce it to everyone in your neighborhood coffee house, but it’s probably smart to discuss the decision beforehand with your spouse or partner and your parents. And your best friends who will probably want to know why you look so much more amazing as of late.
If you are undergoing a major augmentation that will require some downtime, you may need to inform your boss in case you need to take some time off of work. However, just because you tell your boss does not mean your facelift has to become the topic of water cooler gossip. If you choose to be discreet about your cosmetic surgery, ensure that the people you do tell (including your boss) will use the same discretion.
Be prepared
You don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t want to. However, you may want to be prepared with a response if a close friend or family member asks if you have had something done. You can choose to be honest, coy or share the most intimate details. Once again, the choice is yours. If you’ve decided to enhance your look with cosmetic surgery, be proud of your new look.
Leave comment

When you are considering cosmetic augmentation of any kind, it’s important that you choose the right doctor for you. Before going through with cosmetic surgery, consider these tips.

Recommendations
If you have friends or family who have had cosmetic surgery, talk to them about their experiences. Ask how they felt about the plastic surgeon that performed their procedures.
Do your own research
Look online for board certified surgeons in your area. Check their websites and look for testimonials on the site from prior clients.
Find a specialist
When you are looking for a specific procedure whether it be breast enhancement, face lift of liposuction, make sure that the surgeons you interview have experience in that specific area.
Conduct interviews
Before you settle on a surgeon, meet with at least two to get a feel for the office, staff and surgeon who will be operating on you. When you interview, explain what you are looking for and get suggestions from him or her regarding your ideas. It’s important that you and your surgeon are on the same page when it comes to your desires and what the final outcome will be.
Ask if you can contact prior clients to get their personal testimonials or if he or she has ever had unsatisfied clients. If so, ask why the client was not happy and how the surgeon was able to make it right.
Listen to your gut
If you get a good feeling or a not-so-good feeling while you are conducting interviews, don’t ignore them! Your gut instincts are usually right on and it’s crucial to have a good rapport with the surgeon who will be performing the desired procedures.

Final preparation
Before you go forward with any cosmetic surgery, make sure you are fully aware of details like downtime/recovery time, expected pain, costs and anticipated results.
Leave comment

–>

We encourage women to appreciate their post-baby bodies, but if you’re unhappy with your new figure, consider a mommy makeover.
What is a “Mommy makeover”?
A “Mommy Makeover” refers to light cosmetic enhancements designed to return mom to her pre-baby body, not to completely overhaul her image. Most often, the Mommy Makeover includes breast augmentation and a tummy tuck – the areas of a woman’s body most affected by pregnancy and nursing.
Should you get a Mommy Makeover?
Are you genuinely unhappy with your body or are you considering a Mommy Makeover to fit into someone else’s idea of what your body should look like? Your partner should love your body more than ever – after all that body is the one that brought his child(ren) into this world.
Are you relying on a Mommy Makeover to boost your body image issues?
Many new moms have a hard time adjusting to their post-baby bodies. However, we advise that you really consider why you’re unhappy with your body and whether a Mommy Makeover really will fix the issue. Instead of looking at your body as “it will never be the same” consider stretch marks, C-section scars and other changes in your body as badges of honor – those earned by you, Mom, as you brought your babies into this world. If you’re confident in your body image but just would like to enhance your features to the way they were, a Mommy Makeover could be just the thing for you.
Have you tried to regain your pre-baby body “the old fashioned way” or are you looking for a quick fix?
A Mommy Makeover is a wonderful solution for women who have stubborn fat parts of their body that they simply cannot sculpt to their liking no matter how much they work out. In this case, a Mommy Makeover could be perfect.
Before making any decisions about cosmetic surgery, make a consultation appointment with our team to discuss your concerns and hopes.
Leave comment