Dear Dr. Kalus,Read More Testimonials
Thank you for a fabulous breast augmentation. I love it, my husband loves it and my friends can't believe how natural my breasts look. I knew after our initial consultation that you were the best surgeon for me.
Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas
1301 Taylor Street
Suite 10A
Columbia, SC 29201
Tel: (803) 733-5881
Columbia, South Carolina Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Ram Kalus, was interviewed by www.bizymoms.com regarding frequently asked questions about the Mommy Makeover procedure. Click on the image below to read the interview.
Dr. Ram Kalus is utilizing some of the latest innovations of the worldwide web to reach out to those considering plastic cosmetic surgery in Columbia, South Carolina. With a new, state-of-the-art website including internet video and an updated blog, Dr. Kalus opens a virtual doorway into his practice for web visitors.
The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery indicates a 162% increase in the number of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. since 1997. More than 10.2 million procedures were performed in 2008 alone. With the surge in aesthetic enhancement procedures being attained by both women and men, one plastic cosmetic surgeon in Columbia, South Carolina is using a new website, equipped with the latest tools of the internet, to educate web visitors on the many procedures available to them.
Dr. Ram Kalus, head of Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas, is embracing the most state-of-the-art advances in web technology to communicate with prospective patients in new and innovative ways. Dr. Kalus has created a site that incorporates web video documentaries, interactive procedural descriptions, a before-and-after photo gallery, and an updated blog to give visitors a virtual tour of his practice and philosophy. Dr. Kalus says one of the ways the new website is helpful is to educate visitors not only on procedures he offers, but also his overall mission. “I make every effort to avoid an operated appearance. My goal with any operation – whether it is a facelift or a cleft lip repair, a cosmetic breast augmentation or a breast reconstruction after mastectomy – is to do the utmost to leave my patient with a natural-appearing result.”
Among the many futuristic tools for those considering aesthetic enhancement procedures such as tummy tuck surgery and breast implants in Columbia, South Carolina, Dr. Kalus has placed narrated, interactive guides on his website that take visitors on a step-by-step, virtual tour of cosmetic surgery options. Each procedure page is meticulously detailed so that prospective patients can get a thorough view of what they can expect, and how certain options can help them achieve their goals. They can also contact Dr. Kalus via the website to set up a consultation and learn more about how specific surgical or non-surgical cosmetic enhancement options can help them with their own unique needs.
On the new site, visitors can also view examples of Dr. Kalus’ published articles and read media stories in which he is featured. The doctor’s blog page also gives people the opportunity to learn the latest news on a variety of topics related to plastic surgery, including features on silicone vs. saline breast implants and Mommy Makeover procedures for women who want to restore their physique after pregnancy.
Dr. Kalus says his holistic approach to plastic surgery involves the belief that surgical aesthetic enhancement is best when coupled with a healthy lifestyle. And with more people seeking out ways to help them feel better about the way they look, his new website aims to provide them with some necessary information while considering their options.
Dr. Ram Kalus is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a graduate of Boston University, and has completed plastic surgery residencies at medical institutions such as the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and the Hospital for Sick Children in Paris, France. Dr. Kalus is a current member and former president of the South Carolina Society of Plastic Surgeons, and also holds active membership in both the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Kalus is also a recognized pediatric specialist and offers plastic surgery procedures for pediatric and adolescent patients. He is affiliated with many hospitals in the Columbia, South Carolina region, including the Midlands Orthopedics Ambulatory Surgery Center, Palmetto Health Baptist Medical Center, and Palmetto Health-Richland Memorial Hospital.
For more information on Columbia, South Carolina liposuction surgery, breast enhancement, BOTOX® Cosmetic, and other procedures available at Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas, Dr. Ram Kalus can be reached at 1301 Taylor Street, Suite 10A, Columbia, SC 29201 – (803) 733-5881.
Nearly every one is familiar with the concerns that were raised in the early 1990’s about the safety of silicone gel filled implants. This prompted the FDA to issue a voluntary moratorium asking plastic surgeons to desist in their use for cosmetic patients until important questions were answered regarding their medical safety, particularly their alleged link to autoimmune and connective tissue disorders. (Their use was never interrupted for reconstructive purposes following mastectomy). In December 2006, the FDA lifted the 14 year old ban on their use for cosmetic breast augmentation after literally hundreds of studies in multiple medical centers around the world failed to demonstrate any relationship between silicone implants and medical illness of any kind. The only restriction that remains today (without any scientific justification) is that their use is limited to women who are at least 22 years old.
Today’s “4th generation” implants have thicker shells and far less likelihood of leak or rupture, and while still not perfect, the manufacturers have worked hard at ensuring that the implants are both safe and durable. (The two main manufacturers of breast implants are Mentor Corporation and Allergan whose implant line is known as Natrelle). The gel used in implants today is much more cohesive, with a consistency more like Jell-O than pancake syrup or honey. This means that it cannot “leak” if the implant shell was to tear or rupture, and is therefore virtually incapable of disseminating throughout the breast or body. The actual risk of deflation or leakage of either a saline or a silicone gel filled implant is quite comparable, and about 0.5% per year. I tell my patients to think of a breast implant like a long lasting tire; it might last the life of the car, but it might not. If it does need to be replaced at some point in time, the surgery is usually pretty straightforward and not particularly complicated. The implant manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty for their breast implants.
While the variety of implant choices today can be quite confusing, i.e. silicone gel or saline filled, smooth versus textured surface, low, mid-range, or high projection, and soon to be FDA approved, anatomical or “shaped” implants instead of simply round, one of the most important choices for a woman is whether her implant should be filled with silicone gel versus saline. While there are no obvious advantages as far as the aesthetic appearance that can be expected, the main difference will be in the way the augmented breast feels. A silicone gel implant will result in a softer and more natural feeling breast, while a saline filled implant, especially one that is slightly over-filled, can be a bit firmer. Rippling is also a concern, with saline filled implants generally considered more prone to show ripples. When it comes to deflation or rupture, it is generally easier to detect a saline rupture because it tends to be “all or none” with an unmistakable (often rather sudden) change in the size of the breast. This is more of a psychological “emergency” rather than a medical one, since the body simply absorbs the saline. If a silicone gel containing implant were to tear or rupture, this may be more difficult to detect by physical examination alone, but MRI is considered the gold standard for determining the status of a gel filled implant. Your plastic surgeon will help you decide if this is indicated.
Breast implants provide a wonderful option for women desiring breast reconstruction after mastectomy, or for women who want to feel more confident and feminine and might be considering a cosmetic breast augmentation, regardless of whether they were always small breasted, or perhaps got that way after nursing children and losing some of their pre-pregnancy breast size. Both saline filled and silicone gel filled implants have their own distinct advantages. To find out which might be best for you it is best to consult with your plastic surgeon. For more information, contact Dr. Ram Kalus at Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas at 803-733-5881.
Hello and welcome to the blog for Dr. Ram Kalus! We’ve created this resource to assist our patients who are considering plastic surgery. Our goal is to make your experience as pleasant, informative and stress-free as possible. Our blog will also serve as a forum for patients to learn about their surgical options from our Columbia plastic surgeon, Dr. Ram Kalus. We welcome any questions that you may have!
Mommy Makeovers are some of the fastest growing plastic surgery procedures among women. Changes to the body brought on by pregnancy, including those affecting the breasts and abdomen, can be addressed in combination with a variety of plastic surgery procedures designed to eliminate excess skin and fat and provide better overall contours.
Dr. Ram Kalus at Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas offers Mommy Makeover procedures with the understanding that while having a baby can be one of life’s greatest gifts, the effects pregnancy can have on a woman’s body are frequently difficult to remedy through diet and exercise alone, and may lead to extreme self-consciousness and loss of self-esteem. At Dr. Kalus’ Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina-area plastic surgery practice, the Mommy Makeover is a combination of options designed for a more complete rejuvenation, and addresses some of the most common areas where new moms have experienced change.
A Mommy Makeover may be useful to women who have: loose or overhanging skin; weight and fatty deposits after pregnancy; breasts that are misshapen, asymmetrical or flattened; and areas exhibiting stretch marks.
After pregnancy, the breasts often lose volume and tightness – sometimes exhibiting significant sagginess. A breast lift or breast lift with implants from South Carolina breast augmentation surgeon Ram Kalus, MD can restore the breasts to their natural contours, tighten the skin, and even add volume to the bust for a size more proportionate to the body frame.
Dr. Kalus often performs breast enhancement in tandem with liposuction for Columbia, South Carolina Mommy Makeover patients. Liposuction will tackle the stubborn fat pockets that often form in various body areas after pregnancy. This part of the procedures eliminates the excess fat for a more contoured look.
A Mommy Makeover can also include a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), which directly addresses the midsection by tightening underlying muscles which may have been pushed apart during pregnancy. The tummy tuck procedure tightens the abdominal muscles and lifts the surrounding skin, pulling it taut and giving patients a flatter, more toned-looking stomach.
These and other procedures are just some of the options that can be combined to form a Mommy Makeover. This popular aesthetic enhancement procedure is taking the world of plastic surgery by storm, and is specifically designed to help new moms restore their bodies after pregnancy. There are also many other procedures, both non-surgical and surgical, that can be included in a Mommy Makeover to address signs of exhaustion or aging in the face and other concerns.
Dr. Ram Kalus is a board-certified Columbia, South Carolina plastic surgeon who is experienced and skilled in number of body contouring, breast enhancement, and facial rejuvenation procedures. He has been educated at some of the most prestigious medical institutions and is considered one of South Carolina’s most respected plastic surgeons. Dr. Kalus has also been recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a pediatric specialist. He completed one of his plastic surgery residencies at the Hospital for Sick Children in Paris and is a lifelong advocate for children.
Dr. Kalus has recently been featured in New Beauty Magazine, imparting his commitment to natural-looking results across the spectrum of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. “I tell all of my patients that it is as true for a breast augmentation as it is for a facelift, the only person would know that you had surgery is whom you choose to tell.”
More information on Mommy Makeover procedures and Dr. Ram Kalus can be found at Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas – 1301 Taylor Street, Suite 10A, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. (803) 733-5881.
