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  1. Remove excess fat and skin — As much loose skin and fat from the belly button to the pubic area is removed and replaced with the skin from above the belly button
  2. Tighten the muscles — If the abdominal muscles are separated from their normal position, they with be re-tightened to increase strength and flatten the abdominal wall.
  3. Liposuction — To complete the procedure, we remove excess fat along the waist and hips and upper abdomen to streamline the results.

 

A Brazilian Butt Lift uses your own fat — harvested via liposuction — to augment and reshape the buttocks. Because it involves both liposuction and fat transfer, candidacy requirements are specific.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Sufficient donor fat in the abdomen, flanks, back, or thighs
  • Good skin elasticity in the buttocks
  • Stable weight for 3-6 months; ideal BMI roughly 22-32
  • Non-smoker: Smoking impairs fat graft survival. We recommend quitting as early as possible (ideally 4-6 weeks before and after) and require a minimum of 2 weeks nicotine-free before surgery
  • Able to follow positioning rules: No sitting directly on the buttocks for 2-3 weeks post-op

Safety First

Modern safety guidelines require fat injection above the gluteal muscle (subcutaneous plane only). Choose a board-certified surgeon who strictly follows these protocols in an accredited facility — Augusta Plastic Surgery operates a QUAD A accredited surgical facility.

Body Type Considerations

Naturally lean patients may not have enough donor fat for dramatic results. Curvier patients are often ideal candidates — ample donor fat allows buttock augmentation plus body contouring from the liposuction.

Who Should Reconsider

BBL may not be right if you have very low body fat, BMI above 35, smoke, or cannot commit to the post-op positioning requirements.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

A breast lift (mastopexy) raises and reshapes sagging breasts by removing excess skin and tightening surrounding tissue.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Breast ptosis (sagging): Nipples that point downward or sit at or below the breast crease
  • Lost volume and shape from pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, or aging
  • Satisfied with breast size: If you want more volume too, a lift with augmentation is common
  • Stable weight for 6+ months and done breastfeeding for 3-6 months
  • Non-smoker: Smoking dramatically increases risk of wound complications

The “Pencil Test”

Place a pencil under your breast crease. If your breast holds the pencil in place, some ptosis is present. If the nipple drops below the pencil level, a lift would likely benefit you. This is a rough guide — a proper evaluation happens at your consultation.

Lift vs. Augmentation vs. Both

  • Lift only: Good volume, sagging position
  • Augmentation only: Good position, want more volume
  • Lift + augmentation: Sagging AND volume loss — the most common combination for post-pregnancy patients

Breastfeeding After a Lift

Most techniques preserve the ability to breastfeed, though there’s no guarantee. Discuss future plans with your surgeon.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

A brow lift elevates drooping eyebrows, smooths forehead wrinkles, and reduces frown lines between the brows — opening up the eye area for a more alert, refreshed appearance.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Brow ptosis: Eyebrows that have drooped below the brow bone, creating a tired, angry, or sad expression
  • Deep forehead wrinkles that persist at rest
  • Frown lines between the eyebrows not adequately treated by Botox
  • Brow asymmetry: One brow significantly lower than the other
  • Non-smoker in good overall health

Brow Lift vs. Botox

Botox can create a mild brow lift (1-3mm) and soften forehead lines, but results last only 3-4 months. A surgical brow lift provides lasting structural repositioning. Many patients start with Botox and move to surgery when injectable maintenance becomes insufficient.

Often Combined With Eyelid Surgery

Excess eyelid skin and drooping brows commonly occur together — combining a brow lift with blepharoplasty often gives the best aesthetic and functional result.

Who Should Wait

Postpone if you have active skin conditions on the forehead or if Botox still adequately addresses your concerns.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

Chemical peels use acid solutions to remove damaged outer skin layers, revealing smoother, more even-toned skin underneath.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Skin concerns: Fine lines, sun damage, uneven pigmentation, acne, acne scars, dull texture, melasma, or age spots
  • No active infections or open wounds in the treatment area
  • Commitment to aftercare: Strict sun protection during healing
  • Skin type: Lighter skin types suit all peel depths; darker skin types are better suited to superficial peels or specific formulations to minimize pigmentation risk

Peels for Acne

Salicylic acid peels are particularly effective for acne-prone skin — the oil-soluble acid penetrates pores to clear debris.

Who Should Wait

Postpone if you have active cold sores, are using isotretinoin (wait 6-12 months), are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have active eczema or psoriasis in the area.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

Chin augmentation with an implant enhances a weak or recessed chin to improve facial balance and profile harmony.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Weak or recessed chin: A chin that appears too small relative to your other facial features
  • Desire for improved profile: A stronger chin-to-neck angle and better jawline definition
  • Normal dental bite: A significantly misaligned bite may call for jaw surgery instead
  • Age: Facial growth complete — typically 17-18+

Chin Implant vs. Filler

  • Implant: Permanent, one-time procedure; adds 4-12mm of projection
  • Filler: Non-surgical, temporary (12-24 months); good for mild deficiency or “testing” the look before committing to surgery

Who Should Wait

Delay if facial growth isn’t complete, you have an uncorrected bite problem, or you’d like to try filler first to preview the change.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

A facelift addresses sagging in the mid-face, jowls, and neck by repositioning deeper facial tissues and removing excess skin.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Age: Most commonly 45-70, though candidacy depends on facial aging rather than age
  • Visible sagging: Jowling, deepening nasolabial folds, or neck laxity
  • Good skin elasticity and controlled blood pressure — hypertension significantly increases hematoma risk
  • Non-smoker: Smoking is the single greatest risk factor for facelift complications. We recommend quitting as early as possible (ideally 4-6 weeks before) and require a minimum of 2 weeks nicotine-free before surgery
  • Realistic expectations: Most patients look 7-12 years younger, but aging continues

What a Facelift Cannot Address

It doesn’t treat forehead wrinkles (brow lift), under-eye bags (blepharoplasty), or skin texture (lasers/peels). Many patients combine procedures for harmonious results.

Blood Pressure Is Critical

Your blood pressure should be well-controlled for at least 2-3 months before surgery; pre-op clearance may be required.

Who Should Wait

Delay if you have uncontrolled blood pressure, smoke, or are on blood thinners that can’t be safely paused.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

A lip lift shortens the space between the nose and the upper lip (the philtrum), creating a more youthful upper lip with more visible pink lip (vermilion).

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Long philtrum: More than 15-17mm from nose base to lip border — a hallmark of facial aging or a congenital trait
  • Minimal upper lip show: The lip appears thin or rolled inward at rest
  • Desire for permanent results (unlike filler)
  • Non-smoker with good healing potential — the incision sits at the base of the nose

Lip Lift vs. Lip Filler

A lip lift shortens the philtrum and increases lip show permanently but doesn’t add volume; filler adds temporary volume and shape with no scar. Many patients combine both — a lift for structure, filler for volume.

Who Should Wait

A lip lift may not be right if your philtrum is already short (under 14mm), you have a history of keloid scarring, you smoke, or you haven’t yet tried lip filler to see what enhancement suits your face.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

A mommy makeover combines multiple procedures — typically a tummy tuck and breast surgery — to restore your pre-pregnancy body.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Done having children: The most important criterion — pregnancy afterward will undo most results
  • Finished breastfeeding at least 3-6 months ago
  • Stable weight at or near goal for 6+ months
  • Non-smoker: Absolutely critical with multiple surgical sites. We recommend quitting as early as possible (ideally 4-6 weeks before and after) and require a minimum of 2 weeks nicotine-free before surgery
  • BMI under 30 (procedures can sometimes be staged for higher BMI)
  • Strong support system for 1-2 weeks post-op, especially with young children

Common Components

Tummy tuck with muscle repair, breast augmentation, breast lift, or augmentation + lift, plus liposuction of flanks or thighs.

Timing After Pregnancy

Wait at least 6 months after your last pregnancy and 3-6 months after weaning — many surgeons prefer 12 months for optimal results.

Who Should Wait

Postpone if you’re considering more children, still breastfeeding, actively losing weight, smoking, or unable to arrange help during recovery.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

A neck lift addresses sagging skin, excess fat, and muscle banding in the neck and jawline — often called “turkey neck.”

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Visible neck aging: Loose skin, vertical platysmal bands, jowling, or a persistent double chin
  • Age: Most commonly 45-70, earlier with genetic predisposition
  • Stable weight, non-smoker, controlled blood pressure

Neck Lift vs. Facelift

A neck lift focuses below the jawline. If you also have jowling or midface sagging, a lower facelift combined with a neck lift gives more comprehensive, harmonious results.

Non-Surgical Alternatives

For mild laxity, options like FaceTite or skin-tightening treatments may provide modest improvement — ask us which is right for your degree of laxity. For moderate to severe neck aging, surgery remains the most effective solution.

Who Should Wait

Delay if you have uncontrolled blood pressure, smoke, or are considering significant weight loss.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

Abdominoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening weakened or separated abdominal muscles.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Excess abdominal skin that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise — commonly after weight loss or pregnancies
  • Diastasis recti: Separated abdominal muscles causing a persistent bulge despite healthy weight
  • Stable weight at or near your goal for 6-12 months — a tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure
  • Non-smoker: Smoking dramatically increases wound-healing risks. We recommend quitting as early as possible (ideally 4-6 weeks before) and require a minimum of 2 weeks nicotine-free before surgery
  • BMI under 30-32 strongly preferred for safety

Complete Your Family First

Pregnancy after abdominoplasty will re-stretch repaired muscles and skin. If you plan future pregnancies, it’s best to wait.

Types of Tummy Tuck

Mini abdominoplasty (below the navel, shorter scar), full abdominoplasty (with muscle repair), or extended (includes flanks, for massive weight loss patients). Your surgeon will recommend the right type for your anatomy — sometimes liposuction alone is enough.

Who Should Wait

Postpone if you’re planning pregnancy, actively losing weight, have BMI over 35, smoke, or can’t take adequate recovery time.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

Botox temporarily relaxes facial muscles to smooth dynamic wrinkles — lines that form from repeated facial expressions.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Dynamic wrinkles: Crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines (the “11s”)
  • Age: Typically 25-65+. “Preventive Botox” in the late 20s is increasingly popular
  • Good health: No neuromuscular disorders (e.g., myasthenia gravis)
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Realistic expectations: Botox softens expression lines but doesn’t fix volume loss or skin laxity (that’s where fillers and other treatments come in)

Beyond Wrinkles

Botox is also used for lip flips, chin dimpling, neck bands, gummy smile correction, masseter reduction (jawline slimming), migraines, and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) — we offer treatment for several of these at Augusta Plastic Surgery.

Who Should Avoid Botox

Not appropriate with a neuromuscular disease, pregnancy/breastfeeding, active infection at the injection site, or known allergy to botulinum toxin.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures worldwide, but not everyone is an ideal candidate.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Age: At least 18 for saline implants, 22 for silicone (FDA guidelines)
  • Good health: No active infections or serious illness; chronic conditions well-controlled
  • Non-smoker: Smoking increases risks of capsular contracture, infection, and poor healing. We recommend quitting as early as possible (ideally 4-6 weeks before) and require a minimum of 2 weeks nicotine-free before surgery
  • Stable weight: Stable for at least 6 months prior to surgery
  • Realistic expectations: Augmentation enhances proportion and symmetry but cannot achieve perfection

You May Be an Especially Good Candidate If You Have

  • Naturally small breasts disproportionate to your frame
  • Asymmetry of one cup size or more
  • Post-pregnancy volume loss after breastfeeding
  • Chest wall differences such as Poland syndrome or pectus excavatum

BMI and Health

Most surgeons prefer candidates with BMI under 30; higher BMI increases risks of infection and poor wound healing.

Who Should Wait

Consider postponing if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, planning pregnancy soon, unable to take 1-2 weeks off, or an active smoker unwilling to quit. Good candidates seek augmentation to enhance confidence, not define it.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin. Unlike most cosmetic procedures, it is often medically necessary and has among the highest patient satisfaction rates in plastic surgery.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Symptoms: Chronic neck, back, or shoulder pain or headaches caused by heavy breasts
  • Physical limitations: Difficulty exercising or performing daily activities
  • Skin issues: Chronic rashes or irritation in the breast crease
  • Shoulder grooving: Deep, painful indentations from bra straps
  • Non-smoker with stable weight and good overall health

Insurance Coverage

Most insurers require documented symptoms lasting 6+ months, failed conservative treatments (physical therapy, supportive bras), and a minimum tissue removal amount. Augusta Plastic Surgery has extensive experience with insurance breast reduction — see our insurance breast reduction page for details.

For Men (Gynecomastia)

Male breast reduction addresses enlarged male breast tissue via liposuction alone or combined with excision, after ruling out hormonal causes.

Who Should Wait

Delay if you’re planning pregnancy soon, still growing (under 18), actively losing significant weight, or smoking.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

Dermal fillers are injectable gels that restore volume, smooth wrinkles, and enhance facial contours. Unlike Botox (which relaxes muscles), fillers physically restore volume and structure.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Facial volume loss: Hollowing under the eyes, flattened cheeks, or thinning lips
  • Static wrinkles: Nasolabial folds, marionette lines, vertical lip lines visible at rest
  • Lip enhancement goals or desire for non-surgical contouring (jawline, chin, cheeks)
  • Good health: No active skin infections or bleeding disorders; not pregnant or breastfeeding

Common Treatment Areas

Lips, cheeks, under-eyes (tear troughs), nasolabial folds, marionette lines, jawline, chin, and temples. We use Juvederm-family hyaluronic acid fillers — reversible and natural-feeling.

Who Should Avoid Fillers

Avoid if you have active skin infections near injection sites, severe allergies (especially to lidocaine), autoimmune connective tissue disorders, or a history of severe scarring.

The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Ewart or Dr. Tarakji. Schedule a consultation or call (706) 724-5611.

The ideal candidate for Dermaplaning has aging, dry, rough or uneven skin tone. Dermaplaning can also help reduce the appearance of shallow acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles and superficial hyperpigmentation. If you personally experience any of those symptoms, then you may be a good candidate.