About Us

At Rittenhouse Plastic Surgery, our goal is to provide quality, individualized care in a thoughtful and quiet environment.

We want to know how you hope aesthetic surgery can assist in enhancing your life and, because surgery is a serious procedure, to better understand your concerns. At the same time we like to educate our patients on the most current information available to help them make the appropriate choice of procedures.

We are dedicated to helping you achieve the results you want by providing you the highest level of care through state of the arts techniques. Upon completing a consultation we will know exactly what you want and can, thereafter, individualize an optimal surgical approach that will be applied toward achieving your goal. We have the facilities, qualified staff, and a board-certified surgeon who can help you attain the physical appearance you want, safely.

We ultimately want your experience with RPS to be a pleasant one. Our expertise can ensure you'll have satisfying results.

We're here for you — from the beginning to the end of your aesthetic surgical procedure.

Services Offered

Abdominoplasty

The abdominoplasty is a procedure to tighten loose or sagging abdominal wall skin frequently associated with relaxation of the abdominal wall muscles. This may be due to pregnancies or prior surgery and is intended to give the patient a smoother, flatter abdomen.

The standard abdominoplasty tightens the abdominal skin and muscles and is under general anesthesia with a one night hospital stay. The mini-abdominoplasty tightens the lower abdominal skin only and is performed on an outpatient basis. An abdominoplasty can be one of the more uncomfortable plastic surgery procedures and probably requires more time consuming and limiting recovery. You will be encouraged to be moving and walking within 1-2 days. Light activity is tolerated in 10-20 days but more strenuous activities will not be comfortable for about 6 weeks.

Brachioplasty

Brachioplasty is a procedure where excess skin is removed , sometimes in conjunction with liposuction, recontour the arms. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia. For removal of large amounts of skin, an incision is required that runs from near the elbow to the armpit. The incision is placed in the most inconspicuous location (inner arm toward the back), but some scarring will always be visible. More moderate skin removal is sometimes possible with a smaller incision which is limited to the armpit area to try to keep the scar better hidden.

Breast Augmentation

Women who desire larger breasts may wish to have a breast enlargement (augmentation) procedure. Breast augmentation may also be indicated for women who have one breast that is noticeably smaller than the other. Breast augmentation is intended to give the patient larger and more shapely breasts. A more positive self image may also be a result of breast enlargement.

Breast enlargement is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. A small incision is made under the breast, around the areola, or in the armpit and a saline implant is inserted under the breast tissue or under the breast tissue and the underlying muscle. The patient will initially be bandaged to help hold the breasts in the correct position. Initial discomfort is controlled with oral medication. Light activities can be resumed in about 2 weeks, or as tolerated, and aerobic activities can be started in about 3-4 weeks.

Breast Lift

You may be a candidate for this procedure if you have sagging breasts due to past pregnancies, genetics, or aging. You may also desire a mastopexy if breast sagging is too great to be treated with an implant alone. The procedure may also be helpful if your nipple-areolar complexes (pigmented areas around nipples) are enlarged. The procedure is intended to give the patient an elevated, more youthful breast contour, as well as nipple-areolar complexes of the desired size and at the correct height. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. The patient goes home with dressings over the incision lines. Initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication and light activities may be started in 7-10 days.

Breast Reduction

 

Breast reduction can enhance the overall appearance of your breasts making them more proportional to the rest of your body by reducing and correcting overlarge, sagging breasts. Oversized breasts often interfere with normal function and physical activity by causing back pain, postural problems, deformities of the back and shoulders, skin rashes under breasts and breast pain. This surgical procedure helps by removing excess breast tissue and skin, repositioning the nipple and areola, and reshaping the remaining breast tissue using a variety of techniques.

Although Dr. Mameniskis will make every effort to minimize incisions, the scars from breast reduction surgery are visible in the lower portion of the breast and around the areola. After surgery, the breasts may be wrapped in gauze or placed in a surgical bra. You will have to wear a supportive bra for several weeks to promote healing. Loss of sensation of the nipples and breast skin is possible but may improve gradually.

 

Buttock Augmentation

 

 

Normal aging causes our buttocks to have droop and change shape. But because several high profile movie stars, including J-Lo (Jennifer Lopez) and Beyonce underwent buttock enhancement to make their derrieres curvier and more round, many more women are now asking their plastic surgeons about butt augmentation. And it's no wonder in virtually all cultures, shapely buttocks have always been one of the most important determinants of the female figure. Moreover, modern fashions reveal more body parts, making us more aware of our imperfections, however slight. Yet another factor driving women to plastic surgeons for butt augmentation is actually too much working out  and athletics. Some women are so physically fit, they have lost virtually all the fat from their buns, making those rear ends too flat.

Butt augmentation, (also known as Gluteal Lifts, Gluteoplasty and Gluteal Shaping) involves harvesting fat from more fleshy areas of the body and replanting it on the buttocks, a technique known as "fat grafting." Some practitioners harvest fat from the sides of the buttocks to make the patients rear end narrower while making the peak of the butt more pronounced. Of course, the outcome of the procedure depends on the patient's wishes, the surgeon's experience and the patient's anatomy which will be either round, square V or A shaped.  

Chin

Chin augmentation can create better harmony between the chin and other facial features for a more balanced profile by increasing its projection. There are two techniques for adding prominence and contour to your chin. One, performed through an incision inside the mouth, requires moving the chinbone. The other approach involves insertion of an implant. The incisions to insert the implant may be made inside the mouth or on the underside of the chin.

Similarly, in some cases the cheekbones may be built up (augmented) by placing an implant over them. This is usually performed through an incision inside the mouth, but it may be done through a lower eyelid or brow lift incision. To permit proper healing following chin or cheek augmentation, you may be placed on a liquid diet for a day or two.

Ear

You may be a candidate for ear pinning (otoplasty) if you have ears that stick out too far from the side of the head. You may also want to have an otoplasty procedure if your ears have an unusual or undesirable shape. The goal is to create ears that have normal folds and shape with a normal protrusion from the side of the head.

Otoplasty is usually performed on an outpatient basis under anesthesia. The ears are usually bandaged with a head band type dressing for several days after surgery. Initial mild postoperative discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. The procedure is appropriate beginning at age 5 or 6 or at any time thereafter. The ears usually look normal within 10-20 days. Usually, a head band is worn for 2-3 weeks to protect the ears. Contact sports should be avoided for about a month.

Eyelid Surgery

A blepharoplasty is a procedure to remove fat, along with excess skin, from the upper or lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and the puffy bags under the eyes which make you look older and more tired than you feel. The effect is to give the eyes a more rested and youthful look.

The procedure is done on an outpatient basis under anesthesia. Initial mild discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. Bruising, swelling and sensitivity to light can be expected one to two weeks, and swelling progressively disappears in the same amount of time.

Facelift

You may be candidate for a facelift (rhytidectomy) if you have experienced a loss of skin elasticity and muscle tone of the face and neck which are normal effects of aging. Excessive sun exposure as well as genetics can contribute to this aging. A facelift may also be desirable if you have the appearance of jowls and deep creases between the base of the nose and the corners of the mouth and developed facial and neck wrinkles.

A facelift is intended to give the patient a more rested and youthful appearance to the face and neck. Facelifts range in size from "mini" to "standard" depending on location and extent of skin laxity. This procedure involves the tightening of facial and neck skin and muscles, as well as the removal of excess skin. Facelift incisions are placed in areas where they are minimally visible. The objective is to elevate the underlying structures and redrape the skin on the face in order to give a more youthful, healthy and rested appearance. The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis under anesthesia. The patient leaves the hospital with head and neck wrapped in dressings, which are usually removed the next day. The discomfort associated with a facelift is usually minimal to moderate and easily controlled with oral medication. Sutures are removed within 14 days. Bruising and swelling are expected but decrease to acceptable levels within 10-14 days. As with any plastic surgery, the healing process is gradual and final results may not be apparent for several months.

Forehead Surgery

You may be a candidate for a forehead lift (browlift) if you have a sagging forehead or a drooping browline which is too close to the eyes. You may also want a forehead or brow lift if you have vertical furrows, or frown lines, between the eyebrows giving a tired, sad or angry appearance. A forehead lift is intended to give a more youthful and a refreshed, rested appearance while lifting the upper eyelids.

When performing a forehead lift procedure, muscles and tissue areas that droop or cause creases are removed or corrected to smooth the skin on the forehead to reduce frown lines and raise the eyebrows. There are two surgical methods, and during your initial consultation the procedure that works best for you will be recommended. The first is the most conventional method where a surgical incision is hidden just above the hairline.

Lip Enhancement

A variety of techniques are now available for lip enhancement. The purpose of lip enhancement is to give the lips a fuller and therefore more youthful appearance. Restylane® and Collagen replacement therapy can offer excellent immediate results. However your body will eventually absorb this material and ongoing treatment is necessary to maintain results. Treatments generally last 3-6 months, but each individual re-absorbs the material at varying rates, so results can be different. Injections are performed in the office and can be done on your lunch hour.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in our office surgical suite. You are able to go home following the procedure. Swelling and some bruising may be present immediately following the procedure.

Botox is a localized muscle relaxer that helps women and men effectively reverse the signs of aging. It will dramatically improve forehead wrinkles, frown lines and crows' feet. A tiny needle delivers a minute droplet of Botox precisely into the muscles causing the wrinkles, producing results within days that last for 4 to 6 months.

Restylane is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler made from hyaluronic acid that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Restylane lasts from 6-9 months.

CosmoPlast and CosmoDerm are injected just below the surface of the skin, filling in unwanted lines and wrinkles and adding definition to the lip border. Treatment results are immediate and typically last for 3 to 6 months.

TCA Peel Using TCA - Trichloacedic Acid chemical peel for exfoliation and rejuvenation of the skin Pre-Treatment Therapeutic Kit w/Tretinoin is required to prepare the skin for the peel .

Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure for you if you have excess subcutaneous fat, which is resistant to diet and exercise, or if you wish to change the contours of your body. Commonly areas are under the chin, upper arms, male chest, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, inner knees, calves, and ankles.

Liposuction is not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise and most patients are near normal weight. Liposuction is done on an outpatient basis under anesthesia. The patient will go home with a compression garment covering the treated areas. Compression is advised for 2 - 4 weeks after surgery as it helps reduce swelling. Initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication and bruising and swelling usually subside in 2-4 weeks. The final result takes shape over 2-3 months.

Male Breast Reduction

Although rarely discussed, enlarged male breasts, or Gynecomastia, is a common condition. Gynecomastia affects approximately 40 to 60 percent of men in some form. In most cases, there is no known cause

Men who feel self-conscious about their appearance are helped with breast reduction surgery. The procedure removes fat and/or glandular tissue from the breasts. Most often a liposuction technique is used. In extreme cases, excess skin is removed, resulting in a contoured chest that is flatter and firmer.

Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation

Botox
is a localized muscle relaxer that helps women and men effectively reverse the signs of aging. It will dramatically improve forehead wrinkles, frown lines and crows' feet. A tiny needle delivers a minute droplet of Botox precisely into the muscles causing the wrinkles, producing results within days that last for 4 to 6 months.

Restylane
is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler made from hyaluronic acid that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Restylane lasts from 6-9 months.

CosmoPlast and CosmoDerm
are injected just below the surface of the skin, filling in unwanted lines and wrinkles and adding definition to the lip border. Treatment results are immediate and typically last for 3 to 6 months.

TCA Peel
Using TCA - Trichloacedic Acid chemical peel for exfoliation and rejuvenation of the skin Pre-Treatment Therapeutic Kit w/Tretinoin is required to prepare the skin for the peel.

Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)

Rhinoplasty is performed to change the appearance of the nose to be more aesthetic and pleasing. Nose reshaping is intended to produce a more attractive nasal shape and/or a nose in better proportion to other facial features.

Nose surgery is done on an outpatient basis under anesthesia. Initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. The majority of swelling and bruising subsides progressively over 2-4 weeks and the final result is evident in 12-14 months.

Skin Resurfacing

A wide range of treatments are available to reduce fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and eyes and on the forehead and cheek areas giving a fresher, more youthful appearance.

Chemical peels of varying types and strengths can be applied at RPS. An acid solution is applied to the entire face or to specific areas to peel away the skin's top layers.

Dermabrasion — a procedure in which a high-speed rotary wheel, similar to fine-grained sandpaper, is used to abrade the skin—sometimes is recommended for extensive sun damage, wrinkling or pockmarks.

Skin resurfacing using a variety of lasers is another popular technique to reduce wrinkles, improve skin texture and achieve some degree of skin tightening.

A few days following a deep peel, dermabrasion or laser skin resurfacing, a new skin emerges. Its bright pink color will fade over several months and may be covered with makeup. Permanent pigment changes, usually lighter in color, may occur with some treatments.

Thigh Lifts

Thigh lifts are performed in order to tighten the loose skin of the thigh and buttock. The texture of the skin does not change as a result of this procedures. Not all patients are candidates for a thigh lift.

The method of surgery is to undermine the skin and remove the excess. The incision is placed around the upper thigh and buttock, hidden in natural creases. Many doctors recommend that some fat is suctioned at the same time. The operation is done under anesthesia on an outpatient basis.

Specialists & Staff

Kathleen Paonessa

Patient Coordinator, responsible for scheduling surgery, and providing patient information.  

 

Leticia Santarelli

Medical Aesthetician.

 

Linda Passarella

Insurance Specialist/Consultant

Office Amenities

Our Philadelphia office houses the most modern and state of the art equipment to ensure successful aesthetic surgical procedures.

These options are offered to all of our patients to, simply, accommodate your needs so that you have a pleasant, comfortable experience with us. We want you to feel secure and know that a relationship with RPS is the best decision you could make when it comes to choosing a plastic surgeon and plastic surgery.

Additional Notes

Make-Over-Monday

RPS will host these invitation only events. Dr. Mameniskis will discuss the latest trends and techniques in cosmetic plastic surgery. Dr. Mameniskis will also answer your questions and, perhaps, even demonstrate a procedure or two.

You are cordially invited to our first get-together scheduled to take place on Monday, November 16, 2009 from 5:30p.m. to 7:30p.m.

In the event you were unaware, RPS is raffling off several facial fillers:

   - Radiesse $1,200.00 value - FREE

   - Juvaderm $ 750.00 value - FREE

   - Medical Facial - courtesy of RPS Medical Aesthetician - Letitia "Letty" Santarelli

Winners will be chosen on November 16, 2009 and notified by email. ( No purchase necessary - winner need not be present to win.) If you want to increase your odds of winning, stop by the office and fill out an entry blank or click the links above to enter online. Our friendly office staff will be happy to provide you with the details.

Payment Options

Payments can be made in office at the time of the procedure or Online using Paypal.

Provider's Website

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PriceDoc URL:

www.pricedoc.com/rittenhouseps