Archive for the ‘ Liposuction’ Category


How Young is “Too Young” for Cosmetic Surgery?

Many people wonder about the appropriate age for cosmetic surgery and when someone is “too young.” This has been debated in the media. There is not one simple answer to this question and it depends on the procedure we are talking about. In general, a person needs to be physically ready for the procedure and the associated anesthesia. The body part that is being operated on needs to be in the proper stage of development, which usually means that it is no longer growing. Psychologically the person needs to be old enough to understand what is being done and be able to make a decision about it. It is always best if the person is old enough to really understand the procedure and be equipped to deal with the social after-effects of the surgery. As you can imagine, these are very individualized decisions, based on the person, the parents, and the specific procedure requested.

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Plastic Surgery Myth or Fact? Liposuction makes you gain weight other places

This is one of the most common questions asked during consultations. There is the perception that if you get liposuction, it will make you gain weight other places. So, is this true or just another plastic surgery myth?

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Success of a Brazilian Butt Lift

The success of a Brazilian Butt Lift has to do with the fat harvesting, processing, and injection technique.

This popular term refers to buttock augmentation with autologous fat transfer. These medical terms may seem confusing, but this means that we make your butt bigger using injections of your own fat. Fat is removed from areas of your body, this fat is processed and washed so that the fat cells are isolated, and then these fat cells are injected into your buttock. In general, several hundred to 1000 cc of fat cells are injected during a Brazilian Butt Lift procedure. So, how does making your butt bigger give you a “lift”? By adding volume to the butt, your backside becomes fuller, plumper, and actually gets lifted.

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The Hardest Body Part to Treat – Upper Arms

As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon specializing in body contouring, I have performed cosmetic surgery on every possible body part – and some you didn’t even know existed. By far, the hardest body part to treat is the upper arms. This area is particularly susceptible to changes in weight and advancing age. This is because the skin is very thin and can sag easily. The result can be unsightly sagging and drooping that can be mild or very severe. My patients refer to their large sagging upper arms as “bat wings”.

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Most Wanted Celebrity Body Parts

As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, my job is to help my patients achieve a certain look they desire. I encourage my patients to be as specific as possible with me about the type of look that they are trying to achieve. It follows, therefore, that my patients often use celebrities as examples. No one says to me, “I want to look like X”. Rather, they say “I want lips like X, and breasts like Y.” Patients now dissect celebrities into specific body parts. It reminds of that scene from Weird Science where they input data into the computer and out pops a beautiful Kelly LeBrock. What are the most common celebrity body parts on people’s wish list?

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Liposuction & Tummy Tucks are not Interchangeable NYC

Everyday I see patients requesting liposuction, but what they really need is a Tummy Tuck. These are excellent procedures but are not interchangeable. You need to understand these two procedures in order to know which is better for you. (more…)

Tummy Tuck vs Liposuction

Many patients are unhappy with the appearance of their abdomen.  They may complain about the extra fat, the loose skin, the lack of tightness, or the presence of stretch marks.  It is important to understand the difference between a Tummy Tuck, or abdominoplasty, and Liposuction in order to decide which is most appropriate.

Liposuction involves the removal of fat with the help of a suction device through very small incisions.  Any volume of fat can be removed – from large volume to just small amount in the problem areas.  After the fat is removed, the skin will generally tighten to accommodate your now slimmer body.  The amount that your skin can tighten depends on several factors: the amount of fat removed, the area it is removed from, and the quality of your skin. 

Liposuction is used specifically to remove fat and improve the overall shape of your body. When performed on your abdomen, liposuction can result in a tighter upper and lower abdomen and flanks, with very small and hidden incisions. Liposuction will not do much to improve your skin. This means that if you have hanging skin, or pannus, liposuction may make this appear worse. Also, if you have abdominal wall laxity because of loss of muscle tone, liposuction will do nothing to help this. Lastly, if you are complaining of stretch marks, liposuction will not eliminate this and may in fact make it look worse.

A Tummy Tuck in New York, or abdominoplasty, is a larger operation but has a significantly greater impact on the appearance of your abdomen. A Tummy Tuck will remove the excess or hanging skin, remove stretch marks, and remove excess fat.  It also involves tightening of the underlying abdominal muscles that become loose with age, after pregnancy, or changes in weight. Tightening the muscles is the most powerful way of giving you a flatter, tighter abdomen.

Your board certified plastic surgeon will be able to examine you and tell you if liposuction or a tummy tuck is best for you.  Oftentimes, the two are combined in order to give you the best improvement in the contour of your abdomen.  Keep in mind that the recovery from a Tummy Tuck is greater than the necessary recovery from a Tummy Tuck. This may also factor into your decision between these two popular procedures.

Laser Liposuction – Is it worth the hype?

One of the “hottest” trends in plastic surgery is Laser Liposuction.  Many physicians promote this new technique as the latest and greatest in body contouring.  They point to smaller incisions, less bruising and swelling, greater skin tightening, and faster recovery. But is this hype justified, or is this just a creative attempt at marketing in a down economy?

First, let me give my qualifications to answer this question. I have been using Laser Liposuction for several years now and have been involved in several clinical studies to examine the benefits of laser-assisted lipolysis. I am also a luminary for one of the largest laser companies and am given the task of training other physicians about the proper techniques for using this technology.  I am among the most experienced in using this technology so I have a deep understanding of the advantages and limitations.

Laser liposuction has a prominent role in my practice.  I do find that it offers my patients less bruising, less swelling, and a more rapid return to normal activities. Most important is that it has a greater abililty to tighten the skin as compared with traditional liposuction methods. This is because the laser energy causes heating of the underside of the skin. This controlled thermal injury stimulates collagen organization and formation. The result is skin with a thicker dermis and more elasticity – ie. “tighter skin”.

However, there is no magic. Laser liposuction will result in tighter skin than traditional methods but it will not give a tight, smooth abdomen in a person who needs a tummy tuck.  It will not give a sculpted neck and jawline in someone who needs a necklift.  It does allow you to have liposuction in areas that plastic surgeons have traditionally avoided because of the fear of loose skin, such as the neck, upper arms, and inner thighs.

Laser liposuction may allow a more rapid recovery, but it is not the “lunch-time lipo” that has been promoted.  You will still bruise, you will still get swollen, and you will still be sore for a certain amount of time. This obviously will vary according to the amount of liposuction performed and on what area(s).

In summary, laser-assisted lipolysis can offer excellent results when performed correctly. It is commonly used in conjuction with traditional liposuction methods in order to give you an improved contour. I am a huge fan of Laser Liposuction – I use it in my practice and I routinely teach others how to use it.  However, I also make sure to give my patients a realistic idea of the improvements they can obtain. I never “over-sell” this because it will only result in a disappointed patient and an unhappy surgeon.

 Also remember, even though the incisions may be small, this is still a surgical procedure that requires a properly trained physician. Make sure your doctor is a board certified plastic surgeon and experienced with this laser technology. Also make sure this is performed in an accredited facility.

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