November 29th, 2009 admin
Traditional “tumescent” liposuction uses a large volume of fluid (usually natural salt solution and local anesthetic) and it is infiltrated in the tissues making fat cells easier to suction out.
The Truth:
Tumescent Liposuction is still the “gold standard” for this procedure. It has a low complication rate and an overall high level of satisfaction. It is still the preferred method of liposuction performed bythe vast majority of plastic surgeons the world over.
The Verdict:
Still the best method (not just because I prefer it), all others are marketing gimmickry and experimentation. This is the one you want.
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November 28th, 2009 admin
“Smart, laser assisted, Lipo”, is the newest form of liposuction. A laser tip is mounted at the end of a cannula and is used to break up and dissolve fatty tissue beneath the skin. Bascially it claims to address “add” liposuction needs.
The Truth:
The technique is only effective in removing small amounts of fat and is the most useful for minor touch ups. The claims that it also “tightens skin” is unproven.
The Verdict:
Wait and see. The learning curve and long term results are not available yet for Smart Lipo. It can be a great addition to plastic surgery or be a disaster like Ultrasonic Lipo has become. We need a few years to know which way the results will go. At this point, use it at you’re own risk.
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November 24th, 2009 admin
Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) is a technique that uses a special cannula to remove fat rapidly using small vibrations. It claims that the surgeon can remove more fat, more easily and efficently.
The Truth:
Power Assisted Liposuction is really a technique that benefits the surgeon and no one else. Liposuction can be a very tiring for the doctor and PAL was designed to allow the surgeon to do more with less effort. Because the cannula vibrates rapidly, it is a less accurate technique. Therefore it can leave uneven results on the skin.
The Verdict:
Pass on this sales pitch
Next: Ultrasonic Liposuction (Part 2)
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September 24th, 2009 admin
Maybe.
Although all plastic surgeons have seen a decrease in business due to the recession, the number of people coming for plastic surgery will a specific goal in mind, like getting a new job, I think has increased. This article in the New York Times seems to support this. I find that more and more people are coming in to look better as they find themselves looking for a new job. Of course cheaper alternatives to the knife like BOTOX and fillers such as Restylane are leading the pack, eyelid surgery, liposuction, facelifts and tummy tucks are also very popular these days. A younger, more youthful and vigorous appearance tends to show prospective employers that you are up to the task. Of course there are no guarantees, but it is sure better than going into that interview looking worn out and tired.
So if you are thinking about a better look, there are a lot of ways to attain it through plastic surgery. Come in for a free consultation and let me show you how.
Posted in Liposuction, Plastic Surgery | Comments Off
August 2nd, 2009 admin
Liposuction offers the potential to dramatically improve body contour.
Among all of my patients, liposuction patients are among our very happiest.
But there is recovery involved, and it is best to understand your body’s reaction to the procedure prior to planning the surgery.
If you are considering liposuction, you are likely concerned about the recovery process. This procedure, sometimes called liposculpture or lipo, offers the potential to improve both appearance and self-confidence.
We find that our patients have very little discomfort following the procedure, because we administer local anesthetic to all the areas where liposuction is performed. With this pain medicine on board, the body generates few if any pain signals. As with most plastic surgery, the discomfort level is highest in the first days after the liposuction procedure. Pain medications are sometimes used to help people overcome the pain, and it is important that you accept the reality that healing is a gradual process. Improvement comes in small advances each day until the desirable results of liposuction replace the discomfort of the procedure.
Often, in the beginning of your recovery, you will be fitted with a snug elastic garment. Snug but stretchy garments over the treated body area are very helpful for controlling swelling and shaping your skin to the new contours of your body. Another method for controlling swelling is light activity, and you will be advised to get up and walk around as soon as reasonable after your liposuction. Walking will also reduce the chance of blood clots forming in your legs. We tell all our patients that there is no bedrest following the procedure: Get up and walk!
After just a few days, most of out liposuction patients tell us that they begin to feel better, and if your experience follows these typical results, you will be back to work in a few days. Although you can expect to return to a moderate level of activity in two weeks, this does not mean that your healing is complete.
Here are a few points to remember in the typical liposuction recovery experience:
- Shape change will be noticeable quite soon after liposuction, but the final result of your desired body shape may take a few months to appear while residual swelling goes away.
- Your stitches will dissolve naturally in 10 days to two weeks.
- You should avoid strenuous activity for at least a month, depending on how extensive your liposuction was and the rate of your recovery as assessed by surgeon.
- Bruising and major swelling may be present for one to two weeks before fading.
- Minor swelling can persist for up to six months or more.
Of course, unusual symptoms like a sudden increase in pain should be reported immediately to your plastic surgeon. Even if you experience nothing abnormal during your recovery process, you will meet with your plastic surgeon on routine follow up visits so your progress can be monitored. As the swelling goes away you will be able to assess the results of your liposuction to determine if you have achieved the shape you were seeking. Going back for an additional Manhattan liposuction procedure to fine tune your contours may be an option.
Overall, it is important that you approach liposuction with realistic expectations about your recovery. It is not a difficult procedure from which to recover, but you will need to be patient as your sleeker body emerges.
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April 29th, 2009 Kenneth M. Rose MD
As I’ve already mentioned a few times, liposuction is not for the overweight or obese. That being said, what else can happen that during your liposuction procedure that may lead to a poor result.
In general liposuction is a great procedure for the right candidate. However, a common problem is uneven or wavy areas. These are usually the result of the surgeon misjudging the surgery as it goes along. It can happen to anyone. Correction requires a small repeat operation.
Another problem is fluid collection. This usually happens when a compression garment is not worn properly after surgery or the patient takes aspirin or similar drug. Besides stopping the medication immediately, the collection should be drained in the office and the compression garment worn as much as possible.
Still as I mentioned, liposuction is a great procedure. But like any surgery, be aware that nothing is guaranteed.
Posted in Home, Liposuction | 1 Comment »
November 10th, 2008 Kenneth M. Rose MD
Liposuction is a commonly performed plastic surgery procedure. It is a very effective technique for removing areas of fatty bulge that are non-responsive to diet and exercise. Liposuction can be performed on a wide variety of body locations such as the abdomen, thighs, hips, arms, chin, and “love handles.”
If you have an area on your body with more fat than you would like, then liposuction may be a viable option for you if you are an appropriate candidate. But before you can make a serious decision about pursuing liposuction, you naturally want to know something about it. Essentially, how does liposuction get the fat out?
During a liposuction procedure, the area of your body that is going to be treated will have a fluid injected into the fat tissues in order to make it easier for the plastic surgeon to sculpt the tissue and remove fat. Of course, anesthetic is injected into the same area as well so you don’t experience pain during the procedure and also helps to keep you comfortable following the procedure. A third set of ingredients uses a blood vessel constricting medicine that reduces bleeding.
Once the body area has been prepared, your plastic surgeon will make multiple small incisions to access the fat tissues beneath the skin. The incisions are strategically located in natural skin folds to reduce the visibility of scars. Through the incisions, small tubes are inserted to pull out the fat. Unlike in a procedure like a tummy tuck, there are basically no scars with liposuction.
Beyond the basics of the liposuction procedure, there are various techniques that your plastic surgeon may employ on a case-by-case basis depending on what you may need. Examples of types of liposuction are microliposuction and ultrasound-assisted liposuction. Many liposuction approaches are available and more techniques are being developed all the time. I will help you consider your options based on your body and what you hope to achieve.
For the most part, liposuction is an outpatient surgery. The extent of your liposuction surgery and your preferences along with your surgeon’s judgment will determine whether you have a general or local anesthesia. It is also quite common for long-lasting local anesthetics to be injected into the surgery site to reduce pain for a couple days while you ease into recovery.
It is important that you accept that liposuction is not a cure-all for weight problems. In fact, liposuction is best applied to people of normal or near-normal weight who want to address fatty areas and smooth away bulges.
Posted in Liposuction | 2 Comments »
September 8th, 2008 Kenneth M. Rose MD
Many times patients will come into the office and resolutely declare they need liposuction. In reality though they need a tummy tuck. So what’s the difference?
Liposuction is a refining tool. It is designed to remove pockets of fat from unwanted areas like the hips, belly and love handles. A tummy tuck,on the other hand, is a procedure that is used to remove large amounts of excess fat (mostly below the belly button) and tighten the abdominal muscles. Frequently women who have had babies are more in need of a tummy tuck because their pregnancies have stretched out their abdominal walls. Liposuction on these patients would be a complete failure as would it be on an obese person. Also, women who are planning to have more babies in the near future should probably refrain from either procedure until after their pregnancies. This is because the weight gain and the soft tissue stretching associated with child bearing will probably destroy the results of the surgery.
These two blogs on tummy tucks and liposuction by Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery are very good in explaining the difference. To know for sure which procedure is best for you, talk to your surgeon.
Posted in Liposuction, Tummy Tuck | 5 Comments »
August 26th, 2008 Kenneth M. Rose MD
This article concerning facelift and smokers that was recently in the New York Times is extremely important for those considering a facelift. I know many surgeons who will turn down a potential facelift patient if he finds out that he or she is even an occasional smoker.The same can be said other cosmetic procedures such as tummy tucks . Smokers normally function using less oxygen in the blood than non-smokers. Smoking deprives the skin of oxygen which is a crucial part of the healing process therefore terrible scarring can result. This video From CNN, Smoking and Plastic Surgery, show what happened to a liposucrion, breast augmentation patient. patient. Something many patients fail to consider is that cessation of smoking is just as important after the surgery is over. Although surgery can be stressful for many people, reaching for a cigarette to calm your nerves (even weeks after the procedure) will ruin your esults. So once you quit, you must quit for good.
As a patient, being less than truthful about your smoking history, sneaking a cigarette either before or after the surgery (even one) can have disastrous results. The best thing about having a facelift and being a smoker is that it can potentially prolong your life. In order to have the procedure you will need to quit for a least a year (no cheating!). Hopefully that will be the end of your smoking habit. A younger look and a longer life will be yours!
Posted in Facelift, Liposuction, Smoking and Plastic Surgery, Tummy Tuck, breast augmentation | 1 Comment »
