New Trends in Breast Augmentation

If you see a slender, youngish lady with large and perky breasts, you may wonder if they are implants. 

"Real 'C' cups start sagging by the time you're 30," says a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.  As a result, some women are now seeking a subtler way to increase breast size. The January 2013 issue of Marie Claire discusses these latest trends:

Fat Transfer or Injection

If you don't want the alleged stigma of implants, you can increase your breast size with your own fat. Assuming you have extra fat to spare from love handles or saddle bags, it can be removed through liposuction and injected into your breasts.

The advantages? You will have no scars, your breasts may feel more
natural, and no one will know that you have had any work done. Further, if you gain weight,  the weight will go straight to your chest, according to a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.

But there also are disadvantages. This process requires extensive recovery time because of soreness from  the liposuction. Furthermore, it costs more for less volume. Only about half of the fat, equal to about a half to a full cup size, remains after six months. The remainder is metabolized by the body. The procedure can take up to six times as long as the standard 30-minute implant surgery.

Other innovations

Some doctors now have Vectra 3-D Imaging Devices, which can inflate your chest photographically, so you can see what you will look like. Or, if you wonder what will be the most flattering proportion for you, there is an app for a computerized program that uses chest dimensions and nipple spacing to calculate your perfect cup size and most perfect silhouette. A graceful slope to the upper part of the breast looks natural compared with an upper bulge, which looks fake.

You can look ahead to more anatomically-shaped teardrop implants with gummy-bear like silicone filling that help prevent that bulging look on top.

For the most reliable information about for breast augmentation for you, contact a board-certified plastic surgeon.

You lead with your chin. Tighten it up.

So many options for firming up a sagging jawline

Lifts, liposuction, injections and lasers

In “I Feel Bad About My Neck,” Nora Ephron wrote, “Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth. You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you would not if it had a neck.” 

She had a point. But an equal embarrassment sits right above the neck. It's the sagging jaw line.   

When you reach your early 40s, you may notice the "drop zone", the skin between your neck and jaw. Once a taut right angle, it's now simply dropping. When a friend pulls back the skin in front of her ears and asks, “Tell me the truth, don’t I look better like this?” We answer dishonestly: “Don’t be silly. You look great the way you are.”

Aging jaw and neck are challenging. The neck has three layers: skin, fat, and muscle. Sagging muscles and bulging fat are located under the thin skin. To make it worse, a thin rope-like material called platysma tends to split into a V-like formation of two cords that stick out especially when they contract. To witness this, if you’re over 40, look in a mirror, say “eee,” and watch what happens. "Horrors!" you say to yourself. A colleague in Manhattan observes, “Trying to fix all of that with potions and lotions is like waging a two-front war on a sheet of thin ice.” He recommends a neck lift for women in their early to mid-40s who are not ready for a facelift.

Neck Lift/Facelift

The neck lift wraps sagging muscles crosswise to the jaw to restore that all-important right angle. Compared with a facelift, sutures are smaller, there is less pulling and recovery time is much shorter. However, a neck lift has traditionally been part and parcel of a facelift and many plastic surgeons believe it should remain so. The reasoning is that, anatomically, the muscles of the neck are connected to muscles of the face, so if you try to tighten just the neck muscles, you will do you face a disservice. Using this line of reasoning, even if your big complaint is your neck, you will get better results with a facelift. If you’re confused about which procedure is right for you, have me give you feedback while perusing your very own unique face and neck.

Liposuction and the double chin

The face and neck are usually treated at the same time, often in conjunction with liposuction to sculpt the area beneath the chin and jaw line. Weight gain can lead to looser skin, weaker muscles and free falling fat, all of which may contribute to your drop zone. Younger patients who have fatty necks but no significant facial aging may be treated with liposuction alone. Some plastic surgeons also might use laser or light technology to tighten necks.

Preventive Botox

Botox in areas where wrinkling and creases can occur may prevent deeper lines from forming and will help maintain a youthful appearance. Defer those angry or tired lines so people will not notice that you’ve had anything done.  Botox can also soften those V-shaped platysma cords.

Your own belly fat

Another alternative is injecting fat from the belly into the jawline area to provide extra volume. This will include the bonus of your own stem cells. Extra stem cells are separated from the fat via centrifuge and then added, making the skin glow more and enhancing collagen.

  

Even though you might favor one of these options, it’s a good idea to have an open mind when you come in to see me for free consultation. It's best to let me suggest the very best procedure in view of your very own unique facial characteristics. 

Caught with her hand in the cookie jar

I recently read where an employee of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention got caught stealing from the agency to have $10,000 worth of liposuction performed.  

Ms. Jamilah Franklin also wrote $15,000 in “convenience” checks for herself and friends for various things such as rent.  She was placed on 3 years probation and ordered to repay $25,177.00 in restitution.  She now is a “former” employee.  

With all the new enrollees in the food stamp program, more fraud is occurring.  I had a phone call from a lady who wanted to pay for her tummy tuck in Fort Myers with food stamp vouchers!  Unfortunately the bigger government gets, the more opportunities for waste, fraud and corruption.

How much is a discount worth ?

The following article was supplied to my Fort Myers cosmetic surgery practice by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery:

Dancing lessons, dinners, theatre tickets, massages, cruises and flat irons can be purchased on Groupon with variable results. But , the one area in which you should never seek discounts or shortcuts is your health. And some legal experts say that it is violation of state and federal laws for doctors to split fees with Groupon.

There was an article in UK’s Guardian about a Groupon ad for discounted cosmetic surgery, including breast enlargement. Britain’s Independent Healthcare Advisory Service banned the Groupon deal "because it encouraged recipients to hurry into a decision to purchase cosmetic surgery." But making an impulsive decision to lock in a price is just one of the things that can go wrong. A Redbook article about what not to buy on Groupon, August 2012, says “the quality of care – not how deep the discount – should always be your first consideration.” Redbook pinpoints three Groupon deals to avoid:

Lasik surgery. Since offers like Groupon are usually available for 24 hours or until they’re sold out, there’s no time for a consultation to determine if you’re a good candidate. For example, if you have chronic dry eyes, Lasik may not be for you. Further, there’s no time to evaluate the provider’s credentials, let alone check out his bedside manner.  The founding director of Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in Beverly Hills says, “If you have a bad Botox experience, it lasts three months. But if LASIK surgery goes wrong, you might have to live with the results for the rest of your life.”

Liposuction. A recent Groupon ad offered liposuction for $2,999, representing about a 60 percent discount from the usual price. However, taking a chance on liposuction means risking scarring, skin discoloration, nerve damage and – if too much fat is removed – uneven lumpy bits. A poorly-executed procedure can take two or three additional costly surgeries, upping your total expenditure and causing needless discomfort, anxiety and downtime. A prominent plastic surgeon warns, “Sometimes the results are impossible to correct.”

Laser upper eyelid lift. This Groupon offer for laser upper eyelid lift was potentially dangerous. In this procedure, droopy eyelid skin is removed. Groupon stated this was a “relatively minor” surgery that could be done in an hour, requiring only a “mild oral sedative and a little local numbing medicine.” Redbook interviewed the chairman of the department of plastic surgery at the University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center who said most reputable plastic surgeons don’t even perform this technique because of the risk of burning the skin or eyes. Other complications include infection and temporary or permanent vision loss.

Answer these questions before undergoing any surgery: 

1) Are you an appropriate candidate? 

2) Is your doctor board-certified in the appropriate specialty? 

3) Does the doctor have a long track record of performing the procedure? 

3) Will the surgery be performed in a safe and licensed facility? 

4) Do you have realistic expectation for the results and are you aware of possible complications? 

The decision to undergo elective surgery should be a slow and measured process.

I might also add that almost every plastic surgeon may offer a special discount on a patient-by-patient basis, but that is always more specific than a first-come-first-serve coupon offer. Your health deserves better.

Fat, fat, go away. Don't come back another day.

The official journal, “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,” had a great article in August 2012 relating to the question, "Where dies the fat go after liposuction?"

For those old enough to remember, there was a commercial years ago for Pepsodent toothpaste.   (By the way, I recently went online to buy some.) The commercial went like this. “You’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.”

This article tells about 301 patients who underwent liposuction, as a stand alone procedure on in conjunction with a tummy tuck.  

The results were carefully calibrated and revealed NO regrowth of fat in the treated areas NOR did the fat get redeposit elsewhere! 

Great news and this study reports a smaller study of 25 subjects that claimed the fat removed during liposuction went elsewhere.  

My experience as a plastic surgeon who performs liposuction in Fort Myers is that once the fat is gone, it is gone. So don’t despair!

PLASTIC SURGERY DEATHS- Dr. Brueck speaks out

From time to time, Dr. Robert J Brueck MD, a Fort Myers Florida-based plastic surgeon posts messages that he feels are important or interesting on the subject of cosmetic surgery. Thank you for your attention.

Florida has some of the country’s toughest laws concerning outpatient plastic surgery.

In spite of the restrictive laws, 32 people lost their lives in pursuit of beauty. Why is this?

There is no simple answer. There were four South Florida mothers who lost their lives while under going liposuction for love handles and bra rolls.

The number of cosmetic surgeries has mushroomed to over 13 million nationally. The number of physician offices licensed to do cosmetic surgery increased from 285 in 2004 to over 400 now. The increase in cosmetic cases would explain the increase in deaths. I also think the number of surgeons performing cosmetic procedures is exploding and many of them are not even plastic surgeons.

When I came to town 32 years ago there were only four plastic surgeons listed in the yellow pages of the phone book. Go check it out now. It truly has become a buyer-beware market.

We have primary care doctors doing facelifts and other cosmetic surgery procedures in our community. This is wrong and I believe if it’s not illegal, it should be.

I tell all my patients that safety is number one. Patient safety is never compromised. I know I have had patients leave me for another doctor over the years because I’ve insisted they get a physical exam by their internist or obtain certain lab work or perhaps cardiac clearance. That’s me – that’s my practice – that’s what I believe in.

Another concern is the length of sedation for some cosmetic surgery procedures. I constantly hear of patients undergoing cosmetic procedures and being sedated for six, seven or more hours. This directly adds to the risks.

The longer someone is sedated the higher the complication rate. I try to limit my operating room time to less than four hours TOTAL!

Bottom line, make sure your surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery, has a state licensed/certified OR and emphasizes patient safety.

Where did the Fat go? Answers from Dr. Brueck MD

Dr. Robert J. Brueck, a Board Certified Plastic surgeon in Fort Myers, comments on news about liposuction.

When someone comes in for a liposuction consult I am often asked, "Will the fat go somewhere else?

My usual response was, "No. It’s gone, never to return." But a recent study may call into question that response.

Researchers at the University of Colorado in Denver did a randomized controlled trial of liposuction in 32 non-obese, healthy women. These women had several areas of body fat measured in circumference. After all the patients were measured, they were assigned to one of two groups. One group of 14 women had small volume liposuction performed. The other group had lipo after the study was complete.

Measurements were taken at 6 weeks, 6 months and at one year. To everyone’s surprise, the thigh area remained reduced however the abdominal area grew in size. More studies need to be done. But it is food for thought.

I know, in my clinical experience, this has not been the case, but then again, I don’t do detailed measurements post-lipo. I have yet to have a patient tell me, "You know my hips are better but my belly is bigger."

Dr. Brueck, Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon TV syndication schedule

Dr. Robert J. Brueck MD FACS is a Fort Myers-based Board Certified plastic surgeon who blogs at this address.

Since not everyone who follows this blog lives in the signal range of Fort Myers WINK-TV, I'd like to let you know about the scheduled showings in other markets of my appearances on American Health Journal.

So here are the dates, times, markets and stations

SYNDICATION BROADCAST NOTICE

For the week of Monday, February 21st through Sunday, February 27th
“Liposuction”

• My Network 13 – San Diego, CA Station: KHOU / Inde D2 Houston, TX - Day & Time: Sunday @ 11:00 AM Day & Time: M-Th @ 7-8 AM
  
  
• CBS 6 – Beaumont, TX Station: WNBW / NBC – Gainesville, FL - Day & Time: Sunday @ 11:05 PM Day & Time: Saturday @ 12:00 PM
  
  
• 10 News 2 – Knoxville, TN Station: My Network – Gainesville, FL -Day & Time: Saturday @ 4:30 PM Day & Time: Sunday @ 9:00 AM
  
  
• CBS – Salt Lake City, UT Station: CW 5 – Alexandria, LA - Day & Time: Sunday @ 7:30 AM Day & Time: Sunday, @ 9:00 AM
  
  
• CBS 2 – Palm Springs, CA Station: ThisTV – Lafayette, LA - Day & Time: Saturday @ 3:30 PM Day & Time: Saturday @ 9:00 AM Sunday @ 5:30 AM Sunday @ 9:00 AM

If you missed previous telecasts, this is a chance to catch up.

Dr. Brueck MD, Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon, talks about liposuction

On October 17, at 11 AM on WINK-TV, Channel 5 in Fort Myers, Dr. Robert J. Brueck MD FACS was interviewed on the subject of liposuction. This was Dr. Brueck's second appearance on the American Health Journal TV show. Additional appearances are scheduled for coming Sundays. If you miss them, however, they will be up loaded to this blog and to Dr. Brueck's FaceBook page.
Dr. Brueck also is on the web at Beauty-by-Brueck.com. You are welcome to visit and learn more about plastic cosmetic surgery.



If you find this interesting and would like to learn more about liposuction, call Dr. Brueck at 239-939-5233 to arrange a free, confidential and private consultation.

DO PLASTIC SURGEONS HAVE COSMETIC SURGERY? Dr. Brueck comments.

This is really a great question to ask and many times when patients come in to see me I have been asked this question, "Have you had plastic surgery”?

I will wait until the end of this discussion to “tell all”.

A recent survey was sent to 2,635 randomly selected plastic surgeons and of those 276 responded. 62% of respondents had at least one minimally invasive procedure, which could be Botox, fillers, things of that sort.

Females were more likely to have more procedures done than their male counter parts. One third of respondents had at least one cosmetic surgery procedure performed. The most common procedure was liposuction of the trunk and the abdomen.

So there you have it. Yes, we do have cosmetic surgery. As far as I’m concerned, I am also in that group, I have had cosmetic surgery done and about 20 years ago I had liposuction done to my abdomen and flanks, which many people refer to as "love handles."

I guess that gives new meaning to the expression, "Been there. Done that."

I hope you all have a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Take care and God Bless.

If the spirit moves you to find out more about plastic surgery and how it might be right for you, check out my web site at http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com.

As a past user, I can recommend it.

Plastic Surgery and Weight Control - The YoYo Effect

Thoughts from Fort Myers plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert Brueck - We occasionally encounter patients who are considering liposuction or other body contouring as a "substitute" for actual weight loss.

We discourage it strongly. It is not the right solution for people struggling with obesity. It does lead us, however, to give thought to successful weight loss regimens. And those that are not successful.

We are all familiar with the “yo-yo”. As a young boy growing up in the streets of Chicago I spent many hours playing with a yo-yo. It would go up and it would go down, it would go up and it would go down. It seems weight gain and loss is a yo-yo phenomenon for many people. You gain 20 pounds, you lose 20 pounds and you regain it. The cycle goes on and on. Along with this come anxiety, depression, and frustration. All are often futile attempts to get the “perfect” body shape.

The National Institutes of Health has defined weight maintenance as maintaining a 10% loss of weight for a time period exceeding 1 year, which I found quite interesting.

A national registry called the “National Weight Control Registry” ,commonly referred to as the NWCR, was created in 1994 to track the weight of people who lost over 30 pounds for a period greater than 1 year. What they found is interesting and may prove beneficial to you as you try to get off the yo-yo treadmill.

The following observations were made.

Number one – greater than 90% exercised regularly for about an hour a day. Exercise is critical to maintaining weight loss.

Number two – eat breakfast daily. Over 78% of registry participants ate breakfast regularly. Skipping breakfast produces a long fasting state which leads to increased calorie consumption as the day wears on. Now that doesn’t mean we go out and eat a dozen eggs and 3 pounds of sausage every morning.

Number three – self monitor your weight. They found that 75% of registry participants weighed themselves at least once a week.

Number four – avoid sedentary activities i.e. don’t sit down and watch television for 4 – 6 hours a day. Walk up the stairs instead of taking an elevator unless your office is on the top floor of a 110 story office building. But then again, that might not be so bad after all. You just need to get up an hour earlier to begin the journey. LOL

I hope these points prove beneficial to you as you go on to maintain a healthier more productive lifestyle.

If after serious, sustained weight loss you find body fat just won't go away, you may be a candidate for body sculpting. For more information, visit Dr. Brueck's web site at http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com. or call us at 239-939-5233.

Plastic Surgery - Buyer Beware

Buyer Beware!

How many times have we seen this warning... these words?

With tough economic times, truer words were never spoken. As a Board Certified plastic surgeon, I have sounded the warning a long time ago and now I am sounding it again.

I read with great interest an article that was published recently (2/17/09) in the Wall Street Journal. The article's title was, "What to know before going under the liposuction knife".

Liposuction remains, perhaps the most common cosmetic surgical procedure being performed.

On the swank and beautiful Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, a busy and booming cosmetic surgery business was created by Dr. Craig Alan Bittner. With fancy ads, commercials and promos, he became known as Dr. Lipo 90210.

In December, 2008 Dr. Bittner shut down his thriving practice amidst much controversy. The California Board of Medicine is looking into allegations that Dr. Bittner allowed unlicensed office staff to perform surgery. Search warrants were issued and an investigation is now underway.

Dr. Bittner was most controversial because he used fat from his patients to fuel his car! That's right. He published this unorthodox use of body fat to power his car on his now defunct web site, lipodiesel.org.

Because of these difficult economic times, more and more non-plastic surgeons are resorting to performing cosmetic surgeries, for which they are not certified. Many non-plastic surgeons attend weekend seminars, watch DVDs, invest heavily in marketing and go for it.

In their ads, they may say "board certified". The question is , board certified in what? Podiatry? Internal Medicine? What board?

Dr. Bittner graduated from Johns Hopkins and was board certified in interventional radiology, a field totally unrelated to plastic surgery. He got his liposuction training from a two-month apprenticeship with a dermatologist in South Florida.

To perform liposuction, a person needs to be a doctor but isn't required to have any special licensing or certification, such as being board certified in plastic surgery.

According to Dr. Bittner, he faces four malpractice suits. In a farewell letter to his patients, left on his web site, he told them he was relocating to a small clinic in South America, "where I can help those most in need."

I guess you do get what you pay for, or some times, less than what you pay for. That's why I say Buyer Beware! Ask questions, Talk to former patients. Ask how many case the doctor has done. What is the doctor's training.

If board certified, certified by which board? Haste can make waste. Not taking the time to check a doctor's credentials, experience and reputation can result in a catastrophe.

To learn more about all aspects of facial, breast and body plastic surgery, and about Dr. Brueck's experience, credentials and certification, visit Beauty-by-Brueck.com

Thank you for your time.

Avoid deadly plastic surgery - know your Doctor's credentials

There is no denying the fact that these are tough times economically. Because of this, more and more practitioners are jumping into the aesthetic or cosmetic marketplace. At first thought one might be lulled into a false sense of security – more practitioners - tough economic times - better pricing.

Not so fast.

Now, more than ever, patients need to be extremely diligent in choosing their plastic surgeon. Recently, a cosmetic surgeon was indicted in the deaths of three of his patients. Dr. Peter Norman was in indicted on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of manslaughter in the deaths of three patients who underwent liposuction in his Anthem, Arizona practice

Two of the surgeries were performed by him. The third was done by one his associates, who was not even a surgeon. He was a homeopathic practitioner. Dr. Norman’s training consisted of seven training sessions in liposuction.

This may also be part of what is call the “DVD Syndrome”. With a wide availability of training DVDs in all facets of cosmetic surgery it is very easy for an individual practitioner to become “trained” in the comfort of his own bedroom or study. These DVDs are wonderful educational tools, but in the hands of non-board certified plastic surgeons they can lead to tragedy. Experience and board certification both matter.

In an earlier message on this blog, I discussed what is required to become board certified in plastic surgery. It is deservedly rigorous for exactly the reasons of patient protection.

Shortly prior to the indictment, Dr. Norman attempted to leave the country, fleeing to Germany. US Customs agents apprehended him at Cincinnati International Airport on October 28, 2008.

This arrest may end Dr. Norman’s ill-trained career.

But it doesn’t remove the need to know your plastic surgeon, know his training and check out references and testimonials. There is nothing wrong with asking him or her pointed questions.

For more information about liposuction or other plastic surgery procedures, visit Dr. Brueck's website.

What happens when laser meets liposuction?

Almost universally we are all concerned about our body shape. For some it’s their hips, or for us men, our “love handles”. Recently, several people have called me regarding a new laser liposuction procedure called, “SmartLipo.”

It has been touted on TV shows and magazines as the “new and better” trend in lipo. But, is it really?

Much of the hype of SmartLipo is for marketing purposes. Everyone wants to be the first kid on the block with the latest toy or gimmick.

This, plus the media hype is designed to get patients flocking to the plastic surgeon’s door. But, in reality, is it any better or more effective in giving us our “perfect’ shape?

The premise behind SmartLipo is to use a laser to liquefy the fat and make it easier to remove.

The SmartLipo laser was developed by a Brazilian plastic surgeon, who in the late 90’s, teamed up with a company, Cynosure, to refine it and bring it to the market place.

One of the supposed benefits of SmartLipo is that it causes skin retraction. The FDA has NOT approved Cynosure to use the claim in marketing SmartLipo. The company currently is doing clinical trials to see if this is the case. This is very controversial. Some physicians say it does and others say it doesn’t.

The machine costs around $150,000 so if I buy one, I will want to tout its benefits because I have to pay for it.

The cost of SmartLipo is generally more than conventional tumescent liposuction. Surprise! Surprise!

Another claim is that it can be done under local and hence is safer. Conventional liposuction can also be done under local. It all depends, with either technique, how much liposuction you are doing. So a word of caution is needed – as always, “Buyer beware” of unsubstantiated claims.

Subscribe to my blog to receive updates on this subject as they become available.

Lipodissolve: All the rage, but all right for you?

If you have fat deposits anywhere on your body or face and they do not respond to diet and exercise, you may be a candidate for lipodissolve, also known as lipolosys, which can reduce local fat deposits that can affect the shape, proportion and contour of your body. The results can lead to improve self-image and sense of greater confidence in how you look and present yourself.

According to Dr. Brueck, in some cases, lipodissolve alone may be the procedure that can achieve the contouring results you want. In other cases, procedures such as a tummy tuck, breast reduction (male or female) and a face lift may be indicated. In any case, lipodissolve is not a substitute treatment for obesity instead of exercise and proper diet. It also will not work to eliminate or reduce cellulite.

If you are an adult of any age who is within 30% of your ideal weight and your skin is firm and elastic and you have good muscle tone, Dr. Brueck believes you may be a good candidate for lipodissolve. You should also be a non-smoker and not have a life threatening disease or a medical condition that could hinder your ability to heal. A positive life outlook and specific body contouring goals in mind is helpful.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIPODISSOLVE/LIPOLYSIS

Q: What is lipodissolve or lipolysis?
A: Lipodissolve is a technique wherein we inject normally occurring substances into the subcutaneous tissue layers of various parts of the body. The active ingredients are Phosphatidyl Choline and sometimes deoxycholate. These are both substances produced by our bodies. The tissue we inject is the fatty tissue layer between our skin and our muscle layer.

Q: Is this the same as mesotherapy ?
A: No. They are uniquely different techniques. Mesotherapy is a technique developed by a French physician, Dr. Pistor, back in the 1950s. He used various pharmaceutical agents that he injected into the mesoderm or fatty tissue layer to treat a variety of ailments such as sprains, soft tissue injuries, baldness and a variety of other ailments. Lipo dissolve has as its sole purpose to shrink the fatty tissue layer of our bodies.

Q: What areas can be treated?
A: Anywhere there is an abnormal or overabundant fatty tissue layer can be treated. The areas commonly treated are the abdomen, flanks, thighs, saddle bages, chest, face and the like. It is not recommended in areas where the soft tissue layer is thin, such as the lower extremities or calf areas.

Q: Is this useful in obese people?
A: If someone is massively obese, then lipodissolve is NOT indicated. This is NOT a substitute for gastric bypass, or diet and exercise.

Q: How is the procedure performed?
A: The procedure is performed as an outpatient and takes 15 to 20 minutes depending on the number of areas treated. The area to be treated is marked out by the doctor and then a 1/2cc is injected about 1.5cms apart into the area.The injections are done about 8 weeks apart and usually a person will need 1 to 4 injection sessions.

Q: Is it painful ?
A: There is some discomfort associated with injections: it is more like a tender bruise.

Q: What can I expect?
A: After the injections, you may experience some soreness and bruising. The area injected may feel warm and be red. There may be some hyper sensitivity to the area as well. Because there is some swelling to the area injected, the area may be larger until the swelling goes down. After a week or so, the areas injected may have some lumps that you can feel. This is normal and will subside over the ensuing weeks. Usually, I tell patients to relax the day of injections. They can shower the same day and resume normal activities the next day.

Q: Is it safe?
A: There have been some recent publications based on a large number of treatments. A British study documented more than 10,000 treatments with no serious problems noted. A similar study done in America involved more than 56,000 treatments with only a few complications. There was one abcess, 2 areas of of skin necrosis in areas of scar tissue and 2 areas of sensory nerve damage, due to injections done that did not follow the normal protocol.

Q: Does it work?
A: I guess I am prime example number 1; I have had great results after undergoing 7 or so treatments and I am firmly convinced it does work. Perhaps 80% or so of patients are satisfied with their treatments.

Q: Are there contraindications?
A: Yes. Minors, pregnant mothers, certain autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Dermatomyositis and Scleroderma, and severe liver disease are contra indicated. Some relative contraindications are: renal disease, acute infection, blood coagulation problems, and some connective diseases such as Polymyositis.

Q: Is there anything I can do to improve my results?
A: To improve your results you should drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet. Doing some exercise such as simply walking will enhance the effects.

Q: Who should do lipodissolve?
A: I think it is important to go to a board certified plastic surgeon. Only a board certified plastic surgeon can discuss ALL of your options. It is important to know that lipodissolve does NOT remove loose skin so you may need to have abdominoplasty. You may need formal liposuction versus lipodissolve and ONLY a board certified plastic surgeon can address all of these alternatives.

Q: Can lipo dissolve help cellulite?
A: Many people believe cellulite is excess fatty tissue. In reality, it is the dimpling and cottage cheese appearance of the skin. It has multiple courses, usually occurs in women, and involves the thighs and buttocks area. There are some new and exciting procedures combining lipodissolve and vela smooth. The vela smooth is a machine that combines massage, infrared and radio frequency in the same treatment head. Call us to find out more about it.