Why So Many People Are Turning to Plastic Surgery

By Violet Williams

There is nothing that a person gets more concerned with than their personal appearance. Women tend to be concerned with how much weight they gain, the structure of their face, and the shape of their torso. Mean tend to worry about their sexual anatomy, wrinkles, and whether they are losing their hair.

Now, people can have changed whatever they would like, thanks to the advanced medical technology involved with plastic surgery. People in the earlier history would indeed have welcomed the advent of plastic surgery, because they had many appearance problems that could have been easily rectified.

For example, diseases like smallpox left deep scars in their face - scars that the aristocratic people (both males and females) actually filled in with beeswax and then put heavy makeup over. Plus, for both men and women who were losing their hair, wigs that caused dry scalps were implemented.

Luckily, plastic surgery is available so that powdered wigs and beeswax are things of the past - as indeed they should be. Many people are seeking out various procedures because of the minimally invasive techniques, which not only produce faster, more natural results, but also require minimal recovery time.

So, if you are a person interested in getting plastic surgery, it is extremely important to make sure that you do your research as to which surgeon would be best for the job. Make sure that he or she has at least five years of medical training, and has many verifiable testimonials to his or her credit.

More information on male breast reduction and a plastic surgery doctor in your area is just a click away.

What is Cool Lipo?

By Violet Williams

Ever wonder how many different procedures are available for removing unwanted fat and loose skin from the body? Ever wonder if you are a candidate for different liposuction procedures? Are liposuction procedures even covered by medical insurance?

There are a variety of different liposuction procedures available today for people around the world. One of those procedures is called Cool Lipo. This procedure is less invasive than the majority of other liposuction procedures and is used to remove fatty tissues from various parts of the body. The areas of the body most commonly operated on with this procedure are under the chin and any other regions that standard liposuction procedures cannot treat.

Most candidates for Cool Lipo are patients that cannot have small areas of fat removed from their body by regular exercise and regular dieting. This procedure does not include general anesthesia. Even though this procedure is very popular in women it is also popular in men too, especially when male breast reduction is involved.

A laser is used during the Cool Lipo procedure by a cosmetic surgeon after a local anesthesia is applied to the area that will be worked on. After a routine waiting period, the doctor will then use the laser to release energy on the area of the body where the fat needs to be removed.

This procedure is considering a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by medical insurance, which means that the patient will need pay out of pocket for the procedure. The procedure, for one session, usually runs for a cost of $1,000 or more.

More information on Cool Lipo and a cosmetic dermatologist in your area is just a click away.

SmartLipo - Safer Than Traditional Liposuction

By Spero Theodorou

The highly advantageous SmartLipo liposuction technology introduced just last year has been welcomed with open hands. FDA approved and minimally invasive, SmartLipo doesn't just do away with fat; it enhances body contour (shape) and tightens flabby (loose) skin. New technology is the highlight of SmartLipo making it one of the most popular and successful procedures for liposuction in the area of cosmetic surgery.

The new age SmartLipo is quite similar to traditional liposuction. However, in terms of safety, it wins over what has conventionally been practiced. The reasons for this are quite obvious to both the surgeons who have made it a part of their practice and for the many patients who have benefited from it.

Local Anesthesia

The patient is put under local and not general anesthesia. The problem with general anesthesia is that it carries with it complications and risks.

Minimally Invasive

The incisions used in both traditional and SmartLipo liposuction are small but in SmartLipo, they are smaller.

Hemostatic Properties of Laser

The SmartLipo laser has hemostatic attributes which cause coagulation of underlying vessels. When compared to traditional liposuction, this means a lesser degree of bleeding, trauma, edema and bruising; and hardly any side effects. It also means that the patient can return to his daily routine within just a matter of days because healing is faster.

Prior Liposuction Experience Required To Do It

From the standpoint of the patient who wants to go in for a SmartLipo session, only the services of a surgeon who knows what he is doing and knows it well, will do. It is therefore heartening to know that the SmartLipo laser can only be purchased by doctors who have had prior liposuction experience.

SmartLipo, through its innovative technology continues to help people feel happier with themselves and with their appearance. One can't help but salute the innovative minds that have made SmartLipo a reality.

Dr. Spero Theodorou, a talented Manhattan plastic surgeon, runs Park Avenue Smart Lipo, the only New York City SmartLipo training facility. Doctor Spero Theodorou has a personal interest in Smart Lipo (Laser liposuction) and is experienced in advanced liposuction techniques.

What is Smart Lipo?

By Elisa Cruz

There are plenty of different cosmetic surgery procedures available for removing unwanted fat from a person's body including liposuction. Other procedures are available that include the use of lasers to remove the fat from one's body.

Smart Lipo is the newest method for removing unwanted fat from a person's body with the use of a laser. This technique was first discovered in Europe and has now become popular in the United States. The procedure was originally developed a little over 10 years ago. A laser is used to rapidly dissolve fat and tighten the surrounding skin almost anywhere on the body. There does not need to be any use of a general anesthetic and is such a simple procedure that it can be done in a doctor's office and not at a hospital or clinic.

Smart Lipo can be performed on almost any area of the body including the waist, the chin, the inner and outer thighs, the hips, the buttocks, the upper arms, the face (but not around the eyes), males with breasts, the back of the neck and the pubic mound.

Candidates for Smart Lipo are patients who are in good health, are not obese, have an active lifestyle and have a pocket of localized fat that they wish to remove. Anyone with diabetes, liver problems, blood disorders, kidney problems, heart problems and skin disorders should not have this procedure performed. This procedure can be used in conjunction with liposuction and anyone that has the procedure performed can return to work within 24 hours of completion.

More information on Smart Lipo and a skin care center in your area is just a click away.

Understanding Recovery After Body Contouring Surgery

By Dr Barry Eppley

One of the most common and important questions almost all patients ask their surgeon is....how long will my recovery be? Or what will my recovery be like? Body contouring surgery is no different and, because of the size of the surgery, patients have to have realistic expectations about the recovery period.

I like to think of surgery recovery as three phases based on what the patient will experience during each specific phase. How you feel, what you can do, and what is happening with your surgical incisions make up each phase. When talking about body contouring surgery, we need to be specific as to what procedures we are talking about. For the sake of this discussion, I am referring to the procedures of circumferential body lift, thigh lifts, or a combination of other body procedures which may add up the size of a procedure such as a body lift.

The first phase of recovery from body contouring surgery is right after the operation. It is a phase of pain, dressings, drains, and more limited physical activity. Surprisingly, body contouring surgery is not acutely pain but has more of a dull discomfort and some stinging along the incisions. In my practice, I glue on tapes over the incisions so there is no care needed. One can shower after 48 hours and feel free to get the incisions and drains wet, it will not hurt them. You can do whatever you feel like doing but most patients will be fairly limited to sitting around and walking about the house. Phase one is obviously the most difficult, generally lasts from 7 to 10 days, and is what most patients envision it to be.

Phase two in body contouring surgery recovery is when the drains come out, the tapes are removed, and you are getting back to some normal activities of daily living including driving and some out of the house events. You are still sore but no longer in any severe pain. Some external stitches are removed, if present, as well. This phase is from 10 to 21 days. You may return to work if your job is a sit down one with minimal strenuous activity. You are not ready to return to any physical activity, particularly any form of working out. Your incisions may start to turn more red by three weeks after surgery as they start to heal. The red color is normal.

Phase three is what I call the nuisance phase of recovery and it is between 3 and 8 weeks after surgery. During this phase, you are really recovering, feeling much better, and by the end of this phase are almost or are back to all of your presurgery activites. This is also the phase when small 'problems' will develop at your incisions which will surprise patients as they think they should be completely healed by now. This include extrusions or reactions to dissolvable sutures, known as 'spitters', which the body is pushing out as they dissolve. It is also the time when seromas of fluid collections may occur after the drains have been removed. These are minor problems but are common delayed issues that will occur in most body contouring patients.

In summary, recovery from body contouring surgery takes longer than most patients think. Complete recovery, including the full healing of all incisions, can take up to two months. Patients should be aware and prepare accordingly for their work and lifestyle.

Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana at Clarian Health Systems. (http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com

The Need For Drains After Body Contouring Surgery

By Dr Barry Eppley

Body contouring surgery usually involves removing large segments of skin which are then closed by bringing the two sides together. What is not obvious is that the skin is closed over a 'space'. As the skin is more elastic or flexible than the deeper tissues (such as fat) that lie underneath, closure of the skin when large segments of tissue have been removed leaves an open area beneath. As the body abhors a space, it will fill it with fluid. Thus, the need for drains in such surgery.

The reason fluid accumulates in this space under the skin is that wounded tissue weeps. Much like a brushburn that you had on your knee as a child, fluid comes leaking out from the wounded tissue. In the spaces left behind after big skin removals, a large surface area of wounded tissue lies underneath. This will weep fluid for weeks after surgery. Drains are inserted into these spaces to prevent fluid build-up. A soft tube is inserted under the skin through a small opening near the main incision. This drainage tube is then attached to a suction bulb which pulls fluid out by vacuum pressure. This is known as a closed suction drain. The drains are quite long, up to 18 inches in length. Usually one or more drains are used for surgical site depending on the procedure. (an arm lift needs one drain, a tummy tuck needs two drains, a body lift may need four drains) Some procedures such as breast surgery may not need a drain at all.

The removal of this fluid is of critical importance. While the body can absorb a certain amount of fluid, large amounts that occur after major body contouring surgery can not be absorbed. If allowed to build up, it may be a source of infection but will also not allow the sides of the wound inside to heal together. Therefore, the drains keep most of the fluid out so that adequate internal wound healing can occur. The drains serve as a safety valve until the internal weeping stops.

How long does this internal seeping persist?...or more pertinently, how long will you have to have these drains? It varies by the area and type of surgery. For arm lifts 2 to 3 days, thigh lifts one week, tummy tucks seven to ten days, and body lifts as long as two weeks. Some plastic surgeons use the amount of fluid coming out as the measure of how long they stay. Generally, less than 25 to 30 ccs per day per drain means they may be able to be removed.

Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana at Clarian Health Systems. (http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com

Questions Anyone Should Ask Their Prospective Cosmetic Surgeon

By Elisa Cruz

It seems rather incredible now, but not too long ago, when a person was very dissatisfied with his or her personal appearance, nothing could be done about it. They just had to accept it. However, thanks to medical technology, now people have far more options.

This is where a cosmetic surgeon comes in. In order to facilitate the plastic surgery that will be needed to change, for example, the facial structure of a person, it only makes sense that a person will need to choose the best cosmetic surgeon they can find.

In order to make sure that, during a consultation, the cosmetic surgeon they are considering is indeed the best person for the procedure that they want, it is very important to make sure that they ask questions. The first question they should ask is in regard to the amount of medical training that the surgeon has had. The correct answer? At least five years.

Another very important thing to ask about is the portfolio of the cosmetic surgeon. In this portfolio, there should be many impressive before and after photos, as well as verifiable written testimonials from patients. Obviously, the more testimonials, the better. Once this has been established, the next step is to ask about the procedure itself, how long it will take to recover, and what can be done to make sure the patient gets the best results possible. Bring a list of questions you want answered, so that you can make sure you don't forget anything!

More information on male breast reduction and a cosmetic surgeon in your area is just a click away.