How the Internet Can Help You to Search For Cosmetic Surgery Toronto

Up until around ten years ago the idea of having cosmetic surgery was really seen as something done by people for medical reasons or the rich and famous trying to keep their looks. However, it is now much more common for normal members of the public to think about going to have different things done which has seen a real rise in the number of cosmetic surgeons out there. So if you live in the Toronto area and you are thinking about having something done you should start by looking under cosmetic surgery Toronto.

You shall then be faced with a list of cosmetic surgeons who work in the Toronto area and you shall also notice most of them have websites. You should therefore take your time to go through the different sites and try to learn as much as possible about the surgeon.

When you are looking at their website try to find out as much information about their background as possible so you can see how they came to be a cosmetic surgeon. You should also pay attention for any links or images that show they have been certified by local and national cosmetic surgeon associations.

What these associations do is give you a lot more confidence about their ability as a surgeon as they have been shown to be more than competent and that they can be trusted. If there were any doubts about their ability then they would not belong to them and they would also be unable to practice.

It can also be beneficial if you know other people who have had work done in the area as you should ask them who they used then look at the relevant website again. This can be important because if it is someone you trust and they recommend someone then it is easier for you to then trust the surgeon.

You should be asking them about the treatment they received both before and after the surgery as well as the relationship that they had with the surgeon. Both of these things are very important especially the relationship as a good one makes it easier to relax and trust them and their ability.

When you feel ready for it you should arrange an appointment with a surgeon so you can sit down face to face with them and discuss what you are wanting done. This is the time to ask any questions that you have as you are not agreeing to having any procedure carried out but just enquiring about the possibility.

You should always use this appointment to let you judge how you feel you can get on with them by going with your first impression. Make sure you ask them about the procedure as well as what you should do to prepare for it along with tips on after care and what they provide you with so you can see if they are organised and if you are happy to put your body in their hands or not.

State-of-the-art plastic surgery institute offers the most modern treatments and procedures for cosmetic enhancement including and face lift.

Cosmetic Surgery Has Been Around For a Very Long Time

It might seem that cosmetic surgery is a very recent invention. In fact this is not true as it has been around for many thousands of years. The first documented record of any kind of plastic surgery taking place was two thousand years before Christ in India. This kind of surgery is called corrective, restorative, or it can be a kind of microsurgery.

Reconstructive surgery was also performed in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome. It did not become commonplace until better methods of anaesthesia were invented. Before this time it was obviously excruciatingly painful as it involved removing flaps of skin to rebuild other areas of the body. There was also a great risk of infection until modern methods of sterilization and infection control were invented. The introduction of penicillin was a massive leap forward.

In eighteen twenty seven a surgeon named John Peter Mettauer performed the first successful cleft palate operation. He even designed the instruments for the operation himself. Towards the end of the nineteenth century a lot of surgeons were experimenting with rhinoplasty, or nose reductions or reconstructions.

It was during the course of the first world war that many new techniques were pioneered. A New Zealand surgeon named Harold Gilles was instrumental in helping many young men who had badly disfigured by their injuries. His work was carried on during world war two by his cousin Archibald McIndoe.

McIndoe set up a burns unit that would become famous throughout the world for young airmen who had suffered terrible burns during the fighting. The members of this very select group were called the Guinea Pigs, and they had their own club called the Guinea Pig club. McIndoe helped many of these brave men to recover from their injuries with his pioneering surgeries.

The work of this burns unit still continues today in the McIndoe burns unit in the Queen Victoria hospital in the town of East Grinstead in southern England. The survivors of the Guinea Pig club still meet today. At the end of world war two it had nearly seven hundred members, and there are still two hundred remaining members who get together regularly.

Today this kind of surgery is widely used for cosmetic reasons. There are quite literally millions of procedures done throughout the world every year. Cheek lift surgery, cosmetic eyelid surgery, cheek augmentation and a face lift are just a few of the many procedures that are now available.

The massive rise in demand for cosmetic surgery procedures has perhaps come about in the pursuit for perfection. The media is full of images of women and men who represent an ideal image. These people have the time and money to devote to their appearance, and quite often their profession demands it if they are in front of the cameras. The media is quick to comment if one of these stars looks tired or gains a few pounds so the pressure to be thin and fabulous looking is immense. This pressure filters down to the rest of the ordinary mortals who want to look like the stars they idolize, and so they may be tempted to turn to surgery to try to achieve the same kind of perfection.

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All About Liposuction

A cosmetic surgical treatment referred to as as Liposuction belongs to the most popular surgical procedures availed by sufferers today. Inside the United States, lipo is the most availed method that patients undergo today.To illustrate the method of lipo, it is just the removal of fatty deposits and masses that have accrued beneath the pores and skin by means of vacuum suction. Liposuction extracts fats therefore tremendously lowering or modifying the shape and body weight of the impacted area. This method belongs to a category of body sculpting so; it covers body areas including the abdomen, thighs, hips, arms, neck, claves, cheeks and a lot more.

Lipo could be really helpful to individuals particularly with diet plan and metabolism issues and instances alike. You can find instances exactly where someone is unable to reduce fats especially fats deposits with solutions like bodily exercises and routines. In these kinds of scenarios, liposuction strategies may be the only motion that can respond to help the individual.

Liposuction are usually completed right after or together with other people surgical operations such as abdominoplasty or tummy tucks, and breast procedures these kinds of as breast lifts or breast reductions. Also numerous liposuction strategies could be operated in different areas with the physique at exactly the same time.

Lipo is carried out having a sequence of steps. Let me explain to you the simple actions involved inside the preparation of surgical operation. Initially, it’s really crucial to plan the process first than every little thing else. The surgeon will location markers or drawings on your physique elements so that he/she will probably be guided in which the process ought to be completed. Secondly the surgeon and medical doctors will decide to inject neighborhood anesthesia or common anesthesia. This selection will even include your heath condition as nicely as the complete duration of the operation. Lastly is the infusion of wetting remedies. These options are liquids consisting of a blood vessels vessel constricting chemical known as epinephrine and salt water. The objective of this step would be to avoid any unnecessary blood reduction and also to minimize it as much as feasible. In this way, security is enhanced greatly with all the reduction of threat of complications caused by blood loss.

You can find a number of types of strategies utilized in the infusion of wetting options. The oldest a single will be the dry approach which is deemed extremely hazardous since it does not involve resolution infusion in any respect, creating 45% of the suctioned materials to be blood. This process involves excessive blood reduction and substantial bruising right after the operation.The real fluid infusion methods will be the damp and super moist procedures. These techniques infuse wetting solutions with a array of 100-300ml fluid and minimize bloodstream loss to some 25% of what exactly is suctioned. While in super damp infuses the sum if fluid equal towards the fat which is to become eliminated. This will somewhat prevent bloodstream damage, by enabling only 1% bloodstream in the suctioned matter.There are many techniques utilized in removing the fat. The regular way is the standard suction method. This technique involves incisions and very small vacuums to extract fat. Other methods would be the Ultrasound-assisted, laser-assisted, power-assisted, and entire body jet. More importantly all strategies need a cannula- a lengthy tube that is essential to suction out body fats.

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Liposuction Tightens and Tones, Sculpts and Slims Bodies

If you want to remove some excess fat in your stomach, liposuction can do just that. Around your knees? Liposuction can handle that as well. On your thighs, your butt, your upper arms, your neck, your cheeks, your ankles? In essence, liposuction can target just about any area on the body that carries extra fat and hasn’t responded to diet and exercise.

Also known as lipoplasty, liposuction is popular among both men and women who are generally healthy but wish to tighten and tone specific areas on the body. As a matter of fact, liposuction was the second most popular cosmetic surgical procedure (after breast augmentation) performed in 2009 in the United States, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

The most popular recent option in liposuction is called tumescent liposuction, which involves less pain and an easier recovery period. During a tumescent liposuction, the cosmetic surgeon inserts a saline solution containing a local anesthetic (rather than a general anesthetic, one of the reasons for faster recovery) into targeted areas on the patient’s body.

This solution causes the surrounding fatty tissue to actually swell up and become firm, or tumescent This firmness, then, makes it much easier for the surgeon to carefully pinpoint the exact areas of fat to remove without disturbing anything else – all of this leads to less bruising, less bleeding and faster overall recovery – not to mention fantastic results for the patient. The anesthetic provides excellent post-procedure pain relief as well, sometimes eliminating the need for any other medications.

After a tumescent liposuction procedure, there will likely be some swelling and mild discomfort for a couple days, and patients should consult their cosmetic surgeon with specific instructions on returning to work, exercise and other daily routines. Results will be visible quickly and will just get more impressive during that first month.

Post-surgery, patients will experience some swelling and will need to rest for several days and take it easy for up to a month. The surgery time and costs will vary depending on the type of liposuction and the areas being treated. Before returning to normal activities be sure to consult a board certified plastic surgeon or medical doctor.

Some people choose to have liposuction as a stand-alone treatment while others combine it with tummy tucks, breast lifts, face lifts or other cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures to reduce both overall procedure time and recovery time. Costs vary depending on the areas being focused on during the procedure. You can talk to your cosmetic surgeon about both your interests and goals to determine if liposuction is the right procedure for you.

Liposuction can make you both look and feel better, as you enjoy a flatter stomach, sculpted ankles, slim upper arms and the overall body of ideal. Please continue to consider regular exercise and diet before considering a cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure like liposuction. If you have any questions about liposuction procedures and you live in or near the Orange County area please contact the professionals at CosmetiCare.

Dr. Niccole is a board certified Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon offering cosmetic procedures for the face, body, breasts and skin. For more information on these procedures and more visit www.cosmeticare.com.

Oriental Eyelids and Plastic Surgery Answers

Question: I’m a 28 year old Chinese female and dislike my eyelids. My eyelids have always had a flap of skin that hangs down to my lashes. I would like to have the extra skin removed from my lids but am afraid of not looking Chinese to my family. Can you do eyelid plastic surgery and still have a patient look Oriental?

Answer: You ask some very good questions about Oriental eyelids. Please read below and contact me at Orange County Plastic Surgery if you have any further questions concerning this, or any other cosmetic surgery procedure.

First of all, Oriental patients do have different eyelid anatomy than most Caucasian patients. In the typical Oriental type of eyelid patient, the superior palpebral fold (the upper lid fold between the lashes and brow) is absent. This occurs in approximately 50% of Oriental patients and is a genetic feature that is passed on from parents to their children with a dominant gene. The Oriental eyelid without a palpebral fold is often referred to as a “single eyelid”, while an eyelid with a fold is called a “double eyelid”.

Operations designed to construct a superior palpebral fold are becoming more popular in Oriental patients around the globe. This surgery has become commonplace in large cities in the Orient as well as in the United States areas, especially in areas like Orange County containing large Oriental populations. The “single eyelid” occurs because a muscle called the levator palpebrae ends within the substance of the lid, instead of attaching to the top of the cartilage plate in the lid, and is not caused by a skin excess! In such procedures, every attempt is made to create the desired fold but not to alter the general shape of the eye or to destroy the web that many Oriental patients have medially, near the nose. Destroying this epicanthal fold would make a lid look more Caucasian and destroy this important Oriental feature of an eyelid and give the patients and eyelid version of Michael Jackson’s nose – this is to be avoided!

As mentioned, 50% of Orientals lack the palpebral fold, but the other 50% do have such a fold – the Oriental eyelid procedure is designed to create such a fold and still leave the patient looking Oriental. A surgeon doing such surgery should be familiar with the differences between Oriental and Caucasian anatomy. It is possible to get a very good result with this plastic surgery procedure, but as with any cosmetic procedure, it is important to research the options and all potential outcomes. It is also important to communicate with your surgeon about how you would like to look after the surgery and obtain comprehensive pre-procedure and post-procedure information.

If you have any specific questions about the Oriental eyelid, plastic surgery procedure, or any other cosmetic procedure, your best bet would be to see a qualified, board certified plastic surgeon to review your options. A plastic surgeon should be able to work with you to get a result with which you are satisfied!

Dr. Juris Bunkis, MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call OCPS at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information.

Eyelids and Brow Lifts, Questions and Answers

Q: My upper lids droop over my eyelashes and I would like to have them fixed. I have seen two plastic surgeons, one who agreed that he could help me with my upper lids, another who told me I’d have to have a brow lift as well. My brows are fine with me and I do not understand why a brow lift would be necessary? Why would a surgeon recommend a procedure I did not ask for?

A: You really should go and have another talk with your plastic surgeons – if one recommended a brow lift, he should have explained why he did so. Rarely would we suggest a procedure about a body part not brought to our attention by a complaint originated by a patient. For example, we would never comment about very large or small breasts if a patient came in to discuss an abdominoplasty (i.e. “tummy tuck”).

The two exceptions I can think of relate to chin implants and brow lifts, but in such a situation, I sure would hope that the patient left the consultation with an understanding of why we are recommending the brow lift or chin implant procedures! Patients with weak chins who come in complaining of a large nose or a droopy neck cannot get a great profile without addressing the weak chin because the chin, nose and neck all contribute to the profile. Likewise, if a patient complains of heavy upper eye lids, we have to analyze the balance between the eyelid and brow position.

As a plastic surgeon, our duty is to lay out the options for a patient and each person has to choose the procedure(s) that will give them their desired results. In a pure upper eye lid blepharoplasty, the thin skin excess of the lids is removed but the distance from the lashes to the brows is not changed. In patients with low brows, removing the thin, excess upper lid skin may not be appreciated unless the thicker tissues just below the brows are raised as well. This is not to say that every low brow must be raised when doing an upper lid procedure, but the patient has to understand that only the thin, upper lid skin excess will be removed, that the thicker brow hooding will be unchanged, and that the distance between the brows and lashes does not change with an isolated blepharoplasty.

If a patient desires a more open – eyed look, this will only be accomplished if a brow lift is added to the eye lid procedure. Not only will the eye area look more open following a brow lift, but during a brow lift, the frown lines between the brows will be minimized because we can remove some of the muscles that cause these frown lines, called the corrugator and procerus muscles. And finally, occasionally I’ll see a patient with hooding caused by low brows who thinks they would like an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, but when I gently elevate the brows, I can see that this patient does not have an excess of thin, upper lid skin, just low malpositioning of the brows and I will recommend to this patient that a brow lift be performed without a lid procedure per say.

A brow lift is a minimally invasive procedure. In the endoscopic brow lift, a few half inch incisions are made behind the hair line, allowing the instruments to be inserted. The tissues are freed from the bone, the muscles sculpted, and the brows raised a few millimeters. The brows are fixed in their new position with a variety of devices. The incisions are rarely perceptible after healing has taken place. Occasionally, a brow lift will be performed as an isolated procedure, but more commonly it will be combined with a minimally invasive midface or thread lift, an eyelid procedure or a standard face lift.

If you have any specific questions about cosmetic procedures, you should see a qualified, board certified plastic surgeon to review your options and have additional questions answered!

Dr. Bunkis,MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call OCPS at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information.

Are There Alternatives to Liposuction?

Q: I am a fit 54 year old, have had a face lift and look good for my age, but I have a few fatty deposits over my hips and cellulite that don’t go away with exercise and are driving me crazy. I have heard of nonsurgical fat removal – is there any way, shy of having liposuction, which will remove my cellulite and fatty deposits?

A: First of all, congratulations on being fit at 54 and for caring how you look! General health wise, there is nothing better that you can do for your body than to keep fit and to keep excess weight off!

In order to answer your question, I’d first like to give you some background about fatty deposits and cellulite. We all have fat within our bodies, some fat is necessary, but too many of us have an excess of fat. Our body needs energy to survive, and that energy comes from what we eat or drink. No matter whether you are consuming protein, carbohydrates or fat, the body breaks down the food you take in into tiny molecules. The body uses what it needs to survive, and all of the excess, no matter whether it started as protein, carbohydrates or fat, gets converted by the liver into fat. This fat is transported by the blood to fat cells throughout the body for storage. On days when you do not consume as many calories as are needed for survival, the stored fat gets returned to the liver where it is re-manufactured into usable parts throughout the rest of the body. We all know that fat is stored in different ways and places in different people. Women tend to store their excess fat over the hips, thighs and in the external layer, between the skin and muscles, over the abdominal wall. Men tend to store their excess abdominal fat internally, around the intestines, as well as externally over love handles and the chest.

Cellulite refers to the surface irregularities seen over the thighs, hips, and buttocks of almost all women, and is rarely seen in men. Men and women store fat differently under the skin, men more in horizontal layers with a smooth surface, while women store the fat more in a perpendicular manner, which leads to the objectionable surface lumpiness.

Now that we understand about excess fatty deposits and cellulite, let’s discuss what can be done to improve cellulite or remove unwanted fatty deposits. Let’s start with cellulite. There have been many, many treatments varying from home remedies, commercially available creams and ointments, wraps, garments and machines that have been promoted as providing cures for cellulite. It has also been claimed that caffeine, through its ability to constrict blood vessels, can make your skin appear tighter and improve cellulite.

I well remember when, about 20 years ago, Endermologie® was introduced, received a lot of interest from the press and doctors were lining up to purchase these $150,000 machines. These machines basically used rollers that the company claimed, sent a message to the cells, triggering actions such as fat break down and collagen production. The company claimed that cellulite was removed and inches would come off the treated areas. Multiple treatments were required. After any one treatment, the cellulite did seem to improve, probably from the swelling caused by the localized trauma, but unfortunately, a month later, when it was “time for another treatment”, all the cellulite would be back in its full glory. What patients ended up with was basically an expensive massage! This machine simply did not live up to its claims or patient expectations.

Next came mesotherapy or Lipodissolve®, a “non-surgical alternatives to liposuction”. Mesotherapy involves a series of injections that may melt away unwanted small, localized areas of fat. While the main ingredients used in these injections vary, the chemical cocktail typically includes phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate (PCDC), multivitamins, alpha lipid acid, enzymes and plant extracts. Phosphatidylcholine is FDA-approved to break down blood fats that may increase risk for heart disease, but it is not approved for injection or any other purpose. Use of this substance to dissolve superficial fat is performed in an off-label manner. During these treatments, your doctor injects the chemical cocktail into the fat layers. The injection is relatively painless, with no need for anesthesia. The medication produces a chemical reaction which dissolves localized areas of fat. Benefits can be seen within three weeks of the treatment but proponents claim that several treatments, four to six weeks apart, are required to produce the optimal result. After a treatment, the patient can return to their usual activities. Approximately 100,000 Lipodissolve® treatments have been performed in the United States and Europe and some papers have been written, showing post treatment improvement, but problems remain, and because of these problems, Kansas and Nebraska, are in the process of enacting legislation to ban Lipodissolve®. ANVISA, the Brazilian version of the FDA, banned the use of phosphatidylcholine-based products for injectable fat removal, and Health Canada, the Canadian FDA, has ordered physicians to stop marketing and administering the products. We know that these injections can liquefy fat, but where the fat goes is anyone’s guess. Harmful deposits in the liver or blood vessels could lead to serious medical problems including fatty plaque and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has reported that infection, disfiguring masses of inflamed tissue and tissue death can occur after Lipodissolve®. I have seen a number of previously treated patients with indentations in the treated sites. Ignoring the health issues, from a purely aesthetic point of view, the main problem with Lipodissolve® is that the results are unpredictable and that surface irregularities are quite common. Lipodissolve® is still in the experimental stage. Clinical studies in the United States that look at the safety and efficacy of Lipodissolve® are underway. This is a treatment that we would only recommend under special circumstances at this time.

The latest nonsurgical technique which is being touted as a magical cure for cellulite and fatty deposits is Cryolipolysis™, using a machine built by Zeltiq, and promoting a “One hour fat fighting treatment”. This is a new technology with very little published information and their machine is not FDA approved yet. From what I’ve read, probes are placed on the skin that cool the fatty layer to about 5 degrees Celsius, about the temperature in a refrigerator. This damages the fat cells and some will die over the next four months. This procedure does not work on large people, or those with a thick fatty layer because the cold cannot penetrate more than a few cm. But for thin people with very small fatty pockets, it might show some promise. The reason it is not FDA approved yet is because there are questions as to what this cold treatment does to nerves, blood vessels, skin, muscle, etc. long term. I see similar question to those discussed above with the Lipodissolve® – where does the fat go, what are the health risks? I simply do not think that loosing an inch off your hips is worth an earlier heart attack!

To summarize, simply put, nothing tops liposuction when it comes to the removal of unwanted fatty deposits (as long as skin laxity is not an issue – if it is, a skin resection may be indicated).

Liposuction is the only scientifically proven method for safely removing fat cells permanently and is the top overall surgical cosmetic procedure performed in the United States. A variety of different cannuals are now used for liposuction, but all are inserted through tiny, hidden incisions and recovery after the procedure is relatively quick and uncomplicated. If you have any areas that are of concern to you, your best bet would be to come in to discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon.

Dr. Bunkis, MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call OCPS at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information.

The Promise of Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is among the latest cosmetic weight loss procedures that promise to remove fat. However, despite advice or offer from aesthetic or cosmetic surgeons to perform mestotherapy, not all doctors are sold on this procedure for fat removal, which is still quite new.

The principle of mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is premised on a simple theory which amounts to injecting particular chemicals into fatty areas with the aim in mind of breaking down the fat cells. In the absence of the thin cell membrane, the fat inside the fat cell is distributed to the adjacent part, the extracellular matrix, to be taken in by the blood.

Thus, wherever a cocktail of mesotherapy chemicals is infused, the fat cells disintegrate to release their contents for absorption into the bloodstream. The fat is handled by the liver and kidneys, utilize some of it and excrete the rest later. This results in the apparent reduction in size of the injected areas in a few days to weeks.

Mesotherapy cocktails

A mesotherapy cocktail has two main ingredients – deoxycholate and phosphatidylcholine. Deoxycholate, a bile acid, is among the fat-dissolving molecules in our intestine. It has a detergent action, like breaking down grease to be water soluble, deoxyholate works on the fat to be easily melted and taken into the digestive tract. On the other hand, phosphatidylcholine is a part of the cell membrane that makes it more fluid. A concentrated amount of phosphatidylcholine works together with the fat cells’ membranes and results in their liquefication, enough to easily break down.

The capacity of mesotherapy treatment to melt fat is still debatable. One problem is the significant variance in the chemical components of the mesotherapy cocktails. Mesotherapy injections also include a proprietary combination of minerals, antibiotic, hormones, vitamins, steroids and anesthetics. This creates some difficulty in comparing several treatments when there is no single agreement, as yet, as to which chemical works best.

FDA approval not assurance of effectivity

The mesotherapy cocktail ingredients are FDA-approved, individually, but only a few of mesotherapy chemicals have the FDA stamp of approval as a fat-burning or obesity treatment. So, even if each component may be safe, there is still no FDA endorsement of mesotherapy as effective.

Mesotherapy cocktails are the subject of spirited debate among doctors, aesthetic practitioners, surgeons and alternative health care providers. The debate extends to legislators, in some states there are legislations proposing the ban on mesotherapy.

Side effects of mesotherapy

Besides a slow input of and unimpressive reports on the effectivity of mesotherapy (advocates disclose the complete ineffectivity in 5% of the patients), reports on its side effects are quite disconcerting.

Because the make up of the mesotherapy cocktails vary with each physician, the consequences are not that easy to distinguish.

The most common side effects are no perceivable effects, temporary bruising, skin dimpling (only the injected/mesotherapied area is the area of melted fat) and skin infections.

Costs

A single mesotherapy treatment costs around $400, evidently not as expensive as a liposuction treatment. Nevertheless, it would take several mesotherapy injections to be able to perceive major results, making the difference in cost not really that disparate.

Liposuction effectiveness in the short and long run is quite well documented. Mesotherapy still has to establish its own track record. If you have to undergo any fat-burning procedure, you should weigh all angles carefully before deciding on just liposuction or mesotherapy.

Article courtesy of http://www.CosmeticSurgeryToday.com, the consumer’s guide to plastic cosmetic surgery information and resources. Please visit http://www.cosmeticsurgerytoday.com/body_contouring/mesotherapy-%E2%80%93-not-ready-for-prime-time/ for more information.

The Truth About Liposuction

Q: I had a friend years ago that had liposuction on the bottom half of her body. 10 years had passed since I saw her; I could not believe my eyes, her face and arms had gained so much weight I didn’t recognize her! Is it true when you lipo from one part of the body it can deposit to other parts?

A: This is an interesting question and addresses a common misconception. Liposuction is currently the most commonly performed aesthetic surgical procedure in the United States. The concept is relatively simple, analogous to a vacuum cleaner that selectively removes excess fat between the skin and the first layer of muscles – it cannot remove deeper fat, for example that inside your belly around your intestines (the deep fat can only be removed by decreasing caloric intake).

The excess outer fat can be reduced by running a metal tube through the fatty layer, creating empty tunnels, which collapse as the patient heals and gives a patient the desired contour improvement. During the liposuction process, the excess fat is physically removed, collected in large bottles (up to five liters can be safely removed in one sitting), and disposed of as biological waste. This removed fat, therefore, cannot go to other parts of your body! Even the thinnest super model has a thin layer of fat under the skin and, when surgeons perform liposuction, at least a half inch layer of fat is always left between the skin and the muscles. The problem is that removal of the fat does not prevent someone from gaining weight in the future!

The equation is pretty basic – your weight is the result of what you consume minus what you burn off. If you eat roughly what you burn, before or after surgery, your weight will be stable and your fatty layer will remain at the same thickness. If you burn more than you consume, your fatty layers will decrease in thickness. Unfortunately, the converse is also true – if you consume more than you burn, whether or not you have had liposuction, your fatty layers will increase in thickness. This increase in thickness will occur over the part that was liposuctioned as well as over other parts that were never suctioned. We all know some overweight people with massive thighs or arms, large bellies, and very full necks, whether they have had prior liposuction or not. Liposuction is designed to treat stubborn area that do not respond to diet and exercise – liposuction is not a weight loss technique and does not prevent someone from gaining weight in the future!

When considering any surgical procedure, it is important to find a surgeon who you trust and to have all of your questions answered. You should know all the facts about your procedure and be aware of the risks prior to committing to the procedure or entering the operating room. It may also be a good idea to see photographs of your surgeons previous patients and their results.

Dr. Bunkis MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call Orange County Plastic Surgery at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information. Serving Irvine, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita and surrounding cities.

Who to Believe – My Plastic Surgeon or My Dermatologist?

Q: I am 54 years old and beginning to see signs of aging. I asked my dermatologist for suggestions regarding products and she told me I was “too far gone” and suggested a laser procedure. I saw a plastic surgeon who told me that was nonsense and suggested a face lift instead. I want to look better but don’t know who to believe.

A: I can begin by telling you that both are correct, at least in part, and I am certain that both doctors are giving you advice based on their view points, training and expertise. The problem is that most dermatologists do laser resurfacing and not surgical procedures – they tend to recommend procedures they know how to do, regardless of what is best for the patient. And likewise, many surgeons do not do resurfacing procedures and may suggest a surgical procedure without considering the resurfacing option.

Without a consultation, I will have to answer this question in the most general terms. I will begin by telling you a few words about aging and what we can do about it. Two events happen simultaneously as we age. Surface changes occur from excessive sun damage. You can use sun blocks, hats and sun glasses to minimize sun damage as you get older. A laser treatment will remove these superficial signs of aging, but will not affect the dropping and skin laxity, particularly in the jowl and neck regions, that also occur with time.

These latter changes are the result of heredity and will not be altered by sun blocks or helped with a resurfacing procedure. In order to alter neck and jowl sagging, plastic surgeons pick these layers back up and tighten them as part of any traditional or midface lift procedure. Frequently, brows will be elevated back to where they once were, or baggy eyelids will be addressed at the same operation so as to restore a sense of balance to the final result – for example, very baggy eyelids would detract from an otherwise well done face lift which gave a patient a youthful neck.

Such surgery will not, however, alter sun damage or the quality of your skin. Another very important factor is a patient’s expectations – these have to be met! Some patients want nothing but a total improvement, others are willing to settle for less improvement because they are not bothered by certain features or because they are trying to save money. Your best bet is to find an aesthetic surgeon well versed in both the traditional surgical procedures as well as the various resurfacing procedures (chemical peels, laser resurfacing and dermabrasion) so that you can be presented with all the options and then you can decide which is the best option for you. Though your results may vary from a surgeon’s previous patients, during your consultation, you may ask your plastic surgeon to see photos of patients they have worked on. In this way you can get a better idea of the results of different procedures and decide on what will suit you best.

Dr. Bunkis MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call Orange County Plastic Surgery at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information. Serving Irvine, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita and surrounding cities.

Looking Beautiful on a Budget – Wrinkle Repairs

Q: I am in my early 50′s and I’m starting to see wrinkles. Many of my friends have gotten facelifts and Botox® injections but I’m terrified of needles and knives! Are there any over the counter products that will tighten my skin?

A: Great question! You will know when you are saggy enough to warrant surgery, but in the meantime, there are many non-surgical treatments that can improve the quality of your skin.

Most of us do not appreciate fine facial wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and tactile roughness. Now you can have smoother, less pigmented skin with the newest FDA approved Tretinoin cream, Refissa®. It is emollient based and does not dry out your skin. This product has become the gold standard medical treatment for photo-damaged skin. It works by stimulating cell turn over and causing the sun damaged outer layers to slough off. Refissa® is the first important step to healthier skin. Always remember sun protection year round!

The next step, now that your skin is healthier, may be one of the many peels offered. There are many peels to choose from. For the purposes of this article we will focus on the Microlaser peel. Microlaser peel, the “week-end” skin peel, treats skin conditions more aggressively than the Refissa® is capable of doing. The Microlaser peel is performed with Sciton’s Erbium laser which uses a computer guided scanner to ensure maximum precision treatment uniformly. You will see improvements in just a few days

What exactly does the Microlaser peel treat?

It is a minimal to full epidermis laser peel that precisely removes the outer most layers of the skin. The procedure is individually tailored to the nature of the problem to be corrected: wrinkles, scars, keratoses, pigmentation problems, overall sun damage.

How often does a Microlaser peel need to be done?

As mentioned above, year round sun protection is a key to healthy skin. The results of any treatment, not just the Microlaser peel, will last longer and be more efficacious if you avoid future sun damage. One Microlaser peel procedure will usually be sufficient for a few months but subsequent treatments may be required. As mentioned earlier treatments are customized to each person. During your consultation we can determine what will be best for you.

What can I expect from the treatment?

Smoother, healthier, more vibrant skin. A blended complexion with a lessening of fine lines.

Is the treatment painful?

When you go into the office, a topical triple anesthetic cream will be applied. This application will make the procedure quite tolerable. Afterwards you can have a surface Oxygen treatment.

What is my aftercare? Do I need to wear any bandages or dressings?

No. Microlaser peel is not like a CO2 laser and requires nothing more than a protective ointment like Aquafor or vaseline. This is used as a barrier while you grow new epithelium(baby cells, new skin). You may also go back to your plastic surgeon’s office for oxygen treatments over the next few days.

As you can see, there are options to a scalpel and needle when making your skin look better! Make sure you discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon prior to any procedure.

Dr. Bunkis MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call Orange County Plastic Surgery at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information. Serving Irvine, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita and surrounding cities.

Liposuction

If you are considering going for liposuction surgery, then you need to know the facts first.

Liposuction is a procedure which helps improve the body shape by removing unwanted and excess fat from specific areas such as the chin, abdomen, hips, thighs etc.

Liposuction is not a substitute for either exercise or an improvement in diet, though it will assist in removing any obstinate areas of fat which don’t respond to the more conventional weight loss methods.

To meet the criteria as a candidate for liposuction, you should have realistic expectations about what liposuction can do for you. Unfortunately many people assume that having liposuction will improve their whole life, whereas in fact the excess fat you are carrying may only be part of any problems you may have.

You should appreciate that although liposuction has the ability to improve your appearance and thus your self confidence, it will not necessarily alter either your looks to that of your ideal or modify the way other people treat you.

Prior to making your decision about surgery, you should think very carefully about what you are expecting and discuss these with your surgeon. If you do have any unrealistic expectations, he will be able to explain to you the realities of what is involved.

The ideal candidates for liposuction are those with a standard weight who have nice firm, elastic skin and areas of inflexible surplus fat in precise areas of their body.

It is essential that anyone considering this procedure is physically healthy secure mentally and also they have realistic expectations of the outcome of their surgery.

If you are considering going for liposuction surgery, then you need to know the facts first.

Liposuction is a procedure which helps improve the body shape by removing unwanted and excess fat from specific areas such as the chin, abdomen, hips, thighs etc.

Liposuction is not a substitute for either exercise or an improvement in diet, though it will assist in removing any obstinate areas of fat which don’t respond to the more conventional weight loss methods.

To meet the criteria as a candidate for liposuction, you should have realistic expectations about what liposuction can do for you. Unfortunately many people assume that having liposuction will improve their whole life, whereas in fact the excess fat you are carrying may only be part of any problems you may have.

You should appreciate that although liposuction has the ability to improve your appearance and thus your self confidence, it will not necessarily alter either your looks to that of your ideal or modify the way other people treat you.

Prior to making your decision about surgery, you should think very carefully about what you are expecting and discuss these with your surgeon. If you do have any unrealistic expectations, he will be able to explain to you the realities of what is involved.

The ideal candidates for liposuction are those with a standard weight who have nice firm, elastic skin and areas of inflexible surplus fat in precise areas of their body.

It is essential that anyone considering this procedure is physically healthy secure mentally and also they have realistic expectations of the outcome of their surgery.

Liposuction – the procedure

Before going for your surgery, you will receive specific instructions about how to prepare for your liposuction surgery. This will include specific instructions on eating and drinking, taking or avoiding certain medications and vitamins and smoking. Your surgery may also be postponed should you develop a cold or an infection. Some surgeons recommend you have blood drawn prior to your surgery in case there is a need for it during or after the surgery.

You should also ensure there will be a relative or friend available to take you home following the procedure and be available to look after you a day or two after you have been discharged from the clinic or hospital.

Liposuction is often performed in the surgeon’s outpatient centre or in a hospital. Procedures involving smaller volume liposuction are often performed in an outpatient centre, this helps minimise cost and is more convenient for may people. Should a large volume of fat be removed, or if the liposuction is being performed alongside another procedure, a night’s stay in hospital is usually required.

There are various types of anaesthesia that may be used for liposuction procedures. You should discuss these with your surgeon to decide which will provide the safest and most effective comfort during your surgery.

Liposuction may be performed under local anaesthesia if only a small amount of fat and a smaller amount of body sites are to receive liposuction. This will numb the areas affected. Some patients prefer to use local anaesthesia in conjunction with sedation to allow them to feel more relaxed whilst the procedure is taking place. An epidural block is a popular choice for more extensive procedures.

Many patients prefer a general anaesthesia, especially those who are having a large amount of fat removed. An Anaesthetist will be present throughout the procedure to ensure you are asleep during the procedure and there are no complications relating to the anaesthetic.

The duration of the procedure depends upon the size of the area to receive liposuction, the amount of fat that is to be removed and the type of anaesthesia that is to be used.

To enhance the outcome of the liposuction procedure, there are several techniques used to make the procedure easier whilst enhancing the outcome.

The procedure itself involves ensuring localised deposits of fat are removed and one or more areas of the body are re-contoured. A narrow cannula or tube is inserted through an incision in the skin and used to vacuum the fat layer sitting quite deeply beneath the skin.

The tube or cannula is then pushed and pulled through the layer of fat to break up the fat cells and suck them out. A vacuum pump or large syringe provides the suction action. If you are having many sites treated, the surgeon will repeat this procedure on each site. The incisions are kept as inconspicuous as possible.

Fluid is also lost during this vacuum process and it is essential it is replaced during the procedure to prevent complications such as shock. Patients are therefore monitored carefully and given intravenous fluids during and after the surgery.

 

Liposuction – Techniques

There are different liposuction techniques available. The basic technique involves small incisions being made on the affected area and a narrow tube or cannula, which is attached to a vacuum that sucks the fat that lies deep beneath the skin. This basic technique is used in all patients although there are several variations available.

Fluid Injection

A technique known as Fluid Injection involves a medicated solution being injected into the fatty areas prior to the fat being removed is a popular method currently being used. The fluid is a combination of intravenous salt solution and a local anaesthetic along with a drug that contract’s the body’s blood vessels. This helps the fat detach easier, reduces the blood loss and provides the patient with anaesthesia during the after the procedure. The fluid is injected to help reduce the amount of bruising following the surgery.

Tumescent Technique

The ‘Tumescent Technique’ involved the surgeon injecting large volumes of fluid, up to three times the amount of far removed. The tumescent liposuction technique is usually performed on those patients who require a local anaesthetic, although the procedure usually takes longer (sometimes 4-5 hours) than the traditional liposuction. The fluid contains enough anaesthetic so additional anaesthesia is not always needed.

Super-wet Technique

Another technique similar to the tumescent technique is the ‘Super-wet Technique.’ The difference is – lesser amounts of fluids are used. This techniques involves the amount of fluid is equal to the amount of fat that is to be removed. IV sedation is often required for this technique and sometimes a patient may need a general anaesthetic. This surgical method usually takes one to two hours.

Ultrasound Assisted Lipoplasty

Ultrasound Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL) is another liposuction technique where a special cannula that creates ultrasonic energy is used. As is passes through the fatty areas, the energy explodes to fat cell walls and the fat is liquidised. The fat is then removed using the traditional liposuction technique.

This technique can improve the effectiveness of liposuction on fibrous areas of the body, for example, the upper back or the male breast. The ease of the process is also improved. This method is often used in secondary procedure when an enhances precision is requires. This method generally takes longer to perform than the traditional liposuction method.

There will be a noticeable different in the body’s shape soon after the completion of the surgery. It must also be remembered that improvement will be even more noticeable after four to six weeks, when the swelling has settled down. Any persistent or mild swelling has usually settled down after three months and the contour will become visible. Providing that your expectations were realistic, you should be satisfied with the results of the liposuction surgery and will have more confidence when wearing a wider variety of clothes. You should be able to maintain your new shape by eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise.