Advancements in methods of fat removal by liposuction continue to change and be 'improved'. One of the most noteworthy methods that is currently marketed and touted is laser liposuction, or more accurately, laser-assisted liposuction. As opposed to the traditional technique of cannula insertion, eating up the fat tissue, and then sucking it out, the mechanical beat-up is replaced by laser energy. A laser fiber is inside the liposuction cannula which delivers heat to the fat cells, thus breaking them down inito a more liquid state making it easier to be sucked up the cannula. In theory, the heat from the laser also causes the overlying skin to tighten.
As of this date, there are three such laser-assisted liposuction systems available in the U.S. They are under the marketed trade names of SMARTLIPO (Cynosure), COOLLIPO (CoolTouch), and PROLIPO (Sctiton). All of them tout more effective fat removal, less bruising and swelling, a faster recovery, and skin tightening.
The real question is....are they really better than traditional liposuction...and are there increased costs over traditional liposuction worth it? (someone has to pay for the equipment purchase...and that is you the patient!) To date, they remain tremendously appealing, particularly to the general public. Historically, any treatment associated with the word, laser, always causes mass patient allure. No clinical trials have yet been reported, that I have seen, that have ever directly compared any laser-assisted vs traditional liposuction procedure. Nor has any large clinical trial been done that even compares two differently-treated patient groups, no matter how impossible it really is to 'match' patients from different groups.
Much like ultrasonic-assisted liposuction when it was introduced 10 years ago, laser-assisted liposuction may be a popular trend that, in the end, will fare no better. It will undoubtedly have its place in liposuction options and armamentarium but I doubt if it is magic and offers a quantum leap in patient outcomes and recovery times. It may offer some improvement in fat removal efficiency, but I am truly dubious of overall better outcomes, a much better and faster recovery, and skin tightening (of which I remain the most skeptical)
I am all for any form of advancement in liposuction, which is a fairly traumatic procedure on the tissues. While effective, liposuction is still one of the most 'brutal' procedures that we as plastic surgeons do. Is laser-assted liposuction a real improvement...ask me again in 5 years!
By Dr Barry Eppley
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Laser Liposuction
Cosmetic Surgery - Breast Augmentation
Breast implantation is a surgical procedure for enlarging, or augmenting, the breast. Implants are breast shaped pouches made of a silicone and filled with silicone gel or saline (salt water).
You can choose from several breast implants...it all depends on what you want. For example, you may want to increase the size of genetically smaller breasts or you may want to restore your breasts to a pre-pregnancy appearance. The type of breast implant you choose is based on your anatomical factors. You and your surgeon should agree about the desired result. Some doctors use computer models to assess expected results so that you can see what the final result will look like.
Type of implants
Silicone gel implants
Silicone implants are filled with an elastic gel. The gel feel much like natural breast tissue.Silicone implants vary in shape, shell surface (textured/smooth), volume and shell thickness. Most silicone implants are not adjustable.
Saline Implants
Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. They can be filled with varying amounts of saline which can affect the shape, firmness and feel of the breast. If the implant shell leaks the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body.
The recovery period varies from person to person. Usually patients can resume their normal schedule in approximately one week's time. Typically, you can resume all routines (exercise etc) in about three weeks. The scars will be red for about a month after the surgery, but will fade within one to two years.
Implants can also make it more difficult to interpret mammograms, possibly delaying breast cancer detection. Breast implant rupture is another common complication of the surgery. When breast implants fail, they often deflate quickly and can be easily removed. The risk of leaking is very low for the first few years, but it may be a good idea to have the implants replaced because of leaking sometime in the future.
Alternatives
BRAVA system - The system costs approximately $2,500 and was reviewed by the FDA.
Injectable Fillers - These include Hyaluronic Acid and Polyacrylamide.
Natural Breast Enhancing Supplements
Natural Breast Enhancing Supplements - are NOT approved by the FDA so I don't recommend using them.
By Iacob Ionut
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Plastic Surgery Treatment - Enhancing Your Beauty
Do you dream about having plastic surgery treatment? Everyone has at least one area of their body with which they are not quite satisfied. People do not like the way their nose is shaped, or the strawberry birthmark behind their ears, or they see too many crow's feet at the corners of their eyes.
What part of your body is least satisfying to you? Many people decide that the visible signs of aging are painful reminders that their lives are passing, and decide to opt for facelifts or chin lifts. They hope that, for a few more years at least, they can avoid looking older.
Others struggle with painful reminders of being teased in childhood because of visible birthmarks or moles or other blemishes. Sometimes, the trauma of a childhood injury leaves scars that are more than just skin-deep. Many of these people see plastic surgery as a way to look normal and leave behind painful memories.
Cosmetic dental surgery procedures are popular with many other people who wish to improve their appearances. Dentists have developed techniques to whiten teeth, correct spacing problems, and even treat gum disease. These procedures, designed to help people have a prettier smile, can also help improve self-esteem and help decrease social anxieties.
Another procedure that can boost self-confidence is laser eye surgery. This procedure, also called LASIK, also improves vision and reduces the need for corrective eyewear. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid tucking, is another procedure that, while commonly done for cosmetic reasons, allows many people to see better after surgery.
Frequently, women who have had children want to look young and perky again. They agonize over stomachs that are no longer flat, or thighs that have picked up too much cellulite over the years. They use these procedures to erase the visible memories of childbearing from their bodies.
Some cosmetic treatments require extensive surgery. Others, such as chemical peels or Botox injections, can be accomplished much more easily. A few therapies, such as massage, do not require surgery, shots, or abrasive chemicals.
If you are considering plastic surgery treatment, make sure that you understand the procedure and any possible side effects. Be aware of the cost of the treatment, and develop a plan for paying for or financing it. Finally, choose an expert; surgery can be complicated, and you want to be sure your doctor knows exactly what to do if a problem arises.
By Adam Hefner
Plastic Surgery For Men And Women
Plastic Surgery is widely discussed all over the world and undoubtedly has many benefits for both men and women.
Many forms of plastic surgery are available to both men and women and how we look on the outside can have a massive influence on how we feel on the inside. A lot of unhappiness can be caused by the size of the breast or fat excess just to name a couple. Popular Plastic Surgery. options include breast enlargement, breast reduction, for women as well as more unisex procedures such as face lifts, tummy tucks, nose reshaping and many more.
The increase in the popularity to look good on the outside has seen a rise in procedures taking place as more and more men are looking at plastic surgery treatments to change areas that they are not happy with, so it's not just the females alone that are now being talked about in the world of plastic and cosmetic surgery.
The more common plastic surgery options for men include male breast tissue removal, rhinoplasty or nose job/reshaping as better known as, face and neck lifts, ear correction and lip reduction to name but a few.
I've read recently, about a leading specialist for many procedures in the UK. If you are thinking about a procedure think carefully about your choices as with any surgical procedure there are risk factors to take into account, the consultants will explain all factors with you at your consultation.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Why Do Breast Implants Need To Be Replaced?
When it comes to breast implants one thing that must always be kept in mind is that they are made of something that will gradually breakdown overtime. As the implant gets older the walls of the implant become weaker and will eventually fail leading to an implant rupture. This of course is just one of the many reasons why a breast implant would need replacement but it is inevitable as all breast augmentation patients will eventually have to get the implant replaced.
When the implant is first placed into it's pocket, the body will form a capsule around it which will be composed of scar tissue. While in many cases it is this capsule that will protect your body in the event that the implant ruptures, it can also be one of the reasons why your implants may need to be replaced. In a complication known as capsular contracture, the capsule that surrounds the breast implants becomes to thick which means that the space inside it is too small to house the implant. This causes excessive pressure on the implant and may eventually cause it to rupture.
The implant itself if it is positioned incorrectly may also rupture as a result of its placement. Should the implant's pocket be made too big allowing the implant to move around the friction will cause heat and stress which will lead to an implant rupture. Furthermore if the implant is not positioned correctly in conjunction to the muscles and the mammary glands then this may also cause excessive pressure resulting in an implant rupture.
The breast implant foes not need to rupture to be replaced. If the implant only came with a 10 year warrantee, then chances are you will want to replace it before the warrantee is up, this way you can save yourself the money of having to replace it should it fail a year or so later.
Furthermore in the event that you get breast cancer then chances are that you will not have the implant replaced but you may actually have it removed altogether. Leaving the implant in after being diagnosed with breast cancer can have many complications. For starter the implant itself cannot handle radiology as this will result in a rupture. The development of a cancerous mass can also put pressure on the implant resulting in a rupture.
Regardless as to the reasons why you may have your implants replaced it is important to discuss this with your surgeon during the consultation so that you know and understand all of your options should you need to exercise them
By Dr. Jim Greene
The Various Types Of Cosmetic Surgery
You have probably heard a lot about cosmetic surgery. It happens to be on the forefront of many different conversations and different debates. It always seems like famous people are getting cosmetic surgery, and people always seem to look different. There are many different reasons to get cosmetic surgery, and each of these reasons has its advantages and disadvantages.
The most important thing to remember about cosmetic surgery is that it has its roots in surgery for real reasons. The beginnings of cosmetic surgery come from those that seek the surgery in order to fix damages to their face or body from accidents or other natural causes. Some seek to fix their appearance because of birth defects or other things that have changed the way that they would have otherwise looked. When surgeons developed these ways of changing how a person looked, they opened the door to different types of cosmetic surgery, because once it was possible to fix things that were wrong with the way someone looked, it became even more possible to completely change the way someone looked.
There are many different things that can be changed with cosmetic surgery. Nowadays, it is possible to change lots of different things about yourself with cosmetic surgery. The most popular changes that people make are changes that require tightening of the skin or taking out things that they do not find desirable about themselves. Many times, people will tighten their skin, which will reduce bagginess or wrinkles or other factors that they do not like about themselves. When this kind of surgery is done, a small incision is made and the skin is pulled tight and sewn back in place again. This is a very popular type of surgery because it does not change the bone structure or other patters of yourself, it simply allows you to have the firmer skin that you probably had once in life already.
Another thing that has become very popular when it comes to plastic surgery is the removal of fat from a person. They can actually go in and surgically remove fat from a person's body, and then tighten the skin above where the fat was. This allows a person to be slimmer and look better than before.
There are other types of surgery that require putting things in to your body as opposed to take them out. There are implants that can be done in many places on your body in order to give you the shape that you want. There are breast implants, buttocks implants, and even chin implants that you can be given which will change the way that your face looks. These implants are made of various materials, and will feel natural to the touch. They are put into you, below your skin, and you are sewn up again. Once you have healed, you will look different than when you started.
It is important that you decide why you want cosmetic surgery and whether or not it is a good idea for you. You should take care that you research the exact type of surgery that you want, and you should try to make sure that you are doing it for reasons that are important. Cosmetic surgery can change the way that you look, and it can change your life. However, like any surgery there are risks of complications, and it might be something that is difficult for you to recover from. It is not something that you should do on a whim, because it is going to make permanent changes to the way you look. Make sure it is something that you truly want to do before you do it!
By Louise Forrest
Monday, April 21, 2008
What to Look Into For Plastic Surgery Financing
A lot of individuals have problems with controlling emotions that deal with having a bad image of the way their body looks. This usually comes from the natural causes of skin disorders, getting older, and scarring injuries. Many feel helpless if they would like to have surgery to reconstruct their appearance and cannot afford to do because they do not know where to look for plastic surgery financing. But most also do not know that there is available options for financing so they can achieve a better and mentally healthy person.
A majority of individuals pay for their operations through cash advancing on their credit cards. This can lead to distastrous consequences due usually to the high rates that are associated with cash advances. Even if the patient were able to pay off a most of the operation within a year or so, they would still be paying the rate of interest more than they would if it were all financed at once.
Before you look into taking risky financial chances to finance your procedure, make sure you check out the options that are offered by other sources. Financing companies that are commercialized are a good example of financing that could be a good alternate payment. By using these companies, a patient can take out loans just for plastic surgery financing and these loans usually offer a justifiable rate as well.
The rates of these companies, like mentioned before, are much lower than that offered from credit card companies. From my research, some start as low as 6 % and work their way up from there. Also, they do not penalize the patient for making early payments because of wanting to make back more interest. This allows you too pay back as fast as you can so you are not paying more than its worth.
Some plastic surgery patients cannot make the payments right when they need too, so some financing companies will allow the individual to hold back payments for a few months. This is exceptionally a great value considering that you might have to take some time off work due the cosmetic surgery itself. Once you are back to work then you can start your payments on your operation. The loans amounts that are usually given out vary from $1,000 all the way to around $30,000. Some people do not realize though that these plastic surgery loans cover operations that were not thought of to fall under this category such as dental cosmetic surgery, hair transplants and weight reduction.
Now some people maybe thinking that I do not have any good credit to get a loan or a decent rate on a loan to finance cosmetic surgery. Most companies will work with the individual so it is not set in stone that they will not help you if your credit is bad or even if you do not have credit for that matter. So do not worry, because even without credit you are more than likely eligible for a loans to meet your surgery needs.
One other beneficial feature that is offered with a lot of the programs is a service where the financial companies will refer you to recommended doctors. Of course they have a tie to these offices but they also are usually the best doctors around for this type surgery due to the fact that people are using their loan service to pay for it.
If you feel that certain financial problems or bad credit is stopping you from building a more confident you, don't. Plastic surgery financing companies are out there to help you achieve this without busting you wallet. Think about the comfort you will have when you fix the problem that you looking to fix. You will be a happier and more beautiful you.
To find more on your options with plastic surgery financing, visit http://www.Cosmetic-Surgery-101.com where you'll find this and much more, including other cosmetic surgery costs.
By Adam Hefner
Face Lift and Breast Enlargement Surgery
Thinking about cosmetic surgery, perhaps a face lift or breast enlargement? Read on for more information about the procedures.
As we grow older time plays havoc with our skin and especially on the face. Year after year of exposure to the suns rays and day to day stress creates deep creases from the nose to the mouth. As you know the clock cannot be turned back but most visible signs of ageing can be improved with cosmetic surgery procedures such as a Face Lift.
A face lifts is designed to smooth out loose skin, tighten any underlying tissue, lift muscle and remove any excess fat. As a result of this Cosmetic Surgery procedure this will leave your face feeling firmer, fresher and younger.
Another popular type of cosmetic surgery is breast enlargement; one of the most performed procedures has never been safer, simpler or more popular.
You can now change the shape and or size with safe and effective procedures that has helped women achieve larger and fuller breasts, bigger cup sizes to give the confidence and curvaceous contours that have been so longed for.
Breast Enlargement or augmentation as it is sometimes known involves implants being inserted behind the breast and is carried out under general anesthetic and normally no longer than an overnight stay at the hospital is required.
So if you're looking so improve the facial aspect of your body or looking for that fuller and larger breast I hope the questions you may have had have been answered.
By Tom Heath
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Cosmetic Surgery Procedures - Which Surgeon Should I See?
Cosmetic surgery clinics are open to give patients many options for improving their looks and health. People get cosmetic surgery for a variety of reasons. Procedures like facial surgeries, tummy tucks, and breast surgeries are available at most Cosmetic surgery clinics.
There are several different surgeries that cosmetic surgery clinics perform on people's faces. The classic facelift is designed to create a more youthful look to the face and neck. It improves sagging around the middle of the face. A cosmetic surgery clinic facelift will make deep creases between the nose and mouth and under the eyelids seem to disappear. It also helps eliminate jowly and fatty look in the lower face.
Eyelid surgery is another choice at cosmetic surgery clinics. It not only firms up drooping, sagging skin for appearance's sake. It is also a health issue for many people, since cutting excess skin from their upper eyelids allows them to see better.
Nose surgery is another procedure done at surgery clinics that can have consequences for both appearance and health. Some people have trouble breathing because their nasal passages are not correctly formed. Nose surgery helps these people, as well as people who just do not like the looks of their noses.
Many people like to get injectable fillers to help plump up their lips or erase small wrinkles or scars on their faces. This is a relatively simple procedure, with fat usually taken from the abdomen or thigh. Skin resurfacing can also be done to give the face a better look. Lasers and pulsed light are used.
Tummy tucks are available at clinics around the Country. Some of the abdominal fat and skin are removed. The abdominal wall is tightened as well. A lesser version of the tummy tuck is liposuction. In this case, there is no skin to be removed and the abdominal wall is still intact.
Many people want to have breast procedures done. Some of these procedures are done because one feels one will feel more attractive when it is done. Others are done to correct actual flaws or surgical losses.
Breast augmentation is for women who feel that their breasts are too small. They want fuller breasts that balance out the proportions of their figure. They have the surgery to improve their self-image and confidence. Implants are pre-filled or filled during surgery to get just the right size.
People may go to cosmetic surgery clinics for a breast lift. This is a procedure in which extra skin is removed, the nipple is raised into place, and the breast tissue is tightened. It can also reduce areolas that have become too large over time.
Men who have enlarged breasts suffer from a problem called gynecomastia. This is an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery can correct this problem and help men to feel better about their bodies.
Many people want to improve their bodies. Cosmetic surgery doctors are ready and able to perform these procedures. One only needs to check out the credentials of the doctor. Then, one can follow the advice of the doctor in getting the work accomplished.
By John Ashtonson
The Basics Of Pennsylvania Cosmetic Surgery
Pennsylvania cosmetic surgery has been helping countless thousands improve their appearance and become more healthy for a number of years now. Many individuals have been turning to this type of surgery to improve their features, as well as their lives. Here is a look at some information you need to know before going ahead with any procedure.
But keep in mind, cosmetic surgery is still surgery. You will have to go under the knife, be operated, injected with anesthesia, and you will never know if negative side effects will steer clear away from you. So before you go through the whole surgical procedure, both for medical and cosmetic purposes, you must plan it all out first as effectively as you could and consider everything that might happen to you.
The first thing you need to think about is you current medical history. Have you had, or do you now have, any major health problems especially in the heart area? Most all Pennsylvania medical practitioners will not let you undergo a cosmetic surgery if you have previous medical histories or currently have an illness which is rather delicate.
No matter how much money you have, doctors will just turn you down if you have medical histories. For example, liposuction is a procedure which can be declined on you if you have some heart ailments. Although you will go through some anesthesia during the liposuction procedure, surgical doctors would still not want to take any chances on you.
After clearing your own medical history, the next thing you need to think about with any Pennsylvania cosmetic surgery is the procedure which you will like to undergo. Word of advice though, just consider a procedure which you really need and not something you will just undergo because you have to be in the fad.
One of the things which you must know about surgery is that it can be addicting to the point of losing your grasp on contentment. But you should care to realize that it will be a very harmful experience to have any part of your body done over and over again. Your tissues encounter an abrupt breakdown and disruption when you go through the whole cosmetic surgery procedure. So if you do it every so often, you may end up not having enough time to actually have some internal healing fostered naturally.
Then of course, there's also the budget to consider. Pennsylvania cosmetic surgery, or surgery in any other state for that matter, is a very expensive procedure to undergo. This is one of the reasons why you often encounter well-known people undergoing them because apart from the fact that they rely on physical appearance as a means of earning a living, they also have enough money to pay for their cosmetic surgery. Once you have these things established you can begin scheduling your procedure and making the changes you have always wanted to have done.
By Terry Edwards