Get the 411 on Liposuction

What is Liposuction?                        

Despite the fact many people diet and exercise religiously, sometimes it's physically impossible to get rid of fat deposits in certain areas of the body such as the abdomen, thighs, arms or butt.

As a result, literally hundreds of thousands of people undergo liposuction surgery each year. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, lipoplasty has even been the top overall surgical procedure since the Society started collecting nationwide procedural statistics in 1997.

In short, liposuction is the removal of fat deposits in the body through suction.

A conventional liposuction procedure involves four basic steps:

1.        Application of either a local or general anesthetic, depending on the number/area of your procedure(s).

2.        An incision or incisions is made near the selected area and a thin "cannula", or tube is inserted through the skin and muscle.

3.        A small amount of anesthetic is injected into the area to break up the fat deposits and the fat is removed through suction via the cannula.

4.        Once the fat is removed, the incisions are closed and padding is applied to reduce bleeding and allow the incisions to heal.

No shortcut to weight loss

It's extremely important to remember however that liposuction isn't a shortcut to weight loss, and it's recommended primarily for healthy adults within 10-20 pounds of their ideal weight looking to remove stubborn pockets of fat and shape and contour their body.

Liposuction (technical term lipoplasty) is a surgical procedure that removes fat deposits from designated areas of the body. Several techniques can be used during liposuction surgery, but, generally speaking, the plastic surgeon uses a probe that is inserted into the patient’s body through a small incision. The surgeon then breaks up the fatty cells and extracts them from the targeted area of the body.

Common Types of Liposuction

Liposuction (technical term lipoplasty) is a surgical procedure that removes fat deposits from designated areas of the body. Several techniques can be used but, generally speaking, the plastic surgeon uses a probe that is inserted into the patient’s body through a small incision.

Lipoplasty surgery has become one of the fastest, most effective and safest cosmetic surgery procedures available today, and much of that is due to the technological advancement of both the techniques and the equipment

The following are the four most common liposuction techniques.

1.        Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent liposuction is the most common type of liposuction.

The basic process is your surgeon will insert the cannula through the incision and inject lidocaine and epinephrine into the fatty tissue, causing it to becomes swollen and firm, or "tumescent."

This helps break up the fat deposits for easier suctioning, and it also reduces bleeding.

Ultrasonic Liposuction 

           Vaser liposuction is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional liposuction.  Contour Genesis is another ultrasonic liposuction solution.  It has been available for the past seven years.  Using this solution has been very successful in our practice.

Ultrasonic lipo technology involves using ultrasonic sound waves to gently loosen the fat for easier removal.

Tumescent liquid is still injected into the body, but instead of the cannula ultrasonic probes use vibration to break the fat cells apart.

Once the fat is emulsified, asmall cannula is used to suction out the fat cells. Some of the local anesthetic remains in the tissue and that helps to reduce post-procedural pain.

Vaser liposuction is considered gentler on the body and the remaining cells in the treatment area than more conventional liposuction methods.

2.        Smart (Laser) Liposuction

Smart Lipo is essentially the earliest version of laser liposuction.

Few Plastic surgeons use this as an alternative form of liposuction.   The costs of this technology far outweigh the benefits of this solution.  The ability to use light energy for liposuction has not shown been shown to be clinically better.  A small cannula is still inserted through an incision or incisions, but instead of sound or liquid an intensified laser is used to break down the fat deposits.

 Water Jet Liposuction

3.        Water jet liposuction uses a pressurized stream of saline to simultaneously break down the fat and help remove the cells.

Basically the water jet loosens the fat cells, and while it still uses tumescent fluid the cannula both irrigates and suctions the loosened fat cell from the body.

There is very little bruising or swelling with water jet liposuction and, because of the water, there is also much less trauma to the surrounding tissues.

Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction Surgery?

Good candidates for liposuction surgery are in good health, both mentally and physically, have realistic expectations for their surgery, and have healthy skin with good elasticity.

Lipoplasty may be the perfect solution for you if you have a fatty pocket that just doesn't respond to diet and exercise.

Costs of Liposuction Surgery

Liposuction cost can vary depending on the number of procedures, where you live in the country, and the extent of your surgery.

If you are considering liposuction, please visit the website of double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Berman  for more information.

Everything you wanted to know about Injectables and Fillers!

General Information on Injectables & Fillers

Generally performed as outpatient procedures, cosmetic filler injections are extremely safe and effective for filling in wrinkles and scars, removing frown lines or rejuvenating sagging skin.

The key is making sure you get the proper filler for your specific needs―and that you have reasonable expectations.

Some fillers are primarily used for shallow surface flaws while others are injected deeper under the skin to fill in more substantial folds or depressions. Some fillers can also be used to increase the fullness of the lips or cheeks.

The newer dermal fillers on the market even assist in stimulating creating new collagen growth to prevent future flaws.

Whatever the procedure, there’s a product out there for it these days, although the most common areas treated are still smile lines around the nose and mouth, fine lines above the mouth, frown lines between the eyes, and acne scars.

Dermal Fillers

The materials used in dermal fillers vary from basic human fat and animal-based collagens to hyaluronic acid and enhanced microsphere-added hydroxylapatite.

Different materials induce different reactions within the body, so the amount of time the injections last, potential side effects, recovery times and how often you’ll have to return for treatments will also vary.

Dermal fillers also come in a variety of thicknesses and brand names, with some more suited for certain parts of the face or body than others. In general, dermal fillers fall into three categories:

•          Fat/Collagen Fillers

•          Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

•          Hydroxylapatite microsphere-enhanced fillers

As a rule, the thicker the filler, the deeper it’s injected under the skin and the larger the folds it is meant to fill.

There are also two general classifications for the duration of dermal fillers, temporary or permanent.

For the sake of this page though, we’ll stick to the temporary facial fillers which require repeated injections (some less than others) to maintain.

Botox and Dysport

For those interested in Botox (and its counterpart Dysport), it’s important to note these are not technically “fillers” but more muscle paralyzers or “wrinkle-freezers.”

“Wrinkle-freezers” are made up of primarily of Botulinum Toxin A, a substance that essentially paralyzes the muscles around the injection point to decrease the amount of current wrinkles and prevent further wrinkles.

Botox is the best known of the two having been around longer, and is primarily used between the eyebrows or on the crow’s feet around the eyes.

Dysport is Botox’s newest competitor, only recently approved by the FDA. Like Botox, it has botulinum toxin A as its primary ingredient.

The main difference is Dysport takes affect a little bit quicker (1-2 days instead of 3-7), is slightly cheaper overall and spreads out a little bit further than Botox.

Both last about the same time - three to four months.

For more on Botox and Dysport, visit our Botox page here.

If you have any questions about Botox injections or would like a free consultation with a Botox specialist in your area, fill in the form on the right-hand side of this page and one of our experts will contact you!

Facial Fillers

Fat Transfers

Fat transfers were one of the first dermal filler techniques and have been used for well over 100 years to fill in various forms of facial lines and folds.

Today, though, fat transfer is not as common for the face as newer products have superseded it in terms of duration and quality.

Successful fat transfer is also very dependent on the technique of the surgeon to ensure as many fat cells survive as possible, making results for many people very inconsistent.

Still, in certain cases fat transfer from other parts of the body can be used to fill in some facial lines and folds and add fullness.

Fat injections had been commonly used to rejuvenate the lips, for bags under the eyes, to lessen the lines around the mouth or fill out the cheeks or chin.

Collagen Fillers

Collagen Fillers come in two basic forms, bovine and human.   They fell out of favor with the introduction of the hyaluronic acid fillers.  Few plastic surgeons use these fillers today since there are better options available.

Bovine (cow) collagen was one of the first forms of collagen to be used for dermal fillers. Bovine collagen is a naturally occurring protein that is found in the skin, bones and muscles of cows.

This collagen is so similar to human collagen it can be used fairly seamlessly (although with some treatment beforehand naturally) to fill in fine lines and correct scars.

Zyderm and Zyplast are the most common brand names for bovine collagen fillers.

Zyderm I is used for the treatment of fine lines and lesser scars, while Zyderm II is meant for longer, deeper scars. Zyplast is used to get longer-lasting results for more damaged skin.

Since bovine collagen is a protein, it will break down in the body over time. Generally, the results last from 3-6 months. Once the collagen fades, the treatment can be repeated.

There are a few instances of allergic reactions to bovine collagen injections. Those reactions can include redness at the injection site, hives, and chest pain.

During the consultation process, your doctor will recommend you do a skin test to see if you are allergic before proceeding with a bovine collagen injection.

Human Collagen

Created from real human collagen, this filler is a normal part of all skin and is naturally absorbed by the human body.

Human collagen is best used for fine wrinkles, especially those found around the mouth, and it typically lasts 3 – 4 months. For continued effects, repeated treatments are necessary. The effects are immediate in onset however.  Like Bovine collagen, these fillers are not used as frequently as the hyaluronic acid fillers.

Cosmoplast, Cosmoderm, Cymetra, Fascian and Autologen are the most common human collagen products on the market.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Hyaluronic acid is part of the connective tissue of all human skin and several dermal fillers have been developed over the years with hyaluronic acid as their base.

These fillers also stimulate collagen production in the skin, allowing for better, longer-lasting results and a longer period of time between injections.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are excellent for plumping up lines and wrinkles because they attract water and are ideal in correcting nasolabial folds, thin lips, wrinkles (especially above the lips), reducing under-eye circles and filling out the chin or cheeks.

The most common brand names for hyaluronic acid fillers are Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane.

Restylane and Juvederm

Both Restylane and Juvederm are popular hyaluronic acid fillers. The difference between the two is the consistency of the gel, and preference depends on both the patient and the doctor.

Perlane

Perlane is a "mid-dermal" hyaluronic acid filler product. As a sister product to Restylane, Perlane is designed for more pronounced facial folds and wrinkles such as those on the sides of the mouth.

The duration of effect averages between 6 – 9 months for Restylane and Juvederm and 9-12 months for Perlane and Juvederm Ultra.

For continued effect, repeated treatments are also necessary with Perlane.

Macrolane

Another hyaluronic acid derivative used mainly for breast augmentation procedures is called Macrolane. Because it also absorbs into the body like other fillers, Macrolane is an alternative to chemical implants.

Hydroxylapatite microspheres

Radiesse

Marketed under the brand name Radiesse, calcium hydroxylapatite is physically larger in particle size than other dermal fillers.

Basically, tiny calcium-based microspheres form a “scaffold” to support and stimulate the growth of collagen. Over time, the microspheres gradually break down and are safely and naturally absorbed by the body.

Radiesse does more than temporarily fill-in facial folds and wrinkles and can be used to restore facial volume for a more youthful look.

Radiesse also works to stimulate new collagen production while adding volume and lift. It’s best used for moderate to severe wrinkles, nasolabial lines, facial fat loss and volume loss in the cheeks.

Duration of effect is usually 12-15 months in most patients.

                                                                             

If you are considering facial fillers and injections, please visit the website of double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Berman  for more information.