Aesthetic Medicine

Archive for the ‘Liposuction and Laser Lipo’ Category

People with excess fat deposited in various parts of the body and those with loose skin have benefited from laser-assisted lipolysis. Lipotherme laser is appreciated by plastic surgeons and aesthetic doctors who earlier found it arduous to treat areas such as the neck, jowl line, inner arms and inner thighs. The laser has the capability to penetrate stubborn fat deposits without much resistance from fibrous tissues and liquefy the fat for aspiration.

The treatment is painless because the size of the incision made is just about 1 mm unlike traditional liposuction where it was close to 10 mm. Skin tightening is achieved by treating the undersurface of the skin where bands that create cellulite and produce new collagen is broken up.

The patient’s recovery is exceptionally fast, especially because the procedure can be carried out under local anesthesia. Certain invasive procedures such as facelift may not be required if treatment is opted using the laser device. Traditional liposuction can also be combined along with Lipotherme if the necessity arises.

As an added benefit laser treatment initiates the growth of new collagen, the protein that makes up the connective tissue in our skin. A visible skin tightening effect will further improve the liposuction results.

More information about Lipotherme

Men are increasingly opting for cosmetic procedures so as to look and feel younger. A male patient of mine who had liposuction of the chin, jowls and lower face, said to me that he did it because he didn’t want to look angry or sad. Liposuction in men has tripled over the past five years. More men also use liquid face lifts (dermal fillers) and Thermage.

In our office we use the safest form of anesthesia – local tumescent anesthesia. When tumescent liposuction is done correctly (not excessively), it is a very safe procedure. For example, there have been no reported deaths associated with tumescent liposuction. The dilute epinephrine contained in the tumescent anesthetic solution profoundly shrinks capillaries and thus virtually eliminates surgical blood loss. The xylocaine used as a local anesthetic provides a painless procedure and virtually a painless postoperative course. The tumescent technique permits the use of microcannulas which in turn yields smoother cosmetic results. Traditional liposuction cannulas (stainless steel tubes) have a relatively large diameter and remove fat rather quickly. However, with the use of large cannulas (diameter greater than 3 millimeters) there is an increased risk of irregularities and depressions in the skin. Microcannulas with a diameter less than 3 millimeters, allow fat to be removed in a smoother and more uniform fashion. I use only micro cannulas which have been shown to provide the most appealing cosmetic result and a virtually painless procedure as well as postoperative course. Read the rest of this entry »

I have been asked by many of my patients to explain the use of tumescent anesthesia and performing cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, liposuction with fat transfer as well as Dermolipectomy (technique for performing what is commonly called a tummy tuck).

Many patients believe that cosmetic procedures must be done under general anesthesia and in the hospital or surgical center. The fact is that tumescent anesthesia is the preferred method of performing all these procedures. The use of this relatively new technique allows the patient not only to be awake and interact with the physician but also minimizes bruising, swelling, postoperative pain and most importantly blood loss.

Tumescent anesthesia is technique for delivery of local anesthesia that maximizes safety by using pharmacokinetic principles to achieve extensive regional anesthesia of skin and subcutaneous tissue. The subcutaneous infiltration of a large volume of very dilute lidocaine and epinephrine causes the targeted tissue to become swollen and firm, or tumescent, and permits procedures to be performed on patients without subjecting them to the inherent risks of local anesthesia and blood loss.

In the tumescent technique, areas of excess fat are injected with a large amount of anesthetic liquid before liposuction is performed. The warmed tumescent liquid — a dilute solution containing lidocaine, epinephrine and normal saline, is injected into the area to be treated. As the liquid enters the fat, it becomes swollen, firm and blanched. The liquid causes the compartments of fat to become swollen and firm or “tumesced.” The expanded fat compartments allow the liposuction cannula to travel smoothly and safely beneath the skin as the fat is removed. The shrunken blood vessels as well as the nerves are never traumatized. Read the rest of this entry »