Archive for the ‘Body Surgery’ Category

Study Asks, How Long Does Fat Grafting Last?

Monday, August 1st, 2011 by Staff Writer

how long does fat grafting lastUsing fat from the patient’s own body, in a procedure called fat grafting, can have long lasting benefits on the undereye area.

A recently published study published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery asked, “How long does fat grafting last?” when injected near the eyes. The results were largely positive for many patients.

The effects of the treatment are generally known to last longer than injectable fillers, which are cheaper, but must be redone yearly. Fat grafting involves using liposuction to remove fat from a donor site, like the thighs, purifying the fat and reinjecting it into depressions in the face.

So, How Long Does Fat Grafting Last?

According to the results of the study, the majority of patients who received fat grafting in the lower eyelids saw the results lasting up to three years. Over the course of four years, the study tracked nearly one hundred patients aged 35 to 71 who had chosen the treatment. Comparing photos taken every few months, the team rated the improvement seen in the photos as the patients aged.

Though the results were about in line with with the study team says they expected, they did not compare the fat grafting results with those of injectable fillers like Restylane. Still, as a more long term option for filling facial depressions and wrinkles, fat grafting is common and growing in popularity.

Patients who are elderly, who smoke, or those who exercise heavily may not see the effects of fat grafting quite a long as others. Additionally, for any inconsistencies in the appearance of the injected fat, some patients may choose to undergo touch-up procedures to fine-tune the effect or to make it last longer.

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Breast Cancer Survivor Finds Help in Fat Grafting

Monday, May 16th, 2011 by Staff Writer

Fat grafting is often recognized as a means to correct more superficial issues like wrinkles, but can be used successfully in reconstructive surgery, as well, according to WWLTV in New Orleans.

Two months after she underwent a type of mommy makeover, which included breast augmentation and a tummy tuck, Tina, a 46-year-old mother of three learned she had breast cancer, unrelated to the surgeries.

After chemotherapy and radiation, part of her breast tissue was removed. In its place, a tissue expander was placed to keep the shape of the breast. As tissue expansion is only a step along the way to reconstructive procedures, it soon had to be replaced.

Tina’s plastic surgeon elected to use Tina’s own fat, which was removed from her lower body through liposuction to support the breast. In this process, the fat that was liposuctioned from Tina’s lower body was placed around the breast implant to cushion it and provide a natural appearance.

As she recovers and sees the benefits of her surgery, Tina says she now looks forward to an anniversary trip with her husband. They plan to renew their wedding vows in Hawaii.

In addition to this sort of life-altering use, the cosmetic applications of fat grafting are many. Most commonly, fat grafting is used on the face. Placement of this fat may fill depressions in the face like deep lines and wrinkles or scars and may be used to augment lips. It may also be used for some body procedures, like a buttocks lift.

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Tummy, Breast Surgeries Popular Among New Moms

Monday, May 9th, 2011 by Staff Writer

Regardless of what you may have gotten your own mother for Mother’s Day, it’s likely that a new mother you know may have been interested in a mommy makeover, according to the ASPS. The ASPS found that 62% of mothers would undergo a mommy makeover procedure if money was not a factor.

Dana Van Gray, 38, who underwent breast augmentation and a tummy tuck a year after having her last child said she felt the need to seize the opportunity and said the positive change in her body improved her attitude.

“I feel good so I can be a better mom to my kids,” Van Gray said.

A “mommy makeover” is not one procedure, but actually a variety of surgeries that help women regain their pre-pregnancy physiques. Breast augmentation helps restore volume to breasts that may have begun to sag after breastfeeding. Meanwhile, a tummy tuck removes excess skin and tissue that may hang around the midsection after childbirth. Also a part of many “mommy makeovers” is a breast lift, which removes sagging breast tissue to restore the breasts to a more youthful position. This procedure may include the placement of breast implants to replace lost volume. The ASPS recommends that new mothers wait six months to a year before undergoing any of these procedures and that they lose weight before surgery.

ASPS President Dr. Phillip Haeck said more and more, the women who are electing these procedures are not older women, but younger mothers like Dana. He attributes this to improving attitudes toward cosmetic surgery and an openness about the desire to change what diet and exercise may fail to.

We encourage you to learn more about the mommy makeover procedures like breast augmentation, tummy tuck and breast lift and to consult with your plastic surgeon about what surgery may help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

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Plastic Surgeon Explores Varying Beauty Ideals

Monday, March 28th, 2011 by Staff Writer

minneapolis facelift tummy tuckWhile the old adage is “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” a New York plastic surgeon suggests it is rather the perception of beauty that matters. In an article for The Huffington Post, Dr. Robert Tornambe points out that each of us consider varying aspects of the human form to be beautiful. In a similar manner, plastic surgery procedures are customized with aesthetic sensitivity in mind, as no two people’s faces or bodies are exactly alike.

Take, for example, a facelift. This procedure, which tones sagginess in the lower parts of the face, could not successfully be performed in an identical manner on a man and a woman. For the man, the ideal result might be a strong, toned jaw line and the woman may desire a softer look, if applying conventional beauty standards.

It is with these conventions that Dr. Tornambe also takes issue. Rather than use a checklist for what is beautiful, he suggests that each woman has a Beauty Quotient. This is made up of three components: Physical Health, Psychological Health and Personal Appearance. He asserts that the combination of these three elements, which can be improved greatly with even minor tweaks or changes, make up a woman’s individual beauty.

When you go in for a cosmetic appointment, like a facelift, rhinoplasty or even a body procedure, such as a tummy tuck to tone hanging midsection skin, your plastic surgeon will keep this aesthetic sensitivity at the forefront of their mind. The goal of any good plastic surgeon is not to mold you into someone else’s idea of beauty, but rather to highlight your own beautiful features.

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A Surge Seen in Percent of Male Facelifts, ASPS Finds

Monday, March 21st, 2011 by Staff Writer

edina minneapolis facelift make breast reductionMore men than ever are choosing to undergo plastic surgery in order to look as young as they may feel inside, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In new statistics published this month, the ASPS found that the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures chosen by men rose 2% from 2009 to 2010. More dramatically, however, was the increase in the popularity of individual procedures for the face and body, some of which saw rises of nearly 15%.

Of the more than one million cosmetic procedures men chose in 2010, a majority of the top 10 were surgical, a change in the previous trend toward non-invasive options.

Plastic surgeon and ASPS President Dr. Phillip Haeck said this is largely because “as you age and gravity takes over, surgical procedures that lift the skin are necessary in order to show significant improvement.”

The procedure that saw the greatest spike between 2009 and 2010 was the facelift, which saw a 14% increase. This procedure tones the sagging skin of the lower face to remove jowls and deep wrinkles.

Otoplasty, a type of ear surgery that decreases the size and projection of protruding ears saw an 11% increase. Though this jump was among adult men, this procedure is often performed on children, as well.

Two body procedures that saw the greatest boost were liposuction and male breast reduction. Both of these body slimming procedures aim to create a more masculine form through the removal of excess fat and tissue.

On the non-surgical side, injectable fillers and Botox, which treat many moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds saw increases of 10% and 9% respectively. This indicates that even with a greater spike in surgical procedures, some men still choose the non-invasive route, at least at first.

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Tax Refunds Turned into Cosmetic Improvements

Monday, March 14th, 2011 by Staff Writer

liposuction breast augmentation botox minneapolisAs tax season ramps up, refund checks are being sent out and, if the money isn’t going into savings, it’s likely to be used for an indulgence. For many, this means finally going in for a long put-off cosmetic surgery, according to abc15.com.

Plastic surgeons in the Phoenix area say they are seeing a dramatic uptick in the number of individuals who are coming in during tax season, using their tax refund check to cover all or part of a procedure.

Kristy Harris in Phoenix chose to use her tax refund to pay for part of her breast lift surgery and used some savings to cover the rest of the $8,400 procedure (cost based on patient-reported averages on RealSelf.com). The mother of two said that raising children took a toll on her body and she wanted to do something to help herself achieve a “different look.”

Another popular procedure for the breasts is breast augmentation, which costs approximately $6,600. This surgery can improve shapeliness and body proportion.

Liposuction remains one of the most sought-after body procedures and costs about $5,600. Liposuction is often performed to remove stubborn fat deposits nearly anywhere on the body.

Even if your tax refund check is a bit smaller than you would hope, non-surgical treatments are available at a fraction of the cost of surgery. The ever-popular Botox, is used to reduce lines and wrinkles on the face. Chemical peels are also non-invasive and remain one of the key facial rejuvenation treatments and work to reduce many skin imperfections like a dry, dull complexion, blemishes and pigmentation issues. Botox and chemical peels cost about $472 and $610 for full treatments, respectively.

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Survey Finds Some Plastic Surgeons Still Prefer Traditional Liposuction

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011 by Staff Writer

liposuction minneapolisIn a survey published in the February issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) found that many of its members prefer more traditional liposuction methods to newer techniques.

The survey asked members about various liposuction techniques including newer technologies. It found that overall, most respondents perform between 51 and 100 liposuctions per year and they said traditional liposuction was their preferred method over other techniques such as Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction or Laser-assisted Liposuction.

Jamil Ahmad, MD, lead author of the survey said, “Our survey found that ASAPS members tend to more frequently employ the fat removal methods that have the longest track records and the most data to support their efficacy and safety.”

Ahmad went on to say that surgeon preferences may change as they become more experienced with newer methods and continue to improve patient safety standards.

Members surveyed also said they encourage on-going training of those in the aesthetic field, but are concerned about some doctors practicing outside their field of expertise. This stresses the importance of ensuring your surgeon is specifically trained and experienced to perform any procedure you will undergo.

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The Risks of “Awake” Cosmetic Procedures

Monday, January 31st, 2011 by Staff Writer

An alarming new trend in cosmetic procedures is taking hold and respected surgeons in the plastic surgery field want to warn patients about the dangers of some procedures marketed as “Awake cosmetic surgery.”

Awake surgeries are now being noticed not for the beautiful results they yield (they often do not), but rather the unsafe conditions and unprofessional manner in which they are conducted. According to an article on msnbc.com, patients who have undergone Awake procedures, such as extensive liposuction and breast augmentations, are now raising their voices against the doctors who performed the procedures with little training that left them in great pain and with poor results.

These patients’ stories stress the importance of looking into your plastic surgeon’s background and making sure he/she is board certified to perform the procedure you wish to undergo.

Awake patients are given an unknown mixture of drugs without an anesthesiologist present. Aside from a cheaper cost, the main selling point of Awake procedures is that the patient remains somewhat conscious during the procedure and can evaluate the result before completion of the surgery, however, with an unknown amount of drugs coursing through their system, it’s unclear how lucid these patients truly are.

Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Mouchantat questions the validity of decisions made under the influence of sedatives and painkillers, saying, “Any decision made on the table by a sedated or not sedated patient would be too highly influenced by the enthusiasm of the people present.”

Dr. Mouchantat adds that during the consultation is the time for the patient’s desires and the surgeon’s skills and techniques to be rectified, not during surgery.

The final chilling fact about Awake procedures is that for a doctor to perform these procedures (as approved by a nebulous “academy” located in Arizona), he/she only needs to undergo two days of training, whereas a board certified plastic surgeon has undergone years of training and a residency program.

To avoid the pain, both physical and emotional, and the poor surgical outcome, it is important to keep a few things in mind when looking into a cosmetic procedure.

  • Research your surgeon and verify that he/she is board-certified to perform the procedure
  • Insist on an open dialogue with your surgeon and learn about the techniques he/she uses
  • Ask to see before and after photos from the surgeon’s previous patients and read patient testimonials, if available

We encourage you to learn more about how Minneapolis plastic surgeon Dr. Smith safely performs liposuction and breast augmentation procedures with beautiful results.

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UK Survey Finds Women in Early 50s Choosing Surgery

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010 by Staff Writer

botox-minneapolisOne in three women said they are concerned enough with their appearance that they would consider plastic surgery, according to a UK survey covered in the Daily Mail. The sample from the survey included 3,000 women ages 40 to 65 and asked questions about specific procedures as well as the ideal celebrity appearance for women of a certain age.

Women over 40 selected model Twiggy as “the perfect advertisement” for women over 60. Meanwhile, editor of Saga Magazine, Emma Soames, who carried out the survey said Helen Mirren (and her well-publicized bikini photographs) put pressure on older women to look a certain way.

Perhaps photos like that, as well as a personal desire for increased self-confidence, are what push some women to consider plastic surgery. According to the survey, one-fifth of the women between 40 and 60 said they would get a facelift to combat signs of aging, while nearly a third said they would choose to look 20 years younger over being a millionaire.

Additionally, a quarter of the women surveyed expressed interest in an eyelift procedure, nearly one-third said they desired a tummy tuck and 29% who said they would not go under the knife favored Botox and chemical peels to appear younger.

More than just cosmetic procedures, the survey found women spend an average of £137 ($216) per year on anti-aging creams. Women over 50 are five times more likely to wear padded bras than their mothers at the same age, according to the survey, and 62% of women surveyed feel they are judged more harshly on appearance than previous generations.

The survey highlights a growing interest and acceptance of plastic surgery procedures, not only in the UK, but also around the world. To learn more about the increasing popularity of many of these procedures, contact Dr. Smith in his Minneapolis practice.

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RealSelf.com and ASBPS join to create online community for patients seeking body contouring procedures

Monday, November 15th, 2010 by Staff Writer

While many individuals may immediately celebrate recent weight loss with a new bikini and a trip to the Bahamas, others will have to deal with the unintended side effects of such a change—excess skin. For those patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, often as a result of bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass, The American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons (ASBPS) and online community RealSelf.com have created a consumer resource. The new section of RealSelf.com focuses on body contouring procedures, with topics ranging from liposuction to tummy tucks.

Individuals seeking information and answers to questions are able to explore RealSelf.com and access discussions, ratings of various services and procedures and share in the online community with the ASBPS’ 134 surgeon members. This is a significant expansion of the online community previously offered by RealSelf.com for patients seeking authoritative guidance.

ASBPS President Edward J. Domanskis, M.D., F.A.C.S., pointed out that given the personal nature of this issue, patients often turn to online sources for guidance and he sees the ASBPS’ partnership with RealSelf.com “providing consumers with an easily accessible expert community, an open forum for discussion, and credible, of-the-moment resources.”

The RealSelf.com online community provides information on hundreds of cosmetic services and procedures and includes first-hand accounts, ratings, costs, before and after photos, videos and more. Consumer questions on the community have yielded over 100,000 answers from board-certified doctors.

Visit Dr. Smith’s profile on RealSelf.com.

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