Blog Archives
Posted on September 30th, 2012 in
Body Surgery, Liposuction
A recent development in the plastic surgery world is the use of buttocks lifts via fat injections, which combines
liposuction and buttocks augmentation. In addition, these two procedures provide benefits to the figure that help to accent the results of the other procedure.
This procedure allows patients to increase the volume and shape of their buttocks without using implants. Using their own fat is a particular advantage for many patients who choose to undergo the procedure.
Natural Fat Injections Used for Buttocks Lift
According to a recent
article in the
New York Daily News, this procedure has sharply risen in popularity in the last few years. One possible factor may be the ever-changing trends in popular and celebrity culture.
Dr. Ashkan Ghavami, an experienced buttock lift surgeon, says that the focus has changed dramatically over recent years. “A lot of people focused more on
breasts — for the buttock to be a focus of body shaping is definitely very new. Finally, thanks to Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and all the media, now we are realizing this a much more natural way than butt implants.”
This method is considered to be more natural than buttocks implants because the material being used comes from the patient’s own body. First, liposuction is used in trouble spots to remove the necessary amount of fat. This fat is processed and purified, and then injected back into the buttocks using a specialized technique.
“When I’m injecting into the buttock, we do what’s called the fanning technique,” says Dr. Ghavami, “It actually improves cellulite, because it fills the skin underneath.”
This procedure is often performed by itself, but it can also be added onto other procedures, such as standard liposuction or other forms of liposuction, body lifts and
thigh lifts. Best results are achieved by following all instructions and maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Photo by …love Maegan on Flickr.
Posted on September 22nd, 2012 in
Facial Surgery, Plastic Surgeon
The highly successful Operation Mend, a joint military/civilian program, has been able to provide more than 50 veterans with free cosmetic surgeries since 2007. The program is been growing in scope and popularity since its beginning.
To provide the best care possible, the program uses world-class surgeons who lead their fields in scar treatments,
skin treatments, burn reconstruction,
body contouring and
facial plastic surgery. This allows the veterans to receive levels of care they would be unable to afford otherwise and that would not be covered by standard insurance.
Burn Repair and Cosmetic Surgery for Wounded US Military
According to a recent
story in the Dallas News, this program is gaining more public support and donations, with the hope of being able to reach more veterans each year. Originally founded by Ron Katz and his late wife Maddie, Operation Mend has developed beyond the original structure.
Successful on a number of levels, the results achieved through the Operation Mend program have given soldiers improved health and self-confidence. The surgeries have included scar repair, burn treatments and reconstruction of facial traumas to the ears, nose and mouth. Other secondary benefits have included improved mental conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
One soldier who has benefited from the program is 26-year old Joey Paulk, who says he was very self-conscious of his appearance after nearly burning to death in 2007. In his words: “I wasn’t very happy with the way I looked.” Yet three recent surgeries with Operation Mend have changed all that, greatly improving his self confidence. “It’s helped my friends and family, too,” Paulk says. “Because I’m happy, they’re happy.”
With dramatic success stories like this for veterans of both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the program has been widely successful, despite the surprisingly high cost of the surgeries. According to Katz, many of the surgeries cost upwards of $500,000.
One of the key sponsors for the Operation Mend program, billionaire T. Boone Pickens, has long supported the program, as he says he is committed to helping wounded veterans. In his words, “We want to do our best for these men and women when they come home.”
Photo by U.S. Army on Flickr.
Posted on September 15th, 2012 in
Body Surgery, Tummy Tuck
The period following your
tummy tuck procedure, which is known as the recovery time, is a crucial part of the surgical process. To ensure the best possible results, follow all of your physician’s instructions and get plenty of rest.
Due to the wide variation in the different approaches and required treatments with the tummy tuck procedure, each patient will experience a unique recovery period. This variation makes discussing your expected recovery period particularly important. You should also be periodically assessing your recovery progress throughout that time, according to the American Society for Plastic Surgeons
website.
Unique Nature of Each Tummy Tuck Procedure Gives Personalized Recovery Period
Though there is a wide range of recovery timelines, plastic surgeons have developed general guidelines that represent the average patient experience. According to the surgeons who responded on the trusted plastic surgery website
RealSelf.com, one of the best ways to segment these guidelines is based on when patients will be able to resume certain activities.
Patients may often be able to stand straight comfortably in 1-2 weeks, begin driving in two weeks, exercise lightly in about four weeks, and fully regain normal and comfortable levels of activity in eight weeks. Yet each patient heals in their own way, and by discussing these various stages of recovery in detail with your surgeon you will be able to best understand your own body’s response.
A less extensive version of this procedure is known as the Mini Tummy Tuck, and generally has a shorter recovery period, with levels of activity returning more quickly at each step along the recovery timeline. Other recovery treatments, such as the use of compression devices, may also improve recovery times. Other
body contouring procedures performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck, such as
liposuction, arm lifts or thigh lifts may add to the overall recovery period depending on the specific patient.
Photo by melohel on Flickr.
Posted on September 7th, 2012 in
Body Surgery, Face, Non-Surgical Enhancement
Fat transfer injections are one of the most natural procedures available, due to the basic procedure, which involves the use of the patient’s own fat as an injectable filler. These procedures provide the double benefit of fat removal and increased volume to the target area. Their wild success has led to the development of uses for this procedure throughout the body and refined techniques for each.
According to recent research that was published in the September 2012 issue of
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the variance in the use of this procedure has become so large that new naming methods may be needed. As reported in a recent
article on
DoctorsLounge, these surgical techniques have been constantly evolving, producing more effective procedures and dramatic results.
Fat Grafting for Facial Fillers, Breast Augmentation and Reconstruction
Initially begun as a simple procedure to replace tissue loss due to disease and other causes, fat injections have benefited by advancements at each stage in the procedure. They are now used to restore volume to the face through
facial fillers, enhance areas of the body through a Brazilian butt lift or
breast augmentation, and various other forms of restoration.
In the words of the researchers, “Thirty years after the inception of lipoaspirate injection, autologous fat transplantation has evolved from an underrated, oversimplified procedure to at least four different strategies that take into account harvesting technique, lobular size, processing of the graft, [and] injection technique.”
Working in Boston and Texas, researchers Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio and Dr. Rod J. Rohrich have had extensive experience with the many aspects of fat transfer. This procedure begins with the targeted removal of excess fat through
liposuction. This fat is then purified through a specialized procedure to maximize its effectiveness, and reinjected carefully into the treatment areas. This injection technique is done at various depths and spacings to ensure the best possible results.
