Archive for August, 2012

Picture This: Your New Breasts

Monday, August 27th, 2012
laser bra beverly hills

Whether you’re considering breast reduction or breast augmentation in Los Angeles, the VECTRA® 3-D imaging system can help you get an idea of what your results will look like in advance. This technology creates lifelike images of your new body by incorporating your physical measurements and photographs of your body into a computer system. The three-dimensional images that are created can be viewed from various angles and modified to show the range of possible results. This allows for a more in-depth discussion of my patients’ expectations and enables me to create a surgical plan that matches their goals.

Benefits of VECTRA

At my practice, I’ve found VECTRA to be extremely beneficial to help set realistic expectations with my clients. Viewing simulated before-and-after photos provides my patients with clarity about their treatment objectives and gives them more confidence going into surgery. It also allows them to be more involved in the surgical planning process by enabling them to make better decisions regarding their breast implant style, size and placement. With VECTRA, I am able to:

  • Create side-by-side comparisons of pre- and post-surgical photos
  • Show multi-angle views of the breasts with a variety of implant shapes and sizes
  • Demonstrate the effects of complementary procedures such as liposuction or a tummy tuck

VECTRA Uses

VECTRA can be used for breast, body and facial surgery. I also use VECTRA to show the results from procedures such as:

  • Rhinoplasty
  • Tummy tuck
  • Facelift
  • Injectable fillers

Plastic Surgery for Your Ears?

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012
ear surgery beverly hills

Most people realize that it’s not uncommon for people in Los Angeles to have plastic surgery. However, what many don’t know is that ear surgery (otoplasty) is one the most commonly performed procedures. Ear surgery can create a more pleasing appearance as well as correct a number of aesthetic issues and abnormalities, including:

  • Misshapen or protruding ears. Ear surgery is very popular among men and women who feel that their ears stick out too far. This technique can be performed on children as well as adults, and it helps create facial balance by positioning the ears closer to the head.
  • Torn or injured earlobes. When a person’s ears are affected by trauma or injury, earlobe surgery can repair the damage. For example, individuals who have had heavy earrings or “plug” piercings may choose ear surgery to restore a more natural earlobe shape.
  • Keloids. Earlobe keloids are large scars which grow beyond an original wound and protrude from the ear. They are usually red or brownish in color and can sometimes cause itching, tenderness or pain. There are many treatments available for keloid removal, so you surgeon will have to determine whether otoplasty is the best course of action for your individual situation. In some cases, earlobe surgery is combined with non-surgical techniques, such as injectables or topical medications, to achieve the best results.

Virtual Breast Augmentation

Friday, August 17th, 2012

If you wonder how breast implants might change the look of your body, you can get a sneak preview at my plastic surgery practice in Marina del Rey. Los Angeles breast augmentation candidates get an idea of how their breasts will appear after surgery when Dr. Michelle Spring and I use the VECTRA® 3-D imaging system to illustrate the effects of breast enhancement.

The system uses photos of your body to create a “virtual you,” which can be manipulated to reflect your cosmetic preferences. VECTRA allows you to see multiple views of your body with various implant sizes and shapes in order to help you decide which look you like best.

virtual breast augmentation

With VECTRA 3-D imaging, you’ll be able to “try on” different breast implants before surgery.

Why I Prefer VECTRA

Dr. Spring and I have found VECTRA to be extremely useful during the consultation process prior to breast augmentation surgery. Unlike breast implant sizers, which are inserted in a bra, VECTRA allows my patients to see how their new breasts will look on their own body from all angles. With this new technology, I am better able to:

  • Establish realistic expectations
  • Aid decision-making about breast implant size and style
  • Reduce anxiety about the results of surgery
  • Facilitate better communication about my patients’ goals

In addition, VECTRA can be used for patients who are interested in tummy tuck, liposuction, facelift and other plastic surgery procedures. It can also give an idea of what to expect after nonsurgical treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic or dermal filler injections.

A New Way to Shrink Fat

Wednesday, August 15th, 2012
truSculpt Beverly Hills

I’m always looking for innovative procedures to add to my practice. Recently, Marina Plastic Surgery began offering truSculpt™, a new, temporary, non-invasive cellulite treatment in Los Angeles , which also shrinks fat and slims areas such the thighs, stomach, hips and buttocks. This non-surgical body contouring procedure is simple, quick and highly effective. truSculpt can be used to complement the results of a surgical procedure such as liposuction, or it can be used alone for healthy individuals who want a smoother, more sculpted skin surface.

The Technology

Radiofrequency energy is what allows truSculpt to shrink fat cells and reduce fat tissue, thereby creating smoother contours. Although radiofrequency energy is not particularly “new” for non-surgical body contouring, truSculpt offers many new features, including:

  • Volumetric deep-tissue heating: truSculpt technology enables radiofrequency energy to reach deep into subcutaneous tissues where fat is stored.
  • Real-time temperature monitoring and feedback: This allows for better temperature control on the skin’s surface, which results in a more comfortable treatment with little or no downtime. No anesthetic or pain medication is necessary.
  • Uniform heating at therapeutic temperatures: Because heat is evenly distributed, results are more predictable.

Results

Most people need only 1 or 2 truSculpt sessions to achieve the improvement they want. The results are gradual and appear over the course of 4 to 12 weeks following treatment. My patients have reported smoother skin with a temporary reduction in the look of cellulite as well as thinner body contours.

The Limit on Thinness

Wednesday, August 8th, 2012
coolsculpting beverly hills

“You can never be too rich or too thin.” Is that really true? Patients often have questions regarding the perfect body weight and the best treatment for fat removal.

During consultations, I openly discuss how various procedures can help contour the body. This is also the ideal time to learn how thin the person would like to be. There is a limit on thinness, so it’s important to set realistic goals. Also, each patient’s body type and cosmetic goals determine which treatment will be most effective for creating an ideal body contour.

Recently, more people have been turning to non-surgical treatments for stubborn pockets of fat. Two of the most popular are:

  • CoolSculpting® – By freezing fat cells, CoolSculpting removes the need for incisions, anesthesia and extended recovery periods. The body gradually eliminates the dead fat cells during the weeks that follow treatment.
  • Liposonix® – Also a non-invasive treatment, Liposonix uses high-intensity ultrasound to destroy fat tissue beneath the skin. Each treatment takes about 1 hour, and most patients can expect to lose an about 1 inch around the waistline.

Both methods are excellent solutions for people who exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet but are unable to lose that last bit of fat.

New Uses for Liposuction

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012
liposuction beverly hills

People in Los Angeles undergo liposuction to sculpt leaner bodies, to reduce areas of unwanted fat and to feel more confident. But now, liposuction holds new hope for breast reconstruction patients who have undergone mastectomies as treatment for breast cancer.

A common point of concern for many breast reconstruction patients is how breast implants might affect their health in the future. A recent study explored how fat grafting could reduce complications for breast reconstruction with implants.

During the procedure, liposuction is used to collect fat from other areas of the body. The fat is then purified and used to augment the breast that is being reconstructed. The study found that for a select group of patients, fat grafting combined with a breast implant could be a beneficial option.

Liposuction patients in Los Angeles may not immediately think of these less-common uses. This study is just one example of how advances in surgical techniques are helping to create safe and long-lasting results.