Archive for June, 2011

Your Liposuction Guide: Comparing Liposuction Procedures and What You Should Know About Liposuction

Published by Bowen on June 28, 2011 in Newsletters and Uncategorized. 124 Comments

Have you tried to lose weight from your thighs, hips, abdomen, arms, or back, but no matter how much you dieted and exercised, that stubborn fat just wouldn’t budge?  That’s because you can’t “spot treat” fat deposits through diet and exercise alone.  Despite popular belief, you can’t do hundreds of sit-ups and crunches a day and get washboard abs; you have to lose overall weight to truly see results.  But oftentimes, no matter how much weight we lose, there’s still that one area (or maybe two or three) on the body where fat tends to linger, and that can be enough to make us want to give up on our efforts to eat right and exercise regularly.  If this scenario is hitting close to home, you may want to consider getting liposuction.

Don’t let the word liposuction scare you; the procedure has come a very long way since its introduction in 1926. In 2011, it’s much safer, faster, and involves far shorter down time than ever before. And the results can be truly amazing.

But before you make any decisions, you need to do your research and become informed.  That is why we have written a comprehensive guide to liposuction, comparing the different types of liposuction procedures and giving you the “low down” so you can make the most educated decision. After all, you only have one body, and you deserve to get the results you want without breaking the bank or risking less-than-optimal results.

Traditional Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of unwanted fat from targeted areas of the body using a cannula and powerful suction.  Over the last few decades, physicians have evolved the surgery so that patients will see better results, including body contouring or sculpting rather than just fat removal, less trauma and downtime, less discomfort, and minimal scarring.

 

Pros: Traditional Liposuction removes large amounts of unwanted fat in targeted areas of the body.  Patients can usually walk around and go home in just a few days, if not the same day, as the procedure.

Cons: Traditional Liposuction is major surgery and, so, is typically performed in a hospital or surgical center, using general anesthesia and/or heavy sedatives administered by an anesthesiologist.  Recovery tends to take longer than with newer, more innovative liposuction techniques.  Compression garments must be continuously worn after the surgery for usually several weeks in order to reduce the risk of bleeding and blood clots. The large cannula and the powerful suction used in traditional liposuction can also remove too much fat, leaving dents and/or lumps on the surface of the skin.  In addition, general anesthesia – while generally quite safe – carries its own set of risks.   Finally, traditional liposuction tends to be more expensive.

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent Liposuction, such as PureLipo™, uses tumescent anesthesia to numb the fat that is going to be removed.   A mild oral sedation medication is also given to the patient so that he/she is very relaxed but alert during the procedure.  Not using general anesthesia allows patients to interact with the doctor and nurses, provide feedback on how they are feeling, and help adjust their positions so the doctor can get to hard-to-reach places on the body. The procedure is also done using a small cannula and a syringe to remove fat – rather than a relatively large cannula and power-suction — allowing for more precise body contouring, less trauma and minimal fluid loss and swelling.

Pros: Tumescent liposuction has been proven to permanently remove fat cells more safely than traditional liposuction. With tumescent liposuction, you can expect minimal blood and fluid loss, small and virtually scarless incisions, less post operative pain and recovery time, less time spent in compression garments after the surgery, and less risk of complications.

Cons: Because tumescent liposuction involves using a smaller cannula than traditional lipo, the procedure tends to take longer. However, many argue that the results from tumescent lipo are worth the longer “time on the table” since the large cannula and power suction used in traditional lipo can also result in lumpy and uneven skin, the appearance of “tunnels” in remaining fat and a greater risk of operative bleeding.  Also, not all physicians who undertake tumescent liposuction avail themselves of comprehensive, rigorous training before doing so.   If this is the case, you as a patient are probably exposing yourself to unnecessary and preventable risk and complications.  Dr. Bowen did his “due diligence” when researching which liposuction procedure he would provide his patients, and he underwent rigorous training under Dr. Alberto Sant Antonio, the physician who perfected the PureLipo™ procedure.  Having successfully performed PureLipo™ on many patients, Dr. Bowen is very experienced in the technique and works closely with patients to ensure they are completely comfortable with the procedure.

Laser Liposuction

 

Types of Laser Liposuction:  SmartLipo™, CoolLipo™, ProLipo™, LipoLite™, LipTherme™, LipoControl™, SlimLipo™

Laser-assisted liposuction uses a laser to heat up and liquefy the fat underneath the skin so that it is theoretically easier to remove using a cannula.

Pros: Laser Lipo usually makes use of very small incisions, and, when performed properly, has a quick recovery time.

Cons: There is some controversy surrounding the laser lipo technique, including whether or not it is dangerous to melt fat tissue before extracting it.  Essentially, this melted fat can be left behind in the body like toxic residue, and therefore, may cause health problems.  In addition, the heated cannulas used with the laser lipo technique have the potential to damage tissue or burn the skin.

 

Conclusion:

 

When considering having liposuction, make certain that you do your homework. Weigh the pros and cons of each type of procedure, get patient testimonials, look at before and after photos, and speak to the doctor who is going to perform your surgery.

At The Center for Positive Aging, we offer thorough consultations where patients can get to know Dr. Bowen and the staff and are free to ask any questions they may have.  See our websites at www.thecenterforpositiveaging.com or www.liposuctionwv.com, and call us today for your consultation.

PureLipo™ at The Center for Positive Aging can give you the body you’ve always wanted.

The Truth about Tanning and Your Sunscreen, and What You Can Do to Protect Your Skin

Published by Bowen on June 7, 2011 in Uncategorized. 97 Comments

To tan or not to tan, that is the question. If you want to maintain and maximize the youthful appearance and health of your skin, DON’T TAN. Even the slightest sun exposure can break down skin cells, causing age spots, wrinkles, and worse, increasing the risk of cancer.

Obviously, this is not new advice. The “take home” message that sun exposure damages and ages the skin has been drummed into all of us by now. However, we don’t always heed the advice. Unfortunately, that sun-kissed, California glow has been glamorized by the media, encouraging us to look like we’re on a perpetual summer vacation at the expense of our skin.  And although we can’t avoid the sun completely, we can protect our skin from harmful rays by simply applying the right kind of sunscreen.

So, here’s what you need to know about your sunscreen:

Sunscreens can be divided into two categories, based upon their mode of action: physical and chemical.  Physical sunscreens protect the skin by reflecting the sunlight away from the skin or blocking the sun’s rays.  Think of the white goo (zinc oxide) Mom used to put over your nose and cheeks to protect you from long summer days at the pool.  On the other hand, chemical sunscreens that you’ll typically find at your local drug store protect the skin by absorbing the harmful UV light and can present some challenges.

First, they take some time to work, so you don’t get immediate protection with them.  Research has shown that with traditional — that is, chemical — sunscreen, the best protection is achieved with application 15–30 minutes before sun exposure, followed by reapplication 15–30 minutes after the sun exposure begins, and further reapplication after activities such as swimming, sweating, or rubbing/wiping the skin.

Second, it can take some doing to find the liquid, gel or spray sunscreen that feels right on your particular skin.  And, there are other potential problems, such as buying a formula that causes breakouts, allergic reactions or that has off-putting odors.

That is why at The Center for Positive Aging, we are proud to offer Powder-Me SPF.   Powder-Me SPF is not a chemical sunscreen.  It is a physical sunscreen whose ingredients, titanium dioxide and a natural sun-dried clay act by reflecting sunlight away from the skin. And it’s odor-free.

Powder-Me SPF can be used on the body and face for a UVB/UVA sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.  It’s completely free of contaminants and skin pollutants.  In fact, ancient clay contains minerals that nourish and calm the skin.  So, even if you do get too much sun, you can apply Powder-Me SPF to help soothe the inflammation.

To learn more about the relationship between sun exposure and skin health, we recommend you visit The Skin Cancer Foundation’s website, which provides concise yet comprehensive data on the wide-ranging effects of the sun’s rays on our skin. This site can be a great educational resource for our teens, whose maturing skin can be especially susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun. Like many teens that tend not to listen to parents’ advice about much of anything, including sun avoidance, they may be more open to the message if it comes from a neutral source.

Fortunately, Powder-Me SPF is suitable for all ages, genders, and skin types and will be a staple year round.  So, you can apply it on your children and teens and feel confident that they’re getting the protection they need while they’re out playing any time of year.  Use on the face and body for optimal coverage. We have two formulas available– Translucent and Tanned.  Translucent disappears on the skin while Tanned adds a touch of golden bronze, perfect for the legs and arms.

Powder-Me SPF also makes a great gift. Surprise your husband, father, or father in-law and slip this thoughtful gift in his golf bag on Father’s Day.

jane iredale Copyright © 2004 – 2011 by Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, Ltd. All rights reserved. Used by permission.