If you’re like most people, you make the same resolution every year: diet and exercise, diet and exercise, diet and exercise . . .

This may be the year to consider a new way of obtaining a slimmer, trimmer, better-sculpted body – such as tumescent liposuction in Atlanta.

Why Exercise Isn’t Enough

There’s a reason those last few pounds are so hard to lose: Our bodies are genetically programmed to hold onto weight in certain areas. Many troublesome fat pockets cannot be selectively targeted and burned away with exercise, no matter how much effort is put in. Only liposuction can remove this unwanted fat permanently.

Is Liposuction Right for Me?

Liposuction may be an appropriate option if you are at a healthy weight and exercise regularly but have specific areas you would like to reduce, such as love handles or saddle bags. Contrary to popular belief, liposuction is not appropriate for overweight individuals and will not replace a healthy lifestyle.

Can I Gain Weight After Liposuction?

It is absolutely possible to gain weight after liposuction. Surgery is not a cure-all. A balanced diet and a regular exercise routine must be maintained. Because the fat cells are removed permanently, however, they will not return. So, although you may gain weight, it should be distributed more evenly.

What Types of Liposuction are Available?

At the Plastic Surgery Center of the South, we offer a variety of liposuction techniques. The specific technique is selected depending on the patient’s body shape, goals and preferences. Tumescent liposuction is probably performed most often. It requires surgery as well as downtime. However, the results are more significant than less-invasive approaches such as CoolSculpting® or a lipodissolve method. In some cases, body contouring results may be improved through another procedure, such as a tummy tuck. At our Atlanta, GA practice, you can meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your needs and suggest the treatment that best suits you.

When you’re looking for a doctor in Atlanta for breast enhancement or other cosmetic procedures, we always recommend that you seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon for your safety and protection. But what is board certification, and why is it so important?

Board certification is a voluntary undertaking that exceeds basic licensing requirements. Doctors who qualify for certification must commit to an area of specialization, such as plastic surgery, dermatology or another medical field. They spend years working in hospitals under the guidance of senior physicians – a process known as residency – and they must prove their competency by passing a series of written and oral exams.

Not all certifying agencies are the same. For example, a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has not necessarily met the same requirements as a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. That’s why, when choosing a professional to perform your procedure, it’s important to know each board’s certification requirements.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which evaluates the training and certification of plastic and reconstructive surgeons, is the only plastic surgery board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. ABMS is considered the “gold standard” in physician certification, and the 24 member-boards approved by ABMS enforce rigorous training and educational requirements, including professional peer evaluation and examination.

You can find more information about the boards and their specific requirements online. The boards’ websites are also good resources for helping you locate a qualified plastic surgeon in your area. Don’t take chances; trust your body only to a well-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon.

Women and men looking for a non-surgical answer to the early signs of aging often turn to BOTOX® Cosmetic in Atlanta. This safe and effective answer to wrinkles and fine lines is a great way to achieve the look that you desire. Here are some quick facts about this popular treatment:

• BOTOX Cosmetic is a botulinum toxin (type A) that is FDA approved for temporary treatment of glabellar lines. Botulinum toxin is a type of protein that has a number of medical uses.
• Unlike dermal fillers, BOTOX Cosmetic targets facial muscles. The injections temporarily block nerve impulses to reduce muscle activity, as opposed to “filling in” wrinkles.
• Side effects are typically mild and rare when treatment is administered by a trained professional. Botulinum toxin has an excellent safety record and history of medical use.
• BOTOX Cosmetic can provide a great complement to other non-surgical procedures. For example, many women and men combine BOTOX Cosmetic with dermal fillers for a “liquid facelift.”

When women and men visit my office looking for a comprehensive solution for the effects of aging on their faces, I almost always recommend combining a neck lift and face lift in Atlanta. This combination typically provides patients with the most significant and long-lasting results.

Facelifts are an excellent way to help women and men concerned with sagging skin on the lower and mid face, creases that form along the mouth, and deep wrinkles. This effective procedure involves easily hidden incisions along the hairline at the temples and down to the lower scalp.

Often, however, women and men don’t notice the signs of aging in only one area of their faces. Aging, weight fluctuations, and other factors can contribute to loose neck skin, sagging jowls, and excess fat under the chin. Neck lifts can provide a way to tighten sagging skin below the chin, and can be an excellent complement to other facial procedures.

I frequently recommend combining facelift with a neck lift in Atlanta to provide smoother skin and advanced muscle tightening. This combination provides a more comprehensive rejuvenation. In addition, by combining procedures, I provide a way for my patients to achieve their goals with just one recovery time, as compared to separate procedures.

Often women and men come to my practice frustrated by stubborn fat that plagues their bodies despite spending countless hours in the gym and maintaining a healthy diet. For patients such as these, I often suggest liposuction in Marietta, GA. This simple yet effective procedure is a great complement to a healthy and active lifestyle, and understanding the basics of this treatment is a great way of deciding if it is right for you.

Liposuction procedures begin with a series of small and often inconspicuous incisions in the treatment area. After injecting the area with a tumescent solution, which provides anesthesia and reduces bleeding, the area is ready for fat removal. A thin tube, known as a cannula, is then inserted under the skin. The surgeon gently moves the cannula in a back and forth motion to break up fat.

The cannula then removes the loosened fat cells, permanently eliminating the cells from a person’s body. The surgeon will end the procedure by closing the incisions with fine sutures and applying a post-operative garment. Over the weeks that follow, swelling will subside and the results will become increasingly apparent.

Women and men frequent my Marietta plastic surgery practice with questions concerning facial sculpting procedures that can balance their facial features. I often recommend nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) for people with this concern, and also express the potential for this popular procedure to fulfill functional purposes.

The first step in a nose reshaping procedure is making incisions based on a person’s needs and goals. The two primary methods are:

• Closed Rhinoplasty: Incisions are hidden interior of the nose, preventing any scarring on the outside of the nose.
• Open Rhinoplasty: Incisions are made on the outside of the nose, including the strip of tissue that separates a person’s nostrils (columella), and the natural nose creases.

Once the incisions are made, surgeons will either reduce the nose structure through removal of cartilage, or augment the nasal structure by adding cartilage from other areas of the body. During this phase, surgeons can also improve a person’s breathing through correcting problems such as a deviated septum.

Doctors will complete the procedure by closing the incisions, and placing internal nose support to assist a person in breathing during recovery. Swelling will subside within a few weeks, and people should begin to see changes in their nose and facial appearance that will continue to emerge over a year. ]]> http://www.cosmeticsurgerychronicle.com/nose-reshaping-explained/feed/ 0 http://www.cosmeticsurgerychronicle.com/momm-makeovers-gaining-popularity/ http://www.cosmeticsurgerychronicle.com/momm-makeovers-gaining-popularity/#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:13:35 +0000 Dr. Michael Petrosky http://www.cosmeticsurgerychronicle.com/?p=4731 By: Michael Petrosky, M.D.

After giving birth, many women feel that their bodies don’t retain the same youthful contour they once were accustomed to. A number of women in Marietta turn to breast augmentation, but a new trend known as …

By: Michael Petrosky, M.D.

After giving birth, many women feel that their bodies don’t retain the same youthful contour they once were accustomed to. A number of women in Marietta turn to breast augmentation, but a new trend known as Mommy Makeovers is gaining popularity due to the procedure’s ability to enhance multiple areas at once.

Mommy Makeovers typically include some form of breast enhancement procedure, a tummy tuck, and in some cases, liposuction. The combination of these procedures helps women bounce back after pregnancy.

One of the most significant aspects of any Mommy Makeover is breast enhancement. For many women, this means combining a breast augmentation with a breast lift. In general, breast lifts create a more youthful appearance by removing excess skin and reshaping and elevating the breast tissue and nipple. When combined with breast augmentation, these procedures can effectively restore a woman’s breast shape and size.

Tummy tucks are a great tool for women that have experienced recent weight loss, but new mothers turn to this procedure when they want to remove the excess skin and repair lax muscles that cause sagging of the lower abdomen. Some surgeons will also recommend liposuction to complement a tummy tuck, or to enhance other areas of the body.

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A number of women consider mastopexy, better known as breast lift in Atlanta when their breasts begin to show the physical signs caused by aging, gravity, heredity and pregnancy. Although this procedure is not intended to increase the size or upper volume of a woman’s breasts, it is a great tool for creating a youthful breast appearance.

Breast lift incisions typically follow one of three patterns:

1. Around the areola (donut mastopexy)
2. Around the areola, then vertically down from the areola to the breast crease (lollipop or vertical mastopexy)
3. Around the areola, vertically, then horizontally along the bottom breast crease (anchor or inverted “T” mastopexy)

Once the incisions are made, your surgeon will begin reshaping your breasts. This process typically entails a combination of methods, including reshaping the underlying breast tissue. Surgeons will typically shift the nipple and areola upward for a more youthful look. Finally, Excess skin is removed to give the breasts a tighter contour.

The doctor will close the incisions, making sure to minimize the potential for scarring. Results are immediately visible, but swelling will subside over several weeks to reveal your new youthful looking breasts.

Early signs of aging can be irritating reminders that you’re getting older, but there are a number of treatment options for women and men that want to maintain their youthful looking skin and avoid surgery. Here are some of the most popular nonsurgical facial rejuvenations treatments:

• BOTOX® Cosmetic targets facial muscles that contract under the skin, resulting in “dynamic wrinkles.” This treatment works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes by relaxing these muscles. Most women and men experience smoother skin for approximately 4 months.
• Restylane® is a dermal filler that restores lost volume to the folds that often appear around the nose and mouth. This simple treatment requires no allergy testing, and women and men often see results for up to six months.
• RADIESSE® Volumizing Filler is injected into the skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines, restoring volume that is lost as a person ages. This treatment provides a “scaffold” under the skin around which new collagen grows for lasting results.
• Sculptra® Aesthetic is an injectable poly-L-lactic acid that stimulates collagen growth over time. Surgeons often recommend a series of treatments over a span of a few months for natural and longer results that can last up to 2 years.

These treatments serve as a great alternative to surgery, and as a complement for other plastic surgery procedures. Qualified plastic surgeons can easily help people determine which treatments are right for their desired result.

There are plenty of reasons why my Atlanta BOTOX® patients swear by their treatment. For those of you still on the fence about this revolutionary wrinkle treatment, here are a few key facts to consider.

1. This treatment option is non-surgical, very effective, and takes only minutes to perform
2. BOTOX has a proven safety record over millions of treatments performed each year
3. Dynamic wrinkles (those caused by repeated facial muscle movement) can benefit from BOTOX
4. BOTOX can treat smile lines, lines on the forehead and wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet)
5. A topical anesthetic can be applied to the treatment area for improved comfort during treatment
6. BOTOX injections are performed using a very fine needle – patients say it feels like a bug bite
7. Most patients are treated within 10 to 15 minutes and carry on with their day’s activities right away
8. BOTOX takes 3 to 5 days to take effect and smooth out the targeted wrinkles
9. BOTOX keeps working – offering a smoother look that lasts up to 4 months
10. Maintaining an improved appearance is as simple as scheduling a touch-up treatment