For those looking for something other than traditional liposuction in Baltimore, there are many alternatives available. I use a method of laser-assisted liposuction known as Smartlipo MPX™ to tighten the skin while removing frustrating fat deposits. This state-of-the-art body contouring technique is a less invasive approach to traditional tumescent liposuction and sculpts beautiful results with minimal downtime.

Smartlipo MPX vs. Tumescent Liposuction

Although both Smartlipo MPX and tumescent liposuction are used to remove unwanted fat, they are very different procedures. Unlike traditional liposuction, Smartlipo MPX uses laser technology to help liquefy fat cells before they are removed. This laser energy provides Smartlipo with several benefits, including:

• Gentler, more effective fat removal
• Reduced bleeding and less recovery time
• Smaller incisions
• Tighter skin and better body contours

Smartlipo can usually be performed under local anesthesia, thereby reducing the risks associated with general anesthesia. The procedure generally takes between 1 to 2 hours and can treat almost any area of the body. After surgery, most people can return to work in just 2 to 3 days.

Combined Procedures

Laser-assisted liposuction can assist with fat removal for several different types of procedures. I often use Smartlipo during breast reduction, tummy tuck, or neck lift surgery. Smartlipo can also enhance the results of tumescent liposuction or be used during a “Mommy Makeover” for body contouring benefits.

There are many options for men and women who want to improve their abdominal contour. A tummy tuck in Baltimore is one of the most effective ways to both tighten the abdominal wall and remove excess skin and fat. This procedure is ideal for individuals who have lost firmness in their midsection due to weight loss, pregnancy, or aging, and can be customized to the level of correction needed. I often perform two variations on this very popular procedure: a full and a mini tummy tuck.

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck procedure targets the lower portion of the abdomen only, and is not as extensive as a full tummy tuck. This technique is best suited for men and women who only have a small amount of lax abdominal skin and minimal abdominal protrusion. Benefits of a mini tummy tuck include:

• Better abdominal tone
• Reduced scarring
• Shorter recovery time

Traditional Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck is not necessarily the right solution for everyone. A full tummy tuck may be necessary for individuals with a significant amount of lax skin in their stomach area, or whose abdominal muscles have been severely stretched. This procedure, which tightens the entire abdominal wall, usually requires repositioning of the belly button. Advantages of a full tummy tuck include:

• More dramatic improvements
• Tightening of the entire abdomen
• A flatter, firmer torso

Important Considerations

Although liposuction can be used to remove excess fat during a tummy tuck, it’s important to be at a stable, healthy weight before undergoing surgery. Additionally, women who plan to become pregnant should wait until they are finished having children before choosing this procedure. Those who have already had tummy tuck surgery are advised to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine to ensure the longevity of their results.

Lately I’ve found that there is a substantial amount of misinformation on the Internet regarding breast augmentation in Baltimore. Three false claims that caught my attention include:

Silicone implants increase your chances for breast cancer.

Fact: Silicone implants have been FDA-approved for safety and have not been proven to increase a woman’s chance for breast cancer. In fact, the new generation of silicone breast implants is more cohesive than previous versions, meaning that there is no risk of the implant “leaking.” Mammograms can also be successfully performed on women with silicone or saline breast implants when conducted by a trained technician.

Breast augmentation can correct breast sagging.

Fact: Breast augmentation can provide a slight lift for women with a very mild amount of breast sagging. However, breast augmentation surgery alone is not usually sufficient to improve moderate to severe cases of breast sag. In these cases, a breast lift or breast lift with augmentation may be required.

Breast augmentation cannot be combined with another procedure.

Fact: Many women combine breast augmentation with another breast procedure, such as a breast lift, depending on their physical concerns. Body contouring procedures such as liposuction or a tummy tuck can also be performed simultaneously to avoid multiple surgeries and extended downtime.

If you are considering breast surgery or plastic surgery in general, I strongly urge you to seek the advice of a qualified plastic surgeon. You can also access credible information online through reputable sources such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeon’s Web site, or on Realself.com.

Women frequently come to me with very different reasons for considering breast augmentation in Baltimore. Their common bond is a desire to feel better about their breasts – and themselves.

In some cases, they want to make uneven breasts more symmetrical. In other cases, women who have lost significant amounts of weight, had a baby or are dealing with the side effects of nursing ask whether breast augmentation can restore lost volume. In yet others, women simply want to increase breast size or improve upon their shape to achieve a more figure-flattering silhouette.

Breast augmentation is designed to do all of these things and more. But the procedure also can offer benefits that transcend the merely physical. While the desire to look better does have an aesthetic component, more often than not women considering breast augmentation want to feel better and more confident in their perception of themselves.

The results of a University of Florida study, which were published in Plastic Surgical Nursing (a magazine aimed at professionals), identify several psychological benefits experienced by women after undergoing breast augmentation procedures. Those benefits include an increase in self-esteem, more positive feelings about their romantic lives and a renewed belief that they are sexy and attractive to others.

You are unique and your reasons for considering breast augmentation are also unique. At Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, I operate under the philosophy that only the results of breast augmentation should remain the same: creating beautiful, natural-looking breasts my patients can feel good about for years to come.

As a plastic surgeon with a growing practice, it’s important to me to stay in touch with my Washington DC facelift and plastic surgery patients to help them learn about news and events in the plastic surgery field. Twitter gives me a quick and easy way to share my thoughts with my patients as well as individuals interested in plastic surgery.

Twitter is particularly effective in delivering information in a fast, easy manner. For instance, I can share posts that I’ve written on various sites with my Twitter followers so that they can easily access answers to common plastic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic treatment questions. Twitter also allows me to link to other relevant news or my own blog, where I can offer more extensive information on various cosmetic topics.

What are your thoughts about plastic surgeons using Twitter and other social media outlets? Do you find it helpful?

You’ve dieted endlessly. You’ve performed sit-ups and crunches until you’re aching. Still, you’re plagued by excess skin and fat around your midsection.

It’s a common problem, and it’s time you discovered how a tummy tuck in Baltimore can give you the whittled waistline and slim silhouette you want after all of that hard work.

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a body contouring procedure focused on improving the appearance of the abdomen. It is often accompanied by liposuction to achieve a flat and well-toned midsection. As a board-certified plastic surgeon who has written about this procedure for publications like Women’s Journal, I know quite a bit about how a tummy tuck can benefit you.

When performed by a skilled surgeon, a tummy tuck should:

• Eliminate excess skin from around your abdominal area
• Remove excess fat from around your midsection
• Tighten stretched abdominal muscles
• Give you a flatter abdomen
• Narrow your waistline

Even after a tummy tuck, a healthy diet and regular exercise are important for maintaining a slim shape. If you’re getting serious about getting in shape, talk with a plastic surgeon near you about how abdominoplasty can help you achieve your goals.

Facial sculpting and face lift surgery are different procedures, meant for different purposes. Facial sculpting involves reshaping specific areas of the face for a more defined contour. For instance, a rhinoplasty procedure falls under this category because the goal is to reshape the nasal structure. While facial sculpting can have rejuvenating benefits, the goal is to contour an area.

A face lift at our Maryland area practice is designed to refresh and rejuvenate the face. A face lift can benefit your eyes, cheeks, jowls, and, if desired, the neck. During this procedure, I remove excess skin and tissue to help reveal tighter and smoother skin. Reshaping is not the primary goal for this procedure, in contrast to facial sculpting.

For those who are interested in both facial sculpting and a face lift, certain procedures can be combined for beautiful results. For instance, facial implants can be combined with a face lift to help tighten skin while augmenting specific areas of the face such as the cheeks and chin.

After a nose fracture, you may wonder how long you should wait to have corrective surgery. The first step on the path to recovery is to have your nose examined by a physician who is familiar with nasal injuries. One of the reasons for this is to ensure that there is no bleeding or blood collection underneath the lining of the nasal septum.

Nasal surgery can be performed shortly after the injury. However, waiting for the initial swelling to subside is a good idea. After that point, if the nasal injury is “fresh,” and the underlying bones are still mobile, the nose can be reset. In general, having the procedure performed soon after the injury (within the first week) may be helpful.

If the nose has healed to an unsatisfactory position after the injury, an open rhinoplasty procedure may be necessary to address the nasal appearance. The decision as to whether to have nose surgery after an injury needs to be based on a variety of factors. If after healing, the injury does not affect breathing, having surgery to correct it is considered cosmetic.

If you are considering rhinoplasty in Washington, DC, I recommend scheduling an appointment with a specialist for a full evaluation to make sure you understand all the factors involved.

I have had several people ask me if there is any way to perform a “scarless” tummy tuck. Although there is no way to completely avoid a scar, the degree of scarring can be lessened with a popular Baltimore abdominoplasty surgery called the “mini tummy tuck.”

What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?

A mini tummy tuck is a modified version of the standard tummy tuck that involves flattening the lower abdomen. A short incision is made below the belly button and excess skin and fat is removed and the abdominal walls are tightened, producing a firmer appearance. This procedure is best for people who are already fit or slender, but who may have excess skin or bulging below the navel.

Benefits of a Mini Tummy Tuck

An obvious advantage of the mini tummy tuck is that it produces a less conspicuous scar than traditional abdominoplasty, which involves an incision that runs along the pelvic bone. Additionally, because a mini tummy tuck does not include repositioning of the belly button, navel reconstruction is not necessary.

Mini vs. Full Tummy Tuck

Not everyone is a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck. Generally, people who have a significant amount of excess skin and fatty tissue, or who are have recently experienced dramatic weight loss or pregnancy, would benefit more from a full tummy tuck. That’s because traditional abdominoplasty can address the entire abdominal area – both above and below the navel – for more skin tightening and contouring. Discuss your options with an experienced surgeon to determine which method is best.

Searching for a plastic surgeon in Baltimore for breast enhancement can be tricky. Browsing through a surgeon’s photo gallery can be a helpful tool in assessing his or her qualifications and skill. But how do you know what to look for? Here are 4 tips when viewing “before and after” photos:

1. Take notes: Write down what you like and what you don’t like about each photo. Mention specific details such as nipple placement, breast symmetry, and chest projection. You can bring these notes with you for your consultation.
2. Look for people with your body type: Finding someone who is your age and who has similar anatomy can be helpful in predicting your results. It is not realistic to think that your body type or bone structure can be altered as a result of breast surgery.
3. Steer clear of celebrity or magazine photos: Aside from the fact that most people do not have the same body type as the models in magazines, celebrity photos are often digitally enhanced or airbrushed. These pictures are not good resources when developing expectations about surgery.
4. Look at the whole picture: Remember that you are viewing a representative body of work. The results overall should be typical of the surgeon and his or her skill, not simply the best cases. Assess the general feeling or sense you receive from the photos as a whole. Be sure to examine pictures of other procedures, as well.