Websites such as Groupon and other promotional sites offer some pretty tempting deals on cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal in Spokane. Unfortunately, many people who rush into such treatments on impulse wind up being disappointed with the results.

Whether you’re considering a surgical or nonsurgical procedure, it’s important to take time to mentally and physically prepare for your treatment. Specials tend to push people into a procedure too quickly, often leading to regrets.

Choosing a qualified specialist is one of the best ways to ensure a positive outcome, so it’s important to spend time researching your options. The Internet is a great place to start. I recommend studying the websites of several local specialists and reviewing their qualifications.

Many plastic surgery practices and medical spas encourage people to come in for a consultation and learn about their options. Once you find a specialist with whom you feel comfortable, you can discuss options for your cosmetic goals. Some practices offer specials on popular treatments, which can help you get the results you desire at a price that fits your budget.

No matter what procedure is being considered, I tell my patients that it’s worth spending a little more money to get it right the first time. Looking and feeling great is priceless, and you deserve to have the highest quality of care.  

For men and women considering a tummy tuck in Seattle, I offer two types: mini and traditional. How do you know which is right for you?

Here are the differences between the two types:

• Most of us gain a few pounds – or lose a few pounds – during the course of our lives, and our bodies usually adjust to those weight fluctuations. For some, though, no amount of exercise or diet can correct the sagging, bulges and tummy pooch that may result. In such cases, if the excess skin and fat are only in the lower portion of the abdomen, I can perform a mini tummy tuck. Because this procedure requires a shorter incision and leaves the belly button intact, the recovery time is shorter.
• Transitions such as significant weight loss or pregnancy can result in lax abdominal muscles, excess fat deposits and loose skin throughout the midsection. In such cases, a traditional tummy tuck is most appropriate. Although this procedure is more extensive, involving an incision from hip to hip and sometimes repositioning the belly button, it’s the best way to achieve that firm, flat stomach we all want.

People who have had unfortunate experiences with BOTOX in Spokane sometimes come to my practice asking if they can reverse the results.

First, I must emphasize that I’m a strong advocate of choosing a qualified specialist, since this is the best way to help avoid disappointing results. BOTOX cannot be “reversed,” but I do offer options for correction.

Fortunately, BOTOX results are temporary, usually lasting 3 to 4 months. Negative experiences with this effective treatment shouldn’t discourage patients from seeking an experienced doctor who can create satisfying, natural looking results.

Sometimes patients are also unhappy with results of dermal fillers from other practices. Whether you’ve experienced bumps, asymmetry or over-enhanced areas from dermal fillers, there are options for correcting, and even reversing, the problem.

During the correction procedure, a solution containing a special enzyme is injected into the area previously treated. The enzyme breaks down the filler, restoring the pre-treatment appearance. Patients often see results within 24 hours, but additional treatments may be necessary.

If you’ve had a surgical or non-surgical treatment and are unhappy with the results, I recommend speaking with a qualified doctor about options for correcting your appearance. There are treatments that can help undo problems and create a more natural looking face.

At my plastic surgery practice in Seattle, I’m often asked by both men and women about those frustrating, exercise-resistant areas of fat. They diet, they exercise, and yet they are still plagued by isolated problems such as love handles.

The solution for many of them is liposuction. It can be used to reduce localized areas of fat, and I offer a variety of liposuction methods so I can choose the best approach for each patient.

Here’s the skinny:

• Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) involves injecting an anesthetic liquid into the targeted area, such as the love handles. I then use a slender, vibrating tube called a cannula to remove the excess fat cells. PAL has two advantages over traditional liposuction: The back-and-forth movement breaks up fat more easily and gently, allowing me to target very specific areas with no damage to the surrounding tissue, and the healing time is shorter.
• I often combine PAL with tumescent liposuction to provide my patients with the optimal benefits.
• Worried about pain? Relax! I typically use general anesthesia, which means you can sleep through the procedure. When you wake up, you’re on your way to achieving that sculpted body you want.

Men and women considering plastic surgery in the Seattle area may find it difficult to choose which surgeon is right for them. While one can be seduced with glitzy marketing appeals, it’s also important to consider the following criteria when choosing a surgeon:

• Education and Training: Check to make sure that the doctors you are considering attended reputable schools for their medical degrees. If their educational background is not listed on their websites, ask to see their C.V. In addition, look at their training in terms of where they did their residency and whether they had any fellowships.
• Experience: Does the plastic surgeon have experience with the procedure you are considering? For example, suppose you want to rejuvenate your appearance with face lift surgery. Ask how many facelifts the surgeon has performed and look at before and after photos on the surgeon’s site for that procedure to make sure the results look natural and aesthetically pleasing.
• Certification: Check to make sure that the surgeon you are considering is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• Comfort Level: Select a plastic surgeon with whom you feel comfortable. In general, I feel that in addition to training, experience, and board certification, my patients select me because I take the time to listen to their concerns in order to design a treatment plan tailored to their unique needs.

Plastic surgery can provide a way to improve your life physically and emotionally, and it’s important to take as much time as you need to choose the surgeon that is right for you.

Longing for a slimmer shape, men and women often ask me about the pros and cons of liposuction in Seattle. I’ve discovered 4 common misconceptions:

• They assume that they can choose liposuction as an alternative to healthy diet and regular exercise.
• They think that their entire body, from head to toe, can benefit from liposuction.
• They are not aware of the latest technological advances in liposuction that have resulted in new treatment options.
• They view it as a “lunch hour” procedure, with no downtime or need for recovery.

Here’s the real skinny on the shaping benefits of liposuction:

• Liposuction achieves the best results when you are near or at your optimal weight. For men and women who regularly exercise and follow a healthy diet, liposuction can be an excellent way to target those frustrating areas of fat on the thighs, tummy, and other areas that even the most rigorous exercise and diet programs cannot remove.
• Liposuction is appropriate for only certain areas of the body, such as the flanks, love handles, tummy, upper arms, and knees. For other areas, such as the face, liposuction has only limited application and a different approach is usually more effective and results in a more aesthetically pleasing result.
• Different liposuction technologies can be used. At my plastic surgery practice in the Seattle area we offer both ultrasonic liposuction with VASER® technology and laser liposuction using the Smartlipo™ device. In contrast to older, more invasive methods, these technologies break up fat cells with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues. The laser Smartlipo technology offers the additional benefit of added skin tightening. This technology can improve results, particularly in patients who are older or have lost some skin elasticity.
• Effective, safe liposuction is not a “lunch hour” procedure. It requires thoughtful planning, proper preparation, and careful execution. Attentive post-operative care, including ultrasound treatments to reduce swelling, and appropriate support garments can also impact the final outcome. The specifics of your procedure will vary, depending on the area being treated and type of liposuction chosen.

When women considering breast augmentation in Seattle ask me about their options, they have three typical areas of concern:

• Type of implant
• Implant size
• Placement of incision

Some surgeons focus on only one of these concerns, approaching breast augmentation as if only the type of implant needs to be discussed with the patient. Others may focus on the implant size without spending as much time to review the other considerations. However, as a board-certified plastic surgeon, I believe in the importance of taking the time to personally meet with each patient, discussing all three decisions and customizing a treatment plan that takes into account that patient’s unique needs and cosmetic goals:

Type of implant: Selecting between a saline or silicone gel model requires an understanding of the relative risks and benefits associated with each device. Saline implants are filled with the same sterile saline solution that is used in IV fluid, and if they leak, the saline is harmlessly absorbed by your body. The newest generation of silicone gel implants appeals to women who prefer the softer, more natural look and feel that gel implants can provide. Although the new generation of gel implants are much more durable, these implants do have a small but recognized leak rate. If a gel implant leaks, the gel is not absorbed and will end up on the inside of the capsule that your body forms around the implant. You body may react to that gel by developing capsular contracture. Fixing a leaking gel implant will require removal of that capsule, as well as replacing the implant. Consequently, repairing a leaking gel implant will involve more surgery and greater expense than replacing a leaking saline implant. So there are long term trade-offs for the benefits that a gel implant can provide

Implant Size: In many cases, women want augmentation because they are dissatisfied with the current size of their breasts. In some situations, however, my patients seek breast augmentation because of changes such as pregnancy or weight loss that have resulted in loss of fullness, particularly in the upper part of the breast, and they may not wish to be significantly larger. We begin by measuring the width of your native breast tissue, which serves as a starting point in picking an implant that is proportionate to your frame. We then use gel implant sizers, placed in a bra, to choose an implant that meets the patient’s goals. We find this a very effective way to decide on the final implant size, and almost never have patients return wishing to change their implant size.

Placement of incision: Most commonly, breast implants are inserted through an incision in the skin crease below the breast (the inframammary fold), or at the border of the areola. Another technique involves inserting the implant through an incision in the armpit using an endoscope to create the pocket. Belly button incisions are not used because they are too distant from the breast and do not allow for accurate creation of the implant pocket, which is an essential part of achieving a cosmetic breast shape. In addition, gel implants cannot be place through the belly button approach.

Women who have had their breast implants for several years sometimes wonder if they should “change out” their implants for a bigger size or different style. If you are considering new breast implants in Seattle, I advise:

• Don’t Rush

Women who have recently had breast enhancement surgery may experience mixed emotions about their results. Your body is healing, and the beautiful results will not be visible for several months. As the swelling subsides, you will adjust to and enjoy your body’s new look.

• Reevaluate Your Goals

Consider the reasons why you want to make a change. Have you recently experienced a lot of life changes? Are you in a healthy state physically and emotionally? Never make an important decision such as surgery impulsively or during a stressful time. If you have fully considered your motivations for surgery, then it may be time to meet with a surgeon and discuss your goals.

• Consult with a Surgeon

Meet with a plastic surgeon to assess your physical and mental readiness for breast augmentation. Be candid about your goals. Communicate clearly so that your surgeon understands your needs and expectations.

Obtaining natural results for your breast augmentation in Seattle requires a surgeon who can design a customized treatment plan. I spend the time needed to evaluate a patient’s body frame and existing breast tissue so that I can place her breast implants for an ideal look. I use 2 different methods of breast implant placement: subpectoral placement (placing the implants under the muscle) and subglandular placement (placing the implants over the muscle).

Subpectoral Placement

Placing the implants under the muscle can result in a softer implant shape and help conceal implant ripples. The tissue covering the implant results in a more natural appearance. Women who may benefit from subpectoral placement include:

Thin or petite women

Women with little breast tissue to cover the implant

Women with little or no drooping of the breast

Subglandular Placement

In some cases, placing an implant over the muscle is advantageous because this method usually has a faster recovery time. This method is suited to:

Women with enough natural breast tissue to cover the implant

Women with drooping breasts who want larger breasts without a breast lift

Athletes or very active women

If you’re considering liposuction in Seattle, you have many new options. One of the techniques you might have heard about is power-assisted liposuction, also known as PAL. This popular method involves injecting an anesthetic liquid into the treatment area, then using a vibrating tube called a “cannula” to remove unwanted fat cells. Though I often get better results with a manual hand syringe lipo technique, I may use PAL liposuction to help my patients achieve dramatic aesthetic results.

Advantages of Power-Assisted Liposuction

• The back and forth motion can break up fat easily, precisely, and gently.
• Fat can be removed quickly for a shorter procedure and recovery period.
• I can precisely target specific areas of fat while avoiding damage to surrounding tissue.

If I am using a manual liposuction technique, I often prefer to use a spatula cannula to smooth out any possible irregularities and minimize any skin contour defects after surgery. The type of liposuction method I will use for a particular patient really depends on the patient’s existing anatomy, areas treated, and desired results.