Reflections on Beauty

Thousands of American mommies make ‘me’ time with makeovers

Most moms today are considered superwomen. Between shuttling kids to soccer practice, bandaging scraped knees, paying the bills and working a full-time job, is there anything these ladies can't do? Not surprisingly, however, these responsibilities take up a lot of time. Once in a while, a woman has to take time out for herself. Whether she decides to get a pedicure, shop for new shoes or simply sleep in on Sunday, paying attention to her own needs once in a while is essential to her well-being.

For a growing number of mothers, quality "me" time involves getting a cosmetic procedure like laser liposuction. According to 2009 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 325,000 minimally invasive treatments were performed on mommies between the ages of 20 and 39 that year.

The demand for face- and body-enhancing makeovers is growing every year among women of childbearing age. Plastic surgeon Tracy Hankins explained that this may be because ladies have so many choices available to them when it comes to battling wrinkles and belly fat.

"Increases in patient awareness on the variety of techniques available to rejuvenate the body after pregnancy has directly increased the popularity of the mommy makeover," Hankins stated. "By combining surgical procedures, in just a few short hours, patients can regain their youthful contours and shape in a safe and effective manner."

Pregnancy and childbirth can significantly change the way a woman's body looks, as well as the way she feels about her appearance. Even with good nutrition and regular exercise, most moms struggle to achieve their desired figure.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons conducted a survey that revealed that cost may still be a barrier to cosmetic enhancement for some women. About 62 percent of respondents said that they would consider a mommy makeover it was if not for the expense.

However, this has not deterred countless Americans, particularly those who do research to find a reputable medical spa in their area. For people who obtain the results they want in a safe, timely manner, the benefits often outweigh the cost.

Hankins emphasized that mommy makeovers help women feel more confident and comfortable in their own bodies. Thanks to significant advancements in the field of cosmetic surgery, numerous safe and effective techniques such as laser liposuction can help these ladies feel great about themselves. 

Most Americans have their weight on their minds. We watch what we eat, we exercise – or tell ourselves that we will – and we keep an eye on our pant sizes like nobody's business. This doesn't necessarily mean that most of us are unhappy with ourselves – rather, we want to look the best we can. After all, a slimmer, toned physique is not only associated with better health and a more youthful appearance, but can be a confidence booster as well.

This may explain the skyrocketing popularity of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures like laser liposuction. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, an estimated 83 percent of techniques performed by plastic surgeons in 2010 were non-surgical. This amounted to approximately 8 million treatments at a cost of $4.1 billion.

"The ideal candidate is somebody who's in reasonably good shape, somebody who has some love handles or a post-pregnancy pouch or back fat that doesn't want to disappear," explained surgeon Dieter Manstein, quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

Laser liposuction is offered as a complement to a healthy lifestyle that consists of a nutritious diet and plenty of physical activity, rather than as a quick-fix. The procedure uses targeted laser energy to address problem areas such as the stomach, hips, upper arms, thighs, inner knees and underneath the chin.

An effective, FDA-approved treatment like SlimLipo specifically focuses on fat cells in these regions of the body, which is administered after the patient is given anesthesia in order to make the process more comfortable. After the cells are liquefied, they are removed with thin suction wands called cannulas.

The technique is quick, easy and requires relatively little downtime, with most individuals ready to get back to their everyday lives within a day or two. These benefits have led to the rising popularity of such minimally invasive treatments, as have the smoother, more natural-looking results.

"Some patients just aren't interested in a surgical option," said surgeon Jeffrey Kenkel, who serves as president of the American Society for Aethestic Plastic Surgery, quoted by the Times.

In this respect, laser liposuction may be the ideal cosmetic treatment for those who are looking for a safe alternative to surgery with pleasing results and a much shorter recovery time.  

As wedding season rolls around, bridal boutiques and flower shops aren't the only ones seeing more newlyweds-to-be – cosmetic specialists are, too. In preparation for the big day, brides and grooms alike are seeking ways to make sure that they look picture perfect.

Clinicians have reported an upsurge in the number of people seeking out laser liposuction, according to the Calgary Herald. In particular, more men are asking about the minimally invasive technique, which uses targeted laser energy to remove fat from areas such as the abdomen and thighs.

According to specialist Sean Hintz, this non-surgical cosmetic treatment is both safe and effective. However, he warned against relying on laser liposuction alone to achieve a better body, saying that the technique is meant to complement healthy lifestyle choices such as eating nutritious food.

"I would not recommend that someone come in and have this done, and then eat at McDonald's every day," Hintz told the Shreveport Times.

Those who exercise and eat a healthy diet may be most satisfied with the results of the procedure. Most people just need a day or two to recover, making laser liposuction a smart choice for busy brides and grooms who need to get right back to wedding planning. 

It's hard to find someone who is completely happy with their appearance. In fact, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of the West of England revealed that 30 percent of women are willing to trade at least one year of their lives in order to achieve their ideal body shape.

Lead investigator Phillipa Diedrichs and her colleagues administered a survey to college women at several campuses around the UK.

About 16 percent of the respondents said that they were willing to give up one year of their lives in order to achieve a better body shape, while 10 percent said they would trade up to five years.

"The findings highlight that body image is an issue for all women and not just adolescent girls, as is often thought," Diedrichs explained.

Of the women surveyed, about 39 percent said that they would be willing to undergo cosmetic procedures such as laser liposuction. The majority of these respondents said that they would be willing to have multiple procedures to get the body they wanted.

Trimming down via a safe, minimally invasive technique can be a good way for women to feel a little more confident about their appearance. 

Americans shape up with the help of laser liposuction

Diet and exercise are the go-to methods for slimming down, and many people who choose to undergo laser liposuction as an additional enhancement have been satisfied with the results. This may be why the popularity of the procedure has risen so fast in recent years, with an estimated 500,000 procedures performed in 2005, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

The technique "is a very minimally invasive procedure," said surgeon Marcia V. Byrd, according to CosmeticSurgery.com. "The laser constricts blood vessels as it works, so virtually no bruising is created. Plus, the cannula inserted into the treatment areas is the size of an 18-gauge needle. That is a thickness equal to two pencil lines drawn next to each other."

Laser liposuction has helped many Americans achieve their desired body shape. One patient from Long Beach, New York, who ran triathlons, hiked and lifted weights, opted to undergo the procedure in order to further sculpt and enhance her body.

The technology is designed to permanently destroy fat cells and tighten up skin in trouble spots, such as under the chin, according to the Miami Herald. Many patients who are looking for a trimmer body have benefited from the sculpting and shaping capabilities of laser liposuction.

Although it doesn't feel like it yet in some parts of the country, summertime is just around the corner. Warmth and sunshine usually mean shorts, tank tops and swimsuits, which can be a great excuse to show off a toned body. Don't have the perfect figure? Laser liposuction might just be your ticket to a trimmer silhouette that looks great even in a teeny bikini.

Experts say that the technique is safe, effective and minimally invasive. Compared to surgery, laser liposuction has fewer side effects, a quicker recovery time and is generally a much faster process, since it can be performed in an outpatient setting.

"For patients who want relatively small areas performed under local anesthesia, the laser liposuction is ideal," said surgeon Daryl Hoffman, quoted by American Health and Beauty. "The [trick] is to control the weight, change your lifestyle and then use the liposuction procedure to sculpt the body."

The laser technology breaks up fat deposits while sealing up blood vessels at the same time, which causes less bleeding, bruising, swelling and discomfort.

For those who are looking to have laser liposuction in New Jersey, talking to a qualified specialist at Reflections Medical Spa could be the first step to getting a trimmer, beach-ready body. 

We live in a cost-conscious time. All of us want to get the best value for the dollar, whether that’s in a purchase of laundry detergent or in plastic surgery. However, there’s a big difference between the two. A box of Tide is the same wherever you purchase it, but cosmetic surgery requires intrusion into your body and can have unexpected consequences in the wrong hands, particularly procedures such as liposuction.

Recently, the news has reported that a Manhattan-based Dominican Republic physician has been advertising cheap plastic surgery. Although the patients were examined in a Manhattan office, they flew to the Dominican Republic for the actual procedures. There were complaints that his patients developed severe infections and disfigurement. Because he is not licensed here in the US, he has been charged for unauthorized practice of a profession by the Attorney General’s office in New York state.

It’s extremely important that you closely examine the background of any surgeon you choose to perform cosmetic surgery on your body. While flying to another country may offer savings, the cost of airfare, hotel, meals and the need to bring a companion can outweigh any potential savings. Further is the potential for severe consequences such as infection, disfigurement and even death. Even in the US, where surgeons are held to a very high standard in their operating facilities this still leaves room for cut-rate physicians bent on doing thousands of surgeries at cheap prices to cover their overhead. Many don’t even carry malpractice insurance.

Dr. Chasin has extensive training in Aesthetic Medicine and has studied under some of the country’s most prominent physicians. He serves as a nationwide lecturer and teacher,  is often seen on national and regional television and is frequently quoted in magazines and journals.

Dr. Chasin is a Diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery, a Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and a member of the International Society of Cosmetic Laser Surgeons, the American Academy of Cosmetic Family Medicine, the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Society of Liposuction Surgery, the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, and the International association of Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine.

You cannot put a price tag on training and experience. You wouldn’t let an unqualified person work on the electrical systems in your home; why do so with your body and your health?

A Canadian study followed both women with and women without breast implants over many years to discover whether breast implants inhibited the ability to identify breast tumors and, therefore, increased the risk for women with implants to experience poor cancer survival rates.

In fact, the study not only showed that women with implants already have a lower rate of breast cancer as compared to peer groups in the population, but that both women with and women without breast implants have similar outcomes when diagnosed with breast cancer. This is further reassurance for women who fear that implants will hide tumors on mammograms.

Whether or not you have breast implants, we recommend regular mammograms, especially if you have a family history of breast cancer. Detection is vital to your health and well-being!

As most of you already know, liposuction is a perfect way to permanently remove small amounts of fat because it completely removes the fat cells in the treated area(s). Therefore, just one liposuction procedure yields lifelong results. Occasionally, patients ask us at Reflections Center in New Jersey just how much fat can be removed at a time. They have heard stories about 5-10 liters of fat being removed and patients “losing” 20 or more pounds of fat through liposuction.

First of all, it’s important to understand that liposuction is not a weight reduction method.  Although anywhere from one liter up to three liters of fat can be removed, depending upon the patient’s body composition, weight distribution, age, etc, we think it’s unwise to remove more than three liters at one time. Further, the limitation of amount of fat removed is directly correlated to the amount of tumescent anesthesia a patient can tolerate. Everybody has their own limit as to how much is enough for one procedure.

We love laser liposuction for several reasons, not the least of which is that it’s so patient-oriented. Traditional liposuction is great for the surgeon, inasmuch as they don’t have to talk to you, worry about being particularly gentle (after all, you’re under anesthesia in a traditional lipo procedure) and it’s a very fast procedure for the surgeon. Laser lipo gives smoother results, less bruising, quicker recovery and has no anesthesia risks.

Patients often come to us with concerns about the appearance of their inner thighs. Generally fit, they are mystified that their inner thighs are beginning to sag. What can be done?

Inner thigh sagging can be the result of weight loss, muscle loss and/or aging. As we age, our muscle tone does tend to decrease unless we work very hard to maintain it. Skin on the legs, including the thighs, also will begin to lose tone with age. Further, if you have lost weight, the skin on the inner thighs may not “bounce back” as it did when you were younger.

Hip adduction machines and pulley machines at your gym or fitness club can be used specifically to increase the muscle mass on the inner thighs. Fitness trainers advise that you perform more reps with lower weights rather than applying a great deal of weight with fewer repetitions. Just be sure that you don’t struggle too much with three repetitions in a row; if so, lower the weight, but not so low that you have absolutely no fatigue by the third set of 10 repetitions. Pilates is also known to strengthen the inner thighs.

For many of our patients from New Jersey, laser liposuction is an excellent solution, either as an alternative to the above workout or in addition to it. Laser liposuction can remove the areas of inner-thigh fat while helping tighten the skin in that area. Performed under local anesthesia, laser lipo comes with a very short downtime, making it easy to fit into your busy lifestyle.