Lately we have been getting more and more patients asking for a tummy tuck not knowing exactly what it entails. The general desire is to achieve a “flat stomach”. The truth of the matter is not everyone is a good candidate for a tummy tuck and most importantly not everybody needs a tummy tuck to achieve a flat stomach. In this article I will try and review the different options available to improve the abdominal area. 
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a procedure for patients that have loose skin, stretch marks and loose abdominal muscles. This may be due previous pregnancies, weight loss and aging. A full abdominoplasty involves a long incision, removal of excess skin and fat, tightening of abdominal muscles and re-implantation of belly button in new skin. This is fairly extensive procedure and requires a 3-6 week recovery. The closer the patient to their ideal body weight the easier it is to accomplish the desired look and the easier the recovery.
The modified tummy tuck or the mini-tuck is not quite as extensive as the full tummy tuck. It involves a shorter incision, less skin removal, some liposuction, muscle tightening in the lower abdomen only (below the belly button), with or without transposition of the belly button. This is more suitable for patients who have laxity of skin and muscle mostly in the lower abdomen and a fairly tight upper abdomen.
For patients that tend to store most of their fat in the abdomen and excess bulk with some skin laxity is the main problem, liposuction with a dermolipectomy (excess skin removal) is the treatment of choice. This frequently occurs in women after multiple births with weight gain and sagging skin. The liposuction is performed with the standard tumescent technique of liposuction in the entire abdomen and waist region and then some of the loose skin between the belly button to pubic area is removed. This usually results in a smaller scar and a faster recovery. 
It is generally not recommended to combine a full tummy tuck and extensive liposuction. This may result in a higher rate of complications and even longer recovery. Therefore, patients that require both procedures extensively, may choose to have liposuction first then followed by a tummy tuck 6-12 months later. In a small number of cases it is possible to perform the tummy tuck, followed by a touch up liposuction session.
Patients that have retained fairly good skin elasticity and have minimal skin laxity with some excess fat may achieve their goal of a flatter stomach with liposuction only. Liposuction removes the excess fat cells but not the overlying skin, but it does stimulate skin contraction over time. Even in older patients it is quite surprising how well the skin will contract.
Liposuction surgery is mainly considered a contouring procedure and is not a method of weight reduction. It can be useful, as an adjunct to diet and physical conditioning in the management of contour problems. The success of liposuction depends on patient’s post op weight management and care as well as his/her skin elasticity.
To find out which option is suitable for you, please schedule a personal consultation with myself 1-800-6-COSMETIC, 909-987-0899. oYou can view our photogallery of Tummy Tucks at Tummy Tuck Before & After Photos.
Sincerely–
Dr. Haiavy
You may have heard of the “dine and dash” or “gas and go” but “Botox and bail”? According to msnbc.com it’s becoming more common for patients to get Botox, dermal fillers, and other beauty procedures and then leave without paying.
One recent case involved a woman, dubbed the “Beauty Bandit,” who received over $3,000 worth of Botox and fillers at a cosmetic dermatology center in Fort Lauderdale and then disappeared after telling staff she had run out to get cash from an ATM. The suspect was arrested recently, but she is just one of many recent “cosmetic criminals” who have made headlines.
“From talking to our doctors, this is a problem that’s occurring from coast to coast,” says Jeff Karzen, spokesman for the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. Botox bandits have also been reported in Newport Beach, Calif.; Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; Brisbane, Australia and Kenton, England.
Some surgeons point to the bad economy and the perceived “necessity” of cosmetic procedures as the catalyst behind these crimes, according to msnbc.com.
Dr. Jon Grazer, a Newport Beach plastic surgeon who was hit by a Botox bandit last year, says that many feel Botox is no longer a luxury. “It’s something people have to have, and if they can’t afford it because of the economy, I think it’s going to push them to get it by whatever means they can.”
It’s happened three times at Dr. Samir Pancholi’s cosmetic surgery practice in Las Vegas. “The first time, it was a woman in her 50s who came in and got treatment, then said, ‘My purse is in the car, I’ll go grab it and be right back.’ Then she was gone.”
What are doctors doing in response to these “Botox and bail” scams? Some affected by criminals have changed their payment rules, such as requiring all new patients to pay upfront.
A new survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery indicates growing acceptance of cosmetic surgery among minorities. The survey of over 1,300 people revealed that more than half of minorities think the popularity of cosmetic surgery has grown among members of their racial/ethnic group in the last five years.
An estimated 6.9 percent of all minority respondents and 9.9 percent of whites respondents indicated they had had an invasive or non-invasive cosmetic surgery procedure.
By race/ethnicity, Asians were most likely to report having had cosmetic surgery (11.1%), followed by African-Americans (7.1%), Hispanics (4.6%), and other races (6.2%). About a quarter of those surveyed knew someone of their racial/ethnic background who has had cosmetic surgery.
Most Common Procedures
For invasive cosmetic surgery procedures, the most common procedures Asian respondents reported having were facelift, eyelid surgery, and ear surgery. Among Black respondents, the top procedures were liposuction, breast reduction, and forehead lift. Among Hispanic respondents the top procedures were tummy tuck, thigh lift, and breast augmentation.
The Surgeon’s Ethnicity
Over 30 percent of respondents would seek out a cosmetic surgeon that shares their race/ethnicity. However, over half of respondents felt that if they had cosmetic surgery it would be hard to find a cosmetic surgeon of the same race/ethnicity. African-Americans were almost twice as likely to report having difficulty finding a cosmetic surgeon of the same race when compared to Asians, 59.8% compared to 32.6%, respectively.
Cosmetic Surgery Not Limited to Specific Culture
“Cosmetic surgery is en vogue no matter who you are,” said Mark Berman, MD, President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. “Feeling better about yourself and making improvements to your looks is thankfully not limited to a specific race or culture.”
Dr. Haiavy is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery practicing cosmetic surgery in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
A Brazilian model with the largest breasts in the world is experiencing complications following her latest breast surgery, according to Fox News in Houston.
Sheyla Hershey suffered her first complication after more than 30 plastic surgeries, when a severe staph infection reached both of her breasts following her recent breast augmentation procedure in Brazil. In 2009, she was a 38KKK and received the Brazilian equivalent of the Guinness Book of World Records award for her chest size.
Hershey, who lives in Houston, said her surgeon told her she should be concerned for her life because the infection could leak into her bloodstream. She has had to give herself infusions of intravenous antibiotics every twelve hours to fight the infection.
To avoid complications, Dr. Michael Will, a cosmetic surgeon near Washington D.C. and president of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, says that breast augmentation procedures should be preceded by a comprehensive consultation between the cosmetic surgeon and the patient, where the patient’s concerns and expectations are discussed in relation to the patient’s breast and chest wall anatomy.
“An effective evaluation and treatment plan should result in a post-operative outcome that reaches a balance between the patient’s expectations and the surgeon’s surgical and anatomical limitations to yield an esthetic and healthy outcome. When the surgical tissue tension and stress exceed the capacity for normal healing, wound breakdown and infection often develop,” he says.
However, according to Dr. Will, infections related to breast augmentation are rare; when the are encountered, “the implants frequently need to be removed and replaced at a later date.”
According to her website www.sheylahershey.net, an update on July 24 says that Hershey is “doing fine although she is still getting treatment.”
“F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010,” a new report on obesity in the U.S., revealed that obesity rates increased in 28 states in the past year.
California ranks as the 41st most obese state, and while far down in the rankings, it still has an adult obesity rate of 24.4 percent. For historical perspective, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent in 1991. The number 1 ranking went to Mississippi, where 33.8 percent of adults are obese, and Colorado has the lowest obesity rate of any state, at 19.1 percent.
“This report shows that the country has taken bold steps to address the obesity crisis in recent years, but the nation’s response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem. Millions of Americans still face barriers – like the high cost of healthy foods and lack of access to safe places to be physically active – that make healthy choices challenging,” said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of Trust for America’s Health, which released the report together with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
More people are turning to bariatric surgery to lose a significant amount of weight and reduce the health risks related to obesity.
Laparoscopic bariatric surgery involves an inflatable silicone tube called a lap band being placed on the upper portion of the stomach, which effectively limits the patient’s food intake and suppresses hunger. As a result, patients feel satisfied with smaller amounts of food, which leads to weight loss. The surgery should not interfere with normal digestion.
A good candidate for the lap band surgery meets the following requirements:
- BMI of 40 or higher
- No hyperphagia/polyphagia
- Good mental health
- Between ages 18 – 55
- History of failure with traditional weight loss methods
Contact our office for a private consultation with our Bariatric Surgeon who performs laparoscopic bariatric surgery in our state-of-the-art facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Dr. Haiavy performs post-bariatric cosmetic surgery to remove or tighten excess, loose skin. Common post-bariatric body contouring procedures include tummy tuck, breast lift, body lift, arm Lift, and liposuction.
Collagen injectables will be gone from the U.S. cosmetic market by the end of the year due to changes in consumer trends, reports the latest issue of Dermatology Times.
First Johnson & Johnson announced in late 2009 that it was discontinuing its collagen filler Evolence. Then, in January 2010, Allergan announced it would be discontinuing its collagen line of fillers—CosmoPlast, CosmoDerm and bovine products Zyderm and Zyplast—at the end of the year.
Allergan halted production of the products in 2009, but manufactured sufficient inventory to meet estimated market demand through the end of 2010, according to Kelly Lao, manager of corporate communications.
Lao says the discontinuation of their collagen products “is in response to declined market interest … since the introduction of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers like Juvéderm have become more popular.”
Dr. Seth Matarasso, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, agrees with Lao’s assessment of the fillers market. “There is an overwhelming popularity of the new kid on the block: the hyaluronic acids. They have been embraced universally, and suddenly collagens aren’t as popular,” he says.
The popularity of the new hyaluronic acid wrinkle fillers, which include Restylane, Perlane, Juvéderm, Radiesse and Sculptra, is due to several factors:
- Longer-lasting results
- Appear to give a better fill
- Some contain lidocaine for less painful injections
Upcoming improvements of hyaluronic acids will provide more volume and contour-changing ability and the ability to fill deeper lines, according to Dermatology Times.
Inland Cosmetic Surgery offers a variety of the current dermal filler products, including Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, and Radiesse. During your consultation, the center will help to select the best product and treatment for your wrinkle concerns.
The full story is available online: “Dermatologists prepare for departure of collagen from U.S. market.”
Project Beauty, a new consumer website that aims to be the “video site that answers all your beauty questions,” was launched this week, offering online users a wide range of beauty-related web content, including topics such as:
- Cosmetic surgery
- Skin care
- Hair
- Makeup
- Staying fit
- Fashion
The site’s goal is to answering consumer questions such as: What treatments work? Which don’t? How can you tell if a product is legitimate or just marketing hype?
To mark the launch of Project Beauty, the site is hosting a month-long giveaway contest called “30 Days of Beauty.” Each day from July 6, 2010 to August 4, 2010, Project Beauty will offer one prize—including a Sonicare toothbrush, Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy, and SmashBox cosmetics—per day. To win, you must join the Project Beauty Community and enter daily to win the prize of the day.
Updated weekly, Project Beauty features videos on fashion, makeup, and skincare as well as news and first person stories on all things related to cosmetic surgery. The site hosts videos, blogs, and forums.
Videos on the site include:
- A teenager who shares why she got rhinoplasty at fifteen
- A how to on applying perfect daytime makeup
- A woman who talks about her decision to get a breast augmentation
Project Beauty also launched a social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube; to join the Project Beauty community, sign up at www.smartbeautyguide.com.
Between your cosmetic procedures, don’t forget about everyday ways to fight aging. You probably hear some of the more common tips again and again, such as wear sunscreen and don’t smoke. But one tip you may not have thought of as anti-aging: flossing.
Flossing daily isn’t just good for your smile—it may help fight the effects of aging over the long-term. If you don’t floss, you leave 40 percent of your teeth dirty with bacteria. This causes staining and yellowing between and around teeth, Dr. Eugene Antenucci, a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, explained for a recent MSNBC article.
Too much plaque can lead to gingivitis—the first stage of gum disease. Symptoms of gum disease include red, swollen, or bleeding gums, receding gums, and the formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums, according to WebMD. If left untreated, it can end with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth.
“You register an older look because you see more spaces, less and uneven gum tissue,” Antenucci said.
Eventually gum disease can cause the bones underneath to dissolve away, explains Dr. Donald Clem, a dentist in Fullerton, Calif. “In later stages of periodontal disease we would see disfigurement in terms of caving in of the lips and cheek and wrinkles around the lips and cheeks.”
So don’t forget that in addition to a range of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments available, such as a facelift, Botox, or eyelid surgery, to keep you looking your best, daily habits, like flossing and wearing sun screen, can go a long way in helping you fight aging.
“Mommy makeover” is the name of the trend where new moms get several cosmetic procedures—typically a breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and/or breast lift—to help return their bodies to their pre-pregnancy shape. It’s less often you hear about plastic surgery makeovers for dads, and yet men received 13 percent of all cosmetic surgical procedures and 9 percent of all cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures performed last year in the United States, according to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Bill Neville, 52, is a dad who recently shared his plastic surgery story with reporter Elise Morgan of WHNT NEWS 19 in Huntsville, Alabama. Neville has a four-year-old son and began to worry about looking too old. “He’s [my son] going to start t-ball, swimming, and I don’t want to be out there with the rest of the dads and have them looking at me like, ‘Hey! Grandpa is out here to watch his grandson!'” Neville said.
“Just rolling back the clock a bit on this turkey gobbler and possibly getting the skin off my eyelids would be great,” he said pre-surgery.
Neville’s surgeries included his eyelids, a facelift, a neck lift, laser resurfacing of his skin, and injections to fill in wrinkles. “I was hoping not to look real “plasticky” and stretched, and I don’t think I do. I think it looks real natural and everyone I’ve talked to thinks it looks great,” said Neville.
ASPS statistics show that the top 5 cosmetic surgical procedures and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures for men last year were:
- Rhinoplasty (surgical) / Botox (minimally-invasive)
- Eyelid surgery / Microdermabrasion
- Liposuction / Laser hair removal
- Breast reduction / Chemical Peel
- Hair transplantation / Wrinkle fillers
Read and watch the full story on Bill Neville online: “Plastic Surgery for Men Isn’t Taboo.”
The mommy makeover is one of the most common requests for surgery in Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. Many of the procedures popular for men are also available, including male breast reduction.
Everyone knows Botox for its ability to smooth wrinkles when injected into the face, but Johns Hopkins researchers may have found another use that goes beyond the cosmetic.
In a recent study published in the journal Pain Medicine, researchers found that patients with a painful and debilitating nerve compression disorder called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) reported a significant reduction in their short-term pain after receiving a single, low-dose injection of Botox in a neck muscle.
The study suggests that Botox could be a non-invasive alternative to rib-removal surgery, which is the treatment of last resort for TOS.
“There haven’t been many alternatives to the use of surgery to treat this syndrome,” says Paul J. Christo, M.D., M.B.A., an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s lead author. “Botox seems to be an effective treatment that avoids surgery’s obvious drawbacks, such as its invasive nature and long recovery time.”
Because the effect from Botox lasts only a few months, repeated injections would be necessary to maintain the results. Repeated treatments may lead to the development of antibodies to the compound in some patients, which would mean the toxin would no longer block pain, and therefore not all patients are candidates for Botox, says Dr. Christo.
Botox’s use as a cosmetic procedure is extremely popular. According to the most recent statistics from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery it was the number one less-invasive cosmetic procedure performed last year in the United States. Dr. Haiavy offers Botox in his Rancho Cucamonga, California location.
The full release, Botox Eases Nerve Pain in Certain Patients, is available at the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.