With holiday season right around the corner, now may be a good time to freshen up your skin and enjoy a more youthful appearance. Choose from any of these non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatments to improve your appearance for holiday events.
Birthmarks are typically benign skin lesions that can become progressively darker with age. Here are some of the most common procedures used to get rid of all types of birth marks.
An estimated 3 to 6% of Americans have fibromyalgia syndrome, a complex condition that often results in fatigue, cognitive or memory impairment, jaw pain, chronic headaches and sleep disorders. Fortunately, chiropractic treatments and natural therapies can help improve symptoms.
BodyJet liposuction is one of several advanced techniques used for permanent fat removal. Now, surgeons are using this form of liposuction to perform a breast enhancement procedure that involves fat transfer.
Laser eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a variation of conventional eyelid surgery. It's designed to eliminate the sagging and puffy skin around the eyes and can be performed without general anesthesia. Find out what this procedure's key benefits are.
Celution 700, a device designed by Cytori Therapeutics to fill out soft tissue voids and for body contouring, has recently been cleared to be regulated as a medical device by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This means that Cytori must submit a formal marketing application to the FDA to determine if clinical evaluations will be needed in order for the product to be used in services for the consumer market.
According to Christoper Calhoun, CEO of Cytori, “This important decision provides greater clarity of our regulatory path in the U.S. and is consistent with our interpretation of current device regulations. We are preparing for the next steps in the process of working with the FDA to determine the specific device marketing application to submit, including whether clinical evaluations will be necessary.”
The Celution system harvests adipose tissues, separates the fat cells into a concentrate, and then returns the cells into the patient to begin the reconstruction process. It is designed primarily to promote bone healing and tissue regeneration, and the system is one of the latest advances in reconstructive plastic surgery.
Cytori received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office related to the use of the Celution system for treatment bone-related disorders in early July 2009. Other patent claims have been filed, but it the system is now under review by the FDA review boards and committees. According to Cytori’s website, “The Celution® Technology has been developed as the first bedside device to enable real-time, adult stem and regenerative cell processing. This innovative technology automates and standardizes the separation and concentration of a patient’s own (autologous) adult stem and regenerative cells from body fat (adipose) for real-time redelivery to the same patient.”
The FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research will conduct further investigations to determine if the device meets all Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) regulations and standards.
Facial rejuvenation procedures continue to be the most coveted procedures for baby boomers and the aging population, but recent trend reports show that seniors aren’t heading to the plastic surgeon’s office for a just the standard facelift. While facial wrinkles and sagging skin are a concern for many, more seniors are opting for body contouring procedures to achieve a tightened, toned and more youthful appearance.
Newsday.com recently reported on this trend and interviewed Dr. Alan Freedman, a plastic surgeon from Great Neck, New York. Dr. Freedman concurs that body contouring for older adults is one of the leading trends in cosmetic and plastic surgery, and that more men and women who are older than 55 are looking to tummy tucks and lipoplasty rather than facelift surgery.
Body contouring procedures are designed to not only remove excess fat, but also remove sagging skin and excess skin tissues to create a streamlined appearance. Many problem areas for aging women are the thighs, buttocks, upper arms and stomach. Problem areas for aging men are typically the stomach, back, and upper arms. Plastic surgeons each have a unique approach to performing these skin removal, liposuction and body reshaping procedures, and interested patients can set up a consultation with an area surgeon to determine if the procedure is the right choice.
Body contouring is a relatively extensive procedure, and many surgeons include a supplementation program to speed up the healing process. Seniors who are taking medications or are not in good physical condition may not be good candidates for the procedure, but there alternatives to surgery available.
For now at least, more seniors are likely to settle for body contouring instead of worrying about lines and wrinkles around the face. Upper body and lower body contouring and reshaping procedures typically cost between $8,000 – $15,000+ depending on the surgeon, extent of surgery and pre and post-operative treatment needed.
While traditional liposuction and treatments such as LipoDissolve continue to be popular choices for getting rid of excess body fat, there may soon be another option: freezing the fat cells until they die with a procedure known as Cryolipolysis. The procedure is currently undergoing clinical trials in the United States, and was developed by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University.
Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive procedure that involves freezing the fat cells to trigger the process of lipolysis. A small plate-like device made by Zeltiq is placed directly on the treatment area and cooled to near-freezing temperatures. This results in the breakdown of body fat, and the cells can then be flushed out of the body naturally.
Researchers report that this procedure does not cause damage to the surrounding tissues and blood vessels, and will not traumatize the nerves and bones around the area. Plasmetic.com states that the procedure is ‘more effective in areas that have a lot of fat than in leaner areas,’ and that ‘the natural biological inflammatory process removes dead fat cells over time and causes a reduction in the fat layer.’
Zeltiq.com, the company behind the Cryolipolysis device reports that:
“Cryolipolysis is the non-invasive cooling of fat cells to induce lipolysis (the breakdown of fat) without damage to other tissue types. This novel technology is designed to enable safe reduction of fat tissue near nerves, muscle and bones. Cryolipolysis penetrates deepest in thick fat areas, tapering to less effect in leaner areas, which causes natural body sculpting.”
If the clinical trials continue to be successful, ‘fat-freezing therapy’ may offer a new option for millions of people interested in body contouring procedures and losing body fat without surgery. Currently, there are only a few infrared heat-based treatments on the market that claim to deliver circumferential reduction (VelaShape, Thermage), and ultrasound fat reduction (UltraShape) is available in the UK and Canada.
Cryolipolysis may lead the next generation of fat reduction procedures and reduce the need to pursue extensive liposuction and fat removal surgery.
While liposuction and body lifts continue to be popular procedures for men and women interested in losing excess body fat and achieving a sculpted look, many people aren’t able to achieve a smooth and contoured appearance right away.
Liposuction can remove excess body fat but typically leaves skin looking ‘lumpy’ and uneven. Skin tightening treatments such as Thermage and VelaShape can help improve the appearance of the skin and even help tighten up loose skin after weight loss surgery, but a new technique has been developed by European researchers that uses heat-generating lasers to break up the fat before it is even removed from the body through liposuction.
Lipotherme is the latest liposuction-enhancing procedure that may help surgeons selectively break up body fat from different areas of the body before removing it with the suctioning device. Breaking down the fat first means that the skin can contract quickly after the liposuction procedure, creating a more contoured and sculpted appearance.
Lipotherme is being marketed as a ’safe and effective procedure to liquefy and remove unwanted fat in targeted body zones.’ The website offers the following information about the laser lipolysis procedure:
The clinical term for this type of procedure is laser-assisted lipolysis (also called laser lipolysis or laser lipo for short) which is an evolution of traditional liposuction. Although effective, traditional liposuction is considered a highly-invasive procedure. By contrast, Lipotherme laser lipolysis is a minimally-invasive procedure with virtually no downtime. Most patients resume normal activities the day after their procedure, however, it is recommended you wait several days before resuming strenuous activity such as exercising. (Source: Lipotherme.com)
The procedure can be used to get rid of excess fat on the abdomen, waist, back, thighs, face, chin, arms and knees.
Another popular laser lipolysis procedure is SmartLipo, and this procedure is currently available at several cosmetic surgery centers around the country. However, Lipotherme may be the new contender as more surgeons become skilled in using the heated laser technique and has proven to be, at least for now, an effective body contouring procedure.
Women already head to plastic and cosmetic surgery centers in California for innovative procedures, and body lifts, breast implants and liposuction have become a popular choice for those who want to improve their bodies after pregnancy.
Dr. Stewart Wang, one of several cosmetic surgeons in Rosemead, California recently reported a sharp increase in demand for the Mommy Makeover at his practice. Thousands of women are turning to fat removal and cellulite reduction, breast lifts and other body contouring procedures to regain their pre-pregnancy shape, or to simply undergo a complete body transformation to achieve their ‘ideal’ body. These procedures are typically offered as a package, and may help women increase their self-esteem after the drastic body changes associated with pregnancy.
Dr. Wang explains that “If you’ve had a baby, and despite taking care of yourself those loose muscles and that little roll of fat on your tummy just won’t go away, plastic surgery makes a lot of sense to you. It’s about restoring the appearance you previously enjoyed, or maybe even looking better than you ever have.” (Source: 24-7pressrelease.com)
Those who do not want to undergo surgery can improve their bodies with non-surgical treatments that get rid of cellulite and tighten and tone the skin. Thermage is another increasingly popular procedure that helps tighten loose skin and improves collagen production. Cellulite treatments such as VelaSmooth can also reduce inches and create a slimmer appearance.
As more women turn to nonsurgical procedures to get rid of cellulite and reduce body fat, innovative treatments such as SmoothShapes are becoming an attractive choice for many.
SmoothShapes received FDA clearance in July 2006, and many plastic and cosmetic surgeons are lining up to introduce the product in their practice. Dr. Grant Stevens, a Los Angeles plastic surgeon who practices with Marina Del Ray Plastic Surgery Associates, will be the first in the area to use the SmoothShapes system to treat cellulite.
Dr. Stevens has been named one of America’s Best Physicians in The Guide to Top Doctors, and he has earned a reputation as a leading body contouring specialist in the Los Angeles and Marina del Ray markets.
SmoothShapes by Eleme Medical promises to be a pain-free body contouring procedure that helps reshape and sculpt the body and reduce the appearance of cellulite. The procedure combines laser light energy and a vacuum massage to help break down fatty tissue and eliminate it from the body in a natural way.
“Patients of every age are concerned about cellulite,” commented Dr. Stevens. “SmoothShapes improves the appearance of cellulite which helps clothes fit better and renews patients’ self confidence. It is designed for hips, buttocks, abdomen, waist, back and knees but especially thighs. Feeling great about their thighs will give our patients freedom to wear the great new short skirts that designers are showing for fall. This SmoothShapes protocol is different from older, less advanced technologies because once a patient finishes her series of eight treatments she won’t need maintenance for at least six months.”
(Source: PRNewsWire.com, photo courtesy of MarinaPlasticSurgery.com)
More information about Dr. Grant Stevens and Marina Plastic Surgery Associates can be found here.
Body contouring procedures such as body lifts, fat removal and cellulite reduction treatments are often combined with obesity surgery, but can also be undertaken by those who just want to enhance their silhouette. However, if you’re overweight with a BMI of 25 – 30, researchers say that body contouring procedures do present a number of risks and unwanted side effects.
The July/August 2008 issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal features a study that confirms body mass index is closely related to several complications associated with body contouring surgery.
People who have a BMI over 25 can suffer from:
Fluid buildup around the wound
Blood buildup in and around the wound, that may also lead to infection
Complications linked to wound dressing
Higher need for hospital readmission or re-operation in some cases
Today’s increased demand for body contouring surgery shows no signs of slowing down as more people turn to cosmetic and plastic surgery to enhance their figure. Individuals who are overweight may not be the best candidates for these procedures, and consulting with a body contouring specialist can bring to light potential side effects and challenges.
Over 90% of women have cellulite, and cellulite removal treatments are some of the most sought-after procedures during beach season. However, the surgical removal of fatty deposits can involve an extensive procedure – and not one that many women are prepared for.
Body sculpting and contouring procedures are becoming popular alternatives to surgery, and today’s most popular treatments include SmartLipo (laser liposuction), mesotherapy injections, and Synergie (vacuum massage) to reshape the body. SmoothShapes is another treatment that has recently entered the market.
The latest press release about SmoothShapes® being offered at ViVa Skin Care Center in Boston states that: “The SmoothShapes® treatment, when compared to conventional treatments, provides longer lasting results from dimpled and cellulite stricken skin…Many doctors have turned to SmoothShapes® out of frustration and disappointment with the same old treatments that at best yielded very temporary results. To treat the affected area the SmoothShapes® System uses a proprietary technology called Photomology™”.
ViVa Skin Care Center is offering SmoothShapes and SmartLipo treatments together to combat cellulite, ensuring that all dimples, fatty deposits and uneven skin tissues are sculpted smooth and evenly to create the desired silhouette.
Other medical spas and cosmetic surgery centers are offering SmoothShapes treatments as a simple solution for removing fat cells and reshaping the body with an innovative approach.
While traditional 
As more women turn to nonsurgical procedures to get rid of cellulite and reduce body fat, innovative treatments such as SmoothShapes are becoming an attractive choice for many.