Through the new VISIA in-depth analysis of your unique facial characteristics, it is possible to design a facial rejuvenation and skin care program customized just for your specific complexion. The VISIA system’s multi-spectral imaging and analysis gives your plastic surgeon or skin care specialist a clear, multidimensional 'picture' of the individual aspects of your complexion which contribute to your overall appearance by identifying your skin's condition both on the surface and beneath your skin's surface. The VISIA imaging system measures features such as evenness and wrinkles to identify sun damage, and VISIA provides the most comprehensive means available for identifying all aspects of your complexion’s health.
Utilizing VISIA’s accurate imaging of your complexion, your skin care professional or plastic surgeon can design an optimal skin rejuvenation plan for your unique combination of facial characteristics and present you with options to help you realize the complexion you desire. Based on your individual complexion profile, your facial rejuvenation program will also include personalized recommendations for an ongoing skin care health plan, with VISIA imaging as an invaluable aid in monitoring your complexion’s vitality and checking effectiveness of your skin care regimen during a treatment plan.

Your skin complexion is the window through which your image is shown to the rest of the world. The VISIA Complexion Analysis system provides the information necessary to accurately individualize a facial rejuvenation and skin care regimens to match your unique complexion. A VISIA imaging session uses multi-spectral imaging and analysis to capture key 'visual' information of six key areas affecting your complexion's health and its appearance. These areas include wrinkles, spots, pores, color variation/evenness in the your skin's tone), evidence of bacteria within your skin's pores, and UV damage. In addition, the VISIA analysis sustem provides a precise and informative comparison of your complexion’s characteristics to those of others that share your same age and skin type.

La cirugía de los párpados, o blefaroplastia, corrige párpados caidos, así como bolsas y bultos alrededor de los ojos. Estas condiciones ser desarrollan como resultado de relajamiento de la piel del párpado y acumulación de la grasa alrededor de los ojos. No se limita a pacientes de mayor edad, como muchos individuos heredan una predisposición hacia el desarrollo de bolsas grasosas en una edad temprana. Debido a ello, la corrección quirúrgica es apropiada para todos grupos de edad.
Siguiendo las líneas naturales de sus párpados, el cirujano hace incisiones que utilizan un escalpelo o un láser . El exceso de la piel entonces puede ser removida por la extirpación tradicional o por el láser; la grasa no esencial se quita precisamente (para evitar un futuro aspecto "hueco" a medida que el paciente incrementa en edad). Las suturas finas se utilizan para cerrar los incisiones (y puede ser removido en dos a siete días). Asegurese de consultar con un cirujano plastico antes de someterse a la cirujia de parpados.

Imagine being more beautiful today than ever before; of making the most of your life by re-capturing and enhancing the look that expresses the best possible you. Today's the day to begin loving what you see in the mirror, and loving what others will see in you. A good plastic or cosmetic surgeon will be caring, skilled and experienced with a sharp eye for details and chose the field of plastic and cosmetic surgery because they want to help others achieve the inward and outward beauty they desire.

Plastic surgeons such as Dr. Peter Johnson believes that beauty is in the details, that each person’s goal is unique and requires a customized approach. "I believe that even the smallest improvement can change your outlook on life" says Dr Johnson. The best of plastic surgeons will meet with you for a personal and confidential consultation in a beautiful, warm and relaxed environment, helping you to make a fresh start and look better than ever.

"Plastic Surgery is a personal decision - one that should be made with a qualified, knowledgeable and skilled plastic surgeon" states Dr Johnson.

As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.

A facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can't stop this aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock," improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.

If you're considering a facelift, this information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't understand.

The Best Candidates for a Facelift

The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.

A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self- confidence in the process. But it can't give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality of your youth. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your cosmetic surgeon.

In most cases, Dermal filler appointments will take about an hour. Most of this time will be with a numbing agent gradually numbing the skin. Sometimes when extensive lip treatments are being performed, we will opt to give a small, nearly painless, numbing injection to deaden the sensitive lip tissue prior to administering the dermal filler. In this case, your lip will remain numb for up to an hour following the session.

During the actual treatment you should be very comfortable, feeling only some mild pin pricks or stinging. Most patients are impressed at the ease of these treatments. If you are experiencing significant discomfort during the session please advise the plastic surgeon as there are often other remedies to ease any pain you might be feeling.

After the session a small amount of swelling and redness in the treated area is normal and to be expected. Typically the majority of this reactivity will be gone within several hours but on occasion can persist for several days. Bruising can occur. If you are susceptible to bruising or on blood thinners, please let your provider know prior to the treatment so extra precautions or recommendations can be made. Bruising will not affect the end result but can take up to 10 days to resolve when significant.

Although BOTOX® may look easy to administer, it is not this aspect which is most important to the outcome. The clinician's experience and "aesthetic eye" is the key to a great outcome with BOTOX®.

Treatments take 20-30 minutes unless you opt not to have your skin numbed prior to the injections, then the treatment should take less than 10 minutes. Several tiny injections are given in the areas that you and your provider have decided upon. They usually are barely appreciable in sensation or appearance following the injection. You can reapply makeup to the treated areas immediately after the session.

There are no specific after care instructions. If this is the first time you have had Botox injections, you will not notice any change for at least 3 days and the complete effect will take up to 14 days.

Side effects from Botox are very rare, but headaches can occur temporarily after the injection – especially in patients who suffer from frequent headaches. Ironically, Botox injections often help with frequent headache patients once the Botox takes effect. Bruising can occur although very infrequently. If you are prone to bruising or are on blood thinners please notify your caregiver; special techniques and recommendations will be used to try to minimize your bruising risk. If bruising does occur it will not affect your final result and typically is minor enough that makeup coverage will conceal it.

It is always recommended that anyone considering a cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure first consult with a qualified, and experienced cosmetic surgeon. Proper research and pre-procedure planning is an important step in a decision to undergo a cosmetic procedure, and one that should not be taken lightly. Ensure you fully understand the procedure, its risks, and have a realistic expectation of the results.

Research is very important to the process, and should be done prior to having your chosen procedure, no matter how invasive the procedure is. There are many great outlets available for this research,. the best one I have found is lookingyourbest.com- a free-to-use website that offers a large library full of in depth plastic and cosmetic surgery information. This website also offers a free service to help you locate a skilled and experienced specialist in your area.

Where is Botox® Cosmetic Used?

It is most effective for wrinkles that are visible when smiling, laughing, raising the eyebrows or for crow's feet around the eyes. These wrinkles are called "dynamic" and tend to be much less noticeable when your face is completely relaxed. It also works well for bands in the neck.

Am I a good candidate?

The best candidates for the procedure are those between ages of 25 and 65. In many cases, wrinkles in people over 65 are "static" and do not change when relaxing the face. Other procedures would work better for these patients. Each person is different however, and should undergo a consultation determine the most effective treatment plan.

How is Botox® Cosmetic Administered?

A very small amount of Botox® Cosmetic is injected into each or the target areas using a very small needle. Because the needle is fine, only a small amount of the liquid is injected and the associated discomfort is minimal. Most patients compare the sensation to light pinch. No sedation or local anesthetic is necessary and you can resume normal activities immediately afterwards.

Are the injections painful

The injections are very small and done with a tiny needle that usually does not cause discomfort. The pressure sensation associated with the injection goes away very quickly and patients can return to normal activities immediately after the procedure.

When will I notice the difference and how long will it last?

The treatment takes three to ten days to take full effect which sometimes can be hastened by contracting the facial muscles. The results usually last from 3 to 5 months. The effects of Botox® Cosmetic are confined to the treatment sites.

What happens as treatment begins to wear off?

As the Botox® Cosmetic wears off the wrinkles will begin to reappear but frequently they are not as deep or noticeable. To maintain the smooth, youthful appearance year round, it requires three to four injections.

Is there any downtime?

No. Most people return to work or normally activities immediately following treatment. It is recommended however, that you avoid exercise, heavy lifting and massaging the injected area injected for one day.

Remember, it is always recommended that you consult with a plastic surgeon, and do your research prior to undergoing any cosmetic surgery procedure, no matter if it is an invasive surgery such as a Facelift or Breast Augmentation, or a non-invasive procedure such as Botox. BE sure to have all your questions answered, your concerns addressed and ensure you fully understand the procedure. This is an important step that should not be taken lightly. Proper research and pre-procedure education can mean the difference between a successful procedure and a nightmare. While there are many great websites out there boasting information on Botox and other cosmetic procedures, the absolute best one I have found ion my research is lookingyourbest.com- a free website offering a large library of accurate and in depth plastic surgery information. This website also offers a free service to help you locate a qualified, skilled and experienced surgeon in your area.

JUVÉDERM™ is the latest dermal filler advance from Allergan, Inc. for temporarily correcting moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. JUVÉDERM™ is a “next generation“ smooth gel, non-animal dermal filler offering a natural look/feel and long lasting results for up to six months or longer. JUVÉDERM™ dermal filler lasts long because it’s the only dermal filler currently available with the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid and a special formulation process. This process creates a smooth gel that flows easily into the skin, creating smooth, natural looks.

Radiesse ® is a non-surgical facial contouring filler that delivers an immediate and long-lasting result. Used to restore and reshape obvious signs of facial aging, Radiesse ® remains soft and pliable and takes on characteristics of surrounding tissue.
Radiesse ® is made of very tiny, smooth, calcium-based microspheres that are suspended in a natural gel that is injected into the skin through a simple, safe and minimally invasive procedure. The microspheres (particles) form a scaffold through which your body’s own collagen grows.

This unique composition provides immediate visual improvement common with other fillers, along with the benefit of long-lasting results. For the first three months after injection, Radiesse ® initially performs as a filler substance by plumping up the skin. Then due to its collagen-generating properties, Radiesse ® actually stimulates new tissue development for extended correction for up to 12 to 24 months.

Restylane ® is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct facial wrinkles and folds, providing a smoother, more youthful appearance. It has also become the preferred treatment for lip enhancement. Restylane ® is made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that already exists in the human body. Restylane ® maintains its shape using the body’s own moisture. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane ® is hydrophilic or “water loving.” As hyaluronic acid gradually degrades, each molecule binds to more water and over time, the same volume can be maintained with less hyaluronic acid. This ability of hyaluronic acid to bind to water is what helps provide lasting results.

For anyone considering Dermal Filler procedures to restore that youthful look, please be sure and consult with a qualified Skin care specialist prior to having any cosmetic procedure. It is also recommended that you do some research to make sure you understand your chosen procedure prior to scheduling the procedure. There are many websites on the internet that provide information about dermal fillers- the best and most accurate website I have found is lookingyourbest.com- a free website offering a wealth of in depth plastic surgery information.

The cosmetic form of botulinum toxin, often referred to by its product name Botox®, is a popular non-surgical injection that temporarily reduces or eliminates frown lines, forehead creases, crows feet near the eyes and thick bands in the neck. The toxin blocks the nerve impulses, temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles while giving the skin a smoother, more refreshed appearance. Studies have also suggested that Botox is effective in relieving migraine headaches, excessive sweating and muscle spasms in the neck and eyes. Botox can be a valuable addition in preparing for Plastic Surgery and/or delaying surgical treatment. The effects of botox are not seen for 2 to 4 days and do not peak until 2 weeks. The results can last 3 to 6 months.

The Anatomy of a Wrinkle
The fine lines that begin to appear between your brows (glabellar lines) as you age are actually the result of muscle movement over time. You may have heard the age old "wearing your emotions on your sleeve," but really, you wear your emotions on your face. When you're angry or annoyed, you brow scrunches together. Beneath your skin, your facial muscles contract, causing a pleating of the overlying skin, or 'frowning'.

After years of wrinkling, those glabellar lines start to linger longer and can become more pronounced. For women, whose faces tend to be more animated than men's, and whose skin is typically more delicate, these lines may appear exaggerated and more permanent.

As with any surgical procedure, it is important that anyone considering a plastic or cosmetic procedure do their research and consult with a qualified and skilled Plastic Surgeon. Be sure to have all your questions answered and you fully understand the chosen procedure prior to having the surgery. There are numerous websites out there that provide good information about cosmetic surgery. The best one I have found is lookingyourbest.com. This free website offers a wealth of detailed and accurate plastic surgery information and even offers a free service to help those desiring plastic surgery locate an experienced and qualified specialist in their area.

The tummy tuck is also know as an abdominoplasty. It is a procedure for people who have loose skin and fat folds of the abdomen from pregnancy or weight loss, stretch marks, or laxity in abdominal wall who want a flatter and firmer abdomen with an improved contour. Liposuction may be used in combination for added contouring benefits. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and often requires an overnight hospital stay. The scar will vary based on body shape and extends from the lower abdomen to as far as the lower back. Mini abdominoplasties are reserved for a select group of patients.

Mini-Abdominoplasty, sometimes called a mini-tummy tuck, may be performed on patients who only have a limited amount of loose skin or stretch marks in the lower abdomen and who would not need the tightening of abdominal muscles that is part of a standard abdominoplasty, although sometimes, the mini-tummy tuck may include it. However, if the patient has excessive fat but minimal or limited looseness of the abdomen, the procedure may be performed in tandem with liposuction.

In most cases, women considering abdominoplasty should not be considering additional pregnancies, or they may have the need for a second procedure to re-tighten the belly. In many cases, a tummy tuck does help rid of stretch marks because it removes most of the "stretched out" skin below the navel.

Be sure to do your research and consult with a plastic surgeon prior to the surgery. Do not take this step lightly as all surgery procedures carry with them some level of risk. Fully understanding the procedure, what to expect from the results and knowing the associated risks can mean the difference between a successful surgery and a nightmare.

Body Shaping A great body can't always be achieved by diet and exercise alone. Everyone desires to be in the best shape possible. That's why body contouring surgery continues to increase at a dramatic rate. Body Contouring procedures such as liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or even complete body lift surgery can be life-altering procedures that improve your body shape and form.

A beautiful body can significantly contribute to a feeling of youth and vibrancy. Body sculpting procedures give amazing results and your body can have a wonderful new shape. Being confident about your body makes you feel good about yourself. There's a perfect form of body sculpting surgery for every part of your body that you're dissatisfied with. Your Plastic Surgeon can sculpt your body with contours that you thought were gone forever. Once you've decided that you want a tighter, sleeker silhouette, the only other decision that you'll have to make is which slinky dress you'll want to slip into.

Liposuction Surgery can effectively remove the stubborn areas of fat that remain despite diet and exercise. Through a very tiny incision, which can be easily concealed, the surgeon places a tube beneath the skin. A combination of ultrasound energy and suction will remove and sculpt fatty layers. After wards, a compression garment or girdle will help control swelling and provide comfort while the skin shrinks and the bruising resolves.

Though liposuction alone can help many, others may find a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty to be the right solution. It is common for surgeons to help patients who have dieted, jogged, and done everything possible and still were unable to reduce their abdomen and stomach area. A surgeon's goal in a tummy tuck procedure is to create a flat, firm stomach and a thinner waist. As with all all body contouring procedures, A "partial" or "mini" tummy tuck can be applied in conjunction with liposculpture.

Your skin is the one organ you can have hands on care. Beautiful skin is obtainable by everyone. There are now revolutionary Skin Care procedures out that will strip away the dead layers of skin and rejuvenate the underlying supporting structures of your skin to give you that fresh new look you had in your youth. Your Plastic Surgeon recommend to you the right brand of skin treatment for your individual skin type to achieve the ultimate results.

Chemical peel uses a chemical solution to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers. It is helpful for those individuals with facial blemishes, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation. Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) are used for this purpose. The precise formula used may be adjusted to meet each patient's needs. Although chemical peel may be performed in conjunction with a facelift, it is not a substitute for such surgery, nor will it prevent or slow the aging process.

Dermabrasion and dermaplaning can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but neither treatment will remove all scars and flaws or prevent aging. Before you decide to have a skin-refinishing treatment, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. Men and women of all ages, from young people to older adults, can benefit from dermabrasion and dermaplaning. Although older people heal more slowly, more important factors are your skin type, coloring, and medical history. For example, black skin, Asian skin, and other dark complexions may become permanently discolored or blotchy after a skin-refinishing treatment. People who develop allergic rashes or other skin reactions, or who get frequent fever blisters or cold sores, may experience a flare-up. If you have freckles, they may disappear in the treated area.

The most common reason for breast augmentation surgery is a desire for larger breasts. In general plastic surgeons not recommend cosmetic breast augmentation for women under 18 years of age. Many women requesting breast augmentation have lost breast volume after pregnancy and nursing or simply with aging.

WHAT CHANGES CAN BE EXPECTED?

The breasts will be larger. A sagging breast can be lifted The most appropriate size implant is determined after a physical examination and is a joint decision between you and your plastic surgeon. Some women want only a very small implant, to restore the breast size and perhaps shape they had before childbearing. A small percentage of women want very large breasts. This may not be advisable, because there may not be enough support in the breast tissues, and too large an implant in these women can cause thinning of the skin or increase the risk of "capsular contracture." This is a hardening of the breast caused by shrinkage of the normal scar envelope that the body makes around any implant.

The effects of gravity, the stresses of daily life, and even just the evidence of time become visible in peoples' faces, causes the formation of deep creases between the nose and mouth, the loosening and slackening of the jaw line, the development of jowls, and the appearance of both folds and fat deposits on and around the neck.

While facelift surgery cannot stop or even slow down the aging process, it can set back the clock by cosmetically altering and adjusting the placement of the skin on your face and neck, as well as removing excess fat and tightening the muscles underneath the skin. If a facelift is performed, it may be accompanied by a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, nose reshaping, or other procedures.

Ideal candidates for facelifts are men or women whose skin on their neck and face has begun to sag, although their skin still retains some of its elasticity. A strong, well-defined bone structure also makes the procedure more simple. While some patients are in their seventies or eighties, most recipients of a facelift are in their forties to sixties. After a facelift, a patient will still look like themselves, but will help you look younger and fresher and may, accordingly, increase your self-confidence; it cannot, however, give you more youthful energy or vitality.

When you have your consultation with your plastic surgeon, your face, skin, and underlying bone will be evaluated. In addition, your medical history will be reviewed in order to check for potentially related issues, including high blood pressure, problems regarding blood clotting, or your skin's tendency to form larger, excessive scars. During your consultation, it is also important to discuss both your expectations and your goals with your surgeon in order to ensure the desired, realistic results.

Every day, you make decisions that affect the way you live. Some choices depend on the moment, like the clothing, hairstyles and perfume you’ll wear today. Other decisions are deeply significant, because they affect how you feel about yourself as a woman, and how others perceive you. Plastic surgery in Orange County offers a unique opportunity to scientifically "customize" your body rather than just dress it up. You may want to wear an outfit that reveals more cleavage, change your wardrobe style, or simply create the proper balance between your breasts and hips.

Many women young and old, decide to increase the size and/or fullness of their breasts and make them more proportional to the rest of their body. Women of all ages Plastic Surgery in Orange County specialist desiring to enlarge their breasts for a number of reasons. Generally, women that have a genetic pre-disposition toward small breasts tell us that they desire to better fill out their clothes or bathing suits. Women that have lost breast volume after weight loss or breast-feeding typically tell us that they want to regain their breast fullness and/or cleavage. In all these cases, breast augmentation is usually the optimal way to increase your breast size, which can improve the way you look and feel about yourself.

Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, involves the removal of fat usually along with excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes. These features may make you look older and more tired than you feel, and may even interfere with your vision. This procedure doesn't involve crow's feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows.

Candidates suitable for eyelid surgery:
Blepharoplasty can enhance your looks and give your self confidence but won't make you look entirely different. So be realistic in your expectations.

1. The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable.
2. Most are 35 or older.
3. If droopy, baggy eyelids run in your family, you may decide to have eyelid surgery at a younger age.
4. The medical conditions which make blepharoplasty more risky are thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism and graves' diseases, dry eye or lack of sufficient tears, high blood pressure or other circulatory disorders, cardiovascular disease.
5. If you have a detached retina or glaucoma. Check with your ophthalmologist before you have surgery.

When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. But you should always expect risks and discuss with your plastic surgeon about the pros and cons involved.

Blepharoplasty may take one to three hours. For this procedure, the plastic surgeon makes incisions following the natural lines of your eyelids; in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in your lower lids. The incisions can extend into the crow's feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes.

If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don't need to have any skin removed, your plastic surgeon may perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this procedure the incision is made inside your lower eyelids, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.

The Mini Lift (also referred to as a Short scar face lift) is a less invasive procedure with a shorter recovery time than its more traditional cousin, the full face lift. The Mini face Lift is an ideal procedure for women who are just starting to note deepening lines on their face, sagging of the skin over their lower face and jaw line, and perhaps some laxity of their neck.

You may be a good candidate for this procedure if you are a woman in your early 40s and don't want to wait for noticeable signs of aging to alter your appearance. The Mini Lift is also a useful secondary procedure if you have previously had a face lift and are starting to notice the signs of age again making an appearance.

A Modified Face Lift is the right choice if you are a woman in your late 40s or early 50s and notice more laxity in your face and neck but still not very much. You surgeon will help you determine whether you are the right candidate for this procedure.

In a Modified Face Lift, the incision made to the face is similar to the Mini Lift but extends behind the ear, and there may be need for an additional incision under the chin. This allows Dr. Lofman to reposition the fallen soft tissues and tighten the lax neck muscles as well as remove more redundant skin than a Mini-Lift would allow.

The Full Face Lift is designed for you if older than 55 or have significant laxity of the soft tissues of your face and neck. While it requires a longer incision, skillful surgical technique ensures the incision is placed inconspicuously.

The Full Face Lift effectively restores your youthful appearance and should give you back at least 15 years that time has taken away. This is achieved by tightening the underlying lax muscles, doing so in a way that does not leave the typical signs of a face lift.

A face lift may also be combined with other facial procedures such as eyelid surgery or a brow lift. During your private consultation with your chosen plastic surgeon, he/she will explain in full detail the varying aspects of these different procedures and what other techniques may be available to help you achieve realistic results.

Liposuction is one of the most popular aesthetic plastic surgery procedures performed. That fact is not too surprising considering some fat deposits are quite resistant to diet and exercise. In women, the hips thighs and abdomen are stubborn. In men, the abdomen and lower back are commonly problematic. Liposuction is a safe and effective way to remove these unwanted fatty prominences.

There are so many different types of liposuction surgery available now; it can be confusing trying to determine what the best choice for you might be. Liposuction can be broken down in to two major types. Those that include the use of energy such as laser or ultrasound to remove the fat, and those that rely on the plastic surgeons own efforts to remove the fat.

Some surgeons are strong believers in avoiding the use of energy to remove fat. These modalities create heat in the tissues and in some studies have been shown to have increased complication rates, including burns and contour deformities. New research is supporting that it is important to leave healthy fat behind to assist in healing and to obtain better contouring. This newer data supports the decision to use the super-wet liposuction in many plastic surgeon's practices. This method utilizes fluid being placed into the fatty deposits with a small tube, and then the excess fat is suctioned away utilizing small tubes that are inserted and operated by the surgeon without the use of heat or ultrasound energy. The fluid that is instilled contains medications that decreases blood loss and provides anesthetic to the area for better post-operative comfort.

Many patients request the least down-time possible and consequently inquire about avoiding anesthesia. Performing these procedures under local anesthesia limits the amount of fat that can be removed and adequate comfort can be difficult to insure. Other patients inquire about the use of fat dissolving chemicals that can be injected while the patient is awake. These substances are not FDA approved, and no long term follow-up data on performance, efficacy or safety is available. Additionally, repeated treatments are required and the results that have been seen are frequently inadequate.