Avoiding Post-Lipo Weight Gain During the Holidays

Liposuction is the 4^th most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the US. Almost 200,000 procedures were performed last year. Do you wonder how many people kept the weight off?

According to a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official publication of the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons), those patients who did not adhere to a good diet following liposuction were 3 times more likely to gain weight. Those who didn’t exercise were 4 times more likely to gain weight.

The study surveyed over 200 patients. The good news is that 25% lost weight and 32% maintained their weight. That means that more than half of liposuction patients either lose or maintain their weight following a liposuction procedure. Unfortunately, 43% of liposuction patients in the survey gained weight after liposuction, with the greatest weight gain occurring approximately six months after their procedure.

Liposuction is not a quick fix for weight loss. It’s a commitment to resolving stubborn areas of fat that plague you and don’t disappear even with diligent workouts and avoidance of junk food. All of us are genetically programmed to store fat in specific areas. Perhaps it’s your thighs or around your waist. Some people are prone to fat in the buttocks. Liposuction is a method to eliminate fat cells in these problem areas. Unfortunately, if you don’t make a commitment to maintaining your results, you’ll gain weight.

With the holidays coming up, I thought you might like some tips for maintaining your weight (whether or not you’ve had lipo) when the treats are up front and center over the next eight weeks:

·       Drink the recommended 8 glasses of water daily.

§  Keeping yourself well hydrated not only keeps you feeling full, it also helps with mood and concentration.

§  Drink two full glasses of water, iced tea or low-cal beverage before a festive meal. You’ll still enjoy yourself, but will feel full sooner.

·       Watch the alcohol.

§  Beer, wine and mixed drinks contain empty calories. Drinking also lowers your inhibitions, leaving you vulnerable to overeating.

·       Enjoy in moderation.

§  Having said the above, sticking to one glass of wine, one bottle of beer or one cocktail allows you the enjoyment without risking too many empty calories

§  The same goes with treats. One or two cookies, one slice of pie, one day of falling off the commitment to eat well doesn’t have to lead to a week of overeating.

o   Eat Before You Leave

§  Enjoy a ½ turkey sandwich on whole grain bread or pita with sprouts, lettuce and tomatoes before leaving for the restaurant, party or family dinner. It will keep you from feeling starved by the time the meal is served.

o   Be on the Lookout

§  Focus on seafood, chicken, veggies and cheeses at parties and avoid the deep-fried canapés and other rich foods or limit yourself to one of the high fat offerings. You’ll feel better about yourself and the weight will stay off!

Holidays mean food, fun, and family, but they don’t have to mean weight gain. Having a positive mental attitude and a commitment to maintaining your new shape will get you to January feeling and looking wonderful!

What tips would you like to share to manage your weight during the holidays?

To your health and beauty, 

Dr. Joe Danyo

The Future of the Body Contouring Market

Let’s face it, North America, particularly the U.S., is getting fatter. With rising obesity rates comes an increased demand in the body contouring market. Patients are seeking at latest ways to get their body in shape, and doctors are increasingly adapting to advancements in body contouring technology.

A recent article from BusinessWire.com predicts how the introduction of new devices, as well as the recession, will have an effect on the body contouring market over the next few years. There have been numerous devices approved since 2008 in the way of laser-assisted liposuction(LAL) and cryolipolysis that have recently become more available to consumers.

Despite the rising frequency of body contouring devices, the price of treatment may deter patients during the recession. Doctors have to earn back their investment on said devices, which cost upwards of $100,000, and do so through the cost of the treatment to patients. The cosmetic surgery industry is currently facing many obstacles; however, as patients postpone or even forego these elective procedures in order to conserve funds.

Despite the decline in device sales from 2008 to 2009, Millennium Research Group predicts an economic revival of the body contouring market to be reported for 2010.

SmartLipo MPX, the first dual-wavelength LAL device available in the market, was launched in Canada and the U.S. in 2008. Other big launches to take place in 2009 included CoolLipo by CoolTouch, SlimLipo by Palomar Medical Technologies, Syneron’s LipoLite, Sciton’s ProLipo PLUS and SmoothLipo by Elem Medical.

The first transdermal ultrasound device to be available in Canada was UltraShape’s Contour 1. In 2009, Medicis’ LipoSonix, which has had difficulty getting FDA approval, received Health Canada approval. To date, there are no transdermal ultrasound devices available in the U.S. In the way of cryolipolysis, Coolsculpting by Zeltiq has been available for off-label fat removal since last summer.

Even with the threats of the recession affecting the body contouring market, the obesity problem in North America guarantees a growing number of prospective patients available.  Furthermore, as body contouring technology advances there will be a growing consumer demand and market growth.

2009 International Aesthetic Trends Now Available

For the first time ever, accurate aesthetic plastic surgery statistics are available to the public. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) issued the "ISAPS Biennial Global Survey™" to surgeons in order to gauge aesthetic trends in the top 25 countries and regions for plastic surgery. The Survey represented 75% of all procedures performed in 2009.

Although the ISAPS Biennial Global Survey™ confirmed that the United States remains the country with the most procedures performed annually, there are some countries that are emerging as major centers that may be surprising. Making the top ten list are a few other countries that are not always associated with plastic surgery:
1.    United States
2.    China
3.    Brazil
4.    India
5.    Mexico
6.    Japan
7.    South Korea
8.    Germany
9.    Turkey
10.    Spain

The Survey also revealed that, contrary to popular belief, breast augmentation is not the most popular invasive procedure performed internationally. The top 5 invasive aesthetic procedures are as follows:
1.    Liposuction-18.8%
2.    Breast Augmentation-17%
3.    Blepharoplasty-13.5%
4.    Rhinoplasty-9.4%
5.    Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck-7.3%

As for as non-surgical procedures go, neuromodulators like Botox® top the list in popularity. Not only that, the overall number of non-surgical cosmetic treatments performed surpassed the number of surgical procedures. The top 5 non-invasive aesthetic treatments for 2009 were:
1.    Neuromodulators such as Botox® and Dysport®-32.7%
2.    Hyaluronic acid injections such as Juvederm and Radiesse-20.1%
3.    Laser hair removal-13.1%
4.    Fat grafting-5.9%
5.    IPL treatments-4.4%

Amongst other things, the Survey established that there are approximately 30,817 board certified (or national equivalent) plastic surgeons currently practicing. The number of surgical procedures performed globally in 2009 was 8,536,379, while the number of non-invasive treatments was 8,759,187.

The ISAPS Biennial Global Survey™ was created and proctored by Industry Insights, Inc., an independent research firm from Columbus, OH.  Scott Hackworth, a CPA who, along with the firm, has 15 years of experience in researching trends in aesthetic plastic surgery, led the Survey. The two-page, English-based questionnaire was administered to different international plastic surgery societies and focused on the aesthetic procedures performed in 2009.

All About SmartLipo

SmartLipo is the latest form of liposuction technology that combines traditional fat removal methods with laser technology for maximum results. Laser technology, which is used routinely in dental procedures, lasik eye surgery, facial rejuvenation and hair removal, is what sets SmartLipo apart from its competition.

“Laser” is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Medical-grade lasers create a powerful light beam that is adjusted to a specific frequency range to precisely treat targeted areas.

SmartLipo differs from traditional liposuction in that it uses a carefully calibrated laser to liquefy fat deposits through the top layer of the patient’s skin. The fat is then removed through a tiny incision in the skin made by the doctor.

What makes SmartLipo different from traditional liposuction is that it can also seal blood vessels as it liquefies the fat cells. This reduces swelling, bleeding and bruising and gives the patient less down time. SmartLipo may reduce downtime drop reduce complications.

SmartLipo is also an FDA approved liposuction treatment that has undergone rigorous clinical trials. The laser used also stimulates the production of collagen in the skin, giving it a firmer, more youthful appearance. Delaware residents who are interested in liposuction will benefit greatly from the advantages that SmartLipo has to offer over traditional liposuction.

While SmartLipo is considered minimally invasive, it is still a procedure that should be performed by a physician. When considering liposuction, choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience in the latest technologies in fat removal.

Adding a Boost to Your Booty

Not everyone is blessed with curves like Kim Kardashian or Scarlett Johansson. Cameron Diaz was even quoted in Marie Claire saying: “I’d love a bigger butt, more meat on my bones. I’d love to be more voluptuous…” Curvaceous celebrities like Kim and Scarlett have ignited the latest trend in plastic surgery: buttock augmentation.

There are numerous methods to naturally boosting ones backside, including everything from gluteus exercises to padded jeans. Although these methods may provide a temporary improvement, the more permanent method is through buttock augmentation via fat grafting (a.k.a. Brazilian Butt Lift). Using fat grafting, patients have fat removed via liposuction from another part of their body and injected into the buttock. The patient benefits from having two cosmetic procedures in one.

Fat transfer is in no way a new technique in plastic surgery. Fat grafting has been used for years to restore fullness to aging faces.  Recent research has found that fat also has a high level of stem cells that can be transferred through grafting. This allows the patient to have minimal volume loss after some of the fat dies off or regenerates following the procedure. Even though regeneration is possible, patients should expect to retain about 50% of the volume from their augmentation.

For slender women with low BMI, such as Cameron Diaz, you may be out of luck. The “Brazilian Butt Lift” is usually performed with the patient’s own fat, and therefore the patient must have enough fat in other parts of the body to harvest. For Delaware residents considering buttock augmentation, you should seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in fat transfer and liposuction to perform your procedure.

LASER ASSISTED LIPO: HELPFUL OR HYPE?

At our most recent ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) meeting in Washington, DC, two board certified plastic surgeon colleagues presented both sides of the laser liposuction debate. Dr. Barry DiBernardo of New Jersey is a proponent of laser liposuction while Dallas-based Dr. Jeffrey Kenkel is less excited about lasers’ inclusion in liposuction.

The ASAPS’ annual statistics show that Lipoplasty (the medical term for fat removal) is the second most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in America. Nearly 300,000 of them were performed in 2009. Since the first laser-assisted Lipoplasty device was approved by the FDA in 2006, surgeons have been in a hot debate about whether it’s a great new tool or just good marketing on the part of companies such as SmartLipo.

Basically, laser-assisted Lipoplasty means that a laser is used to break up the fat cells before they are suctioned out of the body. A tiny incision is made through which a laser probe is inserted and aimed at the fatty tissue to rupture the fat cells. Then the laser is pulled back toward the skin to stimulate the skin cells to tighten, a feature that doesn’t happen in traditional liposuction.

"Over the last two-and-a-half years there has been extensive research and development into laser-assisted lipoplasty, including multiple rounds of research and comparative studies published in peer-reviewed journals," said Dr. DiBernardo, a plastic surgeon in Montclair, NJ. "Ultimately, laser-assisted lipolysis has come to be an important tool in the fat loss armamentarium."

"It is important to note that no device is a magic wand," added Dr. Kenkel, a plastic surgeon in Dallas, TX. "Despite any hype generated by manufacturers, physicians, patients, or the media, results are ultimately practitioner-driven."

The bottom line? Any kind of cosmetic surgery should be done by a board certified plastic surgeon, not someone who has taken a weekend course or two. No tool can replace the skill and experience of a board certified plastic surgeon. Check out my website to see the before/after photos that I’ve shared regarding SmartLipo, a technique I have found to be highly effective!

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Joe Danyo