Are there areas of your body that just don’t seem to slim down?  Do you think you’re becoming pear-shaped rather than hourglass-shaped? VASER Liposuction may be just the right solution for you.

People who undergo liposuction aren’t necessarily overweight.  In fact, many are actually in good shape.  But at a certain age, a shift occurs regarding weight fluctuations.  It doesn’t matter if we run on the treadmill, use the elliptical, lift weights, or practice Yoga and Pilates, we still may have unrelenting dimples, bumps and bulging areas. They don’t go away! The saddlebags (big puffs on the outer thigh) often don’t respond to exercise or diet.

Fortunately there are new, less invasive Liposuction procedures available that require little downtime.

Our technique uses sound waves to break up the fat cells, making them easier to remove. The cannula is so tiny it causes minimal trauma to the area so there is less bruising and swelling than with traditional Lipo. In some cases the incision is so small you don’t even have to stitch it – that’s why the recovery is so fast.  Generally patients take the day off after the procedure and go back to work after that.

If you are interested in smoothing out and reducing areas of your body that bother you, discuss your options with Dr. Samaha.  Also, please remember that ultimately, the most important Liposuction tool is the operator.

Just after Sculptra received additional FDA clearance for cosmetic use last month, Dermatologist Jeannette Graf appeared on the CBS Early show to demonstrate treatment. The segment features Sculptra before and after photos, a live demonstration, and a professional explanation of the benefits of this great new wrinkle filler.

For more information on Sculptra, see our homepage or contact Boston Plastic Surgery.

In these demanding times, physicians spend plenty of time caring for patients who present stress-related skin problems:

• Pimples appear out of nowhere.
• Dry skin in desperate need of hydration appears overnight.
• Folds around the nose and deep lines in the brow and around the eyes appear more pronounced.

What’s worse, if you had skin problems before, stress will only make them worse, and these issues can persist for weeks and months, even years.

Our bodies are reacting to external challenges.  Stress creates an adrenaline surge that elevates the level of cortisol in the blood. Cortisol tells fat cells to dump sugar into the bloodstream for energy – which is great if you need to outrun a raging elephant but not so great on your body or your skin. Over time stress can damage your body in ways that are not so attractive when we examine ourselves in the mirror.  In addition, we rarely do our bodies or our skin any favors during hard times. As a matter of fact, that is when we sleep less, drink more and eat all the wrong foods.

Although all these issues can be resolved in time, first you have to ‘de-stress.’ Until that time comes, here are 5 professional tips to help you get by:

1. Keep your hands away from your face, stop touching and stop popping those pimples! Keep your hands busy with a pencil or squeeze one of those strengthening balls. For goodness sake, get rid of that magnifying mirror!
2. Go visit your doctor or cosmetic physician and pick up a few acne fighters.
3. Get yourself a therapeutic facial, even if you’re on a budget. Treat yourself to some downtime; even bring your teenage kid in for a facial with you. A twofer! It will be therapeutic and quite relaxing for you both.
4. If you or your kids are using benzoyl peroxide be sure not to use it at the same time as you’re using bleaching products (Hydroquinones) or copper peptides. You can use both products, but not at the same time.  Use one in the morning and the other in the evening.
5. If you’re using high quality skin care products, try a chemical peel! Because a peel removes the built up dead skin on the surface of your face, it allows therapeutic products to penetrate and get the job done more quickly and more effectively. Even a rejuvenating mask or anti-acne mask will give you a great head start on de-stressing your “epidermal anxiety!”

What aspect of your lifestyle contributes the most to your appearance?  What motivates you to look good?  Is there a specific feature of your body that you think is most important?

These are the type of questions asked by researchers during the Beauty for Life survey, a collaborative effort facilitated by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  ASAPS President Renato Saltz says the survey was intended to help physicians “understand what patients are most concerned about at different stages of their lives.”

Survey respondents were divided into age groups to determine what each generation values in physical appearance of the self, and physical appearance of ones partner.

Respondents in their 20s, 30s, and 40s indicated that a “fit, well proportioned body” was what they found most appealing in another person.  But when it came to their own physical characteristics, the same group, across the board, said they were most concerned about their own faces.  While the abdomen and hips were said to be areas of significant concern (especially for those in their 30s), facial appearance was said to be more important for most.

The reasons given for maintaining an attractive physical appearance included the following:

1. Boosting self confidence
2. Making new friends
3. Attracting partners
4. Increasing opportunities

In all age groups, cosmetic procedures ranked fairly high, alongside diet, exercise, and skin care.  Through the link below you can easily view the results (in a pdf file) of the Beauty for Life survey.

http://www.surgery.org/private/download/BFLUserSurvey.pdf

Plastic surgeons have been getting recognition this week for a recently published study that revealed a cure for migraine headaches.  Documentation of the study was included in the latest issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  The procedure is said to be very similar to the brow lift we perform right here in Boston.

In a clinical trial, surgeons operated on 49 patients to ‘deactivate’ their migraines at their respective ‘migraine trigger sites.’  26 patients in a “sham surgery group” received what was basically a placebo.

One year later, 57 percent of the patients in the actual surgery group reported complete elimination of migraine headaches, compared with only 4 percent in the sham surgery group. Furthermore, 83 percent of the actual surgery group observed at least a 50 percent reduction in migraines.

Author of the study, Bahman Guyuron MD calls the procedure a “meaningful addition to the field of reconstructive plastic surgery,” and we definitely agree.  Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. You can read the official press release at plasticsurgery.org.