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Body contouring Atlanta

Liposuction: Is It Permanent?

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Liposuction is a body contouring procedure continually topping the list of the most popular cosmetic procedures pursued by plastic surgery patients.  According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s most recent 2013 statistics, liposuction was the number one most popular cosmetic surgical procedure, followed by breast augmentation. With 363,912 procedures performed nationwide in 2013 alone, the commonality of liposuction speaks for itself—but there are still many questions to be answered as to how it works.

Atlanta Liposuction: Is It Permanent? A common question I often hear regards the permanence of liposuction. Though losing inches and fat from liposuction certainly sounds attractive, patients want to know if fat can come back post-operation. Excess fat, whether prominent or tucked away in areas only we notice personally, is something that many of us struggle with.  If you’re in good health overall but possess isolated areas of exercise-resilient fat, liposuction or body sculpting may be an answer to this commonly shared cosmetic concern. Now, back to the question—is liposuction permanent?

To be frank, the answer to this question is not entirely simple.  Liposuction works by surgically removing fat by an auxiliary method such as ultrasound, laser energy, or vibration through a thin metal tube (also known as a cannula) inserted into a tiny incision hidden inside the treatment area. An additional method frequently used is tumescent liposuction, which involves injecting a tumescent fluid (a custom solution of local anesthetic and saline) to minimize pain and bleeding. After these fat cells are eliminated from the body, they are permanently removed. However, any fat cells left over maintain the ability to contract or expand based on your weight loss or gain.

Based on this fact alone, we’re reminded of the significance of liposuction’s status as a cosmetic procedure rather than a method of weight loss.  It’s important to reach a maintainable goal weight before surgery to avoid unwanted outcomes like dimpling and uneven contouring.  Liposuction is a great way to decrease bothersome areas if you’re a few pounds within your ideal body weight.  For patients with smaller areas of excess fat, Band Aid Liposuction may be performed in-office with gentle numbing like my other Band Aid Plastic Surgery techniques.

To learn more about liposuction and the other body contouring procedures, connect with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

Svelte for Spring: 5 Tips to Get Toned & Contoured

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As the ice and snow melt away, the signs of spring’s forthcoming are all around. Along with the return of leaves on trees and an abundance of Vitamin D, the season of spring brings back the presence of short skirts and sleeveless tops. For those who want to get on the path to slimming down, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John L. LeRoy offers tips to a better body before the flowers start to bloom.

atlanta tummy tuckTry liposuction for tough-to-tone areas.  Dr. LeRoy offers both Band Aid Liposuction and traditional liposuction for patients seeking body contouring assistance. Although not meant to act as a replacement for diet and exercise, the procedure can be useful for getting rid of fat that you are having trouble eliminating. An added benefit of liposuction is that it can performed on many areas of the body, including the arms, legs, abdomen, flanks, hips, thighs, and buttocks.

Avoid crash dieting. While it may be stressful to try to slim down quickly before warm weather hits, risking ruining your diet and exercise metabolism by crash dieting typically decreases future weight loss success.  Implement a plan that you can maintain long-term and make small goals, such as exercising moderately 3-4 times per week.

Stress less. Studies show that stress is linked to weight gain and can inhibit your ability to lose weight. Dr. LeRoy believes in accepting and loving who you are in order to make you feel like your most beautiful and confident self. A little “me time” can help:  de-stress by reading a book, playing your favorite video game, calling a loved one, taking a walk, or soaking in the bath.

Opt for a tummy tuck for a more athletic and toned appearance. Weight loss, pregnancy, and other factors can cause excess, overhanging skin to develop in the abdominal region. Weakened abdominal muscles can make the area appear even more prominent. Depending on your needs, Dr. LeRoy performs a variety of tummy tuck procedures on eligible candidates to tighten and tone your midsection, including circumferential, extended, endoscopic, and mini-tummy tucks (also known as Band Aid Tummy Tucks).

Change with the season. After months of winter and the same routine, our lives can feel stagnant and lacking progress. Spring is a great time to try something new—like a new hobby! Testing out new activities is an excellent way to set your life into motion and move forward.

To learn more about cosmetic procedures from Dr. LeRoy or to schedule your consultation to determine which procedure will best meet your cosmetic needs, call our office today.  Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google + for the latest plastic surgery updates.

How Do I Know if I Need Mini or Traditional Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?

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Wrinkles on the face are not the only sign that can give away our age.  As we all mature, the rate at which our bodies metabolize food and the amount our skin can contract after dramatic weight loss or pregnancy decreases. For many women, these changes can result in isolated deposits of fat on the abdomen and loose skin.

How Do I Know if I Need Mini or Traditional Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?Atlanta cosmetic and plastic surgeon Dr. John LeRoy uses his over 20 years of plastic surgery experience to perform mini and traditional tummy tuck procedures to address these concerns and restore a smoother, more youthful looking contour to the abdomen.  If you’re thinking about body contouring to address these cosmetic issues, it’s important that you first understand the differences between the available treatments.

Contrary to what it may seem, there are differences in the cosmetic capabilities in mini and traditional versions of body contouring procedures such as tummy tuck and liposuction.  Traditional tummy tuck surgery involves making an incision horizontally between the hip bones, removing excess fat and skin, and also retightening abdominal muscles stretched by pregnancy.

Mini or Band Aid Tummy Tuck is an in-office procedure performed with gentle numbing that allows Dr. LeRoy to address small areas of excess fat and remove minimal amounts of excess skin.  Unlike traditional tummy tuck, however, Band Aid Tummy Tuck does not address underlying abdominal muscles.   Depending on your specific cosmetic issues, Dr. LeRoy may suggest that Band Aid Tummy Tuck patients also receive Band Aid Liposuction to address residual fat deposits on the hips or flanks to optimize their cosmetic results.

Speaking about helping patients decide on which body contouring procedures to receive, Dr. LeRoy shares, “education is a powerful tool that patients can use to ensure they’re maximizing their satisfaction with surgery results.  It’s easy to assume that the least invasive method will be the best choice out of convenience, but it’s important to weigh that against your cosmetic goals to make sure you’re using the proper methods.”

For more information on the body contouring procedures that Dr. LeRoy performs, please contact his office.  You can also connect with Dr. LeRoy on Facebook, Twitter, and Google + for the latest plastic surgery updates.

CoolSculpting v. Band Aid Liposuction: How do I know which fat reduction procedure is right for me?

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CoolSculpting v. Band Aid Liposuction: How do I know which fat reduction procedure is right for me?With the plethora of fat reduction procedures on the market, understanding the capabilities of this ever-expanding selection of treatments can be a bit challenging.  CoolSculpting® was introduced as a non-invasive fat reduction procedure to U.S. markets in 2010.  This technology uses the power of extreme temperatures (applied externally) to damage isolated collections of fat cells on areas of the body like the abdomen and hips, which the body disposes of through the lymphatic system over the 2-4 months following the treatment.

While this procedure is enticing due to the promise of no downtime or surgery, it is meant for specific types of patients just like Dr. LeRoy’s original Band Aid Liposuction technique.  The ideal CoolSculpting patient has very small areas of excess fat on the hips, abdomen and/or flanks and is in good overall health.  The other thing to realize about non-surgical fat reduction is that results are gradual.  The body takes several months to filter the damaged cells out of the patient’s system for inch loss.

Band Aid Liposuction is also designed to address isolated areas of diet and exercise resistant fat; however, because the procedure removes the fat through suctioning cannulas, the results are typically more dramatic than those associated with non-surgical treatments. Band Aid Liposuction also offers patients treatment flexibility.  Performed in-office with gentle numbing, Band Aid Liposuction can be used to remove excess fat from a variety of locations including the abdomen, hips, knees, under the chin, and arms.  Both CoolScupting and Band Aid Liposuction are safe, effective procedures for appropriately qualified patients.

An important thing to remember when researching fat reduction treatments is to consult with a qualified provider.  An experienced surgeon with an extensive results portfolio ,which you can review during your consultation, is best equipped to perform surgical fat reduction like Band Aid Liposuction or recommend the most appropriate alternative treatment options like tummy tuck or mommy makeover surgery.  If you’re pursuing a non-surgical treatment, it’s best to consult a certified practitioner who also has an extensive before and after picture collections of their own work for you to review.

To learn more about the fat reduction options that Dr. LeRoy provides visit his website and continue to read his blog.  Connect with Dr. LeRoy on Facebook and Twitter to learn about the newest body contouring options as they become available.