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liposuction in Atlanta

Band Aid Liposuction vs. Traditional Liposuction

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There’s a reason we’ve been saying “two heads are better than one” for so long – because it’s true! It’s also an important rule when it comes to making decisions about liposuction (or any plastic surgery). You and your plastic surgeon are a team whose goal is to get you the safest and most satisfactory results possible, and you need both players to make a good team: your surgeon, who’s the expert on the procedures, and you, who’s the expert on your goals for the procedure. But before you meet with John L. LeRoy, MD, FACS, PC, it’s important to have an idea about your options and what results you can expect.

When it comes to liposuction, we offer both traditional liposuction and Band Aid Liposuction Band Aid Liposuction is a procedure that I developed, which is essentially a minimally-invasive version of traditional liposuction. So which one fits your needs best? Here’s the breakdown:

Band Aid Liposuction vs. Traditional Liposuction

Neither procedure is meant to be an alternative to diet and exercise. While it’s important to be familiar with your options and have an idea of what your realistic goals are, remember that you and your surgeon should make the decision together during your consultation. Feel free to contact Dr. John LeRoy to set up an appointment and start exploring your liposuction options. For updates on our surgical procedures, keep up with the latest via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Tips for the Best Liposuction Results

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Body contouring with liposuction is continually one of the most popular cosmetic procedures pursued by both male and female patients.  According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s 2012 statistics, liposuction was the second most popular cosmetic surgical procedure, only behind breast augmentation.  While it may be a common procedure, with 313,011 cases nationwide in 2012 alone, there are still some important things you should know ahead of time.

Tips for the Best Atlanta Liposuction Results With over 20 years of plastic and cosmetic surgery experience, Dr. John LeRoy reiterates to patients that liposuction is not a weight loss method.  While fat is permanently removed during liposuction, the weight of the amount that can safely be removed is not enough to show a dramatic change on the scale.  Dr. LeRoy also emphasizes the importance of the following to achieve optimal liposuction results:

Lose the weight before surgery:  To achieve the most desired liposuction results, it’s important to be at or near your ideal body weight going into surgery.  As mentioned before, liposuction is designed to contour the treatment areas and not to reduce weight.  Liposuction can be performed on nearly every area of the body including, but not limited to, the arms, love handles, lower abdomen, legs, and under the chin.

Wear the recommended post-surgical dressings:  Because the tumescent liposuction technique utilized by Dr. LeRoy in traditional and Band Aid Liposuction cases requires the injection of tumescent fluid ( a mixture of anesthetic and saline solution) to reduce bleeding and “puff-up” fat cells for easier removal, there is inevitably some swelling.   By wearing the recommended post-surgical compression garments, you’ll limit the amount of additional swelling by the body.

Give yourself time to recover:  Even Band Aid Liposuction, utilizing gentle numbing to eliminate very small areas of isolated fat in-office, requires the movement of a cannula that can result in some post-procedure bruising.  By following your prescribed after-care instructions and limiting strenuous activity following surgery you greatly reduce the risk of post-operative complications like excess swelling and bleeding.   

Maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise routine:   Though fat cells are permanently removed with liposuction, the fat cells surrounding the treatment area(s) still maintain the ability to expand with weight gain.  This is the reason that liposuction should not be considered a weight loss method, nor should patients use the procedure in place of a healthy diet and regular exercise routine.

To determine if you are a candidate for liposuction or a Band Aid Liposuction procedure, schedule a cosmetic consultation with Dr. LeRoy by contacting our office.  You can also stay informed of the latest plastic surgery news by connecting with Dr. LeRoy on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

Can Fat Return After Liposuction?

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Excess fat is something that many of us struggle with.  Men and women alike tend to notice areas that hold onto fat despite our best efforts to eat right and exercise regularly.  For those in good overall health with isolated areas of exercise resistant fat, liposuction or body sculpting may be an answer to this common cosmetic concern.  One of the questions I hear most frequently from my Atlanta body sculpting patients is, “Can fat come back after liposuction?”Can Fat Return After Liposuction?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is not simple.  Liposuction surgically removes fat loosened by an auxiliary method such as ultrasound, laser energy, or vibration through a thin metal tube (cannula) inserted into a tiny incision hidden within the treatment area.  Once the targeted fat cells are removed from the body, they are permanently gone; however, the remaining fat cells still have the ability to contract or expand based on the calories consumed by the patient vs. the calories burned.

This fact emphasizes the importance of liposuction as a cosmetic procedure and not a weight loss measure.  In fact, dramatic weight fluctuation after liposuction can lead to undesirable outcomes like dimpling and uneven contouring.  Liposuction is, however, an excellent means to reduce troublesome areas in those patients within a few pounds of their ideal body weight.  For patients with especially small 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 available, visit my website and continue to read our blog.  You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for breaking plastic surgery news.

Muscle Matters: Similarity Between Mommy Makeover Surgery and the Band Aid Facelift

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“Droopy” is not an adjective people enjoy associating with the appearance of their bodies.  However, Atlanta plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. John LeRoy hears the word a lot from mommy makeover surgery and Band Aid “mini” Facelift patients describing sagging skin of their aging faces and post child birth bodies.  While many Atlanta, GA cosmetic surgery patients think the problem is skin or fat related, Dr. LeRoy reiterates that often, the source of these cosmetic concerns starts at the core:  muscles.

Women who have had children, and exercise regularly, come to board certified plastic surgeon Dr. John LeRoy thinking they need liposuction to remedy the “fat” they see on their lower abdomen.  Often, many of these mom’s don’t have excess fat on their stomachs, but muscle separation which creates a “pooch” appearance.

A medical condition known as diastasis recti, muscle separation occurs during 1/3 of all pregnancies when a mother’s abdominal muscles can’t support the rapid expansion of her stretching uterus.  The rectus abdominis, or girdle like muscles of the torso begin to thin, stretch, and move slowly outward as the expanding baby pushes forth.  The protrusion remains after birth, and cannot be fixed with exercise: only by retacking the muscles in their proper vertical position using tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty).

As detailed in his previous blog about “mini facelift” procedures, Dr. LeRoy describes the distinctive process involved in Band Aid Facelift surgery:  carefully maneuvering lax facial muscles to restore a tighter, younger looking facial musculature.  Unlike many traditional, full facelift procedures which can carry the risk of producing results that look overdone, the Band Aid Facelift rejuvenates the face without removing too much skin or creating a “stretched” appearance.

While not a substitute for regular exercise, or a health-centered skin care regime, cosmetic facial surgery and body procedures can address underlying issues contributing to unwanted, external signs of aging or past pregnancy.  To learn more about the cosmetic surgery procedures Dr. LeRoy performs, visit his website or subscribe to his newsletter.