Water-Assisted Liposuction

Plastic surgery has been an American phenomenon since the late 1960s. Originally only available for the rich and famous, plastic surgery has become more financially realistic for those seeking larger breasts, plumper lips, and smaller waistlines on demand. Liposuction is one of the most common practices in the plastic surgery world. By breaking apart and extracting fat cells, surgeons are able to extract an inch or more off a patient’s waistline in a single session.

The downside to traditional liposuction is that it is invasive—and varying recovery times include severe bruising and intense pain. Water-assisted liposuction is growing in popularity as a comfortable alternative to traditional liposuction.

The Procedure: How Does It Work?

Water-assisted liposuction is an outpatient procedure that has varying but significantly faster recovery times compared to traditional liposuction. The procedure does require traditional methods of anesthesia, as well as a pain reliever added to the water to help further decrease discomfort throughout and after the surgery.

Once the patient is under, the surgeon inserts a hollow tube and shoots water at the fat cells. The water shakes the fat cells loose from muscles so that the surgeon can gently extract them. Depending on the size of the area and the amount of fat being removed, the procedure can last anywhere from one to three hours. Results can be seen about an hour after surgery, and most patients stop feeling discomfort after just a few days (as opposed to several weeks, as with traditional liposuction).

Who Can Undergo Water-Assisted Liposuction?

Patients considering water-assisted liposuction as a means of fat removal should:

• Be 25 pounds or less overweight
• Have tried losing the weight through diet and exercise without results
• Have pockets of hard fat in the back, thighs, abdomen, hips, and knees
• Be interested in a less invasive form of body and facial liposuction

Risks of Water-Assisted Liposuction

The risks associated with water-associated liposuction are very similar to those associated with traditional liposuction:

• Temporary swelling and discomfort around the surgery area
• A temporary numbness that should last no more than a few hours
• Fluid build-up from saline/water mixture used during the procedure
• Asymmetry of fat deposits in the surgery area

Your plastic surgeon can further explain any risks associated with the procedure.

How Much Does It Cost?

Water-assisted liposuction is much less expensive than traditional liposuction methods, costing about $3,000-$4,5000 a session.

Although it was once considered a luxury, studies now show that more than half of Americans now include some form of massage therapy into their monthly health routine.

The Different Types of Massage

• Swedish “Traditional” Massage: Swedish massage methods have shaped the American definition of massage. Developed by a Swedish doctor in the early 1800s, Swedish massage uses a variety of compressive techniques including gliding strokes, shaking, tapping, and kneading to gently break up tension in the muscles. This method of massage is used for relaxation and stress relief.
• Deep Tissue Massage: Deep tissue massages are typically offered by every registered massage practitioner. The intent of these massages is to reach deep into the muscles and break apart tension in the fibers that connect one to another. By creating friction against the muscles and adding compressive pressure to each, deep tissue massages are excellent for treating back pain, recovering from injury, and releasing toxins.

The Benefits of Massage

Stress relief and relaxation are two of the most common benefits of massage therapy. Some of the other benefits include:

• Improving posture
• Increasing circulation and lowering blood pressure
• Supporting and strengthening the immune system
• Speeding healing time and rehabilitation of muscles after surgery or injury
• Relaxation of muscles and relief of chronic lower back pain
• Improved range of motion and flexibility to help prevent permanent injury from daily wear and tear of back muscles

Whether you’re recovering from an injury or just need a little stress relief, the benefits of massage therapy are worth working a session into your weekly or monthly schedule.

Laser hair removal is the latest trend in cosmetic hair removal. It is virtually painless, can have long-lasting results, and is inexpensive compared to other plastic surgery procedures.

Laser Hair Removal: The Procedure

Laser hair removal works by concentrating small beams of light at the hairs in the desired area. The pigment in the hair absorbs the light to the root, damaging the follicle and killing the hair. The results vary widely, and can last anywhere from several months to several years.

For the first 24 hours after the procedure, the hair will not grow. Once it does start to appear, gently pull the hairs out with your fingers or with tweezers. They should not give resistance. If they do, don’t try to pull them out, as this means the follicle was not damaged during the session and the root will need to be intact for your next appointment.

Laser Hair Removal: What You Should Know Before Going In

Laser hair removal works best for people with darker hair and lighter skin. The easier the hair can be seen, the easier it will be for the doctor to find each one with the laser. People with lighter hairs can dye them before the procedure to help with laser targeting.

The procedure will not yield permanent results. Some patients will see hair regrowth in just a few months, while others will enjoy the results for several years. The number of required sessions will depend on how thick the hairs are, how deep the follicles run, and how many procedures it takes to finish hair removal in the desired area.

The level of comfort throughout the procedure depends on the patient’s pain tolerance. Some patients claim that the procedure is painless, while others compare it to being gently struck with a hot rubber band with each shot of the laser.

Laser Hair Removal: Costs & Risks

Each hair removal session costs around $1,000, although this will vary from one doctor to another. Risks include:

• Temporary skin discomfort in the treated area
• Increased fragility for skin that is sunburned or has been exposed to chlorine and saltwater
• Temporary pigment changes in the treated area

It is important to speak with your doctor about how to prepare for the procedure, what to expect, and any lasting risks associated with laser hair removal.

Tattoo Removal Process Before and After ( actual client)

It is estimated that more than 1 million Americans have at least one tattoo from one of the 4,000 active tattoo parlors across the nation. While many choose their tattoos very carefully and enter careers that embrace or tolerate body ink, a large portion of tattoos are purchased on impulse and later regretted. This is why tattoo removal techniques have grown in popularity in the last decade. Laser tattoo removal is one such technique that Americans are using to safely eradicate their tattoos.

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

To perform laser tattoo removal, doctors target only the inked skin with short bursts or pulses of concentrated light. The light infiltrates the skin and focuses on the tattoo pigment, which it then breaks apart into minute pieces and releases into the bloodstream. From this point, the immune system locates and removes the tattoo ink as a foreign particle. The lasers only affect the ink pigment within the skin and not the skin pigment itself, so there is no risk of permanent discoloration after surgery.

Benefits & Risks of Laser Tattoo Removal

The most encouraging benefit of laser tattoo removal is that the process is not invasive and does not require the physical removal of any skin. Other forms of tattoo removal include sanding, freezing, and removing the tattoo with a scalpel. Each of these procedures is extremely painful, and many require a skin graft depending on the size of the tattoo.

The risks associated with laser tattoo removal are few compared to other methods. The area around the treated site will be tender and feel sunburned anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the tattoo. If the site is not properly cleaned, the patient runs the risk of infection, which can then be treated with medicine from a dermatologist.

Cost of Laser Tattoo Removal

The number of sessions required to completely remove a tattoo depends on the size of the tattoo and the different colors of inks used. Black ink is the most receptive to the laser treatment and will be the first to disappear, but other colors may take several sessions or different types of laser. Each session can run up to $1,000 depending on the surgeon. The procedure is typically not covered by insurance companies as a legitimate medical procedure.