I would like to comment on the article dated April 26^th, 2012 published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism entitled “Liposuction Induces a Compensatory Increase of Visceral Fat Which is Effectively Counteracted by Physical Activity: A Randomized Trial.”

I specialize in liposuction and revision liposuction surgery in Beverly Hills and have performed over 5000 liposuction surgeries. I have always emphasized that properly performed liposuction surgery is all about identifying and specifically reducing genetically disproportionate areas of subcutaneous fat. When it is approached this way, a disproportionate patient is made proportionate, so that as they gain and lose weight they do so in a more balanced and proportionate way than prior to the surgery.

However, if the evaluation of specifically where to target is not accurate, the surgeon will create disproportion whether it be in subcutaneous areas of fat (and as the study in the Journal of Obesity in April 2010 demonstrated in which I commented on), or in visceral fat as this recent study demonstrated.

Properly performed liposuction in the appropriate disproportionate patient in specifically targeted areas can be an amazing tool to create proper balance and proportion. Unfortunately, most revision patients I consult with have not been approached in this manner. Patients can be thrown out of proportion and as a result the body will store fat wherever fat tissue resides and it will re-equilibrate.

As was the study in the Journal of Obesity, appropriate prospective patients will assume that liposuction will always create disproportion or increased visceral fat. This is simply not true. Liposuction should be performed with a proper understanding and awareness of balance and proportion.

For individuals who want to get rid of fat without surgery, there is Ultrashape. This is a form of ultrasonic liposuction that uses ultrasonic waves to break up fat cells without surgery.

Ultrashape is intended to destroy fat underneath the skin from outside the skin. It works by targeting specific fat cells with ultrasonic waves. The surrounding tissue is unaffected by the ultrasonic waves. The fat cells rupture and the liquefied fat cells are then naturally flushed out of the body. The procedure reduces the circumference by the body by centimeters over the course of weeks or months. Multiple treatments may be needed to achieve desired results.

You may be a good candidate for Ultrashape if you are already close to your ideal weight. This procedure is designed to remove specific fat deposits and it should not be used for overall weight loss. If you approach Ultrashape as a body refining procedure, you are likely to be happier with the results. Realistic results are also an important qualifier for this procedure.

The ultrasonic waves used with the Ultrashape system are safe. Ultrasonic waves were first used in the 1980s for cosmetic surgery, like ultrasonic liposuction and, more recently, Ultrashape. Since then, the technology has advanced to make it safer, faster, and more effective. The waves affect the fat underneath the skin without penetrating or damaging the surface skin. As a result, there are no scars or bruising, and no down time. Patients can resume normal activities immediately following a quick inpatient procedure. Ultrasonic waves can be a valuable tool to assist fat removal.

Ultrashape is ideal for body contouring. Let’s say you’re in good shape but you have love handles. You’ve tried dieting and exercises targeted to those areas, but nothing works. Ultrashape may be the answer. It can give you an improved shape with less apparent love handles and a slimmer midsection.  The procedure can be performed on the legs, arms, abdomen, hips, buttocks, and on almost any body area that is in need of contouring.

Ultrashape is not a substitute for liposuction as it is not capable of removing the same volumes of fat as liposuction. Liposuction is surgery during which fat is physically removed from the body. For body refinement, Ultrashape is a nonsurgical option that has been clinically tested.

Learn more about ultrasonic waves and other liposuction alternatives at expertliposuction.com.

The intention of liposuction is not to help you lose weight. Instead, liposuction is performed to remove specific fat deposits from under the skin. The amount of fat removed is not enough to significantly reduce your body weight. The goal is to give the body more favorable contours but eliminating bulges and bumps caused by specific fat zones.

The way fat is distributed throughout the body is sometimes dictated by heredity. Large hips may run in the family. Age also plays a role in fat distribution. Men tend to gain fat in their abdomens as they age. Women tend to gain fat in their thighs, hips, and lower abdomen. This fat can be challenging or nearly impossible to eliminate through conventional means – a healthy diet and regular exercise. That’s because there are genetic factors at work. A healthy, active person can still have bulges of fat here and there.

Liposuction is designed to eliminate these fat deposits to reshape the body. When these fat deposits are removed, clothes may fit better and patients may appear slimmer, though actual weight loss is minimal. In fact, it is unhealthy for too much fat to be removed during a single liposuction procedure. Small amounts of fat removed from specific areas can have a noticeable effect on the body’s shape.

Liposuction is not intended for people who are obese or who need to lose a lot of weight quickly. Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure to enhance the shape of the body. A prospective patient should be in overall good health and close to his or her ideal weight. Lipo will eliminate “problem areas” to refine the body’s contours.

After liposuction, a patient should maintain his or her weight in order to maintain the results of surgery. It is still possible to gain weight, but the new fat will go to areas that did not undergo surgery. Fat will not reappear in the areas where liposuction was performed.

Liposuction can be performed after a patient has lost weight as a way of enhancing his or her new shape. If you are considering lipo after weight loss, you should be at a stable weight.

If you are at a healthy weight and wish to eliminate a few trouble spots, liposuction can offer you a new shape. Schedule a consultation with Dr. David Amron at expertliposuction.com.

For many patients, the best facial filler is their own body fat. There are a number of reasons why this is true: one’s own fat is readily accepted without an allergic reaction, it feels natural, it’s readily available, it’s long-lasting (in most cases), and it is inexpensive compared to synthetic fillers. Autologous fat injections are also preferred by many patients who do not wish to put synthetic materials into their bodies.

Autologous fat injections can be used to correct scars, including pitting of the skin caused by acne. Fat fills in areas where the skin is uneven. It’s also useful for restoring fullness to a thinning face. As we age, facial fat diminishes and the skin becomes thinner. Thin skin can be very evident around the eyes and cheekbones. Many people have fat injections put around their eyes to restore a more youthful appearance.

Fat injections can also be used to rejuvenate the hands. Just like the face, the skin on the hands tends to become thin with age. Notice that both of these areas of the body are involved in near constant motion. Fat can be injected into the hands to make them appear younger.

Regarding quality of fillers, there are many synthetic fillers that have provided excellent results for many patients. Among them are fillers made of synthetic hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body to cushion joints. Its ability to provide cushion and volume makes it well-suited for filling in the skin. Synthetic fillers such as this can provide the same sort of skin rejuvenation as autologous fat, but there is a risk of allergic reaction and the filler may not last as long as autologous fat. Synthetic fillers are also significantly more expensive than autologous fat injections.

Fat is injected into the face through a series of microinjections to avoid scarring. This method injects very small amounts of fat into each injection site. The fat is inserted in this way to make it easier for the body to assimilate the small pockets of fat. The body will reabsorb some of the fat but studies have shown that some of the fat can remain for three years or more.

Autologous fat injections are an effective way to restore volume to the under eye area, laugh lines, cheeks, and forehead using one’s own body fat.

Learn more about autologous fat transfer injections at expertliposuction.com.

There are multiple options for cheek augmentation depending on what you want to do. Some people want fuller cheeks because their faces have become thin with age. As a result, the skin may appear loose. Other patients want thinner cheeks to gain slimmer faces. Options are available to reduce the cheeks or to add fullness.

If you want fuller, more youthful cheeks, a variety of fillers are available that plump the skin. Popular injected fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in the body. The kind used for injections is synthetic but has good results in most patients. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain hydration and cushion the joints. Therefore, it is ideally suited for plumping the skin where volume has been lost. However, the injected filler will eventually diminish and be absorbed by the body. How long fillers will last depends on the individual.

Another option for cheek augmentation is fat grafting. In this procedure, fat is taken from a fatty part of the body – like the buttocks or hips – and injected into the face through a series of microinjections. The tiny needles used will not leave scars as they place small amounts of fat throughout the cheeks. These small amounts are easier for the body to assimilate. Fat grafting may not be permanent but the results may last several years. Again, it depends on the patient.

Yet another method of cheek augmentation is cheek liposuction. In this procedure, fat is surgically removed from the cheeks. A very narrow instrument called a cannula is inserted underneath the skin through small incisions. The cannula is used to break up and extract fat cells from the cheeks. The tiny incisions will virtually disappear as they heal. Cheek liposuction does not tighten the skin like a facelift can. The removal of fat from underneath the skin can cause the skin to tighten on its own due to its natural elasticity. Younger patients will have more elastic skin than older patients. The results of cheek liposuction are permanent. The removed fat cells will never return. Patients can still gain weight but it will be distributed to other areas of the body.

Cheek augmentation is a broad category of procedures designed to either add or subtract fullness from the cheeks. You can learn more about cheek augmentation at expertliposuction.com.

Liposonix is a safe, non-surgical fat reduction procedure designed to eliminate fat from the abdomen and love handles. In just a single one hour procedure, one inch can be eliminated from the waistline. For people who have struggled to eliminate love handles through diet and exercise, Liposonix provides a non-invasive option that works.

Love handles, also called flanks, are often resistant to diet and exercise. For one thing, the love handles are difficult to target with exercise. As people age, fat can accumulate on the love handles and abdomen due to genetic reasons. A person may be able to lose weight but not from the abdominal area. Liposonix may be answer for reducing love handles.

Liposonix is not liposuction and it is not a weight loss procedure. It is a completely noninvasive procedure that takes place above the skin but eliminates fat below the skin. No incisions are necessary. The Liposonix device is applied to the skin where fat removal is desired. The device emits high intensity, focused ultrasound energy that goes directly to the fat cells and breaks them up. The ultrasound energy triggers an inflammatory response within the body. Special cells engulf the fat and the cell debris and dispose of it naturally.

All the fat destruction goes on beneath the surface of the skin. The frequency of the ultrasound is not enough to damage the epidermis. While fat cells are being engulfed under the skin, the surface of the skin is undisturbed. The patient can return to normal activities immediately.

Liposonix is FDA-approved and has been tested for safety and effectiveness. A recently released second generation Liposonix system enables the doctor to cover more area at once.

The average amount of fat lost is 4-5 cm. One treatment can reduce the patient’s pant or dress size by one.

Ideal candidates for Liposonix are people who have an inch or more of fat around their abdomens, who have a BMI of 30 or less, and who understand what the procedure can and cannot do. A person who is close to his or her ideal shape will be happiest with the results of this procedure.

Love handles are not inevitable. They can be minimized with the targeted fat reduction treatment called Liposonix.

Would you like your jeans to fit better? Are you unable to lose that extra inch of fat from the abdomen or hips despite dieting and excercising? Liposonix, a new nonsurgical fat removal treatment, may be the answer.

Liposonix is a non-invasive fat reduction procedure that targets certain areas of the body. It is designed to eliminate fat deposits in the precise areas desired by the patient. The Liposonix system uses high-intensity ultrasound energy to permanently eliminate fat underneath the skin, resulting in a newly contoured body shape. Each treatment takes just an hour and the patient can resume normal activities immediately. The treated fat is eliminated through the body’s natural healing process. Results typically appear in six to eight weeks.

Liposonix is different from other forms of surgical and non-surgical fat removal. Liposuction is the surgical removal of subcutaneous fat. Liposuction can achieve dramatic, targeted results in one procedure, but it does require penetration through small incisions to extract fat deposits. Liposonix requires no incisions. A device emits ultrasound energy that destroys the fat beneath the skin without altering the skin itself. That fat is then eliminated by the body naturally.

Other noninvasive methods of fat reduction, such as lasers or radiofrequency, may not be as targeted because the energy is low-frequency and not capable of penetrating the skin adequately. Liposonix uses high frequency energy to penetrate through layers of skin to the underlying fat.

Liposonix is best used to eliminate small amounts of fat in specific body areas. For example, this method can be used to remove an inch from the waistline or reduce the flanks (love handles) without surgery. It is not a substitute for liposuction, but Liposonix can refine a new, sculpted body.

Liposonix can be used to refine the results of liposuction on a patient who would like to lose another inch. For such a small amount of fat, surgery may not be necessary. Liposonix can be used to target the small pocket of fat without penetrating the skin.

LIposonix cannot replace a healthy lifestyle or exercise, but it can help you achieve your goal of eliminating that extra, stubborn inch from your abdomen.

Liposonix uses the latest body sculpting technology and it is now available to my patients. For more information, you are invited to set up a complimentary consultation to discuss your goals and what treatments are available to help you reach them. Call 310-275-2467 or contact me online at expertliposuction.com.

Today, more men than ever before are having lipo. That’s according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. They said in a press release that male liposuction was up 7 percent in 2011.

The rise in liposuction surgeries is part of a growing trend of men having cosmetic procedures. There are a number of reasons why men might get cosmetic surgery: to look younger, to eliminate problem areas, to feel better about their appearances. As people live longer, men and women want to look younger for longer.

Another hypothesis is that men of the baby boomer generation want to compete with a younger work force and feel that cosmetic procedures will enable them to look the part.

Whatever the reason for the increase, men are more open to having lipo now than ever before. Women are more apt to get nonsurgical treatments, like Botox, while men favor surgical procedures. Liposuction is one of the top four cosmetic procedures among male patients.

Men typically have liposuction performed on their flanks, also known as love handles, their abdomens, backs, necks, and sometimes on their chests. As men age, fat tends to accumulate in these areas and it can be very difficult to remove using exercise and a healthy diet. Rather than continuing to loosen their belts, many men are having lipo.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes targeted fat deposits from under the skin. An instrument called a cannula is inserted through a tiny incision in the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth to break up fat cells and extract them with suction. The surgeon selects what fat to remove and blends the surgery site with the surrounding area so the results look natural. This is called body sculpting. Once fat is removed, it does not come back to its former locations.

Lipo is not a weight loss procedure. It is a way to permanently remove subcutaneous fat deposits from the body. For many men, lipo is effective where diet and exercise were not.

Ideal candidates for lipo are men who are in overall good health and who are close to their ideal weights. After surgery, men should maintain their body weights.

Liposuction for men is likely to continue to be a trend as baby boomers work longer and continue to lead active lives.

Gynecomastia is the medical term for male breast enlargement. Liposuction has proven successful in reducing the size of breasts, but it does often require multiple incisions. Laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive technique that uses a laser to liquefy fat underneath the skin. The liquefied fat is then drained through very tiny incisions. This is different from traditional liposuction in which a cannula is used to extra fat with suction.

Laser lipo is best used to remove small amounts of fat. Therefore, it is a good solution to gynemastia. A report of patients’ experiences with laser lipo over five years was written by a group of Spanish doctors at the Instituto Médico Vilafortuny, Fundación Antoni de Gimbernat. Twenty eight patients received gynemastia treatment. After six months, 18 patients reported the results as being “very good.” In the final analysis, laser lipo is safe and effective at treating gynemastia and offers significant skin tightening. The one caveat is that the procedure should be performed by an experienced operator to achieve these results.

Laser liposuction can be used to treat small amounts of fat in many areas of the body in addition to the breasts. It can be performed on the hips, abdomen, flanks, arms, and thighs. Laser lipo is not as effective on larger fat deposits. For more significant fat removal, tumescent liposuction may be more appropriate. Your surgeon can determine what type of procedure should be used based on your goals. Laser lipo may also be used to tighten the skin as a follow-up procedure to tumescent liposuction.

Laser lipo may also be called Smart Lipo or laser assisted liposuction. Laser liposuction uses a local anesthetic. Before the laser is inserted, the anesthetic is injected at the surgery site. Once the area is numbed, tiny incisions are made. The laser is inserted through these incisions to target the subcutaneous fat deposits. As the laser is moved back and forth, it ruptures the fat cells, causing the fat to liquefy.

Whether used to treat gynemastia or other unwanted fat deposits, laser lipo is an effective method when performed by an experienced operator. It is not a replacement for tumescent liposuction for larger areas of fat.

Dr. David Amron is a liposuction specialist with 16 years of experience. He can offer patients his professional opinion as to what procedures can help them achieve their goals.

Compared to liposuction, the procedure for Coolsculpting is quite different and therefore the recovery is as well.

Coolsculpting by Zeltiq works by a process called Cryolipolysis. Targeted fat cells are cooled until an inflammatory response is triggered in the body that breaks down the fat cells. The cells are then absorbed by the body and naturally flushed away. The procedure is also called fat-freezing. Coolsculpting is a nonsurgical procedure. The cooling device is applied to the exterior of the skin and the patient feels intense cold and some pressure. Each treatment takes about one hour.

After Coolsculpting, a patient can return to work and normal activities immediately. There is no downtime. The patient may experience some tenderness and redness at the site of treatment, but it typically disappears in a few hours.

Because Coolsculpting is nonsurgical, it does not require incisions and does not leave scars. Full results may take a few months to appear as the body gradually disposes of the cooled fat cells. As it does so, the body’s new shape will begin to emerge. Some large fat deposits may require multiple treatments to achieve the patient’s desired results.

Coolsculpting is considered as a liposuction alternative because it can accomplish some fat reduction but without the recovery process of liposuction. With liposuction, the patient will experience swelling and bruising for several days. A compression garment must be worn to help reduce swelling and to encourage the drainage of anesthetic fluids. The trade-off is that the results of liposuction are predictable because the surgeon is physically removing the fat in one surgery. The surgeon has more control over the outcome of liposuction. Also, the patient only has to undergo liposuction once typically, whereas Coolsculpting requires multiple visits.

Coolsculpting takes multiple treatments and relies on the body to flush away the treated fat. The procedure works best on small amounts of fat and for additional touch-ups following liposuction.

If you are looking for a way of making small refinements to your body, Coolsculpting may be a good option. It is best for patients that are near their ideal weights with small pockets of stubborn fat. Typical areas treated are the arms, abdomen, thighs, hips, and back. Men and women can benefit from this procedure.

For more information on Coolsculpting by Zeltiq and other nonsurgical fat reduction procedures, visit expertliposuction.com.

This procedure may also be used in addition to liposuction to achieve additional body contouring.