We had a number of great questions that were asked on The Doctor Radio Show, SiriusXM Channel 81 last Tuesday, July 15th. I have decided to share some Q&A from the show on my blog.
Q: WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR STUBBORN FAT DEPOSITS THAT DO NOT DECREASE WITH DIET AND EXERCISE?
A: Liposuction is generally considered the number one treatment for fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise. The goal of liposuction is to remove isolated accumulations of fat. Liposuction is not a treatment for generalized obesity. Vanquish, a non-invasive procedure which uses radiofrequency reduction of fat & Cool Sculpt, which is an actual freezing of the fat cells are two alternatives to removing areas of fat. Approximately 20% of the amount of fat one would remove with traditional liposuction.
Q: WHICH HAS LESS RECOVERY TIME? TRADITIONAL OR SMART LIPOSUCTION?
A: The recovery time from traditional liposuction vs. smart liposuction is essentially the same. Recovery time depends on how much fat needs to be removed. It is usually not a long drawn out recovery, even when large amounts of fat are removed.
Q: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO HAVE A BREAST AUGMENTATION AFTER BREAST FEEDING?
A: It is important to wait 6 to 12 months following breastfeeding before breast augmentation. This permits the breast tissue to get over the stretching of the tissues that incurred during the breastfeeding process. In addition, there is frequently atrophy of the breast tissue following breastfeeding and the true size of the breast will not be seen until 6 to 12 months following breastfeeding.
Q: ARE THE RESULTS OF FAT AUGMENTATIONS COMPARABLE TO TRADITIONAL BREAST AUGMENTATION?
A: The short answer is, no. There are some very good results seen without augmentation of the breast, but the long-term effects of fat injections are yet to be determined. In addition, a certain amount of the fat will disappear over a period of 6 to 12 months following augmentation. Frequently patients requesting breast augmentation do not have a significant amount of fat on other areas of the body that can be used to augment the breast to the desired size. Traditional breast augmentation gives an excellent result with only an hour and a half of surgery. There is a great choice in breast size and contour that can be established.
Q: AT WHAT AGE IS APPROPRIATE FOR A TEENAGER TO HAVE A RHINOPLASTY?
A: A large number of teenagers have rhinoplasty between 15 and 18 years of age. Females usually develop earlier than males and it is safe to perform a rhinoplasty once a female is having regular menses. Males develop slightly slower and a large number of rhinoplasty procedures in males are performed between 17 and 19 years old.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN RESEARCHING A SURGEON TO PERFORM A RHINOPLASTY? SHOULD I LOOK FOR A SURGEON THAT HAS DONE A LOT OF NOSES?
A: All cosmetic surgery is a combination of art, science, and surgery. An experienced surgeon counts a great deal in the aesthetic decision-making process and judgment required for aesthetic surgery procedures. Rhinoplasty is one of the most complicated procedures performed. You want to look for a surgeon that has a great deal of experience with rhinoplasty.
Check back soon! We will be answering more questions shortly as a continuation of our Doctor Radio blog series! Don’t forget to tune in LIVE for the next show on Tuesday, August 12th from 6-8PM EST. Feel free to call in: 877.698.3627 or email: docs@siriusxm.com
SHERRELL J. ASTON, M.D., F.A.C.S. 