Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Blog in New York, NY | George Lefkovits M.D.

New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut Plastic Surgery. Dr. Lefkovits' specializes in liposuction, tummy tucks, laser hair removal, face lifts and breast enhancement surgery. His experience spans both male and female cosmetic surgical procedures as well.

Friday, May 30, 2008

How Effective Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is one of the most effective treatments available for semi-permanent hair removal. After 5-6 treatments, the average patient sees up to an 80 % reduction in hair density in treated areas. Laser hair removal is effective on both men and women, and can be used to treat hair in nearly every part of the body.

Although anecdotally patients and doctors claim that the procedure works better on people with fairer skin, clinical studies show that it is effective for people of all skin types, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved it for use on all skin types. Effectiveness is more dependent on the hair color, and persons with darker skin may experience more burning as a side effect.

The reason why effectiveness depends more on hair color is that laser hair removal works by a process known as selective photothermolysis. That is, the hair follicles, dense in melanin, tend to absorb more of the light energy from the laser, transforming it into heat that kills the follicle. However, in the past dark-skinned people were also subject to serious burns because the laser light was also absorbed by melanin in the epidermis.

The CoolGlide laser used by Park Plaza Plastic Surgery represents an important innovation in laser hair removal that bypasses the epidermal melanin. The CoolGlide laser is a ND:YAG laser that emits radiation at 1064 nm, in the infrared portion of the spectrum. For a long time, this wavelength was considered ineffective in laser hair removal, because it is not well-absorbed by melanin, but this turns out to be the secret to its effectiveness. Because it is not well-absorbed by melanin, the radiation does not immediately impact even the darkest skin, allowing the photothermolytic gradient between the hair and the skin to work over time. With pulse lengths optimized for your skin and hair color, CoolGlide can kill the hair follicles while sparing the skin.

In addition, the efficient gold-plated copper skin-cooling mechanism prevents the buildup of heat in adjacent areas of the skin, so that as the laser wand moves over the skin only the treated area is heated, again minimizing the chance of thermal damage to the skin. Laser hair removal should not be confused with laser skin resurfacing, which actually ablates (removes) the outer layers of the skin.

Laser hair removal is not completely permanent. Virtually everyone who has the treatment experiences permanent hair reduction, but to maintain hairlessness may require maintenance treatments every six months or year.

To learn more about laser hair removal and how effective it is likely to be in your case, contact Dr. Lefkovits at Park Plaza Plastic Surgery to set up a consultation.

posted by Patti at 5:13 PM

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Gynecomastia Causes

Gynecomastia revision or male breast reduction, is one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures sought by men, especially men aged 39 and under, and experienced a 5 % growth from 2006 to 2007, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

What is Gynecomastia? Gynecomastia is Greek for "woman’s breasts," and it refers to a condition in which men's breasts are enlarged and embarrassing. Gynecomastia proper (as distinct from weight-related gynecomastia) is a hormonal condition, although many cases of gynecomastia have no known cause. In other cases, the most common causes are:
  • Medication that includes hormones or affect hormone pathways, including:
  • Cimetidine (marketed as Tagamet) and omeprazole (Prilosec)
  • Spironolactone (Aldactone, Novo-Spiroton, etc)
  • Imatinib (Gleevac)
  • Risperidone (Risperidal) and other antipsychotics that affect dopamine levels
  • Hormone fluctuation during puberty
  • Increased estrogen production (sometimes related to testicular cancer or hyperthyroidism)
  • Kidney or liver disease


When seeking treatment for gynecomastia, it is important to determine whether any serious health conditions are the cause of the enlarged breasts. In most cases, the condition can be corrected by first identifying and addressing the underlying cause, then utilizing liposuction to shrink the man's breasts. In some cases, it is also necessary to remove glandular tissue.

Sometimes, weight gain can cause a man's breasts to become enlarged. This is not technically gynecomastia, and should be treated cosmetically as part of a body contouring program. In addition, weight gain can sometimes lead to an increase in estrogen levels, creating gynecomastia in the true sense.

To learn more about gynecomastia, its causes and treatments, contact Dr. Lefkovits at Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today for a free initial consultation.

posted by Patti at 5:00 PM

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Facial Rejuvenation

Although the brain gets a lot of credit, the face is one of the most highly-evolved parts of human anatomy. From both verbal and nonverbal communication to eating, breathing, and perceiving the world, nearly every human function depends on the face, which not only accomplishes its job, but does so with style and beauty. Unfortunately, there's a price to pay. As they say, the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long and for many of us the face begins to look old suddenly, dramatically, and at a dismayingly young age. However, plastic surgery is able to rejuvenate the appearance of the face in many cases, helping you to look younger longer.

Although some fear that cosmetic surgery may make their face look stiff, fake, and plastic, the opposite is more likely. Cosmetic surgery can correct your perpetually angry or tired appearance and allow you to better express yourself with your face.

Some treatments can improve the appearance of the whole face, such as laser skin resurfacing, which can reduce age spots and fine wrinkles across the entire face. In considering the effects of age on your face, it is often useful to consider the face in terms of three regions, the brow/forehead, the eyes/cheek, and the mouth/neck region, which experience particular effects of aging, and are treated together.

Brow/Forehead
As you age, the constant action of your muscles in the brow, constantly contracting and releasing, can lead to a habitual conditioning of the nerves so that they signal the muscles to remain contracted, leading to deep, dynamic wrinkles in the forehead. Botox injections block these habitual signals and allow your brow muscles to relax into a more natural expression. In addition, gravity pulls your brows down, making them hang low and contributing to the angry or tired appearance of your face. For some deep furrows not easily correctable with Botox and for this low-hanging brow, a brow lift is the answer.

Eyes/Cheeks
Aging produces similar conditioning of the muscles around the eyes as in the brows, leading to crows' feet, also correctable with Botox. The hanging eyelids that become more pronounced as the skin loses elasticity with age can be corrected with eyelid surgery, at the same time that you address the puffy lower eyelids. In addition, fat transplantation can address the hollows underneath your eyes. As you age, you lose fat in the face, which can be corrected with cheek augmentation.

Mouth/Neck
The loss of fat has a profound impact on your lips, which grow thinner as you age, which can look very unattractive, especially in women. Facial fillers can address this thinning of the lips, and can also correct the smile lines or "parentheses" around your mouth.

In the lower face, the effects of gravity have a serious impact, drawing the skin and muscles down. This can lead to hanging jowls and a wrinkled "turkey neck." However, a facelift can pull up the jowls and neck, correcting the sagging of skin and muscles.

This is obviously just a brief rundown of some of the major problems many people face as they age. If you have noticed the effects of aging on your face and would like to learn how they might be corrected, contact Dr. Lefkovits today to set up your initial consultation.

posted by Patti at 4:55 PM

Monday, May 19, 2008

Eyelid Surgery for a More Youthful Appearance

Although the more youthful, glowing skin and reduced wrinkles people see as a result of laser skin resurfacing is good, perhaps nothing refreshes your appearance as completely as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). If you find that people often ask you "what's wrong?" when nothing's wrong, or if people frequently comment that you look tired, you may want to consider eyelid surgery. Eyelid surgery can correct a perpetually angry or tired appearance that results from drooping eyelids.

Specifically, eyelid surgery corrects:
  • Drooping upper eyelids
  • Excessive skin in the upper or lower eyelids
  • Puffy lower eyelids
  • Involuntarily narrowed eyes

Blepharoplasty also has a relatively short recovery period. You will experience some swelling, possibly some bruising, which you can minimize with an ice pack. There is not usually very much postoperative pain associated with the surgery, and most patients can return to work after a week or so.

To learn more about eyelid surgery, please contact Dr. Lefkovits at Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today for your initial consultation.

posted by Patti at 4:51 PM

Friday, May 16, 2008

When to Take a Load Off: Breast Reduction

Although breast enlargement is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the country, ironically breast reduction is not that far behind. Between 100,000-150,000 women every year have breast reduction surgery. There are many reasons why women seek breast reduction surgery, including:
  • Disproportionate appearance
  • Breasts are unattractive because too long, wide, or have stretch marks
  • Back pain, neck pain, grooves in the shoulder from bra straps
  • Breasts interfere with exercise or prevent you from engaging in athletic activities
  • Self-consciousness about breast

If you have any of these problems, breast reduction can help you. Breast reduction is not considered a solely cosmetic operation, and in many cases may be covered by your medical insurance.

However, sometimes your breasts may be sagging and unattractive not due to their size, but due to the effects of gravity and a loss of skin tone. In this case, a reduction may not be necessary - you may get good results from a breast lift instead.

Dr. Lefkovits can help you determine what would be the best course of action. Based on your concerns and your goals and on an evaluation of your physical condition, Dr. Lefkovits can recommend a treatment that can get you looking and feeling your best. Contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery for an initial consultation.

posted by Patti at 4:48 PM

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction

When patients seek correction for a larger-than-desired abdomen, a physical examination will determine whether liposuction or a tummy tuck is the appropriate procedure.

In liposuction, a small incision is made, and through this incision, a cannula, or hollow tube, is inserted. Suction is applied to the tube, and fat is suctioned out of the body.

Abdominoplasty is a more complicated procedure, involving a longer scar in the bikini area, in which excess skin (as well as some fat) is removed, and the muscles of the abdomen are tightened.

So, liposuction is used when you have stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to dieting and exercise and when the skin elasticity is satisfactory.

An abdominoplasty becomes necessary to treat:
  • Loose, sagging skin
  • Slack abdominal muscles
  • Stretch marks

Although this can serve as a guideline, the only way to really know which procedure is right for you, though, is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lefkovits, If you are considering an abdominoplasty in the Bronx, New York, contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today for a free consultation.

posted by Patti at 4:39 PM

Monday, May 5, 2008

Tumescent Liposuction

Liposuction is the removal of fat through suction of the fat-bearing areas of the body. In this procedure, a small incision is made, and a cannula (narrow tube) through which the suction is applied. Traditional liposuction could be accompanied with a significant amount of tissue damage.

To reduce the amount of damage caused by liposuction and to facilitate the removal of fat, tumescent liposuction injects a significant quantity of fluid into the areas to be treated. This fluid is largely saline solution, although it contains some anesthetic and epinephrine, which causes the blood vessels to constrict, reducing bleeding.

Powered liposuction techniques can cause tissue damage. Ultrasonic liposuction can cause tissue burns. Tumescent liposuction allows for protection of your tissue while also allowing the best possible contouring of the treated areas.

To learn more about your liposuction options, contact Dr. Lefkovits at Park Plaza Plastic Surgery to set up a consultation.

posted by Patti at 4:37 PM

Thursday, May 1, 2008

The Facelift: A Recent Innovation in Science and Art

The facelift is a very recent discovery in plastic surgery. Nose and ear reconstruction were practiced in ancient India. Eyelid surgery was successfully practiced in the sixteenth century. Abdominoplasty (without navel reposition), what we would call rhinoplasty, breast lift, and breast reduction were all well-accepted procedures by the mid-nineteenth century, but facelifts were not invented until well into the twentieth century.

At first, facelifts were only made by repositioning the skin on the face. These could reduce sagging and wrinkling as a result of excess skin, but their effects were short-lived. It was not until the 1970s that the secret to longer-lasting facelifts was discovered. Plastic surgeons realized that by repositioning the Superficial MusculoAponeurotic System (SMAS), a thin layer of muscles and connective tissue just under the skin, plastic surgeons found they could increase the lifespan of the results. However, they also found that the SMAS facelift had a longer recovery time and could lead to some change in your appearance.

Over the years, plastic surgeons have continued to innovate new facelift techniques and have learned how to get long-lasting results without a radically altered, tight, or pinched appearance. However, the facelift remains one of the more difficult procedures performed by a cosmetic surgeon, depending heavily on the artistry and experience of the surgeon.

If you are considering a facelift, choose your surgeon carefully. At the very minimum, you should have a board-certified cosmetic surgeon performing your facelift. Select one with in-depth training, years of experience, and good results. Dr. Lefkovits is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon who has received in-depth training not only in plastic surgery, but in the deeper anatomy of the face, throat, and ears. He has taught plastic surgery, and is a member of numerous regional, national, and international plastic surgery societies.

If you are interested in learning more about how Dr. Lefkovits can put his training at your service to get you the best possible facelift, please contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today to set up your consultation.

posted by Patti at 4:32 PM

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