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, June 27, 2008

Cosmetic Surgery for Men

Recently, news media outlets have been talking about men getting plastic surgery. They are treating this as news largely as a result of recent statistics that show substantial increases in the number of men receiving cosmetic treatments. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), the number of cosmetic medical treatments performed on men grew by 17 % to comprise 9 % of the total procedures performed last year.

That men are seeking cosmetic surgery is no surprise to us at Park Plaza Plastic Surgery, where men already make up 30 % of our patients. We have long been performing cosmetic procedures on male patients, and we know how to make the cosmetic procedure experience as comfortable as possible for men who may feel sensitive as a result of the common perception that cosmetic surgery is something for women only.

Our years of experience performing cosmetic surgery on men means that we have separate books of before and after pictures showing the positive results we can achieve for male patients. There is an entirely different aesthetic for the male body and the female body, and there is no reason why a man should have to try and guess from a picture of a woman's body what kind of results he might get from a cosmetic procedure.

We also maintain separate office hours for men, who are made to feel more comfortable with other men in the waiting room. The men-only hours create a very fraternal atmosphere making the entire experience more comfortable and rewarding.

If you are a man seeking cosmetic surgery, please contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery, where we invest in giving men the best possible results.

posted by Patti at 4:14 PM

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

A Word about Salesmanship in the Cosmetic Surgery Industry

Some surgeons will try to present you with the latest new machine that is designed to do one thing or another, but such claims should be regarded with skepticism for two reasons. First, many technologies are developed and put into application without proving their effectiveness. Few of these technologies are actually harmful, but many of them do not represent significant improvements, so that you are paying for gewgaws, bells, and whistles, not a better procedure. Evaluate not just the claims, but the actual results of any potential procedure.

Second, and more important, though, is that any new piece of machinery is just an instrument, and an instrument is only as good as the surgeon who uses it. Aesthetic surgery is not like optical refraction, which can be measured with an interferometer. A cosmetic surgeon is an artist and a sculptor, and his results depend on his innate sense of aesthetics and his technique. A surgeon needs talent, and that talent improves as it is honed with practice and experience.

Cosmetic surgery may be an optional medical procedure, but it is still a medical procedure. Your decision should be made on the basis of facts and evidence, not on the basis of a sales pitch. When you are considering working with a cosmetic surgeon, ask to get information in the form of a thorough, knowledgeable description of your procedure and before and after pictures of the doctor's results before making your decision.

Dr. George Lefkovits has been practicing cosmetic surgery for nearly 25 years, and his results speak to his aesthetic sense and his technique. Some examples of before and after pictures are given in the procedures pages, but to see a more complete set, please schedule a consultation today.

posted by Patti at 4:13 PM

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Transumbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA)

Transumbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA) has been promoted for many years as the "next big thing" in breast augmentation because it promises breast augmentation with no scarring. However, nearly twenty years after its introduction, it is practiced by very few plastic surgeons. In an industry where every doctor is looking for a marketing edge with new technology and techniques, that statistic speaks for itself. TUBA may have some advantages, but overall these are outweighed by other considerations.

The Promise of TUBA
Proponents of TUBA call it "scarless breast augmentation." In the procedure, an incision is made in the navel, then tracks are made to the breasts with an endoscope. The endoscope is then used to form the pockets in the breasts for placement of the implants. Next, deflated and rolled saline implants are moved up to the pockets. The implants are then filled to the appropriate level to complete the augmentation. The end result is breast augmentation with only a tiny scar far from the breast.

The Problems with TUBA
There are many problems with the TUBA procedure, however, that prevent it from becoming widely adopted. The TUBA procedure can only be performed with saline implants, meaning that women who want the superior aesthetic result of silicone cannot have the TUBA procedure.

Because the procedure is performed remotely, it is difficult for doctors to obtain a good result with the TUBA procedure. In particular, forming symmetric pockets that will lead to symmetric breasts following the surgery is more difficult, leading to a higher reoperation rate.

Breast augmentation is surgery, and all surgery carries risks, no matter how it is performed. If you do experience complications during your cosmetic surgery, it can be harder to address those complications using the tuba technique. Finally, revision surgery may be more difficult and may require an approach via an inframammary or periareolar incision anyway.

To learn more about breast augmentation procedures, please contact Dr. Lefkovits at Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today to set up a consultation.

posted by Patti at 4:10 PM

Monday, June 16, 2008

Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures, with nearly half a million treatments performed in 2007. The demand for liposuction treatments has driven a high level of innovation in the machinery used for liposuction, but it is important to remember that "new" does not always mean "improved."

The basic procedure for liposuction is that suction is used to remove fat from the body. It is a classic operation today that has withstood the test of time with consistently good results for patients. It is used not as a weight loss technique, but to target stubborn deposits of fat that are unresponsive to diet and exercise.

Dr. George Lefkovits has been performing liposuction procedures since 1985, and he has tried all the variations of the procedure currently available. He prefers to use what is known as tumescent liposuction. Tumescent liposuction is a variation on the traditional liposuction technique, that you can read more about in an earlier post. It is a classic operation today that has withstood the test of time with consistently good results for patients.

Although the potential risks associated with powered and ultrasonic liposuction techniques are reason enough not to use them for Dr. Lefkovits, there is another reason why he prefers the tumescent liposuction technique. Liposuction is the most basic tool in body contouring--the reshaping of the body to give it a pleasing experience--but any tool is only as good as the user. A cosmetic surgeon is an artist and a sculptor, and ultimately the results achieved through cosmetic surgery depend more on the skill of the artist than on the tool used.

Dr. Lefkovits has found, however, that the newer liposuction techniques, primarily designed to make the procedure easy, fast, and convenient for the surgeon, disrupt his ability to perform fine adjustments in the body sculpting technique, which can ultimately lead to a result that is less artistic. It is the fine adjustments performed by the surgeon that make the difference between just fat removal and actual body contouring.

To learn more about getting the best results from a liposuction procedure, contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today to set up a consultation.

posted by Patti at 4:06 PM

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Breast Reduction Using Liposuction: A Viable Option?

The traditional methods for breast reduction involve incisions that leave scars on the breasts. For most patients, these scars heal well with proper postoperative care, but in other patients, especially those with darker skin, such as African-American women, the scars resulting from breast reduction may be seen as a significant barrier to getting the procedure. Using liposuction-only breast reduction surgery may provide an alternative for these patients that is effective and results in less scarring, according to some studies.

Breast reduction is often a medically-necessary procedure. In addition to the self-consciousness that some women with hypertrophic (large) breasts feel, they may present with a number of significant secondary effects, including:
  • Back, neck, and shoulder pain
  • Shoulder ruts
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Intertrigo (skin inflammation and/or infection) of the breast crease

For these women, a breast reduction will represent significant relief. However, many of them are prevented from having the procedure by fear of scarring.

A recent study suggests that for these women liposuction can be used as a primary modality for breast reduction, if the hypertrophy is primarily the result of fatty tissue and not glandular tissue, the same circumstances under which gynecomastia may be treated with liposuction only. The study, published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, showed that all patients who underwent liposuction breast reduction saw a significant improvement in breast-related symptoms. The study was small, however, and, although suggestive, does not constitute definitive proof of a clinical technique. Other studies of liposuction-only breast reduction have been similarly small, and the technique is not generally practiced.

To discuss breast reduction, liposuction and other procedures, please contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today for a consultation.

posted by Patti at 6:15 PM

Monday, June 9, 2008

Postoperative Care for Best Liposuction Results

As a cosmetic surgeon with many years of experience, Dr. Lefkovits knows that the surgery is only part of the secret to achieving excellent body contouring results with liposuction. To help you achieve the best results, Dr. Lefkovits knows that what you do after surgery is very important.

Rest, of course, is key to recovery. Don't rush back to work or back to exercise. You should plan on taking three days or a week off from work.

Dr. Lefkovits practices a precise course of post-operative treatment to help expedite the healing process and to enhance the cosmetic result. This course includes massage and ultrasound treatment. You will also wear compression garments to help healing and complete the body contouring results of liposuction.

Rest does not mean complete inactivity. Light exercise such as walking can stimulate healing in the body, but you should be careful to not overdo it. You should be able to start easing back into your exercise routine about two weeks after the procedure.

If you would like to learn more about how Dr. Lefkovits takes care of you before, during, and after your liposuction surgery, contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today to set up a consultation.

posted by Patti at 6:12 PM

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Liposuction Target Areas

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), liposuction is the most popular cosmetic surgery treatment practiced today. One reason for its popularity is its universal applicability. Both men and women can benefit from liposuction. There is virtually no area of the body that cannot be treated using liposuction. Areas commonly treated using liposuction include:
  • Face and neck
  • Arms
  • Male breasts
  • Abdomen
  • Flanks
  • Back
  • Buttocks
  • Thighs
  • Knees

Many patients have multiple areas treated. These areas can be treated during successive sessions, or, sometimes, during a single session.

Liposuction can remove excess fat, but it cannot remove excess skin, so persons with poor skin elasticity may need a tummy tuck, thigh lift, or other body lift to achieve optimum results.

To learn more about liposuction, contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today to set up a consultation.

posted by Patti at 6:09 PM

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Doctors Consider Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafts

At a recemt American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) conference, doctors discussed the possibility of using a woman's own fat, rather than breast implants, as the material of breast augmentation.

Autologous fat transplantation, the moving of fat from one part of the body to another, has been used in some procedures, including the Brazilian Butt Fill practiced at Park Plaza Plastic Surgery, and transplanted fat is sometimes used as a facial filler. The possibility of using autologous fat harvested during liposuction for breast augmentation is still under evaluation in clinical trials but has received much praise from its proponents. According to these doctors, breast shaping with fat "allows for dramatic or subtle shaping of the breast in a manner previously not attainable," and they note that the "telltale signs of implants and surgery are absent--the resultant breast is completely fluid and natural appearing."

In recent studies of breast reconstruction, reconstruction with body tissue has shown a far lower rate of infection and other complications than breast reconstruction with implants, so transplanted fat might reduce complications associated with breast augmentation as well.

However, there are still many unanswered questions relating to the long-term questions about the safety and efficacy of the procedure. The main concern is the low survival rate (from 50-75%) of transplanted fat cells. The dieback of fat cells may lead to malformation if used in breast augmentation, or may require retreatments to achieve satisfactory results. In addition, some are concerned that the procedure may lead to the development of cysts, calcification, and scarring, while others fear that the transplanted fat can lead to an increased incidence of cancer.

Until the efficacy and risk of breast augmentation with autologous fat are determined, breast implants will continue to be used for breast augmentation. Still, some day in the not-too-distant future, a woman may be able to move the fat in her body around to make her figure exactly how she wants it.

If you are interested in breast augmentation, liposuction, or other body contouring procedures please contact Park Plaza Plastic Surgery today for a consultation.

posted by Patti at 6:04 PM

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