Recent Blog Posts in July 2010

A facelift, rhytidectomy in the medical community, is a plastic surgery procedure that is performed when patients want to:

§  reduce the appearance of wrinkles on their faces

§  reduce obvious signs of aging

§  improve the appearance of the face and jaw area

As people age, the appearance of wrinkles is common and also quite natural.  Stress and other elements, like sun exposure, may enhance the appearance of wrinkles.  When people notice the telltale signs of aging on their face and they want to turn back the clock, they may decide to move forward with a facelift procedure.

People who are having facelift procedures will usually have:  a lower (standard) facelift, a mid facelift, a mini facelift or a thread facelift.  The type of procedure people choose will usually depend upon their overall cosmetic goals and their surgeons' recommendations.

A facelift can do many things, like correct sagging skin, tighten muscles in the face and improve a person's overall facial appearance.

To learn more about this procedure, contact the West Coast Plastic Surgery Center and set up a consultation with a Westlake Village plastic surgeon.

If you are considering a breast lift, do not think that you are alone.  Each year, countless women throughout the United States choose to undergo breast lift procedures.  Below, we provide statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons so you can see first-hand how common this surgical procedure is.  These statistics represent procedures that have been performed just by member surgeons certified by the ASPS as well as physicians certified by boards that are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties:

Over time, the amount of breast lift procedures performed has steadily increased.  In 200, 52,836 women got breast lifts.  In 2009, the total number of breast lifts performed was 87,386, which is a 65% increase.

Most breast lifts are performed on patients who are 40 years of age or older, followed closely by patients who are 30 to 39 years of age.

Over the years, more and more teenagers have chosen to get breast lifts. 

32% of all breast lift procedures were performed in the Mountain Pacific Region, which includes the following states:  Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.

Are you thinking about having a breast lift or breast reduction in California?  If so, contact the West Coast Plastic Surgery Center and set up a time to speak with a Westlake Village plastic surgeon.

VASER lipo is a type of liposuction that has become increasingly popular.   During VASER lipo, areas that contain fat are filled with a tumescent solution.  This unique solution contains both a numbing and blood vessel constricting medication that work together to make it easier for fat to pass through the steel suctioning tube.

There are several benefits related to administering this solution to patients.  First, patients often get better results from their liposuction procedures.  Second, there is less bleeding during the surgery.  Finally, patients suffer less pain.

VASER liposuction is also unique because a steel tube is pushed through the fat and its tip emits high frequency sound waves.  These sound waves shake up fat cells, turning them into liquid emulsion and do not injure nerves or blood vessels.  After the fat cells have been subjected to the sound waves, a suction tube is introduced to remove the fat fluid, which is quite extraordinary for body contouring.

If you would like to learn more about VASER lipo, schedule a consultation with a Westlake Village plastic surgeon by contacting the West Coast Plastic Surgery Center.

Rhinoplasty is a type of cosmetic surgery that allows a surgeon to reshape a patient's nose for improved appearance or even improved health. Whether you believe it or not, rhinoplasty presents numerous benefits to those who undergo this surgical procedure.  Some of these amazing cosmetic and health benefits include:

§  correction of oversized noses

§  correction of bumps and bridges on noses

§  correction of nasal tip shape

§  widening of nostrils that may be too narrow or constricted

§  improved frontal and profile nose views

§  correction of breathing problems that may be caused by narrow nasal passages or obstructed nostrils

Finally, one last benefit of rhinoplasty is that it can improve a person's self-image.  Many people do not like their appearance simply because they are not happy with the way their noses look.  When people choose to have rhinoplasty, they can become more comfortable with their appearance and also be less self-conscious.

To speak with a Westlake Village plastic surgeon about rhinoplasty or other types of surgery, contact the West Coast Plastic Surgery Center!

When it comes to the topic of liposuction, people tend to have a lot of questions.  Below, we provide answers to some of the more commonly asked questions that prospective patients have:

§  Am I good candidate for liposuction?
Generally speaking, you are a good candidate for liposuction if you are likely to be happy with the outcome of this surgical procedure.  Additionally, you must be in good health and have reasonable expectations about what this procedure will accomplish for you.  Any individual that expects perfection after liposuction, that is extremely obese or that has serious medical complications may not be a good candidate.

§  Can liposuction treat obesity?
No, liposuction is not a treatment option for obesity.  Instead, people who are obese should adhere to a feasible diet and exercise program to lose desire weight.

§  How many pounds of fat can be removed in a day?
Surgeons can remove 8 to 10 pounds of fat a day with liposuction.  More than this is dangerous to the patient.  For this reason, liposuction is usually not an ideal option for people who are obese.

§  Will liposuction remove cellulite from my body?
When people have liposuction, the appearance of cellulite usually improves, but cellulite is not necessarily eliminated.  Additionally, people who have liposuction notice an improvement in the overall silhouette of the area that has received treatment.

§  Are results permanent?
The results are more or less permanent and so is the new body shape.  Should you gain weight later on the shape of your body should remain the same but become larger.  Also, fat cells that have been removed by liposuction do not grow back.  

If you would like to learn more about liposuction, contact the West Coast Plastic Surgery Center and set up a time to speak with a Westlake Village plastic surgeon.