Santa Barbara Liposuction doctors

Brent Moelleken, MD Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
120 S Spalding Dr Suite 110, Beverly Hills
73 answers
Adam David Lowenstein, MD Adam David Lowenstein, MD
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
1110 Coast Village Circle, Santa Barbara
8 answers
Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
225 W Pueblo St Suite A, Santa Barbara
7 answers
Michael Sundine, MD Michael Sundine, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
1640 Newport Blvd #450, Costa Mesa
David L. Buchanan, MD David L. Buchanan, MD
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
427 W. Pueblo St. Suite A, Santa Barbara

Recent Answers

I Want to Have Liposuction Done on my Inner Thighs, but I Have Stretchmarks There.

I am in my early 20's. I've always been heavier on my legs, and got stretchmarks on my inner thighs and calves a couple years ago. I am looking into liposuction, and was wondering if my stretchmarks makes me a bad candidate. If so, is there an alternative to liposuction or liposculpture that would bring similar effects? Thanks!

A: Medial thigh liposuction with stretchmarks

Medial thigh liposuction is a very successful procedure that benefits many patients.

The caveats:  Liposuction won't tighten the skin, so if the skin is loose, say from massive weight loss, liposuction results may be disappointing.

Also, the patient's entire figure must be considered, not just the one area.  Would liposuction just in the medial thighs cause the leg to look blocky?  Often adjacent areas can be done as well to avoid this.

Stretchmarks usually respond somewhat to lasers, with repeated treatments of fractional lasers giving the best results.

Most doctors now use tumescent anesthesia in some form.  Depending on the tolerance of the patient, this can be performed under local anesthesia alone, local anesthesia with sedation, or a light general anesthesic.

For larger cases, or cases where the patient's tolerance for discomfort is low, sedation or a light general anesthesic are options.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
My Surgeon Told Me To Get My TT and Lipo Separately, Is This Normal?

My surgeon says he won't be performing liposution while he is doing my tt, he says I can have lipo later, is that normal.

A: Liposuction and tummy tuck at the same time

Most plastic surgeons do some liposuction at the same time as a tummy tuck.

However, doing large volume liposuction at the same time as a tummy tuck increases the risk of complications, including blood clots.

It is a judgment call based on the amount of liposuction needed, the patient's physiology, their health, and the acceptable risk vs. the anticipated results.  That's where experience comes in.

It sounds as if your surgeon is suggesting a very safe course.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
Can Fat Removed Via Liposuction From the Abdomen be Transferred to Butt?

I'm considering liposuction in the abdomen area and use that fat to be injected to my buttocks. Is this possible? This will be my first time for liposuction/contour. I heard that fat removed for the first time is best to be used for transfer.

A: Fat Transfer to the Buttocks, the Brazilian Butt Lift

Yes, fat can be transferred from the abdomen to the buttocks, but typically we are also removing fat from around the waist and from the thighs.  Improving these surrounding contours does a lot to accentuate the buttocks, so its not just the fat injected into the buttocks that is doing the job.  The fat removed initially (as opposed to a repeat liposuction in the future) is better in the sense that it tends to be purer, with less fibrous tissue, less fluid, and less traumatized fat cells.  So the first time is the best time to use the fat for transfer.

Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
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