Davenport Doctors

Smart Lipo Vs. Liposuction on Upper Arms and Love Handles

I'm 5'2", 110 lbs, and Asian. I had Liposuction on my upper arms in 2004 and never really saw the results I was looking for. Will Smart Lipo on this area and love handles be any better, in results and downtime? I remember awful downtime before and would like to avoid it.

A study in Plastic in Reconstructive Surgery compared results of Smart Lipo with tumescent liposuction. Patients had one side done by Smart Lipo and the other done by conventional liposuction. There was no difference.

A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing Laser-Assisted Lipoplasty with Suction-Assisted Lipoplasty.

Of course, the machine is expensive, and purchasers of the machine are hoping to acquire more patients.

Thermage can be done after liposuction for more tightening , but one fourth see no improvement with the rest seeing a mild to moderate tightening.

There is a mini arm lift that excises a small amount of skin in the axilla for further tightening.

Your skin tone looks reasonable, and although there are risks, your picture shows skin that should tighten on its own fairly well most of the time.

Benjamin Van Raalte, MD

Davenport Plastic Surgeon

Mini-brow Lift Vs. Full Face Lift?

I am interested in a mini-brow lift, but I'm also wondering if a full face lift makes more sense. I have a high forehead and, and I don't want to make it higher. Also, I am only 33, so  and don't know if I should wait; on one hand, I still get carded when buying alcohol, on the other hand I feel like I look somewhat tired. When I lift up the outer edges of my eyebrows, I think I look better. I am petrified that something will go wrong  (like asymmetry, 'alien' look, etc), and after reading other people's stories, it seems that many saw no effect at all. Any guidance?

If you are only 33, and look young, it is unlikely you need a full face lift.

Even a mini brow lift is not usually needed at age 33. A mini brow lift (where a 1 to 2 inch incision is made in back of the hair line in the lateral brow), lifts up the tail end of the eyebrows. It is a less major procedure that can be done on younger patients. Yes , it might make your forehead higher. The option that would lift up the tail end of the eyebrow and not raise the forehead would be an Endotine trans blepharoplasty incision mini brow lift.

There are variations of the mini brow. Some are very similar to an endoscoopic forehead lift without the endoscope. The advantages are usually a more natural lifting of the lateral brow and less surprised look with the mini brow, but the glabellar muscles cannot be diminished with this approach unless done through the eyelid incision. Another version, is a subcutaneous mini brow lift, which may be what you need at age 33 with droopier eyebrows.The transbleph incision is mentioned above.

You might just try Botox in the crows feet area. Relaxing this muscle that pulls the brow down, allows the upper forehead muscles to pull the brow up.

Benjamin Van Raalte, MD

Davenport Plastic Surgeon

How Long Does It Take to See Final Liposuction Result?

I noticed immediate results a few days after having lipo, then weeks later, the results vanished. How long until I see the final and lasting result of my liposuction procedure?

Swelling does occur after liposuction. Wearing of compression garments may decrease the amount. Discontinuing the garment, or increasing activity usually leads to more swelling. Most of the swelling is usually gone by one month, but it can take several months for all the swelling to resolve, and the areas to soften.

Of course, liposuction is not a substiture for weight loss, diet , and exercise. Some patients have been disappointed because they have gained weight and negated the results of the liposuction.

Since you have recently had surgery, you should return to the surgeon for followup and discuss any concerns.

Benjamin Van Raalte, MD

Davenport Plastic Surgeon