Seattle Dermatologists

Am I A Candidate For a Hair Transplant Where I Have Scarring From an Accident? (photo)

I got into an accident 10 years ago, which caused scarring around my front hairline. Ive been wearing my hair parted to the side to cover up the scar tissue and bald patch, and I was just wondering if I would be a good candidate for a hair transplant on this area?

As long as there is no loss of the relatively normal thickness of the skin, the scarred area should be able to support hair being transplanted there.  Given the location, size etc, I agree with Drs Kabaker and Parungao that hair transplantation is a very good option with an excellent chance of significant improvement in the appearance of the area..

Daniel Berg, MD

Seattle Dermatologic Surgeon

When Can I Resume Exercise After Liposuction of Waist and Thighs?

I had liposuction over my saddlebags, abdomen,&outer thighs,& a little over my lower back. It has been 1 wk.I have been wearing the compression garment as instructed & had a small umbilical hernia repaired w 1 small stitch I started walking my dogs soon after the surgery. Nothing strenuous, just 40 min. Is that ok? I know I can't do any strenuous exercise for at least 2 wks I normally jog 4 miles/day, weight train,& spin on a bike. Do you think my swelling will take longer to go down?

Good Question. Having a hernia repair along with the liposuction will stretch your time back to unrestricted exercise. I agree that you should consult with your doctor as to their specific instructions. I require that all patients do some light walking the day of their liposuction procedure to decrease the risk of getting a blood clot in either leg. I then allow light exercise after 4 days (depending on how the patient is feeling). I always see my patients back after 2-4 days to evaluate and then give them exercise instructions based on their individual case. My favorite quote is "to be attentive to your body, if the exercise is causing pain - you need to back off."

Most patients can gradually return to full exercise after 2-6 weeks. Remember, it is an ACTIVE healing process after liposuction.

Jennifer Reichel, MD

Seattle Dermatologist

Can I Achieve an Inner Thigh Gap with Lipo? (photo)

Is it possible for me to achieve that beautiful SPACE or GAP between my thighs with liposuction? My thighs constantly rub, making running/walking/jogging difficult when i work out, and it wears out my pants. It also makes me extremely self conscious. Can this be achieved on me? Thanks in advance!

Thank you for adding the photo. It helps. Yes, it is possible to achieve a "Gap" between the inner thighs with liposuction. However, it is not always attainable - and depends on the amount of fatty tissue, and the bone structure of the individual patient. The inner thigh is an area where the skin can be "crepey" after liposuction - so overdoing the area isn't a good idea. Your first step is to make a liposuction consultation with a well experienced physician. The speciality of the physician (be it a plastic surgeon, or a dermatologic surgeon) is actually not as important as understanding their level of expertise, their facility, and the whether you have a good repore with their office and the doctor. Good luck.

Jennifer Reichel, MD

Seattle Dermatologist