REPOST : Cellulite got you down? There might finally be a solution

This article from Surgery.org talks about Cellulaze, a new treatment for cellulite. 

Image Source: Examiner.com

Does the term "cottage cheese" make you cringe? If you're worried about the appearance of cellulite on your body, then the answer is probably "yes." Cellulite refers to the dimple-like skin texture that some people develop on their thighs, hips or buttocks. It's more common in women than in men, in part because of the way that fat and muscle are distributed in women's skin. Cellulite is caused by fat deposits that push against the connective tissues underneath the outer layer of skin and is not caused exclusively by obesity or weight gain.

So what can be done about this pesky and unsightly problem? Many companies have toted creams, massages, therapies and other topical ways of dealing with cellulite. All of them have been relatively ineffective for curing the condition; most might improve it for a short time but require continual maintenance.

Image Source: MayoClinic.com

A New York Times article earlier this year highlighted a new and increasingly popular procedure that deals specifically with cellulite, known as Cellulaze. The treatment is aimed at people who have tried diet, exercise or other methods to treat cellulite to no avail. The procedure requires local anesthesia and involves making small incisions in your skin so a small pen tip laser can be passed underneath to break up the connective tissue that creates the dimpling effect.

While Cellulaze is approved by the Federal Drug and Food Administration to treat cellulite, like any other plastic surgery procedure, there are limitations to the treatment. The article featured three women who had the procedure – two had excellent results with no more signs of cellulite coming back, but the third woman is still dealing with complications like bruising and swelling. They all underwent the procedure as part of a study to test the safety and efficacy of the device.

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The plastic surgeon running the study told the NY Times, “Do too much, you’ll get a seroma (fluid build-up).” The woman with complications had a large amount of cellulite and loose skin; not the ideal candidate. He stresses the importance of going to a board-certified plastic surgeon with liposuction experience or someone with “a tactical sensing of what’s happening and whether you need to do more.”

As with any new technology, it’s best to do your research and get advice from experienced physicians before making any decisions. 

This Dr. Loren Borud Facebook page contains the latest developments in cosmetic surgery.

SIEF: The new option for breast augmentation?

Image Credit: LittleRockCosmeticSurgery.com

Breast augmentation involves using implants for fuller breasts. In this type of procedure, implants such as silicone and saline are used. However, these days, new trends are beginning to replace the practice of using such implants. A new technique being used by some plastic surgeons is SIEF or Simultaneous Implant Exchange with Fat.

SIEF, according to the Journal of American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the method of implant exchange using recipient-site pre-expansion followed by autologous fat transplantation. Generally, this new method is used for patients who want to change their implants and those with recipient-site soft tissue problems. In addition, this method benefits those with excessive upper pole thickness, capsular contracture, implant malposition, and parenchymal thinning.

Image Credit: ImplantInfo.com

Before a SIEF procedure, the patient should undergo baseline three-dimensional breast imaging to analyze and quantify the breast volume. Breast imaging is done to establish a “goal” expansion volume. During the pre-expansion process, the patient is fitted with an external expansion device which creates the “goal” expansion volume. By interpolating between baseline volume and final goal volume, interval goals are derived and compared with the actual weekly measures. The patient, by the third week of the process, should have successfully achieved the goal volume.

After the pre-expansion process, the autologous fat is suctioned from the abdomen, thighs, and flanks via liposuction. The suctioned fats are used as implant exchange for silicone and saline.

Image Credit: MilenniumTechnologies.com

Injection of the fat implant requires two processes: Phase I, which involves injection of the implants over existing implants and Phase II, which involves injection of the supplemental implant after existing implants are removed. During the first stage, a syringe is used to inject the fat implant to the breast while the old implants are still intact. Extra care is observed in injecting the fat to the expanded breast subcutaneous space so as not to injure the existing implant. After the initial stage of the injection process, the implants are removed, resulting to the collapse of the breast. This allows an effective transplantation of the supplemental fat to the breast space.

The advent of the simultaneous implant exchange with fat (SIEF) has opened new avenues for those who want to remove their breast implants. While it is a relatively new method, studies, such as those published in the Journal of American Society of Plastic Surgeons, prove that it is a viable option for those seeking new methods of breast augmentation.

Read more about Dr. Loren Borud and plastic surgery on Blogger.