I am thinking about getting some body contouring done and I was wondering what opinions on the different types of body contouring systems were? Which seem most effective? Is RF better than Coolsculpting? Why?
Thanks.
I fell off the wagon after 8 months of no smoking. I had an abdominoplasty done and 3 months later started back smoking. Now I find out I need a revision and my doctor wants to do Laser Liposuction to fix the area that needs to be redone. What will happen to me if I am smoking up to 2 weeks before the procedure?
Smoking, or use of any form of nicotine causes constriction of the blood vessels and can hinder blood supply to areas trying to heal. Good blood flow is key to delivering oxygen, antibiotics, and removing inflammation after surgery. Smokers are at higher risk for postoperative complications including skin necrosis, delayed healing, and infection. It is best to be honest with your surgeon about smoking and develop a plan with him/her that provides the safest result for you - even if that means delaying your procedure to stop smoking for several weeks prior to surgery. You only get one chance to heal up after surgery so take the necessary steps to give yourself the best chance at achieving your desired result.
I have an area on my upper chest with many very visible surface capillaries that appeared after radiation therapy for breast cancer. They are not raised. Can I have them treated with a laser?
There are many lasers with different wavelengths for different sized veins. It is a good idea to consult with a surgeon who lives and breathes lasers and can guide you to which laser would get the optimal result.
Yes, it is indeed possible. Make sure you are out of the acute phases of recovery from your radiation treatments before you consider laser ablation of these capillaries to avoid hypopigmentation. Your radiation therapy provider should be able to guide you to as when the time is right.
Best,
Gary R Culbertson, MD, FACS
Aesthetic Society member surgeons are available to answer your questions about cosmetic plastic surgery and aesthetic medical procedures. Get the expert answers you need from trusted board-certified surgeons!
Without knowing your body type (amount of fat, skin quality, expectations, etc), is is hard to offer advice. No one device has been proven to be superior to the others. In selected patients, Cool Sculpting seems to have nice results but for many people, liposuction can do better. An in person evaluation would be the best way to start and learn more.