“People need to educate themselves on the difference between cosmetic procedures such as tummy tucks versus liposuction,” said Dr. Wigoda, plastic surgeon and Chief of Plastic Surgery at Broward General Hospital.

Liposuction and tummy tucks are procedures performed to contour the body. While they both involve removing excess fat, they accomplish different things.

Liposuction

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure that involves making small incisions where the fat is to be removed using thin, hollow tubes called cannulas to suction the fat out. Typically, the area is anesthetized using a combination of lidocaine and epinephrine. The person may elect for local or general anesthesia. There are different types of liposuction including ultrasonic, laser assisted, power assisted, and traditional suction assisted. Which one is used often depends on the surgeon’s preference and experience.

Liposuction surgery may be considered to treat areas of excess fat in the stomach, buttocks, hips, love handles, saddlebags, thighs, calves, ankles, breasts (including male breast enlargement), back, arms and neck. Liposuction is equally effective in both men and women.

Good candidates for liposuction

• If you have areas of fat deposits that are out of proportion with the rest of your body and do not go away with diet and exercise –sometimes referred to as “diet resistant fat”
• Areas with minimal amounts of excess skin (Liposuction removes fat not skin) and good skin elasticity

Tummy Tucks

Abdominoplasty will enhance your body contour by making your abdomen firmer and flatter. You may find that you feel more comfortable in your clothing and are more confident about your appearance

Good candidates for Tummy Tucks

If you have

• If you have excess or sagging abdominal skin
• A protruding abdomen that protrudes out of proportion to the rest of your body
• Abdominal muscles that have been separated and weakened
• Excess fatty tissue that is concentrated in your abdomen

In this procedure, a long incision is made in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic area. The abdominal muscles are tightened, excess fat is removed, and excess skin is trimmed away. Tummy tucks, also called abdominoplasty, are great for men and women who have loose sagging abdominal skin, weak abdominal muscles, and excess fact that has settled under the skin around the stomach.

While you can achieve dramatic changes in your appearance, including a change in your dress or pants size, you won’t necessarily lose a significant amount of weight using these methods. If you are looking to lose weight, then it is best to follow a healthy diet routine of diet and exercise.

Tummy tucks and liposuction can be regarded as complementary procedures that, combined with other healthy lifestyle choices, can help you look and feel your best.

In brief:

Tummy Tuck vs Liposuction

• Though both tummy tuck and liposuction are surgical procedures to get rid of excess fat, tummy tucks also address problems with loose skin and muscles.

• Liposuction may be less painful and has a shorter recovery time but will not be the ideal procedure if the primary problem is loose skin and/or loose muscles.

• Liposuction is, in some cases, better for younger patients as the results tend to be better when the skin is firm and elastic while tummy tuck can be suitable for patients of all ages

• Tummy tuck is preferred when there is loose skin or muscles, while for persons who have concentrated areas of excess fat, liposuction is more appropriate.

Also known as “puffy nipples”, gynecomastia is a condition characterized by excess localized fat and/or glandular tissue development in the chest that is not related to obesity. Although it affects three out of four teenage boys, the condition typically goes away as they mature. But for those few men who are unable to shake the problem, gynecomastia can be a source of unending embarrassment and bad locker-room jokes. But instead of suffering in silence, healthy men can snip the problem away with a simple plastic surgery.

“Gynecomastia surgery is fairly common for men of all ages,” says South Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Wigoda, “The ages of patients I see who request to have their chests made smaller ranges from teenagers to men in their sixties.”

More and more men are viewing plastic surgery as a viable option for improving their overall appearance. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported on the trend earlier this year. About 1.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed on men in 2011, which represented a 2% increase over 2010.

Gynecomastia is a fairly simple procedure, but traditional suction-assisted liposuction is often not adequate. Most patients, however, can be successfully treated with ultrasonic liposuction, which uses sound waves to loosen and liquefy fat in the chest area for easy removal. In some cases, glandular tissue may need to be cut out. In situations like these, an incision is made on the lower half of the areola and the excess tissue is removed. The scar left behind is generally barely visible.

Even men with breasts that are large and ptotic can be treated. This usually requires the removal of excess skin, so greater scarring may occur. Gynecomastia can be performed with local anesthesia and sedation, or general anesthesia depending on the situation.

“Most patients do not have significant pain afterward and can resume normal non-strenuous activities in a few days,” says Dr. Wigoda. “I typically recommend waiting four weeks before exercising.”

Before getting gynecomastia sugery, it is important that you approach the procedure with the right frame of mind. You should do it for yourself, and not to fit someone else’s beauty ideal. Set realistic expectations about what you will look like after the surgery. You should also be physically healthy and at a normal weight, and your breast development should have reached a stable state.

If your breasts are out of proportion to the rest of your chest or you are embarrassed to take your shirt off in public, then gynecomastia surgery may be the answer to your problem. Stop by Dr. Wigoda’s website to see how this experienced South Florida plastic surgeon can help you.

An excellent review for anyone considering plastic surgery says Florida’s Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Cosmetic surgery is not always pretty. Getting a deal is great if you’re buying shoes or need to fill your pantry with groceries. But there are some things in life where the cheapest price comes with the most consequences. In the realm of plastic surgery, getting the deal of your life could actually cost your life.

USA Today recently published a feature article titled Plastic Surgery: Faster, Cheaper and Scarier about the rise of low cost, high volume cosmetic surgery centers offering popular cosmetic treatments, like liposuction, at a fraction of the price charged by independent surgeons. The article highlights, in graphic detail, the reality that the low prices charged by these discount surgery centers are coming at the cost of medical injury and even death for some patients.

“The article and videos are an excellent review for anyone considering plastic surgery,” said South Florida plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul Wigoda. “Patients should be aware of the risks involved in having cosmetic surgery performed at discount centers with a history of past problems. It’s outrageous that every time these companies are named in articles uncovering patient deaths or medical injuries resulting from their treatment, the only comments made by the center’s attorney is the complication is a rare but well-known potential consequence of the procedure or that their death rate is lower than the national average.”

Every surgical procedure carries risk. Competent surgeons, however, reduce them by properly evaluating patients, using the right tools and procedures, and providing adequate aftercare. Some or all of these things may be rushed or overlooked at discount surgery clinics where (often unnecessary) procedures are sold through high pressure sales tactics and doctors blaze through patients quickly to make more money.

Dr. Wigoda emphasized, “The vast majority of plastic surgeons doing breast augmentations, liposuction, and other cosmetic procedures never have the type of complications noted in the article and will never have a patient death in their entire career. Yet these centers have multiple deaths within a short period of time and claim their death rate is ‘below average’. Often, though, they arrive at their low death rates by exaggerating the number of patients they operated on or by trying to explain away deaths that ‘weren’t their fault’.”

All deaths occurring within 30 days of surgery must be counted in the facility’s mortality rates which puts the mortality rate of many of these cheap plastic surgery clinics well above the national average. Additionally, a high percentage of their patients suffer horrifying medical complications and must have corrective surgery to rectify the botched procedure.

“These centers have a high rate of complications, many of which I have personally seen and taken care of. The care that the patients receive in these centers is often deplorable,” says Dr. Wigoda, “I, and other competent South Florida plastic surgeons, know this because we see these patients after they have had the misfortune of having surgery at these centers. Unfortunately, the countless complications we see are never reported to the state or make it into the newspaper.”

“The problem is this: plastic surgery should not be done as a quick, high volume endeavor. These centers are not making hamburgers like McDonald’s. They are performing irreversible surgery on human beings. Certainly some patients get good results and are happy, but the chance of having a less than ideal outcome is too high. Patients willing to take a chance on their looks and their lives to save a few dollars are playing Russian roulette. Unfortunately, most don’t realize they are playing. They are sold a dream and too often, end up living a nightmare.”

Thanks to Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon Dr. Wigoda, getting a breast implant has now become virtually painless. On his Painless Breast Implants website www.painlessbreastimplants.com Dr. Wigoda has gathered testimonials of many women who took the plunge and couldn’t be happier with their results. Last summer, one patient even blogged about the experience from start to finish.

Most Florida women can resume normal activities within a day or two after surgery and feel virtually no pain. Dr. Wigoda’s technique is very atraumatic with a quick recovery and almost no pain. Over the years, Dr. Wigoda has perfected his technique using ten-plus years of South Florida plastic surgery experience to match the correct incision and implant to each patient. Each year over 350,000 women have breast augmentation surgery in the U.S. and Dr. Wigoda offers potential patiends behind-the-scenes access via his Facebook Page, YouTube Channel and Twitter feed.

For approximately 30 years, Botox has been used to treat wrinkles and has become a very routine procedure. The New York Times reported that 5.4 millon people were injected with Botox last year alone. Most Florida patients undergo the Botox procedure every 4-6 months.

Despite the popularity of Botox, there are still some myths surrounding its uses. Dr. Wigoda reveals the truth about several of these myths:

• Botox is mainly used for the upper face including the upper forehead, crows feet and the glabellar area between the eyebrows.
• In the lower face, instead of using Botox, fillers are used.
• Botox is not a poison; however, it is made from bacteria.
• Contrary to common belief, side-effects are extremely minimal and rare.
• Botox doesn’t inhibit any day-to-day activities such as exercise.

In a time of recession, Dr. Wigoda says that Botox is a cost-effective alternative to plastic surgery in reducing wrinkles and preventing new ones from forming.

In addition to its common uses, Botox has been recently proven to relieve migraines. Some Florida patients get Botox every 3-4 months to relieve migraines and/or to treat wrinkles.

The Trauma Center provides multidisciplinary care of the highest quality in Broward County, led by surgeons specialized in trauma and critical care. Along with the recent expansion of its Trauma Resuscitation Unit, the center boasts state of the art technology including a dedicated 64-slice CT scanner, portable x-ray and ultrasound with access to PACS, portable ventilators, central monitoring and a rooftop helipad with elevator to deliver patients directly into the trauma resuscitation rooms.

In addition to an in-house trauma surgeon and surgical intensivist available 24 hours a day, other specialty services are readily available, to include: Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Urology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Pulmonary Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology.

Equally active on the social media sphere as in the OR, Dr. Wigoda makes it a priority to frequently reach out to current and potential patients via his South Florida Plastic Surgery and Beauty Blog, Twitter feed, an active Facebook fan page and YouTube Channel.

“Quite simply, I’m honored,” said the doctor, whose practice is based in Fort Lauderdale. “It’s an incredible opportunity to be able to work in such a state-of-the-art facility among the best doctors in the nation. Being named Chief of Plastic Surgery is a longtime dream of any plastic surgeon, and it’s both professionally and personally gratifying to be able to help so many people performing my life passion.”

About Dr. Wigoda
Dr. Paul Wigoda is an award-winning Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon, owner of The Aesthetics Institute and Chief of Plastic Surgery for Broward General Hospital. He is a board certified plastic surgeon and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Florida Medical Association, and the Broward County Medical Association. Dr. Wigoda specializes in Fort Lauderdale breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane, Botox, laser hair removal, and spider vein treatments.

Dr. Wigoda’s Ft Lauderdale Location:
1404 E Broward Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
(954) 463-7088

About Broward Health
Broward Health, providing service for more than 50 years, is a nationally recognized system offering world class health care services to our neighbors in South Florida. One of the 10 largest public health systems in the nation, Broward Health includes Broward General Medical Center, North Broward Medical Center, Imperial Point Medical Center, Coral Springs Medical Center, Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, Broward Health Weston and more than 30 facilities of the Community Health Services and Broward Health Physician Group. For more information, visit www.browardhealth.org.

During the month of May, receive $100 off your first Radiesse syringe and $75 off each additional syringe purchased.

Radiesse Volumizing Filler is an FDA-approved treatment for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. Radiesse is the only filler to date that not only smooths lines and wrinkles, but stimulates the body’s own natural collagen production. This translates into longer-lasting results: a year or longer for many patients.

As with any injection, patients may experience side effects that usually resolve within a few days including redness, bruising, or swelling. Dr. Wigoda meets with each patient to discuss the pros and cons prior to performing any procedure. Call (954) 463-7088 to schedule a consultation to determine which filler is right for you.

We’ll see you at our Ft. Lauderdale location:

1404 E Broward Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

Often procedures such as breast augmentations or tummy tucks can be financed for little or no interest, or with a convenient payment plan. Many patients are able to pay as little as $99 per month via Care Credit, MedChoice Financial, Capital One, or Chase.

Despite the cost of plastic surgery, Dr. Wigoda urges potential patients to shop for quality over price and to use our plastic surgery checklist to assist in asking the right questions. Don’t fall for the ‘too good to be true’ South Florida advertisements that promise inexpensive procedures that may be risky. For more information on these centers click here.

At Dr. Wigoda’s office we will never cut corners.  Patient safety is always a priority and our aim is always to maximize the cosmetic result and the patient’s experience including using revolutionary techniques to minimize pain and discomfort.

Dr. Wigoda promises the best possible result, in a safe and caring environment, and at a price that is very competitive. A strong believer in treating his patients in the fashion that he would like to be treated, Dr. Wigoda likes to take the time to get to know each patient as well as possible. He believes developing rapport with a patient based on mutual respect, communication, and honesty is crucial.

As a special welcome to new patients, Dr. Wigoda is offering a coupon for $1000 off his signature painless breast implant procedure!

For more information on what Dr. Wigoda is doing to help patients finance their plastic surgery, visit www.drwigoda.com.

Over $10 billion is spent on surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures each year and over $1.1 billion of that goes toward breast augmentations. Over the last ten years, the number of breast augmentations has steadily increased, until the rough economy caused procedures to dip from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, however, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, this number started to increase again, climbing over 2% to nearly 300,000 breast augmentations.

Considering getting a breast augmentation in 2011? To learn more about Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery procedures, including Dr. Wigoda’s signature painless breast implant procedure visit: http://www.drwigoda.com or http://www.painlessbreastimplants.com.

The top five procedures performed in 2010:

• Breast augmentation

• Nose reshaping

• Eyelid surgery

• Liposuction

• Tummy tuck

As the aging population continues to grow, so does the incidence of face lifts, as well as minimally invasive procedures such as Botox.

With nearly 11.6 million procedures in 2010, the top five minimally invasive procedures were:

• Botulinum toxin type A

• Soft tissue fillers

• Chemical peel

• Laser hair removal

• Microdermabrasion

Get up with the latest plastic surgery news and offers from Dr. Wigoda through our Facebook Fan Page and Twitter @DrWigoda.