Most people under 50 think they are too young for plastic surgery. A recent study published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal, however, indicates that people in this age group will actually achieve better and longer-lasting results from plastic surgery if they get it before they turn 50.
Researchers Dr. Tom S Liu and John Q. Owsley of the California Pacific Medical Center analyzed patient satisfaction ratings and photographs of plastic surgery patients in three age groups: Under 50, 50 to 60, and over 60 years of age. They found that people 50 years or younger maintained their youthful appearance longer and were happier with their results, which was backed up by the patient’s self-reported satisfaction during short and long-term follow up appointments.
Patients over 60 were less likely to maintain and were more dissatisfied with their results. While they looked younger than their peers, people in this age group experienced regression in five areas more quickly. This is likely due to the fact that people over 60 have already incurred significant facial aging that impacts the results they obtain from the surgery. The middle group, 50 to 60, experienced intermediate results.
While some plastic surgeons steer people 50 or younger away from face lifts to other cosmetic procedures, a maintenance facelift may be the best procedure for them after all and the researchers encourage plastic surgeons to offer maintenance face lifts to people in this group. In addition to looking younger longer, the signs of aging in people under 50 tend to be mild. This means a facelift will not change their appearance as dramatically as it does in patients that are older, which is great for people that prefer their transition look as natural as possible.
For more information on how plastic surgery can improve your appearance, contact South Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Wigoda by phone or email.

As the Florida economy warms up, so is the demand for beach body plastic surgery procedures such as lipo and tummy tucks.  Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul Wigoda, warns patients to do their homework first, learning the risks and potential results. Last year, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported almost 9.5 million cosmetic procedures; with Liposuction being the second most popular choice for women.

“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.

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.”

Dr. Wigoda sees patients who are bothered by their stomach every day in his Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery office. Most request information about liposuction and Tummy Tucks, also called abdominoplasties. Dr. Wigoda takes care to differentiate between the two procedures, pointing out that liposuction merely removes fat, while tummy tucks are actually three procedures in one:

1. Removes fat
2. Removes excess skin
3. Tightens muscles

When considering getting a tummy tuck, it is crucial to consider your surgeon’s credentials, facility and reviews. Other key considerations:

• A tummy tuck procedure takes longer than liposuction.
• The tummy tuck recovery period is longer than that of liposuction (approx. 6 weeks)
• A tummy tuck can be more costly.
• A tummy tuck can leave longer scars.

To tuck or not to tuck? If you have good skin tone and no loose skin, you might just need liposuction. If you have loose skin that is hanging, then a tummy tuck may be more appropriate.