The
name of the game today in cosmetic surgery is fast and non-invasive.
The reasons are obvious. Nobody wants to be bedridden out of work and
off the social grid as they recover. Fast results of a thinner, tighter,
younger look within an hour is very alluring. How many of these
seemingly miracle procedures actually do what they claim to? We turned
to board certified Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Kirk Brandow to
breakdown cosmetic surgery hype; which procedures are zeros not heroes.
Kybella
This
injection is made of deoxycholic acid, which is actually produced by
the body naturally to absorb fat. The synthetic version is a fat cell
destroyer injected into the pocket of fat below the chin. So far this is
the only location on the body for which Kybella is FDA-approved. Dr.
Brandow cautions, “Kybella may shrink fat but it’s also an acid which
could burn the skin and cause an abscess or an open wound if placed too
close to the skin. Equally important is that it can also destroy the
deeper tissues as well which could lead to a dent just under the chin.”
Another issue with Kybella according to Dr. Brandow is potential for
‘redistribution of fat’ to other areas of the neck when people gain
weight, over time. “The loss of fat in this focused, Kybella, injected
spot will look odd when areas around it are heavier looking.”
Instabreast
If
you’ve ever considered a breast augmentation, it’s not hard to
understand the appeal of “test-driving” a pair of implants for a day.
This “try it before you buy it” procedure called Instabreast takes about
twenty minutes in office. A saline solution is injected into the
breasts until they are enlarged to the desired size. Surgeons who offer
the procedure claim that it takes the guesswork out of planning an
augmentation by providing patients with 24 hours of experience with
larger breasts.
“This
is crazy!!” says Dr. Brandow. “How do you anesthetize the breast before
you shoot in the saline? Wouldn’t this hurt? Just the thought of it
would scare off my patients. Additionally, implants on top of the muscle
versus under the muscle look different and the size you use on top
looks totally different from the one you would use under the muscle.”
Dr. Brandow questions the safety of injecting saline under the muscle in
office with a local anesthetic. “I would say it’s a recipe for a
punctured lung! Additionally, I would love to know how a surgeon
inflates a young, tight skinned, A- cup woman who wants a full C- cup,
without causing a lot of pain during that injection.”
Mesotherapy and Lipodissolve as a Fat Dissolver
Several
cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists agree that if there is one
procedure to avoid when shopping for a slimmer look, it's one called
lipodissolve, a shot that claims to dissolve away stubborn fat deposits.
This shot is often part of “mesotherapy;” a shallow injection of a
cocktail of substances using a fine needle. "There is really not a
single scientific study to show that it definitely works," says Dr.
Brandow. Are these chemicals safe when injected into fat? What happens
to this fat? Where does it go? Dr. Brandow feels lipodissolve is an
ill-advised treatment. “This is a non-FDA approved use of a material
called lipostabil, which can dissolve fat and other structures however,
it can cause pain, swelling, hard lumps, ulceration of the skin, and
contour irregularities. None of the pharmaceuticals used for injection
are FDA approved.”
Laser Liposuction
It
seems like everything that has the word “laser” in it today is
perceived as a state-of-the-art breakthrough, but in this case, using
laser to assist in liposuction is not necessarily so. Laser liposuction
uses lasers to liquefy the fat before it is removed, making it easier to
vacuum out and they may also stimulate the production of collagen and
elastin, which results in firmer, tighter, and smoother skin. Lasers may
also coagulate small blood vessels in the area, which translates to
less bruising. What’s the downside? Dr. Brandow points out that, “There
is greater risk of burning and therefore, pain. Laser liposuction,
Smartlipo and similar procedures add both time and money to the typical
technique.”
About Dr. Kirk Brandow
Dr.
Kirk Brandow is a board certified plastic surgeon with practices in the
Philadelphia metro area. Named a “Top Doc” in Plastic Surgery
by Philadelphia Magazine as well as nationally recognized for one of
America’s “Best Plastic Surgeons” of this decade, Dr. Brandow is a
trusted expert who has developed many innovative, minimally invasive
procedures for the face, body and skin. These procedures include the
Boomer Lift™, the 48 Hour Facelift™, the Scarless Breast Implant, the
Multilayered Micro-Lipo Augmentation, the Tumescent Technique for
Liposuction and the CO2 Laser Blepharoplasty.
He
has been featured on local, national and international television
programs including 20/20, CNN’s Headline News, Good Morning America, ABC
Action News, TV Globo and Telemundo to provide updates and opinions on
the latest trends in cosmetic surgery. Dr. Brandow where he has spoken
out on the controversial issues of cosmetic surgery, advising viewers to
take a more responsible and more realistic approach to the latest fads
and gimmicks in Cosmetic Surgery.
Dr.
Brandow served as an Associate Editor of the International Journal of
Aesthetic and Restorative Surgery as well as a preceptor for many live
surgical training conferences where he helped teach other doctors
advanced techniques in Cosmetic Surgery.
Connect with Dr. Brandow via www.brandowclinic.com
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