Results of treatment with the Miratone were compared to the results of a traditional facelift. Evaluators looked at photographs of people who had each treatment but were not aware of the treatment that was done. They found that the facelift tightened the skin by 49% compared with 16% by the Miratone device. In contrast to the facelift patients, the patients who had Miratone treatments had an easier recovery and less downtime.

Another device, called Ulthera, may be even more promising. It uses ultrasound technology to heat and tighten the dermis and superficial fat layers. A recent study using this device found that the study participants got an average lift in their eyebrows of 1.7mm at 90 days, and recovery was minimal.

Since collagen lasts for many years, the results of this study imply that less Restylane or Juvederm will be needed over time to correct wrinkles as more natural collagen is produced after each injection. My own observations of patients I’ve treated in my Los Angeles Liposuction and Dermatology Center support this concept.

That’s because chocolate is rich in antioxidants that help protect against free radical damage from ultraviolet radiation, lipid replenishing essential fatty acids that hydrate the skin, and skin friendly minerals. It also contains theobromine, a close cousin of caffeine, that can enhance circulation. Dark chocolate can double blood flow and hydration to the skin.

We already know that dark chocolate has many other health benefits like lowering blood pressure. Couple that with it’s benefits to the skin and it’s great taste, and we have a winner!

One device, called Zeltiq, uses a technique called cryolipolysis that chills fat to the point where the cells die. Results, so far, are promising. One study found that Zeltiq reduced the volume of fat in the area treated by an average of 22.4%. Other studies also support it’s effectiveness. Zeltiq is currently seeking FDA clearance for fat reduction.

Two other devices use ultrasound waves to contour the body. Liposonix focuses beams of high intensity ultrasound on the fat to blast it away. In one study, the average circumference reduction after treatment of the abdomen and waist was 4 – 5 cm. That’s about 1.5 – 2 inches. A second device, called UltraShape, uses less intense ultrasound beams to poke holes in fat cells without damaging surrounding tissue. Prior studies with this device showed a 2 to 4 cm reduction in the circumference of the waist, but results of the latest study using the newest version of this device have not yet been released. Neither of these two devices is approved by the FDA yet.

Our Los Angeles Liposuction Center is committed to offering the most effective and least invasive techniques for contouring the body and losing fat. We will monitor the development of these devices closely. Until then, liposuction using only local anesthesia offers predictable, safe results with minimal downtime, and Zerona or Thermage can enhance the results or offer non-invasive alternatives.

A recent study of 12 patients helps shed light on how much improvement can be expected from treatment of the abdomen using Thermage alone. This most recent study found that the most dramatic reduction in waist circumference occured at 2 months after treatment and averaged 1.7 centimeters. The maximum reduction was 5.7 cm. There are about 2.5 centimeters in one inch. The study also found that there was a slight decrease in the looseness of the skin.

Thermage is a device that uses heat energy to tighten existing collagen and stimulate the formation of new collagen. Lots of collagen is found in the second layer of skin and in fibrous strands between fat. As a result, Thermage can tighten skin and shrink the fat compartment.

Although Thermage doesn’t provide the level of improvement that can be achieved with liposuction, we use Thermage as a way to increase the level of improvement achieved by liposuction or as a totally non-invasive alternative to contour the body in our Los Angeles liposuction practice.

Zerona is a laser system that uses low energy, non-painful laser beams to poke holes in fat cells. Fat escapes through these holes. Treatments are performed in the office, and there is no cutting or recovery. The study that led to FDA approval of this device showed average reductions in circumference of about 1 inch from the waist, 1 inch from the hips, and 3/4 inches from each thigh in the 35 people who were part of the study group. A total of 6 treatments are performed over a 2 week period. There do not appear to be any major side effects.

Although results from Zerona are not as dramatic as those from liposuction, we see Zerona as being a nice alternative to liposuction for patients who want absolutely no downtime or as an additive treatment to enhance the effects of liposuction.

Until this technique is available, filling with Sculptra, Radiesse, and Juvederm provides natural, lasting results.

If you have signs of sun damage, such as sun spots, uneven pigmentation, and dilated blood vessels, treatment with an IPL Photofacial may be best. Usually, a series of 3 – 5 treatments are needed for optimal results. There is no downtime. Risks include burns and scars, so treatment should be performed under the guidance of a board-certified dermatologist.

If you have wrinkles or scars, the best laser treatment seems to be fractional resurfacing. However, this treatment has downtime and may not be right for everyone. Also, fractional resurfacing alone may not provide optimal results. The best results often come from combining various types of treatments including Botox or Dysport and fillers.

If you have dark spots on your face called melasma, lasers are usually not the best first choice. Sometimes, IPL treatments can even make melasma worse. Starting with strict sun protection, a prescription bleach, and chemical peels usually combines the highest potential for benefit with the lowest risk.

As you can see, there is no single laser that is best for everyone. The best treatment for you depends on many factors and is as unique as your skin. In fact, we have found, at our Los Angeles dermatology and liposuction practice, that while lasers are amazing tools, they are not always the best choice for treatment.

The answer is almost always that they will not be left with a loose flap of hanging skin. Skin retracts to some degree after liposuction as a result of the natural elasticity of skin and because the healing process after liposuction induces retraction.

However, some people may be left with a certain degree of crepe-like looseness that doesn’t hang depending on the quality of their skin before liposuction. Sun damage, a history of repeated stretch, or visible stretch marks are signs that your skin has lost some of its elasticity. The less elastic the skin to begin with, the looser it will remain after liposuction.

The question then becomes whether or not a tummy-tuck (abdominoplasty) would be a better option. The main question to answer to determine which treatment is right for you is, “Am I willing to go through the extra cost, risk, and recovery of a tummy-tuck, or would I be happy with a flat stomach that has a certain degree of laxity to the skin?” A tummy-tuck is without-a-doubt more expensive, dangerous, and painful than liposuction alone, especially if the liposuction was done without sedation using only local anesthesia.

Most people who I meet in my Los Angeles liposuction practice who are at risk for developing loose skin after liposuction are looking to get liposuction in the first place primarily to give them a flat stomach so they look good in their clothes and fit into the clothes they want to wear. They are usually not planning on wearing a bikini and are willing to accept a certain degree of loose skin after liposuction versus the increased risk, cost, and large scar from a tummy-tuck.

The amount of skin tightening that occurs after liposuction is difficult to predict. It is easy to assume that people with a lot of stretch marks and very poor skin quality will have the most loose skin after healing, but even they get a surprising and dramatic amount of tightening sometimes. It is best to consult with an experienced liposuction surgeon to discuss your possible outcome.

As a final though, it should also be noted that it is possible to have a tummy-tuck after you have had liposuction. Having liposuction does not prevent you from having a tummy-tuck in the future.

Although this question has not been formally studied, as long as you have fully recovered from liposuction, there are no known negative effects on your ability to become pregnant or pregnancy itself.

If you are not planning on becoming pregnant right away, there is no need to postpone liposuction to remove unwanted pockets of fat. If looking great now would help you feel great now, then go for it!

At our liposuction Los Angeles office, we perform liposuction using local anesthesia only. This is called tumescent liposuction and is the least invasive form of liposuction.