Month: October 2013

Your options for Liposuction in Denver, Colorado

Now that the weather is starting to get colder one of our favorite things to do is eat!!  I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but it makes me hungry.  I have a sneaky suspicion that it makes you hungry too!!  For most of us, this means a little weight gain.  Denver, Colorado is a pretty healthy place, but there are lots of us who can’t seem to get rid of areas of stubborn fat, no matter how much time we spend in the gym.  What kinds of options do you have, you ask?  The most effective way to remove those stubborn fat deposits is by having liposuction.  There are multiple types of liposuction performed here in Denver by Shah Aesthetic Surgery.

1. Standard – Standard liposuction uses manual suction techniques to suck out fat from trouble areas using small incisions placed in the skin.  It is fairly old-school and it’s use is limited.

2. Power Assisted – Power assisted liposuction (PAL) uses a mechanical device that oscillates like a little battering ram under the skin to make removal of fat a little easier and more aggressive.  Areas of tougher tissue are also more effectively treated using this technology.

3. VASER Assisted – VASER assisted liposuction (UAL) uses ultrasound energy to vibrate water molecules around fat cells under the skin causing them to explode and liquify.  It makes fat removal even easier, with less bruising.  In addition, the ultrasound generates heat that some feel helps tighten the overlying skin as it contracts, giving even better shape.  It is my favorite way to perform liposuction for body areas.  I will often combine it with PAL for maximum results.

4. Laser Lipolysis – Laser lipolysis, or, Smartlipo MPX by Cynosure, is a liposuction technology that use a small fiberoptic laser placed under the skin that melts fat and also help tighten skin.  It is a little more risky because it can heat the skin quickly so careful attention needs to be paid to avoid burns.  It is also one of the only treatments that show efficacy with the treatment of cellulite.  It is one of my favorite methods for fat removal and skin tightening in the face.

Nothing replaces good diet and exercise, but most of us know that it is sometimes not enough.  Liposuction remains a mainstay method for body contouring.  A consultation with a plastic surgeon trained in liposuction will help you understand the benefits/limitations/risk/alternatives of the various methods of liposuction here in Denver, Colorado.

Summer is over! What about my skin?

Most of us experienced quite a hot summer in 2013. Now that it is over, what are you doing about all that new skin exposure and aging? If you are smart, you are going to try and reverse some of the damage! Here are some tips on how to do just that:

1. Hydrate and Moisturize – It is important to make sure that you are drinking enough water to keep the cells in your skin plump and healthy. Moisturizer, when used properly, serves to seal in this moisture and maximize water retention in the skin.

2. Sunblock – I am a big fan of using full spectrum sunblock. You should make sure you maximize block of UVA and UVB. In most areas of the country, an SPF of 30, should be enough protection. Here is Denver, Colorado, I recommend use of at least an SPF of 50, because of the greater intensity of the sun up at “Mile High” altitudes.

3. Retinols – I LOVE retinols. Retinols are Vitamin A derivates in cream or gel form that you put on your skin every night to regenerate and improve all the layers of your skin. As you get older and experience more skin damage, the epidermis (outer layer) of your skin gets thicker and uneven, while the dermis (inner layer, strength layer) gets thinned out. This leads to older looking skin with wrinkles and volume loss. Retinols (eg. Retin-A) reverse this process. If you love the sun, then avoid retinols, as they make you more sun sensitive. Also, the reversal lasts only as long as you use this product, so make sure to stay in it for the long haul!

4. Skin procedures – To make a bigger dent in the aging your face experienced this Summer, I would recommend looking into non-invasive or minimally invasive skin procedures to remove some of the damage. A common procedure with no downtime is microdermabrasion. This procedure uses crystals or water to pressure exfoliate the top layers of skin. What you get is a polished refreshed look to the skin. This procedure is gentle enough to reperform on a monthly basis. Another procedure that is a particular favorite of mine is the chemical peel. Chemical peels use organic acids like glycolic, salicylic, and TCA to peel of layers of skin to depths greater than microdermabrasion. Typically, patients will need 2-5 days downtime, but the results are typically outstanding. Finally, when patients want the greatest amount of change and downtime is no matter, I recommend the use of fractional laser resurfacing. The gold standard is the use of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. With this technology, you are basically creating a computer-controlled “sun burn” of the face using laser energy instead of UV radiation.

If you would like to learn more about after Summer skincare, please call Jenny at (303) 708-8234 to make an appointment to speak with me.

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