Liposuction Toronto News

Abdominal Etching

2009-06-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

Want a stomach that's flatter and boasts more defined ab muscles? If you've got up to 2 centimetres of pinchable fat in the area, Abdominal Etching may be what you're looking for.

Abdominal Etching is a cosmetic procedure that was designed by Dr. Henry A. Mentz III back in the 90s. It is essentially a form of liposuction that contours and shapes the abdominal fat pad with a special cannula, creating a flatter stomach. Removing desired amounts of fat along the ab muscles allows them to become more visible.

Since every patient has a different muscular pattern in the area, markings are made before surgery so that the physician may achieve the best results.

It's not all about fat

2009-05-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

Liposuction isn't just about sucking out fat. It can even help you with hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is the clinical term for excessive sweating, most commonly in the areas of the hands, armpits, and feet (though it can be found just about anywhere on the body that has sweat glands). It affects millions of people worldwide. For years now, Botox has been the most widely used treatment. However, could liposuction be a viable alternative?

German physicians have used liposuction technology to suck out sweat glands in offending areas to reduce the amount of sweat produced. According to reports, up to 75% reduction in sweat was reported by the majority of participants in the trial after a 20 minute procedure for one armpit.

Want to read the full article? Liposuction for Sweating

Scarless Liposuction?

2009-04-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

When we talk about liposuction, it always means the removal of fat with some kind of suctioning instrument. Generally, this instrument is a cannula attached to a machine that basically vacuums unwanted fat out of the body.

However, in some instances fat can be removed not with a cannula, but with a syringe. In the instance of Needle Liposuction, fat removal is performed with a needle inserted into the desired area to suction the fat out into the syringe. Needle Liposuction is best performed on areas that require only a small adjustment to their contour, such as the chin, jowls and cheeks. It is not suitable for larger areas such as the thighs or abdomen. The needle is the only thing that enters the body, therefore no incision is required, and consequently, no scars. Generally performed under local anesthetic, it is a relatively fast and simple body contouring procedure.

Removing Fat

2009-04-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

Thinking about getting some lipo done and want to know how much of that blubber you can get rid of?

Well, the amount of unwanted fat an individual can have removed during a single liposuction procedure really depends on a variety of factors.

The resulting contour desired
The physician scheduled to perform your procedure will determine how much fat can be removed to achieve the contour you want. With their experience and expertise, they'll know if half a litre of fat will eliminate that saddle bag, or 2 litres for that pot belly. They'll also take into consideration the tautness of the skin in the area so your new contour won't be adversely affected by unwanted wrinkles or cellulite.

How much can be safely removed
While about 4-5 litres of fat is generally considered the maximum amount that can be safely removed from a patient on an outpatient basis, this figure may vary depending on the individual's physical health. 4 litres may be too much for some. As a result, the tests taken prior to the procedure help your physician determine the maximum that can be safely removed.

Liposuction Tops the Charts Again

2009-03-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

Liposuction is ranked the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure for 2008.

After surveying their members, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery has found that a total of 112,541 procedures were performed last year. Women comprised 81% of this total.

From 2007 to 2008, there was a tendency for all cosmetic procedures to dramatically increase in popularity. For example, there was a 170% increase for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and Botox® experienced a 115% increase over the year. Liposuction increased by 125%.

Define: Revision Liposuction

2009-03-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

Revision liposuction is a procedure that is designed to correct any irregularities that persist following prior liposuction surgery. Generally, revision liposuction is performed after a few months, when fat deposits in treated areas create asymmetry or undesirable contours.

Patients may require revision liposuction even when the original surgery was performed by the most experienced and knowledgeable of physicians. While a general idea of results can be predicted, they can never be 100% accurate since a variety of factors can affect outcome. These factors include the patient's healing ability and how closely pre and post operative instructions are followed. Since surgery is performed on the patient while they are lying down, gravity may also play a part in affecting results.

Regardless, the most important thing to remember is that if you're unhappy with the results of your liposuction, tell the physician who performed the procedure!

How Much Does Liposuction Cost?

2009-02-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

A common question, unless you're lucky enough to have unlimited funds!

The price of liposuction varies from physician to physician. Generally pricing is determined by the area you want to treat, the amount of fat targeted, and the type of liposuction method. It's very difficult to give an average price, but you should expect to pay at least $4000 for one of the most common areas targeted: the abdomen. That's just a base price, though, and it covers the surgery only.

Some clinics offer other services as well, such as post-operative support by a registered nurse, so you should expect to pay additional fees for them.

But don't shop around - because it's your health, it's better to select a physician depending on their experience, ability and how they treat you. It's important if you feel comfortable with a physician and can trust them. Don't make price a priority.

The Most Commonly Treated Areas

2009-02-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

Liposuction can target several areas on the body, but some are more popular than others. These areas generally do not respond well to diet and exercise, which is why patients resort to liposuction to get rid of them.

The Top 3 Areas For Women
3. The thighs/butt. These two areas are tied for third place. Inner and outer thighs are extremely difficult to tone, as is the butt.

2. Love handles. It's one of the most common areas that stubborn fat calls home, and most hate the look of them sagging over the top of their pants.

1. The abdomen. Unless you're the model from Boticelli's The Birth of Venus, pot bellies aren't chic. That's why the abdomen is by far, the most popular area to target.

The Top 3 Areas For Men
When it comes to liposuction, men are all about the upper body. They don't usually target the lower body (anything below the waist).

3. Lower back. Surprisingly, men are concerned about the appearance of their back, as much as their front.

2. Moobs. Also known as man boobs, liposuction is a great way to get rid of pseudo gynecomastia, a condition that can be very emasculating for its sufferers.

1. The abdomen. Like women, men hate pot bellies. While liposuction may not give them that six-pack, it can flatten out the tummy.

The Benefits of Smartlipo

2009-02-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

Smartlipo is liposuction that zaps unwanted fat, melting it so that it can be suctioned out of the body more easily. While there may be other methods of laser assisted liposuction that work on the same premise, the patented technology of Smartlipo has several benefits that other technologies just don't have.

• Promotes tissue coagulation resulting in skin tissue tightening
• Can treat areas with flabby skin since it facilitates tissue coagulation, which leads to skin tightening.
• Edema (swelling) is reduced.
• Because the laser features hemostatic properties, bleeding is minimal.
• Bruising is minimal, and far less than other techniques.
• The size of the cannula is much smaller than those used in other methods, resulting in less trauma to the treated area and surrounding tissues and vessels. It can also target sensitive areas, such as the neck.
• The recovery period is shorter than traditional liposuction methods.

Fat's Not Always Bad

2009-01-30T09:32:00.000-08:00

Say the word fat, and we think about rolls of blubber, pot bellies, and thunder thighs. We think obesity, high cholesterol and clogged arteries. Instantly, we think it's bad - but it's not. Fat is vital to our body, and we need a certain measure of it to function properly.

Our bodies need fat. It's a source of energy and is required to process fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin D and A. Without subcutaneous fat (the fat lying just underneath the skin), we wouldn't be able to maintain a healthy body temperature. A healthy amount of it fills out creases, wrinkles, and curves, contributing to more aesthetically appealing features.

Visceral fat ( fat stored around the internal organs) protects the organs, cushioning them against the shock resulting from gravity and movement. And did you know that 2/3 of the human brain is fat?

Sure, too much of it is bad. But we should appreciate the role it plays in health.

Cannulae and Liposuction

2009-01-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

Liposuction removes fat in an area by suctioning it out, and this is almost always performed by a cannula attached to a device that is like a vacuum. A cannula is a long tube of any size that is inserted into the body through an incision where the unwanted subcutaneous fat is located. The term is from latin, meaning little reed.

Cannulae come in a variety of diameters. In the past, they typically ranged up to 12mm in diameter. Needless to say, the incision required to insert the cannula was lengthy, and the amount of trauma resulting in its use resulted in a lengthy recovery time involving extensive bruising, swelling and discomfort.

Fortunately, today's cannulae are far smaller in diameter. A typical cannula is only 3 mm in diameter, but can be smaller. For example, the cannula used during the laser assisted liposuction method Smartlipo is under 2mm, which is why it is commonly referred to as a microcannula. That's why recovery is quicker than other methods, with less bruising, bleeding and swelling.

How Do You Call It?

2009-01-23T13:15:00.000-08:00

That cosmetic surgical procedure most of us know as liposuction has a lot of other names. The majority use the prefix "lipo", which means fat. Here are some of them:

lipo - this is informal and is just a short form for liposuction. It can be combined with the name of a specific technique, such as tumescent lipo or laser lipo.

lipoplasty - commonly used as an alternative way of saying liposuction.

lipoaspiration - translates into "fat removal by suctioning".

liposculpture suction - translates into "fat sculpture suction".

aspiration lipectomy - translates into "suction fat excision by surgery".

suction lipolysis - translates into "suction fat breakdown".

Some acronoyms you might see are the following:

UAL - stands for Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction. This is a technique which uses ultrasound energy to disrupt fat cells so that they can be removed more easily by the cannula.

PAL - stands for Power Assisted Liposuction. This is a technique which uses vibration to break up fat cells into smaller particles so that they can be removed more easily by the cannula.

Liposuction Booming

2009-01-21T11:16:00.000-08:00

According to statistics released by the Harley Medical Group, a leading UK based cosmetic surgery provider, the number of liposuction procedures performed in the UK continues to rise annually by a staggering 27%, despite current unfavourable economic conditions.

Representatives believe that this may be due to how liposuction, and cosmetic surgical procedures in general, are perceived by patients - they don't see it as a frivolity. Rather, they are considered something as necessary and beneficial. Other expenses are eliminated in order to cover the cost of a procedure.

When It's Not Done Well...

2009-01-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

Any surgery has its risks, and liposuction isn't an exception to this rule. The following are some common risks related to the body contouring procedure:

Scarring
Liposuction involves the insertion of a cannula (tube) into the target area so that the unwanted fat can be suctioned out. An incision is made into the skin in order to do this, which will heal into a scar. The length of the incision varies depending on the method of liposuction performed, and can be from 2-10mm in length, or even longer. Typically, the incision is placed in a discreet location.

Usually, the incision will heal into a thin and faint line. Your physician can recommend topical creams to reduce the appearance.

Uneven Contours
One of the most important roles that subcutaneous fat has (aside from its purely functional purposes) is creating the visible contours of our face and body. So, when some of it is removed, it is often quite noticeable. When it comes to getting rid of love handles, double chins, and pot bellies, that's a good thing.

Unfortunately, sometimes fat removal results in uneven contours in the area that was treated. For instance, if too much fat is removed in one area, an indentation or lumpiness may appear that is difficult to eliminate without subsequent surgery.

Swelling During Recovery
Swelling is to be expected while recovering. It's one of the most common side effects of liposuction and can sometimes last for a while. Compression garments are worn to help with edema, and some light exercise (as recommended by your surgeon) can be performed to get the circulation going in the treated area.

Subcutaneous Fat

2009-01-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

In the human body, there are two main types of fat: subcutaneous and visceral. Visceral fat is fatty tissue surrounding the internal organs, while subcutaneous fat refers to adipose tissue located directly underneath the skin.

Subcutaneous fat is essential in maintaining body heat and provides shape to the body and facial contour. However, too much can lead to an undesirable contour, resulting in such problems as love handles, saddle bags, and pot bellies.

Liposuction can only remove subcutaneous fat. As a result, the health risks posed by the presence of visceral fat, such as those associated with high cholesterol levels, will still remain following a liposuction procedure. That's why following a healthy lifestyle is necessary regardless of whether you've undergone subcutaneous fat removal or not.

Pseudo Gynecomastia

2009-01-13T13:52:00.000-08:00

Gynecomastia is the technical term for man boobs, a feature that most men do not like on their body. Men with man boobs have an abnormally high amount of breast tissue and/or fat that protrudes from the chest.

If the breasts are composed of an excess of subcutaneous fat, then the condition is known as pseudo-gynecomastia, since it's not really caused by hormones, disease, trauma or is a side effect of drugs. It's just from fat.

Liposuction has been used for years as an effective solution to get rid of man boobs. It's permanently removes unwanted fat from the area to create a smoother chest and more defined contour.

It All Started With Two Gynaecologists...

2009-01-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

Did you know that liposuction was invented by two Italian gynecologists from Rome, Dr. Giorgio Fischer and his son, in 1974? The procedure wasn't originally intended for aesthetic purposes and posed several serious risks. A few years later, the procedure was adopted by Dr. Ives Gerard Illouz and Dr. Pierre Fournier who refined the traditional techniques and developed them as a method of body sculpting.

Nowadays, the techniques used for the liposuction procedure have evolved. Newer methods are safer and more effective than ever before.

Not for Weight Loss

2009-01-09T15:04:00.000-08:00

For all of those out there who are thinking about undergoing liposuction:

Remember, this procedure is not a form of weight loss. Liposuction is designed for people who've had little to no success with healthy dieting and exercise, and are tired of stubborn pockets of fat on specific parts of the body that won't go away. That's why ideal candidates are relatively healthy and are following a healthy lifestyle, and will continue following that lifestyle after the procedure to maintain results. If you want your results to last, you've got to keep working out and avoid overeating!

Liposuction is not a magical treatment, unlike what most believe. It is something to be considered seriously, since it does involve surgery and all the risks that go along with it.

Compression Garments

2009-01-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

Following a liposuction procedure, patients must wear a specially designed garment to aide in recovery.

This garment is also known as a compression garment, and is essentially snugly fitting clothing worn in the area that was treated. It may be an undershirt, pantyhose, a girdle, or a sports-style bra. It is used to help with the recovery of an individual who has undergone liposuction by facilitating drainage of the anesthetic solution used during surgery (particularly for the tumescent method). This also helps control swelling in the time following the procedure, however it should not be worn longer than needed as it can also contribute to swelling.

Compression garments must be worn for a period of time as specified by the doctor who performed the liposuction procedure, ranging from a couple of days to a few weeks. In most cases, the best compression garment for you is recommended by the doctor who performs your surgery.

An alternative

2008-07-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a while that liposuction has been the top way to get rid of fat. No other cosmetic surgical treatment has been considered as effective and safe, despite the side effects that normally come along with an invasive procedure.

But there is something that could give liposuction a run for its money.

The hottest new method of eliminating subcutaneous fat could knock liposuction off the throne. Not only is treatment generally less expensive, but it's also noninvasive. That's right - there won't be any "going under" for this one. It's totally knife-free, and doesn't even require anesthesia.

UltraShape is probably one of the most advanced ways of fat busting today. It's available in over 50 countries but hasn't been around for very long. The device uses ultrasound energy to disperse fat cells in a target area, which are then processed by the body's natural systems. Results can appear after just one 1-1.5 hour session!

UltraShape targets the areas on the body that tend to be most blubbery: the stomach, flanks and thighs. Could this be the end of those endless crunches and squats?

We'll have to wait and see...

Baby Boomer Men Opting for Liposuction

2007-11-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

The baby boomer just can’t face the fact that his generation has ended. He was the great white hope of a generation meant to do great things. And now, if those great things haven’t been achieved…. Well he’ll just have to make his generation last that much longer so he has time to find his trophy wife. But doesn’t he realize that some things aren’t meant to be? That if hasn’t found her by now, there’s a possibility she may not exist? That his red corvette is an addition to his mid-life crisis and not his car collection? No, No, and No. He just doesn’t get it. But what he does get is this: liposuction.

Many aging baby boomers are trying to stay in the game with a bit of liposuction around the belly. A rubber tire off the middle, a removal of the love handles, a contour of the abs – hey, that could be a Gen Xer we’re looking at, what with that ripped 6 pack and slim waistline. Do we like it? Not when we find out that the guy we thought was 36 turns out to be 59. But does Mister 59 feel good about himself? Without a doubt.

Smartlipo Popularity

2007-10-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

Smartlipo remains as the most popular method of liposuction in Canada today. Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar, primary physician at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic, was the first to introduce the technique north of the border, and remains as the most experienced physician in the country.

Dr. Yazdanfar has traveled the world in an effort to acquire and maintain knowledge of liposuction techniques. She has been trained by Dr. Patrick Lillis, Dr. Giorgio Fischer, and Dr. Lisborg all specialists in liposuction methods. Dr. Lillis is recognized as one of the main authorities in tumescent liposuction, Dr. Fischer is the co-inventor of liposuction, and Dr. Lisborg, is the president of the Austrian Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

Dr. Yazdanfar has also performed surgery with Dr. Jackson, the current board examiner of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

Still don't know what Smartlipo is?
Smartlipo is a laser assisted liposuction technique that utilizes a laser device to melt the fat in the area targeted. This facilitates its removal by a cannula measuring under 2mm in diameter. Because the cannula is so small, only a tiny incision is required, leaving barely noticeable scars.

News Release About the Death of Krista Stryland

2007-09-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

On Sept. 20, 2007, Krista Stryland, a lovely, vibrant, 32 year old professional woman, tragically went into cardiac arrest immediately following a liposuction procedure. Peri-operative death in cosmetic surgery in general, and liposuction surgery in particular, is such a rare occurrence that the knee-jerk reaction is to assume that someone caused it. The focus right now is on who caused the death, rather than on what caused it. Let's stand back and examine the whats first.

The whats, or established causes of death in liposuction surgery comprise

(i) a blood clot or a piece of dislodged fat traveling to the lungs (instrumentation),
(ii) malignant hyperthermia reaction (genetic),
(iii) anirregular heart rhythm, usually ventricular fibrillation (from either pre-existing heart dysfunction or damage or from a reaction to intraoperative medications),
(iv) congestive heart failure (intraoperative fluid overload),
(v) heart attack (a random and totally unpredictable event). A new, unexplored, potential cause of death is a bolus of liquefied fat and cellular debris - arising from the use of devices which burst fat cells and liquefy fat prior to suctioning - traveling to heart or lungs.

The whos, or contributing factors include: (i) the patient's underlying physical status (pre-existing organ damage or dysfunction), (ii) medical acts of commission or omission by the surgeon and/or anaesthetist prior to cardiac
arrest, (iii) medical acts of commission or omission by the surgeon and/or anaesthetist immediately following cardiac arrest. (These medical acts could range from errors in judgment - which happens to most doctors during their
careers - to medical negligence - falling below the accepted standard of care).

An intra-operative death can occur in the hands of any doctor, no matter how skilled or experienced. I will never forget a day during my anaesthesia training, when a healthy young man died of a massive heart attack under a routine general anaesthesia in a Toronto teaching hospital, during a simple toenail extraction. The senior anaesthetist remained devastated for months, even though he had done everything correctly. The senior surgeon who performed the most trivial of surgeries was severely affected. When a patient suffers a medical misadventure, it is horrible for everyone: family, doctors, doctors'
families. There's great pressure to identify a villain. Let's remember that the cause of death can only be determined by autopsy. The contributing factors, if any, will be identified at a Coroner's Inquest. It is grossly unfair to the patient's family and friends to speculate that were it not for the actions of the attending doctor, the patient would have been alive today.
It is even more unfortunate that blame is prematurely being attributed by some plastic surgeons to the physician who performed the procedure, simply because she is not a member of their sub-section of the medical community.

When a liposuction-related death occurred in Toronto some years ago, the identical invective from plastic surgeons was directed at the esteemed ear, nose and throat specialist who performed the surgery. Their argument is simple: Only plastic surgeons should have the right to perform cosmetic surgery. They insist that regardless of training or expertise, no other
category of physician (including ear, nose and throat specialists, dermatologists, general surgeons, gynecologists, anaesthetists, general practitioners) should be permitted to perform cosmetic procedures. This blatant vested-interest attempt to establish a monopoly failed decades ago and is now being resurrected by the new generation of plastic surgeons.
Are they not aware that some of North America's most respected experts in cosmetic surgery, in terms of both innovation and skill, are from Toronto and notably come from fields outside of plastic surgery? To name a few, Walter and
Martin Unger, dermatologist and surgeon, Peter Adamson and David Ellis, ear, nose and throat surgeons, David Seager, GP, have made significant contributions to advancements in the field of cosmetic surgery. This non-monopoly policy is historically consistent with other fields of medicine.

Without being Royal College-certified obstetricians/gynecologists, doctors deliver babies, perform Caesarian sections, tubal ligations and hysterectomies. Similarly, Ontario boasts very competent GP-anaesthetists, GP-surgeons, anaesthetist-surgeons, dermatologist-surgeons.

A most telling and ironic argument against limiting the field of cosmetic surgeons to plastic surgeons, be it for liposuction or any other cosmetic procedure, is the case of Jeffrey Klein. Dr. Klein is a California dermatologist who, in the mid-80's, single-handedly invented and introduced tumescent technique, the greatest advance in safety in the field of liposuction. Klein's 4 innovations were:

<<
(1) Eliminating the greatest risk of surgery, general anaesthesia.
Klein's liposuction is performed under local anaesthetic on a
conscious patient.
(2) Decreasing the risk of bleeding and infection. Immediately prior to
removing fat, large volumes (1-4 litres) of very dilute, buffered
local anaesthetic combined with tiny amounts of vasoconstrictor are
infused.
(3) Decreasing the risk of fat embolus. Klein's technique employs much
finer, blunt cannulae (hollow tubes) to remove fat.
(4) Decreasing the risk of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus. The
ability of the awake patient to mobilize immediately rather than
lying in bed for days, prevents blood from sludging in the legs and
clotting.
>>

Post-operative morbidity and mortality dropped dramatically as a result of the Klein technique. Ironically, while Klein's tumescent liposuction was readily and eagerly embraced by the various branches of the cosmetic surgery community, plastic surgeons were last to make tumescent liposuction the norm.

Many plastic surgeons modified the Klein technique, calling it "the wet technique", rather than giving a dermatologist the credit he deserves. To this day, they rely on this technique for safe liposuction.

I mourn Krista's untimely passing. Right now, I feel deep compassion for her family. I equally sympathize with the medical professionals who treated her. Even without the public and professional scrutiny they will surely undergo, I'm sure they are tormented by regret and self-doubt. To the plastic surgeons who are so quick to castigate, I caution: Only last year, a similar
liposuction catastrophe occurred in Montreal, in a highly respected, private Plastic Surgery Clinic. Rather than use this tragedy for political reasons, stop speculating and casting aspersions. Respectfully await the results of the inquest. Cosmetic surgeons of all disciplines would better serve their patients by collaborating on how to make liposuction - a relatively safe procedure - even safer. Be humble, for there, but by the grace of God, go you.

Stan Gore, M.D., LL.B.
Medical Director,
LIPIDOCTOR Medical Clinics, Toronto

Dr. Gore is available for media interviews Sept. 25-Sept. 28/07 in
Toronto, Oct. 1-Oct. 2/07 in Vancouver, Oct. 8 onwards, in Toronto.

Demi "lipo" Moore spent more than $600,000 on her body

2007-09-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

If you could do nothing but stare at Demi Moore's abs with contempt and jealousy in her last movie, I have good news. You too can get them with a little lipo. Well, we don't actually know if it was a little liposuction since the Associated Press just reported that she has spent more than $600,000 on cosmetic surgery.

If we deduct the $12,000 she spent on getting the sagging skin around her knees lifted, that still leaves more than $588,000 that could have gone into any of her other admitted procedures like breast implants, collagen injections and liposuction.

I wonder how much she had to pay for the great abs...

Lipodissolve

2007-07-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

Lipodissolve is another method of liposuction that supposedly melts fat, much like Smartlipo.

In 1995, the Brazilian dermatologist Dr. Patricia Rittes developed Lipodissolve to target areas on the body resistant to exercise and diet. Unlike the laser based device of Smartlipo, Lipodissolve uses Phosphatidylcholine, medicine which is injected into the fat of the target area so that the fat cells increase in size and eventually burst. The body naturally eliminates these burst fat cells in the time following treatment.

While it has been around for a while, this method has not garnered as much attention as Smartlipo.