Breast reductions in the past require quite major surgery. Also know as reduction mammoplasties, the procedure usually involves fat, tissue and skin being removed from the breasts before they are reshaped and the nipples repositioned. This sort of surgery means that patients are often left with quite hefty scars and because a general anaesthetic is used, a three night stay in hospital plus six weeks of recovery time is usually required.

The results from a traditional breast reduction are not always great either – there can be scarring, uneven results, plus all the complications associated with major surgery including infection and blood clots. Many women also lose some or all of the feeling in and around their nipples and many lose the ability to breast-feed.

However microlipo offers appears to offer a better alternative for some women looking to have their breasts reduced. As the name suggests, microlipo is similar to liposuction. A thin metal tube – known as a cannula – is inserted into the fat layer below the skin via a small incision. This cannula has two purposes – to break up the fat cells and suck them out.

During the microlipo procedure the cheat area is first disinfected with an iodine solution before a small cannula is inserted into around eight to ten points around the chest, injecting a local anaesthetic each time. Once the breast area is numb, another cannula is inserted to suck out the fat.

It is claimed that microlipo can reduce the cup size of a patient by up to four sizes.

After the microlipo procedure, the patient must wear a compression garment over the breast area to help reduce swelling and assist with the healing process.

The benefits of the microlipo procedure are clear – less down time, no general anaesthetic and less scarring.

Unfortunately the microlipo procedure is not suitable for all women. Any women with a family history of breast cancer may not be eligible as any scarring in the breast tissue may trigger changes that increase the risk of breast cancer. Women who are overweight are normally asked to try and lose some weight naturally as the breasts should reduce as weight is lost – although this is usually assessed on a case by case basis as a breast reduction may help larger women exercise more easily and therefore help them lose weight more quickly.

Any women who has loose skin in and around the breast area will also be advised not to have the surgery as reducing the volume of the breasts will only exacerbate this look.

Related posts:

1. Breast Reduction Surgery Increases According to experts, men are becoming more self conscious and...
2. Tennis Star Attempts To Improve Game With Breast Reduction Surgery Romanian teen tennis star Simona Halep has had breast reduction...
3. Ulrika Jonsson Thrilled with Breast Reduction Surgery Swedish bombshell Ulrika Jonsson has had cosmetic surgery to reduce...

The new machine is known as the ‘CoolSculpting Device’. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have already approved it’s use and one machine is already operating in a London clinic.

CoolSculpt is said to cost around a quarter of the price of a similar liposuction operation and the patient can expect to be worked on for between one and three hours. Because the CoolSculpt treatment is non-invasive, patients are able to go home immediately after the beauty treatment has been completed.

The CoolSculpting device has been developed by Californian company Zeltiq. Scientists there realised that although fat freezes at a lower temperature than other types of tissue, skin and muscles can survive sub-zero temperatures without suffering lasting damage. CoolSculpt takes this principle to help freeze and kill fat cells. A gel patch is clamped onto the relevant body part and the fat cells there are frozen. The sub-zero temperatures cause the fat cells to die and the body naturally then flushes them away over the coming months. Patients should not feel any pain during the procedure however they may feel an ‘intense cold’ around the area which should disappear after a short period of time. The results are not instant however the fat in the localised area should begin to recede over the coming days and months.

The company claims that they have followed several patients over a three year period and the fat has not returned.

The CoolSculpt beauty treatment is suitable for those looking to get rid of their bingo wings, love handles, beer belly or small areas of excess fat. It is not suitable for those who are obese.

(Photo Credit: Konrad Mostert)

Related posts:

1. Stem Cells: From Tummy Flab to Bigger Breasts Scientists have claimed that they have perfected a technique for...
2. A new treatment for eliminating cellulite? Cellulite is one of the biggest bug-bears for many women...

Advanced laser lipolysis is not made for obese people – rather, it is a way of getting rid of stubborn fat that diet and exercise won’t shift: Think saddle bags, muffin tops and bingo wings.

The procedure involves firstly being given local anaesthetic injections around the areas where fat will be removed. Tiny incisions are then made and a mix of saline, anaesthetic and adrenaline is injected – the adrenaline is there to help close off local blood vessels to minimise bleeding. When the area is suitably numb, the laser is then used to start liquefying the fat which is then sucked out.

In the first instance, little or no weight will have been lost despite the fat removal because it has been replaced with the saline solution.

The areas that have been worked on will be bandaged up with surgical dressings and after an hour or so waiting, the patient can usually go home.

Antibiotics and painkillers will usually be prescribed by the cosmetic surgeon and patients are warned to expect some ‘seepage’ from their wounds. There will also be a fair amount of bruising around the incision areas.

Read our free guide to Smart-Lipo.

Related posts:

1. A Guide to SmartLipo What is SmartLipo? SmartLipo was launched in the UK in...
2. Shoulder liposuction for that ‘Keira Knightley look’ The latest cosmetic surgery craze to appear is having liposuction...
3. Vibration Assisted Liposuction (VAL) Liposuction remains one of the most popular forms of cosmetic...

Cosmetic surgeon Patrick Mallucci believes he has come up with a cosmetic surgery procedure that will put an end to these unsightly rolls of fat. Dubbed ‘superficial liposuction’, his cosmetic surgery removes stubborn fat which is resistant to diet and exercise.

Liposuction normally removes deep fat via small skin incisions. However Mallucci’s new liposuction operation only removes fat from the superficial layer, and this helps reduce trauma and bruising. The surgery focuses on fat which is stored in the higher areas of the skin where the dermis meets the subcutaneous fat. By removing some of this fat, the operation may help the patient left with tighter-looking skin.

This ‘superficial liposuction’ is not just for muffin tops – it can be used on most areas of the body and is particularly useful where contouring is required.

Related posts:

1. Vibration Assisted Liposuction (VAL) Liposuction remains one of the most popular forms of cosmetic...
2. Liposuction explained What is liposuction? Liposuction – it has many names and...
3. Non-Surgical Liposuction Liposuction has been a popular cosmetic surgery technique for years,...

Dubbed the ‘two-in-one’ operation, cosmetic surgeons first remove fat from unwanted areas such as the thighs, stomach and hips and transplant this fat into the breast area to enhance and enlarge the breasts.

The cosmetic surgery will be available in the UK for the first time early next year thanks to cosmetic surgery company the Harley Medical Group.

Fat grafting is not a new technique however it hasn’t been widely available for cosmetic surgery patients. Over the past few years, various studies have looked at the results of both UK and US patients to determine whether the results of such fat grafting operations are long-term of not. The results so far have been encouraging and thus it is hoped that the technique will become more widespread soon.

With many people still worried over the safety of breast implants, it is expected that the fat grafting cosmetic surgery operation will be extremely popular and will soon become one of the most requested forms of breast enlargement.

Initial results show that patients are able to increase the size of their breasts by up to three cup sizes in just one operation, whilst also having some of their unwanted fat removed.

Related posts:

1. Grow Your Own Breast Implants New advances have been made in breast enlargements which allows...
2. Breast Augmentation: Saline Implants vs Silicone Implants Recent studies have shown that memory gel breast implants are...
3. Breast implants linked to suicide risk According to a new report, women who have had breast...

Vibration Assisted Liposuction, which is sometimes also known as Nutational Infrasonic Liposuction (NIL) uses a cannula activated by air pressure. This air pressure creates a vibration which moves the tip of the cannula in a circular motion. This then allows the cosmetic surgeon to remove particular areas of fat and sculpt the patient.

The vibration frequency is set to 10 Hz and the vibrations caused during vibration assisted liposuction are said to release endorphins which increases the patient’s level of comfort. The cannulas are also not heated, as they normally are with traditional liposuction techniques.

It is said that vibration assisted liposuction causes less pain overall for the patient, less swelling and bruising thanks to less trauma to the tissue, and this means patients have a better and faster recovery.

Related posts:

1. An overview of Liposuction Procedure: Fat deposits are removed with a tube and vacuum device...
2. Liposuction explained What is liposuction? Liposuction – it has many names and...
3. Shoulder liposuction for that ‘Keira Knightley look’ The latest cosmetic surgery craze to appear is having liposuction...

SmartLipo was launched in the UK in June 2006 and is a revolutionary evolution of the standard cosmetic surgery procedure, liposuction.

Often marketed as Laser Lipolysis or Laseripolisi (often misspelled Lipolisis) , the procedure works by using a laser to target fatty areas. The laser helps to break down the membranes of the fat cells, turning them into an oily liquid. This liquid is then either removed by suction, or through the body’s natural processes.

It is said that SmartLipo is far less traumatic on the body than the more traditional liposuction procedure with the operation involving almost no loss of blood. The heating action of the laser used in the cosmetic surgery is also thought to help tighten the skin by stimulating collagen production. SmartLipo is also said to cause less swelling and bruising than standard liposuction, ensuring a quicker recovery time for the patient.

How Does SmartLipo Work?

SmartLipo uses a 1064nm Nd: YAG pulsed laser. An anaesthetic is first given the patient – often, just a local anaesthetic is needed thanks to the small cannula that is used and the fact that the laser causes small blood vessels to coagulate on contact meaning almost no loss of blood during the operation.

A small incision is made in the skin around the area that the patient wished to have the fat removed from. A small cannula (tube) which contains a laser fibre is inserted into this incision. The cannula is then moved backwards and forwards to deliver the laser pulse to the fat cells. The laser causes the fat cells to rupture, and the fat can then either be drained via low level suction or with a syringe, or can be left for the body to dispose of naturally.

The results of SmartLipo will become apparent after a couple of weeks. If the surgeon has chosen to allow the body to dispose of the excess fat naturally, it may be several months before you see the full results of this cosmetic procedure. As long a sensible diet is maintained in the future, the results of the operation are permanent.

What Areas Can SmartLipo Treat?

Because the cannula used in the procedure is so small, many focused areas of the body can be targeted. As well as the ‘normal’ areas that liposuction can treat such as the stomach, thighs and hips, SmartLipo is also popular for treating:
- double chins
- under the arms (‘bingo wings’)
- knees
- calves
- hips
- outer thighs (‘saddlebags’)
- waist (‘love handles’)
- back
- bra strap area

What Are SmartLipo’s Side Effects?

Any operation has it’s risks, however because SmartLipo does not require general anaesthetic and because blood loss is kept to a minimum, it is generally seen as less risky than liposuction.

Some of the potential side effects of having SmartLipo include:
- Minor swelling, bruising and tenderness for a couple of weeks after surgery
- Infection and haematoma (where blood collects under the skin)
- Lop-sided results

Related posts:

1. A guide to birthmark removal surgery Many people are born with birthmarks and these birthmarks can...
2. Smart Lipo Smart lipo is a new body sculpting technique which claims...
3. Cosmetic Surgery Procedure Guide Each of the links below will take you to a...

The treatment was pioneered in Europe and recently has taken off in the USA thanks to several large ad campaigns. But as the popularity of the injections has grown, so have the complaints. In a 2006 survery of 17,376 patients across 17 countries, results showed that 12% of patients were disappointed with the results of the injections. Although the survey did note that overall, the treatment has a good safety record, side effects and complications include hyperpigmentation (normally temporary), intense pain, and allergic reactions.

Part of the concern over lipodissolve injections is the custom mixing that happens. Different practitioners use different recipes with ingredients that are approved for different uses. These mixes fall into a regulatory grey area and so are not illegal.

The FDA currently has not approved any ‘fat busting’ drugs. Lipodissolve treatments cost from $900 upwards – a lot of money for a drug which hasn’t been proven to work.

No related posts.

The heat and light from the laser breaks up the fat cells, liquefying them. A small cannula can then be inserted into the area and the fatty liquid can be removed. The actual hand piece itself is smaller than the one used in the more usual form of liposuction, making the incisions required smaller – the actual hand piece size is around as big as a pencil lead. The heat that is generated by the laser during the surgery cauterizes the blood vessels as it works – this means less bruising for the patient, and effects of the surgery wear off sooner. As the surgery does not involve breaking up the fat, Smart lipo can be performed under local anaesthesia rather than general.

Unfortunately, the costs for the new procedure may be prohibititive for some right now as they are higher than with standard liposuction. The surgery is also only suitable for smaller areas of fat and not large-volume areas.

Related posts:

1. Liposuction – how to get the best results There are a number of things you can do to...

However, the cause of the rise of moobs remains uncertain. Although at first glance, you may think that it is the fault of overindulgence, it isn’t always the case. Contraceptive pills and HRT chemicals get washed into our waterways, polluting the water with female hormones. This pollution has already been shown to cause some fish to change gender, and many believe that this ‘gender-bending’ pollution may be one of the main factors in moobs. Even weightloss may not help – pockets of fat may collect on the man’s chest, no matter how much weight they lose.

For many men, liposuction is the answer, and men are helping to fuel the rise in liposuction techniques being carried out throughout the world.

Related posts:

1. Liposuction – how to get the best results There are a number of things you can do to...
2. Liposuction explained What is liposuction? Liposuction – it has many names and...
3. An overview of Liposuction Procedure: Fat deposits are removed with a tube and vacuum device...