True or False: Liposuction Permanently Removes Fat
February 27, 2014 - Rhys Branman, MD
Many people know how effective traditional liposuction can be in sculpting the body and removing bothersome deposits of fat. When I'm in a consult with a prospective patient, I often get questions about the long-term results of liposuction. Here's a common one: does liposuction permanently remove fat from the body? The short answer is yes—the fat cells removed during liposuction are gone forever. But the long answer is more involved. You can still gain weight after the procedure, which may adversely affect the results of liposuction. Any weight gain is deposited in the body's remaining fat cells, which can grow in... 
Some people are years away from considering facial plastic surgery, but still want to look youthful and renewed. If you're one of these people and would like to refresh your look, how about trying an injectable filler? These products, such as JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, and Sculptra® Aesthetic, can restore fullness to the face and smooth lines and wrinkles, leaving you looking relaxed and rejuvenated. The wonderful thing about these products is that they each offer different benefits. Here's a review of the filler products we offer for facial rejuvenation, and what each one do for you. JUVÉDERM®—This dermal filler is composed... 
BOTOX® injections are a great way to minimize or even eradicate facial lines. Although BOTOX® has been used "off label" on "crow's feet" for years, 2013 saw the FDA officially approve BOTOX® for that use. BOTOX® works best for patients whose facial lines are due to muscle contractions rather than loss of dermal elasticity. These are hyperkinetic facial lines caused by years of muscle contractions until the dynamic line resolves into a static line, or lines at rest as many people call them. Basically, when you smile, the muscles around your eyes cause the skin to crinkle and over the... 
One of the issues to consider with breast augmentation is preventing capsular contraction. Researchers and manufacturers of breast implants are constantly experimenting to help reduce the incidence of capsular contraction. It is natural for the body to form scar tissue around any device placed into it. In the case of breast implants, the breast forms a capsule of scar tissue around it. Capsular contraction is when that capsule tightens and squeezes the implant. Researchers continue to investigate why this may happen to one woman and not another. One variable is the individual woman's autoimmune system, of course. Another variable is the... 
It's that time again when we make the classic New Year's resolution to lose weight. Many people make this resolution year after year and yet just cannot seem to keep it. Many people make this resolution with an eye to later having liposuction or a tummy tuck or other cosmetic procedures. Some people want to lose weight before a facelift. This is actually a very good idea. As you know, liposuction is not a weight control method but is to remove tough pockets of fat that you cannot lose through diet and exercise. If you have had bariatric surgery or lost... 
Some women prefer the "done" look. You might wonder why this is so. As one of the identifiers of gender, women have historically drawn attention to their breasts. Unlike other primates, the human breast looks full and prominent even when not nursing. Evolutionarily speaking, there is no need for the female human breast to be any particular size to nurse. Yet somehow human males seem hardwired to respond not to the size of the female breast, but the waist to hip ratio and breast symmetry. It's true, research shows that we find people who are generally symmetrical more attractive than... 
Winter is possibly the best time for cosmetic surgery. Many patients opt for a facelift at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery at this time of year. Those of you who have planned ahead, good thinking! Those of you debating upon when to have your facelift or any other procedure this month, let me tell you why now is a good time. There are cosmetic and physical reasons for choosing the winter months for surgery: You wear more clothing in the winter, so if you are undergoing a body procedure such as a tummy tuck or liposuction, it's easier to hide incisions or... 
When seeking cosmetic surgery at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, it is imperative to be aware of the risk factors that you as a patient may present with. Some of these risk factors are obesity, anemia, diabetes, being a smoker, and others. The September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has published the data researchers had analyzed from over 10,000 patients who had cosmetic or reconstructive surgery in order to ascertain what factors statistically caused complications that required re-admittance to the hospital. The study reported that patients with the most complications required re-admittance most frequently. This makes sense. Interestingly, patients... 
by guest blogger Circe Santaniello I bet you know the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rudolf is famed for his red nose and leading other reindeer on a particular foggy night thus saving a doomed Christmas for all the children in the world! What you might not know, is about Rudolf's siblings, Rodney, Robert, and Rebecca. All born with the genetic flaw of a bright glowing red nose, Rudolf's unfortunate siblings were not among the North Pole reindeer chosen for the annual job of hauling Santa's sled. This intervention by Santa undoubtedly compensated for the teasing Rudolf had experienced... 
Part of one's identity of course, is ethnicity. Identification with an ethnic group is often very important to our identity. One of the controversial subjects being discussed in the field of cosmetic surgery these days is where the line between self improvement and altering ethnic identity blurs. At Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, we believe the choice to have surgery is up to the individual, and each individual has unique reasons for seeking cosmetic surgery. However, it is important that I understand the patient's situation and motivations because I want every surgery to be successful. You may remember a little... 