Laser is the Loser!

In a recent survey conducted by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, only 3.9 percent of Plastic Surgeons use Laser Assisted Liposuction (the technology behind SmartLipo(tm). The reasoning for such a low rate of usage was that the respondents felt that Laser Assisted Liposuction was associated with a higher rate of complications when compared with more traditional methods of liposuction.

It is a very sobering reminder for patients that the most important decision that they make is their choice of surgeon. To expect or recommend patients first decide which method of liposuction they desire is to ignore the reality that the decision is best left to the surgeon who has the experience, research data, and training to evaluate each technology based on efficacy and safety.

Patients can rest assured that Plastic Surgeons are relatively insensitive to marketing hype and pressures from manufacturers (and even patients themselves) when it comes to embracing unproven technologies. Board Certified Plastic Surgeons are uniquely qualified to answer your cosmetic surgical questions. Feel Free to Contact Dr. Brzowski with any questions or concerns.

Till next time….

Tags: Liposuction, Plastic surgeons, Salt Lake City
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Body Lift – Surgery after Weight Loss in Utah

After you have lost a lot of weight, your body needs to catch up with the new you that has emerged. Sometimes people lose weight through years of vigilant diet and exercise and sometimes they lose weight from surgeries such as liposuction, stomach stapling, and gastro-bypasses. Regardless of how the weight is lost, people often emerge from weight loss with thinner bodies that have new needs. Often the skin will have been stretched out due to the extra weight it had to cover. When the weight is lost, the skin may not return to its original suppleness or elasticity. In this case, you may want to consider a body lift to help rid yourself of extra skin.

A body lift is similar to a tummy tuck but it is conducted on other areas of the body such as the thighs, hips, and buttocks. An incision is made, excess skin is removed, and the area is reconstructed accordingly. This procedure dramatically rejuvenates the entire body and it is becoming more and more popular as doctors gain experience in conducting it. New technologies in plastic surgery also help to make this procedure more pervasive, safer, and more effective.

If you have recently lost a lot of weight for any reason, and if you are a non-smoker with no other health risks, you may be a good candidate for a body lift. A consultation with a doctor will give you more information on the risks and advantages of a body lift procedure. The doctor will explain the procedure to you so you feel comfortable with the process you will undergo. Sometimes other plastic surgery procedures are combined with a body lift, such as liposuction, in order to maximize the results.

There is a rather specific healing period following a body lift procedure, so you will want to make sure you can fit the recovery time into your life. You will need to stay in bed for five to seven days at least while the wounds from the surgery heal, and you will need to minimize your activity for several days after that so you don’t tear apart the incision stitches. People who work at desks can probably go back to work in two or three weeks. It will take longer, up to six weeks or more, for people who have active jobs to be able to work. Pain medication is prescribed to help you deal with the discomfort. Once the wounds heal, however, you will be able to resume your normal daily activities.

If you are interested in a body lift contact my office in Salt Lake City, Utah to learn more about how you could benefit from a procedure of plastic surgery.

Tags: Body Lift, Liposuction, Thigh Lift, tummy tuck, Weight Loss Surgery
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Plastic Surgery – Looking Your Best with Utah Plastic Surgeon

There are several different types of plastic surgery procedures offered at Brzowski Plastic Surgery in the area of Ogden and Salt Lake City.  Some of the most commonly performed ones include breast augmentation, liposuction, surgery after massive weight loss, eyelid surgery, face lift, etc.  Cosmetic Surgery procedures are just as common, they include non-invasive aesthetic procedures and treatments like Botox, Restylane, Microdermabrasion, and more. There are many reasons why a person might want to get one or more of these procedures done.

Individuals may consider having surgery done if they are dissatisfied with a certain aspect of their appearance.  For example, if you are a woman who wants to enhance your curves, as you feel self conscious about your small breasts, then a breast augmentation may help you boost your self-esteem. Liposuction is common among men and women, if you have excess fat that you are having a lot of trouble getting rid of through diet and exercise, then liposuction may be the right procedure for you.

Dr. Brzowski also specializes in surgery after massive weight loss. It is very common for someone whom has lost a significant amount of weight not to feel satisfied with the end result due to loose and sagging skin or excess fat still apparent on the body. Arm lift, thigh lift, or a complete body lift may be the extra step to achieving your desired results. After one or more of these procedures, many patients feel more confidence in their new body.

Different factors should be considered before making your decision on a procedure. Factors include the quality of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure, the equipment that the physician will use during surgery, the cost of the procedure, etc.  However, it is important not to let cost be the determining factor, as a relative amount of cosmetic surgery procedures performed are correcting other individuals work whom were less expensive, but where not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or whom did not complete the necessary training. Dr. Brzowski is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has also completed extensive training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the highly renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

If you are an out of town patient considering flying in for plastic surgery, we would be happy to help you make accommodation. Plastic Surgery in the Salt Lake City/ Ogden Utah area is often cheaper than other markets. The cosmetic surgery procedure costs are due to our strong economy and lower overhead medical care costs. So many people chose to have their desired procedure done here.

Whether you are a current resident or out of town patient interested in a plastic surgery procedure, contact our office today to schedule a consultation. Together we can discuss the procedure or procedures you are considering and determine the best and most cost affective plan to help you achieve your goals. At the time of a consultation we will also go over any questions or concerns you have to ensure you leave the office confident your decision.

Tags: Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, Plastic Surgery, Surgery after massive weight loss
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Liposuction – Say Bye to Excess Fat with Dr. Brzowski

Many life changes, such as pregnancy, illness, accidents, etc, can change a person’s body shape and fat accumulation in the body and different organs. If you are a woman who has gone through pregnancy and childbirth, you probably know how it can cause you to get out of shape and to put on excess body fat in unwanted places. Liposuction, a commonly performed plastic surgery procedure in the Ogden/Salt Lake City area and other cities across the nation, is a safe and accepted medically supervised surgical procedure to remove excess fat.

Liposuction can be performed on several areas of the body, including the abdomen, buttocks, thigh, and upper arms. The procedure is usually done as an outpatient procedure under anesthesia. A suction device is inserted through small holes in the skin and the excess fat is removed with suction. The skin incisions should heal quickly, and complications from the procedure are rare. For many people who want a procedure done away from home, the adjacent cities of Ogden and Salt Lake City are a great destination.

Brzowski Plastic Surgery in the Ogden/Salt Lake City area offers special services for out of town patients who fly in for surgery. Not only can an individual recuperate in a warm climate after getting the procedure done, but after one or two days of rest a little site seeing can’t hurt. A gentle walk to help increase your circulation is recommended. You can even enjoy some of the different attractions that the city has to offer, although you shouldn’t exert yourself too much soon after surgery. Perhaps a visit to the many museums in the area, such as the Utah Museum of Fine Arts or the Utah Museum of Natural History, would be good, or maybe you could attend a play at one of the many theaters in the city, such as The Off Broadway Theater and the Salt Lake Acting Company. Walking, as much as is comfortable, is actually good for patients who have had liposuction in order to prevent the risk of blood clotting.

As far as cosmetic surgeries go, the recovery period for liposuction is relatively quick, with most patients returning to normal usually after two weeks. However, a little bit of swelling and bruising in the treated areas should be expected. Results are apparent once the swelling subsides. Although complications are rare, the most common ones include contour irregularities and unevenness.

If you are interested in having liposuction in the Ogden/Salt Lake City area, please feel free to contact Brzowski Plastic Surgery. We not only offer services to individuals residing in Utah, but we can help Out of Town Patients make arrangements.

Tags: Liposuction
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Fat is the word!

The “Hot” topic in plastic surgery is “Fat.”  We can suck fat, we can melt it with a laser or ultrasound, splash it around with a jet of water, or we can dissolve it with an injection.  The BIG question is, “is there a ‘best’ technology for this process?”

To date we do not have sufficient data and information to support whether skin tightening is any better with these new energy releasing technologies.  There is no scientific evidence to show any substantial difference or improvement in pain, recovery or appearance between any of these methods despite heavy marketing and advertising pressure from the manufacturers of these products.

As is always the case, it is far better for patients to spend their time and energy selecting the surgeon.  This is counter to manufacturers who want the patients to stampede into your office asking for a specific device.  Unfortunately, as I’ve mentioned, there is usually no difference between all of these machines, and because they don’t have access to the same research results as plastic surgeons, it is not possible for the typical patient to be able to decide the best choice for their problem.

Therefore, I will say again for emphasis: “PICK THE SURGEON FIRST”.  By doing so, you will get the best advice from the person most capable to give you a recommendation.  Remember, it is the Indian, not the Arrow.  Michelangelo with a chisel can do far more than a monkey with a laser.

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