Dr. Silberblatt
offers a complete range of body procedures and services.
To learn more about a particular procedure, click on a topic
below:
Body contouring involves the removal of skin and/or
fat to achieve a more pleasing contour. At times,
it may be necessary to inject fat to fill out an area or even
to place some sort of implant to accomplish the same thing
in a larger area.
Cosmetic surgery has evolved to a point that the results
of liposuction should go beyond just removing fat from a given
area. The regions of the body should be in proportion both
in the areas immediately around the operated site as well
as those more distant. The tools at our disposal include liposuction
with ultrasonic probes that destroy fat cells, power assisted
probes that enable better evacuation of a given area, syringe
liposuction for small evacuations and for fat harvesting,
fat injection techniques, skin resection techniques (tummy
tucks, body lifts, thigh lifts, buttock lifts, arm reductions)
and the placement of implants (usually breast
implants). These are procedures that are performed at
my office on a weekly basis. Practitioners who limit
themselves to fat suction or fat injection cannot provide
the full line of services that may be needed to achieve the
best result for a given patient.
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Although it can be dangerous to try to use liposuction
alone to reduce weight, there are now protocols for doing
this in combination with diet and lifestyle changes.
If you are less than thirty to fifty pounds overweight, then
you are asked to lose the first 5% of the weight on your own.
This involves the adoption of a regular exercise program and
dietary changes by attention to fat, carbohydrate and protein
intake as well as portion control.
The maximum amount of fat that most surgeons feel is safe
to remove in one procedure is about five liters (11 pounds).
After surgery, the dietary and lifestyle changes would continue
and most of the rest of the excess weight would be expected
to be lost over time. If excess skin is present, then skin
removal might be necessary as well.
Benefits to weight reduction done in this fashion
have included a decrease in circulating insulin levels, more
efficient cardiovascular function and better self-esteem.
It is thought that this should result in increased life quality
and longevity.
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Lipoplasty can improve the shape of
your lower legs if the problem is not due to swelling
from poor lymphatic drainage or the pooling of venous blood.
Excess fat can be removed to thin out the lower calf and to
get rid of the bothersome bulk just inside and on top of the
knee.
Total costs will vary on how much needs to be
done but the range is $500 to $3000. Compression stockings
need to be worn after surgery for one to four weeks. Most
patients are quite pleased with the results.
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Power assisted lipoplasty uses a new
machine which oscillates the special cannula back
and forth over a distance of one to two millimeters at a rate
that can vary between 400 and 4000 times per minute. Ultrasonic
liposuction cannulas oscillate at 20,000 times per second.
At this frequency, the ultrasonic energy causes fat cell membranes
to burst, thus destroying the fat cells that it comes in contact
with.
Ultrasonic liposuction is invaluable
in areas that have a lot of connective tissue in them such
as the buttocks, flanks, male breast tissue and outer thighs.
Power assisted machines help to take the work out of liposuction
by moving the cannula back and forth for the surgeon. It
decreases operating time and makes pinpoint sculpting of areas
easier.
Dr. Silberblatt has incorporated this new technology
into his practice to assist in the evacuation of fat cell
debris after use of the ultrasonic probe and to feather the
edges of the areas contoured. He has found it to be a valuable
adjunct in helping to achieve the results desired by patients
more efficiently and precisely.
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Lipoplasty is safe and major complications are very
rare when patient and physician are reasonable in their goals
and when it is performed by a physician trained in all aspects
of body contouring. Surgery of any kind should not
be trivialized and has inherent dangers. Liposuction is not
a procedure to assist in weight loss. It remains an inherently
safe procedure if the following guidelines are observed:
1) Patients seek surgeons certified by the American Board
of Plastic Surgery
2) Tumescent technique is used
3) Removal of fat is kept to less than 5 liters
4) Anesthesia time is kept as short as possible
5) Compression stockings are used where applicable to prevent
pulmonary embolus.
6) Careful monitoring of fluid status is maintained during
and after surgery.
7) Local anesthetic levels are monitored
Above all, patients should not be lured by the least
expensive quote. Cheaper is not always better.
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It is not unusual for boys to have transient
growth of their breasts at puberty. It is often self-limiting
and will go away. If it has been present for more than two
years, however, he should be checked by his pediatrician to
make sure that a hormone problem does not exist. Marijuana
smoking can also cause this.
If the condition does not go away on
its own, then surgery can remove the abnormal breast tissue.
If there is abnormal fullness of fatty tissue around
the breast tissue, it can be removed by fat suction. The resulting
scar is well hidden around the areola and the only usual lasting
effect is decreased sensitivity of the nipple.
After surgery, these adolescents are
usually thrilled with the results and have no hesitation about
removing their shirts to swim, play outdoors, etc. I
have also treated older men who have spent their lives embarrassed
about how they look with no shirt on.
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