“People need to educate themselves on the difference between cosmetic procedures such as tummy tucks versus liposuction,” said Dr. Wigoda, plastic surgeon and Chief of Plastic Surgery at Broward General Hospital.

Liposuction and tummy tucks are procedures performed to contour the body. While they both involve removing excess fat, they accomplish different things.

Liposuction

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure that involves making small incisions where the fat is to be removed using thin, hollow tubes called cannulas to suction the fat out. Typically, the area is anesthetized using a combination of lidocaine and epinephrine. The person may elect for local or general anesthesia. There are different types of liposuction including ultrasonic, laser assisted, power assisted, and traditional suction assisted. Which one is used often depends on the surgeon’s preference and experience.

Liposuction surgery may be considered to treat areas of excess fat in the stomach, buttocks, hips, love handles, saddlebags, thighs, calves, ankles, breasts (including male breast enlargement), back, arms and neck. Liposuction is equally effective in both men and women.

Good candidates for liposuction

• If you have areas of fat deposits that are out of proportion with the rest of your body and do not go away with diet and exercise –sometimes referred to as “diet resistant fat”
• Areas with minimal amounts of excess skin (Liposuction removes fat not skin) and good skin elasticity

Tummy Tucks

Abdominoplasty will enhance your body contour by making your abdomen firmer and flatter. You may find that you feel more comfortable in your clothing and are more confident about your appearance

Good candidates for Tummy Tucks

If you have

• If you have excess or sagging abdominal skin
• A protruding abdomen that protrudes out of proportion to the rest of your body
• Abdominal muscles that have been separated and weakened
• Excess fatty tissue that is concentrated in your abdomen

In this procedure, a long incision is made in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic area. The abdominal muscles are tightened, excess fat is removed, and excess skin is trimmed away. Tummy tucks, also called abdominoplasty, are great for men and women who have loose sagging abdominal skin, weak abdominal muscles, and excess fact that has settled under the skin around the stomach.

While you can achieve dramatic changes in your appearance, including a change in your dress or pants size, you won’t necessarily lose a significant amount of weight using these methods. If you are looking to lose weight, then it is best to follow a healthy diet routine of diet and exercise.

Tummy tucks and liposuction can be regarded as complementary procedures that, combined with other healthy lifestyle choices, can help you look and feel your best.

In brief:

Tummy Tuck vs Liposuction

• Though both tummy tuck and liposuction are surgical procedures to get rid of excess fat, tummy tucks also address problems with loose skin and muscles.

• Liposuction may be less painful and has a shorter recovery time but will not be the ideal procedure if the primary problem is loose skin and/or loose muscles.

• Liposuction is, in some cases, better for younger patients as the results tend to be better when the skin is firm and elastic while tummy tuck can be suitable for patients of all ages

• Tummy tuck is preferred when there is loose skin or muscles, while for persons who have concentrated areas of excess fat, liposuction is more appropriate.

One of the first places to begin is with family and friends: who can they recommend? What were their outcomes? Take a moment to speak with your current medical professionals. Who can they suggest and why?

Eight Tips to Finding Dr. Right for Plastic Surgery

1. Know the lingo
Doctors can now become weekend “certified” in many different types of procedures and have created their own terms which are NOT recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Many doctors understand that cosmetic surgery is big business, big dollars and want market share. “Cosmetic Surgeon” and “Anti-Aging Specialist” are two terms that have been coined by the industry, yet are unrecognized by the ABMS. You might even notice your  OB-GYN is now doing Botox.

2. Advertising does not buy credentials
In most cases, a good doctor does not need to have major advertise campaigns on billboards or radio stations– it is word of mouth that drives their business. That is not to say a doctor should not let his potential patients know about his awesome track record through testimonials and sharing his expertise with the media as a means to educate the public. Paid print media does not make a doctor qualified.

3.  Get different opinions
Meet with several doctors to discuss your plan and your options. It can be overwhelming but knowledge is power.

4. Stay away from the online forums
Often times the patient reviews are not actual or authentic. Many times doctors write the testimonials under assumed screen names. Be wary. Legitimate testimonials can typically be found on Google reviews, YouTube, Yelp, etc.

5. Be realistic about the recovery
Some doctors will downplay the recovery time. Know what to expect in real terms. You may be able to go back to work in just a few days, but will you want to? Today’s recovery time in many cases can be much easier and quicker when in the right care, but keep in mind surgery is surgery so have realistic expectations.

6. Review online and offline images
Keep in mind that some doctors have a fine-tuned finesse with Photoshop. If all of the after pictures look more like Joan Rivers, then run. Look at the details, carefully and with a critical eye. Does the surgeon over-operate or under-operate. Be careful and don’t just assume that the photos have not been retouched. None of Dr. Paul Wigoda’s pictures are enhanced or use Photoshop.

7. Your weight
When thinking about a facelift for example, many doctors will not want to perform the procedure on an obese person as there is only so much that can be lifted or tightened. These results will impact the surgeon’s reputation and if it does not look perfect, it is not a positive reflection on their skills. In addition, they are also concerned about the heart health and wouldn’t want to lose a patient on the table. Take care of your weight before you begin seeking surgical opinions.

8. Scheduling
Make your appointment and get started with your journey towards plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery or non-surgical cosmetic services such as Botox or fillers.

Dr. Paul Wigoda is Chief of Plastic Surgery at Broward General Hospital and has a private practice offering plastic and reconstructive surgery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Note: Parts of this article originated in Departures Magazine January 2012 issue.

Also known as “puffy nipples”, gynecomastia is a condition characterized by excess localized fat and/or glandular tissue development in the chest that is not related to obesity. Although it affects three out of four teenage boys, the condition typically goes away as they mature. But for those few men who are unable to shake the problem, gynecomastia can be a source of unending embarrassment and bad locker-room jokes. But instead of suffering in silence, healthy men can snip the problem away with a simple plastic surgery.

“Gynecomastia surgery is fairly common for men of all ages,” says South Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Wigoda, “The ages of patients I see who request to have their chests made smaller ranges from teenagers to men in their sixties.”

More and more men are viewing plastic surgery as a viable option for improving their overall appearance. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported on the trend earlier this year. About 1.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed on men in 2011, which represented a 2% increase over 2010.

Gynecomastia is a fairly simple procedure, but traditional suction-assisted liposuction is often not adequate. Most patients, however, can be successfully treated with ultrasonic liposuction, which uses sound waves to loosen and liquefy fat in the chest area for easy removal. In some cases, glandular tissue may need to be cut out. In situations like these, an incision is made on the lower half of the areola and the excess tissue is removed. The scar left behind is generally barely visible.

Even men with breasts that are large and ptotic can be treated. This usually requires the removal of excess skin, so greater scarring may occur. Gynecomastia can be performed with local anesthesia and sedation, or general anesthesia depending on the situation.

“Most patients do not have significant pain afterward and can resume normal non-strenuous activities in a few days,” says Dr. Wigoda. “I typically recommend waiting four weeks before exercising.”

Before getting gynecomastia sugery, it is important that you approach the procedure with the right frame of mind. You should do it for yourself, and not to fit someone else’s beauty ideal. Set realistic expectations about what you will look like after the surgery. You should also be physically healthy and at a normal weight, and your breast development should have reached a stable state.

If your breasts are out of proportion to the rest of your chest or you are embarrassed to take your shirt off in public, then gynecomastia surgery may be the answer to your problem. Stop by Dr. Wigoda’s website to see how this experienced South Florida plastic surgeon can help you.

“I encourage all my patients to quit smoking before surgery,” said Dr. Wigoda who pioneered the technique painless breast implants.

For decades the Surgeon General has warned that smoking can cause health complications. Yet the Center for Disease Control reports that 19% of Americans over the age of 18 smoke. Not only is smoking unhealthy in general and can lead to diseases like lung cancer, it can cause serious complications during and after plastic surgery.

First, smokers have a higher risk of developing respiratory complications, like pneumonia, with any surgery that requires general anesthesia. Second, there are many cosmetic procedures – such as facelifts, breast reductions or lifts, and tummy tucks – where large areas of skin and fat are undermined (separated from the tissue below) to tighten the skin. Blood flow to the skin decreases during these procedures. If the skin does not receive the minimum amount of blood flow needed to be healthy and survive the surgery, the skin dies and the person ends up with an unsightly wound.

In people with healthy blood circulation, this isn’t a problem. However, smoking inhibits the circulation of blood because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor. It causes blood vessels to constrict (close). This constriction further reduces blood to flow to the areas that are trying to heal. As a result, the skin or other tissue – including fat, nipples, and areolas – can die.

Dr. Wigoda specializes in breast implant surgery and breast reconstruction surgery and says, “In my practice, I ask all patients who smoke to quit at least one month prior to their surgery if they are having a procedure that involves undermining skin. Although there is less risk with breast augmentation or liposuction procedures, I still encourage all of my patients to quit smoking because of the damage it does to the body.”

Patients who smoke age quicker, their skin is less healthy, and they lose elasticity faster – all of which makes them look older than they are. Most Americans only think lung cancer or emphysema is the primary risks of smoking. The reality is that smoking affects the entire body, including all organs, because it affects all the blood vessels. This is why smokers are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes.

To look your best, feel your best, and increase your chances of having a great outcome from cosmetic surgery, give up the unhealthy habit of smoking.

On the surface, it may seem like there is very little difference. Cosmetic surgery is focused on surgical procedures that enhance a person’s appearance. Reconstructive surgery specializes in correcting body abnormities caused by trauma, disease, birth defects, and other problems. While most plastic surgeons have the training needed to do both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, no cosmetic surgeon is fully trained in reconstructive surgery, and often, not even fully trained in cosmetic surgery.

Training for cosmetic surgeons consists of:

* Four years of college

* Four years of medical school

* Training in a specific medical discipline such as dermatology

* Certification through the appropriate medical board for their discipline

There currently are no specialized residency training programs for cosmetic surgery. The only specialty that includes cosmetic surgery as part of the residency training is plastic surgery. In spite of this, any doctor can perform any type of cosmetic procedure. You could very well get an ophthalmologist performing breast augmentations.

Training for plastic surgeons consists of:

* Four years of college

* Four years of medical school

* 3-7 years of surgical residency

* 2-3 years of plastic surgery residency

* Certification through the American Board of Plastic Surgery

When it comes to getting cosmetic surgery, plastic surgeons are clearly the best trained. The bulk of a plastic surgeon’s experience comes from treating patients with disfiguring injuries. Unlike doctors trained in other disciplines, they are more likely to have experience performing cosmetic surgery on all parts of the body, and they learn under the direction of more experienced surgical staff, over a two to three year period.

Plastic surgeons also have the knowledge and experience needed to reduce scaring. It is a well-known fact that cosmetic procedures, like face lifts, leave scars. A well-trained plastic surgeon, however, can hide scars or minimize their appearance so you can feel confident in your new look.

Dr. Paul Wigoda, MD is a certified member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery who specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He is the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Broward General where he frequently does life saving surgical procedures. He has hospital privileges at three area hospitals. In 8 years of having his own accredited surgery center, he has never had to transfer a patient to the hospital. However, if there is a problem during your procedure, he has the ability to make sure you get the best care necessary.

With any type of surgery, it is extremely important to choose a board certified physician who attended an accredited medical school residency and very importantly, trained thoroughly in the type of surgery you are having. A weekend course does not qualify. Meet them, carefully review their credentials, ask for testimonials, speak to your friends, and gather all of the information on your procedure to make an informed decision. Cosmetic surgery may be elective, but your health and well-being is not.

Most businesses today are well aware of the benefits of social media in terms of brand building, enhancing your Internet presence, increasing web traffic, creating a community, becoming known as an expert  and capturing leads, all of which will result in an increase in your bottom line. Dr. Paul Wigoda, is no stranger to the world of social media says MedEsthetics, terming him as “social media savvy.”

In September of 2011, Fort Lauderdale, Florida plastic surgeon, Dr Wigoda launched a Facebook sweepstakes campaign to help increase his “likes.” The campaign ran for a period of two weeks, enticing his audience to join his online community to be entered to win a $250 gift card for use toward a future nonsurgical procedure; 10 runners-up received Victoria’s Secret gift cards ranging from $10 to $50.

For more information or to schedule a FREE consult, please click here and fill out our online form. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Is it really worth it to jeopardize your health? Dr. Paul Wigoda states:

“Patients need to use common sense and have cosmetic procedures done only by a board certified physician whose credentials they can easily check. Patients think it sounds great to save a few hundred dollars without realizing that their face or body can be destroyed and the “physician” is nowhere to be found.”

In the USA Today article, Illegal silicone buttock injections can be deadly, experts say, a Detroit woman was admitted to the ER coughing blood and out of breath. She soon confessed that she had been to a home party to receive liquid silicone injections for a butt implant. It was clearly not the medical grade that is used for breast implants. This variety was the kind you can purchase at Home Depot. The chemicals in the silicone quickly traveled to her lungs, becoming stuck in the airways which caused clots in the smaller vessels of her lungs. A potentially deadly situation!  “In my opinion,” says Dr. Wigoda, “there is absolutely no indication for silicone injections anywhere in the body. Besides the fact that it is illegal in the US to inject it for cosmetic purposes, the potential complications can be severe.” In 2008 a Miami man was arrested for allegedly injecting women’s buttocks with silicone at a “pumping party.”  The Florida Department of Health said he was charged with illegally practicing medicine. There are so many tragic stories in the news of women who have sought this procedure and consequently, died shortly thereafter.

There are two possible side effects of the silicone – it can travel to the lungs or the brain and the brain is 100% fatal. This woman was lucky enough to have gone to the ER to receive immediate treatment. Others are not so fortunate.

Dr. Wigoda says, “The complications include not only death, as mentioned in the article, but severe disfigurement. I have personally taken care of a patient who had silicone injected in her cheeks. Years later, the silicone had migrated down to her jaw and made her look like she had extremely large jowls. I had another patient injected in Mexico in her thighs and 10 years later the silicone had migrated into her feet. She could barely walk and her feet where double the size of normal.”

There have been many cases in which women have opted to save money and attend home parties to enhance their bodies, but at too great of an expense. This procedure involves using an extensive amount of liquid silicone and a large gauge needle because the silicone is very thick and this can cause it to travel to the bloodstream.

There are a number of reasons why seniors are willing to go under the knife including:

* Wanting to look as young as they feel

* Availability of disposable income to pay for the surgery they’ve been wanting for awhile

* Improve self-esteem and boost self-confidence

* Increased marketability as a current or potential employee

This last point is notable. More and more seniors are continuing to work past retirement age. The current economic situation makes them more vulnerable to layoffs and dismissals by companies seeking younger, cheaper workers. For some, getting a little work done may mean the difference between keeping a well-paying job and being forced to take an early retirement.

Contrary to popular belief, plastic surgery presents no special risks to senior patients as long as they are in good health. A study done by the Journal of Plastic Surgery finds the risk of complications are about the same for people over 65 as they are for younger patients. As long as patients are cleared by their physician and take good care of themselves they shouldn’t experience any major problems.

Despite the youth-obsessed culture prevalent in America, at the end of the day you have to do what is right for you. Whether you get surgery or not, make sure you are doing it for your own pleasure and because of outside pressure to look younger.

An excellent review for anyone considering plastic surgery says Florida’s Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Cosmetic surgery is not always pretty. Getting a deal is great if you’re buying shoes or need to fill your pantry with groceries. But there are some things in life where the cheapest price comes with the most consequences. In the realm of plastic surgery, getting the deal of your life could actually cost your life.

USA Today recently published a feature article titled Plastic Surgery: Faster, Cheaper and Scarier about the rise of low cost, high volume cosmetic surgery centers offering popular cosmetic treatments, like liposuction, at a fraction of the price charged by independent surgeons. The article highlights, in graphic detail, the reality that the low prices charged by these discount surgery centers are coming at the cost of medical injury and even death for some patients.

“The article and videos are an excellent review for anyone considering plastic surgery,” said South Florida plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul Wigoda. “Patients should be aware of the risks involved in having cosmetic surgery performed at discount centers with a history of past problems. It’s outrageous that every time these companies are named in articles uncovering patient deaths or medical injuries resulting from their treatment, the only comments made by the center’s attorney is the complication is a rare but well-known potential consequence of the procedure or that their death rate is lower than the national average.”

Every surgical procedure carries risk. Competent surgeons, however, reduce them by properly evaluating patients, using the right tools and procedures, and providing adequate aftercare. Some or all of these things may be rushed or overlooked at discount surgery clinics where (often unnecessary) procedures are sold through high pressure sales tactics and doctors blaze through patients quickly to make more money.

Dr. Wigoda emphasized, “The vast majority of plastic surgeons doing breast augmentations, liposuction, and other cosmetic procedures never have the type of complications noted in the article and will never have a patient death in their entire career. Yet these centers have multiple deaths within a short period of time and claim their death rate is ‘below average’. Often, though, they arrive at their low death rates by exaggerating the number of patients they operated on or by trying to explain away deaths that ‘weren’t their fault’.”

All deaths occurring within 30 days of surgery must be counted in the facility’s mortality rates which puts the mortality rate of many of these cheap plastic surgery clinics well above the national average. Additionally, a high percentage of their patients suffer horrifying medical complications and must have corrective surgery to rectify the botched procedure.

“These centers have a high rate of complications, many of which I have personally seen and taken care of. The care that the patients receive in these centers is often deplorable,” says Dr. Wigoda, “I, and other competent South Florida plastic surgeons, know this because we see these patients after they have had the misfortune of having surgery at these centers. Unfortunately, the countless complications we see are never reported to the state or make it into the newspaper.”

“The problem is this: plastic surgery should not be done as a quick, high volume endeavor. These centers are not making hamburgers like McDonald’s. They are performing irreversible surgery on human beings. Certainly some patients get good results and are happy, but the chance of having a less than ideal outcome is too high. Patients willing to take a chance on their looks and their lives to save a few dollars are playing Russian roulette. Unfortunately, most don’t realize they are playing. They are sold a dream and too often, end up living a nightmare.”

Friends stars having plastic surgery? Resident mayor of Cougar Town Courteney Cox looks just as fabulous as she did during her days as America’s endearingly uptight Friend. The 42-year old actress is no stranger to having work done. In the 2004 Harper’s Bazaar magazine, she proudly proclaimed, “everything in moderation is fine.” Cox continued, “If [Botox] looks natural and it makes you feel better, do it.”

Recently, photos have surfaced of Cox shooting Cougar Town in Hawaii, sparking widespread speculation that she has had breast augmentation surgery. Like most female stars that shy away from admitting to having breast work done, Cox has remained mum on the subject. However, in comparing the two photos of her, it is fairly obvious that there is something different about the Cougar Town hottie.

She clearly looks fuller throughout the breast and especially in the superior aspect. While it is possible that a tight padded bra could push the breasts up to give this appearance, it looks like she is wearing an unpadded bikini top which would mean she could have breast implants.

However, it is fairly common for women to increase in breast size if they gain weight or experience changes in their menstrual cycle. Her top does appear to be pushing her breasts upwards. If this were the case then she could be au natural. To be certain, a full body picture of her from different angles would be needed.

“While Courteney Cox does appear to go from a B cup to a C cup in the before and after photos, it is very hard to tell if the enhancement is due to a breast implant or the way her bathing suit top fits on her,” offers South Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Wigoda. “Overall, she looks great and obviously takes very good care of her skin and body. She is an outstanding example of preventive maintenance, such as Botox, done well.”

Cox’s Friends co-star and former Mrs. Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, also appears to have gone under the knife. However, looking at the past picture of her in the white bikini, it is clear she was much thinner when it was taken. Her increased bust size may be due to weight gain that has made her breasts a little heavier. There really is nothing else to suggest she had injections in her breasts.

Dr. Wigoda notes on the Marcolane injections discussed in the Marie Claire article, “It is not something I would recommend. It seems to be quite painful and I would imagine the results are fairly minimal once the swelling goes down. In addition, it seems to be quite expensive for something that, in the best case, would only last one year.”

If Cox did indeed go under the knife in pursuit of a fuller bustline, she’s far from alone. In 2010, nearly 300,000 breast augmentations were performed on American women. Dr. Wigoda predicts this trend will continue, especially as the economy begins to improve over the next couple of years.

Considering a Cougar Town makeover of your own? Visit Dr. Wigoda’s Painless Breast Implants Website for before and after photos of fabulously enhanced breasts.

Enter Our Beauty Sweepstakes

Now you can take advantage or Dr. Wigoda’s expertise to get the look you’ve been dreaming. Enter our beauty sweepstakes to win $250 gift card to use towards Dr. Wigoda’s non-surgical services or $10 to $250 to spend at Victoria’s Secret. Click here to read how to enter.