How do you keep your marriage strong with kids in the house?

Our Daddy MD Guide’s reply: In my younger years, I used to reply that I am the most charming man around, and that’s the reason why our marriage has lasted, but I said it as a joke. As I get older, I’m starting to realize that my wife puts up with a lot of stuff from me. It’s easier to stay married a long time when you meet at a younger age, when you are not set in your ways, and the husband and wife are still adaptable. Marriage is a roller-coaster ride, and there are ups and downs. Hang in there during the down years, and it will be worth it.

Having children is a huge stressor in a marriage. I have seen a lot of marriages fall apart with young children because no one has ever imagined how hard it is physically and psychologically on both the mother and father. Sleep deprivation, financial stresses, and facing the unknown are huge stressors. I have been trained in surgery, and I know what to expect in the operating room, the potential pitfalls, and ways to get out of trouble. No one has shown young parents how to make a family work. We have never had a role model, or we don’t remember our childhood when we were toddlers. The first two to three years of parenthood is tough, but it gets better as the kids get older.

—Carson D. Liu, MD, a dad of nine- and five-year-old daughters and the founder of SkyLex Advanced Surgical, Incorporated, a bariatric surgery clinic in California

More about Dr. Carson Liu

Original Article

How do you balance work and family?

Our Daddy MD Guide’s reply: I always tell everyone that you can change your work, but you can’t change your family. I see a lot of doctors going through divorces, changing wives, and destroying their families and creating new families. You don’t walk away from your children … no matter what. They are always going to be your children, and people should be more understanding of the stressors in the modern world. Financial stresses are prevalent much more today than in the previous generation. We have both parents going to work, and we are more dependent on nannies. Make sure both spouses are equally busy with their careers. Otherwise, it will be really tough.

Marriage has a lot of compromises, so use your negotiating skills, and don’t bury your anger. Talk it over: Being parents is a team effort. Help each other out, and remember that your kids are watching the both of you, which will be their role model for the future.

— Carson D. Liu, MD, a dad of nine- and five-year-old daughters and the founder of SkyLex Advanced Surgical, Incorporated, a bariatric surgery clinic in California

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Original Article

Dr. Carson Liu discusses lessons and challenges

Dr. Liu is a dad of nine- and five-year-old daughters and  the founder of SkyLex Advanced Surgical, Incorporated, a bariatric surgery clinic in California. He named his practice after his two daughters.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while your wife was pregnant and/or as a dad, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge is coming to the realization that you are about to raise a family. It makes you take a step back and re-evaluate your goals in life. This was the time when I left a salaried position and went into private practice to have more time to spend with my family. It was also around the time after my mother had passed away, and it made me really take a look back and see if I wanted to stay at UCLA as a faculty member where it is a salaried position with long hours. It was a decision that I have never regretted, and it allowed me to spend more time with my family.

Reflection is something that I recommend for everyone to do every 5 to 10 years and look back at their life and see if it is going where they have intended. Think back to when you were as a kid, and see if your life is headed in the right direction. It is never too late to change directions.

What’s the most surprising lesson that being a dad has taught you? Being a dad in this generation is quite different from my father’s generation. Dads are much more involved with school activities, changing diapers, and sharing the sleepless nights feeding our adorable babies. One of the things that surprised me is the amount of work involved in raising a child. I don’t know how single parents do it! It is a team effort, and it will never be fair for the mother. Somehow mothers end up being the default person for every child. Being a mother has to be one of the toughest jobs in the world, and NO ONE is complaining. It makes me appreciate what my wife does for our wonderful daughters on a day-to-day basis. It also makes me appreciate what my mother and grandmother did for me when I was a baby. My grandmother really helped out my mother when my brother and I were growing up. We never realized how grateful I was, and I never had a chance to give thanks to my mother or my grandmother before they passed away. So the lesson is to appreciate your parents, but especially your mother (and grandmother) if they are around now.

What’s the one bit of advice about fatherhood you wish someone had given you much earlier? Believe it or not, it’s butt spray. I recommend it to every expecting mom and dad. I could not stand spreading diaper rash paste on the bottoms of our girls during diaper changes because you would get your hands dirty. You can’t let go of your baby to wash your hands. There is a butt spray called Happy Bottoms. It has the same ingredients, but you just spray it on the bottoms of your little ones.

On the serious side, kids are very resilient. As new parents, we were totally clueless on our first girl, and I mellowed out by our second girl. My advice is to take it easy on the little things, safety is important and don’t take your eyes off of your baby or toddler, but pace yourself on the fire retardant pajamas, the matching hats, or figuring out the best stroller available out there.

What’s the one thing about being a new dad that shouldn’t be missed? The amazing transformation of your children throughout the years is the one thing that should not be missed. Child development is amazing, and it is fascinating to see that children are born with personalities. It’s definitely not learned. My two girls have very different personalities, and this came out quite early on.

What’s the most overrated thing about fatherhood? Being in the operating room during a C-section is overrated. I believe most fathers should stay behind the ether drape, and if you are afraid of blood, notify the OB doc before they make you cut the umbilical cord! I can see the purpose of passing out cigars in the waiting rooms in the past. I happened to film the delivery of my first daughter, which turned out to be a C-section. I have never shown anyone the footage, including my wife who is afraid of seeing bloody things.What’s the most underrated thing about fatherhood?

Helping your wife out with the dishes, clothes, or ordering a dinner. These little daily tasks will decompress your wife’s work load, and allow you not to take your wife for granted. An occasional appreciation note or flowers will also remind your wife that she is special as most of our attention is focused on our kids. The amount of work involved with two children was dramatically more than a single child. It is very easy to forget your partner as we get so involved with the kids. Remember, being a mother is a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week job, and anything a father can do, and I mean anything, will decompress the mother, who is juggling everything while we escape to work.

Why are fathers important? Fathers are important because your children will see what it is like to have two parents caring for their child. The modern family can be in any form. Ours is very traditional. For my two daughters, they will end up seeking partners in the future either like me or completely opposite of me. I’m excited to see what type of people they end up being attracted to in the future — whenever I ever let my daughters date. When is that now, 21 years old?

Career, marriage, kids … how does a guy stay sane? Staying sane is easy if you keep in perspective that all of this is temporary. You have a good 18 years to raise each child. My oldest will be turning 10 years old in a few months! Time is flying, and adolescence is around the corner. Always work on your marriage, and don’t take anything for granted. The kids will always love you, but they won’t appreciate us until they have their own kids. I see it as paying it forward to the next generation. My parents did it and never asked for a thanks. I don’t expect it either, but I am enjoying every day of it. The career is the easiest. You can change your career, as I did by leaving an academic faculty job, which allowed me more time and finances to spend on my family.

— Carson D. Liu, MD, a dad of nine- and five-year-old daughters and the founder of SkyLex Advanced Surgical, Incorporated, a bariatric surgery clinic in California

More about Dr. Carson Liu

Original Article

LOVE IT, LOATHE IT OR VASER IT

At the present time, Dr. Fodor explained, there are two fat dissolving injection therapies under investigation that are based on sodium deoxycholate from Kythera® and Lithera. The Kythera® ATX-101 is being studied for the submental (under the neck) region and is in Phase III in the U.S.A. Unfortunately, these drugs are still undergoing the FDA approval process and it is hard to predict how long before American doctors will be able to use them.

In the invasive category, according to Dr. Fodor, a recent survey of board certified plastic surgeons revealed that only 3.9% of those who participated are currently using Laser Lipolysis. Power-Assisted-Lipoplasty (PAL) and VASER® (VAL) remain quite popular among plastic surgeons and other aesthetic physicians. He was an early adopter, clinical developer, and a huge proponent of VASER®, which uses ultrasound delivered internally via a solid probe with grooves that makes it safer than other ultrasound based liposuction techniques. Currently “Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance” or VASER® is widely considered to be a very effective liposuction method for reducing fatty deposits. VASER®, also known as Vaser Assisted Lipoplasty (VAL), uses reduced levels of ultrasonic power to fragment fat cells. The second part of the process is to evacuate those loosened fat cells through liposuction. On the other hand, as Dr. Fodor explained, “VASER® Shape is completely non-surgical and non-invasive.”

A new approach combines ultrasound and massage therapy to non-surgically remove fatty tissue underneath the skin. With this technology, you can literally go to sleep while your fat is being liquefied. Using high frequency energy waves to generate localized heat beneath the surface of the skin. VASER® Shape has a unique handpiece that delivers two overlapping beams of ultrasound energy. With some other non-invasive energy based fat reducing options, such as withCoolscupting by Zeltiq, excessive cold is applied directly to the skin itself and also eventually penetrates to the targeted fat. The process can be uncomfortable, not only during the treatment, but afterwards. “With VASER Shape there are two heads in the same treatment piece that are positioned at an angle so that energy emitted converges at a distance from the contact of the heads to the skin and on the subcutaneous fat targeting it for a thickness of 4 cm. There is no injury to the skin’s surface, no discomfort and no chance for burns,” said Dr. Fodor.

“With stronger ultrasound energy devices such as the recently launched Liposonix® system, and the UltraShape®device, which is not FDA cleared yet, the treatments are also more uncomfortable.” The VASER® Shape treatment takes about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the areas. By moving the handpiece over your body in a circular fashion, one treats a tissue layer that is 1 to 5 centimeters below the surface of the skin. VASER® Shape targets ultrasonic energy below the surface of your skin so there is no pain – just a warming sensation that some people equate to a hot stone massage. After the treatment, you may have some minor redness on the skin, but no other side effects have been reported.

All of the energy devices do the same thing – they generate heat. But what if too much heat is delivered? Patients ask and are wary of laser-based techniques because they have read about the potential for skin burns, sloughs, irregularities and so on. Dr. Fodor advised, “Stay away from laser for invasive body contouring procedures because the margin for error is very small and complications often occur.”

VASER® Shape is intended for contour improvements and is touted to smooth, firm and shape the body and also at least temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. What it won’t do is make you skinny. “It is essential to understand that for the foreseeable future, non-invasive approaches do not replace surgical liposuction for all comers. In my way of thinking, there is a place for both invasive and non-invasive techniques. Even if non-invasive procedures do not produce as impressive results, some patients prefer them because they do not want to undergo surgery and will instead accept having multiple non-invasive treatments, as long as they are getting visible results. It is most important to separate science from all the marketing hype; the wheat from the chaff,” said Dr. Fodor.

Original Article

More about Vaser Shape

Bariatric doctor: 'We need to stop discriminating against obese people'

From Dr. Carson Liu:

I see many patients who, because they want to have a surgery to treat their obesity, have had their PPO insurance plan downgraded to an HMO status while still paying at PPO rates.

Insurance companies are blaming the patients for being obese. The insurance companies don't treat lung cancer patients, the ones that have smoked, the way they discriminate against obese patients.

As a doctor, I am surprised that obese people have not complained more. Their primary doctors blame them for being obese, scold them, but never give them the tools to lose weight.  A lot of patients are never taught how to diet and exercise.  Primary doctors must spend more time educating their obese patients about diet and exercise.

By the time the patients come to see me, their confidence in themselves are at an all time low. They have failed dieting on their own, failed commercial weight lossprograms, and have been lectured by their primary care doctor about losing weight.

Obese people are frustrated because they are trying, but no one believes they are trying, including their own doctor. When they seek surgical intervention, their primary care doctor, their own family members and their friends are usually against the idea.

Can you imagine if we treated our lung cancer patients this way?  'Well Mr X, since you have smoked yourself to lung cancer, we are downgrading your access to treatment.  It's all your fault, Mr. X, and you should not waste our insurance dollars on a disease you caused.'

Friends, family and doctors then tell Mr. X to take care of it, but tell him that chemotherapy and surgery don't work and it's dangerous. This is how obese patients are treated!

Whether or not we have a national healthcare plan, we need to change the attitudes of everyone about obesity. The blame game needs to stop and access to healthcareshould not be restricted.

We all need to stop discriminating against obese people.

More about Dr. Carson Liu

Original Article

Expert Opinion: Revealed, The Real Reason Why Britney Spears Looks Perkier

Everyone marveled over how great Britney Spears looked in recent shots in a bikini in Hawaii, but it does appear that the X Factor judge has had some help, according to leading American plastic surgeon Dr Constantino Mendieta.

“It does look like Britney has had implants and you can see that her right breast is perkier and it is more obvious that she has had implants since it is rounder and up higher than the left,” he says.”The left breast has loss of fullness in the upper breast showing indicating that the implant might have shifted down and out. ”

And the cost of the implants is a bank busting amount running into the thousands.

“The cost for breast implants can be between $4000-8,000 for saline implants and between $5000 -10,000 for silicone,”Dr. Mendieta says.  ”You can find them for a lot less but chances are you will be at a discount store surgery center.  And in the end it could wind up costing you more if you have to get a re-do on a shoddy surgery..

Dr. Mendieta is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has penned formal studies of the female form for professional journals.

For more information on Dr. Mendieta check out his website by clicking here.

Original Article

More about Dr. Constantino Mendieta

Dr. Carson Liu on KTLK Radio with David Cruz on the Lap-Band

Los Angeles master bariatric surgeon Dr. Carson Liu appeared on the David Cruz Show on KTLK radio to tell people what to do to ensure they go about finding a proper Lap-Band doctor and steps they should take in light of the problems associated with the controversies surrounding 1-800-GET-THIN. This is a must hear interview for anyone considering the Lap-Band, the procedure Dr. Liu says is bar far, the safest bariatric procedure for weight loss. Dr. Liu sits on Allergan's board for approving doctors for the Lap-Band, and is a former associate professor at UCLA who started the minimally invasive bariatric program there.

Dr Carson Liu

Miami Butt Doctor goes for the 'A' in bottoms

Dr. Constantino Mendieta wrote the book on butts, called The Art of Gluteal Sculpting. He tells Monsters and Critics there are four main shapes in buttocks: The preferred A, the V, the Square, and the round shapes.

"There's science behind that statement," says Dr. Mendieta, who will soon star in his own reality TV series taking viewers behind the scenes into his practice. "A shape bottoms simply mean that a woman's waist is smaller than her hips, with a ratio of at least 0.7. A noted psychologist - Devendra Singh-  did a study where she found that men all over the world desire women who have that waist to hip magic ratio"

The drive in plastic surgery now is less breast and more bottom, according to Dr. Mendieta. "The stars today are driving this trend too, blame Jennifer Lopez, and most recently the naturally gifted Pippa Middleton, who showed that gluteal sculpting and augmentation for the less physically fortunate can be even just a subtle change that gives the silhouette a youthful sex appeal."

The news in Miami last year showed a desperate transsexual who criminally injected unwitting "patients" with cement and Fix-A-Flat tire sealant to create an enlarged rear end. These types of reports were disturbing to Dr. Mendieta, who is sought after by the A list crowd in Hollywood to help them with their proportions.

"There are two general methods that enhance the buttocks, using special silicone implants or grafting, or fat transfers. Ideally fat transfers are superior because we use your own fat, taken from problem exercise resistant areas, prep it and place where it's lacking," says Dr. Mendieta.

Dr. Mendieta’s techniques have won him national and international acclaim.  And he travels around the world teaching his technique. Dr Mendieta promises you the best seat in the house, which is also the title of his new series coming soon the the smallscreen.

More about Dr. Constantino Mendieta

Original Article

Weekly Round Up! VASER, LIPOSONIX, NO CURE FOR BRAZILIAN BLOW OUTS, SOLEIL ORGANIQUE SUNSCREEN, ANATASIA'S SEE AND BE SEEN KIT

More about Dr. Fodor

Original Article

Feature Story: Can Bad Plastic Surgery Be Fixed?

But can a case of bad plastic surgery be fixed? We consulted leading plastic surgeon, Dr.Fodor, who was a past president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, to get his expert opinion on what can and can’t be rectified.

Here is our interview with him….

Celebzter: What happens to you when someone comes in with bad surgery? How do start about fixing it?

Dr.Fodor: First, we thoroughly evaluate the patient, find out who performed the procedure, discuss returning to that surgeon, offer to be of assistance to that surgeon if she/he is Board Certified.  In most instances, the patients does not wish to return and then we consider re-do surgery if the expected degree of improvement justifies it.

Celebzter: Why does bad plastic surgery happen to good people?

Dr.Fodor: In most instances because they do not do their diligent homework prior to submitting themselves to surgery.  It is very common for people who can amply afford to pay for the best to end up in the hands of the untrained and unscrupulous.  The appearance of many celebrities is a tell-tale sign.

Celebzter: With plastic surgery being more common now, has bad surgery become more prevalent?

Dr.Fodor: Yes, unsatisfactory results are more prevalent than ever not only because aesthetic surgery is more common but also because it can legally be performed by a physician with a license regardless of training or lack thereof.

Celebzter: What are the most common examples of botched bad surgery? And what body parts/ facial features?

Dr.Fodor: The examples are plentiful and extend to all areas of the face and body; noses, eyelids, neck, asymmetric liposuction, indentations, etc., etc.   For example we have treated facial deformities such as face-lift wind tunnel lips, augmented lips that look like someone is sucking on a cap, (aka fish lips), ear lopes that have been pulled down or disappearing sideburns and the most common one, surprised eye brows.  With liposuction we’ve seen indentations and divots in the skin, permanent skin discoloration, scarring, etc… and in breast augmentation, we have done re-dos for people who have had their implants placed unnaturally too high and even some who have visible implant folds.  Unfortunately, we have seen, all that plus plenty more.

Celebzter: Have you ever had a case when you were unsure if you could fix it?

Dr.Fodor: In my practice, I routinely give patients a realistic percentage of the degree of improvement we can anticipate.  It is a two-way street and we need to have input from the patient as to their expectations.  If these are unrealistic, regardless of how much of an improvement we could obtain, we would elect not to operate on them.

Celebzter: How does it affect a patients confidence when they have had botched surgery?

Dr.Fodor: The dissatisfied patient is often emotionally and financially exhausted and it takes a specific set of skills to take guide them along the experience of re-do surgery and to take care of them

Celebzter: What is your biggest advice when someone is thinking about plastic surgery?

Dr.Fodor: Do your homework diligently, listen carefully during the consultation, make sure all your questions are answered, return for another visit if not sure, see representative before and after photographs, have an affinity for your surgeon and his/her staff, don’t hesitate to get more than one opinion, do not get lured by computer imaging and other gizmos, etc.

Dr. Peter Fodor

Original Article

All About Injectables with Dr. Peter Fodor

Since I am now officially into my thirties I have begun to absolutely freak out about the wrinkles in my face. This isn’t particularly new as at 25 I made my first La Mer purchase, but as the years went on, so did the obsession, and now that I’ve crossed over into my third decade, I’ve decided it might take more than just La Mer to keep my complexion looking good. I’m now wanting to dip my toes into the land of Botox and injectables, but honestly, its a scary thing to start, so when I was offered the chance to talk to world renowned aesthetic plastic surgeon, Dr. Peter Fodor about all things needles, I jumped at the opportunity.

I’m 31 and currently freaking about the visible wrinkles on my face. Can you give me an injectables 101?

First, your chronologic age (how old actually are) is not as important as the physiologic age (how old we look and feel). Age doesn’t totally determine who should do what – sun exposure, dryness, not taking care of your skin, this is what makes you age.

Once you decide you want to lift your face some, you have two options, a surgical facelift or a “liquid facelift” which is what we consider injectables.

There are two types of “liquid facelifts”:

Botox (or similar brands) – this paralyzes certain muscles. There are two muscles in the forehead. The muscles that pull up the eyebrow all the time (why you have wrinkles in the forehead) and the muscles that pull down the eyebrows.  There is a balance between the muscles – when relaxed they are in a neutral position. Botox offsets this balance and we can elevate the eye by paralyzing the muscles that make the eyebrows go down. Botox is mainly used in the forehead area and for crows feet.

As an FYI: Botox can also be used to change some features on your face. You can do a botox neck lift – by paralyzing the jaw line it helps the jaw stick out more and you can do botox on the tip of the nose – lifts the tip of the nose so it’s not droopy.

Timing: Botox can take around 7 – 10 days to react

Filler Materials – these are good for laugh lines, or the outer corner of the mouth. Those areas can be plumped up with filler, but they can also be used with Botox in the muscles that pull down the corner of the mouth.  Botox and fillers can be used together to create fullness and lift. My practice customizes to each patient and uses a combination of injections to make the face look a lot younger.

As an FYI: Injectables can be used in combination with surgery – for instance crows feet cannot be removed with a facelift  – so we use fillers as well.

Timing: Fillers take a few days for the swelling to go down.

Things to Know: Botox and fillers are not used instead of each other – as a general rule of thumb, Botox is more for upper face and fillers for lower face.

Not sure about the whole thing? Sometimes we can inject saltwater with a local anesthetic to see what you would look like with the injectable – for cheek fillers for instance – and its gone in a few hrs.

Know who you are working with: A sophisticated injector will know if you inject horizontal lines only in your forehead then your eyes will droop – you have to inject some in the muscles pulling the eyes up and down as well so that your eyes and brows don’t droop– the doctor should custom tailor injections for each patient, keep charts of patients muscles and levels of injections, etc.

Are there any injectables or products you tell people to stay away from?

I don’t like permanent injectables, or even semi-permanent ones like Radiesse and Sculptra. I have seen a patients with some really bad reactions to these products and those things are not easily treatable at all. Injecting things that have a permanent result is really not a good idea. With gravity the material will start moving, so if it’s permanent, then you are stuck – what looked good 5 yrs ago, doesn’t look good now and there is no way to fix it. It’s better to do temporary injectables like Juvederm and Restylane – there is a material you can inject to make it dissolve, so if you don’t like it you can make it go away.

I’m also a big expert of fat – but I’m not a huge advocate of using fat all over your face – cheeks are ok, but I will not use fat for lower lids or lips – the fat can start growing! Patients can look grotesque from fat growth in these places.

Any tips for keeping skin healthy during the summer?

Sunscreen, the obvious one, anything over 15-18 is not anymore than 15-18 but, make sure sunblock covers both the uva and uvb rays. Hydration is very important – dryness of the skin ages you even more than sun exposure. Sun and dryness cause a breakdown in the collagen spirals. A lot of skin health depends on your personal complexion, so know your skin.

Dr. Peter Fodor

Original Article

Vaser Shape Fat-off: Live blogging while achieving killer bikini body

The thought of wearing a bikini after age 40 requires planning, preparedness and abstaining from all the junk we throw down without thinking about it when younger.

If you're a lucky girl or boy, you can relax and enjoy the benefits of being either genetically touched by the skinny angels or extremely dedicated to keeping in shape.

For the rest of us, good gym workouts and counting calories often times are not enough. However, non surgical fat management has accelerated and now has proven track records of inches lost and sustained results.  Can I get a "Hallelujah"?

There are several ways to topically treat the extra flab that seems to grow larger in mass the older we get...especially the stubborn areas of inner thighs, the tummy donut (fat circling the bellybutton) love handles, upper arms, bra rolls around the back and triceps — these are the most prominent places for fat accumulation.

We all know what works to get fit: You must watch your diet strenuously, all of us, especially as we age. You must do something sweat-inducing AT LEAST three days a week, including cardiovascular activity, and you must add upper and lower body strength training and resistance workouts.

Drink eight glasses of water a day, as it detoxifies you and rids your body of salt, drink room temperature water or more hot teas and herbal non-sweetened drinks too.

Now, you may say, "I've done all that and I still have a pudge that won't budge."  Today, I am finally getting rid of the flab and quickly!

Vaser Shape is the latest in this bulging category - so good that it won the award for Best Non-Surgical Body Shaping device at the 2nd Annual Aesthetic Awards event held on April 14th during the Aesthetic Show (TAS) 2012.

How it works: Vaser uses high frequency sound waves to generate localized heat beneath the surface of the skin. Vaser Shape achieves this with a special handpiece that delivers two overlapping beams of ultrasound energy.

By moving the handpiece over a patient's body, a physician can treat the tissue layer that is one to five centimeters below the surface of the skin.

Heat produced by ultrasound diathermy creates a "micromassage" effect on the fat cells. By warming the connective tissue, redistributing fat and encouraging blood circulation, VASER Shape temporarily reduces the appearance of cellulite to slim and smooth your body shape.

Zonal massage used in concert with ultrasound diathermy (Vaser Shape), helps your body drain and metabolize purged fatty fluids from targeted problem areas.

Today at board certified plastic surgeon, Vaser pioneer and consultant Dr. Peter Fodor's offices in Century City, CA., his introduction of Vaser Shape promises to rid of my extra belly fat without cutting, sucking or any pain, and you know what?  They actually delivered.

There are a lot of products and procedures on the market that promise to get rid of inches and most of them do for about an hour or so, until you have a sip of water of a bite of a cracker.  The treated fat literally melts away and you eventually eliminate it naturally.

The entire procedure was 40 minutes and felt like a hot rock massage on my tummy.  It was relaxing and soothing.  And, when I got off the bed, I was 1 1/2 inches smaller around my waistline.

Vaser

Original Article

FDA's warning that 350 clinics are possibly using unapproved versions of Botox,

Dr. Peter Fodor, considered in the top 1% of U.S. plastic surgeons, appeared on KCBS2 to provide this expert commentary on the FDA's warning that 350 clinics are possibly using unapproved versions of Botox, a potentially very dangerous situation. If you are getting Botox this is a must see story, and Dr. Fodor, a Century City plastic surgeon can help steer you properly. Read on:

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent letters to 350 medical practices last month alerting them they may have received unapproved medications from a foreign supplier.

The medications, including unapproved versions of Botox, could be counterfeit, contaminated or unsafe to patients, authorities said in a statement released Dec. 19.

On Nov. 30, the FDA alerted the practices who may have received medications from foreign suppliers owned and operated by Canada Drugs, also known as Quality Specialty Products (QSP), A+ Health Supplies, QP Medical, Bridgewater Medical or Clinical Care.

"The manufacture and handling of these products may not be of suitable quality to ensure safety or efficacy, and the products have not been proven to be safe and effective pursuant to FDA standards. FDA is very concerned that products distributed by these suppliers may cause harm to patients, because they may be unsafe or ineffective," the letter stated.

Dr. Peter B. Fodor, a Century City plastic surgeon and an expert on Botox, said using a non-FDA approved injectable can be dangerous.

"When it comes to Botox, this is a very, very potentially poisonous material...it's an agent used in chemical warfare and it can paralyze somebody permanently or it can paralyze your diaphragm so you cannot breathe," he said.

This is the sixth time in 2012 the FDA has issued letters to medical practices that purchased unapproved medications from foreign suppliers.

Dr. Peter Fodor

Heath Trend of 2013

Orignial Article

Dr Peter Fodor

Father, son lose 260 pounds after weight loss surgery

"It's like they'd never seen a fat person before," Cianciullo recalls.

For Mike, the decision to go through with weight loss surgery was about stopping those stares, getting in shape and, most importantly, saving his son's life.

In denial

When his dad first approached him about going to a weight loss clinic, 17-year-old Matt Cianciullo was hesitant. Unlike many children who are bullied because of their weight, Matt had a lot of friends and didn't really see his size as an issue.

Matt was more concerned about his dad's health. Mike was on medication for acid reflux disease, hypertension and high cholesterol.

"To think that, that young, I might lose him before I was 20 -- it's not something you want," Matt says. "And I always thought if I kept going down the same path, I would be like him or worse."

Still, Matt was nervous. Surgery seemed dangerous. Maybe, he thought, I'll just try dieting again.

Fear stops many people from getting weight loss procedures done, says Dr. Carson Liu, the Cianciullo's doctor and a bariatric surgeon in Los Angeles. But often the biggest obstacle is denial -- they don't want to admit they can't do it on their own.

"The hardest thing for patients to do is pick up the phone and go see a doctor," Liu says. "They see it as a kind of defeat."

There are several types of bariatric surgery. Most cost between $18,000 and $30,000.

Gastric bypass has been the "gold standard," Liu says, since the 1990s. With gastric bypass, a new stomach about the size of a golf ball is created laparoscopically by cutting across the top of the stomach and connecting the smaller pouch with the intestines.

Mike knew about gastric bypass but didn't like how invasive it was; he didn't know if he wanted to restructure his internal organs that way. Then he started seeing commercials for Lap-Band.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Allergan Inc.'s Lap-Band Adjustable Gastric Banding System in February 2011. (Liu sits on Allergan's doctor approval board.) The first adjustable gastric band, Ethicon Edno-Surgery Inc.'s REALIZE, was approved in 2007.

Both bands are placed laparoscopically around the upper portion of the stomach in an outpatient procedure that generally takes 45 minutes to an hour. The devices can be tightened or loosened at subsequent doctor's visits, helping patients "feel full faster, eat less and lose weight." And unlike gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band procedures can be easily reversed.

The FDA has approved the Lap-Band for patients over 18 with a BMI over 40, or patients with a BMI over 30 who also have a serious obesity-related condition like high-blood pressure or sleep apnea.

Mike had a BMI of 50. His son's was 59.

"With all the excess weight on him, it was putting so much stress on his heart," Mike says. "For me this would be a good thing. My son needed it."

Two years, 200 pounds

Shortly after Father's Day 2009, Mike and Matt were ready for surgery. Mike was ready to give up the Italian food he loved as a child; Matt was determined to no longer constantly eat just because he was bored.

They had completed all the prerequisites. Liu asks patients to lose 5 to 10 pounds before undergoing anesthesia, to ensure they're willing to make the serious commitment that's forthcoming. He stresses that the Lap-Band is just a tool to help patients lose weight.

"The main thing we talk about is motivation," Liu says. "If they can't change their lifestyle, they aren't going to lose more than 30 to 40 pounds."

That might seem like a lot to some, but most who undergo the surgery have 80 to 100 pounds to lose. And if they don't eat right and exercise, they'll most likely gain it all back.

The Cianciullos also knew about the risks. The FDA lists possible complications from the Lap-Band procedure: vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastroesophageal reflux disease, abdominal pain, pulmonary embolism or leaking that could lead to death.

Fortunately, their dual procedures went smoothly.

Mike and Matt were on a liquid diet for two weeks after surgery, and then ate only soft foods for another two weeks. It would be several more weeks before they learned what they could eat and how much.

"You have to chew your food really well, 20 to 25 times before you swallow," Mike says. "The more fibrous vegetables, they don't digest as well. The skin of peaches, apples, don't digest well."

Carbohydrates are pretty much off-limits as well, Matt says. Before the surgery, he would usually have a sandwich, chips and soda or a few pieces of pizza for lunch. Now he eats maybe half a chicken breast and half a cucumber. Dinners used to be double servings. Now he orders off the kids' menu at restaurants and can barely eat half.

"When food gets stuck, it's painful. It feels like you're having a heart attack or something," Matt says.

The results, though, have been phenomenal. Matt has dropped 160 pounds; his dad has lost more than 100.

"It's been fun and exciting to watch them," says his mom, Martha. "They're happy. Matt is always out now, compared to what he used to be. And my husband ... he likes to share his story with everybody. Even with people he doesn't even know."

Matt was named Liu's patient of the month. "He was so shy and introverted, never looked people in the eye," Liu says. "When he lost 100 pounds he opened up and came out of his shell. Plus the guy ate chicken all day long."

Liu likes when family members tackle weight loss together. They motivate each other to stick with the diet, keep junk food out of the house and keep moving. Matt and Mike had a sense of competition -- when his dad was losing weight more quickly, Matt took up basketball to catch up.

At 170 pounds, Matt is almost to his goal weight of 150. He plans to swim more and try other activities that he couldn't do when he was bigger. He also hopes to help other obese teens by sharing his story.

Mike is working on reaching his goal weight as well. He knows as an adult it's more difficult to lose the weight, but he keeps pushing forward.

"I really want to be as healthy as possible for my family."

Dr Liu

Orignial Article

New Smart Lipo Procedure Promises Less Scarring, Better Results

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- There's a new alternative to traditional liposuction that promises less down time, minimal scarring and better results.

"Smart Lipo" is a procedure that uses a laser fiber enclosed in a thin tube that is inserted through a small incision in the skin to remove unwanted fat.

It only takes 45 minutes and most people can return to work the following day.

"The beauty of this procedure is the fact that we can do it under local anesthesia," said Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Nicholas Nikolov.

Smart Lipo costs about $5,000 per area of the body.

Patient Seana Ryan said she was happy with the procedure.

"I'm not really interested in doing anything with the knife per se," Ryan said. "I just want to do little things that will make me look natural."

Dr. Nicholas Nikolov

Vaser Shape: Non-Surgical,Non-Invasive Fat Removal

We all have those problem areas that won’t go away, no matter how much we exercise or diet. Vaser Shape can help you with those trouble spots, such as those little dimples on your thighs or bottom. With a combination of ultrasonic therapy and massage, Vaser Shape smoothes, firms, and sculpts the body by temporarily minimizing the look of cellulite. In addition, Vaser can boost your body’s metabolism as it promotes greater blood circulation in the areas of focus. The treatment is also a great complement for those seeking to temper the pain and swelling that comes from liposuction and other surgical procedures.

THE VASER PACKAGE: ULTRASOUND THERAPY PLUS ZONAL MASSAGE

The first phase of Vaser Shape treatment is ultrasound therapy, which uses double beams of ultrasound energy to heat and treat fatty deposits under the skin. This makes the fat cells more mobile and encourages the body metabolize, drain, or reabsorb extra fluids. The therapist delivers the ultrasound energy via a unique concave handpiece, following the patient’s silhouette and focusing on fatty tissue located at a certain depth beneath the surface of the skin. Patients can expect to feel their skin being gently warmed, along with a sensation similar to a deep tissue massage.

Vaser Shape patients are urged to follow up their ultrasound sessions with zonal lymphatic massage. This treatment helps open the lymph nodes, drain excess toxins and fats from the body, and increase blood circulation to the area of concentration. Zonal massage is so gentle, it can also be applied after liposuction for faster recovery times.

Your treatment will vary, depending on your body type and your procedure. A specific timetable will be determined by your doctor, but you can expect one combined ultrasound and massage treatment per week (20 to 30 minutes per body area) and one zonal massage session per week, over the course of three to five weeks in total. Many patients report significant improvement following the first session, and after the procedure, patients can take up everyday tasks and movement without pain or downtime.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND ULTRASOUND

You may be wondering how Vaser Shape can help you achieve your results without surgery. Vaser does it through ultrasound diathermy, in which high-frequency sound waves are used to generate heat spots underneath the skin. Yielding a specialized handpiece and moving it across the body, the physician delivers two beams of ultrasound energy to the body and treats the tissue layer sitting one to five centimeters below the dermis. The targeted fat cells undergo a “micromassage” effect, where fat is redistributed and blood circulation is encouraged. This results in the reduced appearance of cellulite and a smoother shape in the desired areas.

The toxins, excess fluids, and waste dislodged by the ultrasound treatment are removed by the body’s lymphatic system, and this is where zonal massage comes in. As the next step in the Vaser Shape system, zonal massage awakens the lymphatic system for more efficient draining of toxins and fats. At the end of this double-pronged plan, you’ll not only be rid of undesirable cellulite, but also the unwanted substances that comprise those deposits.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

To be fair, Vaser Shape isn’t the only option for cellulite relief, but it compares favorably to the alternatives and even comes out on top. For example, treatments such as UltraShape and LipoSonix also apply ultrasound to disrupt fat cells. However, they are not cleared for use in the United States, and their reach on the body is not as deep, going only 0.7 to 1.5 cm under the skin and in relatively small areas. VelaShape, Zerona, and SmoothShapes target surface-level fat with laser energy, but treatments must be limited to prevent skin discomfort and damage. In addition, results are inconsistent. Thermage and Accent draw heat from radio frequency energy; again, results are not predictable.

On the other extreme, Cryolipolysis works via cooling panels to freeze fat cells, which then slowly die and are removed from the body. However, patients say the treatment and recovery can be painful, and results vary.

Finally, LipoDissolve uses mesotherapy, in which pharmaceutical and homeopathic medications, plant extracts, and vitamins are injected into the tissue layer to disrupt the fatty cells. However, there is no medical data to back up these claims, and the FDA has not approved the technique.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Prospective patients will and should have questions for Vaser and the Vaser Shape program. They may be curious about the basics, such as the meaning of “non-invasive.” Simply, “non-invasive” means there are no cuts, no incisions, no surgery, and no anesthesia. You will not go under the knife, and typically, you can look forward to a short recovery period and few side effects, if any at all. The treatment themselves are performed in an office setting with a physician or trained practitioner.

Vaser Shape can be used to target several areas of the body, including the abdomen, back, arms, love handles, hips, buttocks, and thighs. The appearance of cellulite will be temporarily reduced in these zones, for a smoother, more natural look. Optimal results are typically reached after a series of three to five sessions. While Vaser Shape can work for a wide cross-section of the population, patients are advised to seek the guidance of their physician before seeking treatment. In addition, the overall cost will vary, based on how many areas undergo treatment and the number of sessions needed to reach the desired results.

Vaser

Orignal Article

Recently, I was asked to try the Vaser Shape, an ultrasound treatment that zaps fat cells and essentially does what liposuction does, but – keyword – non-invasively. Phrases along the lines of, “immediate results, painless, and free” were the factors that made the decision easy an easy yes for me. “What can I lose?” I thought. “An hour of my time? If it doesn’t work, well, it’s non-invasive so no harm.” But there was still the possibility of it actually working, so I’m not going to lie, I was super-excited.

I don’t know how to put this lightly…it was CRAZY!!! Like, amazing and totally works. They use this device that kind of looks like one paddle of a defibrillator. It heats up your fat cells using an ultrasound. It is rubbed in a circle on your body for about 30-45 minutes, depending on the area being worked on.