Our Surgeons' Blog

Tired of going to get your hair waxed off or threaded every two weeks? Sick of shaving, which only makes the hair grow back thicker? Done with hot wax treatments that hurt when stripped off of your arms and legs? Many of these treatments make people spend considerable amounts of money on a monthly basis without even realizing it.

It’s time to open your eyes to laser hair removal. This option is a more permanent answer to those irritating and unwanted hairs on your arms, legs, face, and any other part of your body.

What Is Laser Hair Removal? Why Is It So Popular?

Laser hair removal is a quick and convenient revolutionary way to get rid of those unwanted hairs permanently! You won’t have to make those dreaded frequent and annoying waxing visits every two weeks. You won’t have to avoid sleeveless tops or skirts because you happened to forget to wax those underarms or legs.

Laser hair removal uses controlled and focused highly concentrated beams of light that penetrate through the skin to treat the hair follicles. The pigments in the hair follicles absorb the light from the light beams and this helps to destroy the hair permanently. Once the hair follicle absorbs the light, it cannot grow hair again.

Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

• Lasers can help remove unwanted hair growth from the arms, face, legs, back, and numerous other areas in a quick and convenient way.

• The hair removal is permanent, so the hairs won’t come back.

• Lasers won’t damage the surrounding skin but will make sure to get rid of the hair permanently.

• Lasers are very precise and with this high precision will target only the hair follicles and not darken or pigment the surrounding skin or damage the inner or surrounding tissue.

• The laser light pulses travel at the speed of light and can treat and get rid of many hairs in the fraction of a second.

• Hair removal is permanent after just three to six sessions of the laser treatment.

What Is the GentleMax Pro Laser?

The GentleMax Pro laser is one of the most advanced hair-removal lasers on the market today. It uses a combination of the 755nm Alexandrite laser and an equally powerful 1064nm Nd: YAG laser. This laser uses dual-wavelength light pulses and is the fastest hair-removal laser on the market. It is preferred by most specialists.

This laser can help remove hair from all skin types and is completely safe and effective. It doesn’t cause any pain to the patient, and the required recovery time after treatment is typically very short. It works on a 20/22/24 mm Large Spot Delivery System, which means it delivers laser beams and can treat a large spot or area of hair at once.

Set Up a Consultation

Board-certified plastic surgeons Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang are all well-versed in a variety of aesthetic treatments and procedures. To schedule your consultation with a skilled medical professional regarding laser hair removal, contact us today and get started.

Ever wanted to trim away the extra inches instantly and get that sculpted figure? Cosmetic procedures have come a long way and are now more advanced and more effective. Getting a trim and fit figure and removing extra fat is made simple with VASERlipo.

VASERlipo

This procedure contours your body by removing fat and adding definition to your natural curves. This is particularly useful if you have already incorporated strict exercise routines and dieting yet have failed to get the results you’ve wanted.

This type of liposuction is only minimally invasive and offers dramatic results; this is the reason why there are so many who vouch by this method. It is a quicker process than most other types of liposuction procedures and is also found to be easier.

What Happens During VASERlipo Treatment?

This is often a one-time treatment and takes only an hour at most to finish. Depending on the fat deposit and the area being treated, longer might be needed, but the process is definitely faster than the normal liposuction process.

Either general or local anesthesia with IV sedation will be used at the start of the procedure. The area to be trimmed will then be targeted with ultrasound energy, causing the liquefying of fat tissue in the target area. The frequency of the energy is set so that no other cells are damaged during the process. The fat tissues are suctioned and removed using a narrow tube.

Benefits of VASERlipo

The fact that the process takes less time than conventional liposuction is one main advantage. In just one session, a large portion of fat can be removed, thus giving very evident results. You can visibly see the effects starting the very next day.

Besides removing the fat cells, the procedure also enhances the body’s natural ability to produce collagen and results in tightening of the loose sagging skin. This is responsible for the natural-looking results given by this procedure.

It is a minimally invasive procedure, so there is no scarring or long recovery times. Recovery time after the procedure is brief. The bruising that follows in the area where the suction tube was inserted is lighter than with other methods of fat removal.

The use of ultrasound and the minute incision done to insert the suction tube make this a very safe procedure to remove fat. The blood loss that occurs during the process is minimal in comparison to other techniques, and overall, it is a much milder method than many other fat-reduction procedures.

Care After the Procedure

Special care instructions must be followed after the procedure to retain the effects and to safely avoid any complications:

• Around 12 hours of rest is required after the procedure.
• Avoid all heavy activities for two or three weeks.
• Wear a compression garment in the area where VASERlipo was done to tighten the skin.
• Stay hydrated and maintain a healthy and natural diet after the procedure as well as before.

There are no complicated post-treatment care instructions here, as the process is pretty simple and less intense than most other liposuction methods.

Get Started Today

Experienced board-certified plastic surgeons Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang will be available to tell you more about your chosen procedure during an informative consultation. Schedule your VASERlipo consultation by contacting our office.

Having hanging upper-arm skin can feel constantly embarrassing. Sometimes, no amount of exercise can correct this upper arm sagging. However, there is a surgical procedure that can resolve the problem: brachioplasty surgery, also known as the arm lift.

Brachioplasty is a cosmetic procedure that helps reduce excessive skin sagging and remove localized fat pockets in the upper arms. The surgery also helps tighten the underlying support tissue, which is responsible for giving shape to your upper arm.

Arm Lift Surgery – Steps

The arm lift surgery begins with the administration of general anesthesia or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation.

Following this, incisions are carefully made in the skin of the arm. The pattern and length of these incisions will be determined by the location and amount of excessive skin that needs to be eliminated. Your surgeon may make an incision along the surface of your inner arm or at the back of your arm.

Excess fat and skin are then removed from the area extending from the upper arm to the elbow. The supportive tissue lying beneath the skin is also tightened using internal sutures. The surgery ends with the skin getting redressed on the new arm contours and the incisions being closed using sutures.

Your Recovery Process After an Arm Lift

You should follow your surgeon’s instructions carefully during the recovery period and make sure to not miss any follow-up appointments. Medications are typically prescribed to fasten the healing process.

After brachioplasty surgery, your surgeon will likely apply bandages or dressings onto your incisions. Also, he may wrap your arms in a compression garment or elastic bandage to reduce post-surgical swelling.

In most cases, the brachioplasty procedure is performed during the day and does not require an overnight stay at the facility. Patients may have surgical drains placed beneath the skin. These thin tubes are helpful in draining away any excess fluid or blood. Your surgeon will provide you with specific instructions regarding caring for the operated site.

Most arm lift surgery patients report that they were able to get back to work within two weeks of the surgery. If you work in a physically demanding job, then it might take you a bit longer to resume work. It is best to avoid lifting anything heavy for at least six weeks after the surgery.

It is important to understand that each patient heals at their own pace. This is why it is critical to follow the personalized advice offered by your doctor.

Candidates for This Procedure

Aging and heredity can be potential causes of drooping skin, fat, and muscle in the upper arms. If you are experiencing sagging upper arms, an arm lift may be ideal for you. Arm lift surgery is suitable for those who have tried various kinds of exercise and/or diet programs but fail to see any fat reduction or muscle tightening in the upper-arm area.

Long-Lasting Results

Your arm lift surgery results will be long-lasing as long as you make sure to maintain a stable body weight after surgery. Are you ready for sculpted upper arms?

If so, contact our office and schedule your consultation. Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang are board-certified plastic surgeons with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Have you noticed unsightly and prominent veins on your skin? Spider veins look similar to tree branches in shape and can be either red, purple, or blue in color based on severity. Individuals over the age of 45 to 50 are most likely to be afflicted with these dilated veins.

Spider veins are most prevalent on the legs, and they typically arise with their more sinister counterparts, varicose veins. Varicose veins are normally larger, as they are swollen veins filled with pooled blood. These veins can be fairly normal, but they are also severely unappealing.

Spider veins are mostly harmless, but they could be symptoms of poor blood circulation and varicose vein formation. They decrease the overall aesthetic of the affected area, which can diminish a person’s self-confidence. In rare cases, spider veins have the potential to be harmful.

The Cause of Spider Veins

People who work jobs that involve a lot of standing such as nurses, factory workers, teachers, and shopkeepers are more likely to develop spider veins than other people. This is due to the extra pressure they exert on their leg muscles. Spider veins also arise due to damaged or weak valves in your veins. When your valves do not allow blood to leave the veins, the blood will back up, causing your veins to swell up. This could potentially lead to varicose veins. Individuals with a history of blood clots are also susceptible to spider veins.

Genetics is often one of the best predictors of spider veins. If your parents had or have them, you are very likely to see spider veins crop up now or in the future. Chronological aging also typically leads to spider veins, and this can be a natural sign of aging. Other common symptoms include regular consumption of contraceptive pills, pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, sun exposure (for people with low melanin levels), and obesity, among other factors.

In short, if the pressure in an individual’s veins increases at an above average rate, they are more susceptible to spider veins.

Sclerotherapy for Treatment of Spider Veins

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution into the afflicted vein, causing it to collapse and improving blood flow. The solution is typically a concentrated saline solution. This is the most common treatment option. Sclerotherapy can be used to rectify both varicose and spider veins.

The procedure normally takes around fifteen to thirty minutes to be completed. During the procedure, the saline solution is injected into the veins using a very fine needle. Mild discomfort for a couple of minutes is common, especially when the bigger veins are targeted. You may need multiple sessions to treat and remove all the veins depending on your requirements and health condition.

Schedule Your Consultation

For treatment of your spider veins, it’s vital that you visit a skilled and experienced medical professional. Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang are board-certified plastic surgeons with years of experience. To arrange your consultation, contact our office.

Getting rid of excess fat can be a frustrating process. After a fair amount of time at the gym and months of strict dieting, many people find that their stubborn fat has managed to stick around. Thought many people come in for liposuction surgery to address this issue, there are some who feel that the idea of surgery is unpleasant and stressful. For these people, we offer CoolSculpting, a non-invasive and non-surgical way to reduce fat.

CoolSculpting uses a precisely controlled method of cooling to chill the area of the body that has excess fat, causing the underlying fat cells to die off. This reduces the fat thickness in the treated area –no surgery required!

The procedure is one of the most effective ways to get rid of the stubborn fat pockets in your body. The session usually lasts one hour per treated area, depending on the area that is being treated. Studies have shown over 80 percent fat reduction over a course of three months following the treatment. It is a healthier alternative to liposuction. As a matter of fact, there are indications that CoolSculpting might also improve skin laxity by tightening up the loose skin.

How Exactly Does It Work?

The device used for the CoolSculpting procedure removes heat from the treatment region at a steady rate, thereby chilling it to a particular temperature. The theory is that chilling the fat tissues to sub-zero temperatures causes them to get inflamed, thereby initiating apoptosis (cell death). The inflammation will start a couple of days after the treatment and peak at four weeks. There will be some residual inflammation after a period of twelve weeks.

How Much Fat Do You Lose?

Although the results tend to vary from patient to patient, you can expect a fat reduction of 4 to 10mm. In fact, there is a study of a patient who lost close to an inch, and this was in spite of an increase of 0.22 lbs. in overall weight.

One of the most common questions patients ask is, “Is there a risk of frostbite with this procedure?” That is not something people need to worry about, as it takes much colder temperatures for that type of damage. The procedure uses temperatures that don’t immediately kill the fat cells. Instead, they naturally trigger the process of cell death. That is the reason why it takes a month for the results to become visible.

So far, no serious side effects have been reported. The treated skin experiences temporary redness, with some degree of numbness and bruising. The bruising is mainly due to the fact that the device suctions the fat against itself. These problems tend to resolve themselves in a week. There are no changes in liver function or blood lipid levels.

Schedule Your Informative CoolSculpting Consultation

Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang are experienced board-certified plastic surgeons who would be happy to help you contour away that stubborn excess fat. If you would like to find out more about the CoolSculpting process and get started with your fat-loss procedure, contact our office today and arrange a helpful CoolSculpting consultation.

Do you want to change the appearance of your sagging buttocks? Try the Brazilian butt lift! This revolutionary cosmetic procedure makes use of your natural body fat to improve the shape and size of your buttocks. This procedure is considered ideal for people who are unsatisfied with the look and shape of their rear end.

The Stages of the Procedure

It is important to understand that the techniques used for a Brazilian butt lift surgery may vary from surgeon to surgeon. However, the process usually takes place in three standard stages. These are fat harvesting, fat processing, and fat reinjection.

In a Brazilian butt lift surgery, the plastic surgeon begins by performing liposuction to carefully extract excess fat from the other body parts, such as the thighs and stomach. This reduces them in volume and sculpts them. It is also possible to do more liposuction around your buttocks for improved contouring and lift.

This fat then undergoes processing through centrifugation. After purification, the plastic surgeon precisely injects the healthy fat cells into your backside to enhance its appearance. Only selected donor fat cells get reinjected into your butt. The reinjection of fat cells is often done with the help of several hundred tiny microinjections administered at varying depths.

Candidacy for Brazilian Butt Lift

In order to be a suitable candidate for the Brazilian butt lift procedure, you need to have additional fat in some other part of your body, since this surgery requires the surgeon to transplant your natural body fat to your buttocks. Your own fat is utilized for adding volume to the backside area in order to improve its shape and size. For those who lack sufficient body fat, a potential alternative could be butt implants.

In general, in order to be a suitable candidate for a Brazilian butt lift, you must:

• Have extra fat in other areas of the body and would like it to be removed.
• Be committed to exercise and a healthy diet in order to maintain the results of the surgery. Maintaining a constant or stable weight is also helpful in this regard. Plastic surgeons usually advise patients who have undergone extreme weight loss to maintain a steady weight for a certain period of time (three months to two years) prior to attempting any cosmetic surgery procedures.
• Have no plans of losing additional weight.

Recovery After a Brazilian Butt Lift

As part of the recovery process after a Brazilian butt lift surgery, your doctor might ask you to avoid placing your butt directly on a hard surface for a minimum of two weeks. A Boppy pillow might be recommended later, since it places pressure on your thighs rather than your butt. Generally, it is best to follow the post-surgical directions of your plastic surgeon in order to have a complication-free recovery and preserve the quality of your results.

Get In Contact with Our Office

Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang are highly respected board-certified plastic surgeons with years of experience. Contact our office to arrange an appointment for a consultation.

If you’ve tried everything possible to lose those extra pounds (including a strict diet and exercise regimen) and haven’t had any success yet, you might be in need of something more dramatic and effective. VASERlipo is a revolutionary cosmetic treatment that can help you achieve that fit body you’ve been hoping for.

What Is VASERlipo?

VASERlipo is a body-contouring and fat-removal procedure that makes use of accurate and minimally invasive technology for transformational results. VASER (Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance) utilizes a highly modern ultrasound technology for breaking down fat cells in your body. A suction mechanism is then used to eliminate these fat cells from your body.

Patients do not experience any discomfort or pain with VASERlipo. Also, there aren’t any extended recovery periods, as is the case with traditional liposuction treatments. Your plastic surgeon will customize the procedure to meet your body’s specific requirements. VASERlipo can be performed on both men and women. The desired results often differ – for instance, while women may wish to have more feminine curves, men typically want a masculine, athletic physique.

The VASERlipo treatment is tissue-selective. It targets fat cells and does not cause any damage to other body tissues. This is what makes the procedure different from other liposuction or fat-removal surgeries. VASERlipo is extremely effective in eliminating significant amounts of fat from certain areas of the body and yet gentle enough not to damage other areas like the arms and the neck.

Key Advantages of VASERlipo

Here are some of the main advantages of a VASERlipo treatment:

• No general anesthetic is needed for VASERlipo treatment.
• It is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure and does not harm other tissues.
• It is a one-time procedure that provides transformational results and requires insignificant recovery time.
• VASERlipo is successful in removing large quantities of stored fat.
• It can offer more-natural-looking body contouring than traditional liposuction.
• There is only very minimal risk of bruising, bleeding, pain, and discomfort.
• VASERlipo helps in refining and accentuating the form of your muscles.
• You will notice smoother skin all over your body, including areas such as the neck and arms.

VASERlipo is a medically proven procedure for fat removal and is absolutely safe and extremely effective.

Only Minimal Downtime Is Needed

In contrast with liposuction, only a minimal recovery period is needed after the VASERlipo surgery. Patients can easily resume their daily activities almost immediately after treatment. The time for recovery depends on the areas that have undergone treatment. No stitches are needed for the tiny incisions made by the plastic surgeon during the procedure.

After VASERlipo, you might be required to wear a compression garment, as this helps in the smooth contraction of the skin against the new contours of your body.

The results of a VASERlipo surgery are instantly noticeable and will consistently improve with the healing process. Patients will be able to see the final results in approximately three to four months.

Set Up a VASERlipo Consultation

Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang are skilled board-certified plastic surgeons with years of experience. If you would like to arrange a VASERlipo consultation, get in touch today.

As we grow older, the volume of fat tissue in our face reduces, resulting in sinking of the skin. This occurs mostly in the area below our cheekbones and chin region, creating a gaunt, sunken, even skeletal appearance in the face.

A similar situation arises in the event of losing a drastic amount of weight within a short span. After dramatic weight loss, the skin becomes loose and sags along the bone structure of the skull, making us look older than we actually are.

In order to get rid of the sallow appearance and have a healthier, fuller face, we provide a medical procedure called facial fat transfer, or fat grafting.

What Is Facial Fat Transfer?

The facial fat grafting procedure involves fat cell harvesting from various parts of the body that have an excess of fat, such as the outer thigh. The adipose tissue is purified and transferred to the treatment region with the help of injections. The treatment can be applied to enhance the cosmetic appearance of areas like the cheeks, undereye areas, the jawline, and the nasolabial folds.

When Should You Opt for Facial Fat Grafting?

Apart from enhancing the aesthetics of your facial features, fat injections also help in correcting age-related deformities and imperfections. There are several conditions that can be improved upon with fat transfer treatment, including the following:
• Dark circles or undereye bags
• Frown or worry lines
• Sunken cheeks
• Crow’s feet or laugh lines
• Pitted acne scars
• Tired or gaunt appearance

How the Fat Injection Procedure Works

As a result of the aging process, the dermis layer under our skin becomes sparse and thin, leading to a sunken and skeletal face. Fat injections help restore volume and make the face appear more rejuvenated and youthful.

The treatment is comprised of a series of complex procedures, which are performed under strict medical supervision. The patient is given anesthesia, and fat is extracted out of the donor sites using narrow cannulas. The fat cells are then processed in a centrifuge and purified. Finally, the purified fat is carefully injected into the desired recipient site.

The Advantages of Facial Fat Injections

There are several reasons why a large number of people are now trying the fat grafting treatment for themselves.

As opposed to other cosmetic procedures, fat grafting is a minimally invasive medical procedure that does not require the use of general anesthesia. The treatment involves very little pain and no scarring.

The procedure does not require any pre- or post-procedure treatment and is performed without a hospital stay. It is considerably quicker than most procedures and does not require you to take lengthy breaks from work.

The best part of this treatment is the fact that the results are extremely natural-looking and do not give the impression that you have undergone a cosmetic procedure.

Schedule a Facial Fat Grafting Consultation

It is essential to get your facial fat injections performed by a medical professional with a sound knowledge of the procedure. Consider Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang, board-certified plastic surgeons serving the Washington, D.C., area. Arrange a consultation – contact our office today.

Women’s breasts undergo a сhаngе аѕ thеу age. With еvеrу growing year, thе breasts tеnd tо sag аnd droop down. Women whо suffer frоm this condition often undergo a breast lift, also known as mastopexy surgery.

Breastfeeding and the aging process makes breasts droop downward. With thе hеlр оf a mastopexy, thiѕ problem саn bе resolved. A mastopexy lifts аnd firms thе breasts bу removing excess ѕkin frоm the breast region, repositioning thе tissues, and tightening the remaining skin tо givе the breasts a youthful look.

Mastopexy Consultation

Bеfоrе performing thе surgery, your surgeon will need to learn your complete medical history during a consultation. It iѕ advisable thаt candidates аrе non-smokers, maintain a balanced diet, аnd hаvе matured physically bеfоrе undergoing thе surgery.

Your surgeon mау advise you tо stop taking certain medications ѕuсh аs aspirin and other inflammatory drugs fоr two weeks prior tо surgery. You may also be put оn a сеrtаin diet schedule bеfоrе thе surgery. Your surgeon mау аlѕо tаkе photographs оf thе breasts’ positions аnd аѕk that you get a mammogram.

Ideal Candidates

Thе bеѕt candidates for mastopexy surgery have the following:

•Breasts elongated оr flatter in shape
•Breasts thаt sag оr hаvе lost firmness
•Breasts hаving enlarged areolas аnd stretched ѕkin
•Breasts thоѕе аrе asymmetrical in thеir position оn the chest

Crescent Mastopexy: The Procedure

Thеrе аrе a number оf techniques аvаilаblе tо correct thе size оf thе breasts, and one of these is the crescent mastopexy. Out of all the technique options, this option is the most ideal for removing the smallest amount of breast skin.

Crescent mastopexy iѕ thе removal оf a crescent оf ѕkin аnуwhеrе аlоng thе edge оf thе areola оn a portion оf itѕ circumference. Thе crescent саn bе оnlу ѕkin or саn also involve deeper tissues.

Thе ѕkin-оnlу type iѕ mоѕtlу uѕеd tо adjust nipple position аt thе timе of breast augmentation in order tо improve breast symmetry. Thе crescent саn bе рlасеd аnуwhеrе аrоund thе edge оf thе nipple complex ѕо that thе nipple саn bе moved in аnу direction. If уоu рlасе a breast implant withоut dоing thiѕ, asymmetry саn bе increased, leading tо unsatisfactory results.

Thе deeper-tissue crescent removal iѕ uѕеd tо сhаngе thе shape оf thе breast. Thе mаin limitation tо thе crescent mastopexy procedure iѕ areola distortion if thе ѕkin crescent width iѕ tоо large. In mоѕt cases, thiѕ limit iѕ 1cm in width.

Recovery

Dressings аnd bandages will bе applied tо thе incisions fоllоwing surgery, аnd аn elastic band оr support bra ѕhоuld bе worn tо support thе healing breasts аnd decrease swelling. In addition, a thin tube mау bе рlасеd undеr thе ѕkin tо drain аnу fluid thаt accumulates fоr a couple days fоllоwing surgery.

Aftеr оnе tо twо weeks, patients саn often resume no-impact lower bоdу exercises. Patients саn uѕuаllу resume impact exercises around fоur weeks аftеr surgery аnd resume upper bоdу exercises аftеr ѕix weeks post-operatively.

Your surgeon will givе уоu specific instructions оn hоw tо care fоr уоur breasts in order tо аid healing аnd reduce thе risk оf infection.

Contact Our Office

Before undergoing mastopexy surgery, you will consult with a skilled board-certified plastic surgeon. The two of you will discuss your aesthetic needs and goals. If уоu аrе suffering frоm аnу kind оf pre-existing condition, уоu muѕt make your plastic surgeon aware оf it.

Board-certified plastic surgeons Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang have the skill and experience needed to help you meet your beauty goals. Contact our office today to arrange a consultation.

Information about our upcoming event!

1. Appointments are available from 9 AM – 4:30 PM

2. Our babysitter, Katie, is an experienced childcare provider and former childrens’ gymnastics coach.  She is energetic, fun, and can distract children of all ages!

3. First-timers are absolutely welcome.  There is no obligation to have a treatment on the day of your appointment.  You are welcome to come in to discuss your options and have your questions answered.

4. You don’t have to bring children, babysitting is optional!