Revolutionary New Techniques?

Companies constantly develop new cosmetic surgery products with names designed to catch your attention when they are splashed over the media. For instance, you may have heard of Zeltiq or Liposonix, new non-invasive liposuction techniques. The process of Liposonx uses focused ultrasound to heat the fat to 131 degrees Fahrenheit, which is then said to be removed by a process of phagocytosis  where the white blood cells ingest foreign particles, the fat in this case. Whereas, Zeltiq or Cool Sculpting involves freezing the fat cells, which cause their death. The fat cells are then processed out of the body in much the same way as with Liposonix. The question is, do these techniques work, and has empirical evidence been generated to suggest they are safe?

One of the problems is that board certified cosmetic surgeons tend to stick with tried and true methods, and this means when confronted with advertisements for “newer, safer, less invasive” methods, patients tend to contact the company who then refers them to the doctor who bought the expensive equipment.

The same might be said about the Lifestyle Lift, vampire lift, and stem cell lift. These “new techniques” are not long lasting, although using the word “facelift” in the name might suggest they are. The Vampire lift, for example is merely drawing a patient’s blood and using it as an injectable filler, much as the so called Stem Cell lift is a fat transplant. The claim is that the stem cells in the blood or fat will fill out the face rejuvenating it much the way a face lift does. However, these techniques not only do nothing to reposition the sagging skin and SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) of the face, nor is there any scientific evidence that they work, much less last. No one wants a surgical procedure if it can be avoided, but these techniques are merely stop gap measures at best. The Lifestyle Lift is a story unto itself. If you go to the website, you will not be able to get a description of the procedure. Basically it involves a speedy superficial facelift with local anesthesia; some have referred to it as a partial facelift. The SMAS layer is pulled up and folded onto itself and sutured into place. The folding is called plication, and I do not find that nearly as effective as resection, removing the excess tissue. The problem is that the Lifestyle Lift is so heavily marketed, and without much actual information that the patient can understand, that it seems like a dream come true. A facelift in an hour? No general anesthesia? What you sacrifice here is aesthetics and longevity.

So while some surgeons are busy marketing and investing in expensive equipment that they must pay for somehow, the more traditional, more conservative cosmetic surgeon is busy maintaining his or her practice. Here are Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, face lifts and liposuction, as well as other procedures are performed in a tried and true manner. Don’t get me wrong, at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, we are not opposed to new techniques; we just want to know there is scientific evidence to back them up before trying them on patients. Come on in for your consultation.

Call Melinda at the front desk to set up your consultation at 501-227-0707