Procedures
Liposuction:
Liposuction is the surgical technique used to improve the body shape by removing localized areas of fat. Liposuction can be performed on several areas of the body at the same time and is also done in conjunction with other Cosmetic Procedures. During Liposuction, the fat is suctioned out of the body through tiny incisions, usually less than ¼ inch in length. Dr. Garza will typically use one of two methods to remove the fat: tumescent or ultrasonic liposuction.
Tumescent Liposuction: often referred to as standard liposuction. This type of liposuction has been performed in the United States since 1982 and has been very effective in removing pockets of fat. During tumescent liposuction, the surgeon fills the fat with tumescent fluid (combination of saline and local anesthetic) and the fat is than suctioned through stainless steel tubes called cannulas. The cannula is inserted into a small incision from which the fat is suctioned out of the body.
Ultrasonic Liposuction: similar to tumescent in that it begins with filling areas of fat with tumescent fluids. At that point, the fat is liquefied (as opposed to suctioned) with high frequency ultrasonic waves. The cannula is then inserted through the small incision and the fat is suctioned out.
You should meet with your doctor to determine which of these procedures is right for you. Because there are only a few differences between the procedures, it is probably best to go with the procedure that your doctor feels most comfortable with.
A good candidate for Liposuction can be defined as someone who:
• Is in Good Health
• Has a realistic expectation of what can be accomplished
• Has one or many localized areas of fat
• Is close to their desired weight (within 20 –30%)
• Has good skin tone or elasticity
• Does not have sagging skin
• Is not looking for Liposuction to cure obesity
The key element is that you have realistic expectation and understand that Liposuction is not a cure for obesity. Being close to your ideal weight and having localized pockets of fat is important to the success of your Liposuction surgery.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
What are the options after a person has had pregnancies or large weight loss and the skin and muscles in the stomach are have become flabby? A tummy tuck enhances 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.
Tummy tuck candidates are close to the ideal weight, have good skin tone and elasticity and usually exhibit one of the following characteristics: weakened abdominal muscles, protruding abdomen, excess or sagging abdominal skin or tissue.
If you are planning to lose a lot of weight through dieting, or other means, wait before you schedule your consultation with Dr. Garza.
During your consultation with Dr. Garza, it is important that you fully understand the tummy tuck procedure and get all of your questions answered. You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. It is important for Dr. Garza to have a clear understanding of your medical background to make a qualified decision about your potential for a tummy tuck procedure. As with all procedures, it is also important that you discuss your expectations with the doctor as well. All of these factors will weigh into the doctor’s decision about what is best for you.
A tummy tuck procedure is generally performed on an outpatient basis or during a brief hospital stay. The most common method involves smoothing out the stomach muscles by placing a horizontal incision that generally spans the hips. To tighten the abdomen wall, Dr. Garza will bring together loose tissue and shorten muscle by suturing them. The excess skin which remains after this process is than pulled downward and removed. Depending on the amount of skin that exists, the navel may need to be repositioned. A small incision will create the new opening for the belly button. Resulting scars from the tummy tuck procedure are permanent but should fade over time.
As with any surgery, a tummy tuck does carry some uncertainty but is normally safe as long as it is performed by a Board-Certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Garza and the operating room is adequately equipped. Risk and complications of the surgery are best discussed between you and Dr. Garza. You can help to lessen certain risks by following the advice and instructions of the doctor, both before and after surgery.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation (mammoplasty) is a procedure that can be performed for a number of reasons including enlarging small breasts, underdeveloped breasts or breasts that have been decreased in size after a woman has had children, or as a reconstructive means for women who have had breast surgery.
Not all bodies are the same. For this reason, it is very hard to give an evaluation or cost of the breast augmentation procedure over the phone or through e-mail. Visiting Dr. Garza will not only give your doctor a chance to evaluate you as a candidate, but also give you a chance to visit the office, get to know the personnel, and gain a comfort level with Dr. Garza.
At your initial visit, be prepared to discuss your medical history with Dr. Garza including any medical conditions, drug allergies, and medications (both prescription and over-the-counter). The doctor will want to examine your breasts, take photographs for your records, and make sure he or she fully understands your needs for the breast augmentation surgery. Several techniques for your breast augmentation are available and based on the condition of your breasts, skin tone, and lifestyle Dr. Garza can suggest the most appropriate one. It is important for the doctor to have a clear understanding of your goals for the breast augmentation procedure. After understanding your needs, Dr. Garza can determine if the procedure can help meet your expectations. Also, ask to see before and after pictures so that you can gauge what your results may look like after your breast augmentation surgery.
Also, bring a list of questions to the consultation with a piece of paper to write down the answers to all of your questions. If you have follow-up questions after the initial consultation, make sure to follow-up with your breast augmentation surgeon until all of your concerns have been addressed.
Determining the answers to the topics above will dictate how your breast augmentation surgery will be performed. Dr. Garza will work with you to determine based on your anatomy and expectations which of these options is right for you.
The doctor will make every effort to ensure that the incision is placed so resulting scars will be as inconspicuous as possible. Working through the incision, the surgeon will lift your breast tissue and skin to create a pocket, either directly behind the breast tissue or underneath your chest wall muscle (the pectoral muscle). The implants are then centered beneath your nipples.
The breast augmentation surgery usually takes one to three hours to complete. The length of the procedure varies according to the technique used, the placement of the implants, the patient’s anatomy, and type of anesthesia used. Stitches are used to close the incisions, which may also be taped for greater support. A gauze bandage may be applied over your breasts to help with healing.
Most breast augmentation surgeries are done on an out-patient basis which means that a hospital stay is generally not required. Most patients are able to return home after a couple of hours in the recovery room. Make sure to discuss this with your breast augmentation surgeon during your initial consultation.
Breast augmentation is relatively straightforward. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Make sure to discuss this with your physician prior to the breast augmentation surgery.
Breast Lift
As the skin loses its elasticity and other factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity take their toll, a women’s breast can start to lose their shape, firmness, and can begin to sag. The breast lift, or mastopexy, operation is a procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Mastopexy can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.
During your consultation, it is important that you fully understand the breast lift procedure and get all of your questions answered. Discuss with Dr. Garza your expectations and desired outcome of the breast lift. The doctor should give you his or her opinion as to what would be best in terms of size and shape. Don't hesitate to ask Dr. Garza any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.
The surgery itself can take anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours. Breast lift techniques may vary based on the amount of sagging in the breast, but the most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision following the natural contour of the breast. Dr. Garza will relocate the nipple and areola to a higher position, reposition the breast tissue to a higher level, remove any remaining excess skin from the breast and reshape all remaining skin. Closing of the remaining skin will help to reshape and lift the breast to the higher position.
Often, if a patient desires, breast augmentation accompanies the surgery to bring more shape back to the breasts. If you're having an implant inserted along with your breast lift, it will generally be placed in a pocket directly under the breast tissue, or deeper, under the muscle of the chest wall.
A key question often asked is how quickly will I get back to normal? Dr. Garza will give you detailed instructions on care and timing to resume normal activities. In general, the healing process after breast lift surgery is a gradual process which depends on your individual progression after the surgery. If you have any discomfort or unusual sensations, feel free to call your doctor.
As with any surgery, a breast lift does carry some uncertainty but is normally safe as long as it is performed by a Board-Certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Garza. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Make sure to discuss this with the doctor. Remember, you can help to reduce any post-op complications by closely following Dr. Garza’s instructions.
Rhinoplasty / Surgery of the Nose
Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a "the nose job," remains one of the most common plastic surgery procedures in the United States. Rhinoplasty can reshape your nose to improve your appearance and indeed make your nose more proportional to the rest of your face.
Incisions can be made to increase or decrease the size of the nasal bridge, reduce the size or width of the nose, decrease the size of the nostrils, or reshape the tip of the nose.
Often times, if you are experiencing breathing problems, these can be corrected at the same time through the rhinoplasty procedure. To have rhinoplasty, Dr. Garza generally recommend a patient wait until the nose is fully developed (done growing). This age varies among individuals but usually falls in the mid-teen range.
It is extremely important that you have clear expectations for your surgery and are prepared to discuss these goals with Dr. Garza. Put together a list of questions which you would like to review with your doctor before coming in for the visit. We suggest bringing a pad of paper with you to write down the answers to your questions.
You should also come to the initial consultation prepared to discuss your medical history including pre-existing medical conditions, treatments, and prescriptions. The more Dr. Garza understands about your information, the more qualified he will be to give you sound advise on the potential for rhinoplasty surgery.
The consultation will include a routine, painless examination of your nasal passages. Dr. Garza will review the procedure with you and explain the factors which will influence your results of the procedure. If the goal of the surgery is to attain more proportion in your facial features, Dr Garza may also recommend additional procedures such as a chin implant. Ask your doctor about complimentary procedures.
Prior to the rhinoplasty surgery, Dr. Garza will also explain where your surgery will be performed, what type of anesthesia will be used, the risks and costs involved and provide a list of guidelines for preparation for your surgery.
Rhinoplasty is relatively straightforward. But as with any operation, you should be aware of the risks associated with Rhinoplasty surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Make sure to discuss this with Dr. Garza.
Facelift
Looking to take years off? A facelift may be the solution to your problem by reducing sagging skin on the face and neck, helping you to appear firmer and fresher. Your bone structure, heredity, and skin texture all play a role in how many “years” a facelift can “remove” and, to an extent, influence how long it will last.
A typical candidate for a facelift exhibits one of the following characteristics:- a deep line, or fold, running from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth.
- jowls, or loss of a well-defined jawline associated with youthfulness.
- deep wrinkles in the cheeks and sagging of the "highlight" areas of the cheekbones.
- loose skin, wrinkles, vertical "cords" or excess fatty tissue in the neck.
It is important for Dr. Garza to have a clear understanding of your expectations for the facelift procedure. Make sure to point out what portions of your appearance you would like to change and what you hope to achieve from the facelift procedure. To meet your expectations, Dr. Garza may also recommend procedures such as a brow lift, eyelid surgery, or a related procedure to go along with a facelift surgery.
Because each person’s facial features and expectations are different, not all patients will attain the same results or have the same surgical technique. Dr. Garza will select the surgical technique that he or she feels will best meet your expectations.
Prior to the face lift surgery, the physician should provide a list of guidelines for preparation for your surgery. The healing process for a facelift is a gradual one and varies depending upon each individual. Temporary skin discoloration is common and some tightness or numbness in the face and neck are usual post operative signs. Your skin will remain somewhat sensitive for a period of time after the facelift surgery. Make sure to ask your doctor about precautions such as exposure to sun and the use of make-up.
As with any surgery, you can help to help shorten the recovery period by following the advice and instructions of your plastic surgeon, both before and after the facelift surgery.