B O D Y   C O N T O U R I N G
by Larry H. Pollack, M.D., F.A.C.S

Children look forward to summer as a season of freedom and fun. Adults don't always share that sunny outlook.
First, there's the dreaded search for the perfect bathing suit, one that will show off our best points and hide our worst. Then there's the terrifying unveiling at the pool or beach. Even shorts and tank tops can present a problem, especially with the skimpy, body-hugging summer fashions that accentuate (with painful precision) every single bulge.

"My practice is cyclical," reports Larry H. Pollack, M.D., F.A.C.S., a San Diego physician board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. "Beginning in early spring, we see a definite increase in patients seeking body contouring procedures."

Although the majority of his patients are either close to their ideal weight or only slightly-to-moderately overweight, they are often "at their wits' end," Dr. Pollack confirms. "Many have dieted and exercised, or at least made valiant attempts, but they are frustrated at the lack of results. They are plagued by lose abdominal skin, fat reservoirs on the torso and thighs, love handles and other site-specific problems that negatively impact how they look in clothes and also how they feel about themselves."

All The News Is Good News

The battle of the bulge(s) can afflict anyone, but the good news is that it can be won, says Dr. Pollack. How? With one or more body contouring procedures in conjunction with a continuing commitment to a healthy lifestyle that includes good nutrition and adequate exercise.
More good news: most surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis, with fairly rapid healing. Liposuction patients, for instance, can usually expect to resume regular daily activities within a week, returning to their exercise regimen in three weeks, when 90-95 percent of the swelling has decreased. By the fourth month, all swelling should be gone. Since only small incisions delve into the skin -- just large enough to permit insertion of the fat-removing tube called a cannula -- scarring is minimal.

Even better news: procedures such as liposuction performed on areas of the body not affected by gravity offer results that are permanent -- again, assuming maintenance of a sensible diet and exercise.
"Surgery is not a lifestyle change," Dr. Pollack emphasizes, "but it is an excellent way to transition into a healthy lifestyle change."

Body Contouring Is On The Rise

Dr. Pollack attributes the recent increase in body contouring and other cosmetic surgery procedures to several factors; among them, affordability. Not only can more people now afford to look better; they can't afford not to -- especially in today's work environment where the focus is on looking and acting young.
In light of that focus, it is not surprising that men are visiting plastic surgeon's offices in record numbers. They may opt for a little lipo in selected areas such as the "love handles" (the posterior hip area). Some men have gynecomastia, or enlargement of the breasts, and need liposuction to treat the condition. "After this surgery, men are ecstatic to achieve a permanent remedy to what they considered an embarrassing deformity," states Dr. Pollack, noting that gynecomastia treatment is often covered by insurance as a medical necessity. "For the first time, a man can take his shirt off in public without fear of humiliation."

Summer a bummer?  Not if you shape it your way

In spring, women start thinking of shedding clothes -- and fat at well. Liposuction can remove fat reservoirs in hard-to-lose places such as the abdomen, hips and thighs. The best candidates are people of normal weight with localized areas of excess fat. You can expect a slimmed-down silhouette, but you should know that liposuction will not improve cellulite. Fortunately, procedures such as endermologie can solve this problem.
The firmer and more elastic your skin, the better your liposuction results will be. Hanging skin will not reshape itself to your new contours, so that skin might have to be surgically removed.

A tummy tuck (the nickname for abdominoplasty) removes fat and skin from the middle and lower abdomen. It also tightens the abdominal wall muscles. The results can be dramatic, especially in the case of a severely protruding abdomen. Scarring will occur, but due to the location of the surgery, bathing suits and underwear cover the scars. Abdominoplasty can be a godsend for both women and men who are in decent overall shape, but are frustrated by fat deposits or lose skin that just won't respond to diet or exercise.
Dr. Pollack reveals another frustration for people in this boat. "Someone who is concerned about their protruding abdomen may be reticent about putting on a leotard and going to the gym or aerobics center."

A custom solution to your problem areas

One of the joys of plastic surgery, according to Dr. Pollack, is having the opportunity to provide customized care to every body. He acknowledges that the initial consultation may involve "a lot of psychology" on his part. "I try to make sure a patient has realistic expectations and goals," he explains, relating one sad incident in which an obviously anorexic young woman pleaded for liposuction to get rid of all her imagined fat. (No procedure was performed, of course.)
Dr. Pollack encourages people to take the procedure step by step. The first step is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. During the visit, the surgeon will assess skin condition, muscle development and other factors that contribute to the result.

After listening to the patient's body appraisal and making assessments, the surgeon can create a plan to achieve the optimal result for that patient. Perhaps a moderate amount of lipo on the inner thigh will suffice, or the program may include a tummy tuck, liposuction and some breast work.
Whatever the customized solution, Dr. Pollack reminds prospective patients to regard their body contouring as a major investment in themselves. "If a person is sufficiently motivated to spend the money on a procedure, they should start or maintain a healthy lifestyle that enables the results to look even better than anticipated. Then, they will attain a permanent solution."

The forecast: sunny outlook ahead

As the weather warms and bathing suit days draw closer, a visit to an American Board of Plastic Surgery-certified surgeon for a customized body-contouring procedure may be the first step in making sure 1999 shapes up to be your best summer yet!

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