Body Contouring as Unique as You Are
You exercise and diet but that stubborn fat around your (hips, thighs, waist) just won’t go away. You see an advertisement for liposuction and have an “aha!” moment – there’s your answer. Liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits, improving your body contours and proportion.
While liposuction might be the perfect solution for these troublesome areas, resolving stubborn fat and contouring the body – how do you ensure the procedure is right for you and the person performing it is qualified?
Board certified plastic surgeon Amy Ortega, MD with Clevens Face and Body Specialists warns that you may be making a dangerous mistake if you don’t take the time to research the person performing your surgery and the location in which it is taking place. What can be even more dangerous? Price shopping for surgery. Cheaper is not always better, especially when it comes to your health. The “cookie cutter” experience of many clinics that do not customize the procedure to suit each patient’s needs can result in less than satisfactory results…or worse.
“If it seems too good to be true, it is,” said Dr. Ortega.
That’s why she developed a different approach, called Liponique. Liponique is a body contouring technique that takes each patient’s individual goals into consideration when planning the surgical procedure, as well as selecting the right tools to achieve those goals. Dr. Ortega is an experienced board certified plastic surgeon with the most advanced technology available to her. She combines different liposuction and body sculpting technologies, such as the latest laser or power-assisted techniques, to yield the best results for each patient.
“Everyone should have a unique procedure, customized and tailor-made for each patient,” said Dr. Ortega. “Everyone is different.”
Start the Right Way
Just like no two bodies are alike, no two surgeries should be either. A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Ortega will determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure and answer all your questions. The Liponique consultation is extremely important, because the procedure is so customized. During a patient’s consultation, Dr. Ortega discusses each individual’s goals and options available. This unique approach allows Dr. Ortega to mix and match different methods in order to achieve optimal results. Some of the techniques that may be used include:
■ Wells Johnson Conventional liposuction
■ Microaire Power-Assisted liposuction
■ SmartLipo Laser liposuction
■ SculpSure Laser Treatment for non-invasive fat reduction
Additionally, Dr. Ortega can discuss the full spectrum of options including tummy tuck — options that may not exist at offices that only offer lipo.
“Liposuction is not a catch-all,” said Dr. Ortega. “It doesn’t solve all issues.”
Asking the Right Questions
“It is hard to know who is doing it right,” Dr. Ortega said. But there are important questions to ask and information that potential patients can research.
■ Make sure the surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery.
■ Ensure the surgical facility is accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is state-licensed.
■ Review before-and-after photos of the procedure and discuss goals and your expectations.
■ Read the surgeon’s online reviews. One or two negative comments are reasonable but if every review is negative — it should serve as a warning.
■ During the consultation, do you feel like you get a reasonable amount of time with the doctor or care coordinator or are you one of many patients in and out of the office?
Dr. Ortega specializes in breast and body plastic surgery and has nearly 20 years of surgical experience. She is a board certified, double-fellowship trained female plastic surgeon. Dr. Ortega completed medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch and attended one of only three programs nationwide at that time offering advanced general and plastic surgery. Contact a patient care coordinator by calling (321) 727-3223 to schedule your consultation.
