Multiple procedures are available for the individual that has had massive weight loss with resultant loose skin.  Dr. Mark Jabor, El Paso, Texas, board certified plastic surgeon, has years of experience performing each of the plastic  and cosmetic surgery procedures that help the patient reach their goals after the weight loss.

After massive weight loss, patients often need help achieving their goal of a toned body with smooth contours. Procedures commonly requested are facial (facelift) liposuction chin/neck, brachioplasty (upper arms), breast lift/reduction with or without implants, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), buttock lift with or without augmentation, upper and lower body lift, thigh  lift and liposuction to sculpt multiple areas. You can visit Dr. Jabor’s website to see examples of Massive Weight Loss Surgery Before and After Photos.

Dr. Jabor will address body lift surgery at this time and discuss other procedures in detail in subsequent entries. Good candiates for body lift are healthy individuals, non-smokers, with significant skin laxity in one or more body area. This is an 0ut-patient procedure (healthy patients) performed under general anesthesia.  The incision goes around the midline of the body and treats the buttocks, abdomen, waist, and outer thighs in one procedure.  A combination of liposuction with body lift helps to achieve improved contouring.

Most patients take two weeks off from work, depending on the physicial activity required at work. Patients gradually return to exercise programs at six weeks.

Dr. Jabor sends patients home with a pain pump after lower body lift that provides medication to the site for about five days and then is discarded. In addition, the patient takes oral pain meds, medication for inflammation and an antibiotic. Patients wear a compression garment  for six weeks following surgery to enhance results.

Dr. Jabor will be happy to answer your questions regarding this or other plastic surgery procedures for massive weight loss patients. Visit Dr. Jabor’s website.

Since the 1970’s silicone gel-filled breast implants have been used for breast augmentation procedures in more than 60 countries around the world.   In 1992 the FDA requested a delay in the use of silicone gel implants to investigate their safety based on claims of possible health concerns. Saline-filled implants, with an FDA approved silicone shell, were still allowed to be used. Silicone gel breast implants have become one of the most studied medical devices around.

The FDA approved the use of silicone gel-filled implants in 2006 and many women are weighing the pros and cons of silicone-gel versus saline-filled implants. Women from the age of 22 years and older may select either type of implant with reduced safety concerns. Silicone gel is becoming a more popular choice.

Of interest are the various commercial products that contain silicone. Hair spray, suntan lotion, baby pacifiers and artifical joints make the list of items with silicone.SiliconeSilicone implants provide a natural look, especially in women with smaller amounts of tissue to begin with. The risk of “rippling” is less with silicone gel. Implant manufacturers have improved the product from the 1st generation implants. The gel is more cohesive and the shell is not as porous. In the event of a rupture, the gel does not travel throughout the body. Rupture is most easily detected by MRI.

Saline implants are less expensive than silicone implants. Saline implants do not come pre-filled and adjustments in size for breast asymmetries are easily performed with saline implants. (Silicone implants are pre-filled and more than one size may need to be available during the procedure to make the breast closer to the same size.) If a saline implant should rupture it is more readily visible upon examination as the implant looses volume.

Both implants will provide enhancement and improvement in breast shape and size. Women need to evaluate both types of implants,  review options with their plastic surgeon and then make their choice.

For Silcone Gel-filled breast implants pictures, please visit our website.

In El Paso, and across the county, men & women are turning to dermal fillers more often to improve the appearance of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds rather than choosing a surgical procedure. Different filler options are available to choose from depending upon each patient’s treatment goals. Radiesse, Juvederm, Restylane, and fat transfer are popular fillers.

Radiesse can last up to 12 mos. Some patients have a touch up treatment to maximize the result. As with most fillers, exercise is discontinued for 24 hrs. Makeup made be re-applied after the procedure.This patient had Radiesse 17 months prior, with a touch up treatment, and is pleased with her improvement.

Juvederm, made by Allergan, also used for nasolabial folds, is popular as well for lip enhancement . Lip augmentation with Juvederm is an office procedure, as are the other dermal fillers, that gives a natural look to the lips which lasts 4-6 months.

Dr. Jabor finds that Fat transfer below the eyes yields very good results for patients that want to look more youthful and “less tired”. Fat is harvested from the patient, sterilely prepared, and injected below the eyes. This procedure may be done in the office or as part of other procedures at a surgical center. After this treatment cool packs may be applied to reduce any swelling.  Patients in our office are given Arnica Montana tablets to help with any bruising.

This patient had fat transfer, with touch up below the eyes. She has been very satisfied with the long lasting improvement she has maintained. She leads an active life style and was able to return to sports and exercise in a short amount of time.

Dr. Jabor is well versed in fillers and is a member of the BioForm Medical Education Faculty (Radiesse) as well as a speaker for Allergan (Juvederm). Dr. Jabor welcomes questions you may have regarding fillers, or other plastic surgery procedures.

www.elpasolaser.com

Liposuction has many terms to describe it, such as, liposculpting, lipoplasty, and liposculpture, among others.  All are legitimate terms to describe liposuction.  These terms may be used interchangeably to indicate the same procedure.  Often the decision on which term to use is a preference of marketing design and the target audience to be reached.

There are various types of liposuction which include: suction assisted liposuction, power assisted liposuction, ultrasonic assisted liposuction and laser assisted liposuction.  All methods accomplish the same goal, which is the removal of subcutaneous fat done with small incisions.  All use tumescent technique.  This is the infiltration of fluid mixed with lidocaine and epinephrine before the fat is removed.  The difference between the methods is the energy applied to disrupt the fat before it is removed.  Be aware that the method used is only a tool to achieve the final result, and there are no clear cut advantages of one over the other.  More importantly, is the “skill of the physician” operating the instrument. A “skilled physician” can achieve good results with any of the methods, while an un-skilled physician may get poor results with any of the methods.

Liposuction allows a physician skilled in the technique to sculpt or contour different areas of the body. This is usually an out-patient procedure and patients typically return to work in several days to a week.

Why beware?  The keys words are a “skilled physician“. The most important factor in a successful surgery is the surgeon you choose.  In most states, Texas included, it is permissible for any licensed physician, even though the physician has no surgical training, to advertise as a plastic or cosmetic surgeon.  For this reason, it is important for prospective patients to understand “board certification”.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons requires its members to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This board is the only one recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify physicians in the plastic surgery speciality. This certification guarantees that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of additional residency-usually three years of general surgery (or its equivalent) and two years of plastic surgery. In addition, the physician must practice plastic surgery for two years and pass comprehensive written and oral examinations to become board certified.  Upon completion of this process, the board certified plastic surgeon may display the American Society of Plastic Surgeons symbol to affirm the physician’s credentials to individuals seeking a surgeon.

Physicians should also have privileges to perform procedures at accredited hospitals in the community, even if the procedure is being done at the physician’s facility.  Obtaining hospital privileges means the surgeon is subject to approval by a body of his/her peers.

The credentialing accreditation process distinguishes a board certified plastic surgeon from a physician not certified in plastic surgery that has merely taken a weekend course on a procedure(s).

To protect yourself and secure a more favorable outcome; review the physician’s credentials, get educated on the procedure, meet the physician and staff, review before/after pictures of the procedures you are interested in, and then follow through with your plastic surgery and look forward to your results.

www.elpasolaser.com

Men & women in the military looking for body contouring to meet measurement requirements are getting procedures done in Dr. Mark Jabor’s office in El Paso, TX.  Liposuction of different areas helps with contouring to address this issue. Although, these patients also request other procedures common to plastic or cosmetic surgery (i.e. breast surgery, tummy tuck, etc), meeting new measurement requirements is of significant importance to them.  El Paso has a large military population and active duty personnel often have a long wait to get procedures done in a military facility.  Dr. Jabor will work with patients schedules to get the procedure done in a shorter amount of time, on an out-patient basis, and help them get back to their regular routine more rapidly. In addition, Dr. Jabor offers a discount for military personnel in appreciation for their service and commitment to our country.

www.elpasolaser.com

Buttock augmentation achieved with fat transfer is a good choice for natural looking buttock augmentation or recontouring of the buttocks.  Fat transfer is less invasive than other options. Fat is liposuctioned from other areas of the body, processed in a sterile manner, and re-injected below the skin and also deeper into the muscles of the buttocks.  This technique allows sculpting that supports the fat and keeps the improved shape.  Not every area of the body responds as well to fat transfer as the buttocks. Some of the fat will be re-absorbed but the buttocks as a rule retain a good portion of the fat with long lasting improvement in shape.

Dr. Jabor performs buttock augmentation with fat transfer on an out patient basis.  Fat transfer is a safe method with no chance of allergic reaction because the fat used is from the patient’s own body. Fat transfer can be very cost effective when done with other procedures such as tummy tuck.

You may see before/after photos of buttock augmentation with fat transfer by visiting http://www.elpasolaser.com/gallery/id/65

The plastic surgery practice of Dr. Mark Jabor in El Paso has recently experienced an increased interest in male patients seeking information and treatment options for gynecomastia (over-developed or large breasts in men). Plastic surgery correction of gynecomastia reduces breast size and improves chest contour.

Gynecomastia affects one out of every ten men and is marked by excess localized fat, excess glandular tissue development, or a combination of both excess fat & glandular tissue and may be present in both breast or only one breast. Gynecomastia is present in men of all ages and may be related to weight and/or hormonal changes among other variables.

When you come into the office for evaluation, Dr. Jabor will review your medical history, assess your skin elasticity and the nature of your breasts and discuss your treatment options with you. In situations where gynecomastia is the result of excess fatty tissue, liposuction alone may provide good correction. The removal of unwanted fat cells will re-sculpt the breasts. In the event gynecomastia is a result of glandular breast tissue, Dr. Jabor may perform both liposuction and excision of breast tissue. Some men may require the removal of excess skin in addition to provide adequate sculpting to meet their goals. Dr. Jabor will discuss all treatment options with you before you choose to undergo surgery for gynecomastia.

The above photos are a patient with gynecomastia before surgical correction by Dr. Jabor and two years following the procedure. Our web site www.elpasolaser.com has additional before/after photos for review of additional patients.

After surgery the patient will have a surgical dressing (bandages) and a compression vest. The bandages will be removed the day after surgery. The vest and/or binder will be worn under clothes for about 6 weeks following the procedure. Return to light/moderate work can be expected in one week.

Please contact our office in El Paso at 915.541.1225 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jabor for treatment of gynecomastia. We welcome you to visit our web site www.elpasolaser.com to learn about additional procedures of interest.