Fat removed by liposuction does not come back because they have been suctioned out so they are gone forever. Fat cells that are left behind can swell if you gain weight and shrink if you lose weight, but the numbers are reduced forever. Liposuction offers a permanent improvement in body proportions. While fat tissue removed by liposuction is permanent, it is not a proxy for weight loss.
Will Liposuction Tighten Up Loose Skin?
With VASER Lipo, the blood vessels, nerves and surrounding tissue are relatively spared, so the skin has all the necessary ingredients to heal well and snap back in place. With ProLipo PLUS, blood vessels and old collagen are melted that promotes an inflammatory cascade for the body to make new blood vessels and collagen. The skin becomes tight, sometimes so tight that it takes a few - several months to feel soft skin again.
Some patients are concerned if the loose skin will become worse after liposuction. They don't want to end up with a lot of droopy skin hanging down. Often, the skin responds better than expected, even in older patients. The skin tone may not be better, but it is unlikely to be made worse and removal of the extra fat improves the contour.
However, there is a limit to skin contraction even by laser. For patients who skin tone is very poor, plastic surgery to take out excess skin can help.
Will Liposuction Take Care of Cellulite?
There is no technology yet that can effectively treat cellulite. Fractional resurfacing of cellulite has shown promising results but could be very expensive. Patients whose skin is lax to begin with and who had undergone liposuction may make their cellulite worse. Before liposuction, the fat underneath can prop up the cellulite. Once the fat cushion is removed, then the cellulite can be look worse.
Nail Fungus Treatment
Better than the PinPointe Laser, the Sciton laser used in our office is FDA approved and the same laser used by Stanford Medical Center. While no treatment for nail fungus is 100% guaranteed, the Sciton laser has produced successful results in 75-80% of cases in clinical studies. That success rate is roughly the same as oral medication and much better than anything that can be applied to the nails. A major advantage of using the laser is that you are able to get the curing power of oral medication without any side effects.
Q: How does the laser kill the fungus?
A: The laser works by creating heat in the nail and nail root. The heat kills the fungus so it cannot multiply.
Q: Is there any pain during the laser treatment?
A: With the temperature control system on the laser, it can create a temperature hot enough to kill the fungus, but not hot enough to injure the patient or cause discomfort. There is no pain during the procedure and no anesthetic is needed.
Q: What does the laser treatment consist of?
A: There are three parts to the treatment program: preparation, laser treatment and follow-up. Preparation includes an exam, an explanation of the treatment by the doctor and sending a piece of nail to the lab to be sure there is actually fungus present. Laser treatment itself takes about 30 minutes in the doctor's office and requires no injections, bandages or medication. Usually, only one treatment is necessary. Follow-up includes sending a second nail specimen to the lab three months after the laser treatment (to be sure the fungus is completely gone) and using an anti-fungal cream to keep the fungus from coming back on your skin.
Q: Is laser treatment of toenail fungus covered by my insurance?
A: Because it is a new technology, laser treatment of toenail fungus is not covered by health insurance. Office visits and laboratory testing of the toenail are generally covered by most insurance plans. Follow-up treatment of the skin with anti-fungal cream is usually with an over-the-counter product.
Q: How much does the laser treatment itself cost?
A: We always treat all 10 toenails to make sure there is no living fungus remaining. The fee for treatment of the 10 nails is $800. This does not include lab testing (which is usually covered by insurance).
Q: Is a second treatment ever necessary?
A: Like any infection, occasionally the fungus can be resistant to treatment, whether by laser or oral medicines. In those cases a second treatment might be necessary. This would be provided at 50% the original cost.
Q: Can the fungus come back after a successful treatment?
A: Toenail fungus starts with athlete's foot so it is important to prevent it in the future with good foot hygiene and an antifungal cream on the skin once a week. This decreases the chances of getting the infection back in the nails.
