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Brent Moelleken, M.D., FACS
- Suite 110
120 S. Spalding Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90212 - Tel: Click for phone number
- Fax: 310-205-4881
- Send E-mail
- www.drbrent.com
- Suite 103
601 E. Arrellaga St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103 - Tel: Click for phone number
- Fax: 310-205-4881
- Send E-mail
Answered Questions
Q:
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I have very puffy bags under my eyes and very noticeable crow's-feet. I will be 45 in one month. Is there something that can be done to repair this? The bags are definitely the worst problem.
A:
Plastic surgeons' thinking regarding the best treatment of lower eyelid bags has, in many instances, changed. We now understand that eyelid fat disappears with age, and this may cause the eyes to have a "hollowed out" appearance. Also the cheek pads tend to fall to a lower position. Many surgeons are now performing lifts below the eyes (cheek lift or midfacial procedures), and fat-sparing lower eyelid surgery (instead of removing fat, the fat bulges are used to fill in hollow areas below the eye). The crow's-feet are still a problem. Some of these procedures help the crow's-feet area slightly. Many patients still find that they need Botox if they want the wrinkles greatly reduced in the crow's-feet area.
Q:
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I am overweight. I am 5’5 and weight about 225lbs. I would like to have some body parts liposuctioned. Can I do this now? I think it would really help me get on a diet plan and jump-start my further weight loss. The insides of my thighs are fat and bumpy. Would liposuction also help solve that problem?
A:
Lipoplasty (liposuction) and liposculpture are excellent techniques for removing excess fat from specific areas of the body. However, it is important that the patient has embarked on a realistic diet and exercise plan, and reaches a stable weight plateau, before undergoing fat removal. Patients who "yo-yo" with their weight are sometimes not good candidates. Lumpiness of fat in the middle thighs is a difficult problem, especially if the patient has had previous lipoplasty or has loose skin. If the lumpiness is due to cellulite, lipoplasty will not improve the condition. It is best to have a consultation with an ASAPS-member plastic surgeon that is very experienced with these issues.
Q:
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My buttocks are disproportionately fatty. I want to have liposuction to be more proportional but I've heard that liposuction of the buttocks is often not successful. Can you explain why and what type of liposuction or other procedure would be most successful?
A:
Traditionally, lipoplasty (liposuction) of the buttocks was "off limits" because of the rounded contour of the buttocks and the danger that removing fat from this area might produce contour irregularities. However, some surgeons who perform a great deal of lipoplasty have found that “liposculpture” of the buttocks can be effective, and the contour of the buttocks can remain smooth, if fat is removed at a deeper level. To achieve a better contour of the sometimes drooping lower buttock, the surgeon may perform more aggressive fat removal at the lower gluteal fold (the fold beneath the buttocks). If there is both fat and a significant amount of loose skin in the buttock area, lipoplasty may be combined with a buttock lift. However, a buttock lift will require more extensive incisions than lipoplasty alone, and the resulting scars may be visible when wearing some types of swimwear.