Does anyone know the diference between these 2 procedures? I am trying to lose weight, and once I do, I am considering having lipo on my lower abdomen. Even when I was 15, doing crunches andrunning daily and weighed 115, I had a prodruding abdomen and pubic area. So does my mom. It's a fact. it will never go away...unless I suck it out, and I'm considering that. Nothing drastic, just a little fine tuning once I get down to an acceptable weight.

I have considered going overseas to one of these "vacation" packages in Stockholm or Argentina. You get a nice hotel and can just rest up in peace.

However, here in Beverly Hills, there's a doctor called Alan Bittner who specializes in sculpting and low recovery procedures. The candula (sucking straw) is really thin, like the size of a spaghetti noodle. He "feathers" the edges and really puts emphasis on aesthetics. You're awake but medicated during the procedure. You can drive yourself home and go to work the next day. The most you'd need for resting is a couple of days. The scars are really tiny, and look like freckles and disappear after about a year. I had a consultation and actually spoke with a woman in the waiting room who had it done (she was back for a chin problem) and she said it was all true. The bruises went away completely after a week and she was comfortable showing her skin with no swelling or indications of surgery at the end of the month.

Apparently this way is far less aggressive and produces much better results.

I got a quote and it was about 3 times the cost of the all included 'vacation" abroad. But then you gotta factor in plane ticket etc etc.

I would rather just jump in a cab to my house 10 minutes away and rest up in peace at my place, and I love the idea of "gentle and delicate" artistic surgery....but ouch! The price tag!!!

Does ANYONE have an insight into this or know anyone who hs been a patient?

I think the first one happens when for example you want to get bigger breasts and then it is taken fat from your belly or wtv and put in the breasts... But a large part of that fat is reabsorved by body, it's necessary some procedures to get there, but is not a way to lose fat.

Liposuction is better when you have already lost the weight you wanted because you burn fat but the fat cells stay there, even if with little fat inside.. liposuction is good to eliminate those fat cells and prevent easy fat gain in the future

Hi Exotic-Wind, thanks!!

Yeah..I read similar reports. That's why I'm waiting until I get to my desired weight and then taking care of the very small areas that are not responding to weight and diet at all. I certainly am not considering it for weight loss, just cosmetic fine tuning AFTER the facIt.

I know liposculture is less invasive and far less aggressive.

Has ANYONE done this or know anyone who has ?

Liposuction and liposculpture are basically one in the same...

Just another fancy word for it...


Liposuction - removal of body fat using a tube like instrument called a cannula connected to a vaccum source.

Liposculpture/Liposculption - one of many terms introduced to describe liposuction or a version of it.


I've considered it.. although I know it's a bad idea for me.

I'm young, haven't had a kid yet, and was trying to think of a lazy cop out.

Also- by pubic area- do you mean like the mons pubis? (The area where pubic hair and such grows) or the 'pooch' area that a lot of women have?

i'm pushing 40 so I relly would like a little extra haelp now that gracvity has taken over. Plus those areas have always been problematic for me...even when I was thin.

I have the "pooch", but then I also have a fat and saggy area that is mainly under my pubic hair but also steteched to make a triangle ending at my hip bones. I hate it. I look horrible in a bikini

Well... I think that if you've dealt with it for a long time, and have tried your hardest. It may be worth it.

Obviously it's kinda of scary, and can be risky-- but spending the time to find a reputable Plastic Surgeon- may yield the results you're looking for.

Remember though-- if it's jut loose/saggy skin...lipo won't do anything for it and you may need to get a tuck/lift.

If it's dense, resistant fat and your skin has some elasticity then lipo is a better option.

I say look into it... it couldn't hurt to meet with a Plastic Surgeon and as questions.

Many places (around here at least) give free consultations.

So, I'd say go visit several in your area and ask questions- lotsa questions.

Like how many procedures like yours have they done- look at before/after photos...etc.

You don't have to commit to anything.

All of my aunt's on my father's side have had breast augmentations and a few lipo....My mother in law has had a breast aug. and is considering getting another (to fix sagging she's lived with since she had m husband) and a tummy tuck since she has dramatically lost weight (you can feel her 6 pack under her skin!)

None of them have had complications-- but it's (obviously) going to be different for everyone!

I say think about doing it after you hit your goal weight- and have that be your extra incentive

Thanks, yeah...I covered all that in my inital post. i've been to a consultation and they said I was a good candidate. The surgeon I picked is actually the best in the field and also the most expensive, unfortunately. I am waiting until my goal weight.

What I have is a pocket of fat over good muscle tone. t has always been there. I have never had any "flatness" there. My skin tone is very elastic and healthy. I look about 10 years younger than I am, but I just have a stobborn area that has always bothered me.

This guy is really good, he's well recommendated. Go back and red my first post and you'll see everything I have found out thus far.

Thanks for listening!!

I was wondering if you had been in yet for your procedure. I was thinking of flying down to do the chin lipo myself and wanted to see what your experience was the procedure you decided on?

Lola,

I have great concern for the safety of the "vacation" packages in Stockholm or Argentina. Your safest bet may be to investigate local doctors for the procedure you choose. Where your health and body are concerned saving a few dollars my not be the wisest choice. Stash as much as you can while you are working on your weightloss then splurge indulgently and safely. Just my opinion.

Dr. Craig Alan Bittner is a radiologist. If it sounds too good to be true then it is.

His web sites were only put up in 2006.

No responsible cosmetic surgeon would ever reference liposculpture as a weight loss source.

I encourage you to have a lipo procedure done by a board certified surgeon. Check out their CA BBB ranking as well.

Investigate your doctor as carefully as possible. Ask a lot of questions and do not ever be pressured to get an evaluation/consult and a surgery in the same day.

I'm sure you'll make a wise choice.

If you have had surgery with Dr. Bittner and Stephanie did any of the procedures or did the anesthesia, please send me a private message. It's important. Thanks.

Andy

My name is Trevor Schmidt, and I’d like to respond to this post in my role as a Physician Assistant working for Dr. Bittner. A PA is a licensed medical practitioner who works under the direction and supervision of a medical doctor, and performs procedures and other work at the doctor’s direction.

In the procedures we perform, Dr. Bittner does the sculpting, the artistic piece of the process. I (and other physician assistants) perform the initial “de-bulking” under his direction, which is the very strenuous work of removing the majority of the fat. This part actually involves very hard, physical labor. Dr. Bittner monitors our work and then does the finetuning; making sure all of the work is up to his standards and performing the more intricate portion of the liposculpture procedure.

The most important thing people should know about Dr. Bittner is that quality is his number one goal; being the best is what we strive to be. We pride ourselves on being best in the world in what we do. This (liposuction/liposculpting) is all we do, so it is a true specialty.

It’s impossible, I suppose, to make everyone happy with their outcomes, especially with something as personal as cosmetic surgery. We do try, very hard to please our patients. But I’d urge anyone reading posts like fluffybear's above, to take it with a grain of salt, and come in and talk to us directly, and then make your own decision. We’re very proud of the work we do, and always happy to talk about it with anybody.

I find this interesting, to say the least.

So as a PA working hands on with this... do you feel that you truly help people? Or do you see that you're putting a 'bandage over an infected wound?'

By that I mean to say, liposuction doesn't fix what got the patients fat in the first place. So what's to stop them from getting fat again? Liposuction doesn't change the laws of physics regarding energy as far as I know. Without changing the persons mentality and lifestyle, the pounds will simply pile right back on.

I liken it to a misunderstood child who misbehaves continually. Beating the kid time and time again when he acts up may acutely halt the bullshit... but in the long-run is that really a practical solution that will derive the greatest benefit for both parties?

I don't mean to come across as rude. Quite the opposite in fact. I'm simply interested in your perception since you mention the proudness attached to the profession you are in and from my own (admittedly ignorant) perception, I don't see myself being proud within the contextual boundaries I outlined above.

Maybe you can change that.

Look forward to hearing from you and sorry to go off topic.

P.S. I know my line of reasoning is a bit fallacious. I mean, a serial killer is proud of his 'work.' A 2-year old is proud of his poop. I hate using fallacious reasoning to learn about something I'm unfamiliar with but hopefully you catch my drift.

Thanks.

Actually, lipo is great for semi-permanent spot reduction. I had it done years ago and it kept most of the fat on my stomach and outer thighs at bay until I gained a significant amount of weight when I was pregnant. Of course I gained and lost weight over those years, usually around 5 to 10 pounds, but the fat would never really go to the areas that were lipoed. The reason is probably because the lipo removes fat cells so when you gain weight, you will put it on in other places but not as much in the area you had lipoed. I had fabulous results that lasted years. When I would gain a few pounds, the weight would spread more evenly on my whole body, and lots more went to my butt after that. My butt would get so big and round after that I would get that shelf effect. I never had that shelf before so I attributed that to being fat that wouldve gone to my stomach before the lipo. Rather a nice round ass than a fat stomach. Very large people are not considered good candidates, however. But since we know we often need to get very lean to get off that remaining bulge from those difficult to get rid of areas, this allows you to spot reduce and not have to diet for the last bit.

I just read a job ad posted by your Doctor. You make up to $200,000 to be a PA??? Seems a bit excessive. What exactly did that pay for when you signed off on my paperwork?. I've never seen a PA post on a doctor rating board to "defend" his master. Wow. This makes me think there is a lot more serious stuff going on in your office than I believed before. Oh wait, I already know there is.

So Trevor, defender of an unusual and outragreous income, procurer of a daily free lunch paid for daily by his sworn master and outspoken proponent in favor of the "free malpractice insurance" that his employer provides, do tell us more about the issues that are being raised.

Because your doctor never scrubbed in when I was there. He just came in to take the picture with me after I was done being mis-treated. But then I guess my having a belly button that is an inch off center now is really no big deal to you given how much money you're being paid.

Also, I just found out your doctor got kicked off the Make me heal board because he was posting under false alianses. That is pretty serious in my mind. Very serious behavior indeed.

Maybe like attracts like.. or maybe you are not really his PA at all but just him trying the same game on this web site that is being played out on others.