Lots of famous actresses have had children in the past year or so. What's amazing isn't that they are having babies, but that they seem to lose the baby fat almost overnight and are seen in post–baby movies with bellies that are as flat as a 17–year old's! How do they do that?

Although we suspect that many of them work out with a trainer for hours every day, even the most hard–core gym rats cannot erase stretch marks and loose tummy skin after it's been stretched by pregnancy.

We'll grant you that many of these actors and actresses are so young that they haven't really had to work hard for the body they were lucky enough to get through the gene–pool flip toss. But think about older actresses—actors too—who you'd think would be showing their age in the middle region, but who seem to manage to both attain and then maintain nearly perfect bodies. How is that possible?

My suspicion is that most of them have their plastic surgeons on speed dial for a little judicious liposuction when needed. Liposuction can sculpt the body in ways that even working out in the gym cannot do. While liposuction won't eliminate stretch marks or tighten belly muscles and skin (at least beyond a certain point), a tummy tuck can do both of those things. The actress–mommies are likely to have had a tummy tuck to not just tighten up their abs but to get rid of those ever–present stretch marks that plague even the most fit women.

This month I'd like to tell you how you can have a beautiful body even if you've have had children, are showing signs of aging and/or have experienced weight loss/gain cycles. Even if the Gene Fairy wasn't good to you, giving you Mom's thunder thighs or Aunt Ruby's tush, Body Contouring can.

WHAT IS BODY CONTOURING?
Body Contouring is the surgical resculpting of areas of the body that cannot be reshaped through diet and exercise. Effective and beautiful body contouring is a result of both art and science. The art is the artistic vision in the mind and hands of the plastic surgeon and in his experience performing body contour procedures. The science is in the equipment I use to sculpt the body.

There are generally two options for body contouring: liposuction and tummy tuck, which is called abdominoplasty by plastic surgeons. So, Body Contouring is essentially the artistic contouring of the body into a more pleasing contour by a plastic surgeon utilizing the best tools and technology available.

HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER I NEED A TUMMY TUCK OR JUST LIPOSUCTION?
For those with sagging tissues and skin, stretch marks or abdominal muscle separation (caused by a rapidly expanding abdomen such as with pregnancy or swift weight gain), a tummy tuck will provide better body contouring than liposuction alone. A tummy tuck performs two primary tasks: it eliminates most, if not all, of the stretch marks and extra skin and tightens the abdominal muscles to their original position. Sometimes a tummy tuck includes liposuction as well.

Liposuction, in comparison with a tummy tuck, will not eliminate stretch marks or tighten underlying muscles. However, a benefit of liposuction in the right situation is that it's much less invasive than a tummy tuck. For example, instead of a long scar in the bikiniline, you'll have only a few tiny incisions where the cannula was inserted to suction out the fat; drains are not needed in most liposuction cases, and you'll need only a few days to recuperate. As you can see in the man's photo at right, liposuction is an excellent tool to recontour the abdomen on men as well as women.

In my practice, liposuction is primarily performed on people who are at or near goal weight, who have good skin quality and who have what are called "discrete" areas of fat that cannot be removed by diet and exercise. There are men and women who work out regularly at the gym but who have fat on their thighs, buttocks and around the waist that is primarily genetic—their parents have similar areas of fat. It's simply the areas in which their body places fat. We utilize three different types of liposuction here at my Palo Alto and Los Gatos plastic surgery practices: tumescent liposuction, SmartLipo and Vaser Liposelection.

WITH 3 LIPOSUCTION CHOICES, HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ONE I NEED?
During your private consultation with me in either my Los Gatos or Palo Alto plastic surgery office, we'll review the options and make a plan for the best single or combination treatment of the liposuction procedures I've described below.

In tumescent liposuction, also called "traditional" liposuction, the areas to be treated are injected with a special solution that controls pain, decreases bleeding and saturates the fat, which is then withdrawn through a thin, hollow tube called a cannula. Tiny incisions are used through which the cannula is inserted.

SmartLipo is best for those with smaller areas of fat. SmartLipo uses a tiny laser inserted through the cannula to pre–melt the fat, making it much easier to remove fat from the body. Since SmartLipo is less invasive than traditional liposuction, it provides for a speedier recovery. It also stimulates the body's own collagen to rebuild and, hence, tightens the skin in the treated area.

Vaser LipoSelection uses ultrasonic waves that are sent through the cannula to liquify the fat. It can remove both larger and smaller areas of fat without damaging the surrounding tissues, blood vessels or nerves. Like SmartLipo, the recovery time is more rapid than with traditional tumescent liposuction.

If you'd like to see more photos of patients who have had these procedures, follow this link to our body contouring photo gallery.

NEITHER A TUMMY TUCK NOR LIPOSUCTION IS A WEIGHT–LOSS METHOD
When considering liposuction or a tummy tuck, it's important to understand that neither procedure is an alternative to weight–loss through diet and exercise. Although both liposuction and tummy tuck procedures result in a much more beautiful body contour, there are limitations to the amount of fat that can be safetly removed, and we insist on safety here!

Call me today for an appointment to learn more about body contouring.

Beauty Tips from BellaSugar.com
5 Beauty Items That Are Worth The Investment

#1: The Clarisonic Skin Cleaning Brush ($149–$199)
Why it's worth it:
Ever since the Clarisonic became available a few years back, there's been much buzz about this skin cleanser. The rotating brushes use sonic technology to remove dirt and makeup, and what you're left with is a smoother–than–a–baby's–bum complexion. Hence, lots of Sugar staffers are now addicts.


#2: Sedu One–Inch Ceramic Flat Iron ($120)
Why it's worth it:
Other flat irons have scorched our strands, but not the famous Sedu. (Short–haired Bella actually prefers Sedu's Pro Shortie Mini Styler Iron ($50) on her cropped locks.) With these irons, you're left with shiny hair that's straightened in a flash. No more triple–pass–throughs. Also try Chi Ionic Ceramic Pro Flat Iron ($90).

#3: Tubular Mascara: Imju Fiberwig Mascara ($24)
Why it's worth it:
We've tried other brands, but Imju is the winner, hands down. Not only does this product coat the lashes, making them look longer and more plentiful, but it wears for hours and hours (and then some) without smudging or flaking.

#4: Shu Uemura or Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curlers
Why it's worth it:
We've tried both curlers, and both rate high on the Bella scale of greatness. While around $20 apiece, these higher–end curlers provide longer lasting curl with mechanisms that don't pinch or pull at the lashes. Score!

#5: T3 Bespoke Labs Featherweight Dryer ($200)
Why it's worth it:
The T3 dryer is amazing. While it dries hair faster and gives frizz–free results, it's also super light to hold and never gets too hot to handle. (Psst: Be sure to look around a bit, as it's often listed for less.)

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