Monthly Archives: September 2017


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Looking Into Liposuction?

This tried and true surgery for removing fat has proven its effectiveness over decades. If you’re looking into Lipo, there are a few ways to tell if it’s the best option for you. It may be perfect alone or in combination with other procedures for your ideal results.

WHAT IT IS:

Goodbye Stubborn Bulges

Liposuction is great for people who have already reached or are near their ideal weight yet are struggling to lose those fat bulges in stubborn spots. After getting healthy with a good diet and exercise routine, Liposuction is perfect for contouring those areas of the body with that hard to lose fat. Liposuction has these wonderful effects:

  • smoothes the thighs to eliminate saddle bags or create less inner thigh friction
  • lumps above or behind the knees are contoured so that this area of the leg is not prominent
  • flattens out that lower abdomen to take care of fat, for example from that stubborn post baby belly pooch
  • minimizes the hip’s muffin top for a more comfortable and flattering fit in your clothes
  • bra fat bulges aren’t detracting from the upper body curves that should be there
  • even eliminates double chin if the skin has good elasticity

Farewell Fat Cells

Liposuction permanently removes fat cells from the body so they are gone forever. This gives you a great benefit in keeping the weight off because we don’t produce any new fat cells. However, the fat cells that aren’t removed can expand, so this means it’s incredibly important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to continue enjoying the beautiful benefits from Liposuction.

 

WHAT IT IS NOT:

Skin and the Scale

A common misconception is that Liposuction can be used to remove fat instead of healthy diet and exercise. It is not intended as a way for you to lose weight. You might actually not see a huge difference in that number on the scale. However, you will see it in inches and how your clothes fit.

Another consideration is the elasticity of the skin. We don’t want to have loose, hanging skin left in the area where the fat was removed. If there is stretched skin from previous weight loss, and liposuction is needed to eliminate those last stubborn fat cells, it can be combined with Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), Neck Lift or other skin trimming procedure for the best body contouring results. It also can be combined with the non invasive laser treatment SculpSure to melt away small mounts of fat and slightly tighten the skin.

MAKING THE MOST OF LIPO

An additional benefit of Liposuction is that you can use the fat that is removed from where you DON’T want it and insert it to areas where you DO want it. Using your own fat is the most natural way to restore volume to the areas of your face and body that you’d like to plump up. This could be used to enhance your breasts, butt, facial features and even boost the look of your six pack or other muscles. This additional body rejuvenation can be done in the same session as the Liposuction for an overall body benefit.

So if you’re looking into Liposuction as a body contouring option, let’s talk about what it can do for you. Schedule a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Plan Your Procedures

While you may initially come into my office to address an immediate beauty need, we will take the time in our consultation to talk about your long term beauty goals and to help you with a plan. This plan may start off with some non invasive treatments, such as a Liquid Facelift using a variety of injectables to touch up and rejuvenate some crows feet, furrowed brows or mouth parenthesis creases. Then it might build into a 5 to 10 year plan for a mini facelift to address slightly sagging jowls and neck or Blepharoplasty to open up drooping eyelids for a brighter, more rested looking eye area. Either way, this plan should not only focus on immediate needs, but incorporate treatments for future youth restoration goals and maintenance.

Cosmetic surgery and non invasive treatments can easily be performed all year long, however, there are certain times of year that lend themselves to easily incorporate the rest and recovery that make it more convenient. Also, there are also certain issues you may want to address before a special event (think: high school reunion or holiday party) or time of year (think: bikini season).

Here is a seasonal surgery guide with suggestions for planning your procedure:

Fall

After the activity of summer and before the flurry of winter festivities, the fall season offers a perfect break in the social calendar for most people. This means that recovery time away is easy to schedule. Also, the cooler weather means clothes with more coverage and comfort. After getting any kids and grandkids settled into school, the scheduled routine or empty nest would allow for effortless predictability and rest for scheduling a surgery. It also will allow plenty of healing time for you to approach the holidays recovered and looking great. This is a good time for anything from Liposuction, Blepharoplasty, Facelift to Breast Augmentation. Fall is my first choice for cosmetic procedures.

Winter

This season offers some good opportunities for cosmetic surgeries. Before the new year, the injectables are the best because you can’t afford downtime between Thanksgiving and New Years, but January is the perfect month to kick off the New Year with a big step towards your beauty and healthy body goals. Winter scarves and turtlenecks easily cover the bruising or swelling from Kybella or a Facelift. Also the bulkier clothes will conceal any over night changes to the body from a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction. The Martin Luther King and Presidents Day holidays allow for long weekends and time off work without the usual holiday social schedule.

Spring

These are the months to rejuvenate and refresh yourself along with the start of a new season, and to prepare for the summer season. Body image procedures such as Liposuction, Brazilian Butt Lift, and Breast Augmentation are popular this time of year. Also, by this time, some of the results from New Years resolutions for weight loss have a chance to kick in and become a habit so that body contouring can have optimal results.

Summer

Surgery can be a success in the summer, but it’s crucial to stay out of the sun. The heat and sweat can be irritating during recovery. It’s always a great time for injectables like Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra since these injectables are in and out so you’re on your way to looking fabulous for your vacation. Another fabulous non invasive, body contouring rpocedure to trim away small puches of stubborn fat is SculpSure. Popular summer break surgical procedures are Rhinoplasty and Otoplasty between the school years.

Let me help you make your procedure plan for your ideal image by scheduling a consultation today at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Caring for Your Skin, After Sun & Surgery

Taking care of your skin is crucial for effective healing after sun exposure and after surgery success. Summer months mean that skin damage from sun exposure is at its height. As summer comes to a close, it’s time to check your skin because detecting melanoma as early as possible makes it treatable. It is the deadliest cancer, but it doesn’t have to be if it it’s caught early. Regular self checking is a key part of immediate diagnosis is to do a regular self check.

AFTER SUN

What are you looking for? You’re at higher risk for melanoma if you’ve been sunburned frequently, have fair skin or a large amount of moles, live in a tropical or have a family history of melanoma. When you’re self checking, there’s a common acronym to help us remember what to look for. This is called the ABCDEs of warning signs for melanoma. This stands for:

  • Asymmetry: draw an imaginary line through the middle and it should look the same on both sides
  • Border irregularity: ragged or blurred, undefined edges
  • Color changes: a variety of colors within the same spot or mole
  • Diameter: greater than .25 inch (6 millimeters)
  • Evolving: changes over time

Where should you look? Important to look from head to toe, back and front. Using the angles from a hand mirror and a wall mirror to see the harder parts of the body from behind, literally start with the top of your scalp, especially if you haven’t worn hats to protect your head or have fine, thinning hair. Then move downward, examining the face, neck, shoulders, underarms, chest, torso, arms, hands, and nail beds. When checking the lower body, its easier to sit down, but don’t forget to check your buttocks, especially if you wear brazilian or thong bikinis. Look over your legs and feet, even the heels, soles of the feet and toenail beds.

 

AFTER SURGERY

What extra steps should I take? Whether your cosmetic procedure is invasive or non invasive, you should take some special care of your skin to promote healing and longevity of the effects of the procedure. Here are some simple tips to care for your skin after a cosmetic treatment:

  • Follow physicians directions. Each procedure has a unique protocol for optimal healing. This may include salves and the herbal supplement or cream version of Arnica Montana to reduce bruising.
  • Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is good practice in general, but will help flush the area of toxins and empower healing. Avoiding alcohol and other dehydrating beverages so you don’t work against your natural healing processes.
  • Protect yourself from the sun. The skin is more vulnerable after a procedure. UV rays darken scars and this is what you want to prevent, so stay out of the sun.
  • Leave the recovery site alone. This means no picking or poking of the area. Disturbing the area could cause infection or unwanted scarring.
  • Use gentle skin care products. Make the extra effort during this time to pamper your skin while it’s healing. Use only mild, no fragrance skincare.

Help me to help you have beautiful, youthful skin by taking these precautions. From beginning to end, I look forward to helping you in the rejuvenation process. To schedule your consultation, visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Beware of Bad Injectors, Go With An Expert

When you’re going for any injectable treatment, the skill of the injector makes a tremendous difference in the results. When it comes to your face, this is definitely not something you want to be bargain hunting or wheeling and dealing. A bad injector can make you look older or even distort your natural appearance.

Here are some clues you’re going to get a bad injection, and what to look for instead:

Options

There are a good variety of injectables and some are a better fit for different facial structures, skin age and rejuvenation goals. If the office doesn’t represent this beauty of choice and tries to fit everyone in the box of a one size fits all injection, then you know something is wrong. Each person’s unique needs should be addressed regarding the placement of injections and what kind of injectables are used.

Cleanliness

Infections happen easily and so it is important to be very picky about the cleanliness of the facility. Don’t just breeze in the office and get your injection. Look at it with a critical eye and especially important to assess the cleanliness of the injection room. A sterile needle and fresh vial of injectable should be shown to the patient before treatment.

Quality of Care

You can trust your face to the quality of care that can only be provided by an injector with experience, certification, specialization, consultation and confidence.

  • Experience: An injector should have a lot of experience with a variety of injectables and specialize in the art of injectables. This gives the injector a true “feel” for the unique needs of each patient.
  • Certification: There’s actually an industry standard that is applied to the best practitioners, qualifying them as Expert Injectors. This extra certification and licensure ensures that the injector you choose has had the training and experience to give you the best chances for the results your desiring.
  • Specialization: With injections being offered at home and almost every medi spa across the country, it’s important to recognize that doctors and nurse practitioners, such as our own PA Nora, with specialization this field have an intimate knowledge of facial structure and can provide the best results.
  • Consultation: While injectables generally provide a “quick fix” for addressing aging concerns, the injector should take the time discuss your desires and long term goals. This might include a treatment plan to include other anti aging procedures.
  • Confidence: The training, experience and specialization required for a job well done in this field provides a confidence that the practitioner has and one that you can have also. If your injector seems shaky or unsure in the least bit, walk away.

As an expert injector with experience of working on hundreds of faces with the highest levels of satisfaction, standards and level of artistry in facial rejuvenation, you can trust your face in Nora’s hands. To schedule an appointment for your injectables consultation, visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

 

Schedule Your Consultation With Dr. Davison

The initial consultation with your surgeon is critical! It should always be face to face with your surgeon during which time he/she listens closely to your concerns. Dr. Davison believes this time spent with you is critical to both you and to him. It is during the consultation that he comes to fully understand your concerns, evaluates them correctly and is then able to make the recommendations and develop the treatment plan thats right for you. Dr. Davison invests the time to sit down and talk to you face-to-face.

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3301 New Mexico Ave. Suite 236

Washington D.C.

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