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Weight Loss Surgery

Fat Reduction SurgeryFat Reduction Surgery

Being overweight always has a negative impact on life. From being unable to perform some of the most basic activities to having a number of life-threatening diseases, obesity has always been a big no-no according to social and medical norms.

Development in the field of cosmetics has made weight reduction a rather easy process. For those moderately overweight individuals, who feel they are not living life to the fullest, moderate fat reduction is an ideal remedy. Not only does this process get rid of unnecessary fat in your body, it also motivates you to switch to a healthier lifestyle, one that is fulfilling and leads to better quality of life.

Fat Reduction at the Southwest Plastic Surgery Practice is a carefully conducted procedure. Drawing the line between sucking out a tad less or just a little too much fat is something only a professional can do. Hence, under the watchful eye of Dr. Agullo, you will receive friendly advice and highly professional service.

The surgeon at the facility has performed fat reduction for hundreds of people from Southern Texas and El Paso regions. With double degrees in General and Cosmetic Surgery, the Plastic Surgeon at Southwest has many years of practice to undertake such an extensive procedure with skill and expertise.

Are You a Good Candidate for Fat Reduction?

When does an individual opt for fat reduction surgery? With so many advantages associated with the procedure, fat reduction is more of a necessity for those who are overweight and experience difficulty in controlling their weight.

Keep in mind that fat reduction surgery is not the same as bariatric surgery, gastric banding, gastric bypass, or gastric sleeve. Fat reduction surgery is not indicated in morbidly obese patients.

Fat reduction is a suitable surgery for both men and women who:

Keep in mind that fat reduction surgery implies that the patient will also put in the effort to diet and exercise to maintain or even improve results over time.


Fat Reduction Techniques

Fat reduction surgery has become a popular cosmetic procedure. Thousands of people who want to get rid of fat, for good, opt for fat reduction, all around the world. With promising results and hopes for better quality of life, fat reduction is no doubt, one of the most widely performed cosmetic treatments in medical circles.

Because of its popularity, constant innovation has improved and enhanced the technology available for this surgery, adding more precision and accuracy to it. At Southwest Practice, Dr. Agullo uses a number of techniques to reduce fat in an overly overweight individual. The choice of technique depends on the analysis of the medical history, extent of reduction needed and the way a patient responds to anesthesia and medicine in general.

Each of the techniques highlighted below aim to shape and contour the targeted area in a patient that has too much fat. With the right tools and skill, Dr. Agullo gives each of his patients the figure and health they desire.

Some of the most popular fat reduction techniques are:

Circumferential Abdominoplasty:

Circumferential Abdominoplasty is also known as the Lower Body Lift. Such a surgery reduces fat in the lower part of the body, including the buttocks, thighs, hips etc. this fat reduction surgery also smoothes out creases in these body parts to tighten and enhance their appearance. In a Circumferential Abdominoplasty, incision spots are decided prior to the surgery as seen fit by your surgeon.

Tummy Tuck:

A tummy tuck targets the stomach and midsection of the body to reduce fat and make it taut. It gets rid of tires and muffin-tops that give the body an irregular and disproportionate structure.

Liposuction:

In case a patient is morbidly obese, the surgeon will combine both above processes to vacuum out fat and tighten the areas that feel saggy. A special tool is used that sucks out fat precisely from body parts pinpointed by the surgeon.

Liposuction is considered a comparatively less invasive procedure.


Preparation for Fat Reduction Surgery

The prospective of going through moderate fat reduction is daunting for some people because it introduces a drastic change in life. However, getting excess and unnecessary fat out of the way will let you move towards a life that you have always wanted.

Thus, while you experience a combination of nerves plus excitement, remember that a fat reduction procedure has to be prepared for. A number of things have to be kept in mind before the day of the surgery. Following is a detailed guide provided by the surgeon at the Practice to help you prepare for a fat reduction:

Preparation Before the Fat Reduction Surgery

Pre-surgery preparation is perhaps the most important step in the preparation guide because it determines how successful the actual procedure will be. These, and all other guidelines, will be provided to you by Dr. Agullo during the consultation sessions at the Practice. It is imperative that you attend these sessions and openly discuss all reservations and queries with the doctor beforehand.

Some of the most important points to remember are:

Preparation During the Fat Reduction Surgery

Preparation After the Fat Reduction Surgery

Are there any Risks Associated with Fat Reduction?

Getting a board certified Plastic Surgeon to do the fat reduction minimizes risks to a great extent. Not only do Dr. Agullo adheres to norms laid down by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, he also takes on board-certified anesthesiologists, who can be fully trusted with the sedatives.

Despite these pluses, Southwest prides itself for informing patients about every aspect of a fat reduction surgery. From the benefits to the risks, a patient has the right to know it all before concluding a consultation session.

Some of the most common risks associated with Fat Reduction are:

How Much Does Fat Reduction Surgery Cost?

No doubt, the cost of a Moderate Fat Loss Surgery is an important determinant in getting this procedure done. During the consultation sessions with Dr. Agullo, when all other factors have been accounted for, you will be given a quote of the expenses related to the surgery.

In the El Paso, Las Cruces, Chihuahua, Alamogordo and Texas region, a fat reduction surgery can cost somewhere between $15,500 – $35,000. Within this cost, the fee of a board certified surgeon, cost of anesthesia and other medical supplies is incorporated. If your surgeon recommends getting this surgery done at a hospital, which is almost always the case, the additional charges levied by the hospital will be included in this amount.

Labiaplasty

LabiaplastyLabiaplasty: a Cosmetic Breakthrough

The popularity of cosmetic treatments and surgeries cannot be underestimated. Neither can it be denied when thousands of people across America boast cosmetically enhanced breasts, eyebrows, lips, chins and even something as intricate and delicate as eyelids.

For proponents of cosmetic surgery, these treatments are the most suitable remedy to enhance an individual’s appearance and give them the figure and features they wished for. So much so that the field of cosmetics has even revolutionized the way women feel about their sexual competence.

As far as face and breast lifts are concerned, you will find ample information and resources regarding these procedures and what to expect from the results. However, when it comes to treatments that help females enhance the appearance and proportion of their vagina and related parts, the matter is not often discussed.

Agreed, that such talk is rather personal for a female, however, providing adequate information and helpful guidelines has become necessary as more and more women now turn towards Labiaplasty as a solution to their sexual problems. Southwest Plastic Surgery Practice strongly forwards this belief and helps educate women from all over Southern Texas, Northern Mexico and New Mexico about this treatment.

What is Labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that alters and modifies the length and shape of the outer and inner lips of the vagina. Even though Labiapaslty is not one of the most heard of procedures, distortion in the shape of the outer lips called, ‘Labia Majora’ or the inner lips called, ‘Labia Minora’ of the vagina is quite common. It may either be a result of child birth, heavy sexual intercourse or even a genetic distortion.

Either way, Labiaplasty is the best solution to trim the lips of the vagina to a size that is normal and thus enable a woman to enjoy her life to the fullest.

Dr. Agullo at the Southwest Plastic Surgery Practice holds privileged degrees in General and Plastic Surgery and has been trained in the field of Cosmetics at the world famous Mayo Clinic. With such specializations and 30 years of experience, Dr. Agullo has thousands of satisfied patients in the El Paso and Texas regions.

Do You Need Labiaplasty?

Deciding if you need Labiaplasty is an important step and one that is often skipped by most women. Just about any problem in your sexual life does not make you eligible for this cosmetic procedure. Therefore, a thorough analysis and examination is a must.

While Dr. Agullo arranges special consultation sessions with each patient to discuss the need of Labiaplasty and how to go about it, it helps to know what signs to look out for to spot a problem with the shape or length of the lips of your vagina.

Do you feel:

If you identify with one or all of these situations, a visit to Southwest Clinic should be on your agenda.


Cosmetic Techniques Used for Labiaplasty

Because Labiaplasty is a growing field of cosmetic surgery, rapid technological advancement has informed the procedures used for it. Being a rejuvenation treatment, Labiaplasty involves the use of scissors, scalpels and even lasers to trim and enhance the appearance of the vagina. All techniques used for this treatment either reduce the length of the Labia Minora or enhance the Labia Majora to give a woman a boost of self esteem and reassurance.

Before discussing each technique in detail, it is important to clarify that the word Labiaplasty is an umbrella term for all kinds of treatments related to the vagina and its opening. While some women may only want to tighten the muscles around their femininity, others may want a complete restructuring of the outer and inner lips.

Hence, depending on your need and the feasibility options considered by the surgeon, one of the following techniques will be used to perform a Labiaplasty procedure on you.

Labia Minora Reduction:

The simplest and most basic procedure under Labiaplasty is Labia Minora Reduction. During this process, Dr. Agullo will trim a section of the inner lips to give them shape and what is popularly known as the ‘Barbie’ look. Previously used as a medical necessity, Labia Minora Reduction has today become one of the most commonly performed surgeries among women whose vagina is distorted as a result of childbirth.

The Wedge Method:

Introduced by Dr. Gary Alter, graduate and visiting professor at The Mayo Clinic, The Wedge Method originated in the Beverly Hills and is used to change the appearance of the female genitalia completely. In this technique, the surgeon trims the Labia and reduces both, its shape and size by removing unwanted skin around the lips. This ‘V’ shape is then sutured to form a straight line.

Because of constant development in the equipment used for a Wedge Method, a patient will be surprised to see no scarring post surgery. Moreover, it also preserves the gentle discoloration of the external vaginal borders to give a natural feeling.

Hoodectomy:

The main reason why women opt for a Hoodectomy is enhanced sexual satisfaction and stimulation. A Hoodectomy is a procedure that removes a portion of the Clitoral Hood to expose the internal vagina, called the Clitoris.

Vaginal Tightening:

A vaginal tightening is a simple procedure that repairs and tightens the outer muscles of the vagina. It can be combined with any of the above procedures to bring about a change in the way a vagina looks and feels.


Preparation & Recovery for Labiaplasty

Once you and your Plastic Surgeon have decided which Labiaplasty method is right for you, the next step is to prepare for the surgery. Remember, a Labiaplasty is a delicate procedure. Hence, it is strictly advised that you contact a board certified doctor and a facility that is accredited to perform such procedures by the American Society of Cosmetic Surgeons.

Under Dr. Agullo’s care, you will feel assured of the best treatments, results and pre and post surgery guidelines. Make sure you follow his advice and keep in mind the following points:

What are the Risks Associated with Labiaplasty?

A Labiaplasty is an out-patient procedure that takes no more than 1 to 2 hours to complete. With a competent and award winning surgeon like Dr. Agullo on the team, you can be assured of the best medical advice and service.

Today, a labiaplasty is considered to be a minor and rather simple surgery that is safe to be performed on most women who have stable medical histories. While it doesn’t usually result in complications, outlining some of the major risks or side effects helps patients make informed decisions.

The risks resulting from a Labiaplasty are:

Remember, these side effects are not commonplace with every Labiaplasty. Nonetheless, you can openly discuss any reservations you may have prior to the surgery during the consultation sessions. Dr. Agullo fully understands that such a surgery has a huge emotional impact on the patient; therefore, ample emotional support is part and parcel of the consultation sessions.

The Cost of Labiaplasty

The average cost of a Labiaplasty in the El Paso and Texas region is around $3,600 – $8,000. While this cost seems a lot to some patients, it should be remembered that a Labiaplasty is a delicate procedure that has to be performed with the utmost care and skill.

This cost covers the expenses related to:

While a concrete number cannot be quoted in the preliminary stages, once you visit the Practice and consult with the surgeon, an estimate can be given. This would depend on the extent of reconstruction or tightening needed and the kind of anesthesia you prefer during the surgery.

Lower Body Lift

Lower Body LiftLower Body Lift
Curves to Die For

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Are you completely at peace with the person who stares back at you? Perhaps you feel much younger than what your body says about you. If you think that you deserve to look as beautiful and as youthful as you feel inside, then Southwest Plastic Surgery can make it happen. An El Paso lower body lift is the treatment that can make you shift from those humungous clothing sizes into petite dresses. You will feel more confident about yourself, more secure about how others perceive you and most important of all, you won’t be afraid to flaunt that beautiful curvaceous body of yours in the Sun City!


Lower Body Lift Techniques

At Southwest Plastic Surgery, Dr Frank Agullo is the expert craftsmen who can give you the body you always dreamt of. He is an award winning, American Board of Plastic Surgery certified doctor and was educated at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester. According to him, with time and age, the skin on the lower region of the body, i.e. below the waistline, begins to loosen and sag. This may sometimes also be seen in individuals who have undergone weight loss or weight fluctuation.

The appearance of saggy and flaccid skin would be, for some people, an unacceptable and displeasing feature on their bodies. A lower body lift is meant to tighten the skin and sculpt the skin around the buttocks, inner and outer thighs, hips, waist and abdomen. It is meant to give these areas supple contours and a healthy, tightened look.

As a general rule, Dr. Agullo says that good candidates for a lower body lift would be able to use their thumb and four fingers to hold the skin around the aforementioned areas of the body. Lifting the skin would also give you a good idea of what your skin will look like after it has been tightened and you have been endowed with a new figure!

He also describes the typical candidate for a lower body lift or circumferential body lift as falling into one or more of the following categories:

Whatever your needs and concerns are, the surgeon at Southwest Plastic Surgery is there to help you. His achievements in the field of plastic surgery are remarkable. Dr. Agullo has performed numerous surgeries of this nature and his team is highly skilled in buttock augmentations and thigh lifts, among many other procedures. So if the prospects of a lithe and graceful figure have piqued your curiosity, then don’t stall. Schedule an appointment with a surgeon and let him enlighten you on the wonders of a lower body lift!


Lower Body Lift Preparation and Procedure

During your consultation at Southwest Plastic Surgery, you will be explained everything you need to know about getting a lower body lift. Dr. Agullo encourages you to ask questions to dispel any doubts or worries you may have. Given the geographic location of the practice, Southwest Plastic Surgery understand that not all patients would be comfortable speaking in English. That is why, the surgeon speaks Spanish fluently as well.

It is important that during your consultation you let your surgeon know what you hope to achieve through a procedure of this sort, so that he can recommend the right surgery for you. You should also inform your surgeon of any drugs or medication you might be on such as vitamins, herbal medicine, alcohol, tobacco and any pre-existing medical conditions you may have.

Once you and the doctor at Southwest Plastic Surgery are in agreement on your goals, then you can decide on the type of procedure you want. It can either be a single session or multi-session surgery. Liposuction may be used in conjunction with other methods to sculpt your body and give it a smoother and more even contour.

Of course, since each patient is different from others in their physique, age, height and skin type, the procedure adopted will be different as well. Dr. Agullo will make sure that your treatment is tailored specifically to suit your needs and, as part of a body lift, you may receive a combination of different procedures such as liposuction, buttock lift, thighplasty and/or breast enhancement. Commonly combined procedures include:

Thigh Lift

A very popular option for the removal of fat and skin from the medial thigh area, to create a smooth and tightened appearance. With this, you can get rid of the extra fat in the medial thigh which causes the thighs to touch in the middle and cause chafing. You can obtain the gap between your thighs you had once upon a time. Learn more about a thigh lift.

Liposuction

An essential part of a body lift, this method is used to smooth out isolated fat stores and skin overlaps, particularly in the waist, abdomen, thighs and back, and it helps create a good overall body contour. Learn more about liposuction.

Buttock Augmentation

At the same time as the ‘Lower Body Lift’ which, as has already been mentioned, the buttock contour can be improved. At Southwest Plastic Surgery, a buttock augmentation procedure is typically combined with a lower body lift to improve the lower body contours and shape by enhancing buttock projection. This can be achieved with our own fat or with the use of an implant. Learn more about buttock augmentation.

After you are given a date for the surgery, you need to prepare for it. Dr. Agullo recommends that you stop smoking at least two weeks prior to and following the surgery. This is because tobacco impedes the body’s healing process. You will also be at a higher risk of stroke, heart problems and forming blood clots. Other than that you should:

Southwest Plastic Surgery uses the best and most advanced techniques to perform lower body lift surgeries, and Dr. Agullo will use a combination of methods, including liposuction, to give your body the amazing form it deserves.

A lower body lift can generally last between four and six hours, depending on the type of procedure and the severity of your condition. You will be given general anesthesia and the surgeon will create a circular incision around your torso and remove excess skin and fatty tissue below the incision. This will tighten your skin and your buttocks and thighs will be pulled upwards, and the underlying tissues will be tightened as well.

After that, you may undergo either an abdominoplasty or a thigh lift depending on which part of your body requires more attention, and this will of course have been discussed between you and your surgeon. The incisions will then be closed using a combination of sutures and skin adhesives, and they will be hidden by your regular clothing. While most candidates can have the procedure performed as out-patients, some may be required to spend 1 to 3 days in the hospital for monitoring.

The visibility of stretch marks and scars will be dependant, once again, on your physical characteristics. The Southwest Plastic Surgery doctor, however, will make sure that following the procedure, you will definitely be able to wear underwear, low riding jeans and swimwear without worrying about your scars being visible in public!

What are the Associated Risks of a Lower Body Lift?

Although no surgery is without possible risks, Dr. Agullo is a board-certified surgeon and he takes the utmost care to ensure that his procedures are performed to the highest standards of safety and hygiene.

It is important for you to heed the advice of your surgeon as he has performed numerous similar procedures and knows what is best before and after the surgery. Your anesthesiologist will be board certified as well and the procedure will take place in an accredited surgery center or hospital. Although most patients have a normal surgery and recovery, there are certain rare risks which you should be aware of, including:

How Long is the Lower Body Lift Recovery Period?

You should have a smooth recovery period by listening to the advice of your surgeon. According to Dr. Agullo, the results of your lower body lift will be visible almost immediately, and you will feel a lot lighter and more agile, although you may have to spend one night in the hospital after the procedure. Drains will be placed in the incisions, which will take care of any accumulating fluid, and are normally removed one or two weeks after the surgery.

You will be given a compression garment which will help with any post operative swelling which might occur. You may also experience some pain for a few weeks after surgery, but it will subside. If it does not, then you should immediately consult a physician. It is also recommended to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle by walking regularly. This enhances blood circulation in the joints and improves healing.

Dr. Agullo likes to stay in touch with his patients, particularly during the recovery phase, and encourage you to come see him should the need arise! He is there to help you and although Southwest Plastic Surgery is located in El Paso, Texas, it serves cities in West Texas including Amarillo, Horizon City, Midland and Odessa. In New Mexico, the cities include, Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Silver City and Ruidoso. The practice also caters to the cities of Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez in Northern Mexico.

Lower Body Lift Costs

The exact cost of such a procedure varies greatly, so you will only get an exact figure once you have scheduled an appointment with a surgeon and discussed your goals and options. However, as a rough estimate, you can expect the procedure to cost between $16,000 – $30,000, depending on the combination of methods and techniques used, and the length of your hospital stay.

Buttock Augmentation

butt-augmentationButtock Augmentation
You Deserve it – Period

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

These are the immortal words of Coco Chanel, and in celebration of the beauty that you deserve, it’s time to get rid of the saggy unattractiveness that disgraces your posterior. Lately, a lot of women have been desirous of a more projected buttock region and have been very happy with the results achieved. According to a study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 98 percent of women who were interviewed said that they were very satisfied with their buttock augmentation.

Do you also sometimes wish you had a more curvaceous derriere that complemented your full figure? Then perhaps it’s time for you to finally adorn that classic ‘Southwestern Texan’ buttocks. At Southwest Plastic Surgery, El Paso, Texas, this can be achieved with the El Paso Buttocks Augmentation. Your buttocks will be reshaped to give them a beautiful, rounded and shapelier appearance, and you will a be step closer to that hourglass figure that every woman yearns for.


Buttock Augmentation Techniques and Procedure

A buttock augmentation is used to shape the gluteal area and enhance its appearance. It is also sometimes referred to as a butt implant, buttock enlargement or a butt lift. A large number of women are opting to have buttock augmentations performed, as a shapely buttock is perceived as a sign of femininity and sensuality.

At Southwest Plastic Surgery, award winning, board certified Doctor Frank Agullo is the expert when it comes to giving you the buttock you want. According to him, you should consider buttock augmentation if you:

Buttock augmentation can be performed mainly using three different techniques as follows:

Buttock Augmentation with Fat Injections (Brazilian Butt Lift)

This is commonly known as a ‘Brazilian Butt Lift’ or BBL, and is a very popular option among patients. In this procedure, the excess fat stores in the thighs, abdomen and waist, and hips are targeted. Dr. Agullo uses fat grafting, or autologous fat transfer, to move and redistribute your own fat in these regions using liposuction and position it in your buttocks to give them a healthy and rounded shape. To improve the contours of the butt, liposuction is always performed above the buttocks. After the procedure, the butt will sit higher and will look especially pleasing in swimwear and bathing suits. Multiple procedures may be necessary in this case. The Brazilian Butt Lift procedure continues to grow in popularity in the Southwest and is very often incorporated into mommy makeovers.

Buttock Augmentation with Implants

If you have minimal fat, or do not have the fat stores in your body that patients who undergo BBL normally have, then a silicone implant (sometimes known as a gluteal implant) will be used to achieve the same effect on your buttocks. This procedure achieves excellent results and is very popular among slim individuals who just want to have fuller buttocks. An incision is made at the tailbone, close to the butt ‘cheeks’ and the implant is inserted within the gluteus muscle. The intramuscular approach has been associated with the least amount of complications. Be weary of surgeons placing buttock implants above the muscle, as palpability, seromas, and extrusion are much more common. Implants are a delicate business, but rest assured, you will in the capable hands of Dr. Agullo, who has performed several surgeries of this sort and has received awards for his practice. The implants he uses will be made of solid but soft silicone gel, which prevents them from bursting or leaking.

Buttock Lift with Augmentation

Patients with buttock ptosis (sagging or drooping of the buttock skin will) benefit the most by a lift. Depending on the severity of the ptosis, you may have to have either a fat injection or a silicone implant, which adds volume, or a buttock lift. In a buttock lift, skin is removed from just above the buttocks and the augmentation is performed by using your own localized fat flaps. It may also be performed using fat injections or implants. The resulting scar is concealed conveniently by your bathing suit, undergarments or swimwear.

Some patients also choose to have their buttock augmentation performed together with other procedures such as a tummy tuck, breast lift or an entire body lift. Southwest Plastic Surgery will allow you to choose the procedures which suit your needs the best; Dr. Agullo encourages you to schedule an appointment and discuss your options.

Prepping for the Buttock Augmentation Surgery

Upon consultation with a surgeon, you will be informed of the various techniques used to achieve buttock augmentation, depending on what you hope to achieve through such a surgery. During your consultation, it is important that you discuss any questions you may have such a procedure. If it eases you further, you may also communicate in Spanish, since Dr. Agullo speaks Spanish quite fluently.

Once you are clear about your goals, and you feel that you definitely want to go through with it, then your surgeon will schedule a date, and explain to you how you should prepare for the surgery.

Buttock Augmentation Recovery

Like most augmentation and cosmetic surgeries, the results of a buttock augmentation will be clearly visible to you immediately after the surgery. Some things, however, that you should take note of are:

Dr. Agullo says that within a few months everything will be back to normal and you will want to flaunt your new posterior, which you have craved quite a while, in new bathing suits and swimwear! You will maintain your new curves as long as your weight does not fluctuate a lot. Although fat tends to grow and accumulate with age, a healthy lifestyle will keep it in check. You should also stay in touch with your plastic surgeon after you have fully recovered, in case any late complications develop, although the chances of this are slim.

Buttock Augmentation Risks

During your consultation, your surgeon will also inform you of the possible risks associated with a procedure such as this. These might include:

However, you can rest easy, since the doctor at Southwest Plastic Surgery is an expert when it comes to cosmetic surgeries. He has performed numerous such surgeries and is renowned for the quality of his practice and the care he provides his patients.

Combining Buttock Augmentation With Other Surgeries

As mentioned before, buttock augmentations can be performed in conjunction with other procedures, depending on your personal preference, age, and physical and medical condition. Most often, it is combined with an abdominoplasty, i.e. a tummy tuck. Combining your surgeries could save you time, money and the healing process for all surgeries would be taking place simultaneously so the overall recovery period is reduced. Other surgeries include body lifts, liposuction and circumferential abdominoplasty, which is used to shape and contour the lower body. At Southwest Plastic Surgery, your safety is of the utmost importance, therefore our doctor will let you know if procedures can be safely combined or not.

Cost of Buttock Augmentation

The cost of a buttock augmentation can vary greatly depending on the type of procedure used, such as an augmentation with fat injection or one with a silicone implant. Another factor is the complexity of the procedure and the time taken to prepare the liposculpture and injections, and also the time taken to inject the fat into the buttocks. Combinations with other surgeries may also vary the cost, and an exact figure will only be given after you have consulted a surgeon. However, at Southwest Plastic Surgery, the cost of a Brazilian Butt Lift is usually between $5,500 – $13,000.

Thigh Lift

Thigh LiftThigh Lift, Make Heads Turn. . .

Have you ever been conscious of people staring at you when you go for a walk? Or perhaps when you take a jog in the hopes of keeping yourself in top shape? More importantly, are you afraid to wear shorts in public? If you feel like your legs are the reason you get stared at when you take a walk in the Sun City of El Paso, then Southwest Plastic Surgery can give you the emancipation of your lifetime.

Women, more commonly than men, tend to develop flabby fat deposits in their legs, and especially their thighs, which become quite noticeable over time. This is because they have more cellulite in their lower bodies. With an El Paso thigh lift, you can give your legs the firm, supple appearance you always wanted them to have. Give them what they deserve. After all, who wouldn’t want to have legs that make people think you are a Grand Slam winning tennis star?


Thigh Lift Techniques

Now that your interest has been piqued, it’s time to take a look at what a thigh lift exactly is. A thigh lift is essentially a procedure by which the excess skin or fat deposits which accumulate on the inner or outer thigh are removed. The result is a shapelier, firmer thigh, with a more elegant contour. A thigh lift may be used in conjunction with a liposuction to enhance the overall appearance of your upper leg.

At Southwest Plastic Surgery, award winning, board certified Doctor Frank Agullo understands your needs very well. He is the expert when it comes to your desire to look as beautiful and youthful as you can.

According to him, typical candidates for a ‘thighplasty’ surgery have excessive deposits of skin and fatty tissue in their medial or inner thighs which may be due to any number of the following reasons:

Whatever you feel is the reason you need a thighplasty, the surgeon at Southwest Plastic Surgery is there to help you, and he has the credentials to prove his expertise. He was educated at the famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery. Any doubts or fears you might have about getting a thigh lift will surely be alleviated when you schedule a consultation at Southwest Plastic Surgery, and Dr. Agullo will tell you everything you need to know. Although based primarily in El Paso, Texas, Southwest Plastic Surgery also serves several cities in West Texas including Amarillo, Horizon City, Midland and Odessa. In the state of New Mexico, the cities include, Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Silver City and Ruidoso. The practice also caters to the cities of Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez in Northern Mexico.


Procedure and Preparation for Thigh Lift

When you do come for a consultation with the surgeon, you will have taken a massive step towards your goal of a youthful and beautiful body, and enhanced self esteem. Don’t worry if English is not your first language or your most comfortable means of communication because the surgeon at Southwest Plastic Surgery speaks both Spanish and English fluently.

If you and your surgeon are in agreement and you feel that a thigh lift is right for you, then you will first be informed about how to prepare for the surgery. You may want to go to your primary physician to have your general health assessed. Based on the advice of Dr. Agullo,, you should:

Dr. Agullo also stresses that he should be made aware of any existing health conditions you may have and any prescription medication you might be on. He promotes a friendly atmosphere and encourages you to ask questions to quell any ambiguity which clouds your mind, since individualized patient care is his primary concern.

On the day of your scheduled procedure, you will be given general anesthesia. The surgeon will then make the appropriate incision. The El Paso thigh lift procedure can be performed in several ways, depending on your requirements. There are primarily four methods that are adopted by Southwest Plastic Surgery. These are:

Option 1: Medial Thigh Lift

This is the most common thighplasty procedure chosen. The incision extends from the groin around the hip to the crease of the buttocks, and excessive skin and fatty tissue is removed from the groin to the knee.

Option 2: Extended Thigh Lift

This technique, which is also known as vertical thighplasty, involves making a vertical incision at the groin which extends to the inner knee. Circumferential deposits of excessive skin and fatty tissue are best removed by this procedure.

Option 3: Lateral Thigh Lift or Flankplasty

This is a complex procedure which usually involves re-contouring the buttocks and outer thighs through the removal of fatty tissue and excess skin. The incision is made at the groin and moves around to the hip region.

Option 4: Spiral lift

This procedure, which is also known as a total thigh lift, improves the medial, lateral, anterior and posterior thighs, as well as the buttock contour by lifting and enlarging of the gluteal area.

After removal of the skin and tissue, the incision will be closed and sutured. Dr. Agullo takes the utmost care to ensure that the scar left after the surgery is minimized and is barely visible. After the surgery, you may have to spend some time in the hospital for monitoring. Certain patients often want to combine their thighplasty with other treatments which may include one of the following:


Recovery Period and Risks for Thigh Lift Procedures

If you are keen on getting a thigh lift, but are daunted by the thought of a painful recovery or the risks of such a procedure, then rest assured, you will be in the capable hands of Dr. Agullo. He has won numerous awards for his excellent practice, and has performed numerous procedures of this sort over his splendid career. He will give you specific instruction on how to prepare for the recovery period and what to expect.

Your condition in the recovery period will depend largely on the type of procedure you opt for. You may experience pain or soreness based on the amount of skin removed, your age and body size. According to Dr. Agullo, most patients recover quickly after the surgery, typically within one or two days, and after a few weeks you will be in prime condition, with a set of legs that Barbie would be jealous of! It is also recommended that you remain active to improve blood flow through your thighs.

Although with Dr. Agullo’s expertise on your side, the risk of complications is quite low, you still need to be aware of them. While most people recover from thighplasty normally, some might experience:

Again, these complications are rare and Southwest Plastic Surgery takes every precaution to ensure that your surgery is performed in keeping with the highest standards of safety and hygiene.

Thigh Lift Costs

The cost of a thigh lift is dependant on the type of specific procedure you prefer, the type of anesthesia and length of hospital stay, but generally, the cost varies between $7,000 – $10,000. This value may also increase if you choose to have another surgery performed in conjunction with a thigh lift. During your initial consultation at Southwest Plastic Surgery, your surgeon will be more than happy to give you an estimate of the total cost, as well as the procedure which is best suited to your needs.

Arm Lift

Arm LiftAlways Look Your Best

Are you tired of looking at those flabby arms? Do you wish you had the supple and firm skin that would make people compare you to Charlize Theron or Angelina Jolie? If you do, then you’ve come to the right place!

People who have undergone dramatic weight loss or a gastric bypass, will often observe the skin on their upper arms sags loosely to give the arms a flaccid appearance. Of course, this sagging can also happen with aging. The surgical procedure used as a treatment for this condition is known as an upper arm lift. An upper arm lift, technically known as a brachioplasty, is used to shape the skin beneath the upper arm to create it a healthy and tightened appearance.

Do I Need an Arm Lift?

Although few people actually ‘need’ to get an arm lift, most people who exhibit classic skin laxity may want to get one. It all eventually comes down to your personal preference and how you perceive yourself.

If you live in the South West of the United States, and you have decided that an El Paso arm lift is the procedure you want, then board certified, award winning Dr. Frank Agullo of Southwest Plastic Surgery, is the person who can make it happen. When it comes to plastic surgery, he possesses expertise in El Paso, Texas, and you will be pleased to learn that he was trained at the prestigious and highly competitive Mayo Clinic in Rochester, and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery.

According to the doctor, typical candidates for an arm lift usually fall into one or more of the following categories:

Current statistics by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recorded an astonishing 22,969 arm lift surgeries in 2012! Fifteen years ago, in 1997, the same figure was 2,516. Furthermore, almost all procedures were performed on females. What do you say, ladies? Has your interest been piqued, yet?


Surgical Procedure (Arm Lift or Brachioplasty)

At Southwest Plastic Surgery, Dr Agullo offers full consultations on the procedure and will explain everything you need to know about getting an arm lift. You can ask any questions you may have and due to the geographics of the region, Southwest Surgery Plastic understands that not all patients would be comfortable communicating in English. That is why Dr. Agullo speaks Spanish and English fluently.

You will be told how to prepare for the surgery, what the actual procedure entails, what the recovery period is like and what the possible risks associated with such a procedure are. Rest assured, however, with Southwest Plastic Surgery, you will be in more than capable hands. In preparation for the surgery we will determine whether it is recommended that you consult your primary physician for preoperative evaluation.

You should also inform the doctor prior to the surgery of any drugs and medication you might be taking such as vitamins, herbal medicine and anti-inflammatory drugs, which make post surgery healing difficult, and discontinue their use. If you smoke, then you will have to stop before undergoing surgery. Once you are satisfied that you meet the criteria for a good candidate for an arm lift, you will be given a date on which the surgery is scheduled.

Dr. Agullo has special interests in body contouring, breast enhancement and facial rejuvenation. He has published many internationally acclaimed papers and presentations in this area, and has also received several awards from his peers for the quality of his work, as well as the individualized care he provides patients.

Based on his general assessment, you may have to undergo either a liposuction, removal of extra skin or removal of tissue, or a combination of liposuction of the arms and removal of the excess sagging skin. These are arranged according to the severity of your condition.

The procedure and remaining scar will be described to you during the initial consultation. Just before the procedure, the location, length and direction of the incisions will be marked on your arms, elbows and armpits. After that you will either be given intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, again based on the judgement of the surgeon. There are four types of incisive procedures, one of which you will undergo:

After that, the incisions will be brought together to give the arm a more taught, supple and smoother appearance. The full procedure takes nearly 2 hours. Absorbable sutures will be used on the incision in such a way as to minimize scarring, and a sterile dressing will be placed.

Brachioplasty Risks

There are certain risks associated with such a procedure and it is important for you to be aware of them before considering to get an arm lift. Your surgeon will ask you to sign consent forms on which you will verify that you understand the complications which may occur in the procedure, and that they may lead to one or more of the following:

Needless to say, most patients do not experience these symptoms, as Dr. Agullo takes the utmost care to ensure that all procedures are performed with the highest standards of safety.

Post Surgery Recovery

The Southwest Plastic Surgery doctor says that the scars will take almost a year to completely heal, but the results are almost immediately visible after the surgery. As long as your weight does not drastically drop, no excessive skin will accumulate and your arms will maintain their healthy look for years. Upper arm skin may tend to loosen again due to aging, but you will not see the pre-surgery laxity. You can go home the same day and you will be given a compression garment, antibiotics to avoid the risk of any infection, and pain medication.

The general recovery period is one to three weeks, but swelling and bruising will persist even with the compression garment, for up to four weeks. At home, you are encouraged to use pillows to keep your arm elevated above your heart to reduce swelling.

Eating appropriately is also very important at this point. It is recommended that you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and foods rich in lean protein, but low in sodium. This is because sodium increases swelling. You may also experience slight pain, swelling and tingling in the hands and arms, but this will subside over time. If however, any of these conditions persist or become more severe, then it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor and consider further treatment.

The surgeon at Southwest Plastic Surgery is always willing to help his patients, especially during the recovery phase, and so Southwest Plastic Surgery serves a wide area of the American South West. It serves cities in West Texas including Amarillo, Horizon City, Midland and Odessa. In the state of New Mexico, the cities include, Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Silver City and Ruidoso. As a completely bilingual practice, it also caters to the cities of Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez in Northern Mexico.

Cost of Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

The technique used by the surgeon will vary depending on the extent to which the excess skin and fatty tissue is spread and is causing laxity. This will determine the price, but generally, the arm lift will cost you between $6,000 – $9,000. Some people choose to have other procedures combined with their arm lift such as liposuction, mastopexy, and lower body lift, which may increase the total cost.

Tummy Tuck

Tummy TuckTummy Tuck

If it is a loose swaying belly that is bothering you or a stiff bulging tummy that no amount of clothing can hide, you would, in both cases, feel self-conscious and unappealing, even frustrated by failed attempts at dieting and exercise.

An overgrown tummy, which is rich in fatty deposits, is mostly acquired courtesy of pregnancy. When you get pregnant, your abdomen swells up greatly, thus stretching your skin and muscles. After your delivery, if you have somehow managed to make your belly return to the former position by extensive diet and exercise you can never revive the lost elasticity and firmness of your skin and muscle naturally.

An overly bulging belly is something that cannot be hidden easily. Belly fat and love handles are easily spotted through any amount of clothing and are a big bother for many women. Even vigorous hours spent in the gym in exhausting sessions of extreme exercise are often unable to dissolve the stubborn fat deposits that have solidified in your sides and abdomen. Many of us do not even have the time for a regular workout at the gymnasium.

A tummy tuck is a fast, effective and simple method to achieve your goals; however, you should always consult an expert plastic surgeon before you decide what you want to do with your body.

Dr. Frank Agullo is an experienced and certified plastic surgeon based in El Paso and Las Cruces and is the Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery respectively. He has a great reputation for successfully attempting innumerable cosmetic surgeries including tummy tucks. His vast knowledge and experience in abdominoplasty can help you in all ways possible.

Is a Tummy Tuck the thing for me?

Keep in mind that an abdominoplasty is quite different to a liposuction procedure. Liposuction might be part of the abdominoplasty. The tummy tuck not only removes the excess fatty tissue from the abdomen but also removes the excess skin left behind as a result; plus, it tightens the muscles in the abdomen, removes the stretch marks and repositions the belly into shape. This process, if done properly, can help in flattening the tummy and accentuating the waist to give you a perfect figure.

A bulging tummy is one of the most common problems faced by people today and is a great cause of embarrassment. The tummy tuck is suitable for both men and women alike and can work wonders for you. If you are of age, healthy and want to shed that belly fat, there is no reason not to opt for abdominoplasty. A Tummy tuck is one of the most popular body contouring procedures practiced today. It is ideal for those who want an immediate and dramatic change in the way they look.

There are cases, however, when a tummy tuck should not be considered at all. Women, who are young and want to have a baby, should wait it out. This is because most of the improvements obtained by getting the tummy tuck will be undone if you happen to get pregnant again which will make you go back to where you started from. Women, who are still thinking of getting pregnant, should go for a liposuction instead of a tummy tuck. This will improve your contour until you are ready for an abdominoplasty.

Moreover, if you are planning on losing weight, you would want to wait until you reach your ideal weight before you undergo abdominoplasty because losing weight after this procedure might result in excess skin being left behind. If you are not sure, you should and set up a consultation with Dr. Agullo and his team to discuss which option of cosmetic surgery and body contouring might be suitable for you.


Other Procedures that go with a Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is aimed to achieve a flat and shapely belly giving your abdomen the shape you desire. A tummy tuck might often be combined with one another or more of the body contouring procedures to achieve a complete modification of your body and give you a remarkable transformation. These Procedures Might Include:

Mommy Makeover

It seems that almost everyone is looking forward to a mommy makeover when they are done having children. The procedure entails the combination of a tummy tuck with some type of breast enhancement, although many patients are also inquiring about buttock enhancement at the same time. You can learn much more about a mommy makeover in El Paso or Las Cruces by clicking here, where you will learn about the cost, recovery, risks, and techniques.

Arm Lift

This is a process which helps you get rid of loose skin hanging from the arms, which not only looks unappealing but is also irritable. This is achieved by tightening this loose skin from the armpit and lower part of the arm. For more information on brachioplasty or arm lift click here.

Thigh Lift

Thigh lifting is used for removing the fatty tissue and hanging skin from your upper, middle and lower part of the thigh. If there is an excess amount of skin, this problem can be accessed by pulling it upwards. For more information on the thigh lift click here.

Lower Body Lift

This kind of lift is used to tighten the abdomen, buttocks and thighs by stretching until a smooth texture is obtained. Any visible scar is easily hidden by clothing. For more information on lower body lift click here.

Liposuction

Liposuction is best suited to get rid of small deposits of fat that have accumulated in various parts of the body. This is ideal for protruding bulges in the thigh, tummy and neck. This procedure works by sucking out excess the fat from these areas and leaving the body in proper proportion. To learn more about liposuction and its techniques, click here.


Techniques of Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty might have different techniques. Dr. Agullo always combines his abdominoplasties with liposuction for best results. The most common ones at El Paso and Las Cruces are:

Comprehensive Abdominoplasty

This technique allows for the entire abdomen to be smoothed, love handles and stretch marks to be gotten rid of and the tummy flattened by making incisions on the lower part of the abdomen which can easily be hidden, by even the lowest-cut jeans.

Mini Abdominoplasty or a Partial Tummy Tuck

This technique is used when the primary amount of fat deposit is in the lower part of the abdomen, below the navel. In this case, just part of the abdomen is operated upon and the lower part of the abdomen is sculpted leaving the belly button untouched, which is why this incision is much shorter and less complicated. The procedure is reserved for patients without a significant amount of stretch marks or abdominal wall laxity.

Extended Abdominoplasty

This method of tummy tuck but achieves the best results in many patients, often resulting in significant weight loss and reduction in clothing size as a by-product. The incision made is longer, extending to the back (love handles) and so it not only pushes in the belly but also improves the waistline and tightens your lateral thighs and buttocks.


Preparing for a Tummy Tuck

Before the actual execution of the surgery is done, you need to get prepared and informed of what you will go through and what you will achieve. Make your objective clear to the doctor; Dr. Agullo will help you get through with this, discuss with him the possibility of anesthesia, consult with him, and get all your queries answered. Before you go through with the process, you should have a clear mind, free of all doubts.

If you are a smoker, quit smoking. Smoking decreases and slows down your biological healing process by 50%. Try not to shave your body right before surgery as the open pores in your skin might cause infection. Make sure you are well equipped with all the medicines beforehand. Keep a stock of towels and pads, surgery might cause bleeding during and after the procedure. And most importantly: stop eating or drinking at least twelve hours prior to the surgery. At Southwest Plastic Surgery, we will provide you with a complete list of preoperative and postoperative instructions prior to your surgery, making Southwest Plastic Surgery the place for El Paso cosmetic surgery and Las Cruces cosmetic surgery.

Risks of Abdominoplasty

Although tummy tucks are relatively risk free and almost always successful, there is always a possibility of something going wrong. There might be a number of side effects that you should be aware of before you undertake abdominoplasty. A certified doctor like Dr. Agullo will provide you with a detailed insight of the procedure and the risks involved.

The risks involved are:

The Process of Recovery from a Tummy Tuck

Dr. Agullo will provide you with a special lotion to aid you in healing and help you in fading any scars or marks caused due to the tummy tuck. You can learn more about the product, BioCorneum here. You will also be provided with an elastic bandage to keep your tummy firmly in place until it gets permanently positioned with time. This will help “shape” and “mold” your end result while decreasing the amount of swelling. Keep this bandage on at all times especially while sleeping. Try to take it off only when you shower.

Recovery will vary from person to person and with the intensity of the abdominoplasty. The process might be gradual but proper diet, medication and rest will help you recover faster and give you the beautiful hourglass figure you always wanted.

With the use of Exparel, a prolonged anesthetic, many patients are experiencing little or no pain. Ask about Exparel during your tummy tuck consultation.

The Cost of Abdominoplasty

The cost of abdominoplasty also varies from case to case and in accordance with requirements. An average tummy tuck procedure will cost you around $7,300 – $13,000.

Make an appointment with your surgeon before you undergo this procedure. At Southwest Plastic Surgery, we will provide you with an estimate cost beforehand. Remember that your insurance does not usually cover an abdominoplasty.

Body Contouring

body_contouringContouring Your Body after Excessive Weight Loss

When you lose an excessive amount of weight in a very short span of time, your skin transforms into shapeless bulks of adipose (fatty) tissue and lax excess skin, which hang down from your neck, tummy, waist and other areas that had been previously rich in fat.
As the fatty tissue in your body melts down rapidly, the skin is not able to keep up with the sudden loss in the cushioning provided by these cells; therefore, it sags down and appears out of shape, giving you an undesirable look which, of course, makes you appear much older than you actually are.

Now that you’ve achieved a miraculous weight loss and you feel younger and healthier, there is something still out of place that is dragging you down. The extra skin hanging down from your body needs to be gotten rid of. The best way to clear the baggage is through a procedure called body contouring which is basically a full body lift. This body contouring comprises of a sequence of steps that include back roll excision, breast lift, arm lift, medial thigh lift, circumferential body lift and liposuction.

Body contouring is the fastest and most effective way to lose excess flab, shape up and tighten your chest, abdomen, buttocks and thighs. Every person does not require the same sequence of procedures; for example, some people may not require an arm lift or some may require just a small removal of skin; therefore, body contouring varies from person to person in intensity, according to their requirements. This can be determined through careful examination of the body by a certified surgeon like Dr. Agullo.


How to Determine if Body Contouring Will Work for You

Body contouring is ideal for people, who were once overweight and now, after having suddenly shed those extra pounds, want to get rid of sagging skin. This might be a perfect solution for mothers who’ve lost their beautiful figure after multiple pregnancies and want to revive that firm body and tighten that loose skin. It is also suitable for people who’ve undergone surgery that left them with masses of swaying skin.

Patients who’ve gone through a gastric bypass, gastric banding, or a gastric sleeve procedure can greatly benefit from body contouring. However, in the case of a bariatric procedure, a period of eighteen months should be waited before you undergo any form of surgery, including body contouring. This eighteen month period consists of twelve months of losing weight and six months of maintaining that weight.

Irrespective of how you lose weight i.e. by dieting, exercising, liposuction or medicines, you should always wait for at least six months before you go through any body-contouring procedure, which will shape your skin such that it fits your new body shape. If you plan on losing more weight, you should not proceed with the body-contouring until you’ve done so because losing weight further will cause your skin to lag again, thus losing on the advantages of having the procedure. Make sure you are satisfied with your present weight and do not wish to lose any more before you go through with this procedure as it requires many technicalities and surgeries. Another thing to make absolutely sure is that you do not gain any weight after having completed the process of body contouring because this might be devastating in the sense that the extra fat gained will pressure your skin, weakening it thus causing stretch marks, looseness, and wear.


Techniques of Full Body Contouring

Contouring entails sculpting the body and reshaping it according to your figure; this may be achieved by cutting away extra skin and tightening it. Sculpting the body is a complicated and detailed process, which may or may not be accomplished in one procedure.
The most traditional method of body contouring is liposuction, which suctions out all the unwanted fat from the body leaving behind the connective tissue. It is fast, easy and the best choice you have because along with bearing low risks, it gives dramatic and sudden results, often exactly as desired. Whenever there is loose skin, liposuction is not such a great tool by itself. In these cases, liposuction is combined with a tightening or lifting procedure. Read more about liposuction here.

Before the procedure begins, the patient should develop a good understanding with the consultant, so that the desired goals can be easily achieved. The body should be taken and treated as a whole instead of working on specific regions individually as this may give the body an unnatural, suboptimal shape. Taking the body as one large unit and sculpting it in a way which looks natural and appealing is the way to go about it. This process can be customized according to what the patient wants.

Many different techniques can be used for this purpose. These include:

Arm Lift

Brachioplasty is another name for arm lift. This is a process that helps you get rid of loose skin hanging from arms, which not only looks unappealing but is also irritable. This is achieved by tightening this loose skin from the armpit and lower part of the arm either by stitching or in some other way which often leaves behind a visible mark. Mostly patients do not seem to mind the visible scar because what they get as a result of the arm lift is priceless. Read more about the arm lift or brachioplasty procedure here.

Thigh Lift

Thigh lifting is used for removing the fatty tissue and hanging skin from the upper, middle and lower part of the thigh. If an excess amount of skin is the problem, it can be fixed by removing it and pulling it upwards. Read more about the thigh lift procedure here.

Lower Body Lift

This kind of lift is used to tighten the abdomen and lift the buttocks and thighs by pulling them and excising the excess tissue until a smooth texture is obtained. Any visible scar is easily hidden by clothing. A lower body lift is often referred to as a circumferential body lift, torsoplasty, or belt lipectomy. A lower body lift is the quintessential procedure after massive weight loss. Read more about the lower body lift procedure here.

Liposuction

Liposuction is best suited to get rid of small deposits of fat that have accumulated in various parts of the body. This is ideal for protruding bulges in the thigh, tummy, arms, and neck. This procedure works by sucking out excess fat from these areas and leaving the body proportionate. Liposuction is essential in any body contouring procedure and is often included without any additional charge to obtain better results and curvier lines. Read more about liposuction here.

Breast Contouring

Breast contouring can be achieved through:

Breast enlargement is widely popular in women who desire curvaceous, full and natural breasts. This surgery is performed only after a woman’s breasts have fully developed.

Another kind of breast contouring is a beast lift or mastopexy. When gravity, age and nursing cause a woman’s breast to sag down, breast lifting procedures can be a savior. Breast lifts make the breasts firmer, more elastic and raise the breasts so that they stay firmly in place.

Breast reduction is also a type of contouring. Women with abnormally large breasts face problems when it comes to handling this weight. This overburdening may cause strain on the back, muscle pulling and discomfort. Stretch marks may result due to the enormous pressure on the chest skin.

Learn more about each breast contouring procedure by clicking on the list above.

Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty, more commonly referred to as tummy tuck, is a widely used method of cosmetic surgery today. What it does is that it removes excess fatty tissue and skin from the abdomen to give it a flatter and slimmer look. The waistline is remarkably accentuated by plicating the muscles and the hanging belly is removed to give you a perfect figure.


Getting Prepared For Body Contouring Surgery

Because body contouring can be a life-changing event, you need to carefully select the surgeon; do not make a hasty decision, get an expert to give you the best results. Talk to the surgeon and trust him. Dr. Frank Agullo is extensively trained in body contouring surgery and has partnered with many of the bariatric surgeons in the area to complete your transformation. Dr. Agullo is the Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University. He is known for successfully performing innumerable body contouring procedures with excellent results.

Once you are clear on the procedure and have spoken to your surgeon and discussed with him all the details, which have assured you completely, you should move on to the next step.

If you are a smoker, quit smoking. Smoking decreases and slows down your biological healing process by 50%. Try not to shave your body right before surgery as the open pores in your skin might cause infection. Make sure you are well equipped with all the medicines beforehand. Keep a stock of towels and pads, surgery might cause bleeding during and after the procedure. And most importantly: stop eating or drinking at least twelve hours prior to the surgery.

The Surgery (Body Contouring)

The actual surgical process of contouring your body can vary from case to case and individual to individual. However, an average anesthetic phase ranges between four and eight hours. This surgery is mostly begun from the lower part of your body i.e. thighs and buttocks then gradually moves upwards. An expert surgeon like Dr. Frank Agullo uses a combination of different procedures and techniques to achieve the basic purpose of body contouring.

Extra skin and fat is removed and the body is carefully sculpted according to the patient’s requirements and demands. After the surgery, there is a remarkable transformation of the body shape and size. The patient will feel lighter, healthier, more beautiful and fit; however, the success of the surgery depends on a number of vital factors, which include age, body and skin type and recovery rate.

Recovering from the surgery

The rate of recovery is not very fast when it comes to body contouring surgeries. It may take around a month or two to fully get back to your normal lifestyle. You may have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days until you are able to walk.

You might experience pain and aching for some time but this will slowly go away relieving you of the overburdening weight which strained your ankles. You will feel more flexible, mobile and energetic. You will feel free and light.

Risks Associated with Body Contouring Surgery

Any form of surgery, be it major or minor, entails a number of risks. Make sure you are aware of all the risks associated with the procedure at hand before you make any final decision. Discuss this with your doctor. A certified doctor like Dr. Agullo will provide you with detailed insight of the procedure and the risks involved. If you seek a qualified and experienced surgeon you decrease the risks of complications significantly. Several guidelines, such as a team approach to body contouring surgery, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative prophylaxis will help decrease the risks associated with the surgery.

The Risks Involved Are

The Cost of Getting Your Body Contoured

It is more economical if you get a full body contouring instead of individually contouring specific parts of your body separately. A full body contour will cost you around $15,000 – $25,000 because of the technicalities involved in the procedure. The price may vary with the requirements of each patient. However, every penny you spend to achieve a beautiful figure that not only makes you look appealing but also boosts up your confidence, self-esteem is worth it.

Dr. Frank Agullo is an experienced surgeon at Southwest Plastic Surgery and has published articles and book chapters on cosmetic surgery. For further consultation on what you need to achieve the body of your dreams contact us.

Liposuction

liposuctionLiposuction

Women and men, who have a genetic tendency to accumulate fat and cellulite in specific areas of their body such as the lower abdomen and love handles, need not worry. If dieting and exercising prove to be tedious and don’t dissolve the stubborn flab of cellulite stored in your body, liposuction is the ideal solution for you.

Liposuction is a very popular and effective way of getting rid of fatty tissue and cellulite for a slim, well-proportioned and beautiful figure. It is a very dramatic way to immediately get your body contoured, smoothed and sculpted according to your specific requirements.

Who Can Benefit From Liposuction?

Liposuction, a popular body contouring procedure, which is also known as ‘’suction assisted lipectomy’’ is the safest, fastest and most effective way of achieving the figure you want without going through the pains of diet and exercise. Liposuction provided opportunities for millions of people to achieve dramatic positive changes in the way they look and feel.

If you are out of shape and the fat in your body has solidified and can in no way be gotten rid of through exercise, even the most vigorous, liposuction is the ideal solution for you. Liposuction can be performed along with other cosmetic procedures to meet your requirements or it can also be performed individually as it is enough to get the body in prime shape.

Apart from shaping the body to make you look fit and slim, liposuction is the perfect solution for many other medical problems as well. It can help doctors remove lumps and nodules from a patient’s body or extract fat for transplantation.

Liposuction is a very safe way to accomplish your goals as it requires minimal incisions, thus leaves minimal scarring. It is also fast and entails a lesser amount of pain than most of the other forms of cosmetic surgery. Yet, remember that liposuction should, in no way be the first option you consider for weight loss, as the amount of fat to be removed in one procedure is limited. However, when diet and exercise have failed you, this procedure can be considered and will never disappoint you.


Different Techniques of Liposuction

With advancing time, liposuction techniques have also advanced. They have evolved such that the results are now better than ever before. The new techniques bring minimum pain and discomfort. The time required for recovery has also reduced considerably. These modern techniques are used by Dr. Frank Agullo as a quick solution to get rid of excess fat deposit from the body. Patients throughout the Southwest have been benefitting from his knowledge and experience.

There are three liposuction techniques that are used primarily:

The Traditional Tumescent Method of Liposuction at El Paso

Before the procedure of liposuction begins, bundles of fat in your body are injected with anesthetic fluid, which cause the fat-abundant area to swell. This swelling makes it easy for the liposuction tool to work smoothly when removing the fat under the skin.
This method reduces the common side-effects of liposuction like bruising. This tumescent technique also lowers the risk of any blood loss and is the most widely used techniques, often called the “Gold Standard”. At Southwest Plastic Surgery tumescent liposuction is always used, whether alone or in combination with other modalities.

The El Paso Ultrasonic Method of Liposuction

This is also known as the ‘’Vaser’’ or ‘’ultrasonic assisted liposuction’’ or simply as UAL. This ultrasonic procedure is the most contemporary and inventive technique of liposuction. This method works by using sound waves to unsettle the stores of fat, which have accumulated in the body and the fat slowly melts away. This is an amazing alternative to all the other methods of liposuction. It is not always necessary to use Vaser liposuction. Some indications include previous liposuctions, very fibrous tissue, and the upper back.

The Power Assisted Technique of Liposuction

This method of liposuction is fairly new and causes the least amount of discomfort to the patient. It is a more ‘’awake’’ sort of technique. Sometimes referred to as “tickle lipo” or “tickle liposuction”, this liposuction technique is combined with tumescent liposuction. The liposuction cannula vibrates in order to remove fat quicker and with less trauma or pain. Dr. Agullo has perfected awake liposuction. This procedure can be done safely in the office with local anesthesia. After the procedure, the patient is able to get up, get dressed, and walk, often avoiding the complications of general anesthetic.

Getting Prepared for Liposuction

Before the actual execution of the surgery is done, you need to get prepared and informed of what you will go through and what you will achieve. Hoping for too much is also as wrong as being hopeless. Make your objective clear to the doctor, discuss with him the possibility of anesthesia, consult with him, and get all your queries answered. Before you go through with the process you should have a clear mind, free of all doubts.

Because this can be a life changing event, you need to carefully select the doctor; do not make a hasty decision, get an expert to give you the best results. Talk to the surgeon and trust him. Dr. Frank Agullo is within the best in the field. He is known for successfully performing innumerable liposuction procedures with amazing results, leaving the patients happy and satisfied.

Once you are clear on the procedure and have spoken to your doctor and discussed with him all the details and have assured yourself completely, you should now, move on to the next step.

If you are a smoker, quit smoking. Smoking decreases and slows down your biological healing process by 50%. Try not to shave your body right before the procedure as the open pores in your skin might cause infection. Make sure you are well equipped with all the medicines beforehand. Arrange for someone to drive you to and from the hospital on the day of the operation. Take time off from work or any other commitment. Keep in mind that you might be required to stay in the hospital for more than a day if your case is complicated. Most importantly: stop eating or drinking at least twelve hours prior to the liposuction procedure. Now that you are informed and properly equipped, you are ready to go through with the liposuction, which might change your life completely.

Recovery from Liposuction

After you have undergone the liposuction procedure, you may feel a certain tenderness and pain in the areas where the fat has been sucked out from. You may also experience some swelling but you need not worry. This pain and swelling will go away with time if you take proper care of yourself and follow the instructions of Dr. Agullo.

Gradually, you will feel lighter and more flexible. You will look beautiful too. Your body will be in proper shape and you will get the figure you always desired. The process of recovery might be slow and gradual, but the transformation will be immediate and sudden. In about a few hours you will have turned from a baggy, sagging mass of cellulite into a smooth, shapely and beautiful creature.

The time taken to recover fully and for the aching and swelling to die down might vary from person to person and case to case. If your healing process is fast and you stimulate it further by avoiding smoking and other things that hinder recovery and taking proper diet and medication, you will recover quicker. The rate of recovery also depends strongly on the intensity and severity of the liposuction performed.

At Southwest Plastic Surgery we will provide you with everything you need for optimal healing and recovery. This includes special garments to be worn over 4 months, multivitamins specially formulated for surgical recovery, silicone based scar cream, moisturizers to avoid dry skin and itching, and botanicals to improve healing and avoid bruising. Some patients experience a painless recovery by using a long term anesthetic called Exparel.

You will be asked to cover the specific liposuctioned areas with a certain protective garment which you will have to wear for around four weeks after the procedure is completed to avoid swelling and to aid in the healing process. Make sure you follow all pre and post operating instructions for a faster recovery.

Try to keep your body in motion so that your blood keeps circulating properly and you do not face any blood clotting. This will be easier now that you will feel more flexible and mobile due to the loss of excess weight. You, yourself will want to be more physically active and your body will easily cope with the change in lifestyle.

The Risks of Liposuction Surgery

Any form of surgery, be it major or minor, entails a number of risks. Make sure you are aware of all the risks associated with the procedure in hand before you make any final decision. Discuss this with your doctor. A certified doctor like Dr. Agullo will provide you with a detailed insight of the procedure and the risks involved. He is a Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery based in the Southwest. He is active at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Avoid having too much of liposuction performed all in one go. It is safe to have up to 5,000 ml or 5 L of fat removed in one procedure. If your case is severe and you need an intense amount of liposuction then do not get it done all together. Instead you should go through multiple sessions of liposuction, which will fix your body portion by portion. Getting severe and sudden liposuction performed in one day might be disruptive for your body. The body might not be able to cope with the vigorous pressure and might give in.

Dr. Agullo never recommends going through massive amounts of liposuction all at once as it can prove to be very dangerous and might cause permanent damage. He advises you to take the process step by step one at a time and divide it into a span of four weeks so that the body is successfully able to keep up with the gradual change and the results are better and more effective.

Although liposuction has low risks and is mostly always proven to be a success, you should still be prepared for anything, which can occur as a result of the surgery. The risks associated with liposuction are:

Liposuction, in general, is considered a relatively safe and risk-free cosmetic procedure to get your body into the desired size and shape. This has been made possible due to advancing technology and innovations plus a great evolvement in the way this surgery is performed.

The Costs of Liposuction

Patients, especially those living in the Southwest regions of Texas, can expect an average procedure of liposuction to cost them between $2000 to $8500 depending on the intensity and areas of liposuction of their case. Insurance will not cover the cost of this surgery or any cosmetic enhancement, to speak of, as it is not considered a medical necessity by society. So don’t expect your insurance company to think otherwise.

To get a rough idea of what it will cost, you should always schedule an appointment with an experienced and qualified doctor such as Dr. Agullo, who, after examining your body, will give you a close estimate of the total cost the procedure will entail.

Liposuction can be performed individually or can be merged with various other cosmetic body contouring procedures to achieve the best result. The procedure is customized specifically according to the patient’s preferences, requirements, age, size, skin type, weight and build.

Although liposuction on its own might be enough to accomplish the goal in mind, yet if combined with other procedures such as an arm lift or a breast reduction might achieve results that are remarkably astonishing.

Some of the procedures that are usually combined with liposuction include:

Schedule a consultation to know your body and what type of cosmetic procedure you will require to get the figure of your dreams.

Mommy Makeover

mommymakeover1Mommy Makeover

Motherhood, without doubt, brings an immense amount of joy, unimaginable solace and eternal bliss. Yet, it comes with a price. Unfortunately, what it also does is mercilessly rob you of your beautifully sculpted, firm body leaving behind a mass of swaying fat, which is devastating not just for your outward appearance but also your inner confidence and self-esteem.

Becoming a mother is not easy. It requires a colossal amount of sacrifices. Many women may never be able to revive their pre-pregnancy bodies, especially women who have undergone a Cesarean Section. Even if excessive diet and exercise are adopted and the body is taken good care of, weight loss might be achieved but getting back that firm and petite figure is a big challenge because pregnancy causes the skin to lose its elasticity and sag down. Apart from this loose, hanging skin, women might hate the overgrown tummy, the sagging breasts, which seem to be touching the ground and the bulks of cellulite protruding out from various areas of the once-beautiful body.

What women, who are grieved and disheartened by their unappealing figure, need, is a Mommy Makeover. Dr. Frank Agullo is experienced in transforming bodies, marred and ruined by motherhood into curvaceous, firm and well-proportioned figures that remind you of your teenage days. However, before proceeding, it’s always best to consult someone whose knowledge and understanding will help you in making this life-changing decision.

Dr. Agullo is a board-certified plastic surgeon in the Southwest, El Paso, who has mastered every field of cosmetic procedures including Mommy Makeovers. Mommies in Texas need not worry now as he has the perfect solution to their problems right next door.

Mommy Makeovers usually comprise of breast augmentation, tummy tuck and liposuction in various areas to bring the body back into shape. Often the results make you look even better than you did before the pregnancy!

Is a Mommy Makeover the thing for me?

The common misconception many women have is that a Mommy Makeover is only designed for women who’ve mothered a child and those who have gone through the pains of pregnancy, delivery and nursing. This is definitely not true. You are perfectly suited to get a Mommy Makeover even if you are not and have never been a mother.

A Mommy Makeover is called that because it solves the typical problems all mothers face i.e. excess skin after pregnancy, a hanging belly, a loss of elasticity in the skin of the stomach and sagging or shrunk breasts.

These are typical problems, which women, who’ve had babies, face. However if you suffer from any of these problems or other problems such as excess deposits of cellulite, love handles and stretch marks, a Mommy Makeover is the perfect solution for you.

However, before you decide on getting a Mommy Makeover, be absolutely sure that you do not plan on having any more children. If you want to have more children, then postpone getting this makeover until you’re positive that you will not get pregnant again because if you do, this will wreck the whole purpose of getting the makeover and you’ll be in need of another one soon.

Also, keep in mind that this Mommy Makeover is an extensive procedure which takes time to heal. If you have small children who need to be looked after at all times and you do not have the time and patience to delay everything until you recover from the surgery then do not opt for it. The surgery will require you not to lift anything heavy, not even a baby, when you’re in the process of recovery.


The Procedures Involved in a Mommy Makeover

Mommy Makeovers are one of the most popular cosmetic procedures amongst women of all ages. Mommy Makeovers merge the techniques of a full body contour, tummy tuck, breast enhancements and liposuction to give you the perfect body shape.

Mommy Makeovers usually combine two or more of the following procedures:

Liposuction

Liposuction is best suited to get rid of small deposits of fat that have accumulated in various parts of the body. This is ideal for getting rid of protruding bulges in the thigh, tummy and neck. This procedure works by sucking out excess fat from these areas and leaving the body proportionate.

Breast Contouring

Breast enlargement is widely popular in women who desire curvaceous, full and natural breasts. This surgery is done after a woman’s breasts have fully developed. Breast augmentation is ideal in giving the body the perfect hourglass shape that every woman dreams of.
Another kind of breast contouring is a breast lift or mastopexy. When gravity, age and nursing cause a woman’s breast to sag down, such that they seem to be drooping towards the floor, breast lifting procedures can act as a savior. Breast lifts make the breasts elastic and elevate them so that they do not sag down but stay firmly in place. A breast lift can give you firm and petite breasts.

In a mommy makeover some women will opt for a breast augmentation and others will desire a breast lift. Many patients opt for an augmentation with a lift. Some women opt for a breast reduction with a lift. This is why at Southwest Plastic Surgery, Dr. Frank Agullo prides himself in offering the most individualized packages for each patient. This makes Southwest Plastic Surgery your stop for El Paso cosmetic surgery and Las Cruces cosmetic surgery.

Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty, more commonly referred to as tummy tuck, is a widely used method of cosmetic surgery today. What it does is removes excess fatty tissue and cellulite from the abdomen to give it a flatter and slimmer look. The waistline is remarkably reduced by strengthening the muscles and the hanging belly is pulled inwards to give you the perfect figure.


Prepare Yourself for a Mommy Makeover

Before you go for the makeover make sure that your child has stopped breastfeeding for good. If you are breastfeeding you will have to wait. Smoking can slow down the healing process, cause serious complications and increase the risk of heart stroke. Therefore it is always advised to quit smoking at least two weeks prior to the surgery. Arrange for someone who will drive you to the hospital and back home after the Mommy Makeover as you might not be in a condition to drive yourself. Take time off work or any other commitment as you might need bed rest for a couple of days. Make sure you are well equipped with all the medicines beforehand. Keep a stock of towels, pads, petroleum jelly and ice packs as the surgery might cause bleeding during and after the procedure. And most importantly: stop eating or drinking at least twelve hours prior to the surgery.

The Process of Recovery from a Mommy Makeover

The process of recovery will be slow and gradual. You will need some time to return to normal both physically and mentally. You might face excessive swelling and bruising as well, which might make you wonder whether the money and pain was worth the results. But don’t you worry; once you have fully recovered, you will realize that the results have paid off big time. Your body will feel fit, flexible, lightweight and beautiful. You won’t be able to stop yourself from looking in the mirror.

However, take special care and follow the doctor’s instructions when you are in the phase of recovery. Failure to do so can cause adverse reactions and can greatly slow down the process of healing.

Dr. Agullo will provide you with a special lotion to aid you in healing and help you in fading any scars or marks caused due to the Makeover. You will also be provided with an elastic bandage to keep your tummy firmly in place until it gets permanently positioned with time. Keep this bandage on at all times, especially while sleeping. Try to take it off only when you shower.

Remember to keep your body in motion. Walk, work and keep moving to avoid blood clotting. This will get easy as you feel lighter and more flexible. However, engaging in any vigorous exercise like running or lifting anything heavy is strictly not allowed.
Proper diet, medication and rest will help you recover faster and give you the beautiful hourglass figure you always wanted.

The Cost of a Mommy Makeover

The procedure may vary from patient to patient and so may the price. Some women may want a full body makeover and some may require just a few amendments here and there. So, a Mommy Makeover can range greatly starting from just $8,500 and ending at $20,500 in extreme cases. An average Mommy Makeover, which comprises of a tummy tuck, breast augmentation/lift and liposuction will cost somewhere around $13,500 – $30,000.

Be informed that your insurance policy does not cover this cost as a makeover is considered more of a want than a need in our society. Dr. Agullo will provide you with the best of services at the lowest of rates. He will also have packages that will help you save money and live the dream.

 

Location Marker
Southwest Plastic Surgery
1387 George Dieter
Dr. Bldg C301
El Paso, TX 79936
Tel: (915) 590 7900
Fax: (915) 590 7902
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The MedSpa Southwest Plastic Surgery West
5925 Silver Springs Dr.
Suite C
El Paso, TX 79912
Tel: (915)590-7907
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