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January 2008 Q & A with Dr. Levens
(Dr. Levens’ monthly column is carried by the Coral
Springs Forum newspaper.)
Dear Dr. Levens: How many body parts can be liposuctioned
at one time? I’d like to have it done on my thighs, hips,
buttocks, back and stomach. --FR
Dear FR: The maximum amount of fat that should
be removed during one surgery session is 5 litres. The maximum
time a patient should be kept under anesthesia for an elective procedure
is about 6 hours. It is likely that you could have all the procedures
you want during one session, though an examination by a plastic surgeon
is the only way to know for sure.
Dear Dr. Levens; I know a tummy tuck is major
league surgery. So before I pursue the possibility of having
one, can you give me a general idea of how painful and how long the
recovery period is? --JT
Dear JT: Every patient’s recovery experience
is a little different. Some patients tell me it’s a bit
like having a C-section. Most patients have moderate discomfort
the first 48-72 hours. The degree of discomfort depends largely on
the extent of surgery required to reshape the abdomen and the patient’s
personal pain tolerance. Medication is prescribed to keep the patient
as comfortable as possible. A feeling of abdominal tightness will
decrease over 1-3 weeks as swelling fades and the tissues become accustomed
to their new position. The typical schedule of recovery is: Bruising
and swelling, 7-21 days; return to work & social activity, 5-14
days; aerobic or strenuous activity, 3-6 weeks.
Dear Dr. Levens: What is the best treatment
for deep crow’s feet around my eyes? --NT
Dear NT: Today, there a number of excellent
tools to treat crow’s feet and your plastic surgeon can tell
you which one(s) are best suited for your situation. Often,
Botox is used to relax muscles which constantly reinforce the wrinkles. Restylane
or other fillers can be used to fill in persistent wrinkles. When
the wrinkles are particularly stubborn or if a more lasting result
is desired, peels and lasers can be used. In rare cases, tiny
muscles are cut to permanently relax the affected area.
Dear Dr. Levens: I have a condition that makes
my eyes very dry. Does this mean I should not have eyelid surgery? –MA
Dear MA: Sometimes, this condition makes a
patient a poor candidate for eyelid surgery. The first step
is to ask your ophthalmologist for an opinion, and if he/she expresses
any misgivings, ask him/her to talk directly with the cosmetic surgeon
who would be doing your surgery. Together, they can make a decision
that will be in your best interest.
Dr. Levens is a Board-certified plastic surgeon.
He has served as Vice Chief of Staff and
Chief of Surgery at Coral SpringsMedicalCenter. His
column appears monthly. Send questions to Cosmetic
Surgery Today, 1725 University Dr., Suite 440, Coral
Springs, 33071 or email info@DrLevens.com.
Interested in seeing past questions? Please
see our archived Q
& A section.
Dr. Levens has been providing plastic, cosmetic
and reconstructive surgery procedures for patients in Boca Raton,
Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Davie, Delray Beach,
Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Lauderhill, Margate, Miami, North Lauderdale,
Parkland, Plantation, Sunrise, Tamarac, West Palm Beach, Wellington,
Weston and throughout South Florida since 1989. |
