Tummy Tuck-Tummy Talk!

The no drain-Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty surgery commonly known as “tummy tuck” has been and remains a popular cosmetic procedure. It is particularly popular among weight loss patients, and is the classic procedure for women in their late 30s or 40s who had children.  The tummy tuck has evolved as a very effective and satisfactory procedure that will get rid of pregnancy related changes.  Such changes include a protruding, sagging midsection, loose skin and separation of the rectus muscle from childbirth. When combined with liposuction and the repair of the diastasis recti muscle (the separation of the muscles in the mid-section of the abdomen), a tummy tuck is the treatment of choice.

Today, the approach to abdominoplasty or tummy tuck has evolved from the traditional one. Patients can now choose between a mini-tummy tuck, lower tummy tuck, or full tummy tuck with or without liposuction. In a traditional tummy tuck, the surgeon will typically use drains post operatively to prevent fluid from accumulating in the space that he created underneath the skin and fat and above the muscle. “The drains were behind most of my patient’s complaints the day after and week following their surgery from pain and irritation at the drain site to problems with showering and moving” says Dr. Hakki.

Dr Hakki has achieved great success and excellent results by introducing the “no drain” tummy tuck with the use of a progressive tension sutures (PTS) technique.  Some surgeons find that the technique takes longer in surgery and requires a learning curve. “This may be the case in the beginning”, according to Dr. Hakki, who now has mastered the technique and no longer uses drains on his patients. The increase in time is marginal once you perfect the technique and the results are well worth it.  Not only does the technique eliminate the need for drains but it has been credited with a wide range of benefits. Using progressive tension sutures helps reduce the incidence of complications such as the formation of seromas and hematomas.  Dr. Hakki believes that PTS allows him to better define the abdominal contour of his tummy tuck patients giving them more of a “six pack” appearance in his final result.  The technique also allows for a lower scar line, which is optimal for patients desiring that low cut bikini. Since the progressive tension sutures technique reduces the tension on the wound, the risk of hypertrophic scarring is decreased as well. More importantly, the technique has a very positive impact on the patient’s psyche postoperatively. Patients are happier, more comfortable and can move around without the nuisance and limitations of the drains.

Dr. Hakki has achieved excellent results incorporating progressive tension sutures into his tummy tuck procedures, and has completely abandoned the use of drain tubes during his tummy tucks. His patients report positive results and better speedier recovery. Dr. Hakki is one of a small number of plastic surgeons nationwide to offer the no drain tummy tuck.

In addition, Dr.Hakki’s superior tummy tuck results are due to a preferred combination lipo-sculpture-tummy tuck procedure. For the majority of his patients, Dr. Hakki combines liposuction -in particular of the midriff area- to his tummy tuck. “By eliminating muffin tops and back fat with liposuction, while at the same time tightening the lower abdominal skin with the tummy tuck, I avoid the flat and wide look result of a tummy tuck alone. As an artist, it is my duty to my patients to make them look better, not just flatter” he says.

If you are interested in the no drain tummy tuck, please contact Dr. Hakki and Luxxery Surgery Center in DC and Maryland online at www.luxxery.com or call his office at 800-LUXXERY to schedule an appointment.

The benefits of combining cosmetic surgery procedures into one session have become a mainstay in plastic surgery. Doing more than one procedure at once was not common in the past, but in today’s day and age, combining procedures makes perfect sense. Patients benefit from one recovery, less cost and most importantly, achieving the final results in one surgical session.

When given the option to address several issues, most patients have a lot to say. But first, the patient needs to be sure that his/her surgeon performs combination procedures routinely. Dr. Hakki has been performing combination procedures safely with successful results for years. Below are the most requested combination procedures by Dr. Hakki’s patients:

Facial Cosmetic Procedures Combos:

Liquid Facelfit: This treatment is the latest, noninvasive trend in combination procedures. Better together, fillers and Botox are key factors in rejuvenating the aging face. Since aging is in part due to loss of volume, fillers such as Radiesse or Juvederm can help your surgeon reshape and volumize your face. Botox then relaxes the corresponding muscles. This duo-treatment approach results in smoothing out aging lines and wrinkles instantly. In the hands of an experienced surgeon a liquid facelift can be done in one session, takes half an hour and requires no down time.

Facelift-Fat Grafting-Peel-Laser Combo: Gone are the days of the lone-standing facelift which resulted in a wind-tunnel-like face, both tight and empty. Our faces age in multiple ways and while gravity causes sagging and drooping, our faces also lose volume. Aging skin turns dull in color with enlarged pores and age spots. A facelift & fat grafting procedure with a laser & peel combo addresses all three aging factors in one step. While the facelift surgically addresses the loss of skin laxity, a fat transfer performed at the same time as a facelift restores volume and rebuilds the youthful structure of the face. This combination procedure also improves skin texture. Laser skin resurfacing or a peel completes this natural treatment by improving skin viability and providing glowing complexion.

Body Cosmetic Procedure Combos:

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Breast Lift-Augmentation Combo: This procedure is standard in Dr. Hakki’s practice. Although some surgeons split up breast lift and breast implant procedures, combining the two in one surgery has been Dr. Hakki’s approach for years. Patients typically lose the shape of the breast as well as fullness. A breast lift alone will lift the breast but it will not address the lack of volume and fullness in a patient’s cleavage. A breast lift augmentation combo offers patients a voluptuous higher looking breast. Dr. Hakki uses saline or silicone implants or fat grafting into the breast (natural breast augmentation) to achieve successful results.

Liposuction-Fat Grafting Combo-Brazilian Butt Lift: This procedure is the ideal solution for a patient desiring a more rounded, curvaceous buttock region. This is achieved by liposuctioning multiple areas of the patient’s body, which in turn, helps define the desired area. Dr. Hakki’s approach relies on a unique technique of harvesting and re-injecting the fat. He reinjects his patient’s own harvested fat into the buttocks. Liposuction removes fat from the lower back and spine area, allowing for a beautiful curvature of the back. Liposuction brings out the protrusion of the buttocks once the fat is injected. Dr. Hakki injects a large volume of fat depending on the patient and the volume desired. Combining a liposuction procedure with fat grafting or a Brazilian butt lift is the safest most permanent way to achieve great results in buttocks augmentation.

Liposuction-Tummy Tuck Combo: The liposuction procedure partnered with a tummy tuck in a single procedure has become a natural twosome. The paired procedures enjoy a naturally synergistic love affair. The liposuction is typically performed on the surrounding areas of the stomach, such as the love handles, waist and flanks. This provides the patient with a more sculpted look, while the tummy tuck removes the stretched skin. 

Bottom Line

Dr. Hakki’s combined surgery profile has proven to be safe throughout the years, which is primarily attributed to his years of experience. Luxxery Medical Boutique procedures are done under local anesthesia and conscious sedation.  This effective use of local anesthesia allows patients to be comfortably anesthetized, avoiding the need for general anesthesia. This leads to a decrease in infection and bleeding, allows for longer operating room time and reduces complications. All surgeries are performed at our certified and fully accredited Luxxery surgery center. Visit us today for your private consultation with our artist Dr. Hakki. 

Brazilian Butt Lift: Future Focus

In my previous articles in Your Health, I took a look at the 10 cosmetic plastic surgery predictions of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) for 2011. In this article, I’ll provide insight regarding which of these predictions came true for us at Luxxery with Plastic Surgeon Dr. Hakki.

“Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, and Jennifer Lopez have made a shapely rear-end a must have accessory. In the coming year patients will be seeking posterior body lifts, buttock lifts, surgical and nonsurgical buttock augmentations to shape and augment their buttocks.” – ASAPS 2011 Prediction.

As I take a look back on 2011 at Luxxery, Dr. Hakki’s practice is consistent with the above ASAPS prediction. Further analysis shows a marked incline in gluteal augmentation surgery. The Brazilian Butt Lift or buttock augmentation procedure by way of fat grafting is at the top of our list for patients requesting body contouring procedures. Dr. Hakki’s practice has shown a threefold increase in the Brazilian Butt Lift procedure as compared to the year before. Although cultural differences are a factor that plays a role in what is considered trendy, it seems that the idea of having a larger backside bypasses ethnic, cultural and racial variances. Our patients have learned to prioritize procedures that make them the happiest while simultaneously managing their budgets.

The Brazilian Butt Lift has not only increased in popularity in Dr. Hakki’s practice, but also all over the world. Unfortunately, the increased demand and heightened popularity of this procedure has patients seeking other options such as artificial products. These unsafe procedures such as liquid silicone injections in the gluteal-buttock region are unethical and dangerous. Injectable silicone is not a medical product. It is, however, an industrial product. It can never become part of the body, and can cause abscesses and infections. Silicone is also prone to scarring and can end up extruded through the skin from the body. Silicone gluteal injection procedures are being performed by criminal, unlicensed individuals who pose a danger to the health of their patients.

Now let’s discuss the healthy and medically approved way to increase the size of your butt. A Brazilian butt lift by way of fat grafting involves taking fat from one area of the body and injecting it into the buttock region. The fat is obtained by way of liposuction of a patient’s abdomen, flanks, bra rolls or any other areas. The fat grafting process transfers the fat into the buttocks area. The grafted fat is the ideal filler for injection because it comes from the patient’s body with no immune factors. The procedure provides patients with safe, long lasting results. This is referred to as “autologous” fat transplantation, a technique considered by many as the choice procedure for buttock volume enhancement.

The Brazilian butt lift uses a technique that harvests fat rich with living cells. The fat is placed into the recipient’s buttock tissue, where the body houses large veins to insure its survival. Dr. Hakki then creates multiple tunnels where he places microdroplets of fat allowing for the deposited fat to be exposed to the surrounding tissue. There are no disadvantages to the Brazilian butt lift or any fat grafting procedure if it is well executed. The procedure is technique-dependent and Dr. Hakki’s advanced training and experience in fat transfer has allowed his patients to enjoy truly successful results.

The bottom line: All surgeries carry risk. See a board certified plastic surgeon with extensive years in practice and experience in your procedure of interest. Buttock augmentation is here to stay and has solidified its place as the procedure of the future.  

http://www.luxxery.com/body-plastic-surgery/buttock-accentuation.aspx 

http://www.luxxery.com/news-washington-post.aspx

By Amanda Long, Published: November 18, 2011

 How can I be an artist at heart, someone who celebrates the human form, and be in the business of changing it? I thought for a long time that a plastic surgeon’s job was to make you look better. A plastic surgeon’s job is to make you feel better. The only way I can make you feel better is by making you look like you think you look. My first year at Georgetown, an NIH psychologist presented a study on plastic [surgery]. She found that people with the most confidence are those whose body image, what they see in the mirror, is very close to their self-image — what they see when they close their eyes at night. If I can achieve an approximation of these two things, then I’m going to make you feel better, and making you look better is secondary. Women want to control their own destiny — that’s all. The last thing they want is another man telling them how to look. 

I say no every day. When a woman says, “My husband likes big boobs,” or “I want to save my marriage,” I will not do it. If you are changing who you are for someone else, I will not help. When a patient says she woke up with a bad feeling in her gut, I’ll cancel the surgery. I’m still superstitious; the artist always controls the scientist.  

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Juvederm® & Radiesse®

 in a city as much in the spotlight as washington, more men are turning toward cosmetic surgery to fight father time. by ali mcsherry

http://www.luxxery.com/news-19.aspx

From the tight-faced women of The Real Housewives of Orange County to the enhanced

bosoms of the Jersey Shore gals, women undergoing plastic surgery is more socially rampant

than ever. But what about men? While a handful of DC women, such as Fox News personality

Greta Van Susteren, are happy to discuss the various nips and tucks that keep them looking

fresh, most men tend to be mute on the topic. Of course, that doesn’t mean they aren’t undergoing

procedures all the same. Dr. Ayman Hakki, the founder and CEO of

Luxxery, a plastic-surgery office in Maryland (3010 Crain Hwy., Ste. 400, Waldorf, 301-843-

9769; luxxery.com) with a walk-in Botox boutique in Georgetown (2141 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-

333-9294), notes he has seen a recent increase in men seeking consultation for cosmetic surgery.

“Men go for things that make you look different without making you look too different,” Hakki

explains. The two most common procedures: eye lifts, and liposuction on their love handles.

“Men wanting to fix their ‘tired’ eyes are the biggest portion of new male clients these days,” says Chevy Chase–based plastic surgeon Dr.

Wendell Gordon Miles. “The biggest uptick I have noticed is in men moving up in their careers.

The thought of interviewing against younger competitors seems to motivate them to come in

for consultations.” The men vary in age, but, as Miles notes, they tend to be in their mid-forties

and -fifties. Hakki describes two very distinct groups who come into his office: “super jocks”

and “executive types.” The former are military men who need to pass very stringent physical

requirements to continue moving forward in their careers. “Their neck and waist measurements

need to be certain ratios or they can’t fly,” he says. “We’re talking about men who are in

great shape but still have love handles.” Alternately, the executive types get eye lifts or

facial Botox in an effort to look younger when competing for jobs. “They feel threatened by the

young bucks coming up the ranks,” Hakki says. Still, the surgeons caution that cosmetic surgery

is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are lasting  effects on both a patient’s appearance and his wallet.

Procedures can alter one’s looks for years to come, and most cost between $5,000 and $10,000—

and are not covered by health insurance. Before operating, Hakki sits down with his patients to discuss

their decision to get surgery, and occasionally, he spots red flags. For instance, he does not operate

 on men who have unrealistic expectations of how an eye lift may change their lives. “The man who

tells me he is doing it because he thinks he is going to be 18 again, or because his wife is leaving and he

wants to win her back, those are the men I turn away gently,” he says. But not all men are going under the

knife to recapture their youth. For executives or members of Congress who are constantly in the

public eye, getting cosmetic surgery can be a simple public relations decision to improve their looks on

camera—that is, as long as it is done right. One local public relations maven recounts the story of a client,

a powerful executive, who had a botched eye lift— an unfortunate incident she described as unnatural

in its complete symmetry. The PR person had to advise on handling the fallout, as the surgery could

obviously not be undone. “He wore contacts, so I advised him to wear glasses until it settled in

because the lines of the glasses block the eyelids,” she remembers. Another option is to stick to non-invasive cosmetic procedures, where

local physician Dr. Philip Schoenfeld, founder and medical director of Renu Med Spa, has seen a spike in male clients. “These days, men are

entirely more comfortable with the concept,” says Schoenfeld, who adds that most come to his office with their wives and speak freely about

the procedures. Schoenfeld is also seeing more men opt for laser hair removal, a relatively quick and painless way to change ones appearance—

and a treatment that is becoming increasingly common. “Neck, back, and shoulders are the most popular places. That’s like a manicure

these days,” says Schoenfeld of the in-and-out ease of the process. “Let’s face it, hairy backs are out.” But, in general, the advice from professionals

is to keep it simple. Man or woman, the idea is to be the best version of yourself—not a completely different self altogether. CF

The Fountain

of Youth

Across the board, cosmetic surgery and minimally invasive

procedures for men increased two percent from 2009 to

2010, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

It’s a small but noteworthy jump, considering that just 10 years

ago, men hardly registered a blip on the cosmetic surgery

radar. Here, a sampling of what men are getting (re)done.

Most Popular Surgical Procedures

Nose Reshaping

Rhinoplasty can range from a slight smoothing to full

reconstruction. COST: $4,000–$8,000

Eyelid Surgery

Drooping lids and wrinkles have more men rushing to their

doctor than ever before. COST: $2,000–$4,500

Liposuction

For those last few inches of love handle that won’t disappear.

COST: $2,000–$7,500

Most Popular Minimally Invasive Procedures

Botox

The most popular injectable for men and women, Botox is

a quick fix. COST: $400–$500 per session

Laser Hair Removal

Relatively painless and fairly inexpensive, it’s a good

argument for going bare. COST: around $400 per treatment

Microdermabrasion

The benefits of heavy-duty exfoliation are obvious:

uncovering smoother, more youthful skin. No surgery

involved. COST: $75–$200 

Only one week left to take advantage of this special. 

By appointment only - schedule online or call 301-843-9769 

http://www.luxxery.com/luxxerypromotions3.aspx 

All offers are introductory only, certain restrictions apply. This is intended to provide general information only. If you require additional information please contact our office. For details please consult your physician. Results not guaranteed. Additional and/or alternate treatments may be needed to achieve the desired result. Offers cannot be combined with any other promotion or redeemed for cash, any other product or service. Not valid on previous purchases. Void where prohibited or not deemed medically safe. All patients MUST be evaluated by an our physician prior to treatment. Offers can be revoked at any time. Trademarks are property of their owner. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Here Comes The Sun! Here Comes a New You!

15% Off Of Surgery Special if booked by June 30, 2011

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Please contact our professional and knowledgeable staff at 888-LUXXERY to learn more about this exciting offer. Offer expires 5/30/11. Not valid with any other offers. Offer does not apply to breast augmentation surgery. 


By appointment only - schedule online or call 301-843-9769

http://luxxery.com/luxxerypromotions2.aspx 

All offers are introductory only, certain restrictions apply. This is intended to provide general information only. If you require additional information please contact our office. For details please consult your physician. Results not guaranteed. Additional and/or alternate treatments may be needed to achieve the desired result. Offers cannot be combined with any other promotion or redeemed for cash, any other product or service. Not valid on previous purchases. Void where prohibited or not deemed medically safe. All patients MUST be evaluated by an our physician prior to treatment. Offers can be revoked at any time. Trademarks are property of their owner. We look forward to hearing from you.