Body Procedures
Abdominoplasty ("Tummy Tuck")
Abdominoplasty helps to flatten and shape the abdomen and waist by removing excess skin and fat while also tightening the abdominal muscles. The best candidate for this procedure has excess skin without too much excess fat that hasn't responded well to diet and exercise. The procedure can also be useful for women with stretched skin and lax abdominal muscles from pregnancy.
The procedure takes approximately two to three hours and is performed with general anesthesia. Recovery time ranges from three weeks to a few months. With a balanced diet and regular exercise, results are long-lasting. The incision for abdominoplasty will leave a permanent scar extending from hip to hip, although it should be low enough that most items of clothing will conceal it.
- Click here for Frequently Asked Questions on Abdominoplasty
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Liposuction (Lipoplasty/Suction Lipectomy)
The most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the United States, liposuction contours the body by removing undesirable fat that has not responded to diet and exercise. It can be used to sculpt the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, chin, cheeks, neck and upper arms. Local anesthesia or general anesthesia may be used, and the procedure can last anywhere from one to four hours depending on the amount of fat being removed. The best candidate for this procedure, unlike abdominoplasty, has excess fat with good quality skin, with little to no excess.
There are several different methods surgeons use when performing liposuction, including ultrasound-assisted lipectomy (UAL) and suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL). In both types, fluid is injected into the area to be treated. Then a tiny incision is made in as inconspicuous a place as possible, and a cannula (small tube) breaks up the fat layer and suctions it out.
VASER® Lipo
The VASER® Lipo combines new patented technology with advanced surgical techniques to gently dissolve and remove excess fatty tissue from the abdomen, hips, "love handles," "saddlebags," thighs, arms, back, knees, neck and chin. The VASER Lipo procedure uses ultrasound energy to eliminate fat while leaving nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue largely undisturbed. Without damage to this tissue, patients experience little pain and achieve much smoother results than with traditional liposuction.
- Click here for Frequently Asked Questions on VASER® Lipo
- View our Before and After Patient Gallery
- To read a whitepaper comparing the VASER to other technologies in body contouring, click here
- VASER Lipo Animation Video
VASER® Lipo has been featured on:
Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)
Although rarely discussed, enlarged male breasts is a common condition. Gynecomastia affects approximately 40 to 60 percent of men. There is often no known cause for gynecomastia, although there has been some correlation with various drugs or medical conditions.
Men who feel self-conscious about their appearance are helped with breast reduction surgery. The procedure removes fat and/or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a contoured chest that is flatter and firmer.
- Click here for Frequently Asked Questions on Male Breast Reduction
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How to Select a Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Mark D. Epstein, located in Stony Brook, Long Island is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in the areas of cosmetic, reconstructive and hand surgery. He has performed thousands of surgical procedures since receiving his medical degree in 1984. He holds numerous board certifications and is a member of several prestigious professional organizations.
