Tag Archives: surgery

Liposonix: The Latest Craze in Fat Removal Procedures

We all have that pair of skinny jeans that we almost squeeze into. Well, there may be a new tool on the market that will make them fit once and for all.

Liposonix – a procedure that was cleared by the FDA in 2024 – uses high-intensity ultrasonic energy to remove fat from the under-layer of the skin without damaging the skin or organs.

Exactly how does it work? A special machine uses ultrasonic energy to target the fat located in the layer under the skin known as the subcutaneous layer. The zapped fat is then eliminated by the body’s immune system and removed by the liver. The treatment lasts approximately one hour, and the results are usually maximized at eight to 12 weeks.

On average, patients lose 2.8 centimeters, or about an inch. Keep in mind, this is the average fat loss so some people will lose more and some will lose less. I think that’s a pretty big gamble for the amount of money the procedure will cost. For some people that could be the difference between a size six and a size four, which could be priceless to them. (more…)

Posted on May 21, 2023 by Sarah

Underweight People at Greatest Risk for Post-Surgery Death

When we talk about healthy eating and dieting, our focuses is almost entirely on people who are overweight. Obesity-related diseases account for just about 10 percent of medical costs in the United States, which comes to an estimated $147 billion each year.

That said, according to recently released research, people who are underweight are 40 percent more likely to die in the first month after surgery than those who are overweight.

The researchers believe that a patient’s body mass index (BMI) can be used as a predictor for risk in recovery time after surgery. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines those who have a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 as normal weight, so anything below that range fits in the underweight category.

Previous studies showed mixed results, but since the new study examined nearly 190,000 patients undergoing various surgical procedures at 183 hospitals, it’s expansive enough to be taken seriously. (more…)

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Jason

Body Contouring After Weight Loss

By Alicia Rose

The body contouring procedure normally follows extreme weight loss due to diet and exercise over the course of one to two years or gastric bypass surgery. Body contouring after weight loss is the combination of a lower body lift around the buttocks, groin, hips and thighs, mastopexy (breast), brachioplasty (arms) and adominoplasty (abdomen), and all of the surgeries are normally undergone in stages. Each of the individual procedures accounts for a anesthesia, facility or hospital, and surgeon’s fee, in addition to post-surgery garments, prescriptions and pre-surgical medical lab testing.

Throughout these procedures, the patient’s loose and sagging skin will be removed and the surgical areas will be cosmetically restructured and contoured. The skin is surgically cut away and remaining skin is connected and closed with dissolvable internal sutures and external stitches that are removed about a week or two after your surgery, or skin adhesives and surgical tape. Often, a drain is applied by inserting a tiny tube under the skin to collect excess fluid. Following the procedure, bandages are applied to the incision sites. Surgical areas are normally also wrapped to minimize swelling in compression garments.

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Posted on January 17, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Weight Loss Surgery is More Expensive Than You May Think

By Jessie Gorges

Bills are piling up for Barbara Warnock-Morgan. After several years of diets that just didn’t work, she decided to get an adjustable gastric banding in November of 2024.

“I was the fat kid,” she said. “Over the years I yo-yo dieted my way up the scale. I’d lose 20 pounds, then gain back 30.”

Adjustable gastric banding, a form of bariatric surgery in which a silicone band is placed around the top portion of the stomach, costs $15,000 to $30,000. Though the 46-year-old, who lives in Brooklyn, was fortunate to have her insurance cover the costs, she will have to pay for body-contouring cosmetic surgery, also known as a “body lift,” to tighten up the loose skin.

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Posted on January 4, 2024 by Health Buzz

More Obese Teens Turn to Gastric Band Surgery

Update: Our resident mental health expert, Brooke Randolph, LMHC, weighs in on the topic in a featured story at Yahoo Shine: Teen Weight Loss Surgery Unhealthy for Many Reasons.

There is some alarming news coming from a new study: Overweight teenagers are undergoing laparoscopic gastric band surgery in increasing numbers, even though the procedure is not approved for anyone under 18 years old.

Researchers examined a database of bariatric surgeries in California, and found that gastric band operations increased seven-fold from 2005 to 2024. They also found that 590 people between 13- and 20-years-old underwent gastric band or gastric bypass surgery during the study period.

Another point noted was that 93 percent of the weight-reduction surgeries were performed in hospitals that are not affiliated with nationally recognized children’s hospitals.

While “manufacturers have touted the banding procedure as less invasive, many [medical] centers have abandoned gastric banding because of poor long-term results,” say the study’s authors. (more…)

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Jason

Australia Considering Tax-Funded Obesity Surgery

There have been varying publicly-funded interventions with regards to the fight on obesity. But none are as direct as the one being initiated in Australia.

The government down under is considering funding lap-band surgery to curb rising rates of obesity. You can’t get anymore directly interventionist than that. If implemented, the plan would have tax payers footing the bill for surgery. Lap-band surgery is where surgeons attach a band around the entrance to the stomach so patients feel full after eating a moderate amount of food. (more…)

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Jason

Don’t Let Self-Image Interfere with Healthy Habits

When I was contemplating surgery on my hip, the thought of taking three (or more!) months to recover had to be balanced with the hope of being able to run, dance, and even sleep without pain. I had learned to live with, and to some degree tune out, the nagging ache, but I was not sure how I could handle limiting myself and my activities for so long. My image of my self includes physical activity and fitness, as well as knowledge and skills that allow me to teach dance. All of those things would have to be put on hold. I am also highly independent, and surgery required me to stay with my parents for a week and continue to be dependent on friends for rides and assistance for several weeks.

Your self-image can play a major role in your decision making, particularly when it comes to the habits that define your life. Even if it was only going to be a few months, I had to see myself and my life without the usual activity and independence. (more…)

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Brooke Randolph