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Liposuction: Wet Technique

Liposuction: Wet Technique

With the high blood loss associated with the Dry Technique, surgeons evolved to using the Wet Technique for Liposuction.

The Wet Technique involves the placement of 200 to 300 cc of wetting solution into the fatty areas to be treated before suctioning. Wetting solution is IV fluid with Lidocaine for pain control and Epinephrine, which constricts blood vessels thus minimizing blood loss, added in.

This technique is another that I never use for my Louisville Liposuction cases. The reason, again, is it can lead to too much blood loss. Blood loss can range from 4% to 30% of the volume of fatty tissue removed.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

Liposuction: Dry Technique

The Dry technique has been largely abandoned in Louisville Liposuction. The reason is that it led to too much blood loss.

Dry liposuction was the first technique used. It was done under general anesthesia and liposuction cannulas were used to remove the unwanted fat without any fluid being infiltrated into the area. The result was blood loss equaling somewhere around 30% of the volume of fatty tissue removed. This was accompanied by significant swelling, bruising, hospital stays, and even transfusions.

In 2010, I suspect you will not find a Plastic Surgeon using the dry technique for Louisville Liposuction. I certainly do  not.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Liposuction Surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett.

Options in Louisville Liposuction

I just completed the Plastic Surgery In Service exam. This is a comprehensive test that Plastic Surgery residents take each year to measure their knowledge base. Surgeons in practice can also take it to help ensure we are current with the ever expanding knowledge base within our specialty.

There were a lot of good questions about liposuction techniques so I thought I would use the next few blogs to explain the options you have for Louisville Liposuction. These include tumescent, dry, wet, superwet, ultrasonic, and laser liposuction.

Liposuction in Louisville Ky., like most parts of the country, remains one of the most frequently requested cosmetic procedures for Plastic Surgeons.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.corbettcosmeticsurgery.com

Keller Funnels

I blogged about his topic a few days ago but I wanted to stress how much easier the keller funnel makes Louisville  breast augmentations.

The funnel looks like the bags used to apply icing to cakes. The way it works is I am able to drop the silicone implant into the funnel, place the smaller opening of the funnel thru the incision into the implant pocket. Then I just squeeze and the implant goes in. This keeps it from touching the skin and getting contaminated. Skin bacteria are thought to be one of the causes of scar capsule formation. Thus, the hope is that using the funnels will help reduce capsular contracture rates.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.corbettcosmetisurgery.com

Better but still the same Breast…

When I meet a new patient considering a Louisville Breast Augmentation, a Louisville Breast Lift or a Louisville Breast Reduction they often share a common misconception. That is, after one of the aforementioned procedures, their breast tissue will change. This isn’t the case.

After an augmentation the breast will be larger. The upper volume will be restored. Droop can be corrected. BUT…the breast tissue that sits on top of the implant is still the same breast tissue you started with. It will not become firmer. The skin will not change. Stretch marks will not go away etc…

The same is true for a reduction or lift. These are great operations because they work! But, again, the nature and consistency of the breast tissue itself is unchanged.

Lee Corbett, MD

https://www.corbettcosmeticsurgery.com/

All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Plastic Surgeon Dr. Lee Corbett.

Lip Lines

Lip lines are a common complaint in my Louisville Plastic Surgery office.

Treatment options for lip lines include Louisville Botox, Louisville Dysport, fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm, and lasers.

Botox, Dysport and fillers are office procedures that only take a few minutes to have done. Lasers, depending on their power levels, can be done in the office or sometimes in the operating room.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

Keller Funnels…making breast augmentation better.

A new product is making Louisville Breast Augmenations easier. The Keller Funnels is a new product that allows silicone implants to be placed more quickly and easily. The implant is placed in the funnel using a “no-touch” technique, the neck of the funnel is placed thru the incision into the implant pocket, and the  implant is then squeezed thru the funnel. This allows placement of the implant without any contact with the skin.

To my knowledge I am the only Louisville Plastic Surgeon using this new technique.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.corbettcosmeticsurgery.com

Maintenance of Board Certification

The American Board of Plastic Surgery requires all member surgeons certified after 1995 to participate in a Maintenance of Certification process. Older surgeons who were certified before 1995 are grandfathered in.

The maintenance program measures a surgeon’s dedication to continuing education. As a Board Certified surgeon who got his certificate in 1999, I participate in the MOC process. What this involves is scrutiny on the Boards part of my cases, patient satisfaction, professional standing with the hospitals and state licensure board. In addition, I have to take and pass a written exam every 10 years to keep my Boards. I took the test early in 2007 and am certified through 2019.

When you see a Louisville Plastic Surgeon ask if they participate in the MOC process.

Lee Corbett, MD
www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

American Board of Plastic Surgery

While seeing patients today in my Louisville, KY Plastic Surgery office, I received the newletter from the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

On the cover was a photo of the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Michael Sadove. Also  newly elected to the Board was Dr. Robert Havlik. Both of these accomplished surgeons and national leaders trained me during my Plastic Surgery residency!

In addition, our Department Chairman, Dr. Jack Coleman is Past Chair of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Congratulations  to my former teachers, Drs. Sadove and Havlik!

Lee Corbett, MD
www.corbettcosmeticsurgery.com

Update: Insurance coverage for tummy tucks and panniculectomies

I see a lot of patients who have lost weight and want their insurance to pay for their Louisville Tummy Tuck or Louisville Panniculectomy.

What I am seeing is that all of these requests for insurance coverage are denied. A Tummy Tuck is and always has been considered a cosmetic procedure. Cosmetic translates into self pay. We have been asking insurance companies to pay for panniculectomies but what we get 100% of the time is a refusal. We have not had a panniculectomy be approved since sometime back in 2007. In ’08 and ’09 we had a zero % approval rate.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com