In the past year, I’ve taken care of many patients who previously had liposuction and came to me for liposuction repair.  The severity of their problems ranged from subtle contour irregularities such as lumps and bumps to noticeable shelves or chunks of fat left behind.  Some of the worst cases I’ve had to fix involved previous mesotherapy sometimes called lipo dissolve – where injections marketed as “fat dissolving” actually resulted in numerous rocks of scar tissue in the fat.   These revision cases are usually extremely challenging to fix.  There is often a lot of scar tissue present in the areas of previous surgery so blending the uneven areas takes a lot of surgical planning, skill and experience in liposuction repair.  The story of one of my patients who came to Athenix seeking a specialist in liposuction repair had significant unevenness after a previous liposuction procedure whom I fixed with a revision surgery is being featured on “The Doctors” TV show on CBS.

When it comes to body sculpting, as with any surgery, it is important to go to an experienced and trained plastic surgeon who specializes in the procedure.  Liposuction and body sculpting requires technical skill and an artistic eye to create an ideal silhouette.  Good communication between patient and surgeon are essential.  As with any surgical procedures, there are always potential risks involved.  When it comes to liposuction or any fat removal procedure, there is always a chance of asymmetries, lumps, dents, or unevenness.  However an experienced and trained surgeon utilizing the latest technology can minimize the chances of any of these complications from occurring.

For patients who have had less than desirable results, it is often emotionally challenging for them to undergo a liposuction repair surgery.  Many of my patients told me that they had lost hope that there was any chance of fixing their surgery and because of their previous bad experience; they were hesitant to have a second procedure.

For the patients who come to me with previous liposuction complications, I always make sure to help them set realistic expectations for what liposuction repair surgery can do for them.  At Athenix, we specialize in Micro-Body Contouring using the latest technology in fat removal, which is ideal for fixing some of these complex problems.  Sections of fat left behind can be removed and blended into the surrounding areas to create a smoother contour and unevenness can usually be corrected.  Dents and areas where too much fat was taken can be lifted and fat transfer performed to smooth the area.  However, for areas where there is a lot of scar tissue or deep dents, I caution patients that the scar or dents often re-form.

In general, it’s always best to have surgery performed correctly the first time.  I always encourage patients to do their research and make sure they have all their questions and concerns answered before proceeding with surgery.

Dr. Catherine Begovic of Athenix in Pasadena, CA performs a liposuction repair to correct flaws left from a previous doctor’s procedure, giving an Orange County woman the body she wanted in the first place. She’ll reveal her new look in an upcoming episode of the popular TV show.

Pasadena, CA – “The Doctors” will feature an advanced liposuction and liposuction repair procedure in an upcoming show. Plastic surgeon Dr. Catherine Begovic of Athenix Body Sculpting Institute will show how a technique called “Micro-body contouring” can be used to smooth out and fix bad liposuction results. Dr. Begovic performed the procedure for Dawn, an Orange County woman who has been unhappy with the results of previous liposuction done by a different doctor.

The high volume of liposuction done each year is leaving some women disappointed with their results. Whether due to miscommunication with their doctors or the use of outdated liposuction technologies and techniques, many women aren’t ending up with the look they desired.

Dawn, 38, is very athletic, and she considers herself to be in good shape. But, like many women Dawn has been unhappy with some figure flaws, and after diet and exercise didn’t work she decided to try liposuction. “I didn’t have much of a defined waist,” says Dawn, “and I wanted to have a more feminine shape.”

Several years ago Dawn had her flanks done. “I did see some results at first,” says Dawn, “and my doctor said I’d have to wait to see the best outcome, after healing.” But after waiting for 8 months, Dawn says she was really unhappy with her look. “The areas in my abdomen and back that the doctor said he would fix were not done as I expected. The doctor finally said that he just couldn’t do anything else for me. I had poor healing and I was still left with uneven areas in my abs and no curves! A ridge was left on my tummy, near her belly button, and my waistline was left nearly straight up and down!

Dawn just had her first post-op photos taken and three weeks after the procedure her results are dramatic. She now has a beautifully toned tummy and a feminine curve to her waist. Dr. Begovic also re-sculpted Dawn’s back and “bra roll” areas to create a smooth, natural look. When the final segment on The Doctors is taped this week, Dawn’s “after” photos will reveal that she finally has the body shape she’s wanted all along. The broadcast date of the episode will be announced soon.

About Athenix Body Sculpting Institute™

Athenix Body Sculpting Institute™ is a leading cosmetic surgery center that specializes in body contouring with locations in Bellevue, Wash., Fresno, Calif., Pasadena, Calif. and Irvine, Calif. Athenix offers Micro-Body Contouring procedures, which help men and women treat problem fat areas without the medical risks and downtime of traditional liposuction and general anesthesia. Micro-Body Contouring combines Body-Jet water-assisted liposuction with laser lipo to create better aesthetic results with shorter recovery periods.

For more information visit www.athenixbody.com or call (888) 276-1535.

Video and news coverage featuring Micro-Body Contouring may be viewed on Athenix’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/AthenixBodySculpting

About Dr. Catherine Begovic:

Dr. Begovic graduated from Harvard University with Honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She was awarded her medical degree from UCLA.  At UCLA, Dr. Begovic took a special interest in stem cells found in fat and fat injections, publishing many research papers in plastic surgery and scientific journals on the topic. Upon completion of her medical degree, Dr. Begovic was selected into the highly-competitive Head and Neck Surgery training program at UCLA performing advanced Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgery for 6 years. She then completed a second surgery training program in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UCLA. The UCLA plastic surgery training program has been rated one of the top training programs in the country in all areas of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery.  She was voted one of “2010 America’s Top Plastic Surgeons” by the Consumers’ Research Council of America and nominated for the “2010 Woman of the Year in Medicine & Healthcare.”  For more information on Dr. Begovic visit www.AthenixBody.com or call 626-320-1013.

We are pleased to announce that our Athenix Body Sculpting institute™ facility in Irvine, California has received accreditation from the Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ).  While current Athenix patients already know about our dedication to safety, IMQ accreditation serves as further validation of the high level of standards that we uphold at all of our Athenix locations. IMQ accreditation is completely voluntary in California—we sought out this additional stamp of approval from an objective community of active physicians as a sign of our commitment to quality and patient safety.

The Irvine clinic is accredited through the IMQ Ambulatory Care program. In order to receive IMQ accreditation, our facility and staff underwent a period of rigorous review that spanned several months. During this time, the IMQ Ambulatory Care Review Committee subjected all aspects of our facility’s operation to intense scrutiny. The Committee performed a thorough examination of:

• The calibration and maintenance of our medical equipment
• The credentials of our clinical staff
• Our patient medical record keeping practices
• Our safety procedures and safety equipment

The IMQ review also included an on-site survey conducted by a team of practicing California physicians and ambulatory care experts. The survey team reviewed our operating and recovery rooms as well as our administrative and support services.

We’re happy to report that we passed with flying colors. Now, we’re in the process of receiving IMQ accreditation for all of our facilities.

About the Institute for Medical Quality

The Institute for Medical Quality was launched by the California Medical Association and is one of the most respected non-profit accrediting organizations in California. The IMQ Ambulatory Care Review Program is recognized by the Medical Board of California Health as an approved accrediting body for Safety Code 1248 (AB-595) compliance.  IMQ is also recognized by a number of liability insurers, workers compensation carriers, health plans and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). IMQ’s reputation is so strong, in fact, that several other states have begun recognizing IMQ accreditation as well.

We chose IMQ because of its strong focus on issues specific to California medical practices.  We believe that accreditation from a group of knowledgeable, experienced and active members of the physician community in our own state is more meaningful and significant to our patients in Southern California. During the accreditation phase, we took the opportunity to work alongside IMQ surveyors in order to develop ways to further improve our safety practices and provide better quality care to you.

Read more about our advanced body sculpting techniques to learn how Micro Body Contouring offers safer treatment with less recovery time and superior aesthetic results.

We’re pleased to announce the launch of Athenix Body Sculpting Institute™.  Athenix was created through the acquisition of some of the assets of Avanti Development Company, Inc., including the name Avanti Skin and Laser Lipo Clinics.

This change reflects the next major milestone in our mission to provide the best possible service to our clients as our practice grows. The Athenix Body Sculpting Institute name speaks to the tremendous success of our Body Contouring services, which have formed the core of our practice. Thanks to referrals and word-of-mouth from our hundreds of satisfied patients, our flagship Micro-Body Contouring procedure has gained us quite a reputation and has drawn new clients from across the nation. While we’re proud to be known as a destination clinic, we’ve chosen to open new facilities in convenient locations so we can better serve our growing client-base.

If you are one of our current clients, you can continue visiting our locations for any prepaid services or the continuation of your body contouring plan. You’ll immediately recognize the personalized care and service that have become our signature. But you’ll notice a few beneficial improvements as well:

Greater Comfort and Privacy

The increased demand for our body contouring services has made it necessary to expand to larger facilities where we can deliver more discreet, personalized care.  We respect the needs of our clients and are committed to offering an environment conducive to this endeavor. Our larger spaces create a relaxed setting that can accommodate a greater number of patients without sacrificing our level of customer service. Our improved Body Sculpting Institute offers you privacy while facilitating a responsive environment among you, our staff and our doctors.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

We’ve designed our new facilities to meet AAAHC accreditation. In the U.S., AAAHC is the gold standard accreditation for surgical facilities and ensures that we provide our patients the utmost safety, quality of care and due diligence in handling your medical records and personal information.  Among skin care and body contouring centers, AAAHC accreditation is voluntary. But in order to meet our high standards for patient satisfaction and excellence in medical care, AAAHC accreditation is a must.

Expanded Body Contouring Procedures

Our expanded facilities allow us to offer even more procedures that help our clients look and feel their best. Our board-certified plastic and cosmetic surgeons are experts in the body contouring techniques that consistently deliver outstanding results.  Our full range of body contouring procedures includes (but is not limited to):

• Micro-Body Contouring is an artistic body sculpting and fat removal technique that employs minimally invasive, micro-instrumentation to deliver superior cosmetic results without the downtime and risks of major surgery.
• Natural Fat Transfer is an innovative new technique to truly sculpt the body you desire by using your body’s own natural fat to add greater contours to the breasts, buttocks, and face.
• Natural Breast Augmentation creates larger, natural looking breasts by using your body’s own natural fat without implanting foreign, synthetic materials into your body.
• Tummy Tucks tighten and smooth excess skin after shedding significant weight from the midsection.
• Avelar Mini-Tucks are often performed concurrently to liposuction in order to tighten skin with minimal scarring.
• Non-Surgical Solutions deliver measurable reduction in fat layers, circumference and the appearance of cellulite. A painless treatment with no downtime, our non-surgical body contouring is a great choice for patients seeking modest fat reduction with no downtime.

Because we’ve invested in the training and technology necessary to deliver the best results for your body type and aesthetic goals, our doctors can recommend a treatment that is tailored to your needs.

We’re undergoing exciting changes here at Athenix Body Sculpting Institute. But our dedication to our patients, our track record for success and our attentive service will never change.

Hope to see you soon!