Bruce K. Barach, MD

Mommy Makeovers

2008-09-15T13:07:00.001-04:00

Ask any woman who has had a child and they will tell you that it is hard on your body; it stretches everything, sometimes never to go back. The stomach, breasts, and other areas that are susceptible to pregnancy weight gain can benefit from a full mommy makeover.

In general, a mommy makeover consists of three separate procedures: a breast lift and/or augment, a tummy tuck, and some advantageously performed liposuction. In many cases, diet and exercise alone cannot get rid of all the fatty deposits that appear during pregnancy. Stretch marks and sagging skin don't go away on their own. These procedures can tighten things up and get you back in your pre-motherhood form.

The fact is many women simply cannot regain their trim appearance without a little help. You should not be made to feel guilty about doing something for yourself. Child bearing is difficult enough without having to go through post-child bearing years looking less than your best.

When you decide you are no longer going to have children, consult with a qualified board certified plastic surgeon to help get you back where you belong. In Albany, Schenectady, Troy, or Saratoga Springs, New York, please contact Dr. Barach to schedule an initial mommy makeover consultation today.

Liposuction

2008-09-02T12:55:00.002-04:00

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed today is liposuction. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were over 300,000 procedures performed in 2007. In this procedure, the plastic surgeon literally inserts a tube through tiny incisions under your skin and vacuums out fat cells.

Liposuction is not a weight loss solution since only a few pounds of fat can safely be removed. Instead, it should be considered as an option to get rid of the fat bulges in troublesome areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. The best candidates for liposuction are adults who are generally in good health. It should be done only after you have gotten your weight under control and used to fine-tune your new body.

Most liposuction procedures are conducted on an outpatient basis and have minimal recovery times. In many cases, some amount of liposuction is performed during other procedures like facelifts, arm lifts, tummy tucks, and other tightening procedures. Liposuction is a major component in body sculpting and mommy makeovers as well.

If you are considering liposuction in Albany, Schenectady, Troy, or Saratoga Springs, New York, please contact Dr. Barach to schedule an initial consultation. He will work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan so you can obtain the best possible results.

Laser Treatment

2008-08-15T15:32:00.002-04:00

Like Goldilocks visiting the three bears, if you are looking for an effective laser skin treatment, you'll want to find the one that is "just right." There are two basic types of lasers used in cosmetic procedures.

Ablative
Non-ablative

Ablative lasers are more powerful and really knock out the unwanted tissue by vaporizing it. Ablative laser treatment is more powerful and may require longer healing time. That may be more downtime after the procedure than you would like. The non-ablative process is less powerful and may require multiple visits to the cosmetic surgeon before you notice any significant improvements. What you want is the solution that is "just right."

Recently, the FDA approved Fraxel Laser Treatment, which covers the middle ground in laser technology. It is considered a non-ablative laser, but it shows results much more quickly. Fraxel Treatment penetrates through the outer layers of the skin and creates microscopic abrasions that trigger the body's natural healing processes. New skin and collagen are created as a result of this minor trauma to your skin cells. Fraxel Laser treats many skin conditions including:

Acne scars
Age spots
Melasma
Crows feet
Stretch marks
Hypo and Hyperpigmentation
Large pores
Wrinkles

If you want to reduce acne scars or age spots with minimal downtime, look for a cosmetic surgeon who is trained on the Fraxel Laser system. If you are in Albany, Schenectady, Troy, or Saratoga Springs, New York area, please contact Dr. Barach for an initial consultation to see if Fraxel Laser Treatment will work for you.

Fillers

2008-08-01T15:13:00.001-04:00

Injectable fillers are used to smooth away wrinkles in your face, around your nose, between your brows, and around your eyes. In the old days (5 years ago), the only viable option was using collagen injections. Now however, there are other products such as Restylane and Juvederm that are available. These products last up to six months and don't require allergy skin testing.

Both Restylane and Juvederm are transparent gels that are injected under the skin to tighten areas where wrinkles appear. They contain hyaluronic acid, an important ingredient in human connective tissue. Once injected, these fillers can absorbs up to 1000 times their volume of water. They can also maintain this extra volume for up to six months, which is much longer than traditional collagen injections can last.

According to a study by the University of Michigan, these hyaluronic acid fillers not only maintain volume, they actually stimulate the production of your body's own collagen. The expansion of the gel stretches skin cells called fibroblasts, as these cells stretch more collagen is produced giving you even younger, more natural looking wrinkle prevention.

If you are looking to eliminate wrinkles, and you live in Albany, Schenectady, Troy, or Saratoga Springs, New York, please contact Dr. Barach for an initial consultation to see if Restylane and Juvederm are right for you.

Facelifts

2008-07-25T10:27:00.002-04:00

Not everybody can look as good as Brad and Angelina, but there are ways to make improvements to your looks. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 118,400 Americans elected for a facelift in 2007 to help them look younger and feel better.

Over the years, facelift surgeries have improved tremendously. Modern day cosmetic surgeons are highly skilled in all the latest techniques. You used to be able to spot friends and coworkers who received a facelift because they had a "windswept" appearance. Now, you just look better. A full rhytidectomy procedure removes excess skin and adjusts underlying tissue from the face. In some cases, liposuction may also be used to remove any excess pockets of fat. In particular, the appearance of the neck and areas beneath the chin can be improved dramatically. You can be back to work and play in a week or two.

If you are considering a facelift in Albany, Schenectady, Troy, or Saratoga Springs, New York, please call or contact Dr. Barach today to schedule your confidential facelift surgery consultation.

Breast Augmentation

2008-07-14T10:20:00.001-04:00

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of women having breast augmentation surgery has seen huge increases over the last several years. Compared to the year 2000, breast augmentation surgeries have increased over 60%. The primary reason may be the reintroduction of silicone gel implants to the United States market.

In the 1990s, the FDA took silicone gel off the market for breast augmentation because of health concerns. After much study of women who received silicone implants abroad and those in the U.S. undergoing reconstructive surgery with silicone gel, the FDA finally lifted the ban. While saline implants, the alternative to silicone, were still available, many women seem to prefer the natural look and feel of silicone implants.

Since the ban on silicone gel was lifted in 2005, breast augmentation surgeries skyrocketed. The latest silicone implants have been safely used in the United States and in other countries for several years and are more closely monitored by the manufacturers and the FDA.

If you are considering breast augmentation surgery, please contact Dr. Barach to schedule an initial consultation. Dr. Barach will develop a custom treatment plan and will be able to show you before and after images so you can see how you will look.

Cosmetic or Plastic?

2008-03-14T12:02:00.004-04:00

Many people aren’t aware of the difference between a “cosmetic surgeon” and a board-certified plastic surgeon. Anyone who performs procedures, such as Botox injections or liposuction, may call themselves cosmetic surgeons, regardless of their level of expertise and training. This can include nurses, doctors without a plastic surgery license, and or even a dentist who offers cosmetic enhancements. Board-certified plastic surgeons, however, are required to complete extensive training and a number of procedures which must be recognized by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before they can achieve licensure.

When you are considering a procedure, such as breast augmentation or a tummy tuck, you should keep in mind that it is in fact a surgical procedure. Choosing to entrust a qualified plastic surgeon can provide the skill and training to help you achieve your goals, and keep you safe during surgery.

To find out more about a plastic surgery procedure you are interested in, or to make an appointment for a consultation, contact us.