CosmeticSurg blog: Expert insights from Dr. Ricardo L. Rodriguez

The images you see in the media place very high goals as to what is a “normal” body type. Keep in mind some of these people showing their bodies have had plastic surgery themselves (and/or very good airbrush artists). “I have no bottom and no butt if that makes sense. My boyfriend tries to pinch me and there is NO GRIP!” Yes, what you say makes sense. Indeed, if you look at the pages of many fashion magazines you will see models with “no bottom and no butt”. For many years liposuction to reduce the size of the butt was all the media talked about. The beauty ideal was to have as little butt as possible. Jennifer Lopez (J-LO) changed that!

One question I always clarify: What is the labiaplasty procedure is designed to do? Does it enhance sexual experience, improve the appearance of the vagina, or both? Since the procedure is a type of ‘vaginal rejuvenation,’ there is a lot of confusion from the media as to what exactly the goal of the procedure is. Furthermore, many gynecologists equate vaginal rejuvenation mainly with sexual enhancement. However, for most plastic surgeons, the purpose of the Labiaplasty procedure is to improve appearance only. Let’s review the media sound bites from both gynecologists and plastic surgeons…

High profile breast Implants have a smaller base diameter so it preserves the appearance of a narrower chest, and you get more anterior projection from the same 400cc volume. High profile implants have a more up front look.

Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez explains why the recovery period for the Brazilian butt lift is 3 weeks. If you sit sooner than that it can prevent some of the fat grafts from surviving. Sitting during the recovery period is harmful to the new fat grafts because it exerts a tremendous crushing pressure, up to 400 pounds per square inch in some areas, on these tender cells and tissues. Even the areas that are not crushed are under such pressure that blood flow is shut off.

The size of the cannula used in tumescent Liposuction can make a difference in the surgical result. You are more likely to get a smooth result if your surgeon uses a thin cannula . Read about the types of cannulas from Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez in Baltimore, Maryland.

Fat injection techniques are now being used in reconstructive breast surgery. Dr. Rodriguez, a Yale trained plastic surgeon explains why Breast reconstruction with fat injections may be a good choice for lumpectomy patients. Read about this new frontier of Plastic Surgery in his Cosmeticsurg Blog.

In practical terms, for a Westerner, a Rhinoplasty usually means taking the bump out of the nose, making it thinner, and making it look straight from the side view. The Asian nose usually does not have a hump, but instead tends to be flat in appearance. Thus Asian patients ask for more projection. Surgeons enhance the nose by augmenting it with a silicon insert to get it to look “straight” from the side view. This enhancement eliminates the flat look. When the nose is remodeled with a silicone insert, it will make the nose look thinner. Surgery of the tip is also different because in the western patient one has to reduce the size of the tip cartilage and put sutures in it to narrow the shape. When using the silicon insert in the dorsum, the tip is usually pulled up and the shape of the nostril is refined as it becomes narrow and taller. In a few cases the tip cartilages may require sutures, but usually the procedure is simpler than in the western nose.

Plastic Surgeons have been harvesting stem cells for years. Your own unwanted fat is loaded with precious adult stem cells. Dr. Rodriguez talks about fat injections and your own fountain of youth.

Dr. Rodriguez discusses the difference between fat injections for Breast augmentation and stem cell enhanced fat injections to the breast. He cites the ASPS position paper regarding fat transfer. Read about it in his CosmeticSurg blog.

Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez, a Yale trained Plastic Surgeon with 20 years experience, explains why minimally manipulated adult stem cells for autologous usage should not be considered ‘drugs’. There are rumblings that the FDA will classify all adult stem cells as ‘drugs’. Fat cells are a type of adult stem cell. Is your own fat a drug? Read about it in his CosmeticSurg Blog.

When the correct technique is used fat grafts are permanent. Dr. Rodriguez, a Yale trained plastic surgeon with 20 years experience explains the correct techniques for fat grafting in his Cosmeticsurg blog.

During the past decade, researchers have discovered that stem cells can also be extracted from your own fat tissue. These adult stem cells have the same potential as embryonic stem cells, except for the ability to differentiate into sperm or ova. Unlike embryonal stem cells, stem cells extracted from your own fat are abundant, easily available, and pose no ethical or political controversy.

Yale Plastic Surgery Residency was unique in that they taught via the Socratic Method instead of the Great Master’s Method used by other teaching programs. In the Socratic method you arrive at knowledge through a process of questioning and answering. The process stimulates logical thinking and illuminates ideas.

In order to get your desired surgical result for a Rhinoplasty (nose surgery), you should explain the nose you want using certain descriptive terms with your plastic surgeon in your initial consultation. Dr. Rodriguez explains how surgeons think about the nose and what terms you should use to describe the things you want to change about your nose.

The primary goal of a Facelift is to achieve a natural, refreshed appearance, not a ‘done’ look. Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez, a Yale trained board certified plastic surgeon, explains more about achieving a great face lift and his unique approach.