Posted on April 2, 2013 in Plastic Surgery Information, Practice News
We were recently able to sit down with our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Tiffany McCormack, for a Q&A session regarding the innovative cellulite treatment known as Cellulaze™. Below are Dr. McCormack’s answers detailing unique aspects of the minimally-invasive procedure.
Question: What makes Cellulaze™ unique compared to other cellulite reduction techniques, and what ultimately enticed you into offering the procedure?
Dr. McCormack: Cellulaze™ is the first procedure shown to significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite in a single treatment. The fact that it is minimally invasive played an integral role in wanting to provide this procedure for my patients, as many of them are mothers that simply do not have the time necessary for recovery from more invasive surgical body contouring procedures.
Q: Is there a specific time of year that you would recommend receiving Cellulaze™? If so, please explain why.
DM: Cellulaze™ is an effective procedure no matter what time of year it’s received, but I suppose I’d have to say Springtime would be the ideal season for treatment. The Spring months often provide ample time for Cellulaze™ results to appear before the arrival of bathing suit season and warm-weather clothing in the Summer.
Q:What areas of the body can be treated with Cellulaze™, and will you please briefly describe how the treatment works?
DM: Cellulaze™ can be used to treat the hips, thighs, abdomen, and buttocks. In short, laser energy is used to release the strain of fibrous bands creating dimples in the patient’s skin. This energy also helps to level out fat lumps and stimulate the production of new collagen for improved skin depth and elasticity.
Q:What do you generally say to patients who are hesitant about receiving a cosmetic procedure to reduce their cellulite?
DM: Many patients believe that cellulite is a fat-related issue that can be resolved with a healthy diet and regular exercise routine. I remind my patients that cellulite is often caused by factors outside of their control. Genetics, skin thickness, the natural aging process, and the body’s distribution of fat are all unique to each patient and affect the development of cellulite. For these reasons, a cosmetic treatment designed to target the root causes of cellulite can be more effective than diet and exercise.
Q: What is the procedure like?
DM: The procedure is minimally-invasive and generally takes about one and a half hours to complete. Several small incisions are made in targeted areas through which the laser energy is directed. Local anesthesia will help to eliminate any discomfort, and the majority of patients are able to return to their daily routines immediately following the procedure. Any bruising or swelling will typically diminish after a couple of days.
Q: What can patients expect in regard to results?
DM: Results will appear after about four weeks and will continue to improve over the course of about three months. Studies have shown that results last about three years on average, and in some cases, even longer.
Schedule Your Cellulaze™ Consultation
For more information about cellulite treatment with Cellulaze™, or to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Tiffany McCormack, please contact McCormack Plastic Surgery today.
Posted on May 30, 2012 in Practice News, Tummy Tuck Topics
Dr. Tiffany McCormack, a board-certified plastic surgeon, is announcing the recent addition of one of the latest developments in liposuction known as SmartLipo™. The liposuction alternative uses laser energy to reduce fat pockets and create an increasingly contoured appearance, which she says can reduce the recovery time and bruising often associated with the traditional liposuction procedure.
SmartLipo™ was approved by the FDA in 2006 as the first laser-assisted liposuction alternative. According to Dr. McCormack, the minimally invasive procedure allows her to specifically target those areas of fat that have been resistant to diet and exercise. In addition to the overall effectiveness of this innovative technology, she adds that SmartLipo™ presents the patient with a more cost-effective solution to eliminating unwanted fat and achieving the body contour and confidence in their appearance they desire.
After administering a local anesthetic to the targeted areas, the Reno plastic surgeon creates small incisions to accommodate for the ultra-thin fiber optic lasers, which will melt the excess fat and allow it to be suctioned out. Once the procedure is complete, she says the patient’s skin should be smoother, tighter, and firmer, improving the overall aesthetic contour of the area. Because of the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, Dr. McCormack says most patients are able to resume their normal daily activities within one to two days. While recovery times and side effects will vary for each patient, she says any bruising or swelling should subside quickly, with results continuing to improve in the weeks and months following the procedure.
Regardless of whether a patient is considering a less invasive procedure such as SmartLipo™, or a combination of procedures known as the mommy makeover, Dr. McCormack says she urges patients to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. “In choosing a board certified surgeon, patients will know this plastic surgeon has completed at least five years of surgical training with a minimum of two years in plastic surgery; they will know the surgeons has been trained in all cosmetic enhancement procedures, operates only in accredited medical facilities, adheres to a strict code of ethics, and fulfills rigorous continuing education requirements.”
As for why Dr. McCormack has added the SmartLipo™ system, she says there are three distinct advantages: “First, I have found that many patients have relatively small areas they are interested in treating, such as the neck, arms, lower abdomen, and inner thighs. Some of these areas benefit as much from skin tightening as they do from fat reduction. Second, SmartLipo can be performed in office and requires little downtime. And last, while I have resisted laser lipolysis systems in the past because of their reputation for possible burns, the triplex system is the only system with a subdermal temperature probe that automatically turns off if the temperature gets too high. SmartLipo is a safe and effective treatment that allows patients to address some of the issues that liposuction alone does not.”
About Tiffany McCormack, MD
Dr. Tiffany McCormack completed her plastic surgery residency training at Stanford University Medical Center. She is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Dr. McCormack is published regularly on a variety of aesthetic enhancement procedures and pursues the latest in plastic surgery technology through continued education.
McCormack Plastic Surgery is located at 10685 Professional Circle, Suite B, Reno, NV 89521, and can be reached at (775) 284-2020. Dr. McCormack and her team can also be contacted via their website at www.mommymakeoverreno.com, or the Reno Mommy Makeover Facebook page.
Posted on March 12, 2010 in Breast Topics, Practice News
The term “Mommy Makeover” has gained a great deal of popularity over the past couple of years and many believe that it is the latest trend in plastic surgery. Calculating statistics on the number of women who undergo post-pregnancy plastic surgery procedures may be difficult to come by however. This is because a mommy makeover involves a combination of procedures and is considered a marketing term rather than a surgical one. Official numbers aside, Dr. McCormack’s most popular procedures involve combinations of breast surgery, body contouring and abdominoplasty.
As a mother and board certified plastic surgeon, media outlets naturally come to Dr. McCormack for her insight when reporting on the latest mommy makeover trends. Her latest feature – a full page spread in New Beauty Magazine, a national publication heralded as the The Ultimate Cosmetic Enhancement Guide.
Simply click on the image below to view all the details. If you have any questions about the “mommy makeover”, or would like to arrange your private consultation with Dr. McCormack, please call our office at (775) 284-2020.
Posted on February 9, 2009 in Breast Topics, Plastic Surgery Information
When getting breast implants, will it look more natural to place the implants under or over the muscle?
Breast implants can be placed above or below the (pectoralis) muscle. Placing the implant over the muscle may result in less pain and faster recovery. However, placing the implant under the muscle looks and feels more natural (because there is more tissue covering the implant), may lead to less incidence of capsular contracture (hardening of scar tissue around the implant), and offers less interference with mammograms. I also believe that it offers better long- term support when placed under the muscle. There is further distinction between placing the implant partially or fully under the muscle – the advantages of which can be discussed in consultation as they are relevant to your personal breast shape and ultimate goals.
Posted on February 6, 2009 in Breast Topics, Plastic Surgery Information
How long after pregnancy should I wait before I can get breast implants and undergo breast lift?
Some patients only need an implant to fill out the breast following pregnancy while others will require an implant with a breast lift. This will depend on how much excess skin you have and the position of your nipple following pregnancy changes. It is best to wait 3-6 months after pregnancy or, if you breast feed, 3-6 months after breast feeding. Keep in mind that you will need help for a few weeks if you have surgery when your children are still small because the procedure will limit your activity levels and your ability to lift a certain amount of weight. Most of my patients are looking to have their breasts restored to the pre-pregnancy shape and size without looking like they are “done”. I specialize in natural results with the restoration of fullness that pregnancy takes away. After pregnancy, the breast tissue atrophies – leaving a flat appearance at the top of the breast, and sometimes leaving the nipple in an unnaturally low position.
