Santa Barbara Liposuction after Weight Loss? Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Terry Perkins Answers Your Questions

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Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Terry Perkins answers reader’s questions about Santa Barbara plastic surgery. If you have a question about cosmetic surgery, especially face lifts and liposuction in Santa Barbara, send Dr. Perkins an email with “Ask the Cosmetic Surgeon” in the subject line.

Q: Hi Dr. Perkins. I have just lost over 100 pounds after being over weight for many years! I am so excited with my “new me” but what bothers me the most is the excess skin on my upper arms, thighs and stomach. Tell me more about the skin removal procedure and will my health insurance cover it?

 

A: First of all, I’d like to say Congratulations for such an impressive feat! I have treated patients before in your situation and, like you, most of them have worked very hard to take the weight off and having the excess skin removed is their “prize” at the end of the race, so to speak. My patients have gotten excellent results and are very happy to be able to wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, bathing suits, etc., without having excess skin hanging on them.
All the liposuction and body contouring procedures would be done out of my Santa Barbara Cosmetic Surgery Center facility and you would be able to choose the treatments you want and have them done together or separately. Please understand that since I have not seen you in person I am giving you the most likely scenario(s) for each treatment and my recommendation would be for you to schedule a plastic surgery consultation with me at 805.563.0000 so we can tailor the body contouring procedures to your specific needs.
    • Arm Liposuction and Arm Skin Removal: The excess skin on the upper arm often looks like a “bat wing” hanging down. If there is fat, the fat can be liposuctioned. In the case of too much loose skin, the skin is removed leaving a scar on inside of the arm, above the elbow and will not be visible from the front or back. If there is only a small amount of loose skin, the removal can often be confined to or near the armpit – which means minimal or no scar visibility.

 

    • Abdomen Liposuction and Abdomen Skin Removal (Santa Barbara Tummy Tuck): If a smaller amount of skin needs to be removed, a “mini” tummy tuck is usually sufficient. The mini tummy tuck is done with a small incision that will lie at the upper edge of the pubic hair (similar to a C-section scar). If a larger portion of skin needs to be removed, a tummy tuck can be done, where the abdominal muscles are usually sewn together to further flatten the lower abdomen and the incision may be extended from hip to hip.

 

  • Thigh Liposuction and Thigh Skin Removal: If there is fat to be removed, it can be done through liposuction on the inner and outer (“saddlebag”) thighs. If skin removal is needed, this is done for the inner thighs. The incision line will lie on the groin and upper thigh area so that it is hidden.
As for your question about health insurance, we do not take health insurance and, in most cases, liposuction and body contouring procedures are not covered. However, we will provide you with any information you need so that you may make a claim with your insurance company if appropriate. We do have a payment plan through Care Credit.

 

You can view “before and after” photos on our Cosmetic Surgery Center website of all the procedures discussed above and more!
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Dr. Perkins sees patients in Santa Barbara. Call for a consultation today at 805.563.0000. In many cases, if you decide to go ahead with the cosmetic surgery procedure(s) of your choice, your surgery can be scheduled within two to four weeks of your consultation.

Santa Barbara Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Perkins is an Expert in a “Non-Surgical” Look

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Yesterday an interesting article in the New York Times “Fashion & Style” section appeared online. Titled “A Little Too Ready for Her Close-Up?” it addressed the slow, but sure movement of Hollywood casting directors looking for a more “natural” woman and, in fact, have said that some are recruiting actors and actresses from Britain and Australia “because the amply endowed, freakishly young-looking crowd that shows up for auditions in Los Angeles suffers from too much sameness.”

Dr. Terry Perkins, a Santa Barbara cosmetic surgeon who has been practicing plastic surgery for over 30 years, understands this concept all too well and prides himself in performing facial surgeries that give the patient a well-rested, non-operated, rejuvenated appearance. Dr. Perkins combines his years of patient experience and expertise in cosmetic surgery to assess each patient on a case by case basis. Dr. Perkins does not perform a “cookie-cutter” face lift. He addresses each patient individually and customizes a face lift surgery to meet their needs and match their facial structure.
Dr. Perkins also performs facial rejuvenation surgery that may only address a specific part of the face such as an eyelid lift, brow lift or chin lift for those who do not want, or do not need, a full face lift. Dr. Perkins also offers non-surgical alternatives, such as the Layered Liquid Lift or Total Tightening procedures that take years off the face and are non-surgical procedures.

 

Along the lines of natural-looking cosmetic surgery, Dr. Perkins also performs a natural breast augmentation – a procedure where he can transfer a patient’s fat from liposuction to the breast area, which can be strategically placed to fill in areas that may be lacking or look unbalanced. Natural breast augmentation can up the cup size by one, depending on the amount of fat retrieved from liposuction. Natural breast augmentation gives the patient a boost, without the use of implants.
Schedule a consultation for a cosmetic surgery with natural results by Dr. Terry Perkins today! Dr. Perkins sees patients in Santa Barbara at his Cosmetic Surgery Center offices. For an appointment, call 805.563.0000.

Santa Barbara Liposuction Procedures

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Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Terry Perkins performs liposuction at his plastic surgery practice in Santa Barbara. Often people regard liposuction as an easy way to achieve rapid weight loss – no dieting involved – but that really is not the case. Dr. Perkins likes to stress that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, and that is why he often refers to liposuction as body contouring.

An ideal candidate for Santa Barbara liposuction would be someone who is healthy and fit and has, perhaps, already achieved their weight loss goals and would like to “touch-up” areas of the body that are harder to work off such as the hip/thigh area or the upper arm area. In fact, sometimes when a person has lost a large amount of weight, they will find that while the fat is gone, the skin is still sagging. This person would be a good candidate for body contouring using liposuction in conjunction with skin removal to obtain a firmer look for a specific body part.

Dr. Perkins has been performing cosmetic surgery in Santa Barbara for over 30 years. He is able to perform most liposuction procedures using oral sedation and local anesthesia – with no general anesthesia involved. This aids in a quicker recovery for most patients as they avoid the general anesthesia “hangover” the day after the procedure. Furthermore, Dr. Perkins’ patients can receive post-operative care at his Santa Barbara medical spa, Evolutions, to speed healing and improve results.
If you are interested in a Santa Barbara liposuction procedure, call Cosmetic Surgery Center today to book a consultation with Dr. Perkins at 805.563.0000. Dr. Perkins sees patients in Santa Barbara, CA.

Santa Barbara Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Perkins talks about Cosmetic Surgery and Young Adults, Heidi Montag, and Multiple Cosmetic Procedures Done at Once

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Dr. Terry Perkins, cosmetic surgeon in Santa Barbara for over 30 years, answers questions from his readers and clients. If you have a questions about plastic surgery, send Dr. Perkins an email with “Ask the Cosmetic Surgeon” in the subject line.

Q: Hi Dr. Perkins. Everywhere I turn, I am being bombarded with pictures and news clips of Heidi Montag, the 23-year old who is famous for being on a reality tv show, and now even more well-known for having 10 cosmetic procedures done at the same time. I’ve seen before-and-after pictures of Heidi Montag and she does look like a different person. The show Good Morning America interviewed Heidi Montag and her face looked like it wasn’t moving! What do you think about someone so young having plastic surgery? And how do you feel about 10 cosmetic procedures at once?

A: I have noticed that Heidi Montag’s plastic surgery is certainly making news. While she is on the younger side for having cosmetic surgery, it is not that unusual. Many young women have gotten breast augmentation and/or rhinoplasty, however we just don’t hear about it because they are not in the public eye. Since Heidi is only about 10 weeks out of surgery, her face may still be swollen and stiff. With time, her face will “settle” more and may look more natural.
These days many younger adults are seeking cosmetic surgery or cosmetic procedures, like Botox to reduce their wrinkles. Perhaps this is happening more than in decades past because it is much more affordable and there are many more doctors specializing in cosmetic and plastic surgery than before. On that note, I do stress that it is important to thoroughly research the doctor you plan to use. With the rise in popularity of cosmetic surgeries, some of the doctors may not be properly trained and may not be board certified.

Ten cosmetic procedures may sound like a lot, but assuming that Heidi is young and in great health, she may have opted to do everything at once so she would not have to go under general anesthesia multiple times. Electing to have procedures done one at a time or all at once is a decision that should be made between the patient and the doctor and varies from person to person. Some of the procedures that Heidi had done could have been done without general anesthesia, like Botox in her forehead for wrinkle treatment, and liposuction. At Cosmetic Surgery Center, we try to do most liposuction procedures with the combination of local anesthesia and oral sedation. I’ve blogged about anesthesia and liposuction before and you can read the entire post here.

If you are interested in having a cosmetic surgery procedure in Santa Barbara such as liposuction or a facelift, call my office for a consultation appointment. We are here to discuss your options, answer your questions and address any concerns.

Cosmetic Surgery Center is located in Santa Barbara and can be reached at 805-563-0000.

Common Questions for Cosmetic Surgery in Santa Barbara

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Santa Barbara cosmetic surgeon Dr. Terry Perkins and his staff receive many questions during consultations for cosmetic surgery. Below are some of the most popular questions, and answers from Dr. Perkins, to help you make a more informed choice about your cosmetic surgery!

Questions about Santa Barbara cosmetic surgery consultation, cost, insurance, scheduling and location:

    • How much does surgery cost? Costs depend on the procedure(s) performed. A written quotation is given to you at the time of your consultation.

 

 

    • Do you take insurance? Will you bill my insurance company? No. We will give you any information you need so you can submit a claim to your insurance company if it is appropriate.

 

    • Where are the surgeries performed? In Cosmetic Surgery Center’s outpatient surgical facility located in Santa Barbara near Cottage hospital. 

 

 

  • How long do I have to wait from the consultation to the day of surgery? Generally, your surgery can be scheduled within 2 to 4 weeks.

Frequently asked questions about Dr. Perkins:

    • How long has Dr. Perkins been in practice? Dr. Perkins has been serving the Tri-county area and beyond since 1978.

 

  • Is Dr. Perkins board certified? Yes. Dr. Perkins is double board certified by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the AAOHNS (facial plastic surgery). He specializes in facial plastic and liposuction surgery.

Questions about medical information, anesthesia and post-operative care:

 

    • Can I drive myself home? Yes, if light or no sedation is used. Otherwise plan for a friend or relative to take you home after surgery.

 

    • Is there a lot of pain associated with surgery? Most facial procedures (including full face lifts) and body contouring surgeries have remarkably little pain that can be easily controlled with oral medication.

 

    • Is my medical information confidential? What if my family calls with questions? Your medical information is always kept private. It can be discussed with your family members only if you say it is OK.

 

  • I have a few medical issues – can I still have surgery? That depends on what your medical issues are. As cosmetic surgery procedures are usually elective, there is never a reason to put any patient at risk. If necessary, “medical clearance” will be requested from your family MD.
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Call Cosmetic Surgery Center to schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins to discuss your questions and concerns about cosmetic surgery at 805.563.0000.

Ask Santa Barbara Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Perkins – Chemical Peels Address Fine Lines, Hyperpigmentation, Skin Tone and More

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Dr. Terry Perkins, a cosmetic surgeon in Santa Barbara, CA, answers questions from patients and readers about cosmetic surgery, Botox, acne, wrinkles and more. Email your questions to Dr. Perkins and look for his answer on his blog soon!
Q: Dr. Perkins, is there a procedure that is not too expensive or invasive, with little down time, that can address my fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation (age spots)? I am looking for something that I may be able to do in one visit to your office.

A: I founded Evolutions Medical Spa in Santa Barbara for clients like you! Evolutions offers medical grade skin-related services for all skin types and for a wide variety of concerns such as wrinkles, acne, scarring, hyperpigmentation and more.

I chose your question because this month Evolutions is focusing on chemical peels. A chemical peel may be the right choice for your skin concerns mentioned above. Evolutions recently blogged about chemical peels, stating that they are the “best bang for your buck”. Read more from the Evolutions post about chemical peels here.
Evolutions offers light, medium and deep chemical peels that have not too much down time, yet they yield results that you can visibly see. The deepest peel we have is the Obagi Blue Peel – your skin will appear clearer, smoother and younger looking. The medium peels, or Alpha-Beta peels, and lighter peels can be done once or in a series – since they are not as intense as the Blue Peel.

This month Evolutions is hosting an educational event focused on chemical peels. Join us for this free, informative evening with a presentation and a question and answer session. There will be exclusive discounts for attendees along with wine and refreshments and a raffle.

Wednesday, September 23rd, 6:30 to 8:30pm, at Evolutions, 1309 State Street, Santa Barbara. Please RSVP to Evolutions at 805.687.0212.

Looking forward to seeing you there!