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Millions of Americans are frustrated with the appearance of stubborn body fat. Luckily, modern technology has given us a wealth of options for ridding ourselves of stubborn body fat. In addition to offering plastic surgery options like breast augmentation in San Antonio, at the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX, we offer two popular body sculpting options: smart liposuction and Coolsculpting. Smart lipo vs Coolsculpting: which is better for you?

Before we can help you decide between smart lipo vs Coolsculpting, we first have to examine how each one works. They are very different treatments, each with their own pros and cons.

What Is Smart Lipo?

Smart liposuction, also knows as laser liposuction, is an FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure that works a bit like a scaled-down version of traditional liposuction. Where liposuction uses vacuum suction to remove fat, smart lipo uses heat to melt fat before it’s siphoned out.

The treatment starts with a local anesthetic. Once the area of treatment is numb, a tiny incision is made. A fiber optic laser is inserted into the incision; this laser liquifies the fat. After that, a small tube called a cannula is used to suck the fat out from under the skin. This technique allows for hyper-targeted fat reduction, and the heat even has a beneficial side effect: it can stimulate the production of collagen. Collagen is the compound that keeps skin firm, so unlike with traditional liposuction, there are no worries about sagging skin post-treatment.

At the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas, we offer smart lipo in the form of a treatment called TightLase.

What Is Coolsculpting?

Where smart lipo uses heat to melt fat, Coolsculpting goes in the opposite direction and uses cold. Fat cells freeze at a slightly higher temperature than the skin and muscle that surrounds them, which means that with careful application of cold temperatures we can literally freeze away stubborn body fat.

Coolsculpting is an FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment that uses a specialized device to apply cold temperatures to the area of treatment. An applicator is placed on the targeted area. At the start of the treatment, you’re likely to feel cold temperatures and a sucking or pulling sensation. The area is soon numbed, though, and for the rest of the treatment, you’ll feel very little. There is no anesthesia, local or otherwise, involved, and when the treatment is done you can go right back to your daily routine.

We also offer Coolsculpting treatments at the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas.

Smart Lipo vs Coolsculpting

Between these two treatments, which is more effective? Which better suits your cosmetic goals and your lifestyle? In this section, we’ll break down the key elements of each body sculpting treatment to help you pick your winner in the battle of smart lipo vs Coolsculpting.

Effectiveness

Both treatments are highly effective. One Coolsculpting treatment can remove up to 23% of the fat from the targeted area, effectively reshaping it. Smart lipo can remove even more fat: up to five liters, depending on the amount of fat present and the size of the area being treated. Smart lipo can actually remove enough fat for a noticeable reduction in weight, though it should be noted that weight loss is not the primary reason anyone should undergo a smart lipo treatment.

When it comes to the speed of results, smart lipo again bests Coolsculpting. Patients can expect to see results from smart lipo in as little as a week, while Coolsculpting can take three weeks for results to begin to become visible and three to four months before the final results take shape. This is because, while smart lipo removes fat outright, Coolsculpting just freezes and kills the fat cells and leaves the body to break down and metabolize them. This process takes time.

Duration of Results

The results of both smart lipo and Coolsculpting are intended to be permanent. This is due to how fat cells work in the human body. Rather than creating new fat cells when we gain weight or destroying them when we lose weight, the body just stores more or less fat in its existing fat cells. In fact, the number of fat cells in our bodies stays more or less the same once we exit adolescence. It’s very difficult to destroy fat cells through diet and exercise alone; this is one of the main reasons some pockets of body fat are so tough to get rid of.

Because the body almost never creates new fat cells in adulthood, killing and/or removing them with smart lipo or Coolsculpting gets rid of them for good. The only reason results might not be permanent is because these treatments inevitably leave some fat cells behind. In the event of weight gain, those remaining cells will expand, resulting in the reappearance of body fat. If you live a healthy lifestyle though, this won’t be a concern.

Duration of Treatment

Smart lipo treatments take an average of one hour per targeted area, depending on both the amount of fat present and the size of the targeted area itself. It can take longer if there is a large volume of fat in the targeted area, for example. Coolsculpting takes anywhere from 35 minutes to one hour per targeted area, again depending on where that targeted area is.

Number of Treatments Required

Most people will only require one smart lipo treatment to achieve their desired results in their targeted area. Of course, if you plan to target multiple areas you might need more than one treatment to do so. Coolsculpting, on the other hand, can require multiple treatments to achieve the best results. Because it can remove up to 23% of fat in an area per treatment, you might require two or three treatments total to see a 50% fat reduction.

Post-Treatment Downtime

As mentioned above, Coolsculpting usually requires zero downtime for recovery. You can get your treatment and go right back to your day with no one the wiser. You may experience some tingling as the treated area thaws out, but that’s about it.

Smart lipo, as a minimally invasive treatment, requires some downtime. Experts usually recommend two to four days of rest and downtime post-treatment, and patients should wait for three weeks before resuming any strenuous activities like lifting weights.

Cost

The cost for both treatments varies based on a number of factors. For smart lipo, it can range from around $2500 to $4500 per targeted area. Smaller areas like the thighs and chin cost less, while larger areas like the lower and upper stomach cost more.

Individual Coolsculpting treatments are usually a little less expensive, but their cost also depends on the size of the targeted area and the applicator used to treat it. A treatment with a smaller applicator can cost as little as $750, while the largest applicators can cost around $1500. The smaller applicators, as you might expect, are used on a smaller area like the upper arms or chin, while the larger applicators are used on larger areas like the abdomen. Because many people require multiple Coolsculpting treatments, the total cost averages between $2000 to $4000, depending on the area being treated.

Who Are These Treatments for?

Most people in good health are candidates for both treatments. The ideal candidate for both is someone in good overall shape but who has a spot or two of stubborn body fat that they want to get rid of. People who are overweight and want to lose weight are not candidates. It must be noted that these are aesthetic treatments and not suitable solutions for weight loss. If you want to lose weight, you should speak to your doctor and formulate a diet and exercise plan that works for you.

There are a few other conditions that rule people out from undergoing these treatments.

Smart Lipo

Smart lipo might not be the best body contouring solution for you if you:

• Have recently had surgery
• Take anticoagulants
• Have a pacemaker or defibrillator
• Have heart disease or a heart condition
• Have insulin-dependent diabetes

There are other conditions that may prevent someone from undergoing this treatment. If you have questions, speak to us to learn more.

Coolsculpting

Coolsculpting might not be the best option for you if you:

• Have a current or past hernia in the targeted area of treatment
• Have lymphoma or another lymphatic disorder
• Have a neuropathic condition, such as diabetic neuropathy
• Have a clotting disorder
• Have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis in the targeted area

Just like with smart lipo, there are other conditions that may prevent someone from being a good candidate for Coolsculpting. If you’re wondering if it’s right for you, contact us to find out.

Smart Lipo vs Coolsculpting: Which Is Right for You?

Both smart lipo and Coolsculpting are FDA-approved and proven to be safe, effective ways of treating stubborn body fat that won’t respond to diet and exercise. Both offer a permanent solution to this frustrating fat, either by destroying the fat cells or removing them from the body entirely, for people who lead a healthy lifestyle. There are some key differences, however, that can help you decide which is the better overall body contouring solution for you.

Speed and Fat Removal

Coolsculpting’s lack of downtime for recovery is one of its key selling points. If you’d rather have a one-hour treatment and go back to your normal day, Coolsculpting might win out over smart lipo, which requires at least two days’ rest and three weeks of refraining from strenuous activities.

If, on the other hand, you’d rather take a couple days’ worth of downtime away from work rather than have multiple Coolsculpting treatments, smart lipo might be a better solution. Smart lipo’s ability to remove more fat in one sitting gives it the edge over Coolsculpting in this way.

Cost

The average cost for both treatments is roughly similar. If, however, you want to target a smaller area like the chin and remove just a small amount of fat, Coolsculpting might be cheaper. If you want to target a larger area and remove more fat, smart lipo might be more cost-effective. The best option for you will always depend upon the goals you want to achieve.

Call Us Today!

Smart lipo and Coolsculpting are both great options when it comes to melting away a belly bulge or a double chin. If you’re still undecided, call us at the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX today! We can schedule your initial consultation and help you decide which of these two highly effective treatments is right for you.

Pregnancy, natural childbirth, nursing and other factors can cause your body to change after having children. However, a healthy diet and regular exercise are often not enough to give you back your ideal aesthetic. At the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX, we believe you should be comfortable and confident in your skin, regardless of how many children you have, and you can get back your confidence with a mommy makeover.

What Is Included in a Mommy Makeover?

What will be included in your mommy makeover depends on the aesthetic goals you are trying to achieve. No two women are alike. Dr. Thomas T. Jeneby will meet with you to review your aesthetic goals and create a customized plan to help you achieve the look of your dreams. Among the most popular procedures and treatments included in a mommy makeover are those focused on improving the breasts, abdomen, buttocks and upper arms.

Breast Improvement

Among the most popular procedures included in a mommy makeover are those focused on improving the appearance of the breasts. Some women feel they need a breast lift in combination with a breast augmentation. Other women feel more confident about their bodies after a breast lift combined with a breast reduction. If you are looking to improve the appearance of your breasts after pregnancy and nursing, Dr. Thomas T. Jeneby has a solution for you.

What Can I Expect From Breast Augmentation in San Antonio, TX?

Breast augmentation in San Antonio can seem overwhelming because there are so many things to consider. What type of implant do you want? What shape will best help you achieve your ideal aesthetic? How much volume are you looking to add to your breasts? Should the implants be placed above or below the muscle? What incision pattern are you most comfortable with?

At the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX, Dr. Thomas T. Jeneby makes things simple and stress-free. During your initial consultation, he will review your aesthetic goals, lifestyle and current body shape. Then he will help you decide which shape would enhance your aesthetic the best. He will ensure that the size increase you want will not make your new contours disproportionate to the rest of your body. He will even advise you on which textures are the most attractive and which materials are the safest and have the lowest maintenance requirements.

Vaginal Rejuvenation

Childbirth is one of the leading causes of the structure of the vagina changing. While there are feminine rejuvenation procedures, like vaginoplasty and labiaplasty, you may also include a non-invasive vaginal rejuvenation treatment, such as IntimaLase, to gently restore the structure of your vaginal walls.

This revolutionary non-ablative laser treatment coagulates existing collagen fibers and increases collagen production. This tightens the vaginal canal and drastically enhances sexual satisfaction. While alternative laser and injection treatments can cause discomfort or pain and require extensive healing, there is no downtime associated with IntimaLase.

Upper Arm Improvement

With pregnancy comes weight gain. Some of that weight gain results in the fat cells in your upper arms expanding. When you lose your baby weight, you risk both sagging skin and excess skin. Many women choose to include an arm lift in their mommy makeover to tighten and reshape the skin and muscle tissues of the upper arm. Moreover, excess skin is often used to remove excess skin, and excess fat can either be reduced with liposuction or excised.

Buttocks Improvement

Another common region of the body mothers seek to improve is the buttocks. Buttocks improvement can come in many forms. For example, some women feel they need a butt lift. Others benefit the most from a Brazilian butt lift. If you’re self-conscious about the shape of your butt or the way your skin hangs off your buttocks, you may be a good candidate for a procedure designed to lift, augment or reshape your buttocks.

Brazilian Butt Lift

The phrase “Brazilian butt lift” is a bit of a misnomer. Rather than “lifting” your butt, it enhances the butt’s aesthetic by reshaping the silhouette and adding a bit of girth to your buttocks. While some surgeons use silicone implants to augment the buttocks, Dr. Thomas T. Jeneby uses fat grafted from your problem areas to help you add volume while contouring another part of your body. Most commonly, women choose to have fat removed from their hips, thighs or abdomen via liposuction before it is cleaned and prepared for transfer to your buttocks.

There are many advantages to a Brazilian butt lift over a traditional butt augmentation. There is no risk of an allergic reaction or other negative reaction because your butt is being augmented by your own fat rather than a foreign material. Moreover, it allows you to reduce fat from a part of your body that you can’t budge fat from. This can achieve everything from improving your self-confidence to making it easier to find clothes that fit properly.

Tummy Tuck

Pregnancy can wreak havoc on your abdomen. On average, pregnant women put 10 to 12.5 pounds of fat onto their abdomen. This rapid, drastic weight gain can result in excess skin or sagging skin that does not rebound with time. Moreover, pregnancy can lead to such medical conditions as a ventral hernia or stress urinary incontinence. A traditional tummy tuck is an incredibly effective method for repairing the damage caused by ventral hernias. A mini-abdominoplasty is often used to reverse the triggers of stress urinary incontinence.

Mini Tuck

A mini tuck is one of the most common aesthetic services chosen by mothers. This procedure uses a short incision at or just above the pubic region. It is similar to the incision made for a cesarean section. However, it is much more discrete. This procedure is used primarily to tighten the abdominal muscles and remove excess skin below the navel. However, many clients have enough fat in the region that they benefit from an additional liposuction procedure performed at the same time.

Traditional Tuck

A traditional tuck is a bit more extensive than a mini tuck. It addresses excess fat and skin both below and above the navel. During a traditional tummy tuck, the abdominal walls are sewn back together and tightened. This gives your entire stomach a flatter, more toned appearance. Tightened abdominal muscles can improve posture and drastically decrease back pain caused by lordosis resulting from poor posture.

During your initial consultation, we will discuss your aesthetic goals to determine which iteration of the procedure is right for you. However, if you have a history of keloid scarring, you may be a better candidate for a mini tuck. The incision created is much smaller and made at the bikini line where it is very rarely visible. Moreover, you are a better candidate for a mini tuck if you have tight skin above the navel. A little “give” in the skin is necessary to make a viable incision.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a cosmetic body contouring procedure designed to re-sculpt your contours by removing excess deposits of fat. This procedure can be performed just about anywhere, including the inner and outer thighs, upper and lower abdomen, flanks, upper arms, beneath the chin, at the bra line, the upper and lower back, the buttocks and the neck. If you have around an inch of pinchable fat, there’s a good chance the SmartLipo laser can sculpt your ideal body.

About the SmartLipo Laser

Dr. Jeneby uses the FDA-approved SmartLipo laser to assist in liposuction. This quick, simple, powerful procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and the SmartLipo device has permanently changed the liposuction landscape. This revolutionary technology allows clients to remove fat from trouble regions quickly and without stitches or pain.

How SmartLipo Works

The SmartLipo laser was designed specifically to make liposuction safer, more effective and more efficient than ever before. The procedure starts with the creation of a tiny incision in the targeted region where a cannula (thin tube) with a laser fiber is inserted. This laser fiber produces thermal energy which heats up the treatment site. With time, the treatment site is heated to the point that the excess adipose tissue is liquified and easy to be removed. Finally, the fat is removed via gentle, powerful suction.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Unless your liposuction is being performed in concert with other procedures that involve general anesthesia, you will be awake during the procedure. The local area is anesthetized to ensure you are comfortable. However, there is no need for general anesthesia or sedation. While you will not feel any pain or discomfort, you may feel a bit of pressure. On average, the procedure is over in 90 to 120 minutes. However, this depends significantly on how many areas you are treating and the size of the area or areas.

Timeline of Results

The results of liposuction are considered to be immediate because the excess fat cells are immediately removed from the treatment sites. However, your results will continue to improve gradually over the course of three to six months. Therefore, you will look like you are losing weight naturally without the help of a cosmetic surgeon.

What Results to Expect

The results you can expect from this procedure depend on several factors, including how much fat you have in the targeted site and your BMI. On average, only 10 to 12 pounds of excess fat and fluid can be removed safely during one procedure. Therefore, you may be able to lose six pounds from your abdomen, two pounds from your chest and two pounds from your upper arms. Typically, clients enjoy a 25 to 40% reduction in localized fat after each session.

Candidates for Laser-Assisted Liposuction

If you have a region or regions of your body with pockets of excess fat, there is an excellent chance that you are a good candidate for this procedure. In general, the only people who are poor candidates for this procedure are over 30 pounds away from their goal weight or not confident that they can maintain their ideal weight. However, the only way you can know for sure if this procedure is right for you is to come in for a consultation with Dr. Jeneby.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

Motherhood may be the best decision you have ever made. But it can be hard to feel confident with your post-natal aesthetic. Do you want to learn more about a mommy makeover or find out if it is right for you? Contact us at Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX today to schedule your initial consultation. We can’t wait to meet you and help you get back the body of your dreams.

Our bodies are constantly changing shape, whether due to the effects of aging, significant weight gain or loss, or just genetics. Sometimes our bodies change in satisfying ways, and other times not. If time has left you dissatisfied with the look of your butt, you can enhance your physique and feel more confident than ever before with a Brazilian butt lift. Call the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX today to discuss your options with a qualified aesthetic surgeon.

How Long Does a Brazilian Butt Lift Last?

The Brazilian butt lift procedure is intended to be a permanent change. Once a successful fat transfer has been performed, the fat that remains should stay there for the rest of your life. It will grow and age with you just like the rest of the tissues in your body. If any implants have been placed, they will not need to eventually be removed.

The procedure is popular for a reason: it provides results that last. However, it’s extremely important that you make any necessary lifestyle changes geared toward the maintenance of your new body. You should never endeavor to undergo significant weight loss after autologous fat transfer to your buttocks unless you absolutely have to. If weight loss is part of your aesthetic goals, make sure you do it before you get the procedure done.

Who Should Consider a Brazilian Butt Lift?

There are a number of people who may want to consider undergoing a procedure to enhance their backside. If your buttocks are too small for your frame and you desire a more balanced look, butt augmentation should be considered. If genetics has given you buttocks that are flat or too square and you desire a more curvaceous appearance, or if extreme weight loss or aging has left your buttocks loose, sagging, or flat, you may be an excellent candidate for the procedure.

What Are Your Surgical Options?

The Brazilian butt lift is far and away the most popular method for contouring and enhancing your buttocks. It involves what’s known as autologous fat transfer, or using the patient’s own body fat, to shape and contour the buttocks. For those who desire additional contouring, gluteal implant surgery can be an option.

The Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure

During an autologous fat transfer, fat from one place in your body is removed and used to shape and enhance your buttocks. The procedure involves liposuction with suction tubes that removes fatty tissue from the donor site. These are places in your body that generally have excess fatty tissue, such as the belly, thighs, upper arms, and love handles.

Post-Removal Fat Processing

After being removed from the donor site, the fat will be processed for transfer. Syringes are filled with your body fat and then connected to cannulas (specialized needles used for liposuction procedures) which are used to inject it. Three to five small incisions are created for injecting the fat and are strategically placed in areas that will otherwise be covered up with clothing. The fat is then grafted to your buttocks in layers at multiple levels as the cannula moves back and forth to ensure a smooth, linear deposit of fatty tissue.

Concluding the Procedure

Once the fat transfer is complete, the incisions will be closed with sutures, drainage tubes will be inserted, and a compression garment will be fitted to be used while you recover.

Not all of the fat that is transferred from the donor site to your buttocks is intended to survive in its new location. In some cases, the final result ends up a little smaller than initially projected. That being the case, repeat procedures are sometimes advised in order to achieve your desired results.

Despite its name, the procedure is focused primarily on improving the contours of your body, reducing back rolls, and providing you with a more curvaceous figure. Typically, no skin is removed during this type of procedure and the “lift” that is experienced is due to an increase in the outward projection of the buttocks.

Buttock Implants

Sometimes, a patient’s desired results exceed what can be done with a Brazilian butt lift. Other times, a patient simply doesn’t have enough extra body fat to make a significant difference in their buttocks via autologous fat transfer. For patients in these situations, buttock implants are sometimes recommended to treat flat or poorly-defined buttocks.

During this procedure, a soft, shaped silicone implant will be placed inside the body through an incision your surgeon creates inside the natural crease of the buttocks. There are other eligible locations for your incision, though this location is the easiest to hide. You and your plastic surgeon can discuss these other optional sites during your consultation.

After making the incision, your surgeon will position the implant in a pocket below the large gluteal muscle and above the pelvic bone. Once your surgeon is satisfied with the positioning of the implants, the incisions are closed with sutures, drains are inserted, and you will get instructions about wearing compression garments for a while.

How to Decide Between Your Options

The butt lift and buttock implants are the two main procedures you can undergo to improve and augment your buttocks. Based on your stated aesthetic goals and your current body shape, your surgeon will recommend how best to move forward. Generally, if you have adequate fat deposits for autologous fat transfer and you desire contouring, reshaping, and enlargement of your buttocks, the butt lift is your go-to option. However, if you want a more rounded shape to your buttocks and lack the requisite excess fatty tissue, your surgeon may recommend implants.

What Happens at Your Initial Consultation?

During your initial consultation, you will discuss your cosmetic goals with us. We will evaluate you as a candidate for surgery and clearly explain to you what the procedure can and cannot do for you. As your surgeon obtains a better understanding of your goals and condition, they may suggest additional treatments or procedures to better achieve the results you want.

Your Physical Examination

A physical examination will occur in which your surgeon will examine your buttocks, taking note of their size and shape and the quality of the skin. Your surgeon will use this information to assess what kind of augmentation may be appropriate according to your stated goals and your body type. If an autologous fat transfer is decided on, appropriate fat donor sites will also be evaluated.

It’s important that you inform your surgeon regarding your complete medical history, including information about any and all previous surgeries (whether medical or cosmetic). They will also need to be informed about any past or present medical conditions, allergies to any medications, and any prior history of injections into the buttocks.

Post-Surgery Weight Loss

If you have any plans to lose weight in the future, you should mention it to your surgeon at your initial consultation. If significant weight loss is in your future, your surgeon may recommend that you lose the weight first before undergoing a Brazilian butt lift. Your results will be highly dependent on a stable weight. Dramatic weight loss can significantly affect your long-term results.

How Should You Prepare for Your Procedure?

Before your procedure, we will answer any and all questions you have regarding your procedure. We will provide you with detailed pre-operative instructions, take a medical history and perform a physical exam to ensure you’re fit for surgery.

Some patients need to make a few lifestyle changes in order to minimize the chances of complications during and after the procedure. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, we will advise you to quit at least six weeks before undergoing surgery since it can complicate healing. You should also stop taking aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs, supplements, or treatments. Hydration is extremely important both before and after surgery. Your surgeon will advise you regarding how much water you should be drinking.

The Day of Your Procedure

The procedures take anywhere from two to three hours to complete, though they can sometimes take longer if large amounts of fat are being removed.

Considerations for Your Comfort

You’ll receive medications before your procedure to enhance your comfort. General anesthesia is often used during buttock augmentation, but local anesthesia or intravenous sedation are also options. Monitors will be set up to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse, and the amount of oxygen in your blood during the procedure.

Commencing the Procedure

Once everything has been set up and your medications and anesthesia have been administered, your surgeon will follow the surgical plan you discussed before the procedure. Once it’s complete, you will be taken to a recovery area to be monitored while you rest. Drains will be in place already and, if you’ve had an autologous fat transfer, a compression garment will be placed over the liposuction sites as well as your buttocks.

Most often, patients are allowed to go home after a short period of observation. It’s very important to make plans with someone before your procedure to take you home afterward and provide you with aftercare while you heal.

Your Aftercare and Recovery

Your surgeon will advise you regarding the duration of time you need to relax before you can return to your normal routine. You and your caregiver will receive detailed instructions on how to care for you after the procedure, which will include information about the drains and how to care for them as well as what normal symptoms of healing you’ll experience.

Your Care Immediately After the Procedure

The incision sites your surgeon used to insert the cannula during liposuction and/or insert implants may drain fluids for several days. Drainage tubes are often used to channel fluid away from the wound. Your surgeon will give you more information about the drainage.

You will need to continue wearing your compression garments to keep your newly shaped buttocks compressed while you heal. How long you’ll need to wear them will depend on a lot, but your doctor will fill you in when you speak. Some surgeons will provide these garments for you while others do not. Regardless, they are very important.

Learn More

If you’re dissatisfied with your appearance due to aging, weight gain or loss, or genetics, and you want a fuller, sexier, more contoured buttocks, then the Brazilian butt lift procedure may be for you. Of course, there are many cosmetic options from which you can choose aside from (or in addition to) a butt lift, such as breast augmentation. In case you’re not aware of breast augmentation San Antonio and what it can do to augment your physique, a qualified medical professional is available at our office who can provide you with all the information you need.

If you have questions about what cosmetic surgery can do for you, call us at the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX at 210-890-2415 to discuss your options today.

There are many reasons why women seek out breast augmentation. Improved self-esteem, the desire for a younger and more vital look, and returning to a pre-pregnancy figure can all be factors in the decision. But when evaluating any procedure, it’s important that you fully understand the terms that are used, and that includes understanding the difference between breast augmentation and breast implants. The Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas, located in San Antonio, TX, can answer all of your questions about breast augmentation vs breast implants.

What Is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation is a general term for any cosmetic surgical procedure that enhances the size of your breasts. Breast augmentation is one of the most popular body-shaping cosmetic procedures in the United States. Why? Many women simply want larger, fuller breasts. Still others seek out breast augmentation to correct an uneven bosom, or because they’ve lost one or both breasts to cancer or some other trauma.

Thanks to advances in breast augmentation techniques over the past decade, these surgeries are now achieving results that look and feel more natural than ever.

Will Augmentation Make My Breasts Perkier?

Breast augmentation enhances the size of the breasts, making them look larger and fuller, but it doesn’t lift the breasts. If perkier breasts are what you’re after, a different procedure, known as a breast lift, may be the better choice for you.

As its name implies, a breast lift repositions, lifts, and reshapes the breasts. Breast lifts are sometimes sought out by women who have sagging breasts after a pregnancy or following extreme weight loss. Combining a breast augmentation procedure with a breast lift is yet another option that some women choose.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation candidates should be nonsmoking women who are generally in good health and have a stable weight. Patients should not be pregnant or breastfeeding. Beyond those general health parameters, any woman who wants larger breasts — either for improved physical appearance or to correct uneven breasts or other issues — is a good candidate for augmentation.

What Other Types of Breast Surgery Do You Perform?

Breast surgery usually falls into one of three categories: augmentation, reduction, and reconstruction. Breast reduction surgery helps give the body a more proportional look while also easing the discomfort and back pain women with overly large breasts sometimes experience. Reconstruction surgery is most often performed on women who have lost one or both breasts due to mastectomy.

The goal of reconstructive surgery is usually to restore the breast, giving it as normal and natural an appearance as possible. Our practice performs all three types of breast surgery. We also offer a full line of other body-sculpting services.

Breast Augmentation vs Breast Implants: How Do They Compare?

The terms breast augmentation and breast implant are sometimes used interchangeably, which can be confusing to patients. But the difference between breast augmentation vs breast implants is quite simple: breast augmentation is the name of a category of procedures that enlarge the breasts, while breast implants are synthetic parts that are surgically inserted to support the augmentation process.

What Are Breast Implants?

A breast implant is a prosthetic that is inserted into the breast to enhance its size. Breast implants are one of the more common types of breast augmentation.

How Do Adjustable Implants Work?

Our practice offers adjustable breast implants, which allow the patient to have the implants increased or decreased in size between 3 and 6 months after the surgery. Traditional implants require a complete replacement if the patient wants to try a different size, but adjustable implants allow the volume to be adjusted during the months following the surgery.

Adjustable implants have a valve that can be left in for 6 months after surgery, allowing saline fluid to be injected or withdrawn, which adjusts the size of the implant. Many women find that selecting an implant size can be tricky. Adjustable implants are a great option for women who want larger breasts but who aren’t sure what size of implant will look and feel the best on their frame.

What If I Want Larger Breasts But Not Implants?

There is another breast augmentation option available for women who want a larger bust but don’t like the idea of a silicone, saline, or gummy bear implant. Fat graft augmentation surgery, also known as fat transfer augmentation, uses fat from your own body to enlarge the breasts.

This technique is also sometimes referred to as natural breast enhancement or natural breast augmentation. During your consultation, we can discuss the various augmentation options and help determine the best procedure for you.

What Can I Expect During My Initial Consultation?

The consultation is the first step, and we’ll talk with you about the breast size you’re aiming for and how you’d like your new bust to look. We’ll review the different types and sizes of implants you have to choose from, and you’ll be given the opportunity to try on different implant sizes to help with your decision.

If you have asymmetrical breasts — meaning one breast has a different size or shape than the other — we may suggest that you use a different implant size in each breast to even things out. We’ll also talk with you about your ideal breast profile, which refers to how much your breasts point out from the chest.

What Can I Expect From the Breast Implant Procedure?

Breast implant surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis. Most patients are under general anesthesia, meaning they’re asleep during the procedure. The surgery usually lasts around three hours.

Who Will Perform My Procedure?

Dr. Thomas Jeneby is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Jeneby has been in practice since 2002 and has performed thousands of breast, tummy, nose, eyes, and face procedures.

Our San Antonio clinic has been accredited by the prestigious Joint Commission for Office-Based Surgery Centers, and Dr. Jeneby received the honor of being appointed Diplomat for the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

What Are the Main Types of Breast Implants?

There are three main types of breast implants: silicone, saline, and gummy bear.

Silicone

Silicone implants are the most commonly used, and advancements in these prosthetics over the past decade have made them look, move and feel more like natural breasts. These implants are essentially a silicone shell filled with a silicone gel. Many women praise the soft and natural feel of silicone implants.

Saline

Saline implants are popular among patients who need to avoid silicone for medical reasons or who prefer implants constructed with natural materials. Saline implants, as their name implies, are filled with a sterile saline solution. These implants can be filled with varying amounts of saline solution, which influences the feel, firmness, and shape of the breast.

Gummy Bear

Gummy bear implants are the newest entrant on the market. Gummy bear implants are teardrop in shape and are made of thicker, gel-like silicone. Some doctors say gummy bear breast implants are less likely to shift once they are in place.

What Are the Benefits of Breast Implants?

More and more women are turning to breast implants. That’s because this procedure offers a number of different benefits, including convenience, a range of implant sizes and shapes to select from, and predictable results.

Convenience

Breast augmentation involving implants is done on an out-patient basis, meaning you won’t have to worry about an overnight hospital stay. It’s a good idea to make arrangements to have someone take you home after the procedure, which involves general anesthesia.

Added Volume and Curves

The breast volume that an implant offers gives most patients a more curvaceous look, and many women report feeling more feminine and voluptuous after receiving implants. Whether you’re looking to fill out a bikini top or simply want your everyday street clothes to have more shape, breast implants can help you achieve your goal of a more curvy physique.

Even Out Asymmetrical Breasts

It’s not uncommon for a woman to have breasts that are different in shape and size. Sometimes the difference is modest and barely noticeable. On other women, the discrepancy is enough to be noticeable and to cause bathing suits and other articles of clothing to fit improperly. That’s where breast augmentation vs breast implants come in. Our augmentation and implant procedures can resolve the embarrassing imbalances associated with asymmetrical breasts and restore proportion to your figure.

Resolve Sagging

Aging women often experience sagging breasts. Sometimes this occurs after pregnancy and breastfeeding. But even women who haven’t had children notice sagging as a part of the aging process. Breast implants can restore volume to sagging breasts, giving you a more youthful figure

A Range of Sizes to Select From

During your consultation, you’ll be given different implant sizes and shapes to choose from. Many patients are surprised by just how many options are available and are pleased to learn that this is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Whether you just want a little more volume or you want to go up several cup sizes, breast implant surgery can help you achieve the look you’re after. In fact, breast implants are usually the most effective option for women who want to increase their breast size by two cups or more.

Predictable Results

Because we’ll spend plenty of time with you reviewing options during your consultation, you’ll know exactly what to expect in terms of post-surgery results. And if you opt for adjustable implants, there will the option to adjust your size up or down in the months following the procedure. One of the biggest benefits of breast implant surgery is that patients can specify the size, shape, and breast profile they want. You can rest assured that the results of your breast implant surgery are controllable and predictable.

Satisfied Patients

Millions of women have had breast implant surgery and patient satisfaction with this procedure is very high. Most patients are excited to jump into life with their new look after surgery. Many patients report a boost in self-confidence, body image, and sexual satisfaction. Patients also say they feel more comfortable in their own skin after receiving implants.

Long-Lasting Results

Breast implants can last up to 10 years, which means you’ll be able to enjoy the results well into the future.

Our Practice

Are you excited about the possibilities that breast augmentation vs breast implants can open up for you? Call the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas, located in San Antonio, TX, today. We offer a complete line of services in our comfortable and state-of-the-art clinic. We are eager to help you take the first step toward fuller and more beautiful breasts. 

Coolsculpting is quickly becoming one of the most popular treatments to improve your aesthetic and enhance your overall beauty. This painless, non-invasive treatment allows you to eliminate stubborn fat deposits and take control of the lines of your silhouette so you can achieve your ideal shape. The experts at the Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX are ready to help you learn about the benefits of Coolsculpting and help you decide if you’re a great candidate for Coolsculpting results.

Coolsculpting Results

Chances are, you are already familiar with the results of Coolsculpting treatments. For years, Hollywood stars and other celebrities have been taking advantage of the benefits of Coolsculpting to achieve the dynamic, chiseled, and beautiful physiques you see daily in media, film, and television. It’s easy to feel self-conscious as we compare ourselves to these perfect bodies. However, once you incorporate Coolsculpting into your beauty regimen, you might discover those perfect results are more attainable than you thought.

What Is Coolsculpting?

Coolsculpting works via a process known as cryolipolysis. Scientists have discovered that fat cells are more vulnerable to cold temperatures than the surrounding skin and other tissue. If you cool a target area of fat cells for a set amount of time, the fat cells die and are removed from the body via natural processes. The treatment is non-invasive, and patients can schedule a Coolsculpting appointment in the afternoon with no disruption to the rest of their daily schedule.

When Will You See the Results?

The first results will appear in as little as three weeks, and the most dramatic results will be evident in about two months. Some patients continue to see fat reduction for as many as four to six months. The fat removal period has the side benefit of providing extra motivation at the gym or to stick to your diet, as you will observe striking results almost daily. Some clients enjoy taking pictures of themselves daily so they can create a time-lapse film and watch the fat melt away.

What Is the Treatment Like?

It is best to arrive at your appointment wearing loose, comfortable clothing. Your specialist will apply special applicators that come in four different sizes and can be attached to virtually any part of the body where you desire treatment. The applicators resemble boxes with a rubber flap that comes into contact with the skin. The applicators create a suction effect that pulls the fat up where it can be easily cooled without causing any damage to the surrounding tissue.

Once the applicators have been attached, we do not recommend that you move them until the end of the treatment. However, no local anesthetics are needed. Many patients watch television, browse the internet on their cell phone, read, or even sleep as the applicators do their work. You’ll be surrounded by pillows and fully aware of your surroundings as you wait out the 30 to 60 minute treatment time.

Is There Any Downtime?

The best part about Coolsculpting is that there is virtually no downtime after a treatment. You can resume your regular schedule and continue with your work, fitness, and beauty routine. We feel that the importance of a minimal disruption to your everyday life cannot be emphasized enough. Health, beauty, and fitness depends on holding to a diligent routine, and if you have to take a week or two off of that routine for recovery, the delay can impede your beauty goals.

With Coolsculpting, you set a process in motion that allows the results to come in the upcoming weeks. Patients often talk of the boost they feel after a treatment as they head back to the gym knowing that in a few short weeks they’ll be looking better than ever.

Are the Results Permanent?

The fat cells that are killed do not return, however, it is possible that the body could generate new fat cells in the target area. Also, the best Coolsculpting results are seen by individuals who follow a disciplined health and beauty routine. A Coolsculpting treatment will not prevent future weight gain. The treatment is very effective at eliminating pockets of fat in specific target areas.

How Many Times Do You Have to Do Coolsculpting to Get Results?

You will see results with Coolsculpting the very first time you do an appointment. For some patients, one appointment is enough to meet their health and beauty goals. Other clients return for follow-up treatments or elect to try treatments on other regions of the body. You can schedule follow-up treatments around a month after your original treatment.

This is ideal if you have an event you are preparing for, such as a wedding, party, or other social event. If you are on a very tight schedule, your specialist can design a treatment plan that is ideal for achieving your goals.

Dual-Sculpting Treatments Are Available Now

Your treatment time will depend on the size of the target areas you want treated. It is now possible to apply applicators to various parts of the body so you can get your treatments for two problem zones in only one sitting. This cuts your treatment time in half and doubles the results you can observe in the mirror.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Coolsculpting?

Coolsculpting is not effective for massive weight loss. For obesity, consider alternative treatment plans like gastric bypass surgery. Coolsculpting is for fit, healthy, active individuals with stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to the effects of diet and exercise. Genetics and heredity play tricks on all of us and sometimes our hormones instruct our body to store fat in unusual places. Coolsculpting allows you to target and eliminate these unsightly fat pockets and help you achieve the aesthetic you’ve always dreamed of.

Coolsculpting will not create muscle tone. However, if you spend a lot of time at the gym and you follow a nutritious diet, it’s likely that you already have tremendous muscle tone that is being hidden under a layer of fat. With Coolsculpting, you can pull away the curtain and let the world see the results of all your hours spent sweating at the gym. Coolsculpting provides you with motivation by revealing just how successful you’ve been with your weight loss and toning efforts.

What Can Coolsculpting Treat?

Everybody is different and almost everybody has an area where their body has a tendency to store an excessive amount of fat. The good news is that Coolsculpting is highly versatile, and the various applicator sizes mean it is possible to target virtually any portion of your body. You will lose fat which will allow you to lose inches, and in a few short weeks you will look rejuvenated, younger, and healthier. Here are some common target areas.

The Chin and Neck

Double chins are common among people that have achieved a significant weight loss. Sometimes even when you reach your target weight, stubborn fat deposits cling to your chin and make you appear heavier and more unhealthy than you actually are. Your face is a focal point, and it’s unfair that people might get a false impression of your overall fitness because of an unsightly double chin. A small applicator placed under the chin can target your double chin and have you looking years younger in weeks.

Love Handles

Almost everyone has issues with love handles, and Coolsculpting is a great method for achieving a more slender, more athletic torso. Love handles are a problem area because they are difficult to exercise. Your body simply stores fat in that region and then seems to forget about it. With this treatment, you can reduce your love handles for good.

Knees

Some people find they get a disproportionate amount of weight gain in their knees. This leads to an unbalanced symmetry and can also create self-confidence issues. Knee fat is another problem area that is nearly impossible to treat with dieting or exercise. Fortunately, with a few simple Coolsculpting treatments, you can say goodbye to that knee fat and say hello to a leaner, more glamorous body line.

Thighs

We all know that some amount of fat is good in the thighs. When it is evenly distributed, thigh fat can help create the smooth, perfect look of a ballet dancer. However, aging and genetics can instruct the body to store fat in uneven lumps on the thighs. Our specialists are able to eliminate your fat deposits with precision. We can sculpt your legs down to the smooth, uninterrupted curves that you’ve always dreamed of.

Abdomen

All those perfect six-packs that you see in Hollywood films and in glamor magazines didn’t happen by accident. You can do painful crunches all day long and never develop enough definition that your muscles become visible under stored belly fat. However, with Coolsculpting, you can remove the layer of fat and tighten up your abdomen so that the world can finally get a glimpse of those fantastic abs.

And More

It makes no sense to judge yourself against the appearance of movie stars and celebrities when you don’t take advantage of the same beauty treatments that they use regularly. Today, Coolsculpting has become a critical module in an overall health, wellness, and beauty regimen. It works in harmony with diet, exercise, and all your other beauty treatments to help you achieve an idealized vision of yourself.

If you have a problem area on your body that is resistant to diet and exercise, don’t wait, schedule an appointment to see if Coolsculpting can help.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Stubborn pockets of body fat can ruin your self-esteem and kill your motivation. What is the point of going to the gym or maintaining a diet if nothing you do allows you to eliminate the knee fat you hate or the double chin you despise? Pockets of fat can develop in unsightly regions all over your body through no fault of your own.

Aging, genetics, and hormonal changes can also create problem areas in places that have never been an issue before. With Coolsculpting you finally have the tool to take control of your body and sculpt yourself exactly into the vision of beauty you deserve to be.

At your consultation, a specialist will evaluate your case and help you determine if Coolsculpting will provide you with the results you are hoping for. If you’re a fit, healthy, and active person with problematic fat deposits, you will be delighted by your Coolsculpting results. Call The Plastic & Cosmetic Center of South Texas in San Antonio, TX today to schedule a consultation and find out the answers to all your remaining questions.