NVPS Blog

What is Labioplasty?

Labioplasty is the surgery required to alter the size and appearance of the labia. Every woman has a slightly different body.  For some women, their genitalia may become enlarged to the point of embarrassment and discomfort.  Enlarged labia minora is a condition that is medically referred to as labial hypertrophy.  Labia hypertrophy is a common problem but it is rarely reported by patients due to embarrassment.

Until recently, women with enlarged labia minora thought there was no treatment available for their condition.  The plastic surgeons at North Valley Plastic Surgery are highly experienced at labia minora reduction surgery or labioplasty.  With recent advancements in technology and technique, a woman can now have labioplasty with relatively little pain or downtime.

Women can choose to undergo labioplasty, also known as a “labia minora reduction“, for the following reasons:

• Discomfort when wearing tight fitting clothing.
• Hygienic problems.
• Discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• Personal desire for a different cosmetic look.
• Insecurity and embarrassment over the size of their labia minora.
• Frequent urinary tract infections and difficult hygiene.

Understanding Labioplasty

In the past, labia minora reduction surgery involved removing part of the labial tissue.  This type of labia reduction technique is not right for every patient because the natural shape and color of labia minora are changed.  Often an irregular, lightly colored scar can be seen on the edge of the labia minor.

The new techniques at North Valley Plastic Surgery preserve the natural shape, color, and anatomy of the edge of the labia minora.  The lower and upper edges of the labia minor are connected with absorbable sutures.  Although this method takes considerably longer to perform, it results in an almost undetectable scar.  If desired, skin on the sides of the clitoral hood can also be removed without visible scars during the same procedure.

The labia minora reduction surgery takes about two hours and is performed with magnification to assure an accurate approximation of the normal labial edges.  Standard labioplasty takes 15-30 minutes and results in a scar line as the labial edge.  The doctor can present the patient with labioplasty before and after pictures for examination.

The labioplasty surgery is performed in our ambulatory surgical center.  General anesthesia is used in most cases for your comfort and safety.  The complication rate from labioplasty is extremely low.  Patients that work in an office setting can probably return to work in days.  Sexual intercourse can be resumed in 4-6 weeks.  After completely healing from the procedure, there will not be a loss of sensation or ability to reach orgasm.

Labioplasty Insurance Coverage
North Valley Plastic Surgery is one of the few plastic surgery offices that will work with insurance companies.  Insurance may cover your labioplasty surgery if you have pain, discomfort, or urination problems associated with the enlarged labia.  Our office has an insurance specialist to help with getting insurance authorization.

During your consultation with a plastic surgeon who is trained and experienced in labioplasty, all of your questions will be answered regarding the procedure, as well as showing you before-and-after pictures of women who have had labioplasty.

Go to WWW.NVPSAZ.COM for more information. Call 480-304-5477 to arrange your labioplasty or labia minora reduction surgery consultation.

An important component to beauty is in the symmetry of the face.  If the nose is too large or irregularly shaped, it can take away facial harmony.  Patients who undergo aesthetic nose surgery have improved quality of life and confidence stemming from their new look.  Although a “nose job” is thought of as an aesthetic procedure, there are many other reasons that a patient may want to consider Rhinoplasty surgery in Phoenix.

Remember from difficult breathing to headaches, from post-surgical nasal drip to depression – there is more to rhinoplasty than just the look of the nose. Individuals who have a sleep-related breathing disorder appear significantly more likely to develop depression, according to a study in the September 18 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.  The most common cause of nasal breathing issues is nasal obstruction.  This can be caused by a deviated septum and changes to the tissues within the nose.  These factors can occur due to genetics or an accident that caused trauma to the nose. A deviated septum that bends significantly to one side or the other, can block the air passage on one or both sides, making it difficult to breathe.  The sides of the nose can collapse, causing them to fall inward with deep inhalation.  During a Rhinoplasty procedure all of these problems can be repaired as part of the aesthetic procedure.

Nose surgery in Phoenix does more than just reshape the nose; Rhinoplasty benefits the patient aesthetically, physiologically and psychologically.  Rhinoplasty is normally not performed until a person is at least 13-15 years old and facial growth stops.  Insurance for cosmetic surgery is normally not covered.  However, surgery to improve breathing function, major deformity, or injury can be covered by insurance at North Valley Plastic Surgery.  For more information visit http://www.nvpsaz.com/face/rhinoplasty-nose or call 480-304-5477 for a complimentary Rhinoplasty surgery consultation and to talk to a plastic surgeon about surgery to correct a deviated septum or other nasal problems.

By Steven Gitt, MD, FACS & Ramon Robles, MD

A Brazilian butt lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to enlarge and enhance the appearance of the buttocks. The introduction of stem cell fat transfer in Arizona has allowed the surgeons to offer more than implants for buttock augmentation.

Although most buttock augmentation procedures still use implants, stem cell fat transfer allows the surgeon to focus on problem areas to give the best enhancement possible. Butt augmentation with the fat injection technique is now an option for many patients interested in gluteal implants for a more natural look.

Liposuction is an integral part of a Brazilian butt lift. Liposuction of the lower back, thighs, hips, and the abdomen serves to slim the chosen area, then the fat transfer uses the fat to augment the buttocks area. After the fat is processed to extract the stem cells, the surgeon uses several small incisions and injects fat into targeted areas of the buttocks. By placing small amounts of fat stem cells in select areas, it increases the likelihood that the cells will be surrounded by an adequate blood supply, which will nourish the newly transplanted fat cells increasing their longevity.

The buttock is lifted by injecting the patient’s own fat near the gluteus muscles.  The injected fat gives volume to strategic areas of the buttocks causing a natural lift.

Before and after photos of a Brazilian butt lift shows a dramatic improvement in the body’s contour.  The buttock is proportionately bigger, but more significantly; it is shaped to enhance the woman’s hourglass figure.

During your consultation, one of our surgeons will review your treatment options for buttock contouring and augmentation.  If you are a candidate, we will discuss surgical options, optional techniques, and potential risks, and what to expect after surgery.  We also have before-and-after pictures of Brazilian butt lift patients.

North Valley Plastic Surgery offers a complimentary consultation for Brazilian Butt Lift surgery. Please call 480-304-5477 to make an appointment to see a board certified plastic surgeon who is trained and skilled in the stem cell fat transfer process for butt augmentation.

Choosing between a Scottsdale Tummy Tuck Surgery and Arizona Liposuction?

Scottsdale tummy tuck surgery and Arizona Liposuction have some of the same results when performed separately. Rather than choosing between these two procedures which actually complement each other, they are often performed in tandem to give a patient the very best overall results.

A Scottsdale tummy tuck will remove excess skin in the belly region. The plastic surgeon can also tighten stomach muscles that have be stretched or weakened to firm up the structure of the abdomen. The incision line is usually hidden just below the bikini line. The result of a Scottsdale tummy tuck is a smooth, flat toned stomach as long as there isn’t a fatty layer present.

Arizona liposuction removes fatty pockets that are resistant to diet or exercise. Although it is not a weight loss procedure, liposuction will reduce your stomach in terms of inches. It can remove fat from the abdomen with little downtime and minimal incisions. If laser liposuction is used, the laser will actually tighten the skin to snug it up against the new shape. Liposuction will not remove excess skin and or tighten muscles that are stretched.

When the two procedures are used together, liposuction removes any excess fatty deposits and then the tummy tuck removes excess skin and tightens the muscles. This combination is especially effective when the patient has had a dramatic weight loss or is dealing with the after effects of pregnancy. Your plastic surgeon can explain the projected results of using either of the two procedures as well as the overall effect is both procedures are performed in tandem.

Explore your surgery options with one of our board certified plastic surgeons. If you would like to learn more about Arizona liposuction or a Scottsdale tummy tuck, call North Valley Plastic Surgery at 480-304-5477 to make an appointment for a complimentary consultation with the plastic surgeon.

Many physicians will adopt the practice of Plastic Surgery who are completely lacking in the appropriate training and qualifications. Why does this happen? Well, there are a few important points to consider. Firstly, most Cosmetic surgery patients pay cash for their surgery, allowing the surgeon to avoid having to deal with insurance companies and to make more money per each case than they would ever otherwise earn. Secondly, unlike Cardiovascular surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Bariatric surgery, Gynecologic surgery, and most other surgical sub-specialties are reimbursed by insurance companies, and the surgeries are usually done at licensed and accredited facilities. Therefore, those surgeons must be properly credentialed with both the hospitals and the insurance carriers. These requisite steps make it nearly impossible for those who lack the appropriate training and credentials to perform these surgeries. Plastic surgery, on the other hand, is often done in a less structured environment, such as a Dr.’s office or an unaccredited facility and the patients pay directly for their surgery.

So why do some patients choose to have their surgery done by an un-trained and un-qualified surgeon? Many patients are impressed by (frequently embellished, inauthentic, and even phony) credentials, strong-arm sales tactics, and by a glitzy and pretty office. Many such patients are under the false impression that their Dr. actually is a Plastic Surgeon! Wise patients will ask if their Dr. is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (don’t be fooled by the any board that specifies a certification in COSMETIC SURGERY. There is no board of Cosmetic Surgery that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, by hospitals for credentialing purpose, or by the AMA). Ask if your Dr. has privileges to do the surgery that you are going to have at a reputable hospital (Dr.’s must go through credentialing at hospitals). Franchised operations that pre-package cosmetic surgery typically will do the surgery at an office type of location. Recently, the Lifestylelift^TM corporation was fined a substantial sum of money by the New York state attorney general for having their employees make phony internet endorsements posing as supposedly happy patients! This particular operation continues to advertise on TV daily. Would you go to an ENT or to a Gynecologist for your open heart surgery? Heavens no! Then why would you go to an ENT or to a Gynecologist for your Plastic Surgery? The smart consumer will always choose a real, bona-fide Plastic Surgeon to do their Plastic Surgery.

NeoGraft Automated FUE Hair Transplant service is an automated “Follicular-Unit Extraction” process for non-invasive hair transplants. FUE Hair transplants have minimal discomfort, no scalpel incision, no sutures, no linear scar, little to no risk of complications, quick recovery time, fewer activity limitations and a more natural looking result than traditional strip methods.  With the NeoGraft Hair Transplant System, the procedure can be accomplished very quickly with a large number (up to 2000) of high quality follicles harvested and implanted in less time than manual methods.  This assures the patient that their transplant will produce the desired results rapidly and consistently.

“F.U.E.” or “Follicular-Unit Extraction” is an advanced, minimally-invasive hair transplant method which allows for the harvesting of individual follicles from the donor area without a scalpel incision or the necessary stitches, and therefore leaves no linear scar. The difference between FUE and a linear incision harvest techniques is not in the area of hair growth, but how the donor area is harvested either by a strip of scalp or by small individual graft extractions. With the FUE Neografting process, the patient has the luxury of wearing a very short haircut without worrying about how the scars on the back of the head, where a linear harvest usually occurs. Without the need for stitches, downtime is shorter with fewer activity restrictions immediately after the procedure.

NeoGraft has automated the FUE process to maximize the number of follicles harvested while eliminating scalpel incisions, reducing healing time and potential scarring on the harvest site. The Neograft procedure is a less invasive, less painful, shorter down time, and minimal to no-recovery procedure to beautifully reconstruct your hairline. This high-tech procedure will bring hair transplantation to many more interested patients. Both men and women can benefit from the non-invasive FUE NeoGraft.  It is a viable option for both men and women looking to restore their own living and growing hair with transplantation.

Call North Valley Plastic Surgery at 480-304-5477 to make an appointment to speak with a board certified plastic surgeon about having a FUE NeoGraft Hair Transplant.

Ulthera Presents Ultherapy

Non-Surgical Brow Lift

North Valley Plastic Surgery is proud to announce the addition of Ultherapy by Ulthera, a radically new treatment for a non-surgical, non-invasive brow lift and facelift.  With the addition of Ultherapy, surgery is still an option for skin lifting and renewal, but now it’s not the ONLY option!

Ultherapy uses a familiar and proven technology, ultrasound, for tightening and lifting lax facial skin. One of the first effects of aging typically noticed is a descent of the brow. Clinical studies with Ultherapy have revealed, after just one treatment, a consistent lifting of the brow. As you notice less eyelid sagging or hooding of the eye, you will also notice that your face has a more open and refreshed look, having dropped years of aging from your facial features.

A typical treatment of Ultherapy takes no more than 30-45 minutes and has virtually no down time. Over the following 60 – 90 days, you will notice increased toning, tightening and lifting of the skin in the targeted areas, but patients have also reported results in other areas of the face and neck. The skin along the jaw line, on the cheeks, and under the chin can be gently shifted back into position in order to create a more defined jawline and more youthful overall contour, without the cost or recovery time of facelift surgery!

Ultherapy builds new collegen to tone, tighten and lift the skin, enhancing the vitality of the skin. This occurs gradually over the weeks and months that follow treatment. There may be slight blushing or redness for up to 2 hours following treatment, and a small percentage of patients may have slight bruising, which resolves within a couple of weeks following treatment.  It is anticipated that an annual maintenance treatment may be desired to help keep pace with the aging process.

Next: Knees, elbows, and more… Ultherapy can tighten problem skin spots where no other treatment will work! Knees, elbows, and more…

Call North Valley Plastic Surgery at 480-304-5477 to make an appointment for a complimentary consultation with one of our Board Certified Plastic Surgeons to talk about options for tightening your facial skin and brow, without a surgical facelift or browlift or to make an appointment to try out Ultherapy by Ulthera!

Consider A Scottsdale Face Lift – Neck Lift Combo

If you are considering a Scottsdale face lift before the holidays, why not have a Scottsdale neck lift at the same time? If you intend to be in the Phoenix – Scottsdale area during the winter months, it is a perfect opportunity to have both procedures done during your stay. Then you can return home looking fresher and younger than when you left for your vacation.  Make an appointment with a top Scottsdale Cosmetic Surgeon, who will be available at North Valley Plastic Surgery over the holiday season.

While the idea of two plastic surgeries may seem quite extensive, the truth is that both surgeries complement each other well, and are easily performed at the same time, allowing you one recovery period instead of two and a much more noticeable set of results once complete. In fact, a “full face lift” always includes the neck. Even better, you will immediately get the more youthful look you want instead of waiting for it. One thing that most people do not realize, is that many times a neck lift is actually referred to as a lower face lift since the two share similar attributes. During the course of both surgeries, the skin and facial muscles around the face are elevated and tightened so that it looks younger. A combination Scottsdale Face Lift and Scottsdale Neck Lift will mean that the skin will have fewer sags especially around the cheekbones and the chin/neck which are two areas in which sagging from aging is most apparent especially when viewing your profile. Although the idea of trimming sagging skin may seem a bit extreme at first, once the recovery is complete you will look better than you did before. Your Scottsdale Cosmetic Surgeon will  evaluate your medical history, health, and other factors in order to make sure you are a good candidate for the procedures.

The best part of the combined surgery, the neck lift and face lift, is that you will not have double the recovery time, but you will have double the results since both problem areas of noticable aging can be eliminated at the same time. Most people have to wear bandages for about a week and experience some bruising and swelling, but after a few weeks all evidence of the surgery will begin to disappear and you will be left with a fresh face and younger profile, making it worth the few weeks of minor pain.

Make an appointment to speak to a Scottsdale Cosmetic Surgeon about a Scottsdale face lift - Scottsdale neck lift combo by calling North Valley Plastic Surgery for complimentary consultation at 480-304-5477.

If you are distressed by the fine lines and wrinkles from your face a Hetter Peel might be the right option for you!  A Modified Phenol Peel can also work on smoker’s lines, deep leather-like lines, sun spots, uneven skin tone and redness. The Hetter Modified Peel lessens the visibility of scars, such as indentation left from severe acne. It also smooths out the skin around your eyelids, crow’s feet, pucker marks around the lips, and frown lines. The Hetter Modified Peel of your facial skin, at North Valley Plastic Surgery, is the absolute gold-standard against which all other facial skin resurfacing procedures are compared.

North Valley Plastic Surgery has one of the very few physicians, Dr. Steven Gitt,  in Arizona who is qualified to perform the Hetter Peel procedure.  The Hetter Peel is actually a modified phenol peel.  Full phenol peels use a strong mixture of the phenol chemical and other ingredients and is known to need more recovery time.  The Hetter Modified Peel uses a new, improved solution for the procedure.  The Hetter Peel solution is a combination of liquid soap, Croton oil, phenol and water.  What differentiates it from the solution used for a phenol peel is that it uses more croton oil and less phenol.  This combination actually enhances the desired effects while reducing the phenol side effects.  The Modified Phenol Peel can be added to a face lift to polish the results.

Patients who are planning to have a Hetter Peel treatment need to prepare for about six weeks before the procedure by using a Vitamin C cream every morning and a Vitamin A (Retin-A) cream every night. This reduces the recovery time significantly. You will need to wash your face about four times a day to reduce the risk of infection.  You will also need to limit your exposure to the sun.  After these two to three weeks of rest and relaxation for your skin, you will see significant improvements to the treated area.  Experts recommend two to three weeks of recovery time for this procedure.  Time to welcome your new thicker, smoother, brighter skin!

Call 480-304-5477 to speak to Michelle at North Valley Plastic Surgery and make an appointment for a free consultation today to learn more about the Hetter Peel, Modified Phenol Peel and Hetter Modified Peel.

Brow lift Scottsdale is a procedure that can help stave off the effects of early skin damage if you  feel that your face is aging before your time. You will be surprised how having a brow lift will affect the overall appearance of the skin on your face. In many cases, aging makes lines appear around the eyebrow area and forehead, making you appear tired and strained. However, there are three different procedural methods that can reverse the signs of aging and make the brow area look smooth and youthful. One might be the right choice for you.

The first method of browlift surgery is called the coronal, which involves making an incision above the hairline across the top of the head. Sagging or loose skin between the two eyes is removed and what skin is left is pulled tightly together. The brow area is left smooth and the muscles are relaxed, further reducing the presence of horizontal lines. This is the least commonly performed type of brow lift in Phoenix.

Another method that can help reduce the signs of aging is called the hairline method. This works best for those who have a high hairline (tall forehead) or a receding hairline. The incision is made below the hair area and the skin is pulled tightly together. Wearing bangs is a great way to hide the incisions while they heal.

Finally, the third type of brow lift in Scottsdale is an endoscopic process, in which a small camera is placed inside small incisions in the scalp area so that the skin can be carefully pulled backward. This type of surgery is the most commonly performed type of eyebrow surgery, and it involves the least amount of scarring, which is why it is the most popular technique of the three.

All three types of browlift will result in reducing the amount of wrinkles around brow and crow’s feet areas and will involve about a three week recovery period. Your Plastic Surgeon will help you decide which procedure is best for you.

Call 480-304-5477 to speak to Michelle at North Valley Plastic Surgery and make an appointment for a free consultation about brow lift eyebrow surgery in Scottsdale or Phoenix.