Just as quick and easy as it is to make up a laundry list of New Year’s resolutions, it can be even easier to give up and forget about them when your desired outcome does not pan out. Fortunately, with the guidance and assistance of Dr. Wilcox, individuals can meet their goals of looking and feeling better in 2012! A board certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in both surgical and non-surgical procedures, Dr. Wilcox commonly meets with individuals around this time of year who would like to slim down certain areas of their body or enhance other parts. They want to start the new year off with a fresh, new look.

Currently, the top 5 most-requested surgical procedures at the practice of Dr. Wilcox include:

“Mommy Makeover” – Entails multiple cosmetic body contouring surgeries to help a woman’s body return to her pre-pregnancy contour

Tummy Tuck – Reshapes the midsection with the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and/or lower abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles

Breast Augmentation – Enhances the size and shape of the breasts with the placement of saline or silicone gel implants

Liposuction – Removes pockets of excess fat through a special suctioning technique while sculpting the body into an overall smoother and slimmer contour

Male Breast Reduction – Improves the appearance of gynecomastia (“female-like breasts”) by creating a more masculine chest shape through skin excision and/or liposuction

In addition to offering these procedures, such as breast augmentation and liposuction, Plano plastic surgeon Dr. Wilcox also provides several non-surgical facial rejuvenation options that are designed to create a more youthful appearance. Depending on your cosmetic goals and Dr. Wilcox’s recommendations, becoming the best you in the new year may involve multiple procedures.

To learn how we can help meet your cosmetic goals, please call (972) 620-1700 and schedule an initial consultation.

There are two types of plastic surgery: cosmetic and reconstructive. Cosmetic surgery is an elective procedure, strictly concerned with improving the aesthetic appearance of a person. Reconstructive surgery, on the other hand, involves enhancing a person’s normal appearance, but the primary goal is to improve function. Tummy tuck surgery is a cosmetic surgery procedure, because it is intended to create a flatter and better-toned abdomen. Therefore, Plano tummy tuck patients would not be covered by insurance for their “abdominoplasty” procedure. Should you have a special case, such as a hernia that may be corrected through a tummy tuck, there is a chance that your insurance carrier may cover a portion of the procedure. Per an article on WebMD.com, in order for this to happen, your surgeon would need to write a letter to your insurance carrier, “making the case for medical necessity, if it applies to you.”

If you strongly desire a tummy tuck, but the cost of this plastic surgery procedure is of major concern, you can look into financing or other payment options. At the practice of Dr. Wilcox, a qualified Plano tummy tuck specialist, you can gather all of the details about abdominoplasty. A staff member would be happy to provide the necessary information to help you make the best, most comfortable decision.

In an earlier blog post titled “How to Pay for Plastic Surgery,” we share with you some of the options you have at Dr. Wilcox’s practice: “You may qualify for convenient and secure financing with CareCredit®, a credit card company that is specific to specialty medical procedures, such as plastic surgery. Some of the other options you may want to look into are using your general credit cards, applying for a bank loan, and learning about doctor payment plans.”

Feel free to call (972) 620-1700 with any additional questions regarding tummy tuck surgery and the costs involved with this procedure.

Still one of the most requested cosmetic surgery procedures in the country, including at Dr. Wilcox’s Plano practice, liposuction (“suction-assisted lipectomy”) has come a long way since it was first performed in the 1920s by French surgeon Charles Dujarier. Unfortunately Dr. Dujarier’s surgical attempt was not successful as it led to a major complication; gangrene set in after he treated a famous, young Parisian model, which led to her death. Due to this devastation, several decades passed before suction-assisted fat removal was performed. Although it is not the oldest plastic surgery procedure – nose surgery traces back to 2000 BC – liposuction was developed nearly a century ago, and definitely took many years to become a safe option in removing excess deposits of fat from nearly anywhere on the body.

It was in 1974 when two Italian gynecologists, Dr. Giorgio Fischer and his son, Dr. Giorgio Fischer, Jr., better crafted the liposuction procedure into an effective fat removal process. They invented a way to internally cut away fat tissue that sits within the body using an electric-powered, rotating scalpel, which was contained in a thin metal tube called a “cannula,” and inserted through small incisions. This early form of liposuction did destroy fat cells, which were suctioned through a rubber tubing by a vacuum machine; but because the doctors’ technology was not nearly as fine-tuned as it is today, the surgical outcomes back then can hardly be compared to modern results.

Soon thereafter, throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, surgeons began to create their own techniques and make the necessary adjustments to the procedure in order to help prevent such problems as blood loss, permanent numbness in the treated areas, asymmetry, and unpredictable results – complications that were associated with the early attempts of liposuction.

Today, there are several methods of liposuction to choose from, depending on your particular cosmetic goals, where and how many problem areas you have, and the surgeon’s recommendation. During your consultation with Dr. Wilcox at his Plano plastic surgery practice, you can learn which liposuction techniques he specializes in, and which one will provide you with optimal results. Please note that this procedure is not a weight loss method; rather it is designed to help further sculpt a body that is already physically in shape but has stubborn pockets of excess pockets of fat in certain areas.

Please contact the office of Dr. Wilcox regarding your interest in liposuction, by calling (972) 620-1700.

It is important to take full advantage of available resources when it comes to plastic surgery. Therefore, we suggest that you evaluate before and after plastic surgery photos in addition to learning about the benefits, potential complications, and recovery period prior to going forward with your decision. If you are seriously considering plastic surgery, just looking or getting a glimpse at before and after photos is not sufficient.

According to an article on PlasticSurgery.com article – “How Important Are Before and After Photos?” – there are multiple factors to analyze when viewing images on a doctor’s website. A top thing to take notice of, the writer mentions, is the “patient physique.” If they have similar facial features or body shape, you may want to mainly focus on reviewing those images first. In terms of breast lift surgery, a popular procedure requested at Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center of Texas, Dr. Wilcox offers additional tips on what to look for. He says that women who are evaluating before and after breast lift photos should pay attention to symmetry, nipple position, and scarring. If the individual wants to receive breast implants during the lifting procedure, she should view images of breast lift photos both with and without implants. This will help her to make the best decision.

Before and after plastic surgery photos greatly attest to the quality of a surgeon’s work, providing the prospective Dallas / Plano breast lift patient with an idea of his or her skillset. A qualified surgeon will have a photo gallery on his or her website, and additional photos to show you during consultation should you so wish to see more. If a doctor does not have images of his or her work available or is hesitant to show you them, you may want to look elsewhere. Please contact the office of Dr. Wilcox to schedule a consultation regarding your breast lift needs.

One of the main reasons why some people steer clear from plastic surgery is due to their fear of experiencing negative side effects and complications. This is especially true when it comes to breast surgeries. Please understand, however, that even though every surgical procedure has its own set of potential risks, the likelihood of a problem developing is low when a procedure is performed in the hands of a qualified medical professional.

Dr. Wilcox frequently meets with women who are interested in achieving a more youthful appearance with the help of breast lift surgery. During the consultation, he is often approached with a question revolved around the issue of nipple sensitivity: “Will I lose it after surgery?” According to Plano / Dallas breast lift specialist Dr. Wilcox, there is a chance of sensation decreasing, but it depends on the technique used. (All breast lift techniques entail incisions in the nipple/areola area.)

Additional information about this potential problem is explained on the official website of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). It is explained that patients may notice less sensation in the nipple and areola areas, but it is usually temporary. “Permanent loss of sensation in the nipples or areas of breast skin may occur rarely. It may, however, take weeks, months or even more than a year before sensation returns to normal,” the ASAPS reports.

Women can trust that they will be provided with the utmost in personal care and patient safety at Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center of Texas. During the consultation, patients may ask all of their questions and learn about this procedure in detail. With nearly two decades of experience in plastic surgery, Dr. Wilcox has the knowledge and skills necessary to properly perform breast lifts. Please contact his office to schedule an appointment regarding your body contouring needs.

Thousands of women every year choose to enhance their breasts with the use of saline or silicone gel implants. There are also thousands of other women who want to decrease their natural breast size, while reshaping them into a more aesthetically pleasing outcome. Not every woman interested in breast surgery desires “bigger boobs.”

Breast lift surgery and breast reduction, while both have unique goals, entail similar techniques. According to Dr. Wilcox, a Plano breast lift and Plano breast reduction specialist, these two procedures are the same surgeries in a sense, despite their differences; breast lift surgery is a cosmetic solution designed to correct droopiness and a saggy quality by raising breasts to a more youthful position (which may include breast implant insertion for greater firmness). This is done by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. Breast reduction is regarded as a reconstructive procedure due to the fact that it relieves physical pain. However, it also provides a cosmetic improvement as it entails removing excess skin and raising the breasts to a more youthful position. Both procedures help to provide the patient with overall better proportion.

With both procedures, Dr. Wilcox will remove excess skin and tissue as necessary, move the nipple/areola to a higher position on the chest wall (“above the fold”), and reshape the breasts so that they are raised to a youthful placement. There are multiple techniques that can be used for a breast lift and breast reduction, which are dependent on the extent of the patient’s droopiness and/or heavy size.

To learn if you qualify for either procedure, be sure to consult a qualified plastic surgeon. Dr. Wilcox is available for consultations at his practice, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center of Texas.

If aging has affected the quality of your breasts, causing them to sag and lose their once-youthful shape, you may be considering breast lift surgery. There is a myth, however, that should be addressed. Contrary to popular belief that breast lift surgery results in smaller breasts, Dr. Wilcox says that this is not true. It may create the illusion of being a smaller size because the shape has changed. The goal of breast lift surgery is not the same as breast reduction – to create smaller, less obtrusive breasts. It just so happens that the outcome from breast lift surgery may cause the breast to appear smaller, but an extensive amount of tissue is typically not removed.

Because many women fear appearing smaller after their breasts have been lifted and reshaped, it is common for those who undergo this procedure to opt for the insertion of saline or silicone implants as well. This will provide greater firmness and restore a full look or increase the size.

No matter the common thought or myth about a specific procedure, be sure to do your research and consult a qualified surgeon for insight. Viewing before and after photos are also important. If breast lift surgery is of interest to you, be sure to study results that feature patients who underwent this procedure with and without implants. This will help you make the best decisions regarding your body, and get an idea of which route will best meet your needs.

Dr. Wilcox and his staff ensure that every patient will receive the utmost in personal care and attentiveness. Please bring your questions regarding breast lift surgery with you to your consultation. Plano breast lift surgery specialist Dr. Wilcox welcomes your visit.

Year after year, the popularity of cosmetic enhancement procedures grows to new heights. This includes both non-surgical treatments and surgical solutions. And considering we are a very gift-giving type of society, in regards to holidays and special occasions, the idea of treating a loved one to an elective procedure of his or her choice is nothing new. Rather, it is becoming more of the norm these days.

Just as a teenage girl may receive the graduation gift of breast implants or a woman undergoes facelift surgery to turn back the hands of time on her 50^th birthday (which could be a gift from her kids), presenting a loved one with the opportunity to improve his or her aesthetics during the holiday season can be very special. Cosmetic enhancements not only help improve the beauty of a person on the outside – an individual is likely to feel much more confident and beautiful on the inside as well. Although cosmetic surgery, or even a non-surgical type of treatment, is not designed to change how a person feels about him or herself, the physical result often naturally affects a person’s self-image for the better.

At the practice of Dr. Wilcox, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center of Texas, gift certificates for a cosmetic procedure are commonly purchased as a holiday gift for someone. A Plano breast augmentation specialist with more than two decades of experience, Dr. Wilcox offers several options to consider for both men and women.

If you would like to learn more about the practice of Dr. Wilcox, or you are actually one of his Plano breast augmentation post-op patients who would like to improve upon another area of your body (There’s nothing wrong with giving yourself the gift of cosmetic surgery during the holiday season!), be sure to contact his office and request further information. His staff would be happy to speak with you regarding the selection of minimally invasive and surgical procedures available.

It must be made clear: Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure and gastric bypass surgery is a medical procedure. Just because they both help a person lose excess pounds, they are not nearly identical. Because they are in different classes, they cannot be properly compared. Liposuction and gastric bypass surgery are intended for completely different types of candidates and purposes.

Liposuction is designed to remove small to medium-size excess deposits of fat from various areas of the body – fat that does not respond to diet and exercise efforts. Dr. Wilcox, with extensive experience and knowledge in liposuction, will use a cannula (a small tube) to break up the fat that sits directly below the skin, and then a special vacuum to suction that fat. Whilst doing so, he will shape and tone those areas. Some of the most common places of the body that are treated with liposuction include the chin, upper arms, abdomen, thighs, flanks, and buttocks. Individuals who want to undergo liposuction must already be physically healthy.

Gastric bypass surgery, on the other end, is strictly for people who are obese or suffering from weight-related health problems, and have been obese for years (at least 100 pounds overweight). During this procedure, the surgeon will surgically cut or tie the stomach with a band, which is designed to reduce the amount of food a person can consume; because the stomach will be smaller, he or she will get a fuller stomach quicker. Just as it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle after liposuction in order to maintain results, the same rule does apply for gastric bypass patients.

Dr. Wilcox can help to meet your cosmetic goals, such as your needs regarding liposuction. He does not perform gastric bypass surgery. If you have any questions, please contact his practice, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center of Texas. 

The majority of people who undergo rhinoplasty are ecstatic with their results. Whether they emerged from surgery with smaller nostrils or a more refined bridge, patients are usually proud of their decision to undergo nose surgery.

However, there are circumstances where an outcome may be less than satisfactory for a patient, providing them with frustration, lowered self-confidence, and insecurity. Sometimes there is a need for immediate correction due to an obvious “botched rhinoplasty” procedure (when results provide an obvious need for a completely different operation) or the patient wants subtle, yet additional, correction. Due to the fact that nose surgery takes up to a full year for results to become fully evident, revision rhinoplasty should not be performed before this time.

Dallas rhinoplasty surgeon Dr. Wilcox frequently meets with patients who want rhinoplasty for the first time, as well as those who are unhappy with their appearance of their newly enhanced nose and wish to correct or improve upon its results. Typically, those who turn to Dr. Wilcox for a secondary rhinoplasty procedure did so because they are familiar with the beautiful, natural-looking results he consistently produces.

According to a Cosmetic Surgery Times article the problems that can be corrected with revision rhinoplasty are:

• The Pinched Tip
• The Hanging Columella
• The Drop (Rounded) Top
• The Crooked Nose
• The Scooped Nose
• High Tip
• Crooked Nasal Bones
• The Wide Nose

Please contact the office of Dr. Wilcox to schedule a consultation regarding your rhinoplasty needs, whether it is the first time you are considering plastic surgery or you desire further alterations.