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Will Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck Give Me The Best Results?

Saturday, August 14th, 2021

LIPOSUCTION   VS.   ABDOMINOPLASTY

Many patients and physicians alike have difficulty deciding whether liposuction or abdominoplasty is the best procedure when both fat and excess skin coexist.  Generally speaking, liposuction is best when we need to remove a fair amount of fatty tissue from areas where it has accumulated over time.  This is often the case in areas such as the upper and lower abdomen, waist area, hips, upper buttocks, etc.

An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is used typically when we have an apron in the lower portion of the abdomen and/or loose skin without a great deal of fatty tissue in the abdominal area, whether it’s above or below the umbilicus.  Abdominoplasty is most frequently needed after pregnancy where the tissue that covers muscles (fascia) has stretched out and relaxed.  This allows the abdomen to bulge resulting in the chief complaints of an abdominal “pooch or muffin-top and loose skin, whether it is an abdominal apron or relaxed wrinkled skin over the abdominal area.

The difficult decision, however, comes when a patient has a muffin top or loose abdominal fascia, excess skin and an excess accumulation of fatty tissue in the hips, upper buttocks, waist, upper back, and upper and lower abdomen.  In these instances, both  procedures may be needed to get the desired results. HOWEVER, I do not perform both procedures during the same surgical setting.  The reason for this is when extensive liposuction is performed, blood vessels can be temporarily injured.  It is necessary to perverse the blood vessels to maintain nourishment and a good blood supply to the abdominal flap (that is, the anterior skin covering the abdomen that is going to be stretched from the umbilicus to the pubic area). In such an instance, the best solution is to carry out liposuction as the first part of a staged procedure and then carry out the  abdominoplasty as the second procedure  once the patient has recovered from the liposuction procedure.

When patients visit our Champaign-Urbana area office for a liposuction (liposculpture) or tummy tuck consult, we do a very complete evaluation and combine that information with their goals, to determine which path would be best path to solve the issues they are concerned with. While both procedures might be necessary, in many instances, proper evaluation will yield a good result with only one procedure as long as the right one is selected to solve the primary problem, whether it be excess skin or excess fat.

 

Dr. G.D. Castillo, Illinois Cosmetic Surgeon

G. D. Castillo, MD

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)

217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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Surprisingly Nervous? What To Expect During Your Liposuction Consultation:

Wednesday, July 14th, 2021

Liposculpture basics:

Dr. Castillo has been sculpting bodies into more proportionate forms since the early 80’s.  In the hands of an expertly trained and experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon, body contouring via Liposculpture (Liposuction) can do more in a few hours to equalize the proportions of the body, then you may be able to do on your own in a lifetime.  

While making healthy food choices and maintaining a regular exercise regimen is essential for maintaining trim body shape,  spot-reducing  disproportionate areas through those means, where fat tends to over-collect is nearly impossible to correct on your own.

Liposuction will remove excess fat that over-accumulates in certain areas, resulting in body bulges of the hips, waist, stomach, lateral and medial thighs, back, arms, even the neck and face.

 

 

Liposculpture is used best in one of two ways:

  1. For those with a relatively normal BMI, who have 2-5 problem areas they wish to have reduced, such as the hips, thighs, stomach and waist…
  2. For those individuals who have a higher than normal weight, volume reduction liposculpture is the procedure of choice. Here the main goal is to remove as much fat as possible, typically up to 6 quarts (1.5 gallons) of fat. Volume reduction liposuction can reduce and better equalize your over-all body shape. The best candidates for volume reduction liposuction would have a BMI of 34 or less.

 Your Consultation:

Dr. G.D. Castillo hosts consultations for body contouring in his Champaign (Savoy), Illinois office.  He has a full state-of-the-art, surgical center on-site as well.  You will be greeted by our patient coordinator as soon as you arrive. Then you will be escorted back to one of our consultation rooms where you will meet briefly with a member of our clinical staff.  You will be asked a few brief questions regarding your health history, including a list of your current medications, allergies, past surgeries etc.

You will then meet with Dr. Castillo to share your body contouring goals.  Once he has performed a brief body evaluation, he will discuss his recommendations and give you a detailed over-view of what to expect before, during and after your surgery.  You will also receive an all-inclusive cost quote so there are no surprises.  Don’t be shy about asking questions.  We want you to be well informed so that you can make the decision that is right for you. Most patients take some to think about the information they have received and call to schedule if they decide to move forward with the surgery, though we can certainly make all the arrangements for your pre-op appointment, surgery and post-op check ups before you leave the office if that works best for you. Once you have scheduled surgery, you will receive a surgical packet in the mail that will contain instructions on how to best prepare for upcoming surgery. Once you receive it, if you have any questions at all, just give a call.  We are always here to help.

Questions you might want answers to:

 

1.  Q: Will the fat Dr. Castillo removes come back?

A: That is a big – “FAT” —NO!  Of course, that does not mean it will prevent you from accumulating more fat in the future, typically in other areas, if you are not disciplined in your diet and exercise habits.

2.  Q: How long before I can return to an active lifestyle?

A: You can expect to be up and walking around the day of your surgery and walking a mile the days following surgery. Patients return to most forms of activity after the 1st week.  Running, jogging, high-impact aerobics and heavy lifting can typically be resumed after the 3rd week.

3.  Q: What effect, if any, will liposculpture have on the appearance of my skin?

A:  This ranges on a variety of factors such age, degree of sun damage, skin type, weight stability etc.  This is a question Dr. Castillo will be better able to address once he evaluates your skin.

4. Q: What is the scheduling time before surgery? 

A:  Surgical availability can vary greatly so it is best to check with us once you have some dates in mind.   We will be happy to discuss our available dates in your consultation or by phone.  If you have a certain date or time frame in mind, it is best to schedule your consultation several weeks before in advance.

5. Q: What kind of results can I expect?

A:  It is important to us that we convey the type of results you can realistically expect.  Once Dr. Castillo evaluates you during your consultation, he will discuss your expected outcome.  While each patient outcome involves many factors,  you can typically expect to see a reduction  and sculpting of those tough bulges that you were unable to reduce yourself.

6. Q: Do you have before and after photos of your work?

A:  Dr. Castillo has been performing liposuction to improve the shape of male and female bodies since the 1980’s! He has a collection before and after photos of his work to help you the type of changes that he can make with this cosmetic surgery procedure.

A few things to consider when making the decision to have surgery are

  • 1.  Am I a good candidate?

•Good candidates for liposculpture are those who:

•Have been at a stable weight for at least 6 months

•Have realistic expectations. It should not be thought of as a “weight-loss” solution. Liposculpture is not meant to solve the issues of someone who is chronically over-weight. Making healthy life-style choices when it comes to eating right and exercising regularly will still be up to you.

•Those with a BMI of 34 or less.

 

 

2.  Am I choosing the best procedure to accomplish the results are am looking for?

•Is this the procedure Dr. Castillo recommended for me or did he recommend something different?

3.  Is Dr. Castillo, his facility and his staff right for you?

  • How much experience does Dr. have performing Liposculpture?
  • Did you feel comfortable with his explanation?
  • Did he answer your questions?
  • Did you finish the consult with a clear idea of expectations?
  • Was Dr. Castillo kind, professional and knowledgeable?
  • Was communication between you and Dr. Castillo / staff clear?
  • Was his staff friendly, knowledgeable and helpful?
  • Were you comfortable in the facility?

Important Note:  Traditional Liposuction / Liposculpture is still the GOLD STANDARD of treatment.  While there are many new non-surgical “fat reduction” treatments being marketed today, Dr. Castillo has elected not to offer those treatments to our patients.  We want what our patients want; the best outcome possible.  Unlike other non-surgical options, traditional liposuction/liposculpture offers consistent, smooth, predictable, superior results.  It is able to contour in 360 degrees known as 3-D or 3-dimensional body sculpting. Today there is simply no substitute for traditional liposculpture.

 

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Want To Know What To Expect During Your Liposculpture Recovery? Your Complete Guide

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019

Get ready to stand in awe of your new body!  This is an exciting time!  Liposculpture can be such a rewarding procedure! Congratulations on taking the steps to get the body you want!

I think it’s important to realize that recovering from Liposculpture can take several weeks for all of the swelling to go away and for your skin to re-conform itself. The end result does not happen over-night. However, most often the majority of your recovery will happen in the first two weeks.

Pain / discomfort:

For the most part, you will feel sore and bruised in the areas where fat was removed. It is nothing that should keep you from concentrating on or completing daily tasks. Most of our patients control post-surgical discomfort with Tylenol, but of course you will also have access to a prescription pain medication in case you should need it during the first few days of recovery.  There are two things you can do to help yourself:

  1. Follow the directions given to you by our office (not the ones on the internet).
  2. Move your muscles!

Exercise:

If you are a gym rat, we do not want you to lose momentum at the gym and want to get you back to your work out as soon as your body is ready.  If you are not a gym rat, you might find that your new body becomes the incentive you needed to put self-care, a healthy diet and exercise on your priority list. Liposculpture is often very motivating in that way!

You can typically expect to ease back into your work outs with a schedule that looks something like this:

  • 1st week: You will be asked to restrict exercise to light activity such as walking and routine motion movement.

2nd week: You are likely to be released to go back to the gym – but start slowly. You can resume walking on an incline and weight lifting at no more than 50% of your normal level. Refrain from running, jogging, and impact aerobics.

  • 3rd week: You can generally expect all exercise restrictions to be lifted at this point (pending your visit with Dr. Castillo). When you resume running, jogging, or high impact aerobics, I recommend wearing body spandex for a few weeks just to help you feel more secure with movement.

 

Recovery:  Days 0-5 Post-Surgery:

  • You will want to take it easy for the first 48 hours which is the perfect time to catch up on a good book or your movie list.
  • Recovering from liposculpture is NOT something that is done from your bed. You will be up and walking as tolerated the day of your surgery. As long as you feel up to it, we ask that you start walking a mile each day beginning the day after your surgery. Keeping your muscles warm by moving them will help to speed up your recovery.
  • Clothing: Remember that for the first 24-36 hours you may experience some tumescent fluid drainage so avoid wearing for favorite outfits as it can be a little messy.
  • Increase your fluid intake for the first few days after surgery.
  • Avoid salty diets as they can increase water retention.
  • You will be able to shower 48 hours after surgery. You can launder your compression body garment at this time if needed. You will need to wait to take a bath until 24 hours after your sutures are removed (one week post-surgery).
  • For the first week, you will remain in the compression body garment you were sent home in.
  • If we performed liposculpture on the back side of your body, sitting on hard furnishing may not feel good for the first few days. I recommend placing a small hand towel on each side of the toilet seat before you use the restroom or change your toilet seat for a cushioned one.
  • You can expect to be somewhat sore and bruised. You are likely to notice an increase in swelling and bruising days 4-7, then those symptoms will begin to dissipate over the next few weeks. Remember that gravity pulls fluids down so don’t be surprised to see bruising or yellowing travel to areas lower than the regions we worked on. It will resolve as well.

Recovery: One Week Post-Surgery:

  • You will return to our office for your first check-up on day 6 or 7. We will remove your tiny sutures and review your 1-week post-op instructions. While you will already be able to see some improvements in your body proportions, you will still be quite swollen so you will have to wait a little longer to see your results.
  • If you have not already returned to work, you will be able to do so at this time.
  • After your one-week post-op visit, you will no longer need to wear the compression garment provided by our office. Instead you can begin wearing a Spanx garment during the day and you can go without a garment while sleeping at night.
  • Dr. Castillo may ask you to begin soaking in a warm bath at this point to help increase circulation, and decrease swelling and soreness. Try placing a thick bath towel in the bottom of your tub to sit on to ease any discomfort of sitting on a hard surface.

 

 

 

Recovery: 2 Weeks Post-Surgery:

  • The toughest part is behind you and you will begin to see the rewards of your procedure!
  • You will likely be released to go back to the gym at 50% of your normal effort.
  • Hold out a little longer to start buying new clothes, your body is still changing, and you may still have some swelling in certain areas (nothing others will notice).
  • The majority of your bruising and swelling should be resolving.

 Recovery – 3 weeks Post-Surgery And Beyond:

  • 2nd Post-Op Visit: You will return to see Dr. Castillo for a 3-week post-op visit. We will take your weight and measurements to see how you are progressing and discuss your target weight. You can expect to be released from any prior exercise restrictions at your 3-week visit.
  • Expect to still have some minor recovery symptoms such as small areas that may feel a little firmer that others known as woody edema. This will eventually resolve on its own but Dr. Castillo may ask you to massage those areas (if they occur) for a few minutes each day to improve the woody edema more quickly.
  • You will notice your body shape is beginning to improve and your clothing will fit better; more proportionate. It will only get better from here!
  • You will no longer need to wear a body garment after your 3-week check-up! Yay!!

 

  • 3-month post-op visit – By this point, patients are enjoying their new body and are so happy with their results and recovery that they often feel they don’t need to come back for their 3- month check-up after surgery. Even though you look and feel fabulous, I encourage you to keep this appointment. Think of this visit as your “Reveal.”  Dr. will talk to you about your progression and what to expect from here on out. We will take final measurements and weight. We will take your after photos and will mail a copy of them to you.  These photos are an important part of your medical record so be sure to date them and keep them in a safe place.

 One Last Thought:

The decision to tell family, friends, co-workers etc. that you had liposculpture is entirely up to you.  Patients often feel compelled to tell people about their choice to have liposculpture because they think others will notice anyway.  The truth is, people won’t look at you notice how amazingly proportionate you are now. They are more like to ask about which changes you have made to your diet or what new exercise program you are on.  So, the choice to share your journey to looking and feeling better is up to you.  You are not obligated to share that information unless you are comfortable doing so. While friends and family will notice that you look totally awesome and probably be a little envious, it is unlikely that they will look at you and think you had liposculpture.

Of course, we do love it when you brag about your experience with us.

 

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

 

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Gynecomastia – Large Breasts in Males

Thursday, July 18th, 2019

When males of any age develop large breasts, it can be very damaging to their self-esteem. Though large male breasts are actually quite common, often the result is social isolation. This creates a distressing and debilitating body image that most males try to camouflage with tight upper garments and very loose clothing.

Many of our male patients who suffer from excessive breast tissue, express their inability to really enjoy life. They are embarrassed to take their shirt off.  It constricts their willingness to be social and participate in sports. They are unable to enjoy vacations at the beach and most summer related activities.  Most importantly, it changes their ability to interact within key relationships in their lives.  Many males find it difficult to feel masculine during intimate moments with their partner. They find that it even inhibits the way they interact or play with their children.

Male breasts are the result of increased volume of both fat and glandular breast tissue.  At Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center, our patients learn that male breast tissue is indeed an occurrence in 100% of males. However, this tissue is vestigial, that is, it is present in very small amounts in most males  For reasons associated with hormones, genetics, diet, medications and environmental factors, the amount of both fat and breast tissue can increase in the breast area of males of all ages (aging men, young men, children alike…).

The treatment for this problem is both effective and simple.  Very often patients ask me, “Dr. Castillo, can this problem be solved with liposuction only?”  The answer is a sometimes. Sometimes the case is such that liposuction is all that is needed to reduce the size of the breast and deliver a great result.

The treatment is more often two-fold.  It involves the removal of fatty tissue from the pectoral area through liposuction with very small cannulas. We do this using traditional tumescent liposuction techniques and ultrasonic-assisted liposuction.Then we create a small, invisible incision in the nipple- areolar region. This incision is utilized as a window. With special, delicate instruments, we use this window to remove a significant portion of breast tissue which in most individuals is not accessible for removal through liposuction, because it is very thick, fibrous, glandular tissue.  It is removed by dissection with special instruments that create no injury to the surrounding tissues.  The entire procedure takes two hours, and cleanly and effectively removes all of the enlarged breast and fatty tissue from the area.

A fitted garment is worn underneath normal clothing for the first week after surgery. Very small sutures are removed within six days after the procedure.The patient is allowed to do routine light physical activities within three days after the procedure.  This procedure, known as excision of male Gynecomastia will help to resolve the lack of self-confidence that can occur after years of teasing and scrutiny. It will reveal a more masculine male contour of the chest. It has been universally successful and rewarding procedure. The changes in self-esteem and positive personality reinforcement are seen immediately.  It has been a most satisfying way of correcting a rather disturbing problem for our patients.

If you would like further information on this subject, call our office to schedule a consultation. During consultation, we can discuss your desires and concerns. You will be able to view before and after photos of other patients who have undergone this procedure.  We will answers any questions you may have and give you the information needed to help you decide if this procedure is right for you.

Dr. G.D. Castillo, Triple-Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon

G. D. Castillo, M.D., FACS
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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Posted in Breast, Liposuction, Male Breast Reduction | 3 Comments »

Your Comprehensive Guide: Now Easily Prepare For Your Liposculpture Surgery

Friday, April 19th, 2019

You will receive paperwork in the mail a few days after you schedule your surgery.  While it is tempting to rely on internet sources for information, there is a great deal of mis-information out there.  It is best to rely on Dr. Castillo’s PROFESSIONAL advice and instructions as he has over three decades of knowledge and expertise in this area.  Please take the time to thoroughly read through the material provided as it reviews the important information you will need for the days leading up to surgery.  Inside the packet you will also find a reminder for your pre-operative appointment.  This appointment typically occurs about 7-10 days prior to your surgery.

What To Expect At Your Pre-Op Appointment:

  • Pre-surgical weight & measurements will be recorded so that we can track your progress post-surgery.
  • Physical exam – During this visit, Dr. Castillo will perform a brief medical exam by listening to your heart and lungs, and asking some health-related questions.
  • Lab work 
  • Prescriptions – You will be given a prescription for pain medication. You will not be given an antibiotic as it is not needed for this type of procedure.
  • Before photos – A set of before photos will be taken for your medical records. You will receive a copy of them at your 1- or 3-week visit. Be sure to file these in a safe place in case you need to refer to them in the future.
  • Betadine Body Cleanser – You will be asked to wash the surgical regions with this cleanser (provided by us) beginning 3 days prior to surgery and again the morning of surgery. Don’t worry, the Betadine cleanser will not stain your skin but you must rinse it off just like regular body soap. It is not meant to remain on your skin.
  • Review of your surgical plan & recovery – One of Dr. Castillo’s best qualities is that he is thorough. He will walk you through your upcoming surgery and the recovery process. You will leave your pre-operative appointment withe a good understanding of what to expect.
  • Questions – If by chance Dr. Castillo did not touch on a question you have, now is the time to ask. Remember our goal is to make sure you are well informed so don’t be shy about asking. It’s your body after all!
  • The remainder of your surgical balance will be collected at your pre-op visit. We do not conduct business on surgical mornings as we are concentrating only on your surgery at that time.

10 Days Prior To Surgery:

  • Begin taking an iron supplement (Ferrous Gluconate).
  • Discontinue taking all Aspirin, Ibuprophen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve… (all NSAIDS). Also discontinue all Vitamin E (which may be in your multi-vitamin) and fish oil. If yo are unsure if a medication or supplement contains any of these ingredients, please call our office or ask your pharmacist for clarification.
  • Because the above listed medications / supplements are all blood thinners and I strongly suggest removing all of the above blood thinner from your reach during this time. Taking them during with-in the 10-day period prior to your surgery could cause a medical complication. It’s too easy to take these for a headache or pain without thinking about it. Then it is too late.  We may need to postpone your surgery for your own safety.  If you accidentally take one of the these prior to your surgery date, you MUST inform Dr. Castillo.  If you need a pain reliever during this 10-day prior, you can use Tylenol.

Personal Arrangements To Consider:

  • Liposcultpure is performed in under general anesthesia. This mean you will need to make arrangements for a friend or family member to drive you home after surgery.
  • We ask that you make arrangements for a responsible adult to stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.
  • If you have small children or pets, you may need assistance for the first 24-48 hours.
  • Since many of our patients travel some distance to see us, Dr. Castillo has made special arrangements with the I-Hotel in Champaign to offer our patients a discounted “CASTILLO STAYCATION” package. This package includes transportation from our office back to the hotel on the day of surgery, dinner and breakfast for two and your hotel accommodations. Our office staff will be happy to assist you with those arrangements if you have questions.

 

The Night Prior To Surgery:

  • Wardrobe – select easy to slip on flat shoes and bottoms and a zip or button top to wear on the day surgery. Keep in mind that when we perform liposculpture, we inject tumescent fluid into the body. This fluid is going to leak back out of a few tiny little puncture areas for up to about 36 hours after surgery. Therefore, I would recommend NOT wearing your favorite outfit to surgery as it will be a little messy.  We will send you home with absorbent covers to sit or lay on to protect your furniture.
  • You will be asked to refrain from eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
  • Plan on having a quiet, relaxing evening and make getting a goods sleep a priority. Often patients arrive for surgery and tell me that they stayed up most of the night so they would sleep most the day after surgery. Lack of sleep is never helpful.  It often creates anxiety and restlessness. Having a well-rested mind and body can and will make all the difference during your initial recovery.  Go to bed rest-assured, knowing that you have chosen a surgeon who has not only dedicated more than 3 decades of his life performing more than 1,000 liposculpture procedures but who is also the Past-President of The Society For Liposuction Surgery!

See you soon!

Warmly,

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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What To Expect During Your Liposuction Consultation

Thursday, March 21st, 2019

Liposculpture Basics:

Dr. Castillo has been sculpting bodies into more proportionate forms since the early 80’s.  In the hands of an expertly trained and experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon, body contouring via Liposculpture (Liposuction) can do more in a few hours to equalize the proportions of the body, then you may be able to do on your own in a lifetime.

While making healthy food choices and maintaining a regular exercise regimen is essential for maintaining trim body shape, “spot-reducing”disproportionate areas through those means, where fat tends to over-collect is nearly impossible to correct on your own.

Liposuction will remove excess fat that over-accumulates in certain areas, resulting in body bulges of the hips, waist, stomach, lateral and medial thighs, back, arms, even the neck and face.

Liposculpture is used best in one of two ways:

  1. For those with a relatively normal BMI, who have 2-5 problem areas they wish to have reduced, such as the hips, thighs, stomach and waist…
  2. For those individuals who have a higher than normal weight, volume reduction liposcultpure is the procedure of choice. Here the main goal is to remove as much fat as possible, typically up to 6 quarts (1.5 gallons) of fat. Volume reduction liposuction can reduce and better equalize your over-all body shape. The best candidates for volume reduction liposuction would have a BMI less than 35.

 Your Consultation:

Dr. G.D. Castillo offers consultations for body contouring in both his Champaign (Savoy), Illinois locations.  You will be greeted by our patient coordinator as soon as you arrive. Then you will be escorted back to one of our consultation rooms where you will meet briefly with a member of our clinical staff.  You will be asked a few brief questions regarding your health history, including a list of your current medications, allergies, past surgeries etc.

You will then meet with Dr. Castillo to share your body contouring goals.  Once he has performed a quick body evaluation, he will discuss his recommendations and give you a detailed over-view of what to expect before, during and after your surgery.  You will also receive an all-inclusive cost quote so there are no surprises.

Don’t be shy about asking questions.  We want you to be well informed so that you can make the decision that is right for you. Most patients take some to think about the information they have received and call to schedule if they decide to move forward with the surgery, though we can certainly make all the arrangements for your pre-op appointment, surgery and post-op check ups before you leave the office if that works best for you. Once you have scheduled surgery, you will receive a surgical packet in the mail that will contain instructions on how to best prepare for upcoming surgery. Once you receive it, if you have any questions at all, just give a call.  We are always here to help.

Questions you might want answers to:

  1. Q: Will the fat Dr. Castillo removes return?

A: That is a big – “FAT” —NO!  Of course, that does not mean it will prevent you from accumulating more fat in the future, typically in other areas, if you are not disciplined in your diet and exercise habits.

  1. Q: How long before I can return to an active lifestyle?

A: You can expect to be up and walking around the day of your surgery and walking a mile the day following surgery. Patients return to most forms of activity after the 1st week.  Running and high-impact aerobics can be resumed after the 3rd week.

  1. Q: What effect, if any, will liposculpture have on the appearance of my skin?

A:  This ranges on a variety of factors such age, degree of sun damage, skin type, weight stability etc.  This is a question Dr. Castillo will be better able to address once he evaluates your skin.

4. Q: What is the scheduling time before surgery? 

A:  Surgical availability can vary greatly so it is best to check with us once you have some dates in mind.   We will be happy to discuss our available dates in your consultation or by phone.  If you have a certain date or time frame in mind, it is best to schedule your consultation at least several weeks before

5. Q: What kind of results can I expect?

6. Q: Do you have before and after photos of your work?

 

A few things to consider when making the decision to have surgery are:

  • Am I a good candidate?

Good candidates for liposculpture are those who:

  • Have been at a stable weight for at least 6 months
  • Have realistic expectations. It should not be thought of as a “weight-loss” solution. Liposculpture is not meant to solve the issues of someone who is chronically over-weight. Making healthy life-style choices when it comes to eating right and exercising regularly will still be up to you.
  • Those with a BMI of less than 35

 

  • Will this procedure give me the results I am looking for?
  • Are there other options I should consider?

 

  • Is Dr. Castillo, his facility and his staff right for you?
  • How much experience does Dr. have performing Liposculpture?
  • Is he board-certified?
  • What is his expertise in liposcultpure? (Did you know he is the Past-President of the American Society of Liposuction Surgery?!!)
  • Did you feel comfortable with his explanation?
  • Did he answer your questions?
  • Did you finish the consult with a clear idea of expectations?
  • Was Dr. Castillo kind, professional and knowledgeable?
  • Was communication between you and Dr. Castillo / staff clear?
  • Was his staff friendly, knowledgeable and helpful?
  • Were you comfortable in the facility?

Important Note:

Traditional Liposuction / Liposcultpure is still the GOLD STANDARD of treatment.  While there are many new non-surgical “fat reduction” treatments being marketed today, Dr. Castillo has elected not to offer those treatments to our patients.  We want what our patients want; the best outcome possible.  Traditional liposculpture delivers 360 degree contouring known as 3-D or tri-dimensional body sculpting. Today, there is simply no substitute for traditional liposculpture in regards to accurate, safe, consistent results, unlike non-surgical options.

 

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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Real Results Are Achievable With Our Popular Gold-Standard Liposculpture

Friday, January 18th, 2019

There are many non-surgical modalities available to treat unwanted fat.  Unfortunately most of those non-surgical modalities lead patients down a lumpy path of disappointment.  The reality is that even if you are at a normal weight (BMI below 34)  excessive fat in areas such as the “love handles or hips, back, thighs, stomach, etc.  can make your body look disproportionate. The only way to accomplish real results is to actually remove quantifiable – measurable – fat.

If you find yourself in a consultation where someone suggests a type non-surgical modality rather than traditional liposuction or liposculpture, you may want to ask a simple question:  “How much fat will this procedure physically remove in terms of pounds or volume?”

During volume reduction liposuction, traditional liposculpture removes up to 6000 cc of fat at the time of the procedure! That is 13 pounds or 7 quarts or 1.8 gallons of fat!  These are typical numbers for volume reduction liposculpture performed at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center routinely. So yes, traditional liposculpture translates into being able to downsize in a significant way.

When considering if the latest way to “reduce” body fat is the best way to get the results you desire, ask the hard questions that are important to your outcome!

 

 

•How many pounds will you remove?

•How much volume will I loose?

•Will the results be smooth or lumpy?

•How many treatments will I need to achieve my desired results?

•What happens to the “melted fat?”  Are there future health concerns I should know about?

When asked “was worth it?”, more than 95% of our traditional liposculpture patients answered – ABSOLUTELY!

If you are looking for consistent, smooth, proportionate, REAL results consider choosing the “gold-standard” of body contouring – traditional liposculpture surgery.

 

 

G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

 

 

 

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Do You Know The Best Season for Your Cosmetic Surgery Procedure?

Wednesday, December 7th, 2016

Are you considering a facelift, tummy tuck, or another plastic surgery procedure? Many of Dr. G.D. Castillo’s patients in both his Champaign cosmetic surgery practices will often ask if there is a better time of the year is to have the particular surgery they are considering. Truthfully, most surgeries can be performed anytime of the year but each season does lend itself to certain advantages. Hopefully this blog post will give you some points to consider when choosing the best time for you and your lifestyle.

FALL:

Fall is known to be a time for change. The leaves change, colors change, temperatures change, daylight hours change, so why not make some changes of your own?

There are many advantages to having surgery during this time of year. The kids are back in school. Busy summer schedules and beach days have come to an end (at least here in the Midwest) and life is starting to get back into a more consistent routine after summer. The holidays are coming up and with a little planning you can have surgery and be healed with no remaining telltale signs all before your first holiday get-together.

lipo jeans to bigThere are also a few long holiday weekends like Columbus Day and Thanksgiving. This is a good time to have body contouring with liposculpture or even neck liposcultpure. Breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, and even mini-facelift procedures are possibilities over long weekends. It is usually cool enough to camouflage yourself with an over-sized shirts, turtlenecks or scarves.

The only real disadvantage to having plastic surgery this time of year is that you are heading into the holiday season. It you have a lot of pre-holiday prep work or demands, it might be more challenging.

 

WINTER:

Winter is typically a very popular time to have surgery and for good reason; it is generally a slower, more laid back time. You can extend time off from work by adding vacation days to the beginning or end of holiday time. For this reason, it’s an ideal time to have surgeries that take more than a long weekend to be presentable, like a facelift, forehead lift, eyelid surgery, fat transplant or rhinoplasty.

It is easier to hide out for a few days without friends and family getting suspicious of your absence. It’s a common time to be stuck at home with “the flu or a cold” for a few days. Since no one wants your flu or a cold, they are likely to stay away. 😉

Winter wardrobes make it easy to conceal post-surgical swelling and bruising of the face or body. Scarves, turtlenecks and cute winter hats make it easy to hide lady covered with scarfthe signs of a recent facelift or forehead lift. Big, comfy sweaters can hide slower movements that are necessary just after breast surgeries, tummy tucks, and body contouring. Since you will need to avoid sun exposure after surgeries like laser resurfacing, winter is also the easiest time to stay out of the sun.

I cannot really think of any disadvantages of having surgery in the winter, though winter sometimes creates procrastination and before you know it, it’s spring and you’re suddenly in a time crunch to meet your cosmetic goals.

 

SPRING:

Spring is probably the most motivating season. It’s a very popular season for 4562 smallscheduling liposuction, tummy tucks, breast surgery and mommy makeovers. Patients are looking ahead to late spring and summer and want to get their body in check before heading to the beach, going to class reunions, weddings, vacations, or just having less clothing to conceal their areas of concern. It is also a great time for those who couldn’t fit a facelift, brow lift, rhinoplasty into their winter schedule because you can still conceal with a big spring hat, scarf and sunglasses for the first few days if you have bruising or swelling to cover.

 

SUMMER:

Summer can be a more challenging time to have certain cosmetic surgery procedures, as it is more difficult to avoid sun exposure to lasered skin or new, exposed incisions. If you are a gardener, a golfer or work outside, summer may not be the best season to have laser surgery. Most surgeries will impinge on your summer activities, at least to some extent.

However, if your daily summer lifestyle doesn’t include spending lots of time summer-cute-hipster-beautyoutside and you are accustomed to protecting your skin from the sun depending on your lifestyle, if you’re someone who already restricts the amount of sun exposure you get, or if you are willing restrict the time you spend outside for awhile, it can be a good option.

If you have kids at home, summer is a good time to send them off to Grandma’s house or summer camp for a fun-filled week while you concentrate on your recovery. By the time they return, they will be none-the-wiser. Since most people are pretty busy during the summer months, it won’t be too suspicious if you disappear from your social scene for a week.

Procedures like breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, eyelid surgery and tummy tuck procedures are good summer surgery choices. If summer is not a good time for surgery but you want a more youthful look for all your summer events, consider BOTOX Cosmetic or dermal filler treatments, or facials and skincare to keep yourself looking fresh until fall.

I think James Taylor said it best when he sang “Winter, spring, summer, or fall…all you’ve got to do is call…”

 

DSC_0475
Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

 

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Posted in Body Procedures, BOTOX® Cosmetic & Dermal Fillers, Breast, Brow Lift, Eyelid Surgery, Facelift, Facial Surgery, Laser, Liposuction, Non-Surgical Treatments, Rhinoplasty, Tummy Tuck | 3 Comments »

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