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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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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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Post-Tummy Tuck: A Case of the Missing Navel!

Friday, February 3rd, 2017

While all cosmetic or plastic surgeons have their own style and artist preferences, there is certain criteria that needs to be met to say you have delivered a good surgical result for your patient. We have been seeing a very strange occurrence with tummy tuck results from other practices who visit our Champaign, IL, offices lately, one that I believe warrants discussion.

Over the past 1 ½ -2 years, Dr. Castillo has seen a number of patients from other practices who are seeking a second opinion on their tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) results. These patients share that they are unhappy with the results. “Something just doesn’t look right,” they say. While they may not know exactly what they are unhappy with, they KNOW something isn’t as expected.

With one professional peek at their tummies, it’s shockingly obvious. They are missing the “crown jewel” of any good tummy tuck – the navel!! We have also seen a few patients with poorly re-constructed, misshapen, or poorly placed navels as well. Either way, it would make it difficult for a person to feel good about the new look of her/his tummy.

Technically called the umbilicus, the navel or belly button is the focal point of any abdomen. It is the single most important anatomical component and without one, an abdomen can look like something straight out of the movie Alien! Acute attention to the details of placement, size, shape and depth are paramount in the final appearance of an abdomen. That deserves repeating… Acute attention to the details of placement, size, shape and depth are paramount in the final appearance of an abdomen. The navel immediately reveals the age of an individual by its location, shape and size. Compare your current navel to the one in a picture of your navel as a teen. You are likely to notice some changes.

As you can imagine, undergoing a tummy tuck only to find that your navel does not look natural or worse yet, it is missing all together, can be disappointing to say the least. As a patient, you have spent upwards of ten grand, you have taken time off work, you went through the recovery process and are full of excitement… all with the goal of having a beautiful, sexy, more youthful abdomen, only to find that while you were sleeping, somebody has swiped your crown jewel!

slim-1391235_640As part of Dr. Castillo’s surgical team, I observe the delicacy and care in which he handles the re-creation of the umbilicus. It was surprising to me that there are surgeons (though small in number) who do not place proper importance on the re-construction of a natural looking navel. There are many wonderful, dedicated cosmetic surgeons around the world who can deliver a proper, natural-looking, youthful new tummy for you. It’s up to you to choose one who is knowledgeable, experienced and determined to deliver the look you desire!

So my best advice to anyone considering a tummy tuck is to ask lots of questions about what you are getting and what your surgeon’s vision of a proper abdominoplasty is. Look closely at his/her before and after photos. Carefully examine the position, shape, size, depth and proportion of the patients’ navels. This is not the time ignore the proverbial “elephant in the room.” Demand a proper navel!

To see Dr. Castillo’s beautiful, natural-looking tummy tuck results, view his photo gallery. Request a consultation to meet with him and discuss your options.

 

Yours Truly,

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

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800-252-7123 (within IL)
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NOT SURE HOW TO HANDLE THE MIDDLE AGE MUFFIN TOP? LOOK TO BODY SCULPTING

Monday, February 23rd, 2015

Middle-age for most of us brings about change in one way or another. It typically shows up on your doorstep with an under-handed series of hits to the ego that completely blind-side you.   Suddenly, you find yourself in the “it’s time for your colonoscopy” category, which let’s face it, I’ve yet to meet another human who is excited about that promotion.  You trade in sinusitis for arthritis, begin to complain about lack of wholesome television programming today.  You find yourself searching for the nearest teenager to explain this modern social technology, wondering “why anyone with any good sense would waste their time with “Tweeter, Snaptrist” 😉  and the rest of them. Doesn’t anyone protect their privacy anymore?”

Along with these delightful changes, middle-age often brings about some physical changes too.  It’s like you wake up one morning to find that your abs of steel or lady curves have been replaced with a bulging, muffin top. There are several factors that contribute to the development of the muffin top that moves in and obliterates what was once an hour-glass waistline or fit male physique.

  • Heredity
  • Hormonal changes (that topic deserves it’s own blog post, maybe two or three!)
  • Lifestyle or life choices.

Many of Dr. Castillo’s patients arrive for consultation at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center in Champaign, asking if liposuction can help reduce their “middle-age muffin tops.”  Liposuction, also called liposculpture, is often the solution to many muffin top issues without the need for more extensive surgery such as a tummy tuck.  (For more information about choosing between the two procedures, read my Liposculpture vs. Abdominoplasty blog post.) However, in most cases, it is important to understand that removing fat only from the abdomen and ignoring the bulk of the surrounding torso will not give you the results you envision.

Excess fatty tissue in the abdominal area is most often accompanied by excess fatty tissue (even if at a lesser degree) of the hips (love handles), back, waist and the lateral thighs.  As Dr. Castillo once told me, “During liposuction, it’s not the fat you take out that counts, it’s what you leave behind.” I think that principle applies here.  In order to sculpt out the sensuous, proportionate curves of an hour-glass shape, you must also address any bulk of the hips, back and waist that exist. For our male patients, the same applies.  It is difficult to create the fit, well-proportioned contour of a male physique when excess fatty tissue in surrounding areas is left untreated.

Patients who choose body contouring through liposculpture to restore and define a slim waist of youth often report not only being happy with their new body shape but find that it is a great source of motivation to lead a healthier lifestyle with better exercise and diet choices, increasing their overall quality of life.

To meet with Dr. Castillo and learn more about body contouring options, request a consultation or call us at 217-359-7508.

Roxanne Grace

Skincare and Laser Specialist

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

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The Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

In the Savoy location Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center, we receive a lot of questions about how to lose weight and keep it off from patients who are concerned about their increasing weight and those who want to maintain their results after procedures such as liposuction or abdominoplasty.  What follows are the basics – that is, bringing a complex subject to a minimum denominator; knowledge and good lifestyle eating and exercise ethics are what it takes to loose weight and stay thin.

Though it can feel like one hardly eats anything but still gains weight,  the reality is quite different.  The very basic principle  of weight control is that you will gain weight if you consume more calories than you burn – period, no exceptions.

Have you ever heard people say that if  you exercise enough you will lose weight?  While that is true, the basic principle here is that you absolutely cannot depend on exercise alone to bring your weight down.  It has to be proportional with a decrease in the amount of food you eat, how that food is consumed and which foods you are consuming.

How To Loose Weight And Keep It Off Concepts:

1.     Water intake: The basic principle of a good lifestyle eating ethic is to consume water.  Here, you must read exactly what it says – water.  Water is not soda, or tea, or any other form of liquid.  Water is water.  Basic research shows that if you drink a minimum of one glass but better yet two glasses of water prior to your meal, you will consume less food and you will lose weight.  There are many reasons for this to happen, but suffice it to say that basic research has proven this without a doubt.  It is also important to drink water during the day.  In fact, often our bodies confuse hunger with dehydration.  If you have already eaten and are searching for a snack, replace that snack with a glass of water.  Wait 20 minutes.  You may find that your desire for a snack is gone.  Again, I must remark how important it is that it be water – not sweetened water, not flavored water, not anything else other than simple water.  Look around you and you will find that trim, thin, fit people drink only water.

2.     Reduce your portion sizes: Living in a nation where restaurants serve such large portions has been a big injustice to our health and over-all lifestyle.  Over the past few decades, we have begun to consume much larger portions than in the past.  As a result, we have become an obese nation with many weight related health problems. The more unhealthy food we consume, the more our bodies crave them. The truth is, the older we get, the less caloric intake our body requires.  Simply put, we must consume less calories in our 40’s than we did in our 30’s, and less in our 50”s than in our 40”s, and less in our 60”s than we consumed in our 50’s and so on.  I suggest beginning to decrease you portion sizes by eating until you are no longer hungry instead of eating until you are full. Decreasing portion sizes can be difficult when you are enjoying your meal, however if you consistently stick to this rule, you may find it much easier to accomplish.

3.     Restrict or avoid salt, sugar, fat and preservatives: Remember that there are enemies in food that you must restrict or avoid.  Those are salt, sugar, fat and preservatives.  All of the above are contained in most fast foods, prepared foods, canned foods (even canned vegetables), deli prepared foods, packaged foods, etc. While busy schedules may make it difficult for some people to prepare their own meals and go back to a primarily natural source of foods, you must maintain a high alert state for foods that are high in salt, sugar, fat and preservatives.  Remove those enemies from your diet.  One way to avoid these types of foods, even with a busy schedule, is to prepare foods in advance.  Prepare healthy meats and meals in advance, refrigerate or freeze them until needed.  Cook enough brown rice for a few days. Consider adding a fresh veggie, or cilantro, pepper, or a small amount of white raisins and almonds to your brown rice to vary the flavor.  Retrieve it from the refrigerator as needed.  Prepare large quantities of low-sodium soups with fresh veggies, adding fish or chicken protein if you choose.  Freeze it in portion size containers.  Not only will this method reduce the amount of food enemies in your diet, it will allow you to prepare healthy meals in no time.

4.     Avoid simple carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are not necessarily bad foods; however, simple carbohydrates create a high glycemic state; that is, they increase your blood sugar rapidly which is damaging to many tissues in your body.  It is important to avoid simple carbohydrates and that means sugar and refined grains (reduce the amount of bread and pasta to a minimum and make sure that when you eat these items they are prepared from whole grains).  Glycemic states not only create an easy avenue for your body to store fat, they are also highly damaging to tissues that contain a large number of blood vessels (for example, the retina).

5.     Vegetable proteins :  Increase the amount of vegetable proteins in your diet.  Vegetable proteins offer a great advantage as a food source. They burn slowly, which will keep you from becoming hungry.  You will go for longer periods of time with less hunger.  Vegetable proteins are contained in all legumes (foods that come from a pod) like any kind of bean, lentils, garbanzo (chick peas), etc.  Again you can easily prepare these vegetable proteins in advance and refrigerate or freeze them until needed.

6.     Exercise: Remember to maintain a program of exercise that fits your lifestyle.  That is, don’t create an exercise schedule that requires you to give more time than your schedule allows, it will set you up for failure. It should still allow for the normal routine of your life. That is; work, kids, food preparation, recreation, etc.  The amount of time spent exercising will vary from individual to individual, but it will require anywhere between 30-60 minutes three to five times per week.

7.     Honor the food that you eat: When you are ready to eat, do not eat on the go.  Break habits of eating while driving, eating while watching TV, eating while studying, etc.  When you are ready to eat, drink 1-2 glasses of water then sit down, preferably with family and friends and eat your food slowly.  If you are spending less than five minutes eating your food – you are definitely eating too fast.  When you eat food in small bites it takes you longer to consume your food and you will give time for your body to register that food has been added to your system.  The mechanism of satiation (the feeling of being satisfied or full) takes some time to develop after food has been added to your stomach.  To honor and value the food that you eat means making it an event of importance.  It is one that deserves your full attention.

Co- Author, G.D. Castillo M.D.

This blog entry was co-authored by G.D. Castillo, M.D. FACS  Director of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Clinic and Roxanne Hammond, Skincare and Laser Specialist, Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Clinic

Co – Author, Roxanne Hammond, Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Clinic

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