AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2700 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Education/Credentials Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Question I have had two c sections. I want to have a smaller mid section. I don't
want to loose weight. How do I know which surgery is best?
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Teay,
There's lots more about this at www.bodysculpture.com.
There are basically two types of procedures available: tummy tucks, and liposuctions. There are also many ways to combine the two but here are the basics.
A tummy tuck is best when there is a lot of exess skin but not that much excess fat. The extra skin is removed and pulled down, leaving, typically, a relatively long but low scar, pretty much from hip to hip. There is really no good way to get rid of a lot of excess skin aside from removing it.
A liposuction is best when there is extra fat but not that much extra or loose skin. This is typically in younger patients and/or those who have relatively firmer skin. In this case, there are just a few small incisions that lead to scars that are barely visible. The fat is removed and the skin is allowed to "shrink" back down, so you can see that if you already have a lot of loose skin, this may not be the best procedure for you.
There are many ways to combine the two procedures but, because of safety concerns (you cannot take out too much fat at the same time as a tummy tuck since it may affect the blood flow and there the healing) it is sometimes necessary to have two or more sessions to get everything done.
A mini or modified tummy tuck tightens the skin of the lower abdomen only (ie, below the belly button) which is adequate for some people; in this case, you can do a lot of lipo at the same time.
There's more about this and lots of photos at my site, www.bodysculpture.com; read the sections on Liposuction and Tummy Tucks. These procedures are also discussed extensively in my book BodySculpture.
Once you've learned more you'll need to see a few plastic surgeons to figure out what works specifically for you. But you'll have a more meaningful discussion if you already know the basics beforehand.
