Monmouth's Ask the Doctor May/June 2018

Thomas A. Leach, M.D. Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery Recognized by Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. “Top Doc for the New York Metro Area” since 2005 CERTIFIED COOLSCULPTING TREATMENT CENTER Serving Princeton & its surrounding communities since 1992 QUESTION: If I have liposuction to one body area will the fat go to other areas? If liposuction is done appropriately to a body area that is disproportionately large compared to the rest of the patient then the short answer is no. Liposuction can completely remove excess fat cell from specific body areas. The ideal candidate is generally healthy and not excessively heavy but has a couple of body areas that are simply out of sync with the rest of their body. The genesis of this is too many fat cells in that area - a disproportion that likely developed in their teen years. As we gain weight, every fat cell expands so if there is an area where there are too many fat cells then that area will take the brunt of the weight gain. Eliminating fat cells with liposuction from those problem areas can keep you from gaining too much weight and therefore you will look proportionate throughout your entire body. We can see problems when liposuction is done on a patient who is globally heavy but well proportioned. If fat cells are eliminated from several body areas and the patient gains weight the remaining fat cells will all expand and can result in some odd shapes. When we see this type of patient (which we see asking for liposuction all the time) the better advice is to get down to a better body weight and if there are one or two areas that they are still struggling with then liposuction may be the answer. 932 State Rd • Princeton, NJ 08540 • (609) 921-7161 • www.princetonsurgery.com Follow us on: Collagen Benefits  By Lauren Kolacki As you age you start to notice differences in your body. Your skin may appear looser with less elasticity and more wrin- kles. It feels that all the workouts and aging moisturizer in the world is not benefiting you. Yes, this is a product of age but, more so, a result of a decrease in collagen production that occurs as we age. The other factors that can contribute to a decrease in collagen level is eating a diet high in sugar, smoking and high amounts of sun exposure. Collagen is a rich source of protein present in all the body’s organs and tissues. It is what helps give our skin strength and elasticity, along with replacing dead skin cells. Collagen provides the matrix that sustains the body’s structure, as well as, binding cells and tissues together while helping them maintain shape and integrity. Aside from these by the book defini- tions, studies have shown collagen can improve much more than just the strength of our skin. 1. Improves detoxifications and liver function 2. Strengthens and repairs hair, skin and nails- Increasing collagen levels can help your skin look firmer, increase smoothness, and help your skin cells keep renewing and repairing normally. 3. Prevents joint pain- When we lose collagen, our tendons and ligaments start moving with less ease, leading to stiff- ness, swollen joints and more. 4. Helps repair a leaky gut- Collagen helps break down proteins and soothes your gut’s lining, healing damaged cell walls and infusing it with healing amino acids. 5. Assists with weight management- Collagen can suppress your appetite, retain muscle mass that burns fat, 6. Supports bone growth and repair 7. Protects your heart- The amino acid proline helps your artery walls release fat buildup in the bloodstream, shrinking the fat in the arteries and minimizing fat accumulation.

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ASK THE DOCTOR

MAY/JUNE 2018