Ankles, Calves, Knees

Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Henry Mentz is respected worldwide for his innovative body contouring techniques to restore an attractive, proportionate appearance to the body.

The Goal of Body Contouring

The shape of the ankles, calves, and knees is largely defined by the underlying structure of bones and muscles, making it difficult to alter their basic form through diet and exercise alone. Liposuctioning, however, can be used to contour these areas and give the leg a more shapely appearance so that clothing shorts, skirts, and swimsuits can be worn with confidence.

Contouring of the ankles, knees, and calves achieves the following goals:

Dr. Mentz performs all body contouring procedures at his private AAAASF-certified SurgiCentre facility in Houston, Texas, where you will be carefully monitored and cared for by a board-certified anesthesiologist and Dr. Mentz's highly trained surgical staff.

Houston Plastic Surgeon Dr. Henry Mentz

An Innovative Leader in Body Contouring Surgery

As the nation's first triple board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Henry Mentz is respected nationwide for his introduction of innovative liposuction and body contouring techniques. Dr. Mentz, who is considered a world authority in the specialized liposuction technique, Abdominal Etching®, authored the first paper on Abdominal Etching® in 1993 and contributed a chapter on the subject for a plastic surgery text. The procedure is designed to define the contours of the abdominal muscles to create the athletic appearance of a "six-pack." He followed this with the development of Pectoral Etching®, a liposuction method which gives the male chest a more muscular appearance.

Dr. Mentz introduced a groundbreaking new method to improve buttocks augmentation surgery to the respected International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at its 2010 meeting. The technique utilizes a special pump to speed the process and volume of fat that can be grafted into the buttocks, resulting in a fuller, more shapely contour than can be achieved through the more limited and cumbersome syringe method of fat grafting.

In recognition of his body contouring expertise, the prestigious American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has invited Dr. Mentz to present his liposculpting techniques to plastic surgeons at its annual meetings each year. In the popular lipocontouring courses, Dr. Mentz focuses on Abdominal Etching® and buttocks augmentation, a topic which he teaches with the world authority on buttocks enhancement, plastic surgeon Constantino Mendieta.

Dr. Mentz has presented his techniques to advance body contouring's safety, recovery, and results through numerous presentations and publications for plastic surgeons. He wrote the first paper introducing the use of a marcaine pump after tummy tuck surgery to reduce postoperative pain. In addition to authoring three book chapters on liposuction, he has written papers on large volume liposuction and the use of blood thinners after liposuction to reduce blood clots. The ASAPS and Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation jointly awarded Dr. Mentz the "Best Journal Article of 2008" for his article which presented risk assessment for liposuction based upon a review of 3871 consecutive cases.

The Liposuction Procedure for Knees, Calves, & Legs

A sterile solution containing anesthetic to reduce pain, and epinephrine to minimize bleeding and bruising is injected into the areas of localized fatty deposits.Through the use of a cannula, fat is selectively suctioned out through a small incision made on the side of the knee and the Achille’s tendon. Dr. Mentz will recontour the leg to give it a leaner, more attractive line that narrows and becomes more tapered at the ankle. Once, the procedure is complete, you may be fitted with a compression garment to reduce swelling and help your body conform to its new contours. This is an outpatient procedure performed in 1-3 hours under general anesthesia.

Liposuction Recovery

Following your surgery, you will recover in one of our SurgiCentre's recovery suites, where you will be cared for by our highly-trained registered nursing staff. For those patients who live within 30 miles of our facility, Dr. Mentz will offer a visit to your home by a plastic surgery nurse who is trained to assist you with your recovery. The nurse will monitor your recovery, change any dressings, assist you with your medication, and provide Dr. Mentz with an update on your condition.

You will experience bruising and swelling after a liposuction procedure. Ice packs are helpful to reduce swelling and discomfort. Much of the bruising and swelling will diminish within 2-3 weeks. During the recovery process, it is important to take short walks. More strenuous activities and aerobic expercise may be resumed in 2-4 weeks or when Dr. Mentz advises. The results of liposuction are usually long-lasting provided that a stable weight is maintained.

 

The Added Touch Medical Spa

Services to Support Your Recovery

30-Minute Post-Surgical Therapeutic Massage

The massage therapists at Dr. Mentz's Added Touch Medical Spa offer a special post-surgical massage that is designed to support and speed your body's natural healing process after a cosmetic surgery procedure. A combination of lymphatic and Swedish massage techniques are used, which work together to relax you and stimulate the lymphatic system to help reduce bruising, swelling, and numbness.

Scar Therapy System

To help diminish postoperative scars, we have designed a Scar Therapy System, which consists of three products to be applied daily in the weeks following surgery. This package includes two SkinMedica products: TNS Recovery Complex and Tri-Retinol Complex, and an advanced scar treatment gel. As an added benefit, the SkinMedica products can be applied to the face as part of a long-term daily routine to improve the skin's tone and texture.

To schedule your liposuction consultation with Dr. Mentz, e-mail or call his office today at 713.799.9999.

Liposuction Before and After Photos

Before After