Liposuction

Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Henry Mentz is a world authority in providing the most innovative liposuction techniques to resculpt the body.

The Goal of Liposuction

Liposuction is effective at reducing the unwanted bulges that are difficult to diminish through diet and exercise alone. The procedure's primary purpose is to restore more attractive contours and proportions through the removal of excess fatty deposits. Many individuals find that, despite their efforts, certain areas of the body remain resistant to improvement due to inherited traits, aging, and / or hormones which predispose the body to store fat in certain regions of the body: the hips, buttocks, and thighs for women, and the abdomen and waist for men.

Liposuction can be used to target and improve almost any area of the body that has stubborn fat pockets including the abdomen, lower body, arms, buttocks, legs, knees, and ankles. Some of the most common trouble zones which Dr. Mentz recontours through liposuction include:

Liposuction is often combined with other procedures to enhance the body's appearance such as breast enhancement surgery, a tummy tuck, and / or other body contouring procedures to restore a firm, proportional contour to sagging thighs, buttocks and arms. Inspired by the flattering appearance of their new look and a greater sense of self-confidence, many of Dr. Mentz's liposuction patients are inspired to implement positve lifestyle habits to further enhance the way they look and feel.

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.

Body Contouring / Liposuction

This patient and mother of multiple children was unhappy with the condition of her body of years of child bearing and lack of exercise.  She decided it was time to change her habits and came to Dr. Mentz to help her get back that body of years past. 

Dr. Mentz performed liposuction in combination with a tummy tuck to greatly improve the shape of her body and give her a more feminine look.
Before
After
  

 

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

In the liposuction procedure, 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 small incisions, a thin hollow tube called a cannula is used to suction out the unwanted fat. To minimize scarring, these incisions are typically no more than one-quarter of an inch in length, and they are placed in inconspicuous areas such as natural skin folds and creases.

While some patients undergo large-volume liposuction to remove 10 to 25 pounds of excess fat, most patients have moderate liposuction to remove smaller amounts of fat from specific areas to achieve their contour goals. The length of liposuction surgery can range anywhere from 1 hours to 5 hours depending on the volume of fat that is is to be removed and the number of areas to be liposuctioned. Once the procedure is complete, dressings are applied, and you will be fitted with a compression garment to reduce swelling and help your body conform to its new contours.

Body Contouring / Liposuction

This patient of Dr. Mentz’s had a terrific result with just liposuction alone.  Notice the improvement in the abdomen, hips and thighs.  This patient was very happy with the final results.
Before
After
  

 

 

Liposuction Recovery

Following your surgery, Dr. Mentz may recommend an overnight stay in one of his SurgiCentre's recovery suites, where you will be cared for by our highly-trained registered nursing staff. If you 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.Dr. Mentz may also place small drain tubes under your skin to collect excess fluid. Any drain tubes and stitches are removed in about one to two 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. Patients typically are able to return to work approximately one week after a liposuction procedure. The results of liposuction are usually long-lasting provided that a stable weight is maintained.

Liposuction Methods

With advances in technology, a multitude of liposuction methods are now available to the plastic surgeon, including SmartLipo, Vaser liposoction, and power-assisted liposuction. However, the most important factor to consider in selecting a liposuction provider is not the method of liposuction that is used, but rather the skill and expertise of the surgeon in achieving favorable contouring results. Two of the most widely preferred methods of liposuction preferred by plastic surgeons are the tumescent technique and ultrasonic methods of liposuction.

Tumescent Liposuction

Dr. Mentz primarily utilizes the tumescent method of liposuction, in which a fluid containing anesthetic and epinephrine in injected into the subcutaneous fat. This solution causes the fat cells to swell so they can be suctioned away as Dr. Mentz sculpts new contours.

Because the fluid reduces blood flow to the area which is being liposuctioned, bleeding and bruising are reduced. In addition to this advantage, patients experience a more comfortable recovery in the 18-24 hours following their procedure because of the pain-relieving anesthetic contained in the tumesced solution.

Ultrasonic Liposuction

Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction, or UAL, is a method that employs the heat generated by ultrasonic energy to liquefy unwanted fat so that it can be suctioned out through a narrow cannula tube. Because this method increases the ease of fat removal so that surrounding tissues are less impacted, bruising and bleeding are minimized. However, the use of heat carries the added risk of burning and blistering the skin.

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.