According to local board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. David M. Metzner, this time of year he sees an influx of women seeking recontouring of their figures. They are planning ahead, getting their problem areas taken care of well in advance of spring and summer's more revealing clothing styles.

Liposculpture, also known as liposuction, has become the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedure according to statistics kept by the prestigious American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. Dr. Metzner performs the tumescent technique of liposculpture on an outpatient basis. First a combination of saline (saltwater) and local anesthetic is flooded into the areas to be contoured. Then, working through tiny incisions just large enough to admit the thin liposculpture vacuum tube, the fat cells along with some of the fluid are then gently swept away by suctioning back and forth under the skin. It is truly a matter of sculpting the human form, and is effective for removal of unwanted fat in the neck, upper arms, chest, flanks, abdomen, thighs, hips, knees, and ankles which are otherwise resistant to diet and exercise.

Cosmetic breast surgery offers several procedures which can improve the physical appearance and enhance self image as well. Saline implants are used both to enlarge and to enhance shape, and have replaced silicone gel implants which are rarely used today for this purpose. Dr. Metzner, who has offices in Metairie and Covington, reports that many of his patients express the satisfaction that the tops of their bathing suits fit as well as the bottoms.

Other procedures for figure improvement, also performed on an outpatient basis, are abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), breast lift, and breast reduction.