FAQs
In Chicago & Glenview, IL

The good news is we virtually never need to use general anesthesia to perform elective cosmetic procedures in our surgery center. Twilight sedation, and, in the case of Liposculpture, tumescent anesthesia, are safe and effective, and all that are needed to keep our patients comfortable during their surgical procedures.

The amount of recovery time for a traditional facelift is ten days to two weeks, but some patients can return to work and social life even earlier, wearing a turtleneck and camouflage make-up. Because it’s a minimally invasive procedure, the Weekend Facelift and neck suspension has a dramatically shorter recovery time, with only three to four days off work. For patients who require a neck suspension or an S-Lift, recovery time is generally one week.

Facelift, eyelid surgery with no visible incisions, nasal surgery, and laser skin rejuvenation are all performed at our center under comfortable twilight sedation. General Anesthesia is rarely necessary.

For Facelift patients, incisions will be well hidden in the creases around the ear, and under the chin. The neck suspension incisions are behind the ear and under the chin. The incisions for the S-Lift are in the creases in front of the ear, and the Weekend Facelift incision is a small one inch incision under the chin. For all of these procedures, recovery is rapid and any visible signs quickly become virtually invisible.

If bruising does occur, it is most noticeable on days 3-5 after surgery. It may last 10 days. Ice compresses during the first 2 days after surgery help decrease bruising. For a Facelift, the Neck Suspension and the Weekend Facelift, bruising is generally limited to the lower neck or the collarbone. If bruising occurs with the S-lift, it tends to be in the lower cheeks.

Make sure you take a look at Laser Resurfacing section of our website. Lasers can actually remove wrinkles and dramatically tighten skin. Thanks to the amazing technology of the FeatherTouch Laser, initial healing time is seven to ten days. Initial redness fades to pink as vibrant new skin is formed. The pink hue is easily camouflaged, and you can go about your normal routine. It usually disappears completely in five to six weeks. You will reap the full benefits of your FeatherTouch procedure in approximately three to six months as glowing, new skin is formed.

As seen Friday, March 16th, on the network television show 20/20, a startling new procedure promises to turn back the proverbial clock to create a sleeker, more youthful face, neck and jawline. In the past, the only way to achieve a more youthful face was to have a full Facelift, subjecting patients to the risks of general anesthesia, large incisions, and a great deal of down time. Using the revolutionary Tumescent Technique of Local Anesthesia, Liposculpture of the neck and lower face, combined with a procedure to tighten the skin and muscles under the jawline, can help patients to regain a sleeker, more youthful appearance, allowing them to be back at work in just days.

Performed as a comfortable outpatient procedure, recovery is rapid, and any visible signs quickly become virtually invisible. Dr. Rachel can create much of the effect of a facelift with a procedure that is less invasive.

We have many wonderful new procedures to achievable full, sensual lips. In a quick and simple outpatient procedure, using either non-allergenic material or the patient’s own tissue, we can augment thin lips, and help fill out wrinkles in the lip line as well. When done properly, your new lips should feel both comfortable and natural.

Our primary goal is to enhance the appearance of your eyes without the slightest hint of a “surgical look”. For this reason, we choose to perform a procedure to correct lower eyelid bags that is the least traumatic to the delicate tissues around the eyes. Incisions are virtually invisible, and patients enjoy a rapid recovery as well.

Yes, there is help available. Laser Hair Removal is a revolutionary technique with enduring results that leave your skin feeling smooth, clean, and fresh. Thankfully, laser light technology has transcended the outdated, painful methods of the past to deliver comfortable and effective, longer-lasting results. Freedom from unwanted hair is now quicker and easier than ever before.

Liposculpting was made possible with the development of the Tumescent Technique of Local Anesthesia. This technique eliminates the need for general anesthesia and minimizes the previous risks of traditional liposuction surgery. Liposculpture using the Tumescent Technique of Local Anesthesia is the most current and safe version of liposuction surgery. It is performed under local anesthesia as a comfortable outpatient procedure and allows us to remove more fat with greatly reduced bruising and swelling, and virtually no blood loss. It permits us to dramatically change body proportions to reveal the shape of the musculature underneath the fat.

Laser Assisted Liposculpting adds the healing benefits of low level laser biostimulation to our Liposculpting procedure. Already in use as a physical therapy modality, this safe, low level laser can greatly decrease healing time, and allow patients to recover more quickly than ever before.

With the recent addition of low level laser technology, preliminary reports confirm that patients undergoing Laser-Assisted Liposculpture can enjoy superior results with a smoother appearance, better skin retraction, and a more rapid recovery. Low-level laser therapy is a widely accepted physical therapy modality. Multi-center studies in laser-assisted liposuction have been initiated in various centers in the U.S. to help refine this new technology.

Yes, and I find this is one of the most satisfying aspects of our practice. Unsightly fat deposits can distort the natural, graceful physique of the body, but with Total Body Liposculpture, we can dramatically change a patient’s shape. By developing techniques that allow us to remove enough fat to reshape our patients’ figures, we can bring their proportions into balance. We can help restore a woman’s smooth, graceful hourglass waistline or eliminate that “bottom-heavy” look in a pear-shaped figure. Liposculpture can help to restore a trim and athletic “V” shape physique in men, for a more youthful appearance.

You are not alone. Many people feel the same frustration. Unfortunately, it is not possible to selectively work off “exercise-resistant” fat from our bodies. If it were possible to spot reduce with exercise alone, people who constantly chewed gum would all have thin faces. While aerobic exercise is helpful for overall body fat reduction, Liposculpting may be the only answer for people who have unsightly pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise.

Thanks to the recent advances in Liposculpture using the Tumescent Technique of Anesthesia, most patients in our program are able to return to light exercise and work within 3 days; in fact, exercise is recommended to accelerate recovery time. Regular exercise, such as aerobics and free weights, can usually be resumed fully within a week.

Liposculpture has the ability to dramatically transform a patient’s figure, but because you have untold numbers of fat cells throughout your body, you will always have the ability to gain weight if you overeat. After re-contouring with Liposculpture, fat should be gained more evenly throughout the body. Moderation is the key to maintaining your new shape, and we will be happy to help you with diet and exercise tips. If you are able to maintain your body weight, then the results of your Liposculpture will be long-lasting.

Many patients find that having Liposculpture is a great motivator in their weight loss programs. If weight loss is your goal, our team can help you reach it. Our Center takes a multi-faceted approach. We can refer you to personal trainers to help get your metabolism working at its peak, and work with you on a weight loss program. This helps you to get fit and toned, and burn calories more efficiently so that you can reap the optimum benefits from your Liposculpting procedure. Liposculpting is not a viable method for weight loss, but when it is combined with intelligent nutrition and exercise, it can contribute to a satisfying weight loss program.

If your weight is stable, then…absolutely! Tumescent Liposculpture is a procedure that safely allows us to remove large enough volumes of fat from patients to dramatically change the shape and proportions of their figures.

On the other hand, liposculpture is not a weight loss procedure. While Dr. Rachel cannot make a large-framed individual look petite, we can achieve harmony and balance by restoring graceful lines and symmetry to a patient’s figure.