Dr. Gottlieb is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Gottlieb is a native of McLean, Virginia. She graduated cum laude with a degree in philosophy from Yale University. She attended the University of Virginia School of Medicine where she received her medical doctorate with honors. She returned to Yale for three years of surgery training and completed her plastic surgery training at the University of Virginia. Dr. Gottlieb is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and practices at Reston Hospital Center, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Virginia Hospital Center.

Dr. Gottlieb has a special interest in breast surgery. In addition to an individualized approach to breast augmentation, Dr. Gottlieb performs breast reconstruction after mastectomy, breast reduction, and the latest breast “lifting” techniques. Botox®, skin care, facial rejuvenation, eyelid surgery, face lift, neck lift, body contouring, liposuction, tummy tuck, laser hair removal, laser face and leg vein removal, and much more are offered.

Dr. Gottlieb performs Reconstructive Surgery and Plastic Surgery in Northern Virginia, Dulles, Reston, Fairfax, McLean, Arlington, Tysons. Dr. Gottlieb also performs a full array of post weight loss surgeries including body lift, breast lift, arms lift and thigh lift.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499.

Featured Products, Services, and Information:

We Are Proud to Offer Mentor MemoryGel Silicone Implants
Wendy R Gottlieb, M.D., P.L.C., has always offered Mentor products and is approved to perform silicone implant breast augmentation surgery. Now, we are delighted to announce the approval of Mentor MemoryGel™ silicone breast implants. Mentor implants are made of a proprietary silicone gel formulation that is both safe and capable of giving women a more natural look and feel. Many consider silicone implants much more natural in appearance, texture, and feel than saline implants. More…

Wendy R. Gottlieb M.D., P.L.C. Featured on LocateADoc.com
Wendy R. Gottlieb M.D., P.L.C. has a featured Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, and Minimally Invasive Surgery (BOTOX®) profiles on LocateADoc.com. More…

Breast Augmentation Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions about breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures are best answered by Dr. Wendy Gottlieb. To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. More…

Breast Augmentation, Reduction, Reconstruction, & Lifts
Dr. Wendy Gottlieb has a special interest in breast surgery. In addition to an individualized approach to breast augmentation, Dr. Gottlieb performs reconstruction after mastectomy, breast reduction, and the latest breast “lifting” techniques. More…

Laser Hair Removal
By patient request, we are now offering laser hair removal. If you would like to make unwanted body or facial hair a thing of the past, I have something I think you’re going to like! If you have ever thought about receiving laser hair removal treatment, now is the time. More…

Laser Hair Removal Questions and Answers
It is important to us that you understand our laser hair removal procedures. We would like to share with you some of the common questions and answers our clients have had about laser hair removal and laser hair removal procedures. More…

Laser Vein Removal Laser System
Our CoolGlide system allows us to treat a wide range of aesthetic vascular conditions, including spider veins and reticular leg veins. Our ClearView handpiece with the variable spot size selector make treatments fast and easy. More…

Jan Marini Skin Care Products
Dr. Wendy Gottlieb is proud to offer Jan Marini skin care products to her patients. If you are interested in trying any one of Jan Marini’s skin care products, please call 703-668-9499 for a consultation or appointment at our Reston or Arlington office. We will be happy to work with you to find the right product for you and your skin. More…

BOTOX® Cosmetic Treatments
Dr. Wendy Gottlieb is proud to offer BOTOX® cosmetic treatments to her clients as a safe, simple, and effective way to treat severe frown lines and and other signs of aging. If you are interested in trying her BOTOX® cosmetic treatments, please call 703-668-9499 for a consultation or appointment at our Reston or Arlington office. We will be happy to work with you to find the right solution for you. More…

Obagi Skin Health Restoration System
Dr. Wendy Gottlieb is proud to offer We Carry the Obagi Skin Health Restoration System. If you are interested in trying Obagi Skin Health Restoration System, please call 703-668-9499 for a consultation or appointment at our Reston or Arlington office. We will be happy to work with you to find the right solution for you. More…

We Choose Mentor
Dr. Wendy Gottlieb is proud to feature Mentor products to her clients who are considering breast augmentation, breast reconstruction, reconstructive surgery, and liposuction & body contouring. If you are considering breast augmentation, breast reconstruction, reconstructive surgery, or liposuction & body contouring, please call 703-668-9499 for a consultation or appointment at our Reston or Arlington office. We will be happy to work with you to find the right solution for you. More…

American Board of Plastic Surgery Certified
Wendy Gottlieb is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Her certification was granted by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. More…

Cosmetic Surgery in Reston and Arlington in Northern Virginia
Dr. Wendy Gottlieb has a special interest in cosmetic breast augmentation surgery. In addition to an individualized approach to breast augmentation, Dr. Gottlieb performs reconstruction after mastectomy, breast reduction, and the latest breast “lifting” techniques. Dr. Wendy Gottlieb is an exceptionally talented cosmetic surgeon who practices in Northern Virginia with offices in both Arlington and Reston. More…

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Melanin is what gives our skin its color. Pigmented lesions are dark in color simply because melanin is abnormally concentrated in one area of the skin. High concentrations of melanin can be due to various factors. Some types are present at birth, but most occur with age or as a result of overexposure to the sun’s damaging rays.

Lentigines or age spots are premature ageing brown marks, which appear on the backs of hands and the face. Sunburn freckles are the result of sun damage and occur on the back, upper chest and shoulders. Most are harmless but all are ageing and may be unattractive.

Cafe au lait, Nevus of Ota, Mongolian spots and other flat pigmented birthmarks are localized areas of increased pigmentation in the skin, which are present at birth.

Although most brown spots are easily ignored, many are quite conspicuous and can detract from your skin’s natural beauty.

Most brown birthmarks will fade with treatment but some recur. These may require additional treatment to keep pigmentation at bay. Brown age spots often fade or disappear with a single treatment.

Thanks to the Cutera CoolGlide laser, you (usually) don’t have to live with unwanted freckles, age spots, or pigmented lesions for the rest of your life. Dr. Wendy Gottlieb is helping people of all ages fade and eliminate marks that, for a variety of reasons, they no longer want on their bodies.

What types of brown spots or pigmented lesions will the Medlite remove?

The Medlite is most commonly used for removing brown age spots, “liver spots”, freckles and many brown birthmarks. Dr. Gottlieb will identify your specific type of lesion and explain what can be done to help you look and feel better. We do not use lasers for treating cancers or suspected cancers. If in doubt, Dr. Gottlieb will biopsy any suspicious spots to make sure there is no skin cancer.

How long are treatments?

Depending on the size and numbers of freckles and age spots, treatments usually range from 15 to 45 minutes.

How does the Medlite laser remove pigmented lesions?

Energy from the Medlite laser is very well absorbed by cells containing excessive concentrations of pigment - and not well absorbed by normal tissue - so the Medlite stimulates your body to eliminate the unwanted excessive pigment while having little or no effect on other tissues or on normal skin color.

If the area to be treated has a fresh sun tan or has been treated with self-tanning lotion, it is best to wait a couple of weeks for the tan to fade before having treatment, because the tan will absorb and waste some of the laser energy intended for the pigmented lesion. A fresh sun tan (or color from a recent application of self-tanning lotion) could also absorb enough laser energy to increase the risk of skin irritation or blistering.

If you take ASA, alcohol or vitamin E during the week before your pigmented lesions are treated with the Medlite laser there might be a bit more bruising in the treated area.

Most people find that Medlite laser of pigmented blemishes is not particularly painful - each pulse of laser light is similar to the snap of a thin rubber band, or tiny specks of hot bacon grease on the skin. There may be less discomfort if a second treatment is needed, because as the freckles and age spots fade there is less pigment to absorb laser energy.

Most patients do not require anesthesia, but ice packs, anesthetic creams or local anesthetic can be used if necessary. If there is a large or sensitive area to be treated, a couple of plain Tylenol can be taken to raise your pain threshold somewhat before laser treatment.

No other special preparation is needed. The high power of the Cutera CoolGlide allows large diameter, deeply penetrating laser beams to be used, and will help to speed up the resolution of your pigmented lesions.

What will happen after treatment?

For the first half-hour after laser treatment the treated area looks pale or white, and may swell slightly. The treated area may feel hot (like a sunburn) for a while after laser treatment, and it might be red and swollen for the rest of the day. There may be pinpoint bleeding for a few hours in areas where there was a lot of pigment, and there probably will be a bit of superficial bruising under the pigmented blemishes. Over the next several days slight superficial blisters or crusting may develop. This will resolve in about one week. Your skin usually returns to normal in about 7 to 14 days.

Occasionally (depending on the severity of your sun damage) the treated area may remain somewhat pink for two to four weeks, and there may be some flaking or peeling during this time. This is a normal process as the body works to eliminate the pigmented blemishes.

There may be some lightening or darkening of the treated for several months after laser treatment. This is usually not very obvious. Protect the treated area from sun exposure until the skin is completely healed and the skin color has returned to normal.

Gentle cleansing of the skin and application of an antibiotic ointment such as Polysporin ointment will help the treated area heal quickly after treatment. Watch for unusual redness, pain, or swelling which might be a sign of infection, and please call us right away if you think an infection is developing. Avoid picking at or irritating the skin after treatment.

How many treatments are required?

About 60%-80% of common freckles and age spots resolve after one treatment. Some need a second treatment, and a few need to be treated more than twice. Some blemishes do not disappear completely, but will be significantly lighter in color after treatment.

When Dr. Gottlieb examines your freckles and age spots, he will be able to give you an estimate of the number of treatments which will be necessary to fade or remove them. Because there is a great deal of variability in the size, depth and darkness of freckles, age spots and pigmented nevi, and because there is some variability in people’s natural ability to clear away pigment after laser treatment, it is not possible to “promise” you that a certain result will happen after a fixed number of treatments. Dr. Gottlieb will explain what is likely to happen, but he cannot precisely predict or guarantee what will happen in any particular case. Dr. Gottlieb will show you photos illustrating the range of results, from fading through to complete disappearance of the pigmented lesions.

How well your lesions respond depends on several factors. Superficial lesions such as freckles and age spots tend to respond more quickly as compared to deeper, more complex lesions such as the nevus of Ota shown below.

Laser treatment will not prevent the development of new pigmented blemishes. You can reduce the rate at which new pigmented blemishes appear by using sunscreen and by protecting your skin from the sun.

How long should I wait between treatments?

It is best to wait at least 8 weeks between treatments so that the maximum amount of fading can take place.

Will the freckles and age spots disappear completely?

In many cases the freckles and age spots can be made to disappear or fade to the point where you are the only person who can find a trace of them, because you know where to look.

What are the risks of treatment?

In most cases, the laser treatment leads to satisfactory fading or complete removal of the freckles and age spots without significant side effects.

The most common problem is incomplete removal of brown spots or pigmented nevi. Some spots are relatively resistant, although there is almost always a worthwhile amount of improvement.

Scarring is very rare. Infection is also very rare and is usually prevented or treated by using antibiotic creams like Polysporin. Loss of pigment from normal skin is rare and usually minimal.

You can reduce the chance of irregular tanning - and reduce the chance that the freckles and age spots will come back — by protecting the treated area from sun exposure.

Hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) or hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) are quite infrequent, and are almost always temporary.

Is laser treatment of freckles, age spots and pigmented lesions covered by insurance?

Laser treatment of freckles, age spots and pigmented lesions is not covered by insurance, but it is often a tax-deductible medical expense.

If you want to get rid of freckles and age spots, now is the time to take advantage of this new breakthrough in laser technology. At the Niagara Falls Dermatology and Skin Care Centre, we can help. Thanks to specialized laser technology, we can safely fade your freckles and age spots so there is little or no trace left.

Most patients describe the sensation to feel like the snap of a rubber band on the skin as the laser pulses are delivered through the hand piece. Some patients request a topical anesthesia for added comfort. Following treatment, the pain is minimal to nonexistent.

How many treatments will I need?

Typically only one or two treatments are all that is necessary. Occasionally darker, larger spots may require additional treatment to obtain optimal results.

How long do treatments take?

Depending on the number, size, and location of the lesions, treatments usually take only a few minutes.

Will the spots return after treatment?

Not usually. However, new spots may appear over time, but these too can be removed. Optimal results can be maintained only if you apply sunscreen on the treated area and avoid future sun exposure.

Are these treatments safe?

Yes. Lasers and advanced light systems have been used safely on millions of patients of all ages worldwide. These systems treat only the targeted lesions (spots), leaving the surrounding tissue intact. There are many benefits to laser surgery including little if any pain, no needles for most patients, less bruising and swelling and once removed, the lesions rarely return. The risk of scarring or discoloration is minimal.

Your Laser Spot Removal Treatment

Laser Spot Removal gives your doctor precise control as the procedure gently removes the spots to reveal smooth, fresher-looking skin. The laser’s energy is delivered in pulses via a hand piece held very close to the skin. As the laser pulses, you may feel a slight sting. If needed, a local anesthesia can be applied to the treatment area. Spots are removed in a precise, rapid, bloodless fashion achieving excellent results.

How will I feel after my laser treatments?

Following laser treatment, there may be a little discoloration. After several days a crust will form and fall off within 7-14 days. Occasionally some discoloration may persist for several months.

Find out if you or someone you know could benefit from laser spot removal. For more information, please call our office to schedule a consultation.

The Cutera CoolGlide laser offfers the latest in treatment options to eliminate unattractive skin lesions with the gentle action of a light beam. The laser allows non-traumatic treatments of vascular and pigmented skin lesions that are comfortable, safe and effective. The mild and precise treatment characteristics of the laser provide consistent results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are laser treatments safe?

A. Yes. Laser have been used in medicine for a wide range of treatments since the early 1960s by many specialties, including dermatology and platic surgery. In the hands of a trained healthcare professional, the use of a laser is safe and effective.

Q. How does the laser work?

A. A laser generates and intense beam of light. This beam brings energy to a specific site, through a small hand piece connected to the laser.

The laser light is absorbed by oxyhemoglobin (bright red blood cells carrying oxygen) and melanin/pigment (black or brown pigment found in the skin) causing decomposition or destruction by heat of unwanted cells while leaving healthy cells intact.

Q. What is a vascular lesion?

A. A vascular lesion is formed by abnormally large or numerous blood vessels located directly under the surface of the skin. These vessels may be visible through the skin or result in a red appearance of the skin Spider veins (telangiectasia), are the most common vascular lesions.

Q. What is a pigmented lesion?

A. Melanin is the dark pigment present in skin and is produced by melanocytes Pigmented lesions occur when an abundance of melanocytes are found in the skin. When dark pigment multiplies, it forms freckles, brown age spots and moles. Dermatosis papulosa nigra (very small and numerous slightly elevated dark papules or bumps, on the face, particularly on the cheeks and near the eyes) is an example of a pigment containing lesion, as are freckles and brown age spots.

Q. What should a patient expect during and after treatment?

A. Treatment may vary, depening upon patient characteristics and the area being treated.  You will be asked to wear special goggles to protect yours eyes from the intense beam of laser light.

You will be placed in reclined position, depending on the location of treatment.  A “pencil thin” handpiece is used to direct a beam of laser light to the specific area of treatment.  In most cases, anesthesia is not required.

Some patients report feeling a slight stinging sensation during the treatment followed by some redness which usually goes away in 2-4 hours.  Some swelling may also be experienced and may last 1-2 days.  There will not be any purple skin discoloration or bruised appearance to the treated skin.

Postoperative care is minimal.

Final treatment results should be evident within 2-3 weeks after treatment for pigmented lesions.  In the meantime, normal daily activities can by resumed with only a slight redness evident at the treatment area.

Q. What does the laser look and sound like?

A. The laser is small about the size of a VCR.  As pulses of energy leave the end of the end of the handpiece fiber, you will hear a soft beeping sound.

Q. What conditions are treated with the diode laser?

A. Vascular Lesions

• Telangiectasia- facial spider veins caused by a dilation of capillary vessels or arterioles.

• These small blood vessels tend to occur on, near, or around the nose and cheeks.

Pigmented or Brown Lesions

Q. As a patient, what does the laser mean to me? What are the benefits?

A. Excellent and consistent outcome-minimal to no discoloration, swelling or complications

Friendly and gentle treatment-typically performed without anesthesia or pain

Simple treatment-minimal care before and after treatment

Comfortable surroundings- treatment is performed in our office and takes only minutes

Q. How will I know if laser treatment is right for me?

A. After a brief examination, we can determine if laser treatment is appropriate for you.

The shape of a breast is determined by its skin, its volume and by its connective tissue. Mastopexy procedures may address any of these by reshaping the skin ‘bra’, by adding volume with implants, or by altering the structure of the breast tissue.

Full breast lift
The full breast lift involves an incision along the crease underneath the breast, incisions around the areola, and a vertical incision between the areola and the base of the breast. It allows maximal change to the breast shape, at the cost of more scarring.

Modified breast lifts
Modified breast lifts use fewer incisions than the full procedure. A popular form of the modified breast lift is the Benelli breast lift. This uses only an incision around the areola. The advantage is that there is less scarring, the drawback is that there can be less change made to the breast’s shape. Benelli procedures are frequently performed along with breast augmentation, but are criticised because of the tendency to reduce projection of the breast.

Length of effects
In most cases, aging breast tissue will not maintain the shape that the mastopexy initially brought. Usually, gravity will eventually cause ptosis to return to some degree.

Via Wikipedia

Breast reduction surgery is oriented toward women with large, pendulous breasts, since the weight of their breasts may cause neck, back, shoulder, circulation, or breathing problems. The weight may also cause discomfort as a result of brassiere straps abrading or irritating the skin. Even if physical discomfort is not a problem, some women feel awkward with the enormity of their breasts in proportion to the rest of their bodies. Reduction mammoplasty affords the recipient smaller, lighter, and firmer breasts. The surgeon may also reduce the size of the areola or nipples.

Although not advocated as a cancer risk reducing procedure, a woman’s risk of subsequently developing breast cancer will be reduced proportionately to the amount of breast tissue left. It is recommended that patients receive new baseline mammograms 6-8 months after breast reduction to accommodate expected radiographic changes and give a new basis to compare future imaging studies to.

Except in unusual cases, this procedure is performed on individuals with fully developed breasts. It is not recommended for women who desire to breastfeed, as it can impair the likelihood of success and the volume of breast milk produced due to disrupting the lactiferous duct system within the breast.). Interestingly, a number of studies have demonstrated a similar ability to breast feed when breast reduction patients are compared to control groups. The Inferior Pedicle technique is believed to preserve the lactation potential better than other techniques. The Free Nipple Graft technique is most likely to impair lactation, although some women have been known to successfully produce some amounts of milk.

Doctors almost always perform breast reductions while the patient is under general anesthesia. During pre-operative visits, the doctor and patient may decide on new (usually higher) positions for the areolas and nipples.

The most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision which circles the areola (aka. “Wise-pattern” reduction). The incision extends downward, following the natural curve of the breast. Excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin is removed. Next, the nipple and areola are moved into their new position. Recently there has been increasing interest in limited scar techniques which leave only a vertical or vertical with a shorter horizontal scar.

In some extreme cases, the areola and nipple may need to be completely removed for relocation and replaced as a skin graft (aka “free nipple graft”). In these cases, sensation from the areola area will be lost.

Patients may take a few weeks for initial recovery, however it may take from six months to a year for the body to completely adjust to the new breast size. Some women may experience discomfort during their initial menstruation following the surgery due to the breasts swelling.

Scarring from this procedure may be extensive and can be permanent. Initially the scars are lumpy and red, but gradually subside into their final smaller sizes as thin lines. Though permanent, the surgeon can generally make the scars inconspicuous to the point that even low-cut tops may be worn without visible scars. Other common problems include: asymmetry, delayed wound healing, altered nipple sensation, fluid retention in the breast, altered erogenous function, late changes in shape and recurrent ptosis (breasts) (drooping.)

Via Wikipedia

Overview
The primary part of the procedure can often be carried out immediately following the mastectomy. As with many other surgeries, those with significant medical comorbidities (high blood pressure, obese, diabetes) individuals who smoke are higher-risk candidates. Surgeons may choose to perform delayed reconstruction to decrease this risk. Patients expected to receive external beam radiation as part of their adjuvant treatment are also commonly considered for delayed autologous reconstruction due to significantly higher complication rates with tissue expander-implant techniques in those patients.

Breast reconstruction is a large undertaking that usually takes multiple operations. Sometimes these follow-up surgeries are spread out over weeks or months. If an implant is used, the individual runs the same risks and complications as those who use them for breast augmentation but has higher rates of capsular contracture (tightening or hardening of the scar tissue around the implant) and revisional surgeries.

In 1998, the Women’s Health and Cancer Right Act was passed mandating insurance coverage for breast reconstruction in the United States. Prior to this, many insurance carriers did not cover breast reconstructive surgery as they considered it cosmetic in nature. The law is also known as “Janet’s Law”, named for Janet Franquet, a breast cancer patient who fought her insurance carrier with Dr. Todd Wider, a New York plastic surgeon who helped lobby for the legislation with Senator Al D’Amato. The act mandates insurance coverage for the surgery of the effected breast and also the contralateral side for purposes of symmetry.

Techniques
There are many methods for breast reconstruction. The two most common are:

Tissue Expander - Breast implants This is the most common technique used in worldwide. The surgeon inserts a tissue expander, a temporary silastic implant, beneath the pectoralis major muscle of the chest wall and periodically, over weeks or months, injects a saline solution to slowly expand the overlaying tissue (see tissue expansion). Once the expander has reached an acceptable size, it may be removed and replaced with a more permanent implant. Reconstruction of the areola and nipple are performed in a separate operation after the skin has stretched to its final size.

Flap reconstruction The second most common procedure uses tissue from other parts of the patient’s body, such as the back, buttocks, thigh or abdomen. This procedure may be performed by leaving the donor tissue connected to the original site to retain its blood supply (the vessels are tunnelled beneath the skin surface to the new site) or it may be cut off and new blood supply may be connected.

• The latissimus dorsi muscle flap is the donor tissue available on the back. It is a large flat muscle which can be employed without significant loss of function. It can be moved into the breast defect still attached to its blood supply under the arm pit (axilla). A latissimus flap is usually used to recruit soft-tissue coverage over an underlying implant. Enough volume can be recruited occasionally to reconstruct small breasts without an implant.
• Abdominal flaps The abdominal flap for breast reconstruction is the TRAM flap or its technically distinct variants the DIEP/SIEP flaps. Both use the abdominal tissue between the umbilicus and the pubis. The DIEP and free-TRAM flaps require advanced microsurgical technique and are less common as a result. Both can provide enough tissue to reconstruct large breasts. The contour of the lower abdomen is reliably improved by these procedures which remove the same tissue as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck.) TRAM flap procedures may weaken the abdominal muscles, but are usually tolerated well in most patients. To prevent muscle weakness and incisional hernias, the portion of abdominal wall exposed by reflection of the rectus abdominis muscle may be strengthened by a piece of surgical mesh placed over the defect and sutured in place. The DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator flap) and SIEP (superficial inferior epigastric perforator flap) require precise dissection of small perforating vessels through the rectus muscle, and purport the advantage of less weakening of the abdominal wall.

Other considerations
Nipple reconstruction is usually delayed until after the breast mound reconstruction is completed so that the positioning can be planned precisely. There are several methods of reconstructing the nipple-areolar complex, including:

Nipple-Areolar Composite Graft (Sharing) - if the contralateral breast has not been reconstructed and the nipple and areolar are sufficiently large, tissue may be harvested and used to recreate the nipple-areolar complex on the reconstructed side.

Local Tissue Flaps - a nipple may be created by raising a small flap in the target area and producing a raised mound of skin. To create an areola, a circular incision may be made around the new nipple and sutured back again. The nipple and areolar region may then be tattooed to produce a realistic colour match with the contralateral breast.

One of the challenges in breast reconstruction is to match the reconstructed breast to the mature breast on the other side (often fairly ‘ptotic’ - droopy.) This often requires a lift (mastopexy), reduction, or augmentation of the other breast.

Follow-up and Recovery
Recovery from implant-based reconstruction is generally faster than with flap-based reconstructions, but both take at least three to six weeks to recover and both require follow-up surgeries in order to construct a new areola and nipple. All recipients of these operations should refrain from strenuous sports, overhead lifting and sexual activity during the recovery period (three to six weeks). TRAM flap patients can show abdominal muscle weakness on EMG studies, but clinically most patients return to normal activities after recovery.

There is little information about upper body exercise post-mastectomy. Issues such as simple mastectomy, mastectomy with reconstruction, mastectomy with lymph node excision and reconstruction all factor into limitations to amount and extent of upper body exercise. Generally, cardiac exercise (treadmill, walking, etc.) are approved for rehabilitation post-surgery and for weight control. Women who have undergone breast reconstruction must still be followed for local or regional recurrence of their cancer with manual exams of the breast/chest wall and axilla.

Via Wikipedia

Descriptions of plastic surgery that depict reconstructive plastic surgery and cosmetic plastic surgery as two entirely different fields within the specialty can be misleading. Whether or not a procedure is “only” cosmetic has a lot to do with the reason behind its performance. For example, a facelift that undermines the soft tissues of the face and redrapes them to tighten the flesh is not always cosmetic rather than reconstructive. A facelift performed to tighten the normal skin of a seventy-year old is called a cosmetic surgery procedure because it is only aimed to provide a more youthful appearance. Yet a facelift in that same person would be considered reconstructive if it was part of a procedure to remove a skin cancer, and was used to close the defect left where the cancer was excised (cut out). The reconstructive facelift would avoid leaving the two sides of the face strikingly uneven (asymmetric) at the end of the operation, and even though the patient would likely end up looking younger, this would not be considered a cosmetic procedure because its main purpose is to give the patient a more normal appearance after cancer surgery.

Reconstructive surgery corrects or masks birth defects and the destructive effects of trauma, surgery or disease.
Cosmetic (or aesthetic) surgery changes features the patient finds unflattering.

The word “plastic” derives from the Greek plastikos meaning to mold or to shape; its use here is not connected with the synthetic polymer material known as plastic.

History
The history of plastic surgery reaches back to the ancient world. Physicians in ancient India including the great Indian surgeon Susrutha were utilizing skin grafts for reconstructive work as early as the 8th century BC. His work Sushruta Samhita describes rhinoplasty and otoplasty. This knowledge of plastic surgery existed in India up to the late 18th century as can be seen from the reports published in Gentleman’s Magazine (October 1794).

The Romans were able to perform simple techniques such as repairing damaged ears from around the 1st century BC. In mid-15th century Europe, Heinrich von Pfolspeundt described a process “to make a new nose for one who lacks it entirely, and the dogs have devoured it” by removing skin from the back of the arm and suturing it in place. However, because of the dangers associated with surgery in any form, especially that involving the head or face, it was not until the 19th and 20th centuries that such surgeries became commonplace.

Up until the techniques of anesthesia became established, all surgery on healthy tissues involved great pain. Infection from surgery was reduced once sterile technique and disinfectants were introduced. The invention and use of antibiotics beginning with sulfa drugs and penicillin was another step in making elective surgery possible.

The U.S.’s first plastic surgeon was Dr. John Peter Mettauer. He performed the first cleft palate operation in 1827 with instruments that he designed himself. The New Zealander Sir Harold Gillies developed many of the techniques of modern plastic surgery in caring for those who suffered facial injuries in World War I, he is considered to be the father of modern plastic surgery. His work was expanded upon during World War II by one of his former students and cousin, Archibald McIndoe, who pioneered treatments for RAF aircrew suffering from severe burns. McIndoe’s radical, experimental treatments, lead to the formation of the Guinea Pig Club.

Reconstructive surgery
Common reconstructive surgeries are: breast reconstruction for women who have had a mastectomy, cleft lip and palate surgery, contracture surgery for burn survivors, and closing skin and mucosa defects after removal of tumors in the head and neck region.

Plastic surgeons have developed the use of microsurgery to transfer tissue for coverage of a defect when no local tissue is available. Tissue “flaps” comprised of skin, muscle, bone, fat or a combination, may be removed from the body, moved to another site on the body and reconnected to a blood supply by suturing arteries and veins as small as 1-2 mm in diameter.

There is a overlap between reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. Many of the techniques of cosmetic surgery are utilized in reconstructive surgery to improve cosmesis.

Cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgery is a very popular avenue for personal enhancement, as demonstrated by the 11.9 million cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. alone in 2004. As for any operation, cosmetic procedures involve risk, and should therefore not be undertaken lightly. Within the US, critics of plastic surgery note that it is legal for any doctor, regardless of speciality, to perform “cosmetic surgery”, but not “plastic surgery”. It is thus important to distinguish the terms “plastic surgery” and “cosmetic surgery”: Plastic Surgery is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (the only official entity overseeing physician certification in the United States) as the subspecialty dedicated to the surgical repair of defects of form or function — this includes cosmetic (or aesthetic) surgery, as well as reconstructive surgery. The term “cosmetic surgery” however, simply refers to surgery that is designed to improve cosmetics, or appearance. In several countries including Australia, many doctors who are not qualified as surgeons also perform cosmetic procedures.

The most prevalent aesthetic/cosmetic procedures are listed below. Most of these types of surgery are more commonly known by their “common names.” These are also listed when pertinent.

• Abdominoplasty (or “tummy tuck”): reshaping and firming of the abdomen
• Blepharoplasty (or “eyelid surgery”): Reshaping of the eyelids or the application of permanent eyeliner, including Asian blepharoplasty
• Augmentation Mammaplasty/breast augmentation (or “breast enlargement” or “boob job”): Augmentation of the breasts. This can involve either saline or silicone gel prosthetics.
• Buttock Augmentation (or “butt augmentation” or “butt implants”): Enhancement of the buttocks. This procedure can be performed by using silicone implants or fat grafting and transfer from other areas of the body.
• Chemical peel: Minimizing the appearance of acne, pock, and other scars as well as wrinkles (depending on concentration and type of agent used, except for deep furrows), solar lentigines (age spots, freckles), and photodamage in general. Chemical peels commonly involve carbolic acid (Phenol), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), glycolic acid (AHA), or salicylic acid (BHA) as the active agent.
• Mastopexy (or “breast lift”): Raising of sagging breasts
• Labiaplasty: Surgical reduction and reshaping of the labia
• Rhinoplasty (or “nose job”): Reshaping of the nose
• Otoplasty (or ear surgery): Reshaping of the ear
• Rhytidectomy (or “face lift”): Removal of wrinkles and signs of aging from the face
• Suction-Assisted Lipectomy (or liposuction): Removal of fat from the body
• Chin augmentation: Augmentation of the chin with an implant (e.g. silicone) or by sliding genioplasty of the jawbone.
• Cheek augmentation
• Collagen, fat, and other tissue filler injections (eg hyaluronic acid)

Related disciplines
Plastic surgery is a broad field, and may be subdivided further. Plastic surgery training and approval by the American Board of Plastic Surgery includes mastery of the following as well:

Craniofacial surgery mostly revolves around the treatment of pediatric congenital anomalies, such as cleft lip and palate, craniosynostosis, and other disturbances in facial growth and development. Because these children have multiple issues, they are often taken care of in an interdisciplinary approach which include oral surgeons, otolaryngologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and geneticists.

Hand surgery is a field that is alo practiced by some general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons (see Hand surgeon). Plastic surgeons receive training in hand surgery, with some trainees deciding even to do an additional full-year hand fellowship afterwards (this fellowship can also be pursued by general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons). In particular, plastic surgeons receive training in microvascular surgery, which is needed to replant an amputated hand or digit. Many hand operations (such as reconstruction of injuries, replantations, rheumatoid surgery and surgery of congenital defects) are performed by plastic surgeons.

Maxillofacial surgery is surgery of the “maxilla” (which means jaw) and face, and is an important aspect of plastic surgery. This field grew from contributions by both the plastic surgeons and oral surgeons. Examples of repairs here would be traumatic fractures of the jaw and face (such as from fights or vehicle accidents), tumors of the jaw and face.

From Wikipedia

2006 Virginia Hospital Center Medical Brigade
Builds on Sustained Service Record

The Virginia Hospital Center Medical Brigade, a 501(c)3, non-profit organization that sponsors annual, humanitarian-healthcare mission trips to Honduras, one of the poorest countries in all of the Americas, has recently returned from its seventh annual, week-long trip to the third-world region. A team of 77 doctors, surgeons, nurses, and non-medical support personnel each donated a week of vacation to treat 6,885 underserved Honduran citizens in Comayagua and four other poverty-stricken, outlying rural villages. Medical services provided included adult and pediatric primary care, ophthalmology, physical therapy, audiology, and 109 surgical operations. Refurbished eyeglasses were fitted to 2,400 adults and children following on-site autorefractor examinations. Countless sets of crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs were provided to the physically impaired. A certified audiologist, who represented a new field of care for the Brigade, fit and tuned hearing-aids for 35 patients, including a 12-year old girl who was able to hear for the first time in her life. Surgical operations ranged from cesarean sections and hysterectomies, to laparoscopic gall bladder procedures, to numerous corrective strabismus surgeries, to ENT procedures, to plastic surgery, including a 4½ hour procedure to help a 16-month old girl, tragically burned when wind blew a candle into her crib. Medications, supplies, and equipment valued at over $600,000, including a fully-equipped and refurbished ambulance, all acquired with the financial support of over 150 individuals and corporate entities, were donated along with these efforts.

The Medical Brigade also expanded its outreach mission this year by seeking and receiving full support from the Honduran government for its Remote Village Project. The Remote Village Project provided didactic classroom instruction and clinical training to six well-respected rural community leaders from two remote villages (Valle Bonito and San Antonio de la Libertad – both a 3-hour trip from Comayagua) to function as certified Community Health Workers (CHWs). The three CHWs from Valle Bonito are two nuns and a blood-relative sister who run an orphanage for 17 children; the three CHWs from San Antonio de la Libertad are coffee growers. These CHWs will provide year-round counseling on community health improvements and preventive care, focusing on issues such as accessing and utilizing available treatment for tuberculosis, and the importance of clean water, proper nutrition, hygiene, and proper body mechanics for lifting. Additionally, with the support and supervision of the Medical Brigade and the Comayagua Lions, the CHWs will actually diagnose and treat a pre-set, limited number of medical conditions common to central Honduras, including infant diarrhea, ear infections, bronchitis, simple skin disorders, and intestinal parasites. The Medical Brigade has provided all necessary equipment and medications to appropriately empower both locations, and will remain in contact with each throughout the coming year to track the amount of medicine dispensed and to gauge whether it is supplying what is truly needed. A return trip to both of these villages is planned for the first quarter of 2007.

Through existing U.S. relationships with Rotary International, and relationships formed on our recently completed trip with Rotarian leaders in Honduras, the Remote Village Project has taken initial steps to assess the feasibility of providing the most effective of all prevention measures - structural water projects to bring clean water and proper latrines to the entirety of both communities. Such projects, if indeed feasible, would be financed by contributions from Rotary clubs in the United States, matched by funds provided by the Rotary Foundation’s Humanitarian Grants Program.

The Medical Brigade welcomes additional community support. For more information, access our website www.virginiahospitalcenter.com, and click on “Ways to Give.” You are encouraged to donate online. To make a tax deductible contribution, please send a check payable to the VHC Medical Brigade, and mail it to: Virginia Hospital Center, c/o Medical Staff Office, 1701 N. George Mason Drive, Arlington, VA 22205.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Silicone offers the patient the most true to life representation of breast tissue and the most natural result. It is also a very user friendly material to work with as a surgeon. Silicone closely resembles the texture of breast tissue and has been used extensively in other countries.

Saline-filled breast implants had been the only option for most US women since sales restrictions were put in place in 1992. Plastic surgeons say the silicone ones look and feel more natural.

Mentor MemoryGel™ silicone breast implants are indicated for women undergoing breast reconstruction and breast augmentation.

Because the implants made of silicone gel are softer than the saline implants now available, plastic surgeons said most of the more than 300,000 American women who have breast implants each year would find the gel preferable.

Here’s the official press release from Mentor:

Santa Barbara, California, November 17, 2006 – Mentor Corporation (NYSE: MNT), a leading supplier of medical products for the global aesthetic market, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for sale the Company’s MemoryGel™ silicone gel-filled breast implants with post-approval conditions. The products are indicated for women undergoing breast reconstruction and for women who are at least 22 years old undergoing breast augmentation.

“At this historic moment for Mentor, we would like to recognize with gratitude the dedication of the patients, nurses, and surgeons who have participated in the studies that provided the clinical and scientific support for this approval,” said Joshua H. Levine, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mentor Corporation. “Over the past 14 years we have remained devoted to returning MemoryGel™ implants to the U.S. market, and we are pleased to be able to provide women seeking breast augmentation and reconstruction with important new options.”

The post-approval conditions and other requirements associated with the FDA’s approval include the following: continue the ongoing Mentor Core Study through 10 years, provide physician training to access the device, conduct a large post-approval study for 10 years, complete additional device failure studies, conduct a focus group with patients on the format and content of the approved labeling, utilize a formal informed decision process with patient labeling, cease new enrollment in the Mentor Adjunct Study, and implement device tracking.

For more than a decade, U.S. women seeking breast augmentation have been limited to using saline implants. “Many women prefer the appearance and feel that Mentor’s MemoryGel™ implants provide, and with the help of their doctor, they can now make that informed choice,” said Maurice Nahabedian, M.D., Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University.

In April 2005, the FDA’s General and Plastic Surgery Devices Advisory Panel recommended approval for Mentor’s MemoryGel™ implants by a vote of 7 to 2, based on its review of Mentor’s Pre-Market Approval (PMA) application, filed in December 2003, the Company’s PMA amendment, filed in August 2004, and more than 10 years of science related to silicone gel-filled breast implants referenced in those submissions.

The risks and complications associated with breast augmentation and reconstruction procedures are described in detail in FDA approved physician and patient labeling and can be obtained on www.memorygel.com. Mentor is focused on providing effective product solutions for surgeons and the patients they serve. All Mentor’s MemoryGel™ breast implants are made of a proprietary silicone gel formulation that holds its shape but remains soft, resulting in a more natural look and feel.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

	Wendy R. Gottlieb, MD Wendy Gottlieb, MD 1850 Town Center Parkway, Suite 301 Reston, Virginia 20190 Email the Doctor Get Phone Number
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The Doctor’s Credentials

Educational Background

Dr. Gottlieb is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Gottlieb is a native of McLean, Virginia. She graduated cum laude with a degree in philosophy from Yale University. She attended the University of Virginia School of Medicine where she received her medical doctorate with honors. She returned to Yale for three years of surgery training and completed her plastic surgery training at the University of Virginia. Dr. Gottlieb is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and practices at Reston Hospital Center, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Virginia Hospital Center.

Certification / Memberships

• American Board of Plastic Surgery

Additional Affiliations

Reston Hospital Center

Inova Fair Oaks Hospital

Virginia Hospital Center

LocateADoc.com Insider

An inside interview with LocateADoc.com

What is your charity organization of choice and why?
Every year, I join the sixty-five member Virginia Hospital Center Medical Brigade as a reconstructive surgeon for an annual medical mission trip to Comayagua, Honduras, to bring primary care, surgical, eye care, and physical therapy to this underserved part of the world.

What does living in the Reston community mean to you?
I live in McLean, VA, where I was born and grew up. Aside from all of my college, medical school, and training in New Haven and Charlottesville, I have been in Northern Virginia my entire life and love it here — it is my home. My practice has offices in Arlington and Reston.

What makes your specialties the right fields of medicine for you?
I have a passion for what reconstructive surgery can do for people, and a special interest in breast surgery. I believe I offer a woman’s touch, a woman’s understanding, and a wealth of experience to cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Northern Virginia.

What is your favorite procedure to perform and why?
Since I have a special passion for reconstructive surgery, some of the most rewarding experiences have been from reconstructing breasts for women who have had radical mastectomies as the result of breast cancer.

Practice Information

Cost of Consultation

FREE

Payment Options

Please call for complete details.

Credit Cards Accepted

• Visa
• MasterCard

Office Hours

Dr. Wendy Gottlieb has offices in Reston and Arlington for your convenience.

You can choose either location for your initial consultation, skin care evaluation and treatment, and many aesthetic procedures. You will have the security of a board-certified plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist to monitor your care from pre-operative processes through surgery and recovery. Each facility meets the highest standards for surgical quality and patient care.

Office Locations:

1850 Town Center Parkway Suite 301 Reston, Virginia 20190Click Here For Directions

1635 N. George Mason Dr. Suite 140 Arlington, Virginia 22205Click Here For Directions

RESTON PLASTIC SURGERY

About Wendy R. Gottlieb, MD - Reston, Virginia (VA)

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

There are several factors that limit the amount of fat that can be safely removed in one session. Ultimately, the operating physician and the patient make the decision. There are negative aspects to removing too much fat. Unusual “lumpiness” and/or “dents” in the skin can be seen in those patients “over suctioned”.

Reports of people removing 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of fat are exaggerated. However, the contouring possible with liposuction may cause the appearance of weight loss to be greater than the actual amount of fat removed. The procedure may be performed under general or local (”tumescent”) anesthesia. The safety of the technique relates to the amount of tissue removed, the choice of anesthetic, and the patient’s overall health.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Jowls, waddles, and double chins can form from fatty deposits at the jaw line and laxity in the muscles, the neck muscles may begin to separate and hang, creating “bands” and the skin may hang more that we’d like creating the “turkey waddle” look. If this is the case perhaps you’d like to further research the platysmaplasty procedure.

A Neck Lift, or platysmaplasty and even submental platysmaplasty, is a surgery designed to reduce the loose look of sagging skin in the neck area and under the jaw line. Some patients who complain of having a fleshy neck, “jowls”, plastysma or neck “banding”, or a “turkey waddle” can benefit from this procedure.

A neck lift procedure normally takes generally takes 2 to 3 hours to perform. However, if you will be having other procedures performed with your neck lift - this time will be increased and you will more than likely have General Anesthesia.
Wendy Gottlieb, MD, performs platysmapasty neck lift procedures.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve functions, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly.

There are a number of “gray areas” in coverage for plastic surgery that sometimes require special consideration by an insurance carrier. These areas usually involve surgical operations which may be reconstructive or cosmetic, depending on each patient’s situation. For example, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) - a procedure normally performed to achieve cosmetic improvement - may be covered if the eyelids are drooping severely and obscuring a patient’s vision.

Wendy Gottlieb, MD, is an experienced and exceptionally-talented plastic surgeon trained at Yale and University of Virginia in cosmectic surgery and reconstructive surgery.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Skin expansion

Keeping living tissues under tension causes new cells to form and the amount of tissue to increase. In some cases, this may be accomplished by the implantation of inflatable balloons under the skin (see figure). By far the most common method, the surgeon inserts the balloon expander beneath the skin and periodically, over weeks or months, injects a saline solution to slowly expand the overlaying skin. The growth of tissue is permanent.¹. Breast reconstruction surgery, for example, can use this technique when the mammary gland was removed by surgery (radical mastectomy). Later a more permanent artificial implant (silicone breast implant is inserted under the expanded pouch of skin.

In other applications, excess skin is grown purposely by expansion on the back or the buttocks, so that it can be harvested later for transplantation to another site where skin was lost due to trauma, extensive wounds, surgery, burns, etc. A device called a dermatome is used to slice thin strips of skin from the expanded area, which later is closed by suturing it.

Tissue expansion has also been used for the technique of foreskin restoration, which is usually non-surgical and applies tension externally using specialized devices to replace circumcised tissues with new cells. Nonsurgical techniques have also been used for breast enlargement.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

There are two broad varieties of abdominoplasty:

• Complete. Requires from about two to five hours
• Partial. Requires from about one to two hours

Procedures

Abdominoplasty operations vary in scope and are frequently subdivided into categories:

A complete abdominoplasty involves five steps:

1. An incision is made from hip to hip just above the pubic area.
2. Another incision is made to free the navel from the surrounding skin.
3. The skin is detached from the abdominal wall to reveal the muscles to be tightened. These muscles are tightened with sutures.
4. The skin flap is reattached with any extra skin being removed. A new hole for the navel is made and stitched into place.
5. All stitches are dressed and any excess fluid from the site is drained.

A partial abdominoplasty involves three steps:

1. A smaller incision is made.
2. The skin in removed between the incision and the navel. The skin is stretched down and excess skin removed.
3. The flap is stitched back into place.

An extended abdominoplasty is a complete abdominoplasty with extensions into the thighs (front) and/or flanks (back).

An abdominoplasty can be combined with a liposuction treatment.

Recovery from a complete abdominoplasty can take four to six weeks and patients are advised to take at least a portion of this recovery time off from work. Heavy activity especially must be avoided during this time. For the first ten days, a patient may experience bruising and discomfort. A supportive abdominal binder is normally worn to contain swelling and support the muscular repair. Patients are advised not to smoke both prior to surgery and during recovery. Smokers have a higher risk of complications with the operation.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Breast reduction surgery is oriented toward women with large, pendulous breasts, since the weight of their breasts may cause neck, back, shoulder, circulation, and/or breathing problems. The weight may also cause discomfort as a result of brassiere straps abrading or irritating the skin. Even if physical discomfort is not a problem, some women feel uncomfortable with the large size of their breasts in proportion to the rest of their bodies. Reduction mammoplasty affords the recipient smaller, lighter, and firmer breasts. The surgeon may also reduce the size of the areola or nipples.

Although not advocated as a cancer risk reducing procedure, a woman’s risk of subsequently developing breast cancer will be reduced proportionately to the amount of breast tissue left. It is recommended that patients receive new baseline mammograms 6-8 months after breast reduction to accommodate expected radiographic changes and give a new basis to compare future imaging studies to.

Except in unusual cases, this procedure is performed on individuals with fully developed breasts. It is not recommended for women who intend to breastfeed, although the success rate in breast feeding among reduction patients mirrors that of the general population. Doctors almost always perform breast reductions while the patient is under general anesthesia. During pre-operative visits, the doctor and patient may decide on new (usually higher) positions for the areolas and nipples.

The most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision which circles the areola (aka. “Wise-pattern” reduction). The incision extends downward, following the natural curve of the breast. Excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin is removed. Next, the nipple and areola are moved into their new position. Recently there has been increasing interest in limited scar techniques which leave only a vertical or vertical with a shorter horizontal scar.

In some extreme cases, the areola and nipple may need to be completely removed for relocation and replaced as a skin graft (aka “free nipple graft”). In these cases, sensation from the areola area will be lost.

Patients may take a few weeks for initial recovery, however it may take from six months to a year for the body to completely adjust to the new breast size. Some women may experience discomfort during their initial menstruation following the surgery due to the breasts swelling.

Scarring from this procedure may be extensive and can be permanent. Initially the scars are lumpy and red, but gradually subside into their final smaller sizes as thin white lines. Though permanent, the surgeon can generally make the scars inconspicuous to the point that even low-cut tops may be worn without visible scars. Other common problems include: asymmetry, delayed wound healing, altered nipple sensation, fluid retention in the breast, altered erogenous function, late changes in shape and recurrent ptosis (drooping.)

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

The Obagi Blue Peel uses Trichloracetic Acid (TCA) as the active ingredient mixed with the patented Blue Base from Obagi. Your skin professional will apply the Obagi Blue Peel based on your level of damage and your desired level of Transformation.

The Obagi Blue Peel procedure takes less than an hour in your Physician’s office and does not typically require sedation. Your skin professional will apply the Blue Peel typically to your face and neck. A mild burning sensation will occur that generally lasts only a few minutes. Then you may experience a bluish tint to your skin that usually washes off in 12 to 24 hours. Your skin professional will advise you on how many peels are needed to give you the desired result.

Depending on the strength and depth following the procedure, you will experience light swelling. Within two to three days, your skin will begin to peel. This peeling continues over the next several days. By the seventh to tenth day, your skin should be healed.

Once your skin has completely recovered and is finished peeling, you will notice a visible improvement in your complexion. Your skin’s appearance should continue to improve for the next four to six weeks, becoming firmer, clearer, smoother, healthier and more youthful looking.

Trichloroacetic Acid Peels

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is used as an intermediate to deep peeling agent in concentrations ranging from 20-50%. Depth of penetration is increased as concentration increases, with 50% TCA penetrating into the reticular dermis. Concentrations higher than 35% are not recommended because of the high risk of scarring.

Trichloroacetic acid peels:

• are referred for darker-skinned patients over Phenol
• smooth out fine surface wrinkles
• remove superficial blemishes
• correct skin pigment problems

Trichloroacetic acid peels may:

• require pre-treatment with Retin-A or AHA creams
• require repeat treatment to maintain results
• require the use of sunblock for several months (this is a must)
• take several days to healing depending on the peel depth

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

In 2004, the facelift was the fifth most popular cosmetic surgery performed after liposuction, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).

In the traditional facelift, an incision is made in front of the ear extending up into the hairline. The incision curves around the bottom of the ear and then behind it, usually ending near the hairline on the back of the neck.

After the skin incision is made, the skin is separated from the deeper tissues with a scalpel or scissors (also called undermining) over the cheeks, chin and neck. At this point, the deeper tissues (SMAS - fascial suspension system of the face) can be tightened with stitches, with or without removing some of the excess deeper tissues.

The skin is then pulled upwards and backwards and the amount of excess skin to be removed is determined by feel. The excess skin is then removed and the skin incisions are closed with sutures and staples.

Facelifts work best in women with thin skin and good bone structure. They are best for eliminating loose skin folds in the neck and wrinkles in the cheeks. The areas not well corrected by a facelift incude the nasolabial folds and marionette lines. A facelift leaves long scars. However, the portion of the scars in front of the ear are usually inconspicuous. The scar behind the ear is hidden from casual view. Hair loss in the portions of the incision within the hair-bearing scalp can occasionally occur. In men, the sideburns can be pulled backwards and upwards, resulting in an unnatural appearance. In women, one of the telltale signs of having had a facelift is an earlobe which is pulled downwards and/or distorted. If too much skin is removed (as was common many years ago), the face can assume a pulled-back, “windswept” appearance.

Facelifts are commonly combined with eye surgery (blepharoplasty) and skin resurfacing (chemical peels or lasers). They are typically performed under general anesthesia or deep twilight sleep.

The most common complication is bleeding which usually requires a return to the operating room. Less common (but graver) complications include damage to the facial nerve and necrosis of the skin flaps.

Contraindications to facelift surgery include severe concomitant medical problems. While not absolute contraindication, the risk of postoperative complications in increased in cigarette smokers and patients with hypertension and diabetes. Patients should abstain from taking aspirin or other blood thinners before surgery.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Blepharoplasty is performed through external incisions made along the natural skin lines of the eyelids, such as the creases of the upper lids and below the lashes of the lower lids, or from the inside surface of the lower eyelid. Initial swelling and bruising take one to two weeks to resolve but at least several months are needed until the final result becomes stable. Depending upon the scope of the procedure, the operation takes one to three hours to complete.
Asian blepharoplasty, or double eyelid surgery, is the most popular form of cosmetic surgery among those of east and southeast Asian background. About half of this population are born without an eyelid crease and are called single-lidded. Surgery is used to create a crease above the eye, thus making the eye appear more open and alert and facilitating the application of make up.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Overview

The primary part of the procedure is often be carried out immediately following the mastectomy. As with many other surgeries, those with signifigant medical comorbidities (high blood pressure, obese, diabetis) individuals who smoke are higher-risk candidates. Surgeons may choose to perform delayed reconstruction to decrease this risk. Patients expected to receive external beam radiation as part of their adjuvant treatment are also commonly considered for delayed autologous reconstruction due to siginifigantly higher complication rates with tissue expander-implant techniques in those patients.

Breast reconstruction is a large undertaking that usually takes multiple operations. Sometimes these follow-up surgeries are spread out over weeks or months. If an implant is used, the individual runs the same risks and complications as those who use them for breast augmentation but has higher rates of capsular contracture (tightening or hardening of the scar tissue around the implant) and revisional surgeries.

Techniques

There are many methods for breast reconstruction. The two most common are:

• Tissue Expander - Breast implants This is the most common technique used in worldwide. The surgeon inserts a tissue expander, a temporary silastic implant, beneath the pectoralis major muscle of the chest wall and periodically, over weeks or months, injects a saline solution to slowly expand the overlaying tissue. Once the expander has reached an acceptable size, it may be removed and replaced with a more permanent implant. Reconstruction of the areola and nipple are performed in a separate operation after the skin has stretched to its final size.
• Flap reconstruction The second most common procedure uses tissue from other parts of the patient’s body, such as the back, buttocks, thigh or abdomen. This procedure may be performed by leaving the donor tissue connected to the original site to retain its blood supply (the vessels are tunnelled beneath the skin surface to the new site) or it may be cut off and new blood supply may be connected.
  • The latissimus dorsi muscle flap is the donor tissue available on the back. It is a large flat muscle which can be employed without significant loss of function. It can be moved into the breast defect still attached to its blood supply under the arm pit (axilla). A latissimus flap is usually used to recruit soft-tissue coverage over an underlying implant. Enough volume can be recruited occasionally to reconstruct small breasts without an implant.
  • Abdominal flaps The abdominal flap for breast reconstruction is the TRAM flap or its technically distinct variants the DIEP/SIEP flaps. Both use the abdominal tissue between the umbilicus and the pubis. The DIEP and free-TRAM flaps require advanced microsurgical technique and are less common as a result. Both can provide enough tissue to reconstruct large breasts. The contour of the lower abdomen is reliably improved by these procedures which remove the same tissue as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck.) TRAM flap procedures may weaken the abdominal muscles, but are usually tolerated well in most patients. To prevent muscle weakness and incisional hernias, the portion of abdominal wall exposed by reflection of the rectus abdominis muscle may be strengthened by a piece of surgical mesh placed over the defect and sutured in place. The DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator flap) and SIEP (superficial inferior epigastric perforator flap) require precise disection of small perforating vessels thru the rectus muscle, and purport the advantage of less weakening of the abdominal wall.

Other considerations

Nipple reconstruction is usually delayed until after the breast mound reconstruction is completed so that the positioning can be planned precisely. There are several methods of reconstructing the nipple-areolar complex, including:

• Nipple-Areolar Graft (Sharing) - if the contralateral breast has not been reconstructed and the nipple and areolar are sufficiently large, tissue may be harvested and used to recreate the nipple-areolar complex on the reconstructed side. Note that these technique is unfavourable due to the high risk of donor-site complications including loss of sensation in the nipple and an unpleasant cosmetic result at the donor site, and due to the recent improvements in the cosmetic result that can be achieved using tattoos.
• Local Tissue Flaps - a nipple may be created by raising a small flap in the target area and producing a raised mound of skin. To create an areolar a circular incision may be made around the new nipple and sutured back again. The nipple and areolar region may then be tattooed to produce a realistic colour/match the contralateral colour.

One of the challenges in breast reconstruction is to match the reconstructed breast to the mature breast on the other side (often fairly ‘ptotic’ - droopy.) This often requires a lift (mastopexy), reduction, or augmenatation of the other breast.

Follow-up and Recovery

Recovery from implant-based reconstruction is generally faster than with flap-based reconstructions, but both take at least three to six weeks to recover and both require follow-up surgeries in order to construct a new areola and nipple. All recipients of these operations should refrain from strenuous sports, overhead lifting and sexual activity during the recovery period (three to six weeks). TRAM flap patients can show abdominal muscule weakness on EMG studies, but clinically most patients return to normal activities after they’ve recovered.

Women who have undergone breast reconstruction must still be followed for local or regional recurrence of their cancer with manual exams of the breast/chest wall and axilla.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Dr. Wendy Gottlieb offers a woman’s touch, a woman’s understanding, and a wealth of experience to cosmetic and reconstructive cosmetic surgery in Northern Virginia.

Dr. Gottlieb is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Gottlieb is a native of McLean, Virginia. She graduated cum laude with a degree in philosophy from Yale University. She attended the University of Virginia School of Medicine where she received her medical doctorate with honors. She returned to Yale for three years of surgery training and completed her plastic surgery training at the University of Virginia. Dr. Gottlieb is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and practices at Reston Hospital Center, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Virginia Hospital Center.

Botox®, skin care, facial rejuvenation, eyelid surgery, face lift, neck lift, body contouring, liposuction, tummy tuck, laser hair removal, laser face and leg vein removal, and much more are offered.

Dr. Gottlieb performs Reconstructive Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery in Northern Virginia, Dulles, Reston, Fairfax, McLean, Arlington, Tysons. Dr. Gottlieb also performs a full array of post weight loss surgeries including body lift, breast lift, arms lift and thigh lift.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

What Gives the Breast Its Shape?

The breast consists of milk ducts and glands, surrounded by fatty tissue that provides its shape and feel. Situated beneath the breast is the pectoralis major muscle or chest muscle. Factors such as pregnancy (when milk glands are temporarily enlarged), rapid weight loss, and the effects of gravity as you age combine to stretch the skin, which may cause the breast to droop or sag.

What is a Breast Implant?

A breast implant is a sac (implant shell) of silicone elastomer (rubber), which is surgically implanted under your chest tissues.

There are two basic types of breast implants:

Saline-Filled Breast Implants

The saline breast implant is inflated with a saline (salt-water) solution through a valve. Saline is much like the fluid that makes up most of the human body. There are two types/families of implants filled with saline — one referred to as Saline-Filled and the other referred to as Spectrum™ implants. The Saline-Filled family of implants has a self-sealing valve located on the front (anterior) of the implant that is used for filling the device. The Spectrum™ family has a valve on the back (posterior) of the implant that allows saline to be added after surgery (postoperative adjustability). Mentor’s Spectrum implant is a saline-filled breast implant that lets your physician adjust the size of your breasts after your surgery. In a simple office procedure, your physician can change your implant size by either adding or removing saline for up to six months after your surgery.

Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants

A silicone gel-filled breast implant is filled with silicone gel, a soft-solid substance. At the present time, silicone gel-filled breast implants manufactured by Mentor are only available through Mentor’s Adjunct Study.

Participation in the study is limited to qualified patients in the U.S. who are having their breasts reconstructed following mastectomy. Also eligible for this study are patients with severe congenital deformities, such as pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum, or patients with severe ptosis who underwent mastopexy with associated replacement. Patients requiring revision of saline- or gel-filled implants who are not suitable for revision with saline implants may qualify if they have specific medical justification, as outlined in the clinical protocol, from their physician. If you want to know if you qualify, please ask your physician to explain to you the requirements for being included in the study.

What is silicone?

Silicone is derived from silicon, a semi-metallic or metal-like element that in nature combines with oxygen to form silicon dioxide, or silica. Beach sand, crystals, and quartz are silica. Silica is the most common substance on earth. Heating silica with carbon at a high temperature can produce silicon. Further processing can convert the silicon into a long chemical chain, or polymer, called silicone - which can be a liquid, a gel, or a rubbery substance. Various silicones are used in lubricants and oils, as well as in silicone rubber. Silicone can be found in many common household items, such as polishes, suntan and hand lotion, antiperspirants, soaps, processed foods, waterproof coatings, and chewing gum.

Are silicone implants safe?

Special studies have been done and have determined that much higher levels of silicone have been found in cows’ milk and commercially available infant formula than are found in the breast milk of women with implants. The Institute of Medicine concluded that ”There is no evidence that silicone implants are responsible for any major diseases of the whole body. Women are exposed to silicone constantly in their daily lives.”

Are Breast Implants Permanent?

Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices. You will likely undergo implant removal with or without replacement over the course of your life. Whether you are undergoing augmentation or reconstruction, be aware that breast implantation may not be a one-time surgery. You are likely to need additional surgery and doctor visits over the course of your life.

Many of the changes to your breast following implantation are irreversible (cannot be undone). Problems such as deflation, capsular contracture, infection, and shifting can require removal of the implants. Many women decide to have the implants replaced, but some women do not. If you later choose to have your implant(s) removed, you may experience unacceptable dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes of the breast.

Deposits of calcium can be seen on mammograms and can be mistaken for possible cancer, resulting in additional surgery to biopsy and/or removal of the implant to distinguish them from cancer.

Are There Different Styles of Breast Implants?

Breast implants come in a variety of shapes, surface textures, and sizes. The implants are available with a textured or smooth surface shells. Mentor breast implants come in either round or contoured shapes. Mentor’s Spectrum implant is an adjustable saline-filled breast implant that lets your physician adjust the size of your breasts after your breast augmentation surgery. In a simple office procedure, your physician can change your implant size by either adding or removing saline for up to six months after your surgery.

Who is Eligible for Saline-Filled Breast Implants?

Breast Augmentation — This procedure is done to increase the size and proportion of a woman’s breasts. A woman must be at least 18 years old for breast augmentation.

Breast Reconstruction — This procedure is done to restore a woman’s breast shape after a mastectomy or injury that resulted in either partial or total loss of the breast(s), or to correct a birth defect.

Who is Eligible for Gel-Filled Breast Implants?

At the present time, silicone gel-filled breast implants manufactured by Mentor are only available through Mentor’s Adjunct Study. Participation in the study is limited to qualified patients in the U.S. who are having their breasts reconstructed following mastectomy. Also eligible for this study are patients with severe congenital deformities, such as pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum, or patients with severe ptosis who underwent mastopexy with associated replacement. Patients requiring revision of saline- or gel-filled implants who are not suitable for revision with saline implants may qualify if they have specific medical justification, as outlined in the clinical protocol, from their physician. If you want to know if you qualify, please ask your physician to explain to you the requirements for being included in the study.

Who is Not Eligible for Breast Implants?

Contraindications (inadvisable treatment) for breast implants include women who are currently pregnant or nursing, have an existing malignant or pre-malignant cancer of their breast without adequate treatment, or have an active infection anywhere in their body.

What are the Alternatives to Breast Augmentation?

- Accept your breasts as they are.

- Wear a padded bra or external prostheses.

You are advised to wait a week after reviewing and considering the information in this web site before deciding whether to have augmentation surgery.

Wendy R. Gottlieb, M.D.

In addition to an individualized approach to breast augmentation, Dr. Gottlieb performs reconstruction after mastectomy, breast reduction, and the latest breast “lifting” techniques. Botox®, skin care, facial rejuvenation, eyelid surgery, face lift, neck lift, body contouring, liposuction, tummy tuck, laser hair removal, laser face and leg vein removal, and much more are offered.

Dr. Gottlieb performs Reconstructive Surgery and Plastic Surgery in Northern Virginia, Dulles, Reston, Fairfax, McLean, Arlington, Tysons. Dr. Gottlieb also performs a full array of post weight loss surgeries including body lift, breast lift, arms lift and thigh lift.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Dr. Wendy Gottlieb offers a woman’s touch, a woman’s understanding, and a wealth of experience to cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Northern Virginia.

Dr. Gottlieb is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Gottlieb is a native of McLean, Virginia. She graduated cum laude with a degree in philosophy from Yale University. She attended the University of Virginia School of Medicine where she received her medical doctorate with honors. She returned to Yale for three years of surgery training and completed her plastic surgery training at the University of Virginia. Dr. Gottlieb is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and practices at Reston Hospital Center, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Virginia Hospital Center.

Botox®, skin care, facial rejuvenation, eyelid surgery, face lift, neck lift, body contouring, liposuction, tummy tuck, laser hair removal, laser face and leg vein removal, and much more are offered.

Dr. Gottlieb performs Reconstructive Surgery and Plastic Surgery in Northern Virginia, Dulles, Reston, Fairfax, McLean, Arlington, Tysons. Dr. Gottlieb also performs a full array of post weight loss surgeries including body lift, breast lift, arms lift and thigh lift.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

• Remove unsightly spider veins without painful injections or incisions.
• Facial telangiectasias (spider veins) are not a “ruddy blush” and can now be removed!
• Telangiectasias, or spider veins, can diminish your well-toned and tanned legs!

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499.

About the Wendy R. Gottlieb MD Laser Hair Removal System

Our office owns the latest in hair removal technology, the CoolGlide® Aesthetic Laser System. This innovative product is cleared by the FDA for Permanent Hair Reduction, and can now provide hair removal treatments that are faster and easier than shaving. Here is how the CoolGlide works: short pulses of laser light disable hundreds of unwanted hair follicles in seconds. The laser’s handpiece is cool, providing an extremely gentle, soothing and comfortable treatment with long-lasting results.

In the past, only fair skinned people could successfully have unwanted hair removed with a laser. CoolGlide’s breakthrough technology allows me to treat a wide range of skin types including tanned skin, for both men and women. We can remove unwanted hair from virtually all body parts including legs, arms, face, underarms, backs and bikini lines and more. As you know, we pride ourselves in offering innovative appearance enhancing treatments that make you feel better and look younger. CoolGlide is just another example of this!

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

• Smooth forearms, fingers, and toes — no more black hair
• Sexy smooth legs!
• Remove those wiry chin hairs
• Clean up your bikini line
• Toe hair is not in
• You guys, get rid of the back hair
• If you’re waxing your chest, you need laser hair removal!
• Ladies, get rid of the sideburns and mustache!

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499.

About the Wendy R. Gottlieb MD Laser Hair Removal System

Our office owns the latest in hair removal technology, the CoolGlide® Aesthetic Laser System. This innovative product is cleared by the FDA for Permanent Hair Reduction, and can now provide hair removal treatments that are faster and easier than shaving. Here is how the CoolGlide works: short pulses of laser light disable hundreds of unwanted hair follicles in seconds. The laser’s handpiece is cool, providing an extremely gentle, soothing and comfortable treatment with long-lasting results.

In the past, only fair skinned people could successfully have unwanted hair removed with a laser. CoolGlide’s breakthrough technology allows me to treat a wide range of skin types including tanned skin, for both men and women. We can remove unwanted hair from virtually all body parts including legs, arms, face, underarms, backs and bikini lines and more. As you know, we pride ourselves in offering innovative appearance enhancing treatments that make you feel better and look younger. CoolGlide is just another example of this!

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

Q: Is laser hair removal it permanent?
Laser hair removal treatment results may vary among patients. The CoolGlide® is cleared by the FDA for Permanent Hair Reduction. The FDA defines permanent hair reduction as the long term, stable reduction in the number hairs re-growing after a treatment regime.

Q: How does the CoolGlide laser treatment compare with other hair removal methods?
Shaving, waxing and depilatory creams provide temporary results. These treatments must be repeated frequently. Electrolysis is tedious, invasive and often painful. It involves inserting a needle into each hair follicle and delivering an electrical charge to destroy them one at a time. Electrolysis often also requires years of treatments at regular intervals. The CoolGlide laser hair removal treatment delivers noninvasive laser light energy to hundreds of hair follicles at one time. In just a few minutes the CoolGlide laser hair removal procedure can effectively treat an area that would take over an hour with electrolysis.

Q: How does a laser work?
Energy from a power source is pumped into the “lasing medium” - a substance that produces light particles when energized. A laser produces an intense and concentrated beam of light. This beam of light brings energy to the area of treatment through a delivery device such as a handpiece.

Q: How does the CoolGlide hair removal laser work?
The CoolGlide laser hair removal system generates intense, long-pulse Nd:YAG light through a handpiece, which effectively disables unwanted pigmented hair follicles, impairing their growth. The laser’s chilled handpiece is placed gently on the skin and glides along as pulses of light are delivered from the laser. When the light penetrates the skin, it selectively damages the root of unwanted hair.

Q: Is laser treatment safe?
Lasers have been in existence for more than thirty-five years and are used by a wide range of medical specialists. Since only light is used to remove hair it is totally non-invasive, therefore it does not cause some of the irritations typically found with other hair removal methods.

Q: What are the CoolGlide laser treatments like?
The CoolGlide handpiece, as the name implies, cools and soothes the skin as it glides along the treatment area. When the pulse light is delivered, some patients experience a mild, stinging or pinching sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is usually required. Some patients prefer a topical anesthetic when sensitive areas are treated. Because the CoolGlide incorporates a large spot size and a high rate of energy delivery, treatments are extremely fast and effective.

Q: Are there any side effects?
Short-term side effects include slight reddening of the skin or local swelling. These effects typically are transient.

Q: How long does the treatment take and how many treatments are required?
The length of treatment and number of treatments required depends on the area the patient wishes to have treated, the hair density and their hair’s growth cycle. Many factors influence hair growth cycle such as age, weight, ethnicity, hormones, diet, medication and metabolism.

Q: Can all skin types/colors be treated safely with the CoolGlide system?
The CoolGlide laser has an advantage over other laser hair removal systems because it allows treatment of all skin types, including tanned patients.

Q: What is the cost of a CoolGlide laser hair removal treatment?
Price will vary depending upon area of treatment and specific approach that will be used. A consultation with the doctor is the best and only way to determine how may treatments will be required and cost of treatment.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

• Smooth forearms, fingers, and toes — no more black hair
• Sexy smooth legs!
• Remove those wiry chin hairs
• Clean up your bikini line
• Toe hair is not in
• You guys, get rid of the back hair
• If you’re waxing your chest, you need laser hair removal!
• Ladies, get rid of the sideburns and mustache!
• Remove unsightly spider veins without painful injections or incisions.
• Facial telangiectasias (spider veins) are not a “ruddy blush” and can now be removed!
• Telangiectasias, or spider veins, can diminish your well-toned and tanned legs!

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499.

About the Wendy R. Gottlieb MD Laser Hair Removal System

Our office owns the latest in hair removal technology, the CoolGlide® Aesthetic Laser System. This innovative product is cleared by the FDA for Permanent Hair Reduction, and can now provide hair removal treatments that are faster and easier than shaving. Here is how the CoolGlide works: short pulses of laser light disable hundreds of unwanted hair follicles in seconds. The laser’s handpiece is cool, providing an extremely gentle, soothing and comfortable treatment with long-lasting results.

In the past, only fair skinned people could successfully have unwanted hair removed with a laser. CoolGlide’s breakthrough technology allows me to treat a wide range of skin types including tanned skin, for both men and women. We can remove unwanted hair from virtually all body parts including legs, arms, face, underarms, backs and bikini lines and more. As you know, we pride ourselves in offering innovative appearance enhancing treatments that make you feel better and look younger. CoolGlide is just another example of this!

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below:

In the past, only fair skinned people could successfully have unwanted hair removed with a laser. CoolGlide’s breakthrough technology allows me to treat a wide range of skin types including tanned skin, for both men and women. I can remove unwanted hair from virtually all body parts including legs, arms, face, underarms, backs and bikini lines and more. As you know, we pride ourselves in offering innovative appearance enhancing treatments that make you feel better and look younger. CoolGlide is just another example of this!

For a free laser hair removal consultation, please call my office at (703) 668-9499 to schedule your appointment.

Here are some of the common questions asked about this revolutionary method of treatment:

What are the laser hair removal treatments like?

The CoolGlide system is fast, disabling hundreds of hair follicles in seconds. The patented handpiece cools and soothes the skin as it glides along.

Is laser hair removal long-lasting?

The CoolGlide is cleared by the FDA for Permanent Hair Reduction. Long-term data suggests that the CoolGlide offers a significant advantage when compared to many other hair removal products and methods currently available.

How does the laser hair removal treatment compare with other hair removal methods?

Shaving, waxing and depilatory creams provide temporary results. These treatments must be repeated on a frequent basis. Electrolysis is time consuming, tedious, and often painful.

Does skin color make a difference?

CoolGlide can treat the widest range of skin types because of its innovative technology, cooling handpiece and treatment flexibility. Now we can customize each treatment, matching the appropriate treatment with the patient’s skin type including tanned patients.

To schedule a consultation or an appointment at the Reston or Arlington office, please call 703-668-9499. You may also send an email to us using the form below: