Medical Name:  Lipectomy
Common Name: Liposuction
Estimated Cost: $1,500 - $10,000
Type of Anesthesia:  Local, General
Length of Procedure: 2 - 5 hours
Down Time:  1 - 2 days
Recovery Time:   1 - 2 weeks
Discomfort Level:  Moderate - High
Procedure Location:  Hospital, Surgery Center

What Is Liposuction?

Many North Americans have only a vague concept of what liposuction is. Simply put, liposuction is the surgical removal of fat cells through a stainless steel suction tube called a cannula. Liposuction was first performed in 1974 and was a tremendous improvement over previous surgical body contouring techniques. There have been many advances in liposuction procedures over the last few decades, making it one of the safest and most popular body contouring surgeries in the world.

Are You a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

If you are considering liposuction, it is important that you have realistic expectations. Although dramatic results can be achieved, they may not be as immediate or obvious as you would like. As with all plastic surgery, the success of liposuction will depend on a number of individual factors, such as age, skin elasticity, weight, and overall health. Liposuction is not appropriate for people with a weakened immune system, diabetes, heart or artery problems, or a history of blood clots or restricted blood flow. You are a good candidate for liposuction if you are of normal weight; have healthy, elastic skin; and have specific “trouble areas” such as the tummy, thighs, and butt that will not respond to changes in diet and exercise. Liposuction is also appropriate for women who are considering breast reduction, and for men who suffer from gynecomastia, or male breast development. To learn more, see our full page on liposuction candidacy.

How to Choose a Liposuction Surgeon

Before choosing a liposuction surgeon, you should learn as much as you can about the different practitioners in your area. You will want to ask lots of questions, view before and after photos of previous patients, and find out how many liposuction procedures the surgeon has performed in the past. Watch out for hard sells and overblown claims; a good surgeon should rely on his or her skill rather than exaggerated promises. For more detailed information, see our guide to choosing a liposuction surgeon.

Areas of the Face and Body Treatable with Liposuction

Liposuction works best for areas of the face and body with stubborn fat deposits resistant to overall weight loss, such as the infamous “love handles.” The thighs, abdomen, buttocks, flanks, hips, upper arms, chin, jowels, and neck generally respond well. Men and women may also choose liposuction to reduce breast size, a procedure that results in less scarring than other types of plastic surgery. Liposuction can be performed consecutively on many different sites; in fact, many patients choose to have several body parts treated during the same day. Learn more about facial liposuction and liposuction of the body.

Types of Liposuction

There are several types of liposuction procedures available, all of which use a wand-like instrument called a cannula to remove unwanted fat. Tumescent liposuction involves the injection if a large amount of anesthetic into the area being treated; the wet and super-wet techniques are variations of this type of liposuction. In ultrasonic assisted liposuction (UAL), sound waves are used to liquefy the fat before it is removed. LipoSelection® uses the same concept without disturbing the surrounding tissue. Power assisted liposuction (PAL) employs a motor-powered cannula, which allows the surgeon to use smaller movements and make the experience more comfortable for the patient.

Liposuction Cost and Financing Information

The cost of liposuction can vary greatly depending on the type you chose, the area(s) of the body you want to target, and your surgeon. Generally, liposuction procedures run anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000, your total cost depending on the number of treatments you undergo. Except in very rare cases, liposuction is not covered by insurance, and must be paid in full by the patient. There are many financing options available for plastic surgery through specialized medical procedure financiers.

The Liposuction Procedure

The basic liposuction procedure involves the insertion of a small, tube-like instrument called a cannula through tiny incisions made by the surgeon. The cannula then breaks up and vacuums away unwanted fat deposits beneath the skin. Local or IV sedation will be used, depending on the type and number of liposuction procedures you undergo. As with any plastic surgery, you should prepare for liposuction carefully and allow yourself plenty of recovery time.

Risks and Benefits of Liposuction

Like any plastic surgery, liposuction carries some amount of risk. Although liposuction complications are rare, they can include infection, nerve damage, seizures, and negative reactions to anesthesia. The most effective way to minimize your risk is to have a thorough physical examination prior to liposuction surgery. There is also the risk of experiencing adverse side effects, such as bruising and scarring. On the other hand, the benefits of fat and cellulite removal can be enormous, with many patients reporting improved appearance, self-esteem, and overall confidence.

Maintaining Your Figure after Liposuction

Although liposuction does remove a number of existing fat cells, it does not guarantee that you won’t regain some fat. The importance of healthy lifestyle choices post- liposuction cannot be stressed enough; you should stick to a moderate diet and be sure to exercise for at least 30 minutes three to five times per week. Not only will this help you maintain your figure after liposuction, it will also improve your overall health and help prevent the onset of certain diseases. If you are going to treat yourself to liposuction, be sure to treat your body well afterward! For more post- liposuction tips, see our full section on diet and exercise after liposuction.

Liposuction Facts

Although there is a wealth of information about liposuction procedures on TV, in magazines, and on the internet, you probably still have a lot of questions. One of the best sources of information you will find is a well-trained physician, but before you schedule an appointment, you might want to familiarize yourself with some of the commonly asked questions about liposuction. This will help you pinpoint any questions you still have about plastic surgery and liposuction before you consult with a doctor.

The jowls, the pouches, the hooded eyes looking back at you in the mirror are causing a huge drop in the confidence you once exuded. Here you are, middle aged to late adult and the aging you see in your face needs to be addressed if you want to look and feel on top of the game of life.

You know you will never look eighteen again nor will you have those rock hard abs and slim thighs that Matthew McConaughy loves in a woman but hey, you know you do not want to look like your Mom when she hit her middle stride or Great Aunt Helen when she developed the dreaded wattle that greatly aged her once beautiful face.

The smorgasbord of anti- aging choices may have you baffled. After consulting with those who specialize in plastic surgery, dermatology, skin care, those you love, friends who have had procedures and those who haven’t; you now are armed with the latest and up-to-date arsenal of anti-aging procedures and methods that promote an illusionary promise to turn back the clock.

Yes, you want a younger looking face, but what’s this? Have you waited too long to have a successful surgical facelift? Just how old is too old and these lists of complications and warnings, do they apply to everyone?

After the Donda West heart stopping tragedy, we now know that many men and women over the age of fifty have physical conditions such as issues with uncontrolled blood pressure, the beginning of heart disease, hematoma possibilities due to thin skin and previous health constraints that may create big red warning flags to a surgeon.

Previous surgeries, drug reactions, medications and even unrealistic expectations may prevent you from having a successful face lift surgery.

Potential risks and complications that vary in severity are very real and you must proceed cautiously. Plastic surgery does not come with a money back guarantee and the results are permanent.

Even a simple eye lift may leave you dissatisfied with the results as you cope with swelling, eyelids that no longer close and excessive tearing. Infection and scarring are other risks that can present a challenge to your good looks.

Re-inventing yourself using surgery may not be for you.

Using injections also has drawbacks. Allowing foreign substances to be injected over and over year after year to plump and paralyze your sagging features may not always produce the desired effect as aging continues to affect the symmetry of your face.

Plumping up moderate not too deep lines and wrinkles is an art and when you choose injections you may not always like the results. Too, these temporary measures can have serious side effects that go far beyond redness and irritation at the injection site.

Perhaps surgery and injections are not appealing; the “done” look so prevalent in today’s society might be right for some, but maybe not right for you. Benefits, precautions, adverse warnings and risks can be confusing.

An option that makes absolute sense if you really, truly desire a younger looking face is exercise.

Facial exercise that uses resistance and contraction will slowly and steadily rebuild your facial muscles so they plump up. This action makes your skin look healthier; it acts and feels younger and smoother.

Just as exercise works for your body to sculpt and trim waist, tummy, hips and thighs, facial exercise can create a younger, more vibrant appearance when oxygenated blood is forced throughout the facial area.

The face immediately begins to reflect the benefit of these exercises and every area of the face can be lifted, sculpted and refined with simple movements that are easy to understand and execute.

Will you look like you’re twenty again? No, but if you want to look five, ten, even fifteen years younger, facial exercise is the safest procedure around. Think of it as a facelift without side effects.

Watch your face transform as the lines smooth and a youthful contour develops right before your eyes. You’ll save thousands of dollars and never be at risk for the sake of beauty. Now when you look in the mirror, you’ll want to say, “Well, hello gorgeous!”

Cynthia Rowland is widely recognized as an expert in all natural facial fitness with over thirty years experience in health & beauty related fields. She has appeared on The View, Fit TV, HGTV and other popular shows. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger through natural techniques without spending their children’s inheritance.

Plastic Surgery Toronto

Statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show that almost 2.8 million Botox procedures were performed last year. Botox has been the most popular cosmetic procedure since 2000, and the number of procedures performed has increased 82% in the past five years. But amidst all the positive reports of the benefits of Botox are some disturbing trends. In particular, reports of so-called “Botox parties” have raised red flags for many medical professionals.

According to ASAPS, the leading organization of board-certified plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic surgery of the face and body, Botox treatments are safe when performed by a qualified clinician in an appropriate setting. However, before undergoing Botox injections at a party, or anywhere else, make sure you can answer “Yes” to the following questions:

- Have you been asked to provide a complete medical history? A patient should fully disclose any medical conditions you might have, and medications you are taking including vitamins and over-the-counter drugs. This information will help your clinician select the most effective procedure for you, with the fewest side-effects.

- Have you been advised on alternative treatments? Part of the purpose of a pre-treatment consultation is the thorough evaluation of each patient for whatever treatment is being proposed. In the case of Botox, not everyone is an appropriate candidate. For some patients, other treatments or even a surgical procedure may be more effective. No one should undergo any nonsurgical treatment without personal evaluation by a qualified physician.

- Have you been advised of the risks and given your informed consent? A patient should make sure the benefits and risks are fully explained in a patient consultation. Plastic surgeons use the consultation process to educate patients about the proposed procedure. Every procedure has inherent risks and benefits; the hallmark of informed consent is the understanding of risks and benefits, and realistic expectations.

- Is a qualified clinician administering the treatment? While Botox treatment is both safe and effective, every medical procedure has risks and possible complications. It is imperative that Botox be administered by an experienced clinician who understands facial anatomy and proper Botox injection techniques.

- Is the physical setting appropriate for administering medical treatment, including handling emergency situations? Any injectable should be administered in an appropriate setting using sterile instruments.

- Do you know what you are being injected with? Disturbing reports of patients being injected with everything from liquid silicone to baby oil and other unapproved products are appearing in the press on a regular basis. Currently Botox-Cosmetic manufactured by Allergan is the only form of Botulinum Toxin that is FDA-approved for purchase within the United States.

- Are you willing and able to follow post-treatment instructions? Botox treatment requires that the patient restrict physical activity for a period following the injections. Failure to follow post-treatment instructions can lead to complications. In a party atmosphere, people may tend to forget such restrictions, particularly if alcohol is being served.

- Will you receive adequate follow-up care? Botox is a temporary treatment, and results usually last only a few months. Nevertheless, follow-up care is an important part of the doctor-patient relationship, and should not be overlooked, even when treatment is administered outside of the usual medical setting.

“Botox parties” may offer some benefit to patients by reducing the cost of their individual treatment. However, unless proper measures are in place to ensure both safety and effectiveness of treatments, ASAPS advises that you enjoy the party, but get your Botox injections in the doctor’s office.

The 2400-member American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the only plastic surgery organization devoted entirely to the advancement of cosmetic surgery. ASAPS is recognized throughout the world as the authoritative source for cosmetic surgery education. U.S. members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Canadian members are certified in plastic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Botox in Toronto

These days, you have as many options for upgrading your looks as you have for upgrading your computer. And the number of men availing themselves of a nip here and a tuck there keeps growing: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports a 47 percent increase in male procedures in 6 years, from 640,000 in 2000 to 940,000 in 2006. Why the jump in plastic surgery for men? Cosmetic surgery has grown into a precise, often pain-free way to slow the visual effects of aging or simply to add the final detailing on a body you’ve worked hard to build through diet and exercise. Still, there are people who should pass on the surgical solution. With this primer, you’ll be able to decide whether a cosmetic fix should be in your future.

Is the surgeon board certified in the procedure you are considering?  Check out the  Canadian Society of Plastic Surgery web site to be sure. www.plasticsurgery.ca

Wrinkled Forehead
Cosmetic fix: Botox

A man can feel happy, calm, and rested, but “a wrinkled brow will make him look angry, tense, and tired,” says Patricia Wexler, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at New York’s Mount Sinai school of medicine. “Botox produces a more relaxed and likable look.”

How it works: The doctor injects diluted botulinum toxin into your wrinkle zone. In about 4 days, the Botox begins to temporarily block nerve transmissions to the muscles that create the wrinkles. As a result, your skin smooths out dramatically. Brief side effects, such as bruising, swelling, or headaches, are possible but uncommon. You’ll need new injections every 4 to 6 months to stay smooth.

Fine points: Avoid the “mask effect” by going to a doctor whose Botox practice includes at least 10 percent to 15 percent men; the doc will be sure to leave some expression lines on your face — especially the crow’s-feet.

* Price ranges reflect differences in the amount of work performed, your geographical location, and the experience of the doctor.

Number of men who received Botox in 2006: More than 300,000

Price: $350 to $1,200

Hairy Back/Shoulders/Neck
Cosmetic fix: Laser hair removal

This is the only permanent hasta la vista to hairiness. And while the neck and back are the areas men usually want blasted bare, treatments on the chest and the front of the ears are also popular, says Ramsey Choucair, M.D., a Dallas plastic surgeon.

How it works: This is a simple, safe, and effective procedure. That’s because the laser light is fine-tuned to the specific pigment of your follicles, allowing the heat energy to eliminate the hair without burning a hole in your surrounding skin. “It usually takes several treatments to see permanent hair reduction,” says Dr. Choucair.

Fine points: You may still have a few stray hairs even after several treatments. And a word of warning to men with blond locks: Laser hair removal doesn’t work well on blond (or gray) hair, simply because there isn’t enough pigment for the laser light to affect the follicles.

Number of men who had laser hair removal in 2006: more than 170,000

Price: $200 to $600

Balding Head
Cosmetic fix: Hair transplantation

Even though Rogaine and Propecia sometimes slow hair loss or regrow some hair, transplantation is the only way to restore your naked pate completely.

How it works: After injecting a local anesthetic, the surgeon removes a narrow strip of scalp from the strip of permanent hair  around the sides and back of your head. The surgeon divides this donor strip into sections containing one to four hairs, which he then inserts into tiny scalp incisions made at the same angle and direction as the original follicles. These hairs will fall out within the first 3 weeks, but permanently grow back about 3 months later, with the full effect taking about a year.

Fine points: You’ll have to avoid strenuous exercise for 7 to 10 days (heat and sweat increase the odds of infection, plus the physical exertion can tug on the donor-area wound and result in a wider scar). You should also resist the temptation to have “megasessions” of 3,000 or more grafts transplanted all at once or too densely. That’s because every microincision severs blood vessels and reduces bloodflow to the area. With too many incisions, not enough blood can reach the transplanted hair for the follicles to survive.

Number of men who had hair transplanted in 2006: more than 11,000

Price: $6,000 to $18,000

Love Handles
Cosmetic fix: Liposuction

Fat men need not apply. The best candidates are normal-weight men who can’t shed specific fatty deposits. “There are limits to what exercise and diet can do,” says Daniel C. Baker, M.D., a professor of plastic surgery at New York University.

How it works: You’ll be awake but numb to the sucking, thanks to an anesthetic. The surgeon will insert a metal, strawlike device into the target area and literally vacuum out the fat. And that includes the fat inside a pair of man-boobs–liposuction is an option for about 90 percent of male breast-enlargement cases.

Fine points: Liposuction is safe and effective–in the hands of a qualified surgeon. It’s also important to remember that while lipo sucks out fat, it can’t tighten loose skin, nor is it generally recommended for the face because of the many small nerves and blood vessels in the area.

Number of men who had liposuction in 2006: more than 53,000

Price: $3,000 to $15,000

Tired Eyes
Cosmetic fix: Eyelid surgery

Your eyelids play a subtle yet powerful role in your overall appearance. Specifically, saggy upper eyelids and puffy lower lids send everyone the message that you’re overtired, over the hill, or both, says Joel Feldman, M.D., an associate clinical professor of surgery at Harvard medical school.

How it works: The sagging and puffiness is caused by excess fat and skin. To remove the fat, the surgeon will make an incision on the inside edge of the lower lid, both to avoid leaving a visible scar and to reduce the risk of damaging surrounding muscles. Then it’s just a matter of scraping out the fat. To remove excess skin, the surgeon makes incisions on the outside of the lid. Most people need to wear dark sunglasses for up to 2 weeks after surgery, although some swelling and discoloration can remain for several months.

Fine points: Eyelid surgery may not completely eliminate those circles under your eyes, and there’s a danger that the surgeon will remove too much skin and fat, creating a somewhat feminized appearance.

Number of men who had eyelid surgery in 2006: 28,000

Price: $3,000 to $6,000

Then again, we could be wrong!

Although MyTorontoCosmeticSurgery.com has a Canadian based focus, we couldn’t help but notice a new survey released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The study finds that American men, favoring Botox injections and liposuction, underwent 17 percent more cosmetic procedures in 2007 to more than 1 million treatments

Operations and less-invasive procedures among women still outnumbered those in men by 10 to one, and men mostly preferred a buttocks operation that’s gaining popularity, the society said Sunday. Botox,  generated $1.21 billion in sales last year, a 23 percent gain, counting cosmetic and medical uses.

Doctors, health centers and spas have made it more convenient for men to get cosmetic procedures, with later hours and more masculine settings and targeted advertising.  It’s clear that we’ve cleared the last hurdle remaining for men in order to take them from considering a procedure to actually going through with one.

“It’s coming into its own for men,” said Jason Pozner, a plastic surgeon in Boca Raton, Florida. “Men are much more aware of non- surgical products and they are much more amenable now to having things done. You are just as likely to see a man in my waiting room as a woman.”

Rates among women leveled off in 2007, with 10.6 million procedures. Women were most likely to get injections of Botox, used to smooth wrinkles, or breast implants, the survey found.

The biggest increase during the year was in buttocks augmentation, called a “Brazilian butt” for its popularity in the South American country, Pozner said. The number of such procedures more than doubled, with women being the patients in most cases, according to the report.

The five most common surgical procedures for men were liposuction, eyelid surgery, nose jobs, male breast reduction and hair transplants. Among women, the most popular were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, stomach surgery and breast reduction. Among non-surgical procedures, Botox, soft tissue fillers, laser hair removal and skin treatments were the most common in both groups.

Botox injections cost an average of $380, while breast implants were $4,000, buttock lifts were $5,000, liposuction was about $3,000 and nose jobs were $4,400. In all, Americans spent more than $13 billion on cosmetic surgery and less-invasive procedures last year, according to the report.

While injections of Botox remained the most popular treatment, the overall number of procedures with that drug fell 12.8 percent from 2006, the survey found.

The number of cheek implants also dropped, by more than 50 percent, as doctors and treatment providers used fillers instead, said Pozner, who serves on the advisory board for San Mateo, California-based BioForm Medical.

The Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has yet to publish any similar data, but we’ll be on the look out for it and any greater Toronto Area cosmetic clinics that cater specifically to men.

Finally, it is important for your surgeon and for yourself that you both understand each other and that you are seeking the same goals at the conclusion of your surgery. The better your communication prior to your surgery is, the better your results will be and the more satisfied you will be as a cosmetic surgery patient.

Returning a new couch or kitchen table because you don’t like the quality is one thing, but it’s a little bit harder to return a pair of breast implants. All too often in both breast reconstruction and breast augmentation (over 300,000 of which are performed per year) the patient is unsatisfied with the size or shape of their implant. So when I came across this story I was surprised and amazed at how far technology has come.

Adjustable implants have been gaining traction of late. The implant consists of a “port” that is left exposed after the implant is inserted (usually subcutaneously) under general anesthesia. Then the surgeon takes the patient in front of a mirror and inflates the implant to the desired size, and can adjust the implant over a period of weeks. Supposedly this can be used with skin stretching techniques to make a more natural “hourglass” shape.

The technology isn’t mindblowing, but a little more flexibility in a procedure is always appreciated by both patient and surgeon. It’s too bad that this type of implant is only available for saline implants, because silicone has a much more natural feel… or so we’ve heard.

News from Evera Medical, a Foster City, CA manufacturer of the facial saline-adjustable implant FulFil, is reporting that more than 670 of the devices have been implanted in the last two years with “no serious adverse events.” The company markets its implants under two names, with FulFil™ being an international product, which was issued the European CE Mark in April for “augmentation of facial soft tissue, including lip augmentation,” and in the US the device is called VeraFil™, and it was cleared by the FDA for “augmentation and reconstruction in and around the orbit of the eye,” according to Evera Medical.From FulFil implant is made up of a very thin compliant and porous membrane. This membrane is made of ePTFE, which is 50 microns in thickness and surrounds a silicone balloon that is filled with normal saline. The pores within the ePTFE membrane allow limited tissue incorporation without a fibrotic response often causing painful and rigid encapsulation of the implant. A patented ’slip plane’ technology allows full movement between the silicone balloon and the outer ePTFE layer, thereby contributing to discreet and limited tissue growth.

This novel technology is ideal for adding volume to the lips as flexibility and full animation of the mouth is maintained. Contrary to other implants made of thicker synthetic material, the lips remain full, soft and natural looking. Volume is added with normal saline to achieve the desired appearance.
Read the abstract study on the implants for additional information.

Information about Downtown Toronto & Cosmetic Surgeons

As our name implies we’re all about Toronto and Downtown Toronto is the heart of the City of Toronto. It is approximately bounded by Bloor Street (including areas slightly north of Bloor around Yonge Street) to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don River to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west.

Downtown has a large young and hip residential population. In recent years several large high-rise condominiums have sprung up throughout the area, catering to the growing number of people looking for a downtown lifestyle. So if you are new to the city or coming in for a cosmetic procedure, there are many hotels, restaurants and shopping districts to keep you occupied.

People

The major distinguishing feature of Toronto is of course its diverse population. Taking a walk downtown, you’ll hear dozens languages spoken. The predominant language used in most places is English, unless of course you explore the many ethnic neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy and GreekTown.

For visitors looking at a greater Toronto area cosmetic surgery clinic, you’ll find many options with several world class facilities and staffed by world class professionals.

Restaurants

Whether you’re Asian, Middle Eastern, African, European or South American, Toronto’s diversity will make you feel at home, and no other place is this more evident than in Toronto’s downtown core.

Explore the heart of one of the city’s many multi-cultural villages including Toronto’s where you’ll find restaurants, coffee shops, bars and upscale dining establishments.

Transportation

Your appointment with any downtown Toronto cosmetic surgeon will be easy to get to using Toronto’s excellent public transportation system. It’s very easy to navigate the downtown streets however taxis and limousines are easy to find.

Entertainment Options

Before leaving, be sure to visit the CN Tower, plan ahead and take in a play in the Theatre District, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) or one of the many private galleries along Harbourfront and Queen Street West.

Australian surgeons are planning human trials of a fat-growing technique that could revolutionize breast reconstructions and the treatment of congenital deformities and burns.

If the procedure proves successful, naturally produced body fat in future may replace collagen or other dermal fillers used in cosmetic surgery.

Initial human trials of the technique - in which fat can be stimulated to grow in specific areas of the body - could begin soon, according to Professor Wayne Morrison, director of the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery and head of surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital.

Professor Morrison’s team found that by inserting a small plastic chamber into pigs and mice and running blood vessels through it, fat spontaneously filled the box. In pigs, this natural fat production produced a fatty deposit the size of a small breast in just six weeks.

The researchers are unsure exactly how the fat is produced but know that the growth of fatty tissue does not depend on fat cells being used - in fact any tissue seems to do the trick.

“If you put even bits of kidney or bits of something else in there, fat still forms,” Professor Morrison said. “It turns out that the fat that forms is not actually from the fat you put in but it’s from the animal itself.

“The implanted bit of tissue you put in is just sending a signal to that animal to make its own fat. This has significant implications.”

In humans, the technique would eliminate scarring and the risk of rejection which occurs when implants or fat from other body parts are inserted.

Instead of patients undergoing major surgery, the technique would allow them to grow fat under their skin while they went about their daily lives. The fat could be used to fill body cavities caused by deformities or cancers and provide a platform for skin to grow on in victims of severe burns.

Professor Morrison said his team was almost ready to test the technique in humans. The trial had been delayed by the absence of a biodegradable chamber, which was still being developed by chemical engineers.

However, he said researchers would probably use a metal mesh box instead to test the technique in a breast reconstruction. The metal would be removed later.

“It would demonstrate proof of the principle,” he said. “We’ve done it in a pig and it should work the same way in a human.”

In a related development, researchers found that by stripping the cells from muscle and turning it into a jelly-like substance, they would be able to inject the material into tiny body cavities to stimulate fat growth.

The jelly material would create a space, similar to a chamber, allowing blood vessels to grow followed by fat cells. This would be more effective than injecting a patient’s own fat removed from another part of the body. Transplanted fat often dies or partly dissolves when injected, resulting in a lumpy appearance.

Professor Morrison will announce details of the research to 1100 plastic surgeons today when opening a four-day conference of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Scientists discover a fat lot of good

Melbourne researchers are pursuing two methods of inducing fat growth on specific body sites. The first, favoured for large volumes of fat, involves inserting a plastic chamber containing fatty tissue attached to blood vessels.

The second method involves injecting a gel to create a space and adding tissue - muscle, liver or kidney. This prompts blood vessels to invade, followed by new cells probably derived from bone marrow as stem cells. These then turn into fat cells.

Researchers hope the fat could be used as a natural filler for breast and other reconstructions and in cosmetic surgery.

U.S. drug regulators are re-evaluating the safety of Botox, best known as a wrinkle treatment, based on reports of serious ill effects, including several deaths among children taking Botox or a related drug.

In a public alert issued Friday, the Food and Drug Administration said Botox, along with a similar drug called Myobloc, has been linked to life-threatening symptoms such as strained breathing and severe difficulty in swallowing, which can lead to a form of pneumonia. The FDA is advising doctors to monitor patients for such reactions while it decides whether to strengthen warnings on the drugs’ labels.

Many of the most serious reactions - deaths and hospitalizations - occurred among children treated for cerebral palsy-associated limb spasticity, the agency said. The drugs are not FDA-approved for that use in children or adults.

FDA-approved drugs often have off-label uses, where physicians take medications approved for one disease to treat another. This practice often benefits patients and drug manufacturers, but can increase risks.

The cosmetic use of Botox has made it one of the most recognized names in the pharmaceutical industry and a pop culture bellwether in a nation that defies aging. Manufacturer Allergan Inc. estimates it will yield as much as $1.4 billion in 2008.

Botox and Myobloc are each forms of a toxin produced by bacteria that can paralyze muscles and lead to botulism, a fatal food poisoning. But in small amounts, the injected toxins can calm muscle spasms. A third product, Botox Cosmetic, is FDA-approved to improve the appearance of wrinkles between the eyebrows.

The FDA said case reports under review suggest that the toxin may migrate from the point of injection more commonly than had been believed, and can cause symptoms of botulism. That danger had already been recognized on the drugs’ labels, but only in patients treated for neuromuscular disorders.

“FDA now has evidence that similar, potentially life-threatening systemic toxicity from the use of botulinum toxin products can also result after local injection in patients with other underlying conditions,” the agency report said. The serious symptoms were seen “following treatment of a variety of conditions using a wide range of botulinum toxin doses.”

The drug watchdog group Public Citizen, which petitioned the FDA in January to issue broad warnings about Botox and Myobloc, said the agency’s alert does too little to protect patients.

“It’s not enough that the FDA publicly acknowledges the risk of using botulinum toxin; in fact, the agency did this much in a published article three years ago,” said Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. The organization wants the FDA to label the products with a “black box” warning - the agency’s strongest form of warning. It also wants warning letters sent to individual doctors, as well as written guides that would be handed to patients each time they receive an injection.

Botox and Botox Cosmetic are products of Allergan Inc. of Irvine. Botox is approved for spasms of the eyelids, cervical dystonia or severe neck muscle spasms, and excess sweating. Myobloc, made by Solstice Neurosciences Inc. of South San Francisco, is approved for the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia.

Both Solstice and Allergan said the FDA announcement is not a final verdict on their drugs’ side effects. Such “early communications” are issued with the advisory: “Posting this information does not mean that FDA has concluded there is a causal relationship between the drug products and the emerging safety issue.”

Allergan said serious symptoms in the cases discussed by the FDA usually occurred when patients received higher doses, rather than the small amounts used in cosmetic injections.

“Since its approval, over a million people have been treated with Botox Cosmetic. In its entire history, there has never been a single reported death where a causal link to Botox Cosmetic was established,” said Dr. Sef Kurstjens, Allergan’s chief medical officer.

Shares in Allergan dropped nearly 6 percent to close at $63.30 on Friday. Solstice isn’t publicly traded.

The FDA did not disclose how many deaths occurred in the cases under its review, but said none were adults. Some adults with serious symptoms were hospitalized.

In its petition to the FDA, Public Citizen said its own review of serious side effects reported to drug regulators turned up 180 cases where patients had trouble swallowing, inhaled food into their lungs or developed pneumonia. Of those 180, 16 died, including four children, the organization said. Public Citizen counted 12 deaths among adults.