As you probably already know, SmartLipo differs from traditional liposuction in many ways. Some differences include the use of local instead of general anesthetic, extremely minimal scarring, and laser-assisted melting of unwanted fatty tissue. Yet another advantage of SmartLipo is that the laser can actually stimulate collagen production to help skin retract and repair itself after surgery, resulting in less unattractive loose skin.

Many patients have legitimate concerns about how their skin will react to liposculpture. As with any weight loss, particularly rapid weight loss, sagging and an overstretched appearance can occur. SmartLipo's ability to stimulate collagen can help prevent this problem, but there are many simple steps you can take before and after laser fat removal to help improve your skin's elasticity and ability to heal itself. As an added bonus, most of these tips are essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general.

4 Steps to Getting Better Skin Right Now

1. Drink lots of water

When skin is dehydrated, it has a harder time adapting to sudden changes. Skin is an organ, and all organs need plenty of water to function properly. Drinking enough water is crucial to your overall health, and aids in weight loss as well.

2. Protect your skin

Chemicals can dry skin out, so be sure to use plenty of natural moisturizers. Products such as shea or cocoa butter can help improve the look, feel, and health of your skin. Protect your skin from the sun by wearing clothing that covers sensitive skin and using sunscreen. Avoid harsh soap, overly hot water, and other irritants.

3. Eat the right foods

You hear this tip everywhere. Why? Because good food makes you feel good, and nourishes your body properly, so it can look and work its best. Foods such as nuts, fish, eggs, fruit, vegetables, brown rice, flax, and beans can help give your skin the health it needs to bounce back after SmartLipo.

4. Exercise!

Getting your blood pumping can help bring nutrients to your skin that are essential for improving skin elasticity.

The Bottom Line:

Though some factors are out of your control (such as your age and current skin condition), you can make yourself a better candidate for surgery by taking care of your skin and giving it the best possible chance for success after surgery. Best of luck!

Gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement, is a condition that causes an embarrassing condition where the male breasts grow to much larger than normal and can even take on female-like characteristics.

For many decades now, men and teens with the condition have searched high and low for magic pills, exercises, and dietary changes that may give them the relief they are looking for so desperately.

Unfortunately, there are so many different ideas and theories out there that getting a reliable answer can prove nearly impossible these days, especially with the prospect of getting 7 million search results in Google!

According to the National Institutes of Health, gynecomastia can be caused by medications, hormones that occur at certain ages (especially in teens), or the use of illegal drugs such as bodybuilding steroids or marijuana.

In an article on Livestrong.com, there are several exercises described as being beneficial to reducing the signs of gynecomastia in male breasts. They describe exercises that work the upper, mid, and lower pectoral muscles as being the best types of exercises to get rid of man boobs.

So, will bench presses, decline push-ups, cable flys, or iso chest squeezes get rid of this life-altering condition? Many medical doctors say no.

When it comes to breast growth in men, the reason almost always is too much estrogen in the body. This can unfortunately be caused by a myriad of issues, but most commonly the reasons are as follows:

• Medications for another condition such as prostate enlargement, anxiety, as well as meds for kidney or liver failure.
• Steroids for bodybuilding.
• Marijuana, methadone, or meth-amphetamines.
• Lack of testosterone production (hormone imbalance).
• Chemotherapy.

Dr. Emmanuel Asare has been treating gynecomastia in bodybuilders, teens, and men for about a decade. In his experience as both a cosmetic physician and Board Certified Internist, whether or not the gynecomastia will go away on its own largely depends upon each individual patient.

In teens who have the condition, for example,  may have had the condition for at least a year before they come in to seek help. If their hormone levels check out and they are left with the physical remnants of a resolved case of gynecomastia, surgery is an excellent option.

In bodybuilders who have been taking steroids and now have an imbalance of estrogen vs testosterone, his first advice is to stop taking the steroids immediately and wait about 6 months. Doing exercises to "cure" the enlarged breasts will actually make them stand out more with each muscle-building chest exercise the athlete performs.

In men or teens who have no hormonal issues, are not on any medications, and have not taken steroids or illegal drugs, the most likely cause is what Dr. Asare describes as "pseudogynecomastia", or false gynecomastia.

In those cases, the enlarged breasts are due to too much body fat which can actually cause more estrogen to flow in the body than a person of normal body weight. In these cases only doe she recommend a diet (to lose weight) and weight training exercises, such as those mentioned above, to cure the condition.

For the very best, most expert care from a trusted surgeon with a decade of experience, call Dr. Asare today at 212.206.0023, 631.499.1831, or visit his website today at http://GynecomastiaNewYork.net.