As her 60th birthday was rapidly approaching, Andrea looked for a reason to celebrate. What better way than with a party? But, she wanted to look great for that big event. "Since my face looked fantastic after Dr. Wang's chemical peel," she recalls, "I knew I could count on him to perk up my neck and upper arms. My chin reminded me of a bullfrog and there were pouches of fat above my elbows." As a retired airline employee, Andrea enjoys traveling with the friends she's made across the country. She was determined to keep herself looking as vibrant and youthful as she felt.

My chin reminded me of a bullfrog and there were pouches of fat above
my elbows.

No Need for Neck Lift Surgery

"I went for a consult with Dr. Wang to find out about getting a neck lift," said Andrea. "But, he talked me out of surgery. He told me I wasn't there yet." Andrea appreciated how Dr. Wang wasn't pushy about doing surgical procedures. "He wanted to do what's right for me, not what would bring in the most money." Instead of neck lift surgery, Dr. Wang suggested laser liposuction in Pasadena with his new AccuSculpt™ system. Because this new technology can tighten skin as well as remove unwanted fat, it was the perfect way to improve the appearance of Andrea's neck and her arms.

Dr. Wang performed Andrea's procedure in his office using injections of local anesthesia, as he does with the majority of laser liposuction patients from Pasadena to Riverside, California. "The procedure itself I don't regret," Andrea explains, "it's just that I'm squeamish around needles. I felt OK for the neck procedure, but when he got to my arms I felt terrible. I was so nauseous," she recalls. "His staff was really sweet to me through the whole thing and I got through it. But, if I could do it over again, I'd choose to be asleep."

Easy Recovery

After she returned home the day of her procedure, Andrea took pain medication only for the first day or two. "The areas felt sore to the touch, but otherwise I felt fine," she said. She returned to Dr. Wang's office at regular intervals so he could verify that she was healing properly. "One of the best things about Dr. Wang is his follow-up care. He put my mind at ease by seeing me often and letting me know that I was healing properly."

When it comes to laser liposuction, I'm a believer.

Although Dr. Wang had explained that the skin tightening could take some time, Andrea was shocked with her appearance initially. "The first week after surgery, I freaked out. The fat was gone from my arms, but they looked like bat wings." While wearing compression wraps continuously, each week the loose skin tightened, looking better and better. "The outcome is great," she said. "You just have to be patient."

Results Worth the Wait

The day of her special birthday party Andrea felt as wonderful as she looked. "People ask if I've lost weight and they say I look younger. I think I look better overall, but still natural." She is also thrilled with being able to expose her arms again. "It had been 15 years since I'd worn any top with sleeves that came above the elbow. When I went on a recent trip to Hawaii with the girls, I went sleeveless. When it comes to laser liposuction, I'm a believer," says Andrea.