Testimonials

Dr. Stevens’ Body Contouring

Like many of the patients he serves, Dr. Grant Stevens, Medical Director of Marina Plastic Surgery Associates, also has aspects of his appearance that he would like to improve. He offers several procedures for body contouring, one of the latest being CoolSculpting™ by ZELTIQ™. This Los Angeles plastic surgeon was so excited about the results of this treatment that he decided to try it for himself!

Firsthand Experience

“I wanted to try CoolSculpting because I was seeing very satisfying results from my patients, and frankly, I had some pesky love handles that I’d been thinking of treating for some time,” explains Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Stevens. “Another benefit of having a treatment myself is that it helps me connect with the patients who choose it, because I have that firsthand knowledge and experience.”

Many of Dr. Stevens’ CoolSculpting patients saw noticeable results from the treatment, which helped spark his interest. Dr. Stevens states, “I thought, ‘I’m seeing great results for my patients. The treatment is completely noninvasive and safe, so why not try it out and see for myself?'”

The Treatment

CoolSculpting works by chilling fat cells to a temperature just above freezing. The cold destroys the fat cells without harming other cells in the treatment area. The body then removes the targeted fat cells through its own natural cleansing process. The treatment is cleared by the FDA for noninvasive fat reduction – no needles, surgery or downtime are required. “I had two cycles performed on my love handles– one on each side,” Dr. Stevens recalls. “Each cycle lasted only an hour, and I was able to catch up on some medical journal articles during that time.”

While the treatment wasn’t necessarily relaxing, he explains that it wasn’t as uncomfortable as it might seem. “Some people who hear about this treatment and come in for a consultation are expecting there’s a catch – that it’s too good to be true and must be very painful or something,” says Dr. Stevens. “But I’ve found CoolSculpting to be one of the most comfortable body contouring treatments available at my Los Angeles practice. I know that from personal experience and from the feedback of my patients. It is not painful and there’s really no catch – just the potential for significant, satisfying results.”

Following Up

To maximize results, most people choosing CoolSculpting will need 2 to 3 treatments separated by a 2 to 4 month time period. Dr. Stevens received his first treatment in May, and had a second treatment in September. However, he began to notice significant results even after his first CoolSculpting session.

“I had already seen a difference in how my clothes were fitting before I received my second CoolSculpting treatment,” says Dr. Stevens. “I noticed a significant volume decrease in the treated areas, and that’s pretty impressive considering I had no surgery or downtime. I am excited to see how the results of the second treatment will help me slim down further in the months ahead.”

Todd’s Breast Reduction

Todd, like many men across America, struggled with gynecomastia (an enlarged, feminine breast appearance) in his teen years. This condition, commonly occurring during puberty, can make many teens self-conscious about their appearance.

“I was in great shape as a teenager – I started playing football at age 12,” says Todd, now 22. “But even though I worked out a lot, I couldn’t seem to lose the fat in my chest. I’d lift weights and exercise, but never got the muscle definition to show for my efforts.”

At the age of 16, after struggling with “man boobs” for several years, Todd decided to talk with a Los Angeles plastic surgeon to see what could be done.

“A couple of my friends thought I was crazy to be thinking about surgery, but they didn’t know what it was like,” adds Todd. “I was frustrated and discouraged, and in hindsight, talking with a surgeon was so important for me.”

His Consultation

Todd scheduled a visit to Marina Plastic Surgery Associates in Los Angeles to talk about male breast reduction with Dr. Grant Stevens. “I came prepared with questions,” says Todd, “including whether I could really have normal-looking pecs, how much pain I was going to have, and whether I’d be able to keep playing football. Dr. Stevens reassured me that gynecomastia surgery could give me the manly chest I was looking for, and that my football days certainly wouldn’t be over.”

What Dr. Stevens also told him was that it’s important to wait until a patient’s growth spurt has stopped before scheduling surgery. “Sometimes gynecomastia will resolve itself after a few years, and sometimes the fat won’t budge, so Dr. Stevens asked me to wait it out and we made sure in the meantime I was doing everything I could to reduce the fat on my chest.”

After the Wait

Todd visited with Dr. Stevens again when he was 18, and at that point, with all his other options exhausted, Todd was sure that it was time for surgery. Dr. Stevens agreed. The surgery was scheduled and went off without a hitch. “By that point it was clear that my body wasn’t going to change dramatically on its own and it was time for the procedure. It was performed outpatient, so I was in and out the same day.”

Smooth Recovery and Significant Results

Todd was sent home with a few bandages and some over the counter pain medication. “It took me only a few days to recover, but it was probably about 3 months before I really felt comfortable in my own skin again,” says Todd. “There was a tight feeling in my chest that I didn’t expect, and it took awhile to get used to looking down and seeing my pecs, rather than fat and flab. My incisions healed quickly and now I challenge people to find the scars – they can’t.”

Todd had a few follow-up visits to Marina Plastic Surgery, and each time he was greeted with a warm welcome. “Everyone at the practice, they go above and beyond, and their level of respect for me was just always so clear. I appreciated that, along with of course the excellent results from Dr. Stevens.”

A Word to Other Guys with Gynecomastia

Todd has a few thoughts to share with other teens and adult men who are considering breast reduction surgery. “First of all, don’t listen to anyone else – do what feels comfortable for you. And be sure to choose a skilled surgeon. I was a little scared to have surgery on my chest. This is a sensitive area and you want an experienced surgeon. But most of all, stick with it if you’re considering surgery. It’s shocking how happy I am with my results and the boost to my self confidence really is almost too good to be true.”