Computer Imaging Makes Results Visible Before Surgery

    NEW ORLEANS, LA, July 25, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For patients considering breast augmentation or liposuction in New Orleans, Dr. Michele Cooper, a board-certified plastic surgeon, is using a new tool to help them envision their after-surgery selves.

This new tool is VECTRA, a special computer program that can create three-dimensional photographic representations of a person and then adjust those images to show how the person's face or body will likely look after any one of a number of cosmetic surgery procedures.

"I do a lot of breast augmentation for New Orleans women," Dr. Cooper says, "and that's one of the places where I see VECTRA being the most helpful. The hardest part of the breast enhancement process for many women is deciding exactly how large they want their breasts to be. There's often a fear that they might overdo it.

"With VECTRA, they can see simulated photos of themselves with a variety of different sizes and shapes of breasts. This helps them make more confident decisions and allows them to enter into the surgical process being more self-assured."

After taking photos of the patient to use in the imaging process, Dr. Cooper takes several measurements and assesses the patient's level of skin elasticity. This provides the VECTRA program with the information it needs to create precise, customized images. Then, Dr. Cooper and the patient can look at the 3-D images together, discuss various options and decide on a specific surgical plan.

Dr. Cooper can also use the VECTRA system when planning a liposuction procedure with a patient.

"It can create pictures of any part of the body, so we can focus in on the targeted area and get a good representation of how the patient's contours will be changed by liposuction," Dr. Cooper says. "It's exciting to see how much difference a little bit of contouring will make, and it creates something tangible for the patient to look forward to."

Dr. Cooper is known as one of the outstanding New Orleans plastic surgeons who take time to sit down with her patients and discuss all possible options to ensure that the patient's wants and needs will be fulfilled. She offers a full range of cosmetic procedures as well as post-bariatric surgery.

As a woman and a plastic surgeon, she brings a unique perspective to her work and understands the special concerns that women have when they are considering cosmetic procedures. Her kind and compassionate nature creates a soothing environment that makes her patients feel comfortable and confident.

"Cosmetic surgery shouldn't be a stressful event," she says. "It should be a happy, rewarding one."

Dr. Michele Cooper is a board-certified New Orleans plastic surgeon who performs cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures ranging from breast enlargement and liposuction to face lift, combination procedures and noninvasive treatments for the body and skin. After earning her medical degree from University of Maryland Medical School, Dr. Cooper completed residencies in general surgery and plastic surgery as well as a fellowship in craniofacial surgery. She has received numerous awards for her work and serves a full range of patients from her New Orleans plastic surgery offices.

Website: http://www.michelecoopermd.com

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