Dr. Mentz's Latest Advances in Plastic Surgery

Dr. Mentz, a founding partner at Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery has partnered with Dr. Amado Ruiz to advance the science of plastic surgery. Dr. Ruiz is a full time board certified plastic surgeon dedicated solely to research. He and Dr. Mentz have published and presented more than 80 papers and presentations in more than 10 countries since 2003. Recent topics can be reviewed in the articles below:

Research on Exparel® long lasting anesthetic for reduced pain and recovery time in Breast Augmentation procedures, 2013

Follow their work on Experal’s use in Tummy Tucks, the physicians of ACPS were given a research grant to evaluate the product’s use for Breast Augmentation recovery.

Research on Exparel® long lasting anesthetic for reduced pain and recovery time in Tummy Tuck procedures, 2012

Exparel® is a break out product that is changing the face of abdominoplasty surgery. Once the most difficult cosmetic procedure due to the pain and recovery time, tummy tucks are much more manageable thanks to this long-lasting, local analgesic that controls pain for up to 72 hours after surgery. It decreases the need for prescription narcotics, lowering the risk of opioid abuse. Additionally, Exparel® simultaneously reduces recovery time and get patients back on their feet faster, promoting blood flow and faster healing. Dr. Mentz and his colleagues presented the groundbreaking research on the product at the ASAPS Aesthetic Meeting in March 2013.

Brazilian Buttock Lift and Enhancement through Power Assisted Fat Grafting, 2008-2010

Dr. Mentz has improved techniques for buttock lifts or the “Brazilian butt lift” by creating a new instrument for grafting. This technique allows for increased fullness with less operative time and anesthesia. The typical event takes about one hour and utilizes from 1000 to 2400 ccs of fat grafts into the buttock. This grafting technique has allowed for beautiful rounded buttocks with minimal bruising.

New Advances in Abdominal Etching® and Pectoral Etching®, 2004-2005

Since introducing Abdominal Etching in 1993, Dr. Mentz has also presented improved techniques for soft etching, used for females and less muscular men, and pectoral etching, used for defining a more muscular appearance in the male chest.

Better Facelifts 2004-2005

Dr. Mentz and Dr. Ruiz have lectured extensively and await publication of their paper outlining advanced techniques for facelifting. They measured internal tensions and movement of facial soft tissues (the jowls) during facelifts in order to define the best techniques. Their findings suggested a special midface manouver can greatly improve lifting in the cheek.

New Uses for Radiesse 2005

Dr. Mentz and Dr. Ruiz will present this year several special uses for Radiesse. Radiesse is FDA approved for wrinkle filling, but new used for facial skeletal refinement and reconstruction are being introduced by the two doctors. Bony defects in the brow, nasal asymmetry, small chins and other assorted subtle defects were improved with a simple injection.

Reduced Pain in Tummy Tucks with pain pump, 2003-2005

Dr. Mentz and Dr. Ruiz introduced the use of the pain pump in abdominoplasty in 2003. The pain pump uses local anesthetic to numb the tummy for 5 to 6 days after surgery and reduced substantially the amount of pain medicine necessary and patients were out of bed twice as fast. This was a great advance in abdominoplasty because it reduces pain, patients were less dependent on pain medicines, and were out of bed quicker. These things greatly reduce the risks and improve safety for this operation.

Research on Isolagen Fibroblasts for Wrinkle Treatment 2002-2004

Dr. Mentz was the only US plastic surgeon who performed the phase II and III FDA studies for the use of Isolagen. Isolagen is an advanced technique which uses the patient’s own live fibroblasts for wrinkle filling. The produce awaits final FDA approval in the US, but is available in Europe presently.

Dr. Mentz's Ideas and Innovations

In his 22 years of professional practice, Dr. Mentz has been commissioned to write five textbook chapters on Facelifts, Liposuction, Abdominal Etching®, Fat Metabolism and Safety in Surgery. He has also written and published over 150 presentations, publications and articles on innovations in plastic surgery.

Publications and presentations for Body Contouring

Invented and first to perform and publish “Abdominal Etching,” liposculpture of the six pack, 1992 and published in 1993
Invented “Modified Abdominal Etching” for the athletic abdomen, presented in 1995
Body contouring with liposuction, 1995, 1996 and 1999
Improved Safety in Large Liposuctions, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006
Invented new “Single Puncture Gynecomastia Reduction,” eliminating the visible scar, 2004 and published in 2007
Invented and first to perform “Pectoral Muscle Etching” for men, 2004 and published in 2007
Invented fat grafts to erase the “Bra Strap Groove,” 2004 and published 2007
Improved Safety in Private Surgery Centers, 2001
First to publish “Local Anesthetic Pain Pumps in Abdominoplasty” for reduced recovery and improved safety with tummy tucks, published in 2004
Fat grafting for Morphea (advanced scleroderma), the cell advantage, 2006
A safer approach for Breast Lifts with Implants, presented in 2007
Ongoing research to use cells from liposuction

Publications and presentations for Facial Refinement

Elegance in Structure Rhinoplasty, presented in 1992
No scar weekend Facial Rejuvenation, presented in 1996
New Endoscopic approaches to Facelifts, presented in 1997
Minimal incision Facelift, “the cutting edge”, presented in 1999
Youthful eyes with scarless procedures, presented in 2001
Improved Facelift Strategies, better SMAS lifting, published in 2004
Teaching international courses for browlifts, facelifts, and necklifts, 2004
Research with Isolagen, fibroblasts to remove wrinkles, presented in 2004 and 2005
Introduced the “Liquid Facelift,” layering Botox, Restylane, and Radiesse, 2005

Publications, Presentations, and Book Chapters

Dr. Mentz’s has presented these articles and publications at national and international meetings for plastic surgery in the last 20 years. Highlights include:

Maximizing Facelift Results

This technique developed by Dr. Mentz, maximizes the lift of midface soft tissues, the jowl and cheek fat, to restore a more youthful cheek contour and jawline. Dr. Mentz also teaches at national and international meetings on brow, face and necklifts. Presented in Houston, Austin, Mexico City, Cancun, Monterrey, Colombia, and Vancouver and was published in 2004. Textbook chapter on the facelift published in Operative Plastic Surgery in 2001.

Liquid Facelifts

Special combinations of clinic injectables like Botox, Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, fat and topical creams can be used to achieve youthfulness without surgery. Presented in Dallas, Puerto Vallarta, Saudi Arabia, India, Guatemala, Bangkok, Vera Cruz, Seville and Chile.

Fat Grafts and Cells

Dr. Mentz has assisted or developed several new procedures in this new and exciting area of plastic surgery. These include fibroblast injections for wrinkle reduction, fat grafts for more full and round buttocks, fat grafts used to erase bra strap grooves, fat and cell grafting to improve skin in scleroderma patients, and fat grafts for facial rejuvenation. These have been presented in Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Mazatlan, Guatamala, Buenos Aries, Lima, Valencia, Shanghai, Bangkok and Saudi Arabia with several publications in 2004, 2006, and 2007.

Abdominal Etching

A technique originally invented by Dr. Mentz utilizing liposculpture contouring to achieve the athletic abdomen (six pack) for men. Introduced in 1993 and presented in Houston, New York City, San Diego, New Orleans, Guatemala, Grand Cayman, Paris, Seville, Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Puerto Vallarta and Saudi Arabia. First article published in 1993.

Male Body Contouring

Adding to the technique of Ab Etching, Dr. Mentz has refined contouring techniques for men with many new sculpting techniques, presented in Houston, Philadelphia, Honolulu, Vera Cruz, and Valencia, Spain. Article published in 2006 and text chapter in 2007.

Pectoral Etching

Another new technique for torso sculpting developed, which contours the male chest to enhance muscular detail, presented in San Antonio, Guadalajara, Buenos Aires, and Mazatlan. Published in 2007.

Smallest Scar Gynecomastia Removal

A new procedure developed for men to remove breast glandular tissue through the smallest incision. Presented in Houston, Mexico City, Mazatlan, Buenos Aires, Colombia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and China. Published in 2007.

New Liposuction Techniques

New technology continues to improve liposuction results and recovery. Dr. Mentz has pioneered many new techniques and evaluates new technologies. His results have been presented in Houston, Boston, Orlando, Cancun, Buenos Aires, Paris, Vienna, Seville, Saudia Arabia, and India. Text chapter in 2007.

Reduced Pain and Recovery for Tummy Tucks

Dr. Mentz was the first to research and publish the use of a local anesthetic device for reducing pain and recovery for tummy tucks. Presented in Vienna, Chicago, Saudi Arabia, Vera Cruz, New Orleans, India, Guadalajara, Guatemala, Philadelphia, Austin, Houston, Colombia, and Canada. Published in 2004.

Safety in Aesthetic Surgery

All of the members of Dr. Mentz’s group have focused on safety for their patients and have developed special criteria to improve safety in the operating room and for recovery. Dr. Mentz has taken part in surgicenter safety and inspection teams in Houston and elsewhere and helped develop strategies for improved safety. These strategies have been presented in Houston, San Antonio, Mexico City, Colombia, Vancouver, Colombia and Bangkok. Chapter in 2002, 2007 and articles published in 2004 and 2006.

Breast Implants

Training with the inventors of breast implants and participating with implant research teams has given Dr. Mentz insight into the best strategies for his patients desiring expertise in breast enhancement. Presented in Mexico City and Buenos Aires with ongoing projects in progress.

Leading the Country

The Aesthetic Center of Plastic Surgery, with its expertise in aesthetic surgery and research team, has a leading role in the world of plastic surgery. Its ideas that have allowed for the growing of specialized aesthetic practices, pioneering private research and for improving the experience for each patient have attracted the attention of many countries plastic surgeons. ACPS has been asked to share its group’s principles and ideals on podiums in more than 12 countries. Our common goal is to work together to find new ways to make plastic surgery better, safer and more comfortable for our patients and the patients of our peers.

Latest Advances

Dr. Mentz's Latest Advances in Plastic Surgery

Dr. Mentz's Ideas and Innovations

Publications, Presentations, and Book Chapters

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