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Silicone Breast Implants Approved by FDA A much anticipated decision was made by the FDA to grant approval of silicone breast implants for widespread use in patients 22 years of age and older. Since 1992 silicone breast implants were only available to patients under certain indications including breast cancer, severe deformities, and those needing a breast lift. The newer "cohesive" implants have a thicker silicone gel which reduces the chances of leaking and silicone bleed. Dr. Martin expects to see an increase in the number of silicone breast augmentations due to the recent FDA approval. "In Europe where silicone breast implants are available, 90% of patients choose silicone over saline," states Dr. Martin. With a 10 year experience of using silicone breast implants, Dr. Martin believes they result in a softer, more natural appearing breast with less rippling and distortion. For more information on the FDA decision call our office or go to www.mentorcorp.com or www.allerganandinamed.com. Can Your Hands Reveal Your Age? Ever wonder how old somebody really is? Try looking at their hands. According to a recent study published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal, most people can accurately tell a person's age by viewing only their hands. After the face, hands are the second most visible, tell-tale sign of one's age according to the article. Wrinkled, thin skin, wasting between the knuckles, and unsightly veins, tendons, and bones contribute to an aged appearance. If your goal is to look more youthful or you are bothered by the appearance of your hands, you may seriously want to consider hand rejuvenation. Options for hand rejuvenation include lasers and chemical peels, sclerotherapy, and fat grafting. Fat grafting of the hands can be performed in-office or in combination with a liposuction procedure. Complications are rare and recovery usually takes 2-3 weeks. Patient satisfaction is very high and results can be permanent. Over the next decade, expect to see significant increases in the number of hand rejuvenation procedures. Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Say "No" One of the most common questions patients ask regarding breast enlargement is “can I have my breasts enlarged using my own fat?” I emphatically answer “no” as this procedure has been condemned by several plastic surgery societies. The concern over this procedure is the inability to distinguish fat necrosis from breast cancer on a mammogram. This could lead to biopsies and unnecessary removal of the breasts. It now appears that continuing advances in technology may validate this procedure as a legitimate way to increase the size of the breasts. In a small clinical study (25 patients) in Florida, patients underwent fat grafting of the breasts to find out if large quantities of fat could survive. MRI scans were performed 3-6 months after the procedure and showed up to 95% of the transplanted fat had survived. Furthermore, radiologists were able to differentiate fat necrosis from early cancer cells on the MRI scan. Despite enthusiasm for this procedure, the author of the study does not think fat grafting will replace breast implants because of the increased time required for fat grafting and because many women will not have sufficient donor fat. I believe legal issues will also prevent this procedure from being accepted. So for now and in the near future, it appears that breast implants are the only legitimate way to enlarge your breasts. So many wonderful new products are now available at our office. Keep in mind that we only sell products that either restore, correct or prevent skin issues. Our staff members personally try every product, to evaluate its use. That includes the smell, feel and most importantly the effectiveness. We strive for honesty about how long you can expect the product to last with normal use. For people on the run, and those who work out and need a quick freshen up, Citrix Antioxidant Cleansing Pads are amazing. They have a tangerine-like fragrance, and no water is needed. For 30 pads, the cost is only $17.00. Kinerase lovers, we have a Kinerase Travel kit which includes Cleanser, lotion, C-Peptide Intensive Treatment and Intensive Eye Cream. Cost is $99.00 and I expect it should last 4-6 months. Sunscreens need to be turned up a notch in the summer during all the outdoor activities people enjoy. We have the SkinCeuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 45 for those who want a water proof, sweat resistant sunprotection. This is a large tube that costs only $34.00 and should last at least one whole season. As always, we carry the Tan Towels Plus which have no dyes, no nasty smell and does not stain. Their effectiveness is based on the absorbtion with the proteins and sugar in your skin. There is no smudging and you can apply it right before you go to sleep if desired. They sell for $24.00 for 10 pads. Acne patients are probably the most frustrated individuals that seek my advice. A revolutionary kit has resulted in many ecstatic patients (read the testimonials from a few). Solvere 4-step Acne Clearing System sells for $43.00 and is easy and lasts about two months. Your plastic surgeon agrees that you would benefit from a cosmetic procedure. You feel that you are not ready for that “major” surgery yet. You are not alone. Last year over 8.4 million patients choose minimally invasive procedures over more major surgeries. Botox, wrinkle fillers, microdermabrasion, sclerotherapy, and non-invasive skin treatments round out the top 5 most popular procedures. And with ongoing research into mesotherapy, new lasers, and threadlifting the market for minimally invasive surgery continues to grow. So if you're afraid of the knife... Are You Living on the "Fringe"? Ever consider buttock implants? How about Vaginal rejuvenation? Or even calf or pectoral implants? If you have then you may be living on the "fringe" according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. While these procedures have been touted in the media as "hot new procedures", the reality may be different then the hype. "These trendy new procedures that are supposedly all the rage around the country, simply are not being performed in large numbers" according to the president of the ASPS. So if you want a "fringe" procedure, make sure your plastic surgeon has experience in your particular surgery. Alternatives also exist for some of the procedures. For example, fat grafting can be used instead of implants in the buttock and calf regions. Don’t be afraid of Botox – it’s extremely safe. You probably have heard by now of the Botox poisoning in Florida. A local MD (not a plastic surgeon) injected several patients including himself with a generic botulinum toxin. This was not the brand name product (Botox Cosmetic) that everybody else uses. The problem with his injections was an incorrect dilution resulting in a very potent concentration that lead to transient paralysis. Eventually the toxin was degraded but the patients required a ventilator for adequate breathing. With one of the largest Botox practices in the Tristate, be confident that Dr. Martin uses only the brand name Botox (Botox Cosmetic) in his patients. Fat grafting – Old fashion treatment or cutting edge therapy? When it comes to soft tissue augmentation, no product has a better track record than fat. Introduced soon after liposuction was perfected, fat grafting has been the gold standard in facial soft tissue augmentation, hand rejuvenation, and body enhancement. Now with the introduction of successful products such as Restylane, Radiesse, and Sculptra, fat is being used less often. However, some plastic surgeons now believe that fat cells can differentiate into new skin cells, which will rejuvenate the skin. This was noted in fat grafted patients who had improvement of scarring and better skin texture. It now appears that fat grafting has once again become cutting edge technology. Everyone asks "What can I do to improve the healing of my scars". There are many products that claim to improve scarring but very little clinical proof that they actually work. The simplest and least expensive way to improve scarring is to place paper tape directly over the scar and leave it in place over the next 3-6 months. The tape exerts pressure on the scar and produces a constant "massage" which will flatten the scar and improve the appearance of the final scar. A New Wrinkle for Stretch Marks New data published in the most recent issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal suggests the possibility of predicting which patients will develop stretch marks. Great! Just what you wanted to know! And even better there is no real treatment for stretch marks other than surgical removal. Don’t waste your money on creams, lotions, skin treatments, or laser therapy as they are all ineffective. The good news is this research may lead to effective treatments which may prevent the development of stretch marks in patients who are predisposed. One can only hope. To view this article, go to www.surgery.org. Herbal Supplements, a Smoking Gun in Plastic Surgery Do you take any medications? This is a question every plastic surgeon will ask you prior to performing your surgery. But how many patients consider herbal supplements to be a type of medication? Many herbal supplements can cause serious side effects and complications and as many as 55 percent of all plastic surgery patients take these supplements. During surgery, chondroiton can cause bleeding, ephedra leads to cardiac problems, echinacea leads to poor wound healing, and glucosamine can cause hypoglycemia. Ask your surgeon for a complete list of herbal products and their side effects. Remember, it is best to stop all herbal medications 2-4 weeks prior to surgery. For further information on herbal supplements, go to www.plasticsurgery.org. Now that the first partial face transplant has been successfully performed in France, American plastic surgeons are preparing for a full facial transplantation. A recent article in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports a comprehensive scientific study outlining the steps necessary for a full face transplant. I think this type of procedure will be well received and beneficial for selected patients. I don't understand all the criticism toward this procedure. In order to be a candidate for a face transplant, all other reconstructive options will need to be exhausted. Did you know that the first kidney transplant in 1954 was performed by a plastic surgeon? Expect more news on this subject in the next year. Women's Self-Image and Sexual Satisfaction Increase After Cosmetic Surgery I knew this would grab your attention! This study was published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in February and revealed plastic surgery patients felt better about their bodies and had higher degrees of satisfaction with their sex lives. This sounds like good common sense research to me. The greatest benefits were seen in women who had breast augmentation/breast lift and/or body contouring procedures. The other interesting finding was that partners of plastic surgery patients also reported increased sexual satisfaction. Over 11.5 million cosmetic surgery procedures (surgical and nonsurgical) were performed in 2005. This represents a 222% increase since 1997! The most frequently performed procedure was Botox (surprise!) and the most popular surgical procedure was liposuction. Probably the fastest growing area of plastic surgery would be post-bariatric plastic surgery. This is due to the large numbers of gastric bypass surgeries being performed. Post-bariatric plastic surgery procedures include tummy tuck, bodylift, thighlift, breast procedures, and armlift. I have been performing these procedures since 1994 and continue to see a rapid progression in the types and numbers of these body contouring procedures. Buttocks Augmentation Gains Popularity J-Lo was right – women really do prefer "plump" rear ends! According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, buttock augmentations increased 158% from 2000 to 2004. The majority of this increase was due to increased usage of fat grafting. Many believe fat grafting is safer and better tolerated then silicone implants. I second this. I really never hear much positive about silicone buttock implants. From my experience fat grafting works great. Sometimes the problem is not having enough fat to donate (don't we all wish we had this problem). The best of all worlds is using fat harvested during your liposuction and grafting it into your new "butt". Restylane Effective for Treatment of Naso-Jugal Grooves I am excited about this report. Over the last 12 years we have tried many soft tissue fillers in this area without success. The problem is lumping and irregularities which are easily seen due to the thin skin of the eyelid. In my own experience over the last year Restylane has performed well in this area without complications. If a lump does develop it can be removed by simple aspiration. Results can last up to 1 year. This is a true breakthrough in this area and I agree 100% with the conclusion of the article. |
