A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Scottsdale, AZ
Facial Surgery
Plastic Surgery Success: First U.S. Face Transplant.
Sep 2nd
Scottsdale – It’s really impressive. The results of the first U.S facial transplant really impressed me! The initial operation was carried out by a team of dedicated plastic surgeons from the Cleveland Clinic nearly 2 years ago. The patient, Connie Culp, was disfigured by a shotgun blast 6 years ago. In 2004, her husband shot her in the face, tearing away her nose, upper jaw, teeth and all of her facial nerves and muscles. The injuries left her with the loss of smell and taste, unable to breathe through her nose and mouth, and nearly blind.
Now, the proud grandmother is recovering from her final facial plastic surgery, in which her doctors removed the extra skin around her jaw line. Over the past several months, Culp has regained sensation in her face as her nerves continue to regenerate. She no longer has an airway in her throat, can breathe through her nose, taste food, and importantly, smile and speak more clearly.
“As we planned, we have removed this extra skin, and essentially she received a facelift, and that really changed that extra skin look into a normal looking face,” said Dr. Maria Siemionow, who led the team of board certified plastic surgeons during the 22-hour procedure that replaced 80 percent of her face.
The first face transplant in the world was performed in France in 2005 on a woman mauled by her dog. Since then, a dozen or so more have been performed worldwide. In the U.S., a second face transplant has been performed by doctors at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA) on a man who was disfigured in a freak accident.
“It feels great to go out and not have people gawk at me because I look strange, but it’s OK for people to go out that look different,” Culp said. “Don’t let nobody bring you down because you don’t look the same as somebody else.”
We have covered this story of success with face transplant on the blog previously. However, I continue to be impressed with the outcome and scope of this plastic surgery operation.
Pocket Pharmacopia comes through – Again!
Aug 27th
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Scottsdale – As a physician you always need a handy medical prescription book that is readily available. Most of the time, the books available to plastic surgeons and medical doctors are way too large to carry around. Some programs are available on the iPhone, but I find these to be too complex to use on a regular basis.
For years, I have relied on a simple, small book that can be carried in the pocket of my white physician’s coat. I have used these little books, which are updated every year, and are easy to use with great reliability. These books are called Pocket Pharmacopia.
I used the Pocket Pharmacopia recently to create a blog on breast augmentation and postoperative medications. I am also using my little book to help me on future projects like my facelift and eyelid medication recommendations. The 2010 version which I currently use is 187 pages and it is full of useful information which any doctor can use.
The best thing about these little books is that they are always by my side and I can use them to clarify any issue with medications. As I mentioned earlier, the books are updated every year and they really do a great job at this. Even relatively new drugs I would normmaly not use in my practice can be referenced on the spot!
Plastic Surgery does not help with BDD.
Aug 16th
Scottsdale – I recently reviewed in Plastic Surgery Products, a summary of a new study that has examined the impact that cosmetic surgery on the correcting body dysmorphic disorder. The study has been originally published in the journal Annals of Plastic Surgery and found that only 2% of procedures actually reduced the severity of BDD.
“BDD is a psychiatric disorder characterized by preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance which causes clinically significant distress or functional impairment,” says Katharine A. Phillips, MD, director of the body image program at Rhode Island Hospital and a co-author of the paper. “A majority of these individuals believe they have an actual deformity that can be corrected by cosmetic treatments to fix these perceived defects rather than seeking psychiatric intervention,” she adds.
In the study, researchers report that in a small retrospective study of 200 individuals with BDD, 31% sought and 21% received surgical or minimally invasive treatment for BDD symptoms. Nearly all of these individuals continued to have BDD symptoms, and some actually developed new appearance preoccupations. They also note that in a survey of 265 cosmetic surgeons, 178 (65%) reported treating patients with BDD, yet only 1% of the cases resulted in BDD symptom improvement.
“These findings, coupled with reports of lawsuits and occasionally violence perpetrated by persons with BDD toward physicians, have led some to believe that BDD is a contraindication for cosmetic treatment,” says Phillips, who is also a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. In terms of long-term outcomes from procedures, only 25% of the patients showed an improvement in their appraisal of the treated body part and showed a longer-term decreased preoccupation.
“Only two percent of surgical or minimally invasive procedures led to longer-term improvement in overall BDD symptoms,” according to the authors. The researchers also found that when treatment was sought, 20% of the procedures were not received. Cost was the most common reason for not receiving the requested procedure (30%), followed by physician refusal to perform the procedure (26%).
In summary, BDD is a serious psychiatric disorder and cannot be successfully treated with plastic surgery.
Advantages of Plastic Surgery in Arizona.
Aug 12th
Fly in for your cosmetic plastic surgery in Arizona.
Scottsdale – Plastic surgery in Arizona is very popular because of the talented Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, the excellent surgical facilities and the wonderful year-round climate. This combination makes it an ideal environment for your cosmetic surgery and recovery.
Arizona plastic surgery video testimonial.
Considering cosmetic plastic surgery in the Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona area? Please call (480) 970-2580 or use our contact form today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Congratulations Dr. Guerra on a very informative plastic surgery seminar last night.
Jul 22nd
Scottsdale – Dr. Guerra completed a succcessful Plastic Surgery After Major Weight Loss Seminar last night July 21, 2010. It was very nice meeting all the pleasant attendees who asked a lot of great questions. Dr. Guerra was able to answer questions, explain the procedures and show a lot of before and after photos.
Dr. Guerra discussed the following plastic surgery procedures:
Interested in learning more at our upcoming plastc surgery related events?
The AB Guerra Plastic Surgery Center is located in North Scottsdale and we offer educational seminars and events. The next Scottsdale plastic surgery seminar will focus on the mommy makeover procedures. For more information on the upcoming plastic surgery seminars and events in the Scottsdale area please contact our office at (480) 970-2580.
Preparations being made for Facelift and Eyelid Lift Seminar!
Jul 17th
Scottsdale Facelift and Eyelid Lift Seminar announced.
Plastic surgery options for facial rejuvenation.
In the Seminar: The upper eyelid lift.
Seminar Discussion in the Lower Eyelid Lift.
Scottsdale Facelift and Eyelid Lift Seminar time and place:
Scottsdale Plastic Surgery After Major Weight Loss Seminar next Wednesday!
Jul 13th
Plastic Surgery After Major Weight Loss Seminar next week.
Reminder that Dr. Guerra is holding the Scottsdale Plastic Surgery After Major Weight Loss Seminar next Wednesday July 21, 2010 at 6:00 pm.
RSVP by phone: (480) 970-2580
Arizona Plastic Surgery Financing
Jul 9th
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Financing in Arizona
Financial planning for your cosmetic surgery in Arizona.
Plastic surgery is an important decision. It is also one that requires meeting financial obligations. Dr. Guerra performs plastic surgery in Scottsdale and our dedicated staff want to make sure that you have every detail of your financial obligations explained to you. We also want to try to provide the best route for you to achieve your desired result. Patients looking to finance their plastic surgery procedure in Arizona appreciate the flexibilty of the Care Credit payment plans.

12 Months No Interest* payment plans with Care Credit.
For patients wanting to finance their cosmetic surgery we highly recommend Care Credit. Care Credit with over 7 million account holders. Care Credit is backed by GE Money, a world wide bank and division of General Electric Company. Care Credit offers cosmetic surgery finanancing options with a No Interest* payment plan if paid in full within 6 or 12 months on purchases with your CareCredit card. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional balance, including optional charges, is not paid in full within 6 or 12 months or if you make a late payment. Minimum monthly payments required. Apply online with a convenient online application.
Facial Plastic Surgery: Browlift I.
Jul 5th
Scottsdale – A forehead lift is a plastic surgery procedure used to enhance the appearance of the forehead, frown lines, and to alter the position of the eyebrows. Patients commonly request rejuvenation of the forehead because aging, gravity and exposure can significantly affect the forehead, creating flabby skin, wrinkles, and droopy eyebrows.
A forehead lift has three positive effects, including a reduction of lines and wrinkles, a tightening effect on loose skin, and a repositioning of the eyebrows into a more youthful position. A forehead lift is also known as browplasty, browpexy, endoscopic or coronal forehead lift. Forehead lift operations have many names, combining descriptive terms, based on the goals or techniques used.
Regardless of which technique is used, the procedure should accomplish the three basic goals described earlier, including a reduction in the number of wrinkles, a tightening of skin laxity, and a restoration of the eyebrows into a more youthful position.
Patents may choose which specific technique appeals to them the most, based on their comfort with the location and length of incisions, amount of downtime, and the desired goals of cosmetic surgery of the face and forehead. In our experience, the top priority for most patients, when seeking forehead lift, is the length and type of incision used.
Stay tuned for more info on browlift on future blogs.
















