Facial Surgery

A Non-Surgical option for the Double Chin.

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Non Plastic Surgery Options for the Double Chin!

Scottsdale – No one likes a double-chin. Now German pharmaceutical giant Bayer says it is doing something about it. The company has announced it is starting phase III clinical trials of a drug to dissolve unwanted fat deposits. Traditionally, the double chin deformity is treated with a variety of plastic surgery operations. Common cosmetic surgery procedures performed for the double chin include facelift, necklift, and neck lipo. A non-surgical option would therefore be a BIG DEAL!

The downside of using this non-surgical method, is that the drug, called ATX-101, would be administered to patients through a series of 40 to 70 “mini injections”. Now, that is a lot of injections!

I have to question whether all patients would like to have that many injections into their necks?

ATX-101 works by dissolving small quantities of fat cells and, according to Bayer, can be used with little or no anesthetic. Early tests are said to have found the drug “safe and tolerable.” Now the drug is going into more advanced clinical trials and shows promise for a possible Europen approval in the future.

Yvonne Moeller, a spokeswoman for Bayer, said people should “see noticeable results after about 16 weeks.”

A recent article discussed the drug is specifically aimed at “reducing localized fat under the chin”, while leaving the surrounding tissue unaffected. The only current treatment for double chins involves surgical procedures. The trials will involve 720 people at 64 centres around Europe. Bayer aims to launch the product in Europe, Asia and South America by 2014.

One day, treatments like this may be available, but for now you will have to talk to your local plastic surgeon about other options.

Ask-a-Surgeon: Details about Plastic Surgery.

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Scottsdale – Hi Folks. Today, I just wanted to let you know that the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has a nice link which might interest you. It is called, Ask-a-Surgeon, and it is designed to allow consumers to ask questions and have these answered by a board certified plastic surgeon.

I am one of the plastic surgeons who will answer questions from this website. I reviewed some of the topics and I think they are great topics. So far I have seen really good questions about smoking and plastic surgery, scars associated with facelift and necklift, breast size and breast shape with and without breast implants, and many others. . .

I encourage anyone who has questions about plastic surgery to place their questions on this site. In my opinion, this is the best site that gives you access to numerous board certified plastic surgeons. Don’t forget the ASAPS is the leading professional organization of plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who specialize in cosmetic surgery. The ASAPS is at the forefront of innovation in aesthetic plastic surgery in the U.S. and around the world.

Jane Iradale offers new Self-Tanner.

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New Products at the AB Guerra Plastic Surgery Center

Scottsdale – The AB Guerra Plastic Surgery Center will offer the new self-tanner from Jane Iredale. The new product is called Tantasia™.

The new product offers a refreshing citrus smell right out of the tube and no after-smell. Tantasia is streak-free and allows for an even colour to build gradually with daily use. Tantasia™ can be applied anywhere on the face or body. You will not need extra moisturizer as the wheat protein in Tantasia™ provides natural hydration for your skin.

Why do I recommend this product?

Because I want my patients to avoid sun tanning and UV radiation as much as possible. I do have a lot of patients who choose to tan and their skin is suffering because of this decision. Over time, this will lead to increase wrinkles, spots and droopy skin.

Tanning is bad for you and in the long run it will show!

Tantasia™ works differently. It has Acetyl Tyrosine and Monk’s Pepper. These two ingredients stimulate melanin synthesis (the natural pigment in your skin), allowing the shade to mimic your natural tanned color. Both extracts promote a regular, even and persistent tan while enhancing the natural protection factor of the skin against UV radiation!

Don’t forget that we already offer the full line of Jane Iredale products at the AB Guerra Plastic Surgery Center. These products are excellent after facelift and most facial plastic surgery operations, including dermabrasion and chemical peels.

Tagliacozzi method for Nasal Restoration.

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Plastic Surgery for Nose Restoration.

Scottsdale – As promised, here’s a little more detail on the nasal restoration procedure described in Tagliacozzi’s plastic surgery book. This diagram (on the left) from the book, shows the patient in bed with his forearm attached to his head and a flap of skin from the arm (which is being used to restore the missing nasal parts) stuck onto his nose.

It is interesting to note the apparatus is quite complex and looks to have at least one lock on top of the head to prevent the patient from pulling the arm (and the flap) away from the nose.  In order for this plastic surgery procedure to work correctly, the patient stayed in that position for about 2 to 3 weeks.

What happens during that time?

During the attachment process the body creates a new connection from the nose to arm skin flap. The connection is bolstered by the growth of new blood vessels over 14 to 21 days. Once the vessels have grown in nicely, then the arm skin can be detached and is capable of surviving off of its new blood supply on the nose. If that sounds very cool now, just imagine what it must have been like 400 years ago?

Of course, the new nasal skin needs reshaping and this is done about 2 weeks later in order to make it look more like part of the nose. This type of flap technique is not in use now. Other methods have been devised for facial plastic surgery reconstruction. These are called local or pedicled flaps. Variations of pedicled flaps are also used for modern breast surgery and reconstruction.

Nasal Surgery Book from 1597 Sold to Plastic Surgeon.

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Scottsdale – A recent report outlines how a rare jewel of a book has sold at auction and some lucky plastic surgeon has landed a piece of history. This book which details in highly illustrated diagrams the process of nasal restoration was sold for 11,000  pounds (or $17,000 dollars). This incredibly rare work is written in Latin and demonstrates how a patient’s nose attached to a flap of skin from the upper arm is performed.

This plastic surgery operation- known as rhinoplasty – shows the technique as it was used over 400 years ago. Nasal plastic surgery is far more common today and it is well known how celebrities undergo nose jobs for reasons of vanity. Of course, when this book was written, the operation was carried out to repair faces wounded in battle.

File:Tagliacozzi Portrait.jpg

The book was sold to a modern-day plastic surgeon and was written by Gaspare Tagliacozzi. Tagliacozzi was a professor of surgery and anatomy at the University of Bologna and devised ways of repairing noses, ears and lips. In the photo above, he is shown holding some of his anatomy books. Many medical historians consider Tagliacozzi the “father” of modern plastic surgery. Of course, this almost didn’t happen. The book, which was published in 1597, was all but forgotten after the author’s death 2 years later. The technique was not rediscovered until the 18th century when the interest in human anatomy resurfaced once again.

Tune in tomorrow to the blog and learn about Tagliacozzi’s famous technique.

Cetaphil®: Great Soap for Facelifts, Dermabrasion.

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Washing your face after Facelift and Dermabrasion (Model).

Scottsdale – Hi folks, just want to review here a bit about taking care of your face after dermabrasion and/or facelift.

One of the most important activities after facial plastic surgery involves cleaning all the areas and keeping your face refreshed during the healing process. I recommend only certain types of soaps, lotions and makeup after these procedures.

For instance, in washing your face, a key component of the necessary care after facial rejuvenation, eyelid lift, and/or browlift, a hypo-allergenic soap is a must! I have tried many, over the years, but the consistent favorite among plastic surgery patients in my practice is Cetaphil® soap bar. And, I really mean the soap bar…. avoid the squeezable lotion.

Cetaphil® is ideal for face and body cleansing after cosmetic surgery. It is a hypo-allergenic, non-irritating soap, which also comes highly recommended by dermatologists.

With dermabrasion, remember to wash your face at least 6 times per day. Always lather the soap in your hands and splash it on the face. Do not directly lather on the dermabraded area. On the other hand, lathering up on the face after facelift is allowed. Always follow any additional instructions you received at your pre-op visit.

A Great Resource for Plastic Surgery Patient Safety.

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Scottsdale – Plastic surgery patients and plastic surgeons always want to have the best outcome – especially, when it comes to patient safety. As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I make every effort possible to obtain the best information about plastic surgery safety standards and pass this on to my patients before they undergo a major cosmetic surgery operation.

ASAPS

I have found the best site for this activity is the patient safety pages on the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. This website has served as a great resource providing some thoughtful articles about patient safety issues, legislation and tips for patients on a variety of cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures.

When you go to the main patient safety page, you can scroll on the left side through the topics from age and gender issues to skin procedure news. There is also a section where you can ask a plastic surgeon questions about cosmetic surgery operations, recovery and other information.

Scar Management: Silicone and UV Protection.

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Scottsdale – An interesting new form of silicone scar management has caught my eye. The product is called bioCorneum®+. It is manufactured by Advanced Bio-Technologies, Inc., a company based in Suwanee, Georgia.

The company recommends bioCorneum®+ for use in the prevention and management of hypertrophic (raised, red, and tender) scars and keloids.  This silicone gel may be used on scars resulting from cosmetic surgery and other surgical procedures.

I like this product because it is a silicone based treatment, which has good clinical evidence to support its effectiveness in the treatment of scars. This is also the only product, which I am aware of, that has an SPF 30 UV protection.

This means that with a single daily application, the plastic surgery patient can minimize the appearance of scars while, at the same time, protect them from further damage caused by UVA/UVB sun exposure.

Fat Grafting in the Face: Processing.

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Fat Processing for Facial Fat Injection.

Scottsdale – After fat harvest the fat must be prepared for fat injection. Plastic surgeons call this series of the steps – fat processing!

The first step in fat processing is the removal of unwanted fluids. This is fluid that is removed when fat is harvested and has stromal components and some blood.  Strategies to remove the fluid include systems such as Lipivage® or Viafill®, use of a centrifuge, or gravity separation.

There are advantages and disadvantages to all techniques for this type of cosmetic surgery. The Lipivage® system is a closed filtration system which avoids exposure to excessive forces, provides sterility and lack of exposure to air. I no longer used this system because I have found a better system for facial fat grafting. I do continue to use a similar system to the Lipivage® when I perform large volume fat grafting as in for the Brazilian Butt Lift technique.

I prefer to use the Viafill® kit because it allows the cosmetic surgeon to carry out the harvest to injection steps of fat grafting using a single-use closed system of disposable fat harvesting and fat injection cannulas for facial plastic surgery. This system is advantageous for a variety of reasons, including a reduction of infection risk and the selection of better fat grafting cells. Centrifugation is an important step used with the Viafill® kit.

Use of the centrifuge is preferred by some plastic surgeons. Centrifuged fat cells are believed to be younger and more rich in viable fat cells. The layers of the compact region in the centrifuge will differ with regards to the number of viable fat cells. A study has demonstrated that the bottom portion of the fat layer demonstrates 250 percent more viable cells when compared to the top layer.

New TV show focuses on Plastic Surgery for Brides.

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TV show about Plastic Surgery on Brides.

Scottsdale – A new television show focuses on plastic surgery for brides who wish to look more attractive before their wedding day.

The new show, called Bridalplasty, aired yesterday on the E! Network. Bridalplasty is the latest reality show in which brides compete in a “survivor” like atmosphere to get plastic surgery procedures and a lavish wedding.

According to Associated Content, the women getting ready to take the plunge into marriage will be competing for the chance to get multiple cosmetic surgery procedures over the course of the show. They mention many hope to achieve the “perfect” look prior to the big day.

In addition, the last woman standing will also receive a lavish, celebrity-style wedding paid for by E!

The plastic surgeon for the show is non other than Dr. Terry Dubrow,  who first received notoriety as plastic surgeon for the Fox television show The Swan.  He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

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