If you are considering some sort of plastic surgery center, you should do your research not only on your Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon but also on the facility where your work will be done.  Is it being done in a surgery center?  This is usually the safest option, rather than simply in an office.  Is the facility accredited?  There are many organizations that perform this service and this is often an important signal that the facility maintains high levels of safety.  Your comfort and safety are so important that you should pay close attention to the location of your surgery.

After you have a plastic surgery procedure, it is important to have a smooth recovery.  This will make the process not only more pleasant, but can even help to assure the best possible result.  This is important for all procedures, such as Los Angeles liposuction.  One key part of having a smooth recovery is to plan for it.  Make arrangements to have help around the house.  You should not have to walk alone after some procedures, and having someone to help you move about is a good plan.  Also, someone to help you cook and change your clothes can really be of benefit.  So when you are planning your plastic surgery, take steps to plan your recovery as well.  This will make the whole process much better for you.

We are always trying to provide more information on Los Angeles plastic surgery.  That is why we have launched two new blogs.  The first new plastic surgery blog will deal with a broad cross-section of patient issues from the point of view of the staff in the office.  They see people in all phases of care, so this should be very interesting.  We firmly believe that the more information, points of view, discussion the better when it comes to understanding the entire experience of plastic surgery. 

Next time we will introduce our other blog!

For anyone seeking Beverly Hills breast augmentation, it is important to understand the difference between implant types.  Below is part of the FDA statement about silicone breast implants.  One should read this carefully prior to seeking this type of Beverly Hills plastic surgery.

24. What conditions of approval did FDA place on these implants?

FDA is requiring each company to do the following:

• Continue its Core Study until all patients have completed their 10-year evaluation in order to assess the long-term clinical performance of its product. This involves:
  • collecting data via annual physician follow-up evaluations
  • giving all patients MRIs every other year
  • evaluating all patients whose breast implants were removed without replacement through 10 years.

• Conduct a separate 10-year large post-approval study that will:
  • involve a large number of silicone gel-filled breast implant patients (approximately 40,000)
  • involve a control group of saline-filled breast implant patients
  • provide information about certain endpoints: local complications; rates of connective tissue disease and its signs and symptoms; rates of neurological disease and its signs and symptoms; potential effects on offspring of women with breast implants; potential effects on reproduction and lactation; rates of cancer; rates of suicide; potential interference of breast implants with mammography; and patient compliance with MRI recommendation and rupture rates
  • survey patients annually using web, mail, or telephone questionnaires
  • have physician evaluations at years 1, 4-6, and 9-10 for Mentor and years 1, 4, and 10 for Allergan (formerly Inamed) to collect local complication data.

• Continue its laboratory studies to continue to further characterize the modes and causes of failure of explanted (removed) devices over a 10-year period.

• Have an independent group conduct a focus group study of the format and content of the approved patient labeling.

• Distribute approved patient labeling to women considering silicone gel-filled breast implants as part of a formal informed decision process, and monitor the process to ensure that patients are being informed of the risks and benefits.

• Stop new patient enrollment into the Adjunct Studies and continue to follow all currently-enrolled patients through the final 5-year study timepoint.

• require participation in the company’s physician training program for physician access to the product

• Comply with FDA’s requirements for tracking these devices from their manufacture through the distribution chain to implantation. The purpose of mandatory device tracking is to ensure that companies can promptly locate devices in commercial distribution as well as those that have been implanted. Tracking information may be used to facilitate notifications and recalls ordered by FDA in the case of serious risks to health presented by the devices. 

FDA intends to present an update on the status of the conditions of approval at public Advisory Panel meetings in five and 10 years, and at any other FDA decides is appropriate.

25. If silicone gel-filled breast implants are safe, why is FDA requiring such large post-approval studies?

FDA determined that there were adequate data to support the approval of the Mentor and Allergan (formerly Inamed) products. Now that the products have been determined by FDA to be safe and effective, we will continue to monitor their safety and effectiveness by requiring each company to conduct a study of approximately 40,000 women through 10 years. The large post-approval studies will gather data on long-term local complications, connective tissue disease and its signs and symptoms, neurological disease and its signs and symptoms, reproductive issues, offspring issues, lactation issues, cancer, suicide, mammography issues, and MRI compliance and rupture results. FDA anticipates that data from these long-term studies will provide important information for patients and physicians and may lead to improvements in device labeling.

26. What if the post-approval studies uncover unexpected problems?

If the post-approval studies uncover any new risks or unexpected problems, FDA can pursue a range of regulatory options, as appropriate. For example, FDA could require the companies to change the patient and physician labeling, or contact all patients through the mandatory tracking program.

27. How will FDA ensure that Allergan and Mentor complete their post-approval studies?

To assure that Mentor and Allergan (formerly Inamed) complete these studies, FDA will:

• Track the post-approval studies, using a new electronic tracking system
• Provide guidance on how and when companies should report the status of their post-approval studies
• Post the status of the studies on our website to help keep the public informed
• Hold open public Panel meetings on the status of the conditions of approval five and 10 years after approval, as well as any other time FDA decides is necessary (e.g., if significant new information from the post-approval studies becomes available).

For more information, it is useful to watch this plastic surgery video.

http://health.yahoo.com/news/rss/skin_beauty/;_ylt=AhpAonYf4CkDMXr13aL5YoWEZ4t4

I came across an interesting summary of a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about the use of stem cells for breast augmentation.  As a California plastic surgeon, I found the topic fascinating but am not ready to do it on my own patients -- we need more study to confirm that it works and that it is safe.

Here is the article --
examined procedures increasingly being conducted in Japan and Europe and developed in the U.S. that use a combination of fat and adult stem cells for breast reconstruction and breast augmentation. According to the Journal, attempts to use human fat to enhance the size of women's breasts have been made for more than 100 years but usually have failed because most of the fat "died, turning into hard lumps and calcifications." The theory behind the new procedures is that fat might be "processed or handled in a way that allows fragile stem cells to create a blood supply for the transplant that helps the fat survive," the Journal reports. According to the Journal, harvesting stem cells from fat avoids the ethical issues involved in retrieving stem cells from human embryos.

Kotaro Yoshimura -- a Yokohama, Japan-based california plastic surgery specialist  -- said that since 2003 he has conducted about 200 procedures that he calls "cell-assisted lipotransfer." The three- to four-hour procedure begins with a liposuction procedure to acquire fat. About half of the fat collected is "processed through a centrifuge, yielding a concentrated stem-cell mixture." The two halves then are put back together and injected into four sites into the breast via a syringe. San Diego-based Cytori Theraputics said it has invented a machine that "combines fat with a mixture of stem cells and other regenerative cells," which can then be injected into patients to reconstruct breasts after cancer treatments or used in augmentation procedures. The company has sold the machine for $75,000 to $100,000 to plastic surgeons in France, Israel, Italy and Japan. In addition, Cytori is sponsoring studies at hospitals in Europe and is seeking FDA approval for human tests in the U.S. next year to reconstruct breasts damaged by cancer surgery. The Journal reports that the cost of the procedures vary "widely" -- from $15,000 to more than $30,000.

According to the Journal, some experts said that the new techniques are being used too quickly and that the safety of the procedures has not been established. Some doctors said that fat could calcify and disrupt mammography. The procedures also could increase breast cancer risk among some women because fat tissue contains estrogen and some anticancer drugs inhibit production of estrogen in postmenopausal women, the Journal reports. Although FDA does not regulate procedures, the agency has said the "biological product" created from "fat augmented with stem cells" would require regulation

When we do our procedures such as Los Angeles breast augmentation, we do the procedures in an outpatient surgery center.  A recent large study now confirms this setting to be safe.

"The study shows that plastic surgery in accredited facilities is safe and deaths are rare," said ASPS Member Surgeon Geoffrey Keyes, MD, study co-author. "However, people should consider plastic surgery with the same seriousness as medically necessary surgery. Most importantly, patients should have their procedure performed by an ASPS Member Surgeon in an accredited facility."

The study reviewed data collected from January 2001 through June 2006 by The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), which mandates biannual reporting of all complications and fatalities. The data was obtained from facilities accredited by the AAAASF, which requires that surgeons be board-certified and have credentials at a hospital to perform any procedure being contemplated at an office-based facility.

The study found deaths occurring at office-based surgery facilities are rare. More than 1.1 million operative procedures in AAAASF-accredited office-based outpatient surgery centers were studied from 2001-2006. Deaths were infrequent, occurring 2.02 in 100,000 procedures or 0.002 percent, which is comparable to the overall risk of such procedures performed in hospital surgery facilities. The vast majority of deaths were due to pulmonary embolism (a blood clot that travels to the lungs, blocking major blood vessels). Pulmonary embolism is an uncommon cause of death associated with any type of surgery whether elective or medically necessary.

These new findings contribute to a growing safety record for office-based surgery procedures. A 2004 PRS journal study examined 400,000 operative procedures in AAAASF-accredited office-based outpatient surgery centers from 2001-2002 and found that death occurred in 1 in 59,000 procedures or 0.0017 percent.

"While all surgery carries risks, the bottom line is that this study illustrates patients can and should feel safe when they go to an ASPS Member Surgeon who performs their procedures in an accredited outpatient surgery center," said ASPS President Richard D'Amico, MD. "Amazingly, only 14 states mandate accreditation of facilities, so it's up to the patient to be knowledgeable. A patient's safety and life is everything."

Nearly 11.8 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in 2007, up 59 percent since 2000, according to ASPS statistics. Fifty-nine percent of cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in an office-based facility, 21 percent in a free-standing ambulatory surgical facility, and 20 percent in a hospital. 

As a California cosmetic surgeon, I am pleased to see the results of this study.

A recent article described a new approach to opening up breathing passages during rhinoplasty.  More time is needed to see if this is more than just experimental when used for rhinoplasty, but it is interesting nonetheless.  Below is a summary of how the procedure may apply to plastic surgery:

Z-plasty, a minimally invasive surgical technique to treat internal nasal valve collapse, showed significant improvement in relieving nasal obstruction with less recovery time compared to more traditional open rhinoplasty according to a recent study.

The nasal valve plays a crucial role in determining the airflow characteristics of the nasal airway. Internal nasal valve collapse is one of the most common causes of nasal obstruction that can result in significant and problematic changes in airflow. It is the most common condition that leads to nasal valve surgery. The traditional surgical approach, open nasal surgery, or rhinoplasty could alter the external appearance of the nose.

Z-plasty is a minimally invasive procedure most often used by surgeons for scar revisions. It is performed entirely from inside of the nose under local anesthesia with conscious IV sedation. The technique involves the creation and transposition of two triangular flaps which widen the valve angle and create a subtle tip rotation in order to improve nasal airflow. Small, Z-like incisions are made in the cartilage located inside the nostril of the nose to allow a segment of the upper cartilage of the nose to be removed. The flaps are then sutured into position.

Someday this may be useful for Los Angeles cosmetic surgery, but more study is needed at this point.

We have found good results with a new skin care product.  This Niacin based cream helps most people, including those who have had Long Beach plastic surgery.  This includes, all patients, including those who had breast augmentation.  Of course those who had facial procedures, such as rhinoplasty,  also benefit.  Here is a summary:

Skin Strengthening
Complex Repair Cream

Application and Usage: Use in the morning and at night. Apply a dime-size amount on face and neck. Avoid eye contact.

Neither heavy nor too light, this fortified cream visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by enhancing the skin’s barrier function, accelerating repair and delivering continual moisturization.

 

NIA 24™ Benefits

• Clinically shown to improve skin tone, texture and hyperpigmentation.
• Strengthens the skin barrier.
• Delivers continual moisture.
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Improves elasticity for smoother, firmer skin.
• Soothes and protects the skin.

 

NIA 24™ Key Ingredients

• 5% Pro-Niacin allows for conversion of nicotinic acid into NAD, which plays a central role in energy metabolism. NAD helps repair, promotes skin cell generation and stimulates the release of leptin.
• Green tea, a powerful antioxidant soothes the skin.
• Rosemary has anti-inflammatory properties and provides antioxidant protection from environmental damage.
• Ceramides reinforce the skin barrier to maximize the moisture-holding capacity.
• Evening Primrose Oil instantly soothes and hydrates the skin.
• Wheat Germ Oil hydrates and moisturizes.
• Vitamin A helps to improve elasticity and skin texture.

Questions About NIA 24™ Skin Strengthening

Is the Skin Strengthening Complex a moisturizer?

Yes. It is a fortified cream that enhances the skin barrier function, accelerates repair, and delivers continual moisturization.

Can I use the Skin Strengthening Complex more than twice daily?

Yes. However, using the Skin Strengthening Complex twice daily provides continuous delivery of Pro-Niacin™ such that additional applications are not necessary. If additional moisturization is needed, use a humectant or additional moisturizer, applying the NIA 24™ Skin Therapy products first if applied together.

What is the source of squalane in the Skin Strengthening Complex?

Squalene can either be derived from shark liver or from olive oil. The squalene found in the Skin Strengthening Complex is derived from olive oil. Yes. However, using the Skin Strengthening Complex twice daily provides continuous delivery of Pro-Niacin™ such that additional applications are not necessary. If additional moisturization is needed, use a humectant or additional moisturizer, applying the NIA 24™ Skin Therapy products first if applied together.

Application & Usage

Use in the morning and at night. Apply a dime-size amount on face and neck. Avoid eye area.

Ask your doctor about NIA 24

Gentle and beneficial for nearly every patient, NIA 24™ skin care products are a necessary daily protocol for those choosing the most effective treatment regimens or procedures, as well as anyone with a history of sensitized skin, or even sun worship. Getting started on the path to better skin couldn't be easier.

I came across this article on breast health and thought it was informative.  Since we see a lot of women for procedures such as breast augmentation, we try to help them understand the best ways to maintain breast health awareness.  Below is a reprint of the article----

Set an easy-to-remember day aside to do a self-exam, such as the first of every month. A how-to: Stand facing a full-length mirror, keeping your arms at your sides and then raising them above your head. Scan your skin for anything suspicious, such as dimpling, puckering, redness, a rash, or swelling. Then while you’re in the shower, use the fingertips of one hand to examine your breasts in a circular motion, starting at the outside perimeter and working your way in toward the nipple. Probe the region next to the armpit as well. If you feel a lump or anything out of the ordinary, wait through one menstrual cycle and check it again. If it’s still there, call your doctor to schedule an exam.

DO A BACKGROUND CHECK

Find out if you have a family history of breast cancer (go back several generations if you can), and share that information with your doctor. “About 10 percent of breast cancer is hereditary, caused by alterations in genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2, which is why it’s extremely important for your doctor to know if you fall into this high-risk category,” says Marisa Weiss, M.D. And don’t forget to check your father’s side, an all too- common omission, according to a study at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center. Since half your genes come from Dad, a history of breast cancer in his family will equally influence your risk.

GET SCREENED

The American Cancer Society recommends getting mammograms every year beginning at age 40 (women with a family history should start 10 years earlier than the relative’s age at diagnosis). Need a nudge? Get a free e-mail reminder at cancer.org/mammogramreminder. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, recently reported that e-mail and phone reminders can increase the number of women who get the test regularly.

GO ON RECORD

If you’ve had a digital mammogram, consider warehousing it at the National Digital Medical Archive (ndma.us). The free service collects, manages, stores, and retrieves digital images and related health data, allowing doctors easy access to your medical records.

WALK, RUN, OR BIKE YOUR WAY TO A CURE

Charitable events not only allow you to raise money for a cause, but also help you bond with others, learn more about the disease, and build some cancer-preventing exercise into your routine. Four to check out: The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (cancer.org/stridesonline), the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer (walk.avonfoundation.org), the Revlon Run/Walk for Women (Revlonrunwalk.com), and the Susan G.Komen Race for the Cure(komen.org). Prefer Pilates?Read “A Better Reason to Firm Your Belly” (or visitpilatesforpink.com) for information on classes around the country that raise money for breast-cancer research.  Exercise is also important after all Beverly Hills plastic surgery procedures, including liposuction.

There is a device which may help with patient safety during plastic surgery procedures.  While this is better for procedures in the face such as facelift, rather than body procedures such as Beverly Hills tummy tuck, it is still interesting.  Below is a summary of an article about this---

Starion Instruments, a leading surgical device company, announced that a study published in the January 2008 issue of The American Surgeon found Starion's patented Tissue Welding technology minimized intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications and may reduce the development of facial paresis in parotidectomy procedures.

The study, Tissue Welding Forceps Usage in Superficial Parotidectomy: A Clinical Assessment, was conducted by Randall Michel, M.D., FACS, Kang Tsau, M.D., and Bernard Weinstock, M.D. from the Departments of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Lompoc, CA. Michel and his colleagues performed a retrospective review of 25 patients who underwent superficial parotidectomy using Starion's ENTceps to assess safety and effectiveness of the technology. Of particular interest was the incidence of facial nerve palsy since this is one of the most severe complications associated with parotid procedures.

The review included 10 men and 15 women, aged 25 to 88 years, diagnosed with benign or malignant disease. The researchers reviewed records for operative times, estimated blood loss and postoperative complications of bleeding, facial nerve paresis, salivary fistula, and gustatory sweating, and compared these results with previous reports using other parotid dissection techniques.

With Starion's ENTceps, Michel and his team found the average operative time was 155.6 minutes, average blood loss was 71.6 cc, there were no instances of delayed bleeding, clinical Frey's syndrome, clinical gustatory sweating or wound infections, and only one patient had transient forehead weakness. These results compared favorably to alternate methods for superficial parotidectomy.

"Our experience to date using ENTceps has been quite positive," said Michel. "The main advantages are that this instrument can be used close to the facial nerve and that no current passes through the patient, enabling continuous monitoring of the facial nerve. The ability to continuously monitor nerves during the procedure helps minimize the risk for inadvertent injury and subsequent facial nerve palsy."

A recent journal article highlights risks from illegal and counterfeit medicines.  We have not seen much of this as we do plastic surgery Beverly Hills, and this is fortunate, since the risks are very real from fake products.  I take this matter very seriously as a cosmetic surgeon California, and we always work with companies that provide reputable medicines and devices for our care.

Below is a summary of the article about illegal skin lightening products:

A Clinical Picture described in the February 16, 2008 issue of The Lancet underlines the perils of using skin lightening creams sold on the black market. Dr. Tricia Tan and Dr. Tony Goldstone of the Endrocrine Unit in the Department of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith
Hospital, London, UK, were involved in the team that treated the patients and co-authored this piece.

The woman, at 28 years old, had gained 12.7 kg (28.0 lb) in the previous three years and had been attempting impregnation for 18 months unsuccessfully, despite a regular menstrual cycle. She also described stripes on her arms, back abdomen, and legs, in addition to sensitivity to bruising and recurrent thrush or yeast infection. Otherwise, her medical background was not remarkable, and she specifically denied the use of illegal or prescription drugs.

Doctors noted central obesity (a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 36.6 kg/m², where a BMI that is greater than 30 is considered obese), a pad of fat between her shoulder blades, and round face. She had pigmented stretch marks on her body, as well as thin, bruised skin, and mild hair growth on her back and face, combined with muscle weakness.

Tentatively, a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome was proposed. Cushing's syndrome results from excess levels of steroid hormones in the blood, generally coming from the adrenal glands, and is usually caused by a directly malfunctioning adrenal gland or an overactive signal from the pituitary gland to the adrenal glands with the same result. However, in this patient, blood concentrations of cortisol, a steroid hormone, and corticotropin, the signaling hormone from the pituitary, were very low.

A second inquiry was made to the patient regarding drugs, and the patient conceded to using a skin-lightening cream for up to seven years previous. The source of this cream was not a pharmacy but rather a local shop, which was not stocking it legally. Deeper investigation made it clear that the cream had clobetasol, a strong steroid, and that she had been using two tubes (approximately 60g) per week.

A conclusion was made regarding skin-lightening cremes as they impact the clinical settting.
"Patients are often reluctant to admit that they have used skin-lightening creams - especially if these are supplied illegally. Similarly, doctors can be unaware of the need to inquire. But the market is worth millions of pounds a year, in the UK alone. Creams can contain toxic substances, such as steroids and hydroxyquinone - and patients are typically unaware of the risks."

I am just back from a trip to France.  I found it interesting from a plastic surgery point of view.  The French do seem interested in plastic surgery, and the trip was a follow-up to our center doing two interviews with French TV during the last year or so.

On thing about French plastic surgery stood out as the most interesting to me.  It does seem to be still "in the closet."  This is what the French reporters had told me and it goes along with what I saw.  There are no advertisements for French cosmetic surgery that I could find in the media.  The reporters told me that it is frowned upon for French physicians including plastic surgery to even speak about there work in the news media.  This was surprising, since France has a history of making innovations in plastic surgery and of course they are at the forefront of all things involving beauty.  Not every place is similar to all that might be done by a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon, and this is a good example of the fact.

While mystery does provide some elegance, it may not be the best overall for patients.  While advertising and reality shows can be terribly tacky, information from all sources if beneficial for people considering any cosmetic procedure such as Los Angeles tummy tuck.  I always find that the more people know prior to plastic surgery, the better result they seem to have (perhaps because the better participate in their own care and recovery) and the happier the are with the results.  On balance, I think wide information is best, even if it can make plastic surgery seem crass!

We make a big about smoking for our patients having plastic surgery in Los Angeles.  While not smoking is good for overall health, and of course we support this, the stronger reason we talk at length with out patients is that smoking increases the risks of wound healing problems.  This is true for all the plastic surgery procedures we do, including Los Angeles liposuction, among others.  And for some procedures, smoking has even more risks associated with it and these include breast reduction, tummy tuck, and facelift.  These last procedures have complex and extensive wounds that the body needs to heal and impairing this healing ability can cause real problems.  In some cases, it can lead to even worse outcomes than poor wound healing, including skin loss.

 

Below is a summary of smoking and wound healing problems written by a plastic surgery journal:

 

The association between cigarette smoking and delayed wound healing is well recognized in clinical practice, although extensive controlled studies have yet to be performed. The documented effects of the toxic constituents of cigarette smoke--particularly nicotine, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide--suggest potential mechanisms by which smoking may undermine expeditious wound repair. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that reduces nutritional blood flow to the skin, resulting in tissue ischemia and impaired healing of injured tissue. Nicotine also increases platelet adhesiveness, raising the risk of thrombotic microvascular occlusion and tissue ischemia. In addition, proliferation of red blood cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages is reduced by nicotine. Carbon monoxide diminishes oxygen transport and metabolism, whereas hydrogen cyanide inhibits the enzyme systems necessary for oxidative metabolism and oxygen transport at the cellular level. Slower healing has been observed clinically in smokers with wounds resulting from trauma, disease, or surgical procedures. The reduced capacity for wound repair is a particular concern in patients undergoing plastic or reconstructive surgery. Compared with nonsmokers, smokers have a higher incidence of unsatisfactory healing after face-lift surgery, as well as a greater degree of complications following breast surgery. Smokers should be advised to stop smoking prior to elective surgery or when recovering from wounds resulting from trauma, disease, or emergent surgery.

So for all our patients considering procedures, please be careful with smoking prior to having plastic surgery!  As a plastic surgeon, I can say this is certainly the safest way to go.

A plastic surgery organization has released recommendations for men on how to take care of their skin during winter.  This of course is timely.  Even here in Los Angeles the change in weather takes its toll during the colder months.  It is also a good reminder that steps to maintain a fresh appearance can often stop well short of undergoing Los Angeles cosmetic surgery.

Below is a reprint of the information, especially interesting in terms of plastic surgery for men:
Most people are unaware of how much sun damage they can sustain during the winter, and men especially need to take extra care of their skin during the cold season.  Even during the wintry weather, the sun plays a significant role in causing skin damage.  It is therefore just as vital to protect skin from the sun during the winter as it is in the summer.

According to Kathy Jones, President-Elect of the Society of Plastic Surgical Skin Care Specialists (SPSSCS) and a Registered Nurse certified in plastic surgical nursing in Fort Wright, KY, men are less likely to notice changes to their skin than women.  She says that even if men notice changes, they tend to ignore them and put off going to the doctor.

“There are two things you can do to make yourself look younger longer,” says Jones.  “Use UVA/UVB sun protection every day, and do not smoke.”

UVB rays are responsible for burning, tanning and accelerating skin aging.  UVA rays can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and plays a major role in skin aging and wrinkling, and can cause cancer.  While UVB rays vary by season and location, UVA is the same strength all year round.  UVA rays can penetrate glass and clouds, so it is important to wear sunblock at all times.

Shaving Years off the Face
A fresh face without any scruff can have its advantage – shaving with a razor takes off the top layer of skin, promoting cell turnover and keeping skin looking young and healthy.  Middle-aged men tend to have younger looking skin than women of a comparable age, largely due to everyday shaving.   

Men also typically do not use many (or any) skin products, but they may be missing some key benefits. 

“The skin is the largest organ in the body, but only 1% of the body’s nutrients replenish the skin,” adds Jones.  “Products with antioxidants like Vitamins A, C, and E are intended to penetrate the skin’s barrier, and can be important supplements for keeping skin nourished.”

Jones offers a few important steps men can take to streamline their skin care regime and keep their skin looking healthier longer:

1. Cleanse: Wash face twice a day with a good cleanser.  Something with an alpha-hydroxy acid is recommended to promote cell-turnover; this will also minimize razor bumps.
   
   

2. Shave: Aside from the aesthetic value, shaving with a razor also exfoliates the skin.  Using hot water to shave softens the hairs, although it also tends to also dry out the skin.
   
   

3. Protect/Moisturize: Apply a good moisturizer with sun block.  During the winter, skin tends to lose its essential oils and become dry.  Moisturizing frequently will treat dry skin caused by sun exposure and shaving, while offering protection against harmful UVA/UVB rays.
   

This holiday season we are pleased to offer our new plastic surgery gift card.  So far people have given us great feedback, and have told us that it makes a unique holiday present.  It can be used for plastic surgery procedures such as California tummy tuck, where medically appropriate, or for noninvasive procedures such as Los Angeles Juvederm.

Here is a recent article about the growing trend toward purchasing gift cards as the hot Christmas present this year --

Are gift cards on your holiday shopping list?

If so, consider yourself trendy.

This year, 59 percent of consumers say they have bought or received a gift card, up from 36 percent in 2001, according to annual surveys by the ValueLink consulting group. In addition, more than half of consumers surveyed by the National Retail Federation said they’d like to receive a gift card as a present this year.

What’s behind the boom? It’s simple. Plastic, wallet-sized cards replaced paper gift certificates. The electronic storage of funds makes gift cards easy to buy and redeem.

“When the certificate had to be written by hand, you couldn’t just grab one and buy it,” said Len Gilbert, who runs Barnes & Noble’s gift card program. “And nobody would think to carry those pieces of paper in their wallet. But when it’s a piece of plastic, it gets used more.”

Besides, a gift card is no longer a “cop-out gift. Now it’s seen as really giving choice,” Gilbert added.

Convenient alternative for shoppers
Because gift cards can be purchased over the Internet and even sent by e-mail, they’re especially convenient for shoppers who dread long lines.

“They’re ideal for the last-minute shopper or anyone who doesn’t have the ability to get the gift to the person,” said Jill Ambrose, marketing vice-president for www.giftcertificates.com, a one-stop shop for gift cards from hundreds of retailers.

Some chains even sell gift cards at other companies’ stores — like Pathmark supermarkets and CVS drug stores, where you’ll find racks of gift cards for unrelated retailers. Some cards are dressed up with themed designs — snowflakes, snowmen and the like.

But does a gift card suggest that you didn’t care enough to select a more personal present? Don’t worry. Etiquette expert Peggy Post from the Emily Post Institute (and wife of Emily’s great-grandson), says gift cards are perfectly acceptable, especially when you’re not sure what the person would like. “A lot of recipients enjoy having them,” she said.

Many people are indeed interested in having plastic surgery, as revealed in an interesting new study.  Following is a description of the study and its findings. 

Forty-eight percent of women surveyed said they would be interested in plastic surgery, liposuction or both, and another 23 percent said they would possibly be interested.

Among men, 23 percent said they would be interested in surgery, with 17 percent expressing possible interest.

"Interest in cosmetic surgery is far more widespread than we had anticipated," said David Frederick, a UCLA psychology graduate student and lead author of the study. "The majority of women expressed some interest in cosmetic surgery, and more than one-third of men expressed some degree of interest, which I found really surprising. We know there is tremendous pressure for women to be thin and have a certain appearance and for men to be fit and muscular, but I would not have guessed that so many people would be interested in surgical body alteration."

In addition, 21 percent of women and 11 percent of men described themselves as unattractive, and 31 percent of women and 16 percent of men reported feeling so uncomfortable in a swimsuit that they avoid wearing one in public, Frederick and his colleagues reported.

"There is so much pressure, especially on women, to be thin and beautiful and to look younger," Frederick said. "Many people are willing to pay thousands of dollars to permanently alter their bodies surgically. The interest in cosmetic surgery is widespread across the full life span. Especially for women, there never seems to be a reprieve. Your appearance is judged to be an important part of who you are."

Frederick was surprised to find no relation between people's body image and their interest in cosmetic surgery -- even those without a poor body image expressed interest in surgical alteration.  

This study does seem in keeping with what we find here doing plastic surgery Beverly Hills.  Interest continues to grow in all of our procedures, including tummy tuck Los Angeles.  And with FDA approval of silicone implants about a year ago, we are seeing ever-growing demand for breast implants Beverly Hills.

At Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery, we really like plastic surgery blogs.  We have several!  One of our blogs is a compilation of plastic surgery articles.  Some of the others focus on new trends in plastic surgery.  I write some of the blogs and so do several of our staff members!

These blogs allow us to communicate in real time about interesting news.  We have had recent posts on new trends in liposuction and liposculpture in Beverly Hills.  Another was about tummy tuck recovery.  We even include posts about events in our neighborhood on Rodeo Drive.  Now that Nip/Tuck is moving to Rodeo Drive, we will certainly have a lot to write about.  After all, this is a true case of fact meeting fiction because we are the only plastic surgery center on Rodeo Drive in real life.

I'm especially pleased that members of our staff write cosmetic surgery blog posts.  They see our patients all the time, and they have a different perspective on plastic surgery than I do.  I think their point of view adds a frest point of view for people considering procedures.

Where appropriate we like to include actual patient stories.  We also try to include news from the plastic surgery arena from around the world -- new techniques and recovery programs and impressive new technology on the horizon.  We hope that our blogs help people better understand procedures so they can make informed choices about cosmetic surgery.

The fact is, we all get wrinkles.

The gradual development of facial wrinkles, whether fine surface lines or deeper creases and folds, is the classic early sign of accumulated skin damage and inevitable aging. Premature aging and wrinkling of the skin may be accelerated by excessive exposure to the sun and other elements, overactive facial expression muscles, the frequent use of tobacco products, poor nutrition, or skin disorders.  Sun is an especially important factor here in Southern California.

There can be deep folds in other parts of the body, and these may be treated with a California tummy tuck.  One example of this of course is stretch marks.  Fine surface wrinkles that progress to deeper creases, deepening facial expression due to repeated skin folding, and deep folds which develop with one's maturity are obvious changes which may combine to portray a less desirable appearance. Persistent facial lines, especially those involved in negative emotional expressions, may mistakenly portray to others, the look of worry, anger, anxiety, disgust or sadness, despite one's own positive internal feelings. Regardless of the cause of facial creases or folds, safe and successful treatments for reduction or elimination of these problems are now available with the help of a Plastic Surgeon.

Injecting or implanting substances which either temporarily weaken the muscles or act as skin volume fillers serve to soften or eliminate the appearance of wrinkles and produce a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance.   This is similar as doing treatments for other issues, such as a Beverly Hills breast augmentation.  Remember:  treating wrinkles is not just celebrity plastic surgery anymore!  Many people from all walks of life are taking steps to treat wrinkles.

Lip Augmentation is an increasingly common plastic surgery procedure.  We're seeing more and more people seeking the plump look aroung the mouth.  The procedure is simple and usually has very little discomfort.  You will most likely receive local anesthesia. A procedure can take from about fifteen minutes two hours at your doctor's office or outpatient center, depending on the complexity, and you will be sent home the same day.

Here are the options:

Injectables, such as collagen or hyaluronic acids, which go by different brand names.  These include Juvederm and Restylane and these might last anywhere from five months to more than a year, when performed by an expert in San Diego plastic surgery.

Alloderm is a sheet of collagen created from human tissues. Your surgeon inserts them through tiny incisions made on the inside part of the lip. This material offers only a temporary fix, lasting up to perhaps two years but may leave the lips permanently a bit fuller because your tissue will grow into this material.

Fat grafting is the surgical method of inserting your own fat into your lips to achieve the desired fullness. You may achiever permanent results, but this method varies from person to person. Because it's your own fat, there is a chance that your body can reabsorb it.

As with any plastic surgery, there are risks and complications. You can have allergic reactions to implants as we've described above or allergic reaction to anesthesia.  This is the same for a minor procedure like lip enhancement as with a larger procedure such as Beverly Hills breast augmentation.

You can experience bleeding or an implant that hardens, which may require removal. You also risk infection or perhaps even nerve damage in some cases. It's very important that you discuss any concerns with your doctor prior to surgery and that you make your doctor aware of any existing medical conditions which may cause further complications.

Many people are extremely delighted when they have a Beverly Hills lip augmentation procedure.

Is it alright to eat after your tummy tuck?  We always say YES.  And now a scientific study backs this up.

A recent medical study has confirmed quicker recovery for people who eat soon after their tummy tuck procedure.  In fact, on major surgery society now states that withholding oral intake of food in patients after abdominoplasty (“tummy tuck”) may not be necessary, and that feeding patients earlier could allow for quicker discharge after surgery.  Findings from a study investigating the impact of early feeding after tummy tuck on the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting is published in the May/June 2007 issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the Society’s official peer-reviewed journal.  These findings are important because tummy tuck is a popular cosmetic surgical procedure.   This would seem to also hold, in our experience, for when we do our Rodeo Drive Mommy Makeover procedure.  This includes not only a tummy tuck, but also often a breast augmentation or breast lift and liposuction.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is among the most disagreeable experiences associated with surgery, causing dehydration and retching, which can lead to poor wound healing, among other adverse effects.  While postoperative management of patients undergoing tummy tuck has traditionally involved withholding food until patients demonstrate evidence of bowel activity, this practice requires patients to remain in the hospital for the administration of intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration.  However, no literature exists to support this practice.  Our standard is not to do this, whether for our tummy tucks or for our Beverly Hills liposuction procedures.

Although the findings are promising, physicians remain cautiously optimistic about a full transition to ambulatory tummy tuck. It does not diminish some of the benefits of postoperative hospital admission.  Adequate pain control, maintenance of a semi-flexed position, and patient and surgeon preference are important variables to consider when choosing between admission and discharge.  We have found this to be the case for all patients, not just when we do celebrity plastic surgery.

“This study demonstrates that early feeding of tummy tuck patients may prevent the need for postoperative hospital admission for intravenous hydration—at least in those patients who can maintain adequate hydration with oral intake alone—and allow for faster hospital discharge,” said a plastic surgeon in New York, NY, lead author of the study.  “While there may be other reasons for admission, routine postoperative admission to prevent dehydration may not be necessary. These findings could change the way we care for our postoperative plastic surgery patients, improving their comfort and safety, and saving on health care costs.”  As a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon, I have found similar results in my practice.

 

 

Be sure to check out our new web sites.  They are designed to provide information for those seeking plastic surgery.

1. http://www.NIPTUCKRODEODRIVE.COM
2. http://www.REALNIPTUCK.COM      
3. http://www.REALNIPTUCKRODEODRIVE.COM
4. http://www.PLASTICSURGERYFORMEN.INFO
5. http://www.ETHNICPLASTICSURGERY.INFO
6. http://www.LIPOONRODEO.COM 
7. http://www.RODEODRIVELIPOSCULPTURE.NET         
8. http://www.RENOWNEDTUMMYTUCK.COM
9. http://www.TUMMYTUCKRODEODRIVE.COM
10. http://www.RODEODRIVECOSMETICSURGEON.BIZ
11. http://www.BEVERLY-HILLS-PLASTIC-MD.COM 

An increasing number of people are undergoing weight loss surgery such as Lap Band and gastric bypass.  At our center, as a result, we are seeing a large increase in the number of body contouting procedures we are doing following these procedures.  Loose skin needs to be removed and other areas benefit from tightening, and people who lose large amounts of weight benefit greatly from these sorts of procedures.  However, a new study reports that only a small percentage of massive weight loss patients seek out this sort of follow-up care.  This is a loss, because many are missing out on the improved shape they were seeking in the first place.

When people come to us to consider Beverly Hills plastic surgery, they often ask about recovery.  This is an important issue.  We believe that with good planning, recovery from plastic surgery should be easy and with minimal discomfort.  The key is to understand what the procedure entails, and what should and should not be done during your various stages of recovery.

First off, pain:  We take steps so you will be comfortable after your procedure.  This includes larger surgery such as a Beverly Hills tummy tuck.  We place pain medicine in all areas where we work during the procedure.  This long-acting local anesthetic is so effective that many of our patients tell us they never have to take pain medicine following their procedure.  But we do provide strong narcotics just in case there is discomfort.

The next thing people ask about is working out.  Following most procedures, we can have you doing some exercise within a week or two of surgery.  We will work with you and if you want your trainer on this issue.  There are specific things you can do and others you should avoid for various periods following the various cosmetic surgery procedures.  We will tell you in great detail the safe things and those that you should avoid.

Many people ask us when they can go back to work following their procedure.  In some cases it is just a day or two.  After a rhinoplasty or breast augmentation or Los Angeles liposuction we usually tell people to arrange for about 5-7 days off from work.  From a tummy tuck it is about 10-14 days.

Recovery from plastic surgery is key to a good result.  But it does not need to be something that you fear!

Summer is well underway and there are a few trends that stand out this July as we continue doing plastic surgery on Rodeo Drive.  We are seeing more and more people traveling for Beverly Hills plastic surgery.  We have had at least one person fly in for cosmetic surgery per week.  We have had as many as three people fly in for procedures during one week.  Maybe summer is the season for travel so people are more interested in having a plastic surgery vacation.  Maybe because of television people are more interested in coming to a Los Angeles plastic surgeon. 

We are doing more and more tummy tucks.  Many of these procedures are combined with other plastic surgery, such as a tummy tuck or breast augmentation or lift and liposuction -- a combination we call the Rodeo Drive Mommy Makeover.  We are still not seeing a big movement toward silicone implants.  People still seem more comfortable with saline breast implants.  The implant manufacturers are starting some marketing to the general public, so it will be interesting to see if things change as the summer comes to a close and we head into the fall.  But as of now, there is no groundswell for silicone gel breast implants.  As a Los Angeles plastic surgeon, I did expect more interest by this point.

When we do Los Angeles plastic surgery, one thing we notice is that people hate having stitches removed.  Well, there is good news on this front.  With new types of sutures, we can create nice looking scars without having to remove stitches.  Absorbable sutures have improved greatly over the years.  These sutures dissolve on their own.  So we do not need to pinch the skin and induce winces as we remove them from the skin. 

In times past, permanent or nonabsorbable sutures caused less reaction by the body -- so they created better looking scars.  We used absorbable sutures in the deeper tissues, but for the superficial layer near the outer skin we used materials such as nylon.  Very little body reaction, good scars, but there was the need to remove them.  These sutures would be removed at perhaps five days in the face for such procedures as Beverly Hills rhinoplasty and perhaps at two weeks for body procedures such as Los Angeles liposuction.

But since the new suture materials are very mild to the body, they create only a small amount of body reaction as they absorb.  Therefore, they create scars that are quite favorable -- meaning that the scar is thin rather than flat and flat rather than raised.

Of course, everybody heals differently.  Some people are prone to thicker scars.  This depends on heredity and body type, among other factors.  There are still many things we cannot control about wound healing.  But all things be equal, we can now get very nice looking scars without having to remove stitches.

Breast reduction is a surgical operation that reduces and takes away unwanted fat and excess tissues from the breast. The procedure reduces the weight and the size of the breast that eases the back pain and shoulder pain often caused by large breasts for women.

 

As the nature of the procedure is alleviating medical symptoms, Beverly Hills breast reduction surgery is one of the few plastic surgeries that is covered by some medical insurance companies.  In this situation, pre-approval from your insurance company will usually be required prior to the surgery.

 

The Candidate

 

One of the major reasons why you should be in a good health before undergoing an operation such as Beverly Hills breast reduction is that there is a great deal of risk involved if you are not in good health. .

 

You must also have a realistic expectation for the outcome of the surgery, and you should be mentally stable and voluntarily able to submit to the operation. You must also be the right age, and prepared for the recovery following the procedure, which is somewhat longer than that for breast augmentation.

 

Considerations

 

One thing to consider with this procedure is the cost, and it is based upon the type of surgery and how lengthy it is. Prices vary from $10,000 up to $20,000 inclusive of surgeons fee, the procedure, facilities, and anesthesia. Other additional costs may be in the form of laboratory fees before the operation and medicines after the surgery. Full recovery from the surgery may take 1 to 3 months, a relatively long period of recovery, and the down time is between 1 to 2 weeks.

 

The Procedure

 

Initially the doctor will examine you thoroughly, interview you of your objective and how you want the reduction be done, as well as your expectations after the procedure. Mammography is sometimes requested by the surgeon to be done first as part of the examination, and this will ensure that no complications might get in the way. Risks and limitations also should be discussed with you further. Post operative procedures should also be tackled, and you will want to list all the things you might want to ask your doctor, as you are the one who really knows your body and what’s going on inside it. Every question you ask will be valuable for your comfort prior to and following your Beverly Hills breast reduction.

 

Breast reduction requires general anesthesia, but there are situations where breast reduction can be done in an outpatient basis.

 

Recovery

Supportive garments such as an elastic bra should be worn all the time following the surgery to ensure the protection of the breasts against accidental bumps when you go back into your usual activities, until the swelling and the bruises fades away. You can quickly resume your daily light activities but not the strenuous ones --  remember that the incisions are still fresh and may cause problems if strained. Smoking should be avoided and stopped immediately because it slows down and can compromise the healing process.

With some time, you will get back to all your normal activities and you will find you can be quite a bit more active with your new reduced body shape.  As a plastic surgeon, I can say that this procedure provides a very high degree of patient satisfaction.  A breast reduction is sometimes also combined with a tummy tuck, a combination which we call the Mommy Makeover.

We have many patients show ask us about mesotherapy.  It sounds great:  a few injections and your fat goes away.  Mesotherapy is often presented as an alternative to liposuction California.  Its practice entails injecting medications into the fat below the skin which will dissolve fat.  The fat is then supposedly absorbed by the rest of the body.  But sometimes things that seem too good to be true really are too good to be true.   A report published in the major plastic surgery journal called Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery suggests that patients be cautious about mesotherapy until the safety and effectiveness of the procedure are confirmed. 

Mesotherapy has only recently been introduced in the United States. The ingredients used in mesotherapy may include agents that are used to open blood vessels, hormones, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and other enzymes.  Many who advertise the so-called lipo alternative tout their own "secret recipes."  As yet, no drug is approved by the FDA for use in mesotherapy. Mesotherapy may cost $1,000 to $1,500 per treatment with three to six treatments required.

The study's author makes a very good point about mesotherapy:  "The promise of a non-surgical, permanent method for fat removal and body contouring is obviously very appealing, but mesotherapy is not proven to be the miracle cure to a thinner you.  The problem with mesotherapy is the whole technique is shrouded in mystery. Liposuction remains the only proven method to safely and permanently remove fat."

Many of us want to get rid of our extra fat.  This is only natural.  But our bodies are sensitive to any treatments, even those advertised as "non-surgical."  Just because something is noninvasive and does not involve incisions, does not mean it is safe.  Certainly we have seen numerous patients who suffered skin dimpling and discoloration following mesotherapy treatment.  I have not met anyone passing through our plastic surgery center who reported a benefit from having had the procedure done.  The word to the wise is thus to stay away until the body's reaction to these treatments are better understood.

So as you consider your efforts to battle the bulge, it is safest to stick with the tried and true such as liposuction, or in some cases, other types of plastic surgery in California.  Keep an eye on our Beverly Hills plastic surgery blog for more information as things develop on these issues.

As summer approaches, people start to think about less clothes and more skin exposure.  That means two things:  they want to look slim, and they need to be careful about the sun.  In order to fit into that bathing suit, people now think about their areas of excess fat.  That's why at this time of year we do our most liposuction California procedures. 

The liposuction procedure allows people to quickly and effectively remove areas that have been stubborn and resistant to weight loss.  During the procedure, the areas of fat have fluid injected into them.  This makes the fat easier to remove, and has a long-term pain killer to make the procedure and recovery comfortable.  Then a small sucking tube is used to remove the fat.  Recovery takes just a few days, but there will be some swelling that lasts longer.  So to get ready for that beach party in July, it is best to do the procedure in June.

Liposuction has the advantage of getting rid of unwanted fat with minimal downtime and scarring.  If people have some resistant areas of excess fat, the procedure is quite effective in removing them.   The results are generally very pleasing.  We do a lot of chin liposuction and neck liposuction in both men and women.  For men, we do it very often in the chest and the love handles or flanks.For women we do a lot of lipo in the abdomen or tummy and the inner and outer thighs. 

Also at this time of year, we remind people to protect themselves from the sun.  Skin cancer is a growing concern, especially in sunny areas like Los Angeles and all of Southern California.  Any worrisome or changing skin lesion should have a biopsy.  This usually removes the lesion and also allows it to be looked at under a microscope, so a diagnosis can be made.  With this information, we know if you are prone to skin cancer in other places that might develop skin lesions, or if existing other lesions should be immediately addressed.  Skin cancer is a serious issue, and both prevention and treatment should be taken equally seriously.  More information:    http://bhplasticsurgeon.blogspot.com .

 Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery is the first and only plasticsurgery center at the ultimate address in Beverly Hills -- Rodeo Drive.  It is an internationally renownedcosmetic surgery center that specializes in tummy tuck procedures.  They have developed several innovative techniques for performing this cosmeticsurgery procedure, including the Rodeo Drive Belly Button™ and the Rodeo Drive Mommy Makeover™.  For people consideringa Beverly Hills tummy tuck, this center provides the specialized care they are seeking.  National statistics reveal that the tummy tuck is one of the fastest growing plastic surgery procedures.  The reason is that for many people who havehad babies or have lost a good deal of weight, the procedure stands alone inbeing able to reshape the midsection and provide a flat and smooth belly.  Both men and women are seeking tummy tucksurgery, and it is very popular for people who underwent gastric bypasssurgery.

Features on their unique approach to tummy tucks (also called abdominoplasty)have been written about and televised in media from around the country andinternationally.  Some recent stories have been shown on Access Hollywood, Univision, Telefrancais 1 in France, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times,Los AngelesMagazine, Japan'sChocolat Sienne Magazine, England’s Daily Mail and Grazia, the leading glossy magazine in Great Britain.  Their web site provides details about tummy tuck and includes before and after plastic surgery photos.   There is also more information on their plastic surgery blog.

 

Here is the latest news in plastic surgery.  There were nearly 11.5 million surgical and nonsurgical procedures performed in the United States, as reported by the American Plastic Surgery Society. Surgical procedures accounted for nearly 19% of the total with nonsurgical procedures making up 81% of the total.

From 2004-2005, there was a decrease of 4 percent in the total number of cosmetic procedures. Surgical procedures showed an increase of 1% with nonsurgical procedures falling by 4 percent.  This is bucking the previous trend of increasing nonsurgical treatments, as is seen in Beverly Hills plastic surgery.

Since 1997 there has been an increase of 444 percent in the total number of cosmetic procedures. Surgical procedures have increased by 119 percent, nonsurgical procedures by 726 percent.

The top five surgical procedures cosmetic procedures in 2005 were:

Liposuction with 455,489 procedures performed, down five percent from last year. Interestingly, 21% of these procedures were ultrasound-assisted Lipoplasty (UAL)

Breast Augmentation with 364,610 procedures up nine percent from 2004. For the first time, we categorized saline vs. silicone augmentation. 83.4 percent of respondents used the saline device, 16.6 percent the silicone implant.  This might change for breast augmentation in Beverly Hills since the FDA has approved silicone implants.

Blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery) came in third with 231,467 procedures down 20 percent from 2004

Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) is the forth most common procedure with 200,924 procedures performed, an increase of 21 percent over 2004

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) reported 169,314 procedures, up 12 percent from 2004.

We are seeing many of these same trends at our Los Angeles plastic surgery center.

 Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery center on the world-famous boulevard, unveils its Rodeo Drive Mommy Makeover. The procedure is in keeping with the times in that many modern women want to have a family -- and also look and feel great. The center works overtime doing the procedure in honor of Mother’s Day.

Many of today’s moms don’t feel they should sacrifice the way they look just because they’ve had children. At Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, plastic surgeon Dr. Lloyd Krieger specializes in patients in their 20s, 30s and 40s. This often includes women who have had babies. "These women usually want their tummies and breasts back the way they looked before pregnancy," notes Dr. Krieger.

Dr. Krieger, who has been featured in Fortune, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Univision, Access Hollywood and other media, does many tummy tucks and breast lifts for these patients. Often he places small breast implants - not so much to increase size, but to give these women back the volume in the breasts that they lost during and after pregnancy. In addition to a breast augmentation Beverly Hills, he might do a formal mastopexy or breast lift. Sometimes he also does liposuction. This popular procedure has come to be known as "The Rodeo Drive Mommy Makeover." "We’ve done these Mommy Makeovers on women as young as 22 and as old as 64," says Dr. Krieger.

Whenever Dr. Krieger does a tummy tuck as part of the Mommy Makeover, he includes his well-known Rodeo Drive Belly Button with the procedure. This helps create a nice-looking midriff.

Dr. Krieger notes that the Mommy Makeover can sometimes be done during one surgery. Other times it is best to break the procedure up over more than one day. The patient’s body type and overall health helps us determine the best approach. Dr. Krieger takes many steps to assure both minimal pain and maximum safety during his procedures, including the use of long-acting local anesthetic as part of the surgery and doing all his work in the on-site Medical-certified surgery center.

Many of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery’s patients for the Mommy Makeover travel from out of town seeking Los Angeles plastic surgery. The Rodeo Drive staff can help with the planning of these sorts of trips.

About Dr. Krieger: California plastic surgeon Dr. Krieger was educated at Stanford University and the University of Chicago and completed his residency at UCLA. He maintains operating privileges at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai medical centers. Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery has established a unique professional network to offer his patients a lifestyle overhaul along with their surgery, which may include a new wardrobe at nearby Rodeo Drive shops, a new hairstyle, spa treatments or a new fitness regime.

About Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery: This California plastic surgery center, Nestled next to Chanel, Dior and Tiffany & Co., is the only plastic surgery center on Rodeo Drive. The posh 5,000 square foot facility looks more like a boutique than a doctor’s office.

Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery is accredited by AAAHC and Medicare and the full-sized operating rooms and recovery suites are equipped with the latest equipment and fully staffed at all times to provide the best patient care possible. "We designed our center to combine the convenience of storefront shopping with what I call the Four Seasons treatment," Dr. Krieger concludes. "Because cosmetic surgery is elective, people are looking for a first-class experience, and that’s what we offer at our center."

More information about The Rodeo Drive Mommy Makeover is available on their web site, including descriptions of tummy tuck in Beverly Hills and breast augmentation in Beverly Hills as well as Los Angeles liposuction.

 Modern rhinoplasty or nose job techniques stress retaining overall ethnic appearance and facial harmony.  The steps to make this happen can be complex, but the benefits of Beverly Hills rhinoplasty can be pleasing.

People of different ethnic groups often come to a plastic surgeon seeking to refine the appearance of their nose.  Modern Beverly Hills rhinoplasty techniques like those done at Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery stress preservation of ethnic appearance along with overall facial balance.  The nose should match the rest of the face.  Ethnic rhinoplasty or nose job works to achieve this while providing the improvements and enhancements sought in the nose.  This is similar to other plastic surgery procedures, such as breast augmentation Los Angeles.

Ethnic groups often tend to have certain characteristics to their noses, both in terms of their outer appearance and of their internal structures.  For this reason, it is best to address the noses of various ethnic groups such as African Americans and Hispanics and Asians individually.  “Cookie cutter” approaches to rhinoplasty rarely work well, and this is especially the case with non-caucasian nose surgery.

There are many examples of how this individualized approach offers the best outcome in ethnic rhinoplasty.  For instance, many people of Asian and African and Latino descent have noses with wide bases and broad tips.  They often also have thick skin at the tip of the nose.  This can give the tip a rounded or “bulbous” appearance.  Non-caucasian noses often also have a bump at the bridge, along with a wide and flat bridge. 

Because of these anatomic tendencies, ethnic noses frequently require extensive work on their internal structures to create the desired appearance.  This includes using plastic surgery to change the shape of the bone and cartilage inside the nose, while working to create little or no external scarring.  Since this internal structural work is extensive, it can have important effects on the function as well as the appearance of the nose.  For this reason, the Rodeo Drive Breathe Easy Rhinoplasty^TM technique -- which works to improve both the appearance and the breathing function of the nose – is especially well-suited to providing good results in ethnic rhinoplasty. 

Some rhinoplasty and plastic surgery techniques are commonly used for African American, Hispanic, and Asian noses. The flatter noses common in many ethnic people can be addressed by grafting cartilage from elsewhere in the body to shape the skin of the nose’s tip more finely, and provide it with a refined appearance. In some cases, the nostrils are noticeably wide and benefit from direct steps to narrow them during surgery. 

Prior to your procedure, you will meet with your plastic surgeon to discuss your goals from rhinoplasty.  It is important to have clear ideas of what you want to change about your nose so we can come up with the best plan for your nose surgery.

 

 In 2006, Hispanics led minority racial and ethnic groups undergoing cosmetic procedures (9.5% of all procedures performed, up from 6% in 2000), according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

More Hispanic women are seeking plastic surgery, according to Dr. Lloyd Krieger of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery, who notes that more than 40% of the patients at his deluxe California plastic surgery center are of Latino origin. Dr. Krieger, who has been featured on Univision, Telemundo, and Telefutura, notes that the largest increase in his practice recently has been from Hispanic patients seeking "cirugia plastica."

To meet this growing demand and better serve patients in this community, Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery has launched a specialized Spanish language web site. The web site provides general information on all of plastic surgery with emphasis on plastic surgery for Hispanics. Some of the procedures covered include liposuction Los Angeles and tummy tuck as well as breast augmentation in Beverly Hills and rhinoplasty.

The web site also covers specialized procedures that tend to appeal to Hispanic patients. For example, the majority of Dr. Krieger’s patients who ask for the "The Rodeo Drive Mommy Makeover" are Hispanic women in their 20’s and 30’s. The "Mommy Makeover" consists of a tummy tuck, breast lift and frequently a small breast implant.

Dr. Krieger has established a unique professional network to offer his patients a lifestyle design, which may include a new wardrobe at nearby Rodeo Drive shops, a new hairstyle, spa treatments, and a new fitness regime. Dr. Krieger attended medical school at the University of Chicago and completed his residency at UCLA, and maintains operating privileges at UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery and its medical director Dr. Lloyd Krieger have been featured in the local, national, and international media. Some recent stories have appeared on Access Hollywood, Elle, Star, InTouch Weekly, Life & Style, Maxim, The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Daily News, The Washington Times, KTLA Morning News, Univision, Telemundo, France’s Télévision Française 1, Japan’s Chocolat Siene magazine, Mexico City’s Reforma magazine, Denmark’s Q magazine, Sweden’s AftonBladet newspaper, New Zealand’s Flipside magazine, and England’s Daily Mail newspaper and Grazia magazine.

 As we do Los Angeles cosmetic surgery, we find that many of our patients lead active lifestyles. Some people have told us of their concern that having plastic surgery will keep them from working out and going to the gym for many weeks and months following their procedure. That’s why we’ve developed our Back to the Gym Program. By working closely with you, we often can get you back to exercising shortly after plastic surgery – while maintaining your safety and assuring that you stay on course to have the best possible result from your procedure.

Our Back to the Gym Program involves several steps:

• During your plastic surgery consultation, we review your medical history. If there is a medical reason or indication, we arrange for you to be evaluated by a primary care physician or, if indicated, by a specialist. We review your standard exercise regimen with you in detail.
• Once we decide which cosmetic surgery procedure you will be having, we begin planning what sorts of exercises are safe for you and when you might begin them.
• Depending on the procedure you undergo, we arrange for you to obtain specialized garments to protect the areas of your body we worked on.
• During and after your surgery, we implement our Minimal Pain Program, which helps you feel less discomfort following your procedure so you can return to normal light activities more quickly.
• We see you several days after your surgery, before you begin to work out. During this visit, we confirm that your recovery is going as expected.
• We then discuss very specifically what sorts of exercises you can begin doing and when. We tell you warning signs to watch out for, and should make you slow down your activities. We arrange for your plastic surgeon to speak with your personal trainer, if you use one. If you’d like, we have trainers we work with and we can arrange for you to exercise with these professionals after your surgery.
• We maintain close contact with you, both by phone and frequent office visits, to make certain that your physical activities continue to go smoothly without slowing your overall recovery.

There will of course be limitations to the types and intensity of exercises you can do and when you can start doing them. And if you experience any warning signs of overexertion you must stop what you are doing immediately. Our Back to the Gym Program requires good communication and frequent visits to our office. But we find this extra effort on our part and yours improves the overall plastic surgery experience for many of our patients. The program can be applied to all procedures we do, such as Los Angeles breast augmentation and Beverly Hills tummy tuck as well as liposuction, among others.

 

Silicone breast implants have been the subject of a great deal of controversy. This limited the use of silicone implants for breast augmentation Beverly Hills.  But now, after more than ten years of scientific study, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved silicone gel breast implants for general usage. They are now available to all women ages 22 and higher for both reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery.

 

One prominent plastic surgeon notes that the availability of silicone implants will greatly expand the options for women seeking breast augmentation. Dr. Lloyd Krieger, the founder and Medical Director of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery notes that in many situations, they have real advantages over saline breast implants.

 

Dr. Krieger goes on, "They tend to look and feel more natural than saline implants. They are less prone to rippling or crinkling which can sometimes be felt and occasionally can become visible under the skin. They are lighter than silicone implants." However, Dr. Krieger says, they are thought by some to have a higher rate of capsular contracture, which is scarring around the implant and can make the breasts hard.

 

Los Angeles plastic surgery is likely to see an increase to in the use of silicone breast implants. In countries where both silicone and saline implants have been available the vast majority of patients and surgeons select silicone implants. This is testimony to their advantages. Krieger describes that "In the US, we are likely to see a large number of patients select silicone breast implants. That is already the case as I see people interested in

 

But cosmetic surgeon Krieger says there will still be a place for saline implants. "Some people might simply prefer not to have silicone placed in their body. Silicone implants are more expensive than saline implants. In some cases, the implant is used as a sort of platform to elevate the normal breast tissue rather than to give the breast the entirety of its shape. In this situation, saline implants function just about as effectively as silicone implants. "People want to know all their options, whether is it with rhinoplasty Los Angeles or breast implants," Krieger concludes.

 

Silicone implants have not been shown to cause autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and lupus, as had been feared. But patients should realize that any breast augmentation procedure is essentially temporary. Body shape and anatomy can change, there might be problems with healing or the body's reaction to the implant. At some point, it is likely that additional procedures may be necessary.

 

"Breast augmentation has many benefits, but a lifetime with the same implants in plac