On April 16th our Skin Care Specialists Erin and Stacy will set aside an entire day to see new & existing skin care patients. You'll have a thorough skin evaluation with recommendations on how to make the best of your skin.
Our established patients who refer a friend who sees us on the Thursday will be able to enjoy a complimentary Facial treatment. We know you'll enjoy that.
New and old patients will receive the additional benefit of 10% discount on Obagi product purchases made that week.
Schedule your favorite time on 4/16/09 by phone at 864-676-1707 or e-mail using the Contact Us Today link at our website: http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/skin.html
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Unqualified Personnel, Medical Tourism, Branded Procedures: Seek Quality Cosmetic Procedures
Seek Quality Cosmetic Procedures
Beware. Seek value, but don’t surrender quality. At times potential patients are considering a facial enhancement or breast & body procedure. Some of them may be your friends and acquaintances. There are some options they may need to be warned against. Check out the list below:
1) Inexperienced or unqualified personnel: This is a particular concern with laser and injectable treatments. Plastic surgeons have a reputation for extensive education and broad experience, both in evaluation and in treatment of facial and body cosmetic concerns.
Companies that produce filler injections and lasers market them heavily to doctors in many fields that have little experience treating skin and aesthetic problems. Some salons and spas solicit a doctor to give assurance to wary clients. Ask about board certification? In what specialty? How much training? Is the laser operator a MD or licensed RN? Be wary of technicians without nursing or medical degrees. If an injection is involved, is the substance FDA approved? Is there data to support “off-label” use?
2) Medical tourism is a growing industry. For decades, patients have come to specialists in the US for outstanding care. Quality training and high safety standards have been our hallmark. A reverse phenomenon is the flow of patients to second and third world countries for discount cosmetic surgery. Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, and Hong Kong have some respected well-known plastic surgeons, but many well-marketed doctors in Central America and Asia entice patients with low prices. They do not offer US medical care standards or important follow-up. These situations have produced both excellent results and injured or disfigured patients.
3) “Branded” operations are cleverly marketed procedures. One can usually recognize these procedures by their gimmicky names: “Lite-lift,” “Easy-lipo,” “Wonder-lift,” “Laser-lift,” or “Make-over lift.” The appeal is the possibility of cheaper, fast, simple, painless, or risk-free surgery. The procedures are usually relatively minor modifications of common operations – not break-through developments. Some are scaled-down versions of procedures. Some of the operations were generally abandoned by surgeons as having limited effectiveness. More established operations exist for a reason – proven effectiveness helping patients achieve quality results.
Dr Graham and his staff have excellent background, years of experience, and receive on-going training on quality procedures. We have the ability to offer a range of aesthetic techniques, minimally-invasive options or operations – designed to address each of your concerns – safely, effectively and at moderate cost. We can design a plan to do simple things now, and transition to more substantial improvements as you wish.
Beware. Seek value, but don’t surrender quality. At times potential patients are considering a facial enhancement or breast & body procedure. Some of them may be your friends and acquaintances. There are some options they may need to be warned against. Check out the list below:
1) Inexperienced or unqualified personnel: This is a particular concern with laser and injectable treatments. Plastic surgeons have a reputation for extensive education and broad experience, both in evaluation and in treatment of facial and body cosmetic concerns.
Companies that produce filler injections and lasers market them heavily to doctors in many fields that have little experience treating skin and aesthetic problems. Some salons and spas solicit a doctor to give assurance to wary clients. Ask about board certification? In what specialty? How much training? Is the laser operator a MD or licensed RN? Be wary of technicians without nursing or medical degrees. If an injection is involved, is the substance FDA approved? Is there data to support “off-label” use?
2) Medical tourism is a growing industry. For decades, patients have come to specialists in the US for outstanding care. Quality training and high safety standards have been our hallmark. A reverse phenomenon is the flow of patients to second and third world countries for discount cosmetic surgery. Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, and Hong Kong have some respected well-known plastic surgeons, but many well-marketed doctors in Central America and Asia entice patients with low prices. They do not offer US medical care standards or important follow-up. These situations have produced both excellent results and injured or disfigured patients.
3) “Branded” operations are cleverly marketed procedures. One can usually recognize these procedures by their gimmicky names: “Lite-lift,” “Easy-lipo,” “Wonder-lift,” “Laser-lift,” or “Make-over lift.” The appeal is the possibility of cheaper, fast, simple, painless, or risk-free surgery. The procedures are usually relatively minor modifications of common operations – not break-through developments. Some are scaled-down versions of procedures. Some of the operations were generally abandoned by surgeons as having limited effectiveness. More established operations exist for a reason – proven effectiveness helping patients achieve quality results.
Dr Graham and his staff have excellent background, years of experience, and receive on-going training on quality procedures. We have the ability to offer a range of aesthetic techniques, minimally-invasive options or operations – designed to address each of your concerns – safely, effectively and at moderate cost. We can design a plan to do simple things now, and transition to more substantial improvements as you wish.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Just Released: 2008 statistics on plastic srugery
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) just published its 2008 annual statistical comparisons. The main findings are:
For the first time in 12 years, liposuction is no longer the most popular cosmetic surgery -- it is breast augmentation. Botox is again the most popular non-surgical treatment.
The top 5 surgery procedures for women (92% of patients) were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty and breast reduction. That is reflective of my practice, although facelift is also very common.
The number of procedures decreased 11% from 2007. Among males, procedures decreased 23%. 53% of procedures were performed in office-based surgery facilities. Total spending was $12 billion. Details are available at http://www.surgery.org/
For the first time in 12 years, liposuction is no longer the most popular cosmetic surgery -- it is breast augmentation. Botox is again the most popular non-surgical treatment.
The top 5 surgery procedures for women (92% of patients) were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty and breast reduction. That is reflective of my practice, although facelift is also very common.
The number of procedures decreased 11% from 2007. Among males, procedures decreased 23%. 53% of procedures were performed in office-based surgery facilities. Total spending was $12 billion. Details are available at http://www.surgery.org/
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Facial Aging & Blepharoplasty: Recent items in the media
Time Magazine ran an article in February with some very interesting observations on genetically identical twins and how environment makes us look younger or older. It reinforced recommendations that plastic surgeons have been making; that enhancing volume in the face makes one look more youthful. We use hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvaderm, Restylane, etc.) and Fat Graft Transfer to maintain full healthy cheeks, correct jawline thinning, and fill in under-eye grooves. Facelifting techniques elevate and restore sagging or lost healthy tissues. The article contains other thought provoking ideas.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1877717,00.html
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/injectables.html
More Magazine followed one woman through the process of blepharoplasty (eyelid lift). They show early post-op swelling, etc.
http://www.more.com/style/beauty/anti-aging/eyelift-one-womans-story/
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/other-face.html#eyelid-surgery
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1877717,00.html
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/injectables.html
More Magazine followed one woman through the process of blepharoplasty (eyelid lift). They show early post-op swelling, etc.
http://www.more.com/style/beauty/anti-aging/eyelift-one-womans-story/
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/other-face.html#eyelid-surgery
Saturday, March 7, 2009
In The News: MedSpa Regulations
Here at the Aesthetic Center we maintain high standards and limit the use of lasers to our experienced, licensed medically trained physician and nurse practitioner. Here is what's happening elsewhere in the country:
New Standards Urged For Treatment at Spas Use of Chemicals, Lasers Proliferates Boston Globe (2009-02-24) P. A1; Kowalczyk, Liz
A task force of lawmakers and physicians are fighting to create tougher regulations regarding medical spas in Massachusetts. The medical spa industry is growing; the number of spas has grown to 2,500 in the United States over the past few years. The group argues that consumers are at risk of injury because they are being treated by untrained and unlicensed workers. Jeffrey Dover, a dermatologist, says that the most common injury is caused by workers using the wrong laser or setting to get rid of body hair, which causes the removal of skin pigment as well. The proposal states that medical spas would be required to have a license from the Department of Health, and laser skin treatments would have to be done by a specially trained doctor or nurse. Medical spas are difficult to create legislation for because there are so many specialties, such as cosmetologists, electrologists, aestheticians, nurses, and physicians, within one business. Each specialty has its own rules and standards, so there are no laws about which professional can do which procedure. Owners of medical spas are split over whether they want their businesses to be regulated.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/24/new_standards_urged_for_treatment_at_spas/
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/laser.html
New Standards Urged For Treatment at Spas Use of Chemicals, Lasers Proliferates Boston Globe (2009-02-24) P. A1; Kowalczyk, Liz
A task force of lawmakers and physicians are fighting to create tougher regulations regarding medical spas in Massachusetts. The medical spa industry is growing; the number of spas has grown to 2,500 in the United States over the past few years. The group argues that consumers are at risk of injury because they are being treated by untrained and unlicensed workers. Jeffrey Dover, a dermatologist, says that the most common injury is caused by workers using the wrong laser or setting to get rid of body hair, which causes the removal of skin pigment as well. The proposal states that medical spas would be required to have a license from the Department of Health, and laser skin treatments would have to be done by a specially trained doctor or nurse. Medical spas are difficult to create legislation for because there are so many specialties, such as cosmetologists, electrologists, aestheticians, nurses, and physicians, within one business. Each specialty has its own rules and standards, so there are no laws about which professional can do which procedure. Owners of medical spas are split over whether they want their businesses to be regulated.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/24/new_standards_urged_for_treatment_at_spas/
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/laser.html
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