Low-Cost Procedures in the Local News

The local newspaper (The Greenville News, www.greenvilleonline.com) recently ran a McClatchy News Service article with the title, "Demand grows for low-cost cosmetic procedures." It is a well written article that refers to statistics from the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Graham is a member of both organizations. www.PlasticSurgery.org and www.Surgery.org. It also quotes non-surgeons and dermatologists.

One major point is that patients are seeking more temporary "quick fixes" now.

We are proud that we offer our patients both injectable and/or laser solutions and definitive surgical rejuvenation. We suggest patients tell us the results the seek and the available down-time, and we will offer options that are suitable for them.

Ranges of options for face, breast & body are not new for The Aesthetic Center. Dr. Graham has extensive training and experience. In addition, his staff includes a post-graduate nurse practitioner with special experience and laser and injectables, and two Skin Care Specialists for non-invasive skin treatment. We treat a broad range of issues from blotchy pigment, fine lines and expression lines to gravity lines. We have professional product lines, unavailable in department stores, spas or salons.

Dysport & Botox; wrinkle treatment by Dr. Graham in Greenville, SC

Latest Seminar Tomorrow: Facial Cosmetic Surgery & Non-surgical

Tuesday, October 6th at 6:30pm Dr. Graham and his staff will host an evening about facial rejuvenation procedures, both non-surgical and surgical.

There will be refreshments and you'll tour the office and surgical suite. Dr. Graham has a presentation of up-to-date information and before & after photos. They'll be examples of light-based SkinTyte (non-surgical), Juvederm & Restylane (HA fillers), Botox (Dysport) neurotoxins, Laser peels, Obagi Professional skin care. He'll show neck liposuction, chin implant, eyelid blepharoplasty, necklift, standard facelift, short-scar cheek lift, minimally-invasive browlift, etc.

Call today 864-676-1707 or e-mail info@expertplasticsurgeon.com

Facelift: making the result natural and beautiful.

Beautiful, natural facial rejuvenation is possible through facelift surgery. It all in how the surgeon does his work.

Dr. Graham is widely known for achieving such high quality results for his female and male patients. Our photo gallery gives many examples and we'll show you more when you visit the office for a consultation. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/facelift-necklift-4805. The skin is not pulled overly tight. The mouth is not stretched. the cheeks aren't flattened. The expressions remain natural. Many times your friends will only notice that you look better somehow, less tired, or they might think you lost some weight. Of course, if the concerns include slack jowls, "turkey-neck," lax cheek and neck skin, etc. those will be improved markedly.

Most patients feel well in days and return to light activities in about a week. There is relatively little down-time. You can resume exercise and an active lifestyle in 3 weeks.

If you want more information, see our website. Our contact page will get you started, and give you information on how to schedule a consultation. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/contact.html
Call 864-676-1707.
E-mail info@expertplasticsurgeon.com

Our specialized cosmetic plastic surgery practice can offer an in-office, private, nationally accredited surgical suite, with MD anesthesiology (board-certified). We perform facelift, cheeklift, short-scar facelift, necklift, neck liposuction, browlift, endoscopic browlift, eyelid blepharoplasty, fat graft augmentation of loss of fullness, lip augmentation, cheek augmentation, chin augmentation, chin implants, hyaluronic acid fillers (Restylane & Juvederm), Botox & Dysport, laser skin tightening, laser peels, intense-pulsed light (IPL). We serve NE Georgia, Western North Carolina, South Carolina, including Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Columbia, Greenwood, Greer, Taylors, Clemson, Seneca, Reserve and Clifts Communities, Tryon, Landrum, Hendersonville, Asheville, Highlands, Cashiers, Beavard, etc.

Eyelid cosmetic blepharoplasty in Greenville, South Carolina

Eyelid tuck (blepharoplasty) is the most common facial cosmetic surgery both nationally and in our practice in Greenville, Upstate South Carolina.

People notice our eyes as the most expressive part of our face. The skin is thinner there and years of expressions & possibly sun damage cause wrinkles, deeper lines, thinning of the lower rim, protruding fat bags, draping loose skin. Gravity pushing the forehead and eyebrows down adds to the tired or sad impression that the eyes can give.

Surgery can be the answer for some of those problems. Blepharoplasty can removes skin folds, tighten skin, remove protruding fat pads, and add support to loose lids. Browlift can reduce forehead lines, raise overly low eyebrows, and decrease fullness of the upper, outer eye socket area. Laser peel can greatly improve skin texture, crinkling, wrinkling, crepiness. Some skin tightening is possible too. Lighter laser treatments are available that have shorter recovery times and don't need anesthesia.

Comprehensive treatment means more than surgery, and we have staff and experience with many other methods. Obagi Professional Skin Care is very helpful, particularly for pigmentation and surface texture concerns. Botox and Dysport are important to reduce excessive muscle motion in the squint & frown areas. Restylane and Juvaderm injectable fillers solve under-eye hollows and thin lower rims. We offer Latisse, the only FDA approved product to grow thicker, longer, darker lashes. We also offer lash and brow tinting or more permanent tattoo eyeliner or brow tint. Patients enjoy visits with out Skin Care Specialists and Nurse Practitioner. They enhance your results and enjoyment.

If you're interested in eyelid or other facial rejuvenation contact us by e-mail at info@expertplasticsurgeon.com or call 864-676-1707.

Eyelid & Facelift Surgery: Attention turns to facial procedures

With summer almost over and fall approaching we notice a trend among our patients' interests. Many now want facial cosmetic procedures, often thinking ahead to looking their best for holidays, social and family gatherings.

Patients who have visited our office in the past and people who review our website have seen our strong emphasis on facial cosmetic surgery. Dr. Graham is well known for beautiful, natural looking facelifts, necklifts, short-scar cheeklifts, eyelid tuck (blepharoplasty), browlifts, laser wrinkle treatments, Botox & the new Dysport, lip enhancement, fillers such as Restylane, Perlane and Juvaderm, and finally natural fat grafts.

In addition to Dr. Graham, we have talented and experienced staff including 2 Skin Care Specialists (licensed estheticians) and our nurse practitioner (advanced-practice nurse). They enhance the results of both pre-op and post-op surgical patients and of women and men who want non-surgical enhancements. After surgery, our patients are provided sessions to reduce swelling and any bruising, improve circulation and increase comfort. If ultrasound or laser technology will speed healing, they can provide those as well.

Often we see a new patient who is wondering about facial cosmetic surgery, but isn't ready yet. We'll provide detailed information to help them with their decision. We have tools that they can use to help without surgery. For example, early eyelid skin wrinkles can improve with some combination of Obagi skin care products, microlaser peel, or Botox & Dysport neurotoxins. As another example, signs of age around the mouth can be improved with laser skin tightening (non-ablative), Juvaderm & Perlane fillers, and possibly selective Botox / Dysport. We also offer permanent make-up (medical tattooing) including lip liner, lip color, and eye liner which enhance those areas further. If you have facial pigmentation problems caused by sun exposure, hormones, etc. we have several treatments that can give you uniform smoother appearing skin.
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/facelift.html
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/other-face.html
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/injectables.html#botox
The majority of our patients come from the million or so residents of Upstate South Carolina (Greenville, Spartanburg GSP, Anderson, Greer, Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Clinton, Union, Gaffney, Inman, Taylors, Easley, Pickens, Clemson, Seneca). Georgia communities including Hartwell, Clayton, and Toccoa are included. North Carolina patients frequently consult us (Asheville, Henderson, Brevard, Highlands, Cashiers, Franklin, Waynesville). We do accommodate patients traveling from out-of- state through GSP airport, local hotels or B&B's, or those staying with family locally.

Items in the media

Some recent online articles about cosmetic plastic surgery.


http://www.theweekender.com/cover/One_lift__tuck_or_suction_at_a_time__cos_07-28-2009.html

http://www.healthywomen.org/blogs/midlifematters/2009/07/lines-and-wrinkles-be-gone.html

Dysport is new Botox alternative. More news

Since my recent post (June 13th) about the new FDA approval of Dysport as an alternative to Botox, I found another media mention in the Washington Post. My website discussion of neurotixins applies equally to Botox and Dysport. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/injectables.html#botox

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/22/AR2009052202257.html

Magic Wand Analogy (laser or injection): Check out the Witch or Wizard (plastic surgeon) using that thing! (copyright)

Wrinkle treatments, newest lasers, latest filler injections. We regularly get calls and we welcome questions about new developments. We are constantly looking at the many offerings of companies to find the best to offer our patients. Each new "Botox-alternative," "non-surgical facelift," "minilift" or "new laser wavelength" is a potential benefit, but quality studies are often lacking.

The "magic wand" analogy occurred to me recently. Potential patients need to ask the question posed by Glinda in the Wizard of Oz, "are you a good witch or a bad witch?" You don't need to know so much about the wand as the one waving it. The witch or wizard using the magic wand is the person who will determine the quality of your outcome.

Expert surgeons can obtain similarly excellent facelift results using a variety of techniques (SMASectomy, SMAS plication, MACS lift for example). Quality "injectors" using Botox at different concentrations or Juvaderm Ultra Plus versus Perlane can obtain superior results. The most important questions are questions about the doctor or nurse's skill, training and experience. You are not just buying a uniform product (25 units of magic neurotoxin). You are buying their medical experience.

So, my advice is don't worry so much about the wand, seek quality witches and wizards; you want the good ones.

Reloxin approved by FDA (Dysport in Europe) - Botox alternative

An alternative to Botox will be available later in 2009. Medicis Corporation, which markets Restylane and Perlane as well as other dermatologic products, announced recently that the FDA has approved its application to market an alternative botulinum toxin in the USA. Medicis has licensed the product known as Dysport in Europe from Ipsen Corporation there.

The new toxin Reloxin will work similarly to BotoxCosmetic, but with different dosages due to different activity of the product. Doctors will need to evaluate its effects on patients and adapt correct dosages.

Dr. Graham has been aware of this alternative neurotoxin for many years due to it's overseas use, and will evaluate it's benefits and risks for our patients when available here. We are one of the most active Botox users in the area, and will certainly offer proven benefits to our patients.

For a press announcement see www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/fashion/02SKIN.html?_r=1
For more information on our practice and botulinum toxin seehttp://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/injectables.html#botox

We hope Reloxin will be a less expensive alternative to Botox!