Showing posts with label Quality plastic surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quality plastic surgery. Show all posts
Monday, July 20, 2009
Finding A Good Plastic Surgeon: Article in LA Times
See a recent article in the Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-ig-plasticsurgerybox19-2009jul19,0,1952565.story
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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