Breast enlargement without implants: fat grafts / liposelection

Dr. Sutton Graham continues the best demonstrated techniques for breast enlargement (breast implant augmentation), and regularly updates his knowledge of proposed new techniques. Several recent media reports reference using fat grafts (fat transfer or liposelection) to enhance one's body contour (buttocks, breasts, cheeks, etc.). It is even showing up on Facebook. CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/22/health/webmd/main4539000.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/article/20091008/LIFESTYLE/910080309/1040/lifestyle03/Latest-liposuction-is-safer--less-painful-procedure-to-reshape-body#
Web MD: http://women.webmd.com/news/20081021/are-fat-injections-safe-for-breasts

Fat grafting is not a new idea, and plastic surgeons have used it for decades. The techniques have improved; harvesting and preparing patient's own fat for injection elsewhere in their body. The fat cell material attaches to blood vessels in the recipient area, and becomes a living part of your body, similar to a skin graft healing in place of a skin burn wound. Current techniques mean that a higher proportion of the transferred fat continues living in the new location. Most surgeons plan some degree of over treatment, because they expect more than one-third of the fat will be re-absorbed. Staged treatments are sometimes planned.

In our practice, fat transfer is most common for loss of attractive facial fullness (lips and cheeks), restoring a soft natural fullness. We also use it for buttock enhancement, usually in conjunction with liposuction of excess fat from the surrounding areas. It can be used to correct irregularities from prior injury or trauma (indentation in your normal fat). Dr. Graham is interested in the results of current studies that confirm the safety and effectiveness of fat graft augmentation of the breast. The controversial nature of breast fat transfer is highlighted in some of the article links above.

Saline implant breast augmentation remains a safe, proved method for breast enhancement. For more information call us (864-676-1707) or look at the augmentation of our website: http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/augmentation.html

Clemson Cosmetic Surgery Presentation, Tuesday October 27th

WE'RE COMING TO YOU, CLEMSON!

Bring state-of-the-art cosmetic plastic surgery to your upstate community, Tuesday, October 27th, 6:00-8:30pm, at the Madren Conference Center. http://www.clemson.edu/madren/toc/contact/location.htm

Dr. Graham and the staff of Aesthetic Center for Breast & Cosmetic Surgery will present a broad range of topics; from the face to the breast and the body. We'll discuss surgical and non-surgical treatments.

The presentation will be divided into two sessions. The first half will run 6:00 through 7:15pm. We'll discuss facial rejuvenation, cosmetic surgery, injectables, peels and skin care. The second half will be 7:30-8:30 and cover breast augmentation, reduction and lift, liposuction and tummy tuck.

We will offer refreshments. You're welcome at both sessions. Please bring a friend. Arrive a few minutes early to enjoy refreshments, meet Dr. Graham and his wonderful staff.

REGISTRATION IS IMPORTANT. Please send an e-mail to us at info@expertplasticsurgeon.com (or link through our website) or call us at 864-676-1707.

If you cannot attend these sessions, but are interested, we will be having other dates and locations in Pickens and Oconee county later. Call for details.
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/

Welcoming people from Georgia, Upstate South Carolina, Western North Carolina. Seneca, Easley, Pickens, Salem, Sunset, Jocassee, Keowee and Hartwell Lake communities, Reserve and Cliffs Communities, Hartwell, Toccoca, Anderson, Pendleton, Piedmont, Highlands, Cashiers, Toxaway, and Franklin

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 & 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.

Silicone Facial Injections: Avoid

On National Public Radio this morning a reporter discussed the controversial subject of having silicone liquid injected into various areas of the body as a filler.

The procedure is rarely done by qualified plastic surgeons, and thought of as a poor choice of filler material by most. Some of the people injecting silicone are not physicians and lack appropriate medical training. Some of the material is not medical-grade silicone.

We have seen some patients at The Aesthetic Center who have had injections of an unknown permanent material, who developed undesirable hardening, scarring and distortion.

Our recommendation is to avoid injectable silicone. Hyaluronic acid fillers are excellent, well-tolerated, and reversible. Juvaderm and Restylane are best for most patients.

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

See our article in TALK Magazine

"Super-charged Anti-agers," is the title of an article featuring Dr. Graham and three other area physicians, in the Beauty & Style section. Dr. Graham represented the specialty of plastic surgery. In addition there were two dermatologists and a family practitioner.

All of them discussed their opinions on specialized skin care, non-surgical treatments, new technologies, Botox, fillers, demographics, celebrities, etc. Click on the title above for the link to TALK Magazine, December, 2008.

For more: http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/injectables.html#botox

Sagging versus Wrinkles

I recently heard a great analogy comparing facial skin to fabric. If the surface isn't smooth you need to iron it (surface treatments such as Obagi skin care or laser peels). If the fabric hangs too much you need to take away the slack (necklift, facelift, browlift, etc.).

I'm sure many readers can relate!

Beauty for Life

The American Society for Aesthetic Surgery and the American Society for Plastic Surgery have jointly produced a wonderful new brochure as part of a campaign of public and patient education. It's title is Beauty for Life. The 25 page booklet can be obtained from the ASAPS at http://www.surgery.org/ or my office at http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/.

Highlights are the aging process, 4 levels of cosmetic care (noninvasive, minimally invasive, moderately invasive, and surgical), step-by-step (for teens, twenties, thirties, forties-fifties, fifties-sixties, beyond sixties), choosing a trustworthy surgeon, and questions to ask.

This approach mirrors the comprehensive care offered by my office. We have excellent skin care professionals, effective minimally invasive treatments and quality surgery procedures. I encourage more awareness and deeper understanding.