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.
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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.

Nationally Accredited Office Cosmetic Surgical Suite

One of the benefits of our location on Halton Road, Greenville, SC is a clean, modern, spacious, and specially equipped Cosmetic Surgical Facility. It operates under the name Plastic Surgery Specialty Center, PA, and is overseen by Dr. Sutton Graham. The head nurse is Cathy Cole, RN, CPSN (registered nurse, certified plastic surgery nurse).

Our facility anesthesia is only delivered by Dr. Merritt Tolan, board-certified anesthesiologist with years of experience, and a wonderful caring manner. Tina Kraus, RN is our recovery nurse, and brings years of hospital recovery experience. Dr. Graham's surgical assistant is Terri Scott, CST (certified surgical technologist).

Our location features a specialized office surgical facility, with over 2,000 square feet that are designed and engineered to national accreditation standards. Our facility offers outstanding patient safety as well as comfort and privacy, and includes the following features:
Convenient and private entrance/exit
Sterility and infection control
Patient and blanket warming equipment
High-temperature in-house laundry facilities
Dedicated OR Nursing Director
Certified medical gas system
Experienced Anesthesiologist (physician)
Electronic patient monitoring equipment
Back-up power generator
High-efficiency OR air filtration system
Instrument processing and sterilization rooms
Monitored recovery spaces
Our Patients Experience the Difference
Unlike a typical hospital or multi-specialty surgery center, our facilities are used only for cosmetic surgery procedures. We do not have many different surgeons treating all types of unrelated procedures and diseases. Our accredited, on-site facilities are used only by cosmetic surgeon Sutton Graham, M.D., and each member of our staff really understands the unique needs and concerns of cosmetic surgery patients. Our specialized facilities and expertise helps ensure the quality and safety of each surgical procedure. In addition, we have carefully designed a number of protocols to optimize the postoperative recovery of each patient. Every patient is educated and given detailed information in advance.
To learn more about what sets our practice apart from others in Greenville, including our cosmetic plastic surgeon and nationally accredited facilities, please contact the Aesthetic Center for Breast and Cosmetic Surgery today.

Procedures performed include: Breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, nipple & areola corrections, replacement of breast implants, correction of implant problems, facelift, cheeklift, necklift, browlift, eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), chin implant, fat grafts for lips / cheels / nasolabial grooves, tummy tuck abdominoplasty, liposuction, thigh lifts, arm tucks (brachioplasty), and others.

Patients come to us from throughout our region and beyond. (North Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina). For example: Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Easley, Pickens, Seneca, Clemson, Pendleton, Piedmont, Tryon, Landrum, Greenwood, Hartwell, Newberry, Clinton, Asheville, Hendersonville, Flat Rock, Brevard, Highlands, Cashiers

Fall Office Seminars

Our Fall Seminars have been scheduled and registration is starting. Call now (864-676-1707) or send an e-mail through our website http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/.

BREAST & BODY seminar: Tuesday, September 29th at 6:30-8:00pm

FACIAL REJUVENATION seminar: Tuesday, October 6th at 6:30-8:00pm

• Meet Dr. Graham & our wonderful staff
• See Before & After photos
• Watch presentation of current techniques
• Ask any questions you may have
• Tour our accredited facilities
• Refreshments served
• Special gifts to attendees
• Bring a friend!

RSVP by phone or e-mail (see above)

Feedback from the Carolina Women's Show.

We had a great time meeting scores of new people at the recent Carolina Women's Show. Betty, Gail, Cathy and Barbara talked to folks, answered many questions, and gave out reference material (and links to our website). I made an appearance Friday afternoon, too. The show buzzed with people. The other exhibits were interesting.

To the drawing winners, your gifts are on their way!

Thank you to the women who registered with us! We look forward to hearing back from you.

Come Visit Us at the Carolina Women's Show this weekend

Our practice has a booth at the Carolina Women's Show this weekend. Come by and say hello! Betty, our patient coordinator, will be there and other staff members at various times, from opening Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday 10-7, and Saturday until 7pm. (August 27-29)

We'll be answering questions, giving out brochures and information. You can register for daily drawing prizes: Express Facial, Complimentary Consultation, or Skin Care products.

They'll have information on our upcoming office seminars and Skin Care presentations. We would love to see our patients and friends!

End of Summer Obagi Day: Skin Care, Injectables, Minimally Invasive Procedures

Now is the time. Summer is winding down, school has started, and you can focus your attention on your skin's appearance.

Are you concerned about the health of your skin? Fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, sun damage, poor texture, large pores? Attend our Seminar and learn about the #1 physician dispensed skincare system - OBAGI, and other minimally invasive procedures.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, 2009
From 11am-12noon we will present a seminar, and welcome new or established patients.

In addition, from 9am-4pm our Skin Care Specialists and OBAGI products representative will provide complimentary Skin Consultations. Whether or not you attend the seminar, you can learn and experience private, individual sessions.

For this day, all OBAGI products will be 10% off. Also receive 15% off your first Obagi Blue Peel by scheduling your appointment.

Call now to RSVP and schedule you Skin Consultation. 864-676-1707 or E-mail your RSVP to info@expertplasticsurgeon.com

Differences between third-party-reimbursement and payment-for-service

A recent article said patients were surprised to be asked to pay more than an insurance co-pay when visiting their doctor for medical services. They were being asked to pay the full amount they were responsible for at the time of their visit. After that, the doctor's office waited on delayed partial payment from the insurance company.

This is an issue in third-party-reimbursement situations, but not in pay-for service medicine like cosmetic surgery. In this field, a patient decides on a procedure they wish to have done, schedule their procedure, pay the costs, and have the procedure. Routine post-operative care is included, so there are no charges for the subsequent visits.

While it's nice to wait and pay for something later, payment at the time of service (for elective or scheduled care) is most logical and least expensive. It makes little sense for the practice to wait months and mail out bills for care patients received long ago. Contrary to the article's report, many medical offices figured this out years ago and follow it routinely. This reduces costs.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203674704574330354250207192.html