Lipo-abdominoplasty: Modification of tummy tuck procedure

A few sophisticated or web savvy patients have heard the term "lipo-abdominoplasty" used and wondered what it meant.

As we discuss on our website or in previous blogs, there are many steps that together make up a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). These are customized to the needs and benefits of each individual patient. Skin, fat & muscle can be treated separately. Adjacent areas of the torso can be treated. And, going further, the so-called mommy-makeover means that breast enhancement is also done.

Lipo-abdominoplasty means that there is some amount of liposuction done the the anterior abdomen at the time of skin and muscle work. This is in addition to the surgical removal (excision) of lower abdominal subcutaneous fat. Surgeons must use care in combining liposuction, to minimize certain risks. If less undermining is done, then more liposuction can be added to a tummy tuck procedure. Dr. Graham has incorporated these techniques for years, with safety and effectiveness.

Click the headline link above to see our website abdomnioplasty page or the photo gallery link: http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/tummy-tuck-abdominoplasty-4814

Continuing Medical Education: Agility in Minimally Invasive Surgery

Dr. Graham recently attended one of his regular annual plastic surgical educational meetings. The meeting subject focus was, "Agility in Minimally Invasive Surgery."

This outstanding course features in-depth discussions of cosmetic surgical techniques by national and international experts and innovators. The most important aspect of this meeting is the numerous live surgical demonstrations performed by those speakers. There is no other meeting like this in the country, and it regularly attracts faclty & audience members from Central & South America, Europe and Asia.

This year's focus areas were breast augmentation and body coutour surgery, although endoscopic brow and facial procedures were also highlighted. Dr. Graham is already experienced in these areas, and the educational updates allow us to maintain our high level of quality of care. We offer the latest in proven surgical techniques and technology. And we avoid unproven hype and bluster.

Dr. Graham is an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Greenville, South Carolina. Our practice includes well-trained and experienced nurses, skin care specialists and administrative staff in order to provide you the best experience in skin care, peels, injectables, minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures and ultimately cosmetic surgery for the face, breast and body. We primarilly serve the areas from NE Georgia, through Central & Upstate South Carolina, to Western North Carolina: Clayton, Toccoa, Hartsville, Elberton, Royston, Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry, Laurens, Clinton, Union, Gaffney, Boiling Springs, Inman, Landrum, Spartanburg, Greer, Travelers Rest, Taylors, Woodruff, Fountain Inn, Simpsonville, Anderson, Piedmont, Pickens, Clemson, Seneca, Salem, Westminster, Franklin, Highlands, Cashiers, Brevard, Hendersonville, Flat Rock, Tryon, Asheville, Waynseville, Rutherfordton.

Helping the injured in Haiti: our nurse Cathy returns from mission trip

The medical needs of the people in Haiti are widely reported in the US news media. Many of our citizens have made cash donations. Thousands of Americans have donated their time to the relief efforts -- including our Operating Room Director and Nurse, Cathy Cole, RN, CPSN.

She returns today from a week long mission to staff a medical care station in Haiti. She and her team faced some difficult conditions, but were able to help a number of injured or sick Haitians.

Consumer magazine warns readers about fine print in facelift advertisements

Each issue of Consumer Reports has humorous notes and photos inside the back cover. My staff was tickled to see their "Asterisk Alert" in the March 2010 issue, page 63.

One of the pieces was a before-and-after photo of one of the "1-800-facelift" type advertisements. It said, "Looking years younger is simple with a _______lift." Just check these before-and-after shots of Linda Sue, with "no retouching." Oops: There's an asterisk. It refers to this disclaimer: "Patients had optional neck-firming procedure in addition to ________lift." We asked what that procedure might be. "You'd have to come in to one of our 42 offices around the nation and be assessed," a customer-service rep said. "I can't tell you over the phone.""

Our patient coordinator (Betty) or nurse (Cathy) are happy to fully discuss all the procedures Dr. Graham performs with any caller. Our web site has additional information and our photo gallery.

Dr. Graham is very experienced at a variety of facelift techniques.

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.

Plastic Surgery Top Ten: 2000 decade's biggest trends

2010's start gives us the perspective to look back over the decade of 2000 and decide what the most important trends were in plastic surgery. The publication Plastic Surgery News did this in their Jan/Feb issue and here is their list:

10) MEDICAL TOURISM increases and raises the concern about sacrificing quality for cost.
9) Increased OFFICE-BASED COSMETIC SURGERY -- now chosen by the majority of patients over a hospital or out-patient multi-use facility.
8) Increase in MAJOR WEIGHT LOSS patients, following gastric bypass or other bariatric surgery.
7) POLITICAL ADVOCACY for plastic surgery, including stopping the national cosmetic procedure 5% tax from Washington and various state bills.
6) Stressing HIGH STANDARDS. After high profile deaths including Kanye West's mother Donda, and the author of First Wives Club Olivia Goldsmith, the media and the public became more interested in the message of quality & safety repeated by the American Society of Plastic Surgery.
5) Hyaluronic acid SOFT TISSUE FILLERS (Restylane, Juvederm, etc.) and others became available, offering patients new options for facial aesthetic enhancement. The injectable products influenced many non-plastic surgeons to become cosmetic physicians (outside their primary specialty).
4) BOTOX became FDA approved for cosmetic use in 2002 and launched a major trend in non-surgical cosmetic medicine. Dysport continued the trend and PurTox and Xeomin await FDA approval in 2010.
3) "REALITY TV" found millions of viewers eager for plastic surgery entertainment, and spawned several copycat series. Plastic surgeons saw a new openness and interest among patients.
2) SILICONE GEL implants were allowed back by an FDA decision in 2006. Long-term studies of newer models are underway.
AND FINALLY...
1) FACE TRANSPLANTATION becomes a reality. Two such procedures have been performed in the US, and several others overseas. Victims of our recent wars may be the next major area for this marvelous reconstructive work.

We can only hope that the next decade will bring as many wonderful and exciting advances to plastic surgery, so that we have even more to offer our patients.

HAPPY NEW YEAR: Work toward progress, prospertiy & peace

We welcome in this new year, 2010! Dr. Graham and the staff at the Aesthetic Center enjoyed the holidays, including time off, travel, family get-togethers, special meals, greeting friends, etc. We hope you had safe and pleasant times too. We would like to see this new year as one of progress, prosperity and peace.

We plan to continue to offer quality cosmetic plastic surgery, cosmetic medical procedures (injectables and neurotoxins), and professional skin care services. We excel at education and care throughout your course of treatment with us.

We have a reputation for quality in:

• Breast enhancement (augmentation, lift, reduction, reconstruction)
• Facial cosmetic procedures (facelift, eyelid tuck, brow, chin, lips)
• Body contouring (tummy tuck, liposuction, thigh & arm tucks)
• Minimally invasive / non-surgical (Botox, Dysport, Juvederm, Restylane, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, skin tightening)
• Esthetician treatments and skin care

Dr. Graham is one of the most experienced cosmetic surgeons in our area. Our nurse practitioner Janice is very experienced in her field. Erin and Stacy, our skin care specialists, are very knowledgeable. We are also proud of our front office and clinical staff. Our independent MD anesthesiologist is unique in office cosmetic surgical facilities in the upstate. We hope you have the chance to meet each one.

We serve patients from South & North Carolina, and Northeast Georgia: Greenville, Spartanburg, Asheville, Anderson, etc.