Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Jingle Bells! Christmas Holiday Week

The week of Christmas brings excitement, anticipation and remembering.

All of us at the Aesthetic Center wish our patients, friends, families and our entire community a safe, warm, happy holiday season. Merry Christmas.

If you need us Thursday, December 24th through Sunday, December 27th you'll reach our answering service. They'll contact our doctor if you need medical care. Otherwise, we'll see you again, Monday, December 28th.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Breast Lift: help for natural or excessive sagging

Some women come to us with what they think is a relatively uncommon request, "can you put my breasts back where they were?" It is one of the most common issue we help solve.

Breast lift is a procedure the can be done in many ways, adapted to each woman's requests. Provide more projection, cleavage, upper pole fullness. Restore the nipples to the front of the breasts. Move the glandular tissue back to the upper chest (and off the lower ribs). There a variety of ways surgeons use to accomplish these goals.

As plastic surgeons, we want to achieve the best look and function with the least visible incision scars. All breast lifts leave a scar around the areola (except when a woman's goals can be accomplished by implant augmentation alone - no actual lift). When doing a small amount of tightening of the lower gland, a vertical incision is needed. This may be called the vertical mastopexy, key-hole, or lollipop pattern. When there is even more looseness of the gland or skin, we also remove an ellipse of skin beneath the breast, so that this scar is hidden along the inframammary (under-breast) fold. This scar pattern is called the inverted-T or Wise pattern. The latter is most often used when reducing the size of large, heavy breasts.

Numerous visual examples are provided in our gallery, which is updated regularly. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/breast-lift-mastopexy-4796

For more information, see our website at http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/breast-lift-reduction.html

Sutton Graham, MD, FACS is an experienced, trusted, board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast and cosmetic surgery. His practice serves South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Laser Resurfacing: How to Smooth Rough Skin

Medical lasers do a wide variety of things, depending on wavelength, power delivery, etc. We have a number of lasers available to treat conditions ranging from acne, roseacea, unwanted hair, to skin looseness. One impressive thing they accomplish is to smooth the surface of rough, coarse, wrinkled skin. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/laser.html#laser-skin-resurfacing

Dr. Graham and our certified nurse practitioner (Janice Sasser, RN, NP-C) both offer laser treatments, from minor to extensive, under safe conditions and appropriate anesthesia.

More superficial lines will be treated with an anesthetic cream and surface cooling devices. Eye protection is always used. The recovery time is a few days. These treatments are good for mild-to-moderate lines, short recovery times, and patients considering staged treatments. Deep lines will be treated with local or general anesthesia. Recovery time is several days to two weeks. These treatments give more effects and have more recovery.

We will often suggest that laser skin resurfacing be done in conjunction with other helpful procedures. Active muscles contracting skin in areas like the "crow's feet" should be diminished by neurotoxin (Botox, Dysport) to enhance your laser wrinkle treatment. Lines around the mouth can also benefit from hyaluronic acid fillers (Perlane, Juvederm) or fat grafts, (and maybe a little neurotoxin). Chin lines can also benefit from HA filler. Lines beyond the corners of the mouth may benefit, if other indications exist, from a facelift. Finally old, deep acne scarring in some adults can be helped by both laser and facelift. These options are discussed during your consultation. We are always happy to inform.

If you have more questions, call us at 864-676-1707
Or E-mail through our web site or at info@expertplasticsurgeon.com

Saturday, December 5, 2009

New Augmentation Photos in Our Gallery

Dr. Sutton Graham regularly updates the Aesthetic Center practice website and blog. The latest is addition of fresh breast augmentation photos.

The last patient is an avid runner and active mom, who wanted a trim figure and natural, proportional breast appearance.
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/breast-augmentation-4793/case-26-13537-20588 She was very complimentary of her result and the experience with our office, Dr. Graham and the staff.

More information about breast implants, augmentation recovery, breast lift options, and other breast surgery questions are available on our site www.ExpertPlasticSurgeon.com

If you would like to learn even more, call and talk to one of our helpful staff, and schedule your personal consultation session. Our phone number is 864-676-1707. You can also reach us through E-mail info@expertplasticsurgeon.com.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Holiday Food Drive - Support Harvest Hope Food Bank

Throughout this month, Dr. Graham & him staff will be showing our support for our local Harvest Hope Food Bank.

Harvest Hope is the largest charitable hunger relief organization in the US. It has three offices in South Carolina (Greenville, Columbia & Florence). They receive donations from individuals, grocery stores, wholesalers and distributors and distribute to 400 direct service agencies (family shelters, food pantries, soup kitchens and after school programs). They operate an emergency food pantry serving 69,000 people each year. There is also a mobile food pantry serving eight rural SC counties without emergency food programs.

The Greenville Branch phone number is 864-281-3995. Their website is www.harvesthope.org.

We have a collection barrel in our lobby. We are asking patients coming to our office to contribute non-perishable food items, personal and baby care items, or pet food when they visit us for consultation or follow-up visits throughout the month of December.

We are trying to help Harvest Hope in their mission to help others in South Carolina.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Breast Lift Quality in South Carolina; With or Without Implants

Sutton Graham, MD, FACS has an excellent reputation in our region for quality breast lift (mastopexy) surgery.

We have the pleasure of treating a variety of women seeking breast lift. For example, many women are healthy and active following child-bearing and breast-feeding. They look good in many of their clothes, but need effective bra support to maintain attractive breast shape. They have trouble wearing bathing suits, sundresses, plain tee-shirts, gowns and evening wear; all because they feel they need good support.

Breast lift can change that. You can look better when your outfit is braless, or look even better wearing a bra. Firm support will be unnecessary. Finally, after a breast lift, you will find that sports bras give you more effective support and comfort when jogging, playing tennis, or other vigorous sports.

Another common breast lift patient is a woman who has succeeded in loosing considerable excess weight. She may have done this by diet & exercise, or weight-loss (bariatric) surgery. While she may be pleased with her slimmer physique, she may report dramatic loss of breast shape. Mastopexy breast lift is capable of removing large amounts of loose skin, while preserving all natural breast glandular tissue.


Many breast lift patients want a lift and a larger breast size. Mastopexy is often combined with augmentation (implants). This can give an excellent youthful look to your breasts. It can restore pre-pregnancy breast size and shape. Or it may improve on what you already have.

Breast lift operations are designed to preserve your nipple and areola sensation. There may be temporary decreases, but normal sensation usually returns, with most procedures. Similarly, women usually maintain the ability to breast-feed, although breast lift is not commonly indicated before having children. We will recommend the procedure that gives you the least scar, most effective improvement, and maintains safety. We usually recommend 5-7 days off work, and 3 weeks before resuming exercise work-outs. We'll advise you about shopping for new bras, etc. Breast lift plus tummy tuck or liposuction may be referred to as a "mommy make-over."

Our procedures are performed in our nationally accredited office surgical facility, with a board-certified physician (MD) anesthesiologist. Our nurses and staff are very experienced in caring for and advising breast lift patients, and they'll make your recovery smooth. We think you'll say we provide the best surgery experience you'll ever have.

For more information, check our website http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/breast-lift-reduction.html#breast-lift. There you'll find an extensive before & after photo gallery. You'll also find a link to our E-mail (info@expertplasticsurgeon.com). We would love to hear from you!

Sutton Graham, MD, FACS is an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast and cosmetic surgery. The Aesthetic Center serves patients throughout South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Dr. Graham's Reputation for Breast Enhancement (Augmentation, Lift, Reduction, Reconstruction)

Dr. Graham has been trusted by thousands of patients throughout over 15 years; and is proud of their confidence. We are also a trusted source where the area's doctors, nurses and other experienced health care professionals send their patients and friends, when they consider cosmetic breast surgery. Satisfied patients and referral sources further build our excellent reputation.

We are excited to care for so many wonderful patients.

Those wanting more information about Dr. Graham and our practice, or details about breast procedures can follow the link to our website http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/augmentation.html

Our website includes an extensive photo gallery. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/breast-augmentation-4793/case-1-12615-16304/32021

Sutton Graham, MD, FACS serves patients from throughout South Carolina, and many from North Carolina and Georgia. Greenville, Spartanburg, Asheville, Anderson, Greenwood, Hartwell, Keowee, Jocassee Lake Communities, Cliffs & Reserve Communities, Seneca, Pickens, Easley, Taylors, Greer, Simpsonville, Landrum, Tryon, Hendersonville, Columbia, Charlotte