Advertising in Plastic Surgery

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I was on a cruise recently, and I was astonished to see that in addition to the regular spa services offered, passengers could also get Botox, Dysport and several fillers while onboard.  The physician on the ship was advertised as both licensed and board certified, but none of the advertising literature I came across actually mentioned what particular field he was board certified in.  My hope is that he was board certified in Plastic Surgery, Facial Cosmetic Surgery, or something similar, but without an extensive online search of the particular physician by name, I had no way of knowing.

Courtesy of Office.com

Courtesy of Office.com

Now I have no particular issue with offering Botox or fillers on a cruise ship (and if you’re imaging a doctor’s hand holding a syringe coming at your face while you both stand on a moving deck, cruise ships are really very stable).  What I did find interesting was the content of the advertising itself.  Please don’t quote me verbatim, as I’m working from memory, but many of the advertisement made claims such as:

“Look 10 years younger instantly with no down time and no side effects!”

Sound great, right?  Of course it does.  And there is no treatment available today that can offer that, be it laser, injectables, or surgery.  In the United States, the American Board of Plastic Surgery takes a very clear view of advertising by Plastic Surgeons:

“…it does not approve of advertising which leads to unrealistic expectations, which is false or misleading, which minimizes the magnitude and possible risks of surgery, or which solicits patients for operations that they might not otherwise consider.” (Italics are mine)

Thus it was unusual for me to see such… shall we say sensational? advertising.  For this reason, I’m speculating that the physician on board the ship was not a board-certified plastic surgeon.  Or maybe it had something to do with the fact that the ship was based in the Bahamas, not the United States.  But it did serve as a reminder to me that no treatment is without risk, even the routine ones I do daily.  And it’s important for prospective patients to understand both the risks, and the potential benefit before engaging in any cosmetic procedure.  Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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Disclaimer: This webpage is for general information only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical illness, or give any specific medical advice. Because medical knowlege is constantly evolving, I cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information in this blog.

Shortcut to a Six pack?

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I have had several people call our office and ask if we do abdominal etching.  For those of you who have never heard of it, abdominal etching is a relatively new trend in liposuction.  Today I’m going to explain what abdominal etching is, and why I don’t perform it.

Traditional liposuction removes fat.  Despite this fact, liposuction is not a weight-loss method: removing more than about 10lbs of fat causes fluid shifts throughout the body, and this requires an overnight stay in the hospital for monitoring, as the excess fluids can cause difficulty breathing.   Even though the amount of fat that can be removed is relatively small, liposuction works very well if you are at or near your goal weight, and have stubborn areas such as the lower tummy or lateral thighs (saddle-bags) where fat may persist.

courtesy of office.com

courtesy of office.com

 

Abdominal etching is a different concept entirely.  In addition to simply removing fat, the remaining fat is sculpted to give the appearance of underlying muscles.  If you have a beer belly, it is literally carved into a six-pack.  It sounds great in theory, but I find carving fat into fake muscles looks… fake.  In addition, skin tends to sag as we age, and a saggy artificial six-pack looks even worse.  Unfortunately there is no short cut to great looking abs.

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Disclaimer: This webpage is for general information only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical illness, or give any specific medical advice. Because medical knowlege is constantly evolving, I cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information in this blog.

If it Quacks like a Duck….

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Okay, I admit it- I have been a bit remiss in getting postings up.  Let’s blame it on the winter doldrums.  I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but here in Cleveland, we’re still getting snow.  Heavy, wet snow.  Ugh.

So let’s talk about something fun.  How about fuller lips?  I’ve brought up lip filler before, and that is because I’m a huge fan (and yes, I do get lip filler myself).  But I know many of my patients are afraid of looking artificial, and yes, I’m going to say it- like a duck.  How do you avoid those fake looking lips?  Because let me assure you, it is possible to have fuller lips and still look natural.

Courtesy of office.com

Courtesy of office.com

Plumping up the lips is done with hyaluronic acid, a slippery substance that lubricates our joints.  When used to plump the lips or smooth wrinkles, it generally lasts around 6-9 months.  If you have seen some of the overdone lips in the popular press, I can understand why you might want to avoid a duck-like appearance.  So here are a couple questions for you to consider: first, what is your treatment goal?  Do you want fuller lips over all, or just to improve the appearance of the fine lines around your mouth?  The technique can be adjusted by your doctor depending on the look you would like to achieve, so it’s important to share these goals with your doctor at your initial visit.  In addition, be aware that you will have some swelling and bruising for up to a week after getting filler.

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Disclaimer: This webpage is for general information only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical illness, or give any specific medical advice. Because medical knowlege is constantly evolving, I cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information in this blog.

The Right Way to Use Retin-A

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Retin-A is a great product- it increases collagen turnover, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and helps reverse sun damage.  So why don’t more people use it?

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The downside of Retin-A is that it’s very irritating to skin.  Patients frequently complain of redness, irritation and flaking.  These complaints are often enough to cause people to stop using Retin-A, despite its beneficial effects.

There is a right way to use Retin-A, however, one that helps minimize the peeling and redness.  Here are some tips:

  1. Use the right concentration.  Retin-A is made under several brand names, and all come in a variety of concentrations.  If you are new to Retin-A products, start with the weakest concentration- usually 0.5%
  2. Use the right amount.  A pea-sized amount is enough for your entire face.  Apply the Retin-A at night, after washing your face.  It only takes a minute to absorb, and you can layer moisturizer on top.
  3. Don’t use it every day.  Start off using Retin-A only two times a week.  After a couple of weeks, work up to every-other-day.  If this is the most you ever use Retin-A, it’s still enough.  If you ultimately work up to using it every day, kudos for you.
  4. Be patient.  Your skin does get used to Retin-A, but it can take 6-8 weeks.  This is why you have to gradually increase how frequently you use the Retin-A.  During this adjustment period, use a heavier moisturizer than normal and apply it several times a day.  Rubbing moisturizer into your palms and then patting it gently over your face can help keep your foundation in place.

 

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Disclaimer: This webpage is for general information only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical illness, or give any specific medical advice. Because medical knowlege is constantly evolving, I cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information in this blog.

My Favorite Products Under $30

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Most people have their go-to products- brands or specific products which they have been loyal to for years.  And I’m no different.  But I’d like to think I have a unique perspective, which I suppose is why you all read this blog.  So here are some of my favorite products, medical or otherwise.

 

  • Eucerin – The very heavy Eucerin that comes in the jar is some of my favorite Eucerinmoisturizer.  We used this stuff by the gallon in the burn unit, because it’s so great for moisturizing dry, damaged skin.  I love it in the winter on my elbows and knees, and sometimes even my face.

 

  • Kelo-cote – I’ve recommended this in previous posts on wound care for two simple kelocotereasons: it’s affordable, and it works.  Kelo-cote is a silicone scar product that comes in gel or as a reusable sheets.  We don’t know exactly why silicone helps scars, but it really does work.  You can certainly buy more expensive products than Kelo-cote with all sorts of fancy growth factors added, but I find that regular silicone works just fine.

 

  • Aquaphor or Vaseline – If you read that post on improving scars, you know I aquaphorrecommend keeping wounds moist.  Letting a wound dry out and scab up actually slows healing.  But using antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin for weeks on end can lead to allergic reactions and redness that might be confused with an infection.  And after the first few days, antibiotic ointments are unlikely to prevent an infection anyway.  I have all my patients use Vaseline or Aquaphor on incisions after the first week to keep them moist without the risk of an allergic reaction.  They also work great on chapped lips, dry cuticles, or anywhere you need an extra boost of moisture.

 

  • Silicone finger sleeves – These little babies are finger sleevesweet for any type of finger injury that needs sturdier protection than a Band-Aid can provide, or to bring down the swelling in a finger. They are lined with silicone, so they help flatten scars, and they slowly release mineral oil to keep things moist- two of my favorite things combined!  They are also great for toes that rub together inside your shoes.  Buy these in your favorite drugstore in the foot-care aisle.


Do you have any products you absolutely love?

 

 

 

 

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Disclaimer: This webpage is for general information only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical illness, or give any specific medical advice. Because medical knowlege is constantly evolving, I cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information in this blog.