Understand Your Plastic Surgery Procedure
If you’re considering surgery to correct or contour some part of your body, you may be feeling some apprehension. And that makes sense.
Whether for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes, plastic surgery does present the possibility of complications. Just like any other surgery. Even if it’s elective.
So to ensure you’re going in with as much peace of mind as possible, it’s important you understand your plastic surgery procedure. And the best way to do this is to go directly to the source: your plastic surgeon.
How to Better Understand Your Plastic Surgery Procedure
First things first – when vetting the ideal surgeon, you’ll want to ensure that yours is board certified in plastic surgery. Insist on this.
Such certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) demonstrates that your surgeon is of the highest caliber. It means he or she made the effort to attain in-depth training that goes above and beyond what’s simply required. A board-certified plastic surgeon has comprehensive knowledge of the field and is committed to excellence.
Once you’ve established this basic but crucial requirement, then it’s time to start investigating.
It’s Okay to Ask Questions
You may feel like you’re offending a potential surgeon by asking all about their experience, training, and credentials. But any surgeon who is turned off by this is putting up a red flag. Your surgeon should want you to feel confident about your procedure and be willing to answer all questions relating to it.
For example:
How Familiar Are You With the Procedure?
Though you may be nervous posing it, this is a 100% reasonable question. You don’t want to go into your procedure with a surgeon who’s relatively (or brand) new to it. The fact is, surgeons who have performed a higher volume of specific procedures have lower complication rates and shorter hospital stays for their patients. So don’t be afraid to ask this question.
Then follow it up with:
Do You Have Pictures of Previous Clients?
If your surgeon hasn’t already shown you ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of what to expect from your procedure, then you’ll definitely want to see some of these. This will help you to not only see the surgeon’s work, but you’ll feel reassured that the procedure was safe and effective for patients before you.
What Are the Risks?
In general, plastic surgery carries a slightly lower risk than other types of surgical procedures. Still, there is always the chance of infection, reaction to anesthesia, or loss of blood. So you’ll want to be crystal clear with your surgeon on how these risks could play out for you.Again, if a surgeon does not take the question seriously, then consider looking elsewhere. Any reputable surgeon will understand your need for assurance and peace of mind and will be completely forthcoming about any post-operative complications. He or she should place your safety and health as the top priorities.
Feeling Nervous About Your Surgery?
Knowing the ways to better understand your plastic surgery procedure will help increase your confidence.
So contact us today if you’re ready to start exploring your options with one of our highly trained board-certified plastic surgeons.
And keep in mind that lifestyle changes (such as quitting smoking and adopting a healthy diet) before surgery can also lower your risks and result in faster healing and less scarring. These are factors you’ll also discuss with your plastic surgeon during your free consultation.
Do You Need Ear Lobe Repair Surgery?
It may come as something of surprise that earlobe repair surgery has become one of the most requested procedures. Then again, it may not. Especially if you’re someone who’s spent years of adorning those lobes with heavy jewelry.
You may well be a candidate for ear lobe repair.
Even if you’ve removed your gauges or stopped wearing heavy earrings, you’ve probably noticed the soft tissue has shrunken a bit but that there is still a significant hole. That’s when surgery comes into play.
Causes
Of course, heavy earrings and gauges causing the lobe to become stretched over time are the biggest culprits. But even regular earrings can get snagged in clothing, yanked out by a child, or pulled accidentally in some other way. This results in a torn ear lobe known as a Pac-Man deformity.
Whether the hole is over stretched or non-existent from a tear, wearing earrings can become problematic or impossible. Fortunately, ear lobe repair surgery is a reconstructive plastic surgery that was developed to restore the appearance of earlobes.
The Procedure
As plastic surgery procedures go, earlobe repair surgery is one of the simplest procedures. Depending on the number of piercings to repair and the extent of trauma to the lobe, the whole procedure takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
First, the plastic surgeon will inject the stretched or torn earlobe with a local anesthetic to numb the area. From there, the surgeon determines which specific technique will best serve to repair and reconstruct the earlobe. This will depend on the extent and complexity of the damage.
In the majority of cases, scar tissue is removed from the split or stretched piercing so that the repaired earlobe can heal smoothly. Once that tissue is extricated, the surgeon utilizes fine stitches to close the tear or the hole.
Recovery from Ear Lobe Repair Surgery
Recovery is fairly straightforward. On the day of the procedure, the patient is sent home with a small piece of gauze to cover the affected area. After that first day, the gauze can be removed but the area must be kept clean with daily antibiotic ointment.
Sutures are removed after about a week. In that time, the surgeon will recommend not sleeping on the ears or placing any kind of pressure on the area. In addition, the ear must not be submerged in water during that time. That means no baths or swimming – though showering is permitted 24 hours after the procedure.
Beyond that, patients can expect to otherwise get back to their regular work and exercise routines the very next day. And should the patient wish to have his or her ears re-pierced, the surgeon can do this in just 4-6 weeks after an earlobe repair procedure.
It’s a chance to start anew! (And maybe skip the gauges this time…)
Interested in Finding out More?
If you’re curious about ear lobe repair surgery and whether it might be right for you, contact us today for a free consultation.
Our surgeons will sit down with you to discuss the best next steps.
Do You Need Revision Surgery?
Plastic surgery can be life-changing in so many positive ways. There are occasions though, rare as they may be, where the results of the surgery aren’t… ideal.
In the vast majority of plastic surgery procedures, when you do the research and choose a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform it, the results are exactly what you’d hoped for and anticipated.
But in unusual cases where the surgery results in unaddressed issues or more problems rather than fewer, you will need to look into revision surgery.
There Are Multiple Forms of Revision Surgery
Revision surgery is any procedure that is performed to correct negative issues that resulted from a previous surgery. And to be clear, it is not unique to plastic surgery. It’s performed across the spectrum of surgical specialities.
That’s why it’s essential to vet any surgeon that will be operating on you. Just because a plastic surgeon has a degree doesn’t mean he or she is uniquely qualified to perform the procedure you require. And if you end up with a botched up job, you could end up struggling with excessive scarring, aesthetic problems, or even functional issues.
While there are any number of revision surgeries, the following are among the most common in plastic surgery:
- Facial Procedures
Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, requires precision to deliver exact results. If the nostrils end up too narrow or wide or the tip of the nose is droopy after surgery, it’s impossible to hide. So this is among the most common revision procedures for plastic surgery.
In addition, rhinoplasty may be performed for functional issues such as improving breathing and reducing snoring. If the initial surgery fails to address these, a revision surgery would be a definite consideration.
It would also be suggested for patients who are dissatisfied with continued jowls or changes to appearance after a facelift; or for those who are uncomfortable with the look, feel, or size of facial implants.
- Breast Procedures
When patients come in for either a breast lift, breast augmentation, or breast reduction, they are seeking breasts that are symmetrical and have a natural look and feel. This is also true for patients who have undergone reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. If a surgeon is unable to deliver these results, a revision surgery is needed.
In addition, revision surgery is required if there is capsular contracture, or the breast implant has deflated, eroded, or is simply malpositioned.
- Tummy Tuck
Surgical revision after a tummy tuck, a.k.a. abdominoplasty, is not as common. And in many cases, it’s not technically revision surgery if the patient’s dissatisfaction is the result of gaining or losing weight or getting pregnant after the surgery.
There are rare incidents though where a raised scar, abnormal belly button, or continued excess skin are cause for revision surgery.
No matter what the cause for potential revision surgery, it is not a decision to be made without weighing all your options.
Revision Surgery Is Not a Quick Go-To
Keep in mind that recovery from any surgery takes time. You don’t want to be too quick to assume that something terrible is happening during the healing process. You’ll need to be patient. Swelling subsides, scars fade, and the body eventually adjusts to its new situation. Depending on a wide array of factors, could take up to a year.
In addition, you’ll be faced with the additional cost of the surgery, as well as the recovery time required after the procedure. In other words, it’s not a quick solution. So unless you’re deeply dissatisfied or the surgeon has made an egregious error, it should only be considered after a great deal of thought.
Are You Dissatisfied With a Plastic Surgical Procedure?
If you’re not happy with the outcome of a plastic surgery procedure and would like to explore the option of revision surgery, contact us today for a free consultation.
You’ll be able to sit down with our doctors and discuss all of your options.
Then it’s determined that revision is right for you, you can rest easy in knowing that our board-certified plastic surgeons skilled in the revision process will give you the results you desired – and deserved – the first time around.
What Are the Latest Advances in Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery, like everything else in life, is constantly evolving. Yet, there are those who avoid plastic surgery based on antiquated notions of what it is.
So if you’re interested in a procedure for yourself but are wondering about the latest advances in plastic surgery, we’ll take a look at how the face of the industry is changing. (No pun intended.)
Drainless Tummy Tuck
Once upon a time, getting a tummy tuck meant you were going to have to deal with the inconvenience of two or even three drains and their wires coming off your body post surgery. Yeah. Pretty draconian stuff.
Plus, there was always the possibility of bacteria entering through the portal entries of these drains and wires. Not anymore.
With the development of progressive tension sutures, surgeons now advance the skin flaps down toward the incision line so there’s no longer a fluid-gathering space that requires drains. Furthermore, the sutures create a much more aesthetic scar too.
Allergan
When an ophthalmologist in the 1990s discovered that treating people with a tight eyelid condition with Botox injections also smoothed wrinkles, Allergan Pharmaceuticals bought the medication and effectively entered the aesthetics game.
Over the course of the next several decades, they grew into a company that now makes treatments including “medical aesthetics”.
Today, Allergan breast implants are among the most popular for their round implants that deliver a fuller look. They also make tissue expanders to be used in reconstructive breast surgery.
Sciton Laser
In the past, resurfacing the skin involved CO2 lasers and intense heat that could cause pigmented lesions and scarring to those with pigment-elevated skin types. As such, those with darker pigmentation found it difficult to get effective treatment for conditions such as wrinkles, dyschromia, hyper-pigmentation, and pigmented lesions.
But Sciton lasers use halo technology for laser resurfacing. An ablative laser targets very small pathways in the skin while leaving the area around it untouched. Meanwhile, a non-ablative laser drills little thermal holes into the skin. Recognizing these as injuries, the skin is triggered into elastin and collagen production.
Halo not only smooths out wrinkles, but it’s key in the prevention of future wrinkles. And since it doesn’t generate the same level of heat, it is effective on darker skin types.
Emsculpt
Wouldn’t it be great if you could get an intense workout while relaxing? It might sound too good to be true, but one of the greatest technological advances in the field of aesthetics is Emsculpt.
You simply relax back onto a table while a small device is strapped over the area you’re targeting. Meanwhile, you’re given guidance on ways to breathe and relax through the session.
As power from the device slowly increases, your muscles begin to contract, creating an intense vibration. After a few contractions, the machine switches over to a tapping action. This helps to break down the lactic acid your muscles produced during the contractions.
At the end of 30 minutes, you’re done. You’ll probably feel it the next day in the same way you would an intense workout. Within two to six weeks after the last session, you’ll see a difference.
Exparel
We all know by now how well narcotics help patients manage pain. But they also have side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, constipation and nausea. Then there’s also the serious risk of addiction – as is evidenced by the current opioid epidemic.
Thus, responsible plastic surgeons have turned to Exparel as a long-lasting extended release anesthetic to ease the pain during early recovery.
It’s similar to getting a shot at the dentist to numb the pain. Exparel is administered at the end of the surgery before the patient is awakened. It’s either done prior to closure by the surgeon by direct injection into the nerves behind the muscle, or by the anesthesiologist by way of TAP lock after closure. It simply blocks the nerves of the area during the procedure to create numbness.
And it continues to provide pain control for up to three days. No, it doesn’t eliminate the pain during recovery, but it reduces the need for narcotics by about 2/3.
So Many Advances in Plastic Surgery
Of course, the above advances in plastic surgery are just the tip of the iceberg. Plastic surgeons continue to be educated in new procedures such as power assisted liposuction and surgical procedures that incorporate no-touch techniques.
So if you’re feeling more confident about getting a desired procedure, contact us today. There’s no commitment. You’ll just start with a free consultation to help ease you into the idea.
Then from there, the choice is yours.
Are There Plastic Surgery Health Benefits?
The answer is yes. Despite the common misconception that plastic surgery is only performed for aesthetic purposes, there are definitely plastic surgery health benefits.
These perks tend, more often than not, to go unmentioned. Glossy magazines and reality television highlight the showier aspects of plastic surgery.
Yet, there are functional benefits that go far beyond cosmetic improvement.
Plastic Surgery Health Benefits You Haven’t Considered
There are countless procedures that can improve one’s health and quality of life. For example, a blepharoplasty, or eye lid surgery, not only improves one’s appearance, but can improve vision as well.
And though not surgery, cosmetic wrinkle injections can have the added benefit of treating a condition such as hyperhidrosis – or excessive sweating.
But rather than getting too deep into the weeds, we’re going to instead look at four general ways that plastic surgery can actually benefit your health:
- Better Mental Health
While it’s not necessarily more important to look good than to feel good, they definitely have an impact on one another. Plastic surgery that is seemingly done for purely cosmetic purposes can go along way toward boosting confidence and self-esteem.
This is especially true for patients whose negative body image plagues them enough to physically isolate themselves. Such isolation and poor self-image can lead to depression and the health risks involved with it. So in this way, the simple act of improving or eliminating a cosmetic flaw can be the ultimate act of caring for oneself.
In addition, for women (and even men) who have had a single or double mastectomy, a reconstructive surgery to create breasts can give them a boost after a particularly traumatic operation.
- Relieving Pain
Another benefit of plastic surgery is its ability to alleviate muscle and joint pain. Women who seek out plastic surgeons for breast reduction often do so because they suffer with back and shoulder pain from poor posture and strain.
In fact, any procedure that aims to reduce overall bodyweight will not only increase confidence, but also decrease strain on the body that can cause pain and discomfort. Even non surgical treatments can have little-known medical benefits, such as reducing headaches.
- Lowering Risk of Disease
At this point, it’s widely understood the importance of sleep. Not getting enough of it has shown to increase the risk for getting many different diseases, including Alzheimer’s. So along with relieving pain that can rob one of his or her sleep, a plastic surgery procedure such as a rhinoplasty (a.k.a. nose job) improves breathing and lessens snoring for a better night’s sleep.
Then there’s the issue of obesity.
Obesity-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes not only impact the quality of life, but they can be fatal. In fact, heart disease is at the top of the list for killers in America.
Plastic surgery procedures that include liposuction reduce body mass and lower fat percentages to contribute to healthier organs, including the pancreas. The removal of extra weight enables the heart to pump more effectively and reduces the risk of developing heart disease.
- The Drive to Live a Healthier Life
Finally, undergoing a procedure frequently gives patients the push they need to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Because they’ve invested in surgery to get this new lease on life, they are less likely to return to the old habits that brought them to the surgeon in the first place.
In situations where people feel more confident and self-assured, aren’t struggling with pain, and aren’t carrying extra weight, they’re more inspired to work out, eat well, drink plenty of water, and seek out relationships and activities that nurture them rather than tear them down.
In this regard, plastic surgery is truly empowering.
Is Your Health At Risk?
If you’re carrying a lot of extra weight or are struggling with the mental insecurities about your appearance, you may just want to throw in the towel.
Instead, consider all of the plastic surgery health benefits that could be available to you. Whatever your situation, contact us today for a free consultation to find out if plastic surgery could help.
You may be surprised by how just how close you are to better health!
The 411 on Plastic Surgery With Medical Conditions
One of the most common questions plastic surgeons hear is, “Can I still have plastic surgery with medical conditions?”
The short answer is, “As long as your health is optimized for surgery, it is safe.”
That’s why highly professional plastic surgeons not only provide compassionate care, but they also conduct a pre-op screen to catch any major medical issues – such as a mammogram before breast surgery.
Performing Plastic Surgery With Medical Conditions
Cosmetic surgery can be performed on patients with many medical issues including asthma and diabetes. In fact, abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, can actually improve diabetes and boost overall health by lowering blood pressure.
Even so, pre-op clearance is of the utmost importance in situations where there is a pre-existing medical condition.
Labs are run that include complete blood count, electrolytes, blood sugar, kidney and liver function, and coagulation profile. And electrocardiograms (EKG)s are checked for those over 40 years of age or with pre-existing conditions warranting one, such as high blood pressure.
Board certified anesthesiologists and plastic surgeons gather all of this information to assess any risk stratification the patient may have. From there, they set up a highly specialized surgical plan to treat the patient.
During surgery all patients are fully monitored and adjustments to vital signs are made accordingly. In higher risk groups, the surgeon and anesthesiologist may recommend hospital-based surgery as a precaution and keep the patient overnight for observation.
It’s also important to note that any plastic surgery performed on those with medical conditions should involve doctors and nurses with Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
What If I Have a High BMI?
Surgeons treat elevated BMI patients all the time. With advancements in medical technology, some of the previous challenges that obese patients faced can now be mitigated – making BMI merely a number.
Patients who are overweight or obese are more likely to have sleep apnea – meaning they temporarily stop breathing while sleeping. Anesthesiologists take this into consideration and the condition is easily treated in the recovery room with CPAP devices.
And issues such as high blood pressure which are common in obese patients are closely monitored and controlled. The aforementioned EKG may also be administered pre-op to determine if there are other cardiac issues.
To reduce the risk of blood clots in patients with a higher BMI reading and when performing multiple procedures, subcutaneous heparin is given before the operation to effectively lower this risk.
Plastic Surgery and Cancer Care
Finally, it’s important to remember that plastic surgery is frequently done for medical reasons. For example, it plays an important role in cancer care for many patients.
Cancer treatment can damage the function or appearance of a body part or parts. Patients seek reconstructive plastic surgery to repair those changes; making it hugely beneficial to the health and wellbeing of cancer patients.
So while plastic surgery isn’t performed when a patient is actually going through treatments, it is often a godsend in the aftermath.
Do You Still Have Questions?
If you’re curious about having a plastic surgery procedure but need more assurance about the safety of plastic surgery with medical conditions, contact us today for a free consultation.
Our surgeons will take the time to answer any of your questions and address your concerns. They will tell you honestly and upfront about your specific situation, any possible risks, and how they will be addressed.
Then you can make an informed decision.
The Increasing Popularity of Plastic Surgery
While many businesses are sadly suffering the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, plastic surgeons have seen an uptick in patients.
Some of this is a result of the Zoom boom – the surge in bookings for surgical and non-surgical treatments in an attempt to smooth out what is now known as lockdown face.
It makes sense given the fact that so many people are in Zoom meetings all day and suddenly faced with every glaring imperfection and flaw they were able to previously ignore.
There are many other reasons behind the increasing popularity of plastic surgery though.
Technological Advances
Because plastic surgery has no specific regional anatomic focus, it has always been a discipline driven by technique and technology. An increased understanding of anatomy over the past 25 years has allowed for a notable evolution in techniques.
For instance, a more comprehensive understanding of blood supply to the skin, fascia, muscle, and bone has enabled innovative and ingenious improvements of many traditional reconstructive procedures.
Implants have come a long way since the 1940s when advances in material science allowed for their development. It’s now understood that such materials need to match the biomechanical characteristics of the tissue being replaced. There continue to be impressive strides in the development of such biomaterials.
There have also been huge advances in medical computer-assisted imaging technology. These have been transformative in plastic surgery, and particularly for craniofacial surgery where surgeons fix skeletal deformities by repositioning and reassembling the numerous elements of the cranium and facial bones.
Finally, it’s now understood that wound healing is a process involving a dynamic sequence of coordinated cellular processes involving multiple growth factors. As such, therapeutic interventions in just the last 12 years have made more than a dozen growth factors available to promote such healing.
Of course, the increasing popularity goes beyond science.
Popularity of Plastic Surgery Includes Better Health
Carrying a lot of extra weight is tough on the body. Not only does the heart have to work harder and there is an increased risk of diabetes, but excess skin and fat results in weaker core, poor posture, and even back pain.
Both a tummy tuck and breast reduction can help patients strengthen the core, improve posture, and decrease back and even neck pain.
Plastic surgery can also improve vision. As we age, muscles around the eyes weaken and can cause the upper lid to droop so much it interferes with vision. Plastic surgery can remedy this.
Furthermore, many people struggle with a deviated septum. Whether it’s a genetic condition or the result of trauma to the nose, a deviated septum often results in problems with drainage, snoring, and breathing – all of which pose health risks. Plastic surgery corrects this to restore breathing and improve health.
Increased Confidence and Social Acceptance
Decades ago, there wasn’t the same understanding of plastic surgery’s health benefits. In fact, it was often considered a luxury afforded only by the rich. And even at that, people would still whisper about those who had “nose jobs” or snicker disapprovingly about women who got their “boobs done.”
Those days are long gone.
It is now a widely accepted that improving your appearance through plastic surgery can make a huge difference in your life. And it’s far from just vanity.
A research study published in Clinical Psychological Science found that people who chose to undergo plastic surgery were actually happier. When they felt better about their bodies and their appearance, they experienced increased confidence, improved self esteem, a greater sense of satisfaction, and more overall joy in life.
Most patients also adopt healthier lifestyles. Without being bogged down by excess weight, pain, or difficulty breathing, they are able to engage in physical activity. This leads to more mindful eating.
At the end of the day, it all trickles down to improved job performance, better social interactions, and an increased sense of well-being.
Find More Joy in Your Life With Plastic Surgery
Given all of the above, it’s no wonder the popularity of plastic surgery has surged. Plus, it’s more affordable than ever. Of course, the cost of the procedure is not nearly as crucial as finding a surgeon whose primary focus is your safety.
So if you’ve been living with a condition that can be remedied by plastic surgery but still have worries, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. Our highly qualified board-certified physicians will put your mind at ease.
When Are Steroids Used in Plastic Surgery?
When you think of plastic surgery, the first thing that pops to mind is probably not steroids.
But the steroids used in plastic surgery aren’t meant to make you buff or accentuate your newly revitalized appearance.
They are used as part of the healing process. And they aren’t used in every procedure.
When Are Steroids Used in Plastic Surgery?
Steroids have multiple applications in the expansive field of plastic surgery. We’ll take a look at four of the biggest areas.
- Post Op Swelling
Every type of plastic surgery procedure is going to require some amount of downtime. In some cases it might be days. In others, it could be more like months once all is said and done.
For those who undergo plastic surgery, returning to work and activities of daily living as soon as possible is key. Steroids can reduce swelling and even improve bruising following surgeries. This is especially important for facial surgeries.
Studies have shown that a single dose early steroid administration right after rhinoplasty surgery does reduce bruising and swelling around the nose and eyes. However, this is not a long term fix. Three days post surgery, they don’t seem to have much benefit.
Therefore, a short course of steroids around the time of surgery is considered most beneficial in improving healing.
- Healing Scars/Keloids
If you have a noticeable, poorly healed scar in a highly visible place such as on your face or hands, it can negatively impact how you feel about your appearance. A non-invasive procedure involving steroids can help.
That’s because steroids break the bonds between collagen fibers, thereby reducing the amount of scar tissue beneath the skin.
What’s more, steroids can also prevent a surgical wound from becoming a hypertrophic scar or keloid. So if you’re thinking about having plastic surgery, but have a history of hypertrophic scars or keloids, your plastic surgeon may inject steroids into the area before surgery begins.
These injections can either prevent a scar or keloid from forming, or reduce the scar’s size. Surgeons may also administer an additional steroid injection during surgery.
In the event that a scar or keloid develops post surgery, steroid injections every four to six weeks – for a total of five injections – are recommended.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Patients with CTS have compression of the median nerve in the wrist. This can create numbness, pain, and even disability. Before succumbing to surgery, doctors recommend a steroid injection of the wrist.
In fact, according to a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, about one-third of patients treated with steroid injections for carpal tunnel syndrome didn’t need any further treatment over the course of several years follow up.
This seems to indicate that corticosteroid injections in the treatment of CTS are therapeutic. Further studies are needed, however, to determine which groups of patients are more likely to gain lasting benefit from steroid injections.
- Topical Treatment of Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Although new technology is making strides in treating skin conditions for dark-skinned individuals, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) has been the most common adverse effect of laser treatment in this population.
Therefore, a recent study set out to investigate the effect of short-term application of topical corticosteroids on the incidence of PIH. After ablative fractional resurfacing surgery, a topical corticosteroid cream was applied to one side of the face for the first 2 days, followed by an application of petrolatum jelly for the rest of the week. The other side was treated with petrolatum alone.
The side of the face treated with petrolatum alone had a higher incidence of PIH (75%) than the side of the face treated with the topical corticosteroids and petrolatum (40%). Plus, the PIH occurring on the petrolatum-treated sides was significantly higher in intensity and covered a larger area when compared with the corticosteroid- and petrolatum-treated sides.
The Healing Power of Steroids
It’s clear that the steroids used in plastic surgery are not long term. Yet in the short term, they can have some pretty powerful healing effects.
So if you’re considering a plastic surgery procedure and have further questions about how steroids may be a part of your healing, contact us today for a free consultation.
A board-certified surgeon will be happy to go into full detail about their use to put your mind at ease.
Dr. Elan Reisin is the Face of Plastic Surgery
Each year in August, Detroit HOUR runs a special section entitled the Faces of Detroit.
It’s a great way to get familiar with some of the folks in Detroit who stand out from the crowd for their stellar services and commitment to their work.
Next month, Dr. Elan Reisin of Star Plastic Surgery will proudly be the Face of Plastic Surgery for Detroit.
What Makes Dr. Reisin Unique?
If it’s highly experienced doctors you’re looking for, then Dr. Elan Reisin, M.D., F.A.C.S., and his team of surgeons are exactly what you’re seeking.
Not only has Dr. Reisin completed more than 15,000 cosmetic surgeries with his team, but he’s also a published medical authority on breast surgery. Surgery of the Breast, by Dr. Reisin’s mentor, Scott L. Spear, M.D., includes Dr. Reisin’s co-authored chapter on breast augmentation.
Furthermore, Dr. Reisin is board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery and has received numerous national awards including the 2014 Consultant to the National Institute of Medicine and the 2014 National Academy of Plastic Surgery Award of Honor/Lifetime Laureate.
Aside from his current status as the Face of Plastic Surgery in Detroit, Dr. Reisin is also a multiyear Detroit Hour Magazine Top Doc honoree. He was first voted the prestigious Top Doc in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2015, when he received the most votes in the category by a selection of his peers.
After that, he went on to receive Top Doc status in both 2017, 2018, and 2019. He will once again receive this honor in October of this year.
An Impressive Education
Dr. Reisin was fortunate to be raised under the tutelage of his world-renowned plastic surgeon father, Dr. Jorge Reisin. He spent his childhood summers in Argentina where he learned to speak fluent Spanish.
A serious and diligent student, Dr. Reisin was named the 1990 Top Hispanic High School Student in the United States for his academic achievements. He was also recognized as an accomplished athlete.
It wasn’t long before he was recruited by top universities and would eventually receive an academic scholarship to the University of Michigan. He was also the recipient of the Michigan Achievement Award.
After completing his residency, he joined his father at the Reisin Institute in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where he was recognized with the Patient’s Choice Award from 2008 – 2015. He also received the Compassionate Doctor Award from 2010 – 2014 and is recognized in the “Top Doctors” for the Washingtonian in Washington, D.C.
A Born Teacher
As a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Dr. Reisin has traveled internationally to learn from top plastic surgeons. Inspired by these surgeons, he knew early on the importance of giving back.
Dr. Reisin enjoys teaching his colleagues. He is both an injector specialist and an adept physician trainer – serving often as a featured speaker in the art of achieving the maximum results for patients who have opted for temporary injectable treatment instead of facial plastic surgery.
He has also been honored for his service, dedication and mentorship to the residents of the Plastic Surgery Integrated Residency Training Program at Georgetown University Hospital. And he has given back through philanthropic trips to the Dominican Republic to treat children with congenital and traumatic deformities.
Finally, after five years of serving as an attending physician and teaching surgical residents at the prestigious Georgetown University Hospital Department of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Reisin decided it was time to realize his vision of a state-of-the-art AAAHC surgical center and medical spa.
From that vision, Star Plastic Surgery was born. And that is precisely where Dr. Reisin now spends his days as Medical Director – grateful for all of the opportunities and eager to help his patients find new confidence and comfort in their bodies.
Experience the Best
So if you’re looking the true face of plastic surgery in the Detroit area, look no further than Dr. Elan Reisin at Star Plastic Surgery in Novi, Michigan.
Contact Star Plastic Surgery today to discuss your options with a member of their team. And you’ll soon know what it means to be cared for by the best!
Why Is It Called Plastic Surgery?
Some people believe that the term plastic in plastic surgery refers to breast implants. Others think that plastic surgeons work with plastic material in reconstructing parts of the body.
They’d be wrong on both counts. The term plastic surgery has been around since the late 1700s/early 1800s.
By contrast, the first man-made plastic (also known as Parkesine) wasn’t invented until 1862. And breast implants were developed in 1961. Furthermore, breast implants are not made of plastic.
So why is it called plastic surgery then?
It Is All Greek to Me
Like many words in the English language, the origin of the word plastic comes from Greek. It’s derived from plastikos, which means to mold, shape, grow or form something.
That’s precisely why the synthetic polymer we mentioned above was eventually dubbed “plastic.” Because of its ability to be molded or shaped. But the term plastic surgery already existed by that time.
Before It Was Known As Plastic Surgery
Interestingly enough, the first instance of plastic surgery can be traced back to the year 2000 B.C in India. During that time, removing one’s nose as a form of punishment was commonplace. So to appease those who had lost their noses, surgeons would create a wax replica of the missing nose, and secure it with skin from the cheek or forehead.
Procedures were recorded in an ancient text known as the Sushruta Samhita and many are still used today. For example, one procedure involved taking skin from the forehead, elevating it off of the underlying muscle and skull, and then rotating it down to reconstruct the nose.
This sort of flap is still used today in patients who have lost part or all of their nose as a result of trauma, cancer, or cocaine use.
So Why Is It Called Plastic Surgery?
Any plastic surgeon worth his or her salt knows about the book, On the Surgery of Mutilation by Grafting. It was written by Gaspare Tagliacozzi and while likely not the title he may have chosen today, it was a highly influential text.
In the book, there’s a great quote that lays the foundation for the current understanding of plastic surgery:
We restore, rebuild, and make whole those parts which nature hath given, but which fortune has taken away. Not so much that it may delight the eye, but that it might buoy up the spirit, and help the mind of the afflicted.
But this was the 1500s, so it still wasn’t known as plastic surgery. It would be a couple of centuries later before that appeared. And oddly enough, there’s no agreement on the where and when of the debut of the term “plastic surgery.”
Some say it was first coined in 1798 by Pierre Default of Greece. Others say it was in 1818 when German doctor Carl Ferdinand von Graefe coined it to describe the process of doctors who molded or reshaped body tissues.
Modern Plastic Surgery As We Know It
Regardless of the exact origin of the term plastic surgery, modern plastic surgery now comprises both reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries.
After World War I, soldiers suffered devastating injuries that required innovative solutions to repair them. Wounds needed to be closed with tissue from elsewhere in order to restore a “normal” appearance and function.
Improved and advanced innovations were required during World War II to help those soldiers. Yet, once surgeons recognized that they could manipulate tissues to reconstruct devastating injuries, attention slowly started to shift to manipulating tissue in a “normal” appearing person in an attempt to achieve a more “perfect” appearance. And this was the birth of cosmetic plastic surgery.
Early cosmetic plastic surgery was very expensive and typically reserved only for the ultra-rich and Hollywood stars. But since then, the field has expanded and now just about anything that someone wants improved can be done so through plastic surgery.
No plastic needed.
Could Plastic Surgery Boost Your Confidence?
Now that you know why is called plastic surgery, it’s strange to think that early plastic surgery procedures were performed over 4000 years ago. And without anesthesia.
Of course, procedures have come a LONG way since then. There are so many more technological advances to help mold and shape your body. So if you feel self-conscious about some part of your appearance, then contact us today.
It’s more than likely we can do something to improve it.
