The Centre, P.C. - Plastic Surgery Blog

Lip Augmentation - Thursday, October 30, 2008

Full lips are generally thought to be more youthful-looking and sexy. As we age and the body slowly shrinks and becomes drier, the lips grow thinner. This can be accelerated by sun exposure and poor facial care over the years.

To correct thin lips, we offer the injectable fillers Restylane and Perlane, which plump up the lips temporarily and must be repeated for ongoing enhancement. They are very popular – they are quick and easy treatments with immediate results and little or no downtime. Both fillers are based on a non-animal, stabilized form of hyaluronic acid, so there is no requirement for a skin test for allergies.The great advantage of hyaluronic acid is that it attracts water, which gives volume and plumps up the lips.

Another excellent option is AlloDerm, made from donated human tissue. It is processed for safety and retains the structures you need for full, youthful lips.

The Collagen and Elastin Matrix

The skin's middle layer, the dermis, contains many essential structures such as hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and blood vessels. It also contains a three-dimensional structure made of collagen and elastin fibers. When we're young the body creates plenty of collagen and elastin and this interwoven matrix in the dermis provides solid support for the skin, retaining its smooth surface.

As we age, the body produces less collagen and elastin, so that the matrix develops some little gaps and becomes weaker. This contributes to wrinkle-formation. The lips acquire those fine vertical lines around them as we age.

How Alloderm Works

Alloderm is donor tissue with all the viable cells removed and contains a collagen and elastin matrix. Using local anesthesia, it can be placed into the boyd of the lip to create more volume and fill in the gaps. It also encourages the skin to grow more of its own collagen and elastin. The natural tissue integrates with the Alloderm tissue and gives a new plumpness that looks entirely natural.

If you would like to know more about lip augmentation and whether it would be a good option for you, please call or email our office today for a personal consultation.

Side Effects vs. Complications - Thursday, October 23, 2008

At The Center, P.C. we put a high value on patient education and will always want to make sure that you fully understand the procedure you have chosen. One of the topics discussed will be what side effects to expect during the recovery period, and another will be what potential complications might develop.

Side Effects

Side effects are minor and temporary consequences after any surgical procedure. They clear themselves up in the immediate aftermath of surgery, especially if you follow closely the instructions your cosmetic surgeon will give you for self-care.

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Temporary pain or discomfort
• Minor bleeding
• Itching
• Temporarily reduced physical movement or flexibility, depending on what procedure you had

Side effects are part of the body's healing response to surgery and are temporary conditions to be managed and minimized until they disappear.

Complications

Complications are more serious health problems which were not expected, or were thought to be very unlikely and which sometimes cause death or permanent disability.

Complications are rare when surgery is well-done by a fully-trained and experienced physician on somebody who was a good candidate for the procedure. Patient screening is the first step in avoiding complications, and we are rigorous about performing surgery only on those who are good candidates for it. Preventive action is always taken by reputable surgeons also, such as antibiotics to prevent infection.

Examples of complications are:

• Hematoma (blood clot)
• Pulmonary embolism (blockage of the lungs by a traveling blood clot)
• Severe bleeding
• Seroma (a pocket of fluid build-up) which may leave a hard lump
• Infection

Sometimes complications result from an unexpected accident that disturbs the surgical site. Sometimes the cause is not fully understood. In most cases complications can be handled by prompt medical action such as special dressings or a drug to reduce bleeding. Hospitalization may be necessary or a follow-up procedure.

Complications can also be the result of not following your plastic surgeon's self-care instructions after your surgery. Our surgeons will never send you home without first being sure that you are in a safe and stable condition, and that you understand how to take care of yourself during recovery. You will have written instructions that you can refer to if you forget anything. They also perform your follow-up in person, monitoring your progress and watching for any early signs of a problem.

To learn more about a procedure you are interested in having, please contact our plastic surgeons by email or phone and schedule a personal consultation.

Silicone Gel Breast Implants: Are They Safe? - Monday, October 20, 2008

The short answer is Yes. There was a 14-year period running from 1992 to 2006 where they were restricted to breast reconstruction by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They were not used for cosmetic enhancement.

That was a result of the FDA being pressured by the mass media to re-assess their safety. An array of women had come forward and stated that they had health problems because of the silicone leaking out of their breast implants. Some claimed their implants had caused some form of cancer and others claimed lupus or some other immune system dysfunction.

During those 14 years, many companies did extended research on silicone implants and any possible connections they may have had to diseases. The FDA directed or supervised all this research.

What is Silicone?

It is a modified form of silicon (with no "e" at the end), which is the second most common element on earth after oxygen. The element silicon is found in sand, rocks, crystals, and other plentiful natural substances. The substance of silicone is also plentiful in our environment, as it is present in many household products such as dish detergent, laundry detergent, hand lotions, and hairspray.

So we all have silicone in our bodies whether or not we have silicone gel breast implants. As the 14 years of research progressed it became obvious that silicone poses no danger if it leaks out of an implant, and that the health claims trumpeted in the mass media had no basis in fact.

Improved Silicone

The 14 years of research were not pointless however, as they did result in a form of implant silicone which is more self-adhesive, and in tougher silicone shells for both saline and silicone gel implants. In the very unlikely event that a silicone gel implant were to rupture, the gel inside it would not move. It would remain in place, adhering to itself, and not leak into the body in any way.

Silicone Gel Implants Re-Approved by FDA

In November, 2006 the FDA issued approval of the newer silicone implants made by two California companies: Allergan and Mentor. They have been widely-used ever since and are usually thought to be more natural in their look and feel than saline implants.

At The Centre, P.C., we offer both silicone and saline implants for your breast augmentation. The choice between those types of implant is one of the issues to consider and discuss with your cosmetic surgeon before you have an augmentation procedure. To learn more about breast implants please see our Breast Enlargement Questions page.

If you would like a personal consultation, please call or email our comprehensive plastic surgery office today.

SmartLipo [TM] - Thursday, October 16, 2008

Because liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries, several ways of performing it have been developed. SmartLipo uses a laser for body sculpting, which makes it different from all other liposuction procedures.

Medical lasers are very safe, efficient and precise. The laser used for SmartLipo is small and its energy penetrates the skin without burning it, to disintegrate the unwanted fat cells beneath the skin.

The SmartLipo Procedure

Only local anesthetic is needed. A small cannula between one and two millimeters wide is inserted through a correspondingly small incision. It contains the laser and your cosmetic surgeon moves it around to deliver the laser energy to the treatment area. It ruptures the fat cells and at the same time seals any small blood vessels in the area.

Your surgeon removes the liquefied fat through the same small incision, and any remaining in the body will drain away naturally via the lymph system.

Advantages of SmartLipo

Because of the laser use and the small incisions you will have:

• Less bleeding
• Less bruising
• Less discomfort
• A shorter recovery time

Results are permanent in the sense that those fat cells are gone forever. However too much caloric intake could expand remaining fat cells in the same area or other areas, and you would be gaining weight with somewhat different contours than previously.

SmartLipo might be a good option if you have worked on diet and exercise and have come close to your ideal weight, but still have certain areas which refuse to slim down. It was approved by the FDA in November, 2006 and has proved to be a very safe, popular, and effective way to recontour your body.

For more information about SmartLipo and to speak with one of our surgeons, please contact our cosmetic surgery office.

Facial Implants - Monday, October 13, 2008

• Depending on the implant size, incisions can be inside the lower lip or beneath the chin
• Stitches will be removed in about one week
• You would need to wear a special facial garment to help reduce swelling and facilitate healing

• Incisions are made either inside the upper lip or in the lower eyelid
• The implant rests on the cheekbone in a pocket made by your cosmetic surgeon
• Sutures will hold the implant in place. Dissolving stitches may be used for the incision or regular sutures which will be removed after about a week
• To minimize cheek movement and discomfort during recovery, you can use soft or liquid foods and restrict talking
• It takes six weeks for the implant to be secured by scar tissue formation but you can resume many activities before that time

• Incisions are inside the mouth on each side
• The implant is positioned against the jawbone
• You will need to stay with a liquid or soft diet for a couple of weeks afterwards
• Aside from bruising and swelling, you can resume normal activity after about one week
• It takes six weeks for scar tissue to develop around the implant and secure its position

Speed Your Recovery: Prepare Your Home in Advance - Friday, October 10, 2008

A large part of successful surgical outcomes is in the recovery period. Assuming that you were a good candidate for your particular surgery, and that it was well done by the surgeon (both safe assumptions at The Centre, P.C.), recovery routines and events can still make a significant difference to your final success.

You will have printed instructions from your surgeon as to self-care during recovery. You should follow them exactly. Your job during recovery is to care for yourself in a way that optimizes the surgical work and does not undo or jeopardize it.

You will want to feel relaxed and safe during recovery, not anxious about whether your stomach will handle the food you happen to have on hand, or whether your kids will be reliably picked up after school.

Tips on Speeding Your Recovery

• Fill your prescriptions ahead of time
• Arrange for someone to be with you for the first day or two (if you live alone)
• Arrange for someone to drive you to your follow-up appointments
• Make solid arrangements for daily things like bringing in the mail and paper, walking the dog, feeding pets, and picking up children from school or activities
  
• Have a list of all important phone numbers handy: your doctor, any visiting nurses, your pharmacy, supportive friends etc.
• Stock up on easily prepared foods, processed foods, and fresh food
• Have extra pillows and blankets handy for complete comfort
• Have entertainment items like hobby supplies, TV guide, library books, and videos on hand
• Have your home thoroughly cleaned before the day of your surgery, and the laundry done

The goal here is to achieve peace of mind and relaxation of the body while you recover. All major surgery such as breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, facelift etc. is a shock to the body and recovery is a time to pamper yourself.

Please contact our office if you have questions about your planned surgery or its recovery time. We regard informed patients as the best kind and will be happy to make sure you understand what your recovery will be like and how you can best optimize it.

Advantages of the Pearl [TM] Laser - Friday, October 03, 2008

A Pearl laser treatment is an excellent way to treat sun damage, wrinkles, fine lines, and skin texture problems. It can be used not only on the face, but also the neck, hands, upper chest and upper back. Usually one treatment is enough, although some people have a second treatment. It depends on your individual skin issues.

The Pearl laser is offered by Cutera, Inc., a manufacturer of lasers and other light-based aesthetic systems. It has a wavelength of 2790 nm, which is less invasive than the older skin resurfacing lasers. Of the older lasers, some are ablative, meaning that they remove the top layer of skin to stimulate new cell growth; and others are non-ablative, meaning that they bypass the surface and stimulate the deeper layer directly. The Pearl laser offers the best of both worlds.

How the Pearl Laser Works

A safe amount of the skin's top layer (epidermis) is removed (ablated) by vaporization. Some of the epidermis is left in place and forms a natural protective layer while the skin regenerates. The laser's heat does not burn, but it does break molecular bonds and evaporate the water inside each cell. Between ten and thirty microns of epidermis are removed. At the same time, the Pearl laser's heat is sent into the deeper skin layer, the dermis, where collagen is produced.

Young skin has plenty of collagen which forms a matrix with elastin to support the skin and keep the surface smooth. As we age, the body produces less collagen. The Pearl laser treatment stimulates increased collagen growth.

After three or four days the top level of skin peels off to reveal new skin with a more youthful glow. During this time you would use moisturizing lotions or creams. Over the following few weeks new collagen is produced beneath the skin surface. It enhances the skin's smoothness by giving it more support from below.

Summary of Advantages

• One or two treatments are enough, each between ten and twenty minutes
• Downtime is short -- just three or four days, instead of the weeks required of older deep-peel lasers
• Collagen production is increased for longer-term rejuvenation
• Pore size is reduced
• Areas of discoloration are faded to give you a refreshed evenness of color
• Skin texture is made more youthful and fresh
• Lines and wrinkles are smoothed out

Besides offering skin treatments we also offer a wide variety of top-of-the-line skin care products. Please contact our office if you would like to learn more about the Pearl laser skin rejuvenation, and whether it would be a good option for you.