LAWRENCEVILLE PLASTIC SURGERY CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS

Don’t forget the sunscreen just because the thermometer is reading in the single digits.  The sun’s reflection off snow can be just as harmful as direction radiation from the sun.  Keep a tube of a broad spectrum sunscreen in your pocket if you’re going to be outside for any length of time such as a day at the ski slopes. Remember to reapply the sunscreen frequently.

Be kind to your hands, because it’s harder to keep your hands moist, especially in winter.  Use a good moisturizer on your hands, and wear gloves outside, even if it does not seem uncomfortably cold.  You want to prevent itching and cracking before it gets “out of hand.”

 

For starters, the FDA has restricted silicone implants to women age 22 and older for breast augmentation.  The FDA felt that a woman’s breast tissue continues to develop into her early 20’s, and somewhat arbitrarily felt that age 22 is an appropriate age to make an informed decision about breast augmentation.  You only have to be age 18 to get saline-filled implants.
As for the implants themselves, the silicone-gel implants come pre-filled, so that a somewhat larger incision is needed for their insertion.  The saline implants require a much smaller incision because they are filled only after insertion under the breasts.  The gel implants may have a more natural feel than saline, but other factors come into play, such as the amount of overlying fat and whether the implants are placed above or below the chest wall muscle.  If a woman is quite thin, with the contour of her ribs visible, saline implants may result in rippling, and thus gel implants may be recommended.

One last important consideration is cost, in that silicone implants are twice the price of saline implants.  The two implant manufacturers, Allergan and Mentor (which is now part of Johnson & Johnson), set the prices, which are simply passed along to patients as part of the total cost of surgery.

Finally, the “gummy bear” implant is now undergoing clinical trials,  This implant consists of a more cohesive silicone gel, which is thought to help the implant better keep its shape over time.  This implant will be an important addition to what can be offered to breast augmentation patients.

 

Patients are understandably trying to cut costs during the current slump in the economy, but the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is reminding patients to be careful about cutting corners on the quality of care.  ASPS, of which Dr. Smotrich is a member,  is the national organization for Board Certified plastic surgeons, but many other practitioners are marketing their cosmetic offerings, with reduced costs being central to these marketing efforts.

It is important to find out the qualifications of the practitioner performing any procedure.  In New Jersey, a physician cannot delegate injections of Botox or fillers or laser treatments to a nurse or physician assistant.  The ASPS is reminding patients that decisions regarding care should be based on the credentials of the medical professional, not price alone.  Remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

There is nothing wrong with choosing Botox and fillers over a facelift.  You can certainly save money with noninvasive procedures, but quality care should not take a backseat to cost.  Less expensive procedures are definitely on the rise over the past few months, but ASPS makes the point that cheaper is not better if the procedure is being done by someone who is unqualified.

Prior to the economy contributing to the decline in facelifts, the burgeoning role of fillers, Botox and lasers led to a number of patients postponing their facelift.  Though the number of facelifts performed in the US is down over the past few years, the procedure remains the gold standard for facial rejuvenation.  Past a certain age, the non-operative procedures simply do not accomplish the major goal of a facelift, which do when the folds and lines become too deep.

 

 

The newer facelift techniques minimize scarring, and prevent the “wind tunnel” look that was the hallmark of many of the older facelift techniques.  The key to a properly performed facelift is too make it look like the patient didn’t have one.  Rather, you want your friends and family to comment on how you look younger or lost weight, or you simply keep them guessing that something looks better about your appearance.

The surgery is performed in the office surgery suite at Lawrenceville Plastic Surgery, and most patients can get back to work with a bit of makeup within a week.  It’s best to give yourself a good month to recover if you’ve got a daughter’s wedding on the calendar, because you don’t want a small bruise showing up on the photos.

There are a number of different practitioners who are injecting Botox and fillers these days, from gynecologists to emergency room doctors.  Only a board-certified surgeon skilled in plastic surgery can offer you the full range of facial rejuvenation options, which would include a facelift if that would give you the best results.