Posts Tagged ‘research’

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Despite Highly Publicized Deaths, Plastic Surgery Complications Rare

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

While we all take safety precautions in performing various plastic surgery procedures at our clinic, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reminds people that any surgical procedure carries inherent risk.

They recommend 6 important recommendations when considering plastic surgery, including:

1. Research benefits and risks of any procedure as much as you can before going forward. Check out our resources on plastic surgery or visit the ASPS website for more.

2. Have realistic expectations and fully discuss risks and recovery time with your surgeon beforehand.

3. Talk to other patients who have undergone the procedure to learn of their experiences.

4. Discuss your full medical history with your surgeon before undergoing any procedure.

5. Only choose surgeons accredited by the ASPS. They have a certain level of experience, professionalism and have all proper certifications.

6. If your surgery is taking place at an outpatient center, verify the center’s accreditation

“The death of a patient is always tragic and devastating for all involved, particularly the patient’s family and the medical team,” said Richard D’Amico, MD, ASPS president. “However, we don’t want to unnecessarily frighten the public. While this situation is rare, the decision to have a plastic surgery procedure is serious. No-risk surgery doesn’t exist.”

Plastic surgery procedures are relatively safe, with serious complications only occurring in 1 in 298 or 0.34 percent. Death occurs in 1 in 51,459, or 0.0019 percent of cases according to a 2004 study from the ASPS that evaluated over 400,000 surgeries.

Any death or complication is tragic but these statistics show that despite any of these highly publicized things, death and complications from plastic surgery are very rare.

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Surgeons Use Injectable Fillers after Nose Surgery

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Florida plastic surgeons at Accent in Gainesville employ a rhinoplasty procedure to help patients reshape and resize their noses. Rhinoplasty surgery in fact is among the top five cosmetic surgery procedures with over 152,000 “nose job” procedures being performed in 2008 alone.

While plastic surgery procedures have improved dramatically, there are still some imperfections.

To smooth out any minor irregularities and asymmetries remaining after any initial rhinoplasty procedure, surgeons have increasingly been turning to injectable fillers. The rise of injectable fillers to smooth wrinkles and other skin enhancements has naturally lead surgeons to consider their use to correct any imperfections following surgery according to an article in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

“Injectable fillers allow surgeons to correct post-surgical imperfections without the expense, anesthetic risk, or recovery downtime involved with additional surgery,” comments Dr. Steve Dayan, MD, one of three authors of the article and assistant clinical professor at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago.

Injectable filler substances like Hyaluronic Acid (HA), calcium hydroxylapatite gel (CaHA) and off-label liquid silicone have all been used to varying degrees of success to treat post-surgical nasal deformities.

Authors of the paper though don’t suggest silicone since it carriers a higher risk of complication.

Surgeons also have to be careful on how they use these injectable fillers in the nose region. Placing filler at the nose’s tip, base and too deep can cause complications like bumpy appearance, soft tissue damage or even compromise blood vessels in the nose.

“The use of any soft tissue filler in the nose should always be approached with caution and with thorough consideration of a patient’s inpidual circumstances,” says Dr. Dayan.

And while these fillers offer an easy, less expensive way to revise your nose’s shape and appearance following a rhinoplasty, they’re not recommended as a primary option for altering your nose.

Innovative techniques like this though can make any post-surgical corrections quick and easy and not require you to undergo more surgery.

As with any plastic surgery procedure, only deal with board-certified plastic surgeons that have the requisite training and experience to safely work on your nose.

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New & Improved Liposuction Techniques Reduce Risk of Complication Study Says

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Like other medical and cosmetic surgery procedures, liposuction has come a long way. Developments in techniques have allowed doctors to remove excess fat more efficiently and safely shape the body through fat removal.

Now, a new study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal examines what works and what doesn’t.

Over the last three decades or so, technologies and tools used in liposuctions have drastically improved. To see what’s improved and what still needs improving, an analysis of 26,000 liposuction procedures over a period of 25 years was conducted by a team of four plastic surgeons in Cali, Colombia.

These surgeons found that tumescent liposuction and laser-assisted liposuction (LAL) techniques have drastically improved the safety of undergoing a liposuction, mainly by reducing the risk of anemia, while still providing the best aesthetic results.

As with any cosmetic surgery procedure, there are still some risks. Tumescent liposuctions for example have been shown to increase post- operative seromas – a mass or swelling caused by the localized accumulation of serum (a yellowish fluid) within a tissue or organ.

The surgeons’ survey and study found that while 90% of patients reported post-operative pain, 82% of them were generally satisfied with the results of their procedure…results were similar for the other liposuction procedures covered in the review.

As always, discuss all options with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon before making any decisions. While safety has improved dramatically, there is still some risk of complication but with the right planning and information, you can be assured it’s safe to undergo a liposuction.

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Dermal Fillers Useful in Rejuvenating the Eye Region

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Many cosmetic surgeons around the U.S. are now using dermal fillers known as Hyaluronic Acid to revitalize eyes without resorting to a more surgically intensive eye lift procedure. Through research and clinical trials, plastic surgeons believe HA fillers are a suitable alternative for improving the eye that’s long lasting.

HA fillers, similar to fat injections, are inserted in both the upper and lower eye region. Doing so adds volume and minimizes the appearance of tired, sunken eyes.

Surgeons use a local anesthetic for this procedure and it takes about an hour to complete.

Research has also showed HA fillers can last around 2 years and are completely reversible…they also only cause mild side effects such as light swelling or bruising.

Commenting on HA fillers helping patients rejuvenate their eyes, Dr. Val Lambros explains “The addition of volume may provide a better-looking result than traditional surgical procedures, and in some cases, filling in the brow expands the lid skin sufficiently to smooth wrinkles.”

Check out the video below for further explanation of this exciting procedure and how it can potentially help plastic surgery patients improve their eyes without undergoing an invasive surgical procedure.

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Jerusalem University Manufactures Collagen from Genetically Modified Tobacco Plants

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel have successfully produced a replica of human collagen from genetically modified tobacco plants, potentially having tremendous commercial implications for use in various medical procedures.

Collagen is the most prevalent protein in the human body and provides texture, resiliency and shape in human’s skin. It is found throughout the body in skin, muscle, tendons and bones. Collagen fibers weave together like threads in fabrics to form a framework where new cells can grow.

Today, collagen is commercially produced from cows, pigs and even human cadavers (but poses different health and ethical issues). It is used in a variety of surgical implants and wound healing devices. The commercial collagen market in the U.S. currently exceeds $30 billion annually.

Creating human recombinant type I pro-collagen requires the coordinated expression of five different genes. Dr. Oded Shoseyov of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has the only laboratory in the world that has been successful at this co-expression. His findings have been patented and the scientific findings behind it were recently published in the Biomacromolecules journal.

The new collagen has also seen a lot interest among investors and commercial producers – already raising $15 million to bring it to market.

This discovery could potentially revolutionize various aesthetic treatments we offer at our Gainesville plastic surgery clinic. Dermal fillers like these are a great way to smooth out wrinkles and lines on your face that appear over time. Weather, time, gravity and other factors cause your face to lose its fullness as you age.

Synthetic collagens like Cosmoplast, Cosmoderm, Artefil and this newest discovery help restore your youthful look with minimal invasiveness.

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Posted in Cosmetic Treatment, Human Interest, Skin Care | 1 Comment »

Beware of Cheap Facelifts (and other plastic surgery procedures)

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

We’ve all heard the old saying “you get what you pay for.” Nowhere is this sage advice more applicable than plastic surgery, especially facelifts.

One type of cheap facelift procedure called a thread-lift has been singled out as being especially wasteful and risky. The procedure makes use of implanted metal barbed threads. While it is cheaper than a standard facelift, it does not work well at all and is discouraged by surgeons at our Florida plastic surgery clinic.

A recent study by state researchers and independent assessors in New York surveyed 33 patients and compared the results for three different procedures: thread-lifts alone, non-surgical facelift procedures, including fat injections and chemical peels and a combination of the first two.

Patients showed noticeable improvement one month into the survey but when researchers came back 12 to 31 months later, only patients who underwent the non-surgical procedures noticed a lasting improvement with their appearance.

Those who underwent the thread-lift operation showed no lasting improvement at all. In fact, improvement in skin tightness in the beginning came from facial swelling and not the barbs themselves. As the swelling decreased, so did the tightness, leaving the patient with a face full of “fish hooks.”

Researchers concluded with these findings, along with the risk of adverse affects and patient discomfort, that this cheap facial rejuvenation procedure could not be justified.

The lesson here – don’t focus on cost alone. It’s better to spend a little more and get something right the first time rather than think you’re saving a few bucks just to find out you will have to go back for more work, costing you more money.

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“Gummy Bear” Breast Implants Offer Alternative to Saline and Silicone

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

While breast implants have been available for years now, researchers in academia and industry are always on the lookout for better materials to make implants safer and more comfortable. Cohesive silicone gel implants are one of the newest types of breast implants to hit the market.

Due to the similarities with the texture of gummy bear candy, these implants are informally known as “gummy bear” breast implants. While their use hasn’t been approved in the U.S. yet, they are taking Europe and Brazil by storm…and there’s good reason why.

First, they use a new type of silicone that addresses two of the problems with traditional saline and silicone implants – rupturing and rippling. If there’s a tear in one the new gummy bear implants, the substance inside will maintain its shape and integrity, alleviating the concern of silicone migrating to other parts of the body where it can cause problems.

Cohesive silicone gel implants also have a more natural feel than traditional saline implants. Other advantages of gummy bear implants include:

  • Lower risk of rupture and leaking
  • More natural look and comfortable fit
  • Ability to maintain their form, or “bounce back”
  • Less risk of capsular contracture, or inflammation and hardening of scar tissue

While it may seem gummy bear implants are infallible, they do have some disadvantages over more traditional options. One, they feel firmer than other implant options, which may be uncomfortable for some women. Also, a larger incision is required to insert them and they do cost more. And if the implant does move, it may cause a distorted appearance.

Unfortunately, this procedure is not available on a wide scale in the U.S. To obtain gummy bear implants in this country, women have to enroll in a clinical study that’s evaluating these implants (or travel to Europe or Brazil)

Even though there are some drawbacks, reports from patients indicate overwhelming satisfaction. In fact, they have become one the most popular breast augmentation options in Europe and Brazil.

In the mean time, consider breast augmentation and lift options at our Florida plastic surgery center in Gainesville. If you’re interested in learning more, contact Accent Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics today.

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Chemotherapy Drug Fluorouracil may Improve Aging Skin’s Appearance

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Associate professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan Dr. Dana L. Sachs, M.D. released a study that shows the chemotherapy drug fluorouracil may help reduce precancerous skin patches and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin.

Fluorouracil is a drug used to treat cancers of the colon, head and neck, pancreas and other organs which stops the body from synthesizing thymine, a building block of DNA.

Clinicians began noticing a change in skin appearance for cancer patients who were using the drug in an unrelated study.  This led these them to develop a topical therapy to treat skin lesions that may develop into skin cancer.

Dr. Sachs and his colleagues evaluated molecular and clinical changes in the skin of 21 healthy volunteers who had skin lesions and sun-damaged skin. They applied a 5 percent fluorouracil cream to their face twice a day for two weeks. Evaluations were done at the beginning of the study and photographs were taken as it progressed. Patients were also evaluated at the end by three dermatologists not involved with the study.

The number of lesions was reduced significantly from an average of 11.6 to 1.5. Clinical evaluations found other improvements to age-related skin issues, including decreases in wrinkling, dark skin spots, hyperpigmentation (skin getting darker) and sallowness (yellow skin tone).

Skin biopsies taken soon after patients discontinued applying the topical skin cream showed increases in levels of compounds related to skin injury, inflammation and degradation of the extracellular matrix. The study’s authors also write that topical fluorouracil causes epidermal injury which improves appearance by stimulating wound healing and dermal remodeling.

Treatment was generally well tolerated with 95% of patients seeing an improvement in their while 89% said they would do it again. Patients who use this topical ointment for skin lesions will also likely see restorative effects from sun damage, providing further motivation to undergo the rigorous treatment.

However, there are some who may find this treatment cosmetically unacceptable since the standard course of therapy may last two to three weeks and the ensuing reaction may last for several more.  But there will undoubtedly be others who will choose to undergo this cosmetic treatment due to its lower cost.

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Liposuction Causes Natural Breast Enhancement Study Concludes

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

An interesting study published in September 2007’s issue of Dermatologic Surgery shows women who have fat removed from other parts of the body through liposuction can experience an increase in one to two cup sizes.

Board certified surgeon Dr. Eric Finzi conducted the study after many of his tumescent liposuction patients returned for post-operative check-ups with the unexpected side effect of larger breasts. Finzi’s study of the matter concluded that 43% of female patients who undergo one or more liposuction procedures experience an increase in their breast size…heavier patients who had more fat removed were more likely to experience a natural breast enhancement.

“This is the first step in the development of natural breast enlargement,” stated Dr. Finzi, who has performed thousands of liposuction procedures in parts of the body that good dieting and exercise couldn’t touch.

Liposuction has become a popular cosmetic procedure since its inception in 1987. Besides the conventional benefits of safety and removal of unwanted fat without surgical scarring, women may also benefit from a natural increase in their breast size.

Up until these findings, breast implants were the only known way for women to increase the size of their breasts. Over 2 million women in the U.S. have undergone implant surgery but despite its popularity, implants continue to have frequent complications including implant rupture, hardening of the breasts, changes in sensation and more.

Data from Dr. Finzi’s study suggest an added benefit of liposuction surgery – perhaps allowing you to kill two birds with one stone.

Looking to get rid of excess skin and fat that good dieting and exercise can’t deal with, perhaps getting some natural breast enhancement in the process? Contact Florida liposuction surgeons at Accent Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics today for a free consultation.

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Study Shows Women’s Curves Mesmerize a Man like Drugs and Alcohol

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

According to a new study from Georgia’s Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, men prefer a woman with curves and that an hourglass figure acts as an intoxicant for the male brain.

Many women worry about their weight but results from this study showing that men simply prefer a curvier figure should make them rest easier.

Researchers at the college scanned the brains of 14 young men looking at nude before and after pictures of women who underwent a plastic surgery procedure that gave them more shapely hips. Their weight didn’t change, just redistributed through implanted fat taken from the hips and buttock.

The post-op photos excited the young male’s “reward centers” – or areas of the brain typically stimulated by drugs and alcohol. Proved to be particularly stimulating were women with high waist to hip ratios. Steven Palek, lead researcher on the project and an evolutionary cognitive neuroscientist, credits this to the reality that shapely hips in women are an indication of good health and the ability to carry children.

Results from the study also conclude that changes in a woman’s body mass index (BMI) only affected the parts of the brain linked to visual evaluation like size and shape but nothing else.  This may be proof that societal norms influence perception of female beauty more so than actual brain wiring.

“The media portrays women as wholly too skinny,” Platek told FoxNews.com. “It’s not just about body fat, or body mass index.”

If a woman’s natural curves are not optimal for this scenario, findings from this study demonstrate the benefits of a breast enlargement procedure or buttock augmentation. More curves are not only more appealing, they are downright intoxicating!

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