Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

April 4th, 2011

Let’s say you had to get off an island onto the mainland. If you had a choice of taking a small sailboat with someone that didn’t have a captain’s license and had very little experience with sailing, or a more stable sailboat with a fully licensed captain with years of experience, I doubt you would take too long to decide. Now lets say that you could take the smaller boat for five dollars, but the larger boat would cost ten dollars. You probably would still choose the larger boat. This decision is being made everyday by people having cosmetic procedures and the choices that are being made are not always the obvious ones.

If you change the details to fit cosmetic procedures you can see the choice that needs to be made. Patients can choose to have a doctor (and sometimes not even a doctor) who has little or no surgical training and is not board certified in plastic surgery, perform a consultation, injections, and even a surgical procedure. Alternatively, they can choose a fully board certified plastic surgeon with years of training and experience in the very same procedures that are being considered. If all things are otherwise equal the choice seems very clear. There are not too many people that would choose the less qualified, less experienced doctor. But when you add the element of cost people suddenly lose sight of that logic. If the unqualified doctor charges $400 and the board certified plastic surgeon charges $600 there are a lot of people that would choose the former based solely on price.

Lets change the details a bit. What if you needed surgery on your brain. What would be more important, the cost or the skill and experience of the surgeon? Most people would not hesitate to pay $200 more for the greater experience and skill of the board certified surgeon. Why should your face and body be any different? There is a reason that board certification exists – the difference matters. Do you really want to place your face, body, or even your life at risk to save a few dollars?

On my radio show, New Reflections we discussed this very issue on a special episode. I invite you to listen to that episode:

http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/51157/be-safe-be-smart-a-patient-safety-special

Don’t choose the small sailboat with the less qualified captain.

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Why do you want plastic surgery?

March 31st, 2011

Patients choose to have plastic surgery and aesthetic procedures for lots of reasons. All of them very personal. Sometimes the significant other doesn’t “get it”. Every now and then I will see a patient in the office who comes in with her spouse who is against the idea of having a procedure. The patients feels strongly about wanting to improve something and her husband doesn’t think she needs it.

It’s hard to understand why the person you love might want to change something about themselves when you look at them and love them just the way they are. Their reasons for wanting to make a change are usually deeply personal and may not make sense to anyone else. The most important reason for having a procedure is that it is very personally important to you, the patient. Once the procedure is done and you feel better about yourself, everyone else will understand how important this has been to you.

On my radio show, New Reflections, we recently did an episode about plastic surgery procedures changing people’s lives. On that show I interviewed a husband and wife about just this type of experience. I invite you to listen to the show and hear their perspective.

http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/52531/plastic-surgery-changed-my-life

Why do you want to have plastic surgery? To make changes that are really important to you. People that care about you will see that and understand; sometimes it can take time.

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Buy 1 Latisse and Get 1 Free Now Through April 30!

March 3rd, 2011

If you’ve always wanted longer, darker, and thicker eyelashes, but don’t love how fake eyelashes look… then we have a solution for you!

It’s called Latisse – and its a perscription only solution to getting the beautiful eyelashes of your dreams!

Check out some of the results:

Now through April 30th, 2011, we’re offering a special on Latisse: Buy 1 Get 1 Free!

If you have questions, just give my office a call – 305-792-7575.

Otherwise, you can order by clicking on the “Order Now” Button Below!

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Silicone injections – Don’t make a fatal mistake!

February 11th, 2011

Buttock augmentation is very popular in the United States and throughout the world. There is probably no place where butt augmentation is more popular than in Miami. Butt augmentation is something that a lot of patients come to my office to discuss. I perform these kind of augmentations on a regular basis. But there are some dangers that patients need to know about.

There are basically two ways to augment the buttocks. They can be made larger by using implants, or by injecting something to increase the volume of the buttocks. Implants are riddled with problems including malposition, infection, extrusion (popping out through the scar), causing pain, and a few others. Suffice to say that butt implants are not a great choice. The problem is that injections can be even more dangerous.

I regularly perform butt augmentation using fat injections. This is a procedure that takes fat from areas with too much of it and places the fat into the butt. The fat is removed with liposuction and then injected back into the buttocks. The result is a really soft and natural butt augmentation and a sleeker body contour after the liposuction. Results can be terrific. The procedure is not inexpensive costing anywhere from $7000 up to $15,000 depending upon the surgeon and the amount of work being done. Patients often prefer cheaper alternatives but don’t know that making that choice comes with high risks.

Some patients try to save some money and have other artificial materials injected into their buttocks. Silicone is often the choice. Silicone butt injections can cause tremendous problems and possibly lead to death. There are many stories in the news about patients trying to have a cheap procedure and ending up dead. Most recently some patients flew to Pennsylvania from England to have this procedure done. One died shortly thereafter in a local hospital. Her injections were done by a non-medical person in a hotel room. Other similar stories are found in New York City and Los Angeles. Always a non-medical person, sometimes in a spa, most of the time in a hotel room, and all ending in death of a patient.

Tomorrow I will broadcast my live radio show talking about plastic surgery disasters. We will spend a good amount of time discussing these tragedies. Tune in (or listen to the archived show) and you might learn something that could save your life. If you’re thinking about having buttock augmentation I strongly recommend fat transfer as a safe choice when performed by a qualified and board certified plastic surgeon. If you try to find a bargain you will probably get more than you bargained for!

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Miami Plastic Surgeon Reveals What You Need to Know About Breast Enlargement

February 3rd, 2011

If you’ve decided to enlarge your breasts through cosmetic surgery, then congratulations!  It takes plenty of courage and determination to take such an important step towards the body you’ve always dreamed about.

It’s no secret that for many women, their breasts can often be their greatest source of confidence – and insecurity.  With common breast complaints ranging from uneven shapes, sagging, loss of firmness and lack of size, it’s no wonder that breast enlargement (also known as breast augmentation) has been the most popular cosmetic surgery in the US for over a decade.

Despite the procedure’s popularity, many women still feel in the dark about what the breast enlargement process entails.  How do you know if it’s the right procedure for you?  How can you determine your ideal breast size and shape?  How long is the recovery process?

And most importantly, how can you choose a plastic surgeon who’s renowned for unparalleled success with breast augmentation procedures?

Simple: you can follow these steps to choose the ideal plastic surgery that will give you the confidence to show your new shape off!

  • First, it’s important for your plastic surgeon to understand the exact look that you want from your breast augmentation procedure.  While many people think that breast enlargement results in so-called “watermelon-shaped” breasts, the truth is that there is a variety of different shapes and sizes to choose from.  Based on your desired look, your plastic surgeon will help you to select the right saline or silicone implants.
  • For women who suffer from sagging breasts due to pregnancy or age, a breast lift can also be performed in conjunction with augmentation.  The restores the breasts’ natural shape and size, and can shave years off of a patient’s appearance.
  • The procedure itself will be performed in a plastic surgery outpatient center; however, some surgeons may choose to perform the procedure in a hospital.  General anesthesia will be used during the procedure, while a local anesthesia will be applied afterwards to reduce any pain and discomfort when the patient awakens.  During the procedure, the plastic surgeon will make incisions around the breast, under the armpit and around the nipple.  Once the silicone or saline implant has been inserted, the surgeon will stitch the breast area back up and wrap the breast area up in a bandage dressing.  The procedure itself takes approximately one to two hours, and the majority of patients leave the outpatient center after just a few hours.
  • You may experience swelling and bruising after the surgery; however, recovery time generally takes three to four weeks.  During this time, it’s best to sleep on your back, and avoid any rigorous activity until four weeks after the surgery.

Like with all surgeries, there are some risks associated with breast enlargement.  The right Miami plastic surgeon will be happy to talk you through these risks, and will examine your healthy history to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for the breast enlargement procedure.

Now that you know what to expect from the breast enlargement procedure, isn’t it time you got the body confidence you deserve?

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Miami Cosmetic Surgeon Reveals What You Need to Know About Rhinoplasty

February 1st, 2011

Your face is the first thing that people see – and it’s often the picture that remains with them long after you’ve met.  And if you feel that your nose detracts from your other great facial qualities, then it’s time to consider reclaiming your confidence with rhinoplasty.

If you’ve never heard of rhinoplasty before, then you’ve probably heard of it under it’s more common name: a nose job.  Rhinoplasty is one of the most common procedures performed by Miami cosmetic surgeons, and proves to be popular across the country as well.  After all, this procedure doesn’t just reshape the nose – it can balance your facial proportions and highlight other beautiful facial features that had been previously overshadowed.  In fact, many patients report feeling much more confident in their appearance after a rhinoplasty procedure – and this confidence resonates in both their professional and personal lives.

If you’re interested in undergoing a rhinoplasty procedure, what should you expect from the procedure itself?  Miami cosmetic surgeon Dr. Adam Rubinstein reveals what you need to know:

  • Apart from a general unhappiness with your nose, how else can you determine if you’re an ideal candidate for rhinoplasty?  Look at the following descriptions to see if any of them apply to you: You feel that your nose is too wide, large, small or narrow; you’re unhappy with a bump on the bridge of your nose; you want to fix a deviated septum in order to improve your breathing; and you wish to restore your nose after receiving an injury.
  • The procedure is typically performed within a cosmetic surgery center; however, your cosmetic surgeon may choose to perform the procedure at a hospital instead.  Depending on what needs to be done during the surgery, your cosmetic surgeon will either use local or general anesthesia to reduce any pain and discomfort during the procedure.  During the short operation (most rhinoplasty procedures take one to two hours), the surgeon will make small incisions into the nose and reshape the cartilage to the desired appearance.  Patients may leave a few hours after the surgery has completed; however, most cosmetic surgeons recommend having a friend or family member drive you home and help you around the house for a couple of days.
  • Recovery time can vary from patient to patient.  You’ll be expected to wear a splint, which helps to maintain the shape of the nose.  You’ll also be required to wear nose packing on the first night after the surgery; however, this is removed the next day, with the splint following after one to two weeks.  Swelling and bruising may occur during the recovery period, in which case you can use a cold compress to reduce any swelling.  The final results of the rhinoplasty can take some time to see – in fact, some patients report having to wait an entire year before seeing the desired result.  However, the majority of patients are thrilled with their rhinoplasty results, and enjoy the newfound confidence they experience with their new nose.

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Tummy Tuck Without Anesthesia

January 30th, 2011

I recently had a patient that was scheduled for a couple of procedures. When her day of surgery arrived everything was moving along as usual until she was being placed under anesthesia. The anesthesiologist could not easily place her breathing tube. After some very careful attempts without success the procedure was cancelled. We later discovered that this patient had a rare problem in her trachea (windpipe) which made it very difficult to fit the breathing tube for surgery.

Posed with this problem we had to come up with a solution. After considering all the options we chose to do perform a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) without general anesthesia. Instead, we used spinal/epidural anesthesia. This is same kind of anesthesia used for delivering babies. It allows for the patient to be fully awake but not feel anything in the area of surgery. The operation went very well and the patient was completely comfortable throughout the process.

Spinal/epidural anesthesia has some advantages over general anesthesia. Many patients fear “going to sleep” which is not necessary with spinal/epidural anesthesia. Since you don’t “go to sleep” there is no waking up so the immediate recovery part is a little easier. Also, the types of medications used are very different. Unlike general anesthesia, spinal/epidural anesthesia has very little chance of causing nausea. However, some patients may have a headache with spinal/epidural anesthesia which is less common with general anesthesia.

All things considered, my patient had a great experience. And so did I. I am always looking for new ways to help my patients have a comfortable experience with surgery. I am definitely adding spinal/epidural anesthesia as a choice for my patients having a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). If you are considering this procedure you might want to consider this option yourself.

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Breast Implants Still Safe

January 29th, 2011

Just a couple days ago the FDA issued a notice explaining that there may be an association between breast implants and a very rare condition call ALCL. This condition, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, is extremely rare. In looking at the population of women with breast implants the FDA feels there may be a slightly higher risk of the occurrence of this problem.

Lets look at the numbers. The FDA has identified between 34 (in the USA) and 60 (worldwide) cases of ALCL in patients with breast implants. There are as many as 10 million women with breast implants worldwide. That means at worst there ALCL is currently reported in approximately one out of every 165,000 women with breast implants. To illustrate how rare that really is here are some stats that I found:

Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_385745.html

  • Odds of fatally slipping in the bath or shower: 1 in 2,232
  • Odds of dying from a car accident: 1 in 18,585
  • Odds of injury from fireworks: 1 in 19,556
  • Odds of injury from shaving: 1 in 6,585
  • Odds of dying from any kind of fall: 1 in 20,666
  • All of these far more likely than having breast implants and getting diagnosed with ALCL.

It is important to note that this disease is NOT breast cancer. In the cases identified by the FDA ALCL seems to have been found in the fluid and tissue that surround the implants, not in the breast tissue itself. This finding includes all types of breast implants, both saline and silicone filled.

The FDA has partnered with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to create a breast implant registry. The registry will be used to track cases of ALCL in women with breast implants. Currently the FDA still finds breast implants safe to use. No restrictions nor cautions have been issued regarding the use of breast implants. Breast implants are still considered safe to use by the FDA.

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Plastic Surgery Disaster – Stay Safe, Do Your Homework

January 28th, 2011

Recently in South Florida there has been a tragedy. Hoping to improve the appearance of her buttocks Lidvian Zelaya, a 35 year old woman from Miami, went to Strax Rejuvenation and Aesthetics Institute for liposuction and fat transfer to the buttocks. She chose the center based upon price, she thought she was getting a bargain. She ended up paying the ultimate price.

On December 27th, 2010 Mrs. Zelaya suffered complications during surgery and was transferred to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. She went to a large center where lots of procedures are done everyday. Her surgeon was board certified in plastic surgery. One would think she had made good choices. Had she done a little homework she might be with us today.

She was quoted a price of $4500 for liposuction and fat transfer. While this is a very good price, one has to be suspicious of pricing that is WAY less than other qualified surgeons are charging. And then there is the surgeon. Strax did not release the name of the surgeon, though the lawyer for Mrs. Zalaya’s husband claims the surgeon was Dr. Roger L. Gordon. While he is, in fact, board certified, a quick perusal of the Florida Board of Medicine might have changed her mind about her choices. Dr. Gordon has multiple complaints and disciplinary charges filed against him. Looking at county records there have also been legal actions involving Dr. Gordon.

A little homework may have helped avert this terrible tragedy. If you are considering have a procedure soon, take time and investigate your options well. Search the American Board of Plastic Surgery website to confirm the doctor is properly certified. Check the state board of medicine website to see if his/her license is clear and if there are any disciplinary actions on record. You can also look up the doctor in your county records website to see if the doctor has been named in legal actions in the past. A little diligence may go a long way in keeping you safe!

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Tummy Tuck or Liposuction: Which procedure do I need?

March 12th, 2010

When you think of body contouring and choosing the right procedure, the following guideline will be helpful.

Liposuction is excellent for removing excess fat and sculpting body shape but does nothing about excess skin.  In some patients, especially those with poor skin elasticity, liposuction may actually leave you with more hanging skin once the fat is removed.

A tummy tuck removes the loose and hanging excess skin and fat together but will not remove fat in areas where skin is not being removed. It is very common for the liposuction and tummy tuck surgery to be combined; plastic surgeons call this procedure lipo-abdominoplasty.

After pregnancy or significant weight loss, women often have a combination of excess and loose skin from the pregnancy as well as some excess fat that could not be shed after the baby. In most cases, a combined liposuction and tummy tuck will give the best result. As always, we recommend seeing a board certified plastic surgeon for your body contouring procedure.

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