Originally Posted on August 5, 2015

Written by Melissa Chapman

 

Elizabeth Taylor’s infamous quote “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together,” perfectly sums up our society’s collective obsession with lips. In fact, I’d venture a guess that before most women leave their house- at least 90 percent of them first and foremost accentuate their lips with some kind of enhancer be it a shimmery gloss or lip stain. Why? Because prettying up our pouts is a quick and easy way to feel more pulled together and feminine.

For me- I see my lips as the focal point of my face and when I put on my lipstick- I honestly feel like that’s the best version of me, or as Elizabeth Taylor would say “pulled together”. And while there are a boat load of topical potions, lotions and creative makeup tricks to create the illusion of perfectly plump lips—for women who’ve always felt like their top lip is too thin- the good news is that there are temporary cosmetic enhancements to help them procure that plump lip they’ve coveted.

Of course while most of us want Angelina Jolie’s pout- none of us want to make the mistake that Bravo TV’s Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star, Diva Lisa Rinna did in regards to her well documented botched lip job So I asked board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael Olding to demystify this cosmetic procedure and provide us with the lowdown on collagen as well as other injections that will help women achieve a pouty look and share whether the benefits of a lip procedure outweigh any possible side effects or recovery issues.

Melissa Chapman: What chemical material do you use when injecting the lips and what are the choices you have?

Dr. Michael Olding: Alternatives to plump up the lips include the patient’s own fat as well as “off the shelf” fillers. Hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane and Juvederm are the ones used most often because they have limited side effects, can be carefully titrated to the desired effect, and last up to 9 months. More importantly, there is little to no downtime, and if the patient decides the lips looked better before the filler, an injection of hyaluronidase into the lip can reverse it in several days! Botulinum Toxin may also be injected into the muscle of the lip (very judiciously) to decrease the strength of muscle contraction and therefore the amount of wrinkles, but too much creates its own problems.

Melissa Chapman: How long does a treatment last and when will it have to be redone?

Dr. Michael Olding: Fat may never have to be redone, but the “take” percentage of fat is low and therefore more needs to be injected initially, which can result in a slightly ‘overdone’ look though it is temporary. Hyaluronic acids can last up to 9 months, but in the lips may last a shorter amount of time.

Melissa Chapman: Is there a recovery period necessary before you can resume normal activities and eating?

Dr. Michael Olding: No.

Melissa Chapman: How is the procedure done from start to finish including anesthesia?

Dr. Michael Olding: Many of the hyaluronic acids available today contain a small percentage of numbing medication (xylocaine) which has significantly reduced the amount of discomfort associated with lip injections. Prior to the availability of those injectables, I did a nerve block to the area much like a dentist would do. Today however, patients are asked to apply a topical numbing medicine to the lips for 20 to 30 minutes followed by application of ice to the area for a few minutes. The ice not only helps with the discomfort, but it also decreases bruising.

Melissa Chapman: What are the most common and most serious complications that can occur?

Dr. Michael Olding: The most common side effects are bruising and discomfort from the injections. The most serious side effects include an extremely rare condition known as a granuloma which is an inflammatory nodule at the site of the injection. This can occur months after the injection, and can require treatment with steroids and antibiotics. If this occurs with an injectable hyaluronic acid, the reversal agent gets rid of the material and helps resolve the problem more rapidly than other non-reversible injectables.

If you are ready to take the plunge and plump up your pout I’d say the only downside is that the fillers only last up to nine months unless you opt to use fat injections, which will last indefinitely. And of course, the best part about fillers is that the procedure can be reversed if need be and there is no recovery period and very few side effects. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine which option is best for you.

 

Posted on June 30, 2015

Written by Aly Walansky

 

We already know that plastic surgery, performed by the hands of a talented board-certified surgeon from the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) can enhance how you look.

It can be minimal, (a bit of lipo here and there) or a bit more dramatic, (a plumper butt, bigger breasts etc.) and today, you can change just about everything with one plastic surgery procedure or another. We can look thinner, more voluptuous, younger… but that’s only skin deep. What does it do to the inside?

Chances are, when you make these changes; you may feel better about your body and yourself. You may feel more desirable, younger, sexier, and this may change your personality – it may make you more social, more outgoing. In essence, you are more likable, but it’s not because you look different – it’s because of how you feel about how you look.

“Ever meet someone who wasn’t the most conventionally attractive guy or girl on the block, but was alluring and dynamic as hell? Here’s how plastic surgery can improve your likability: It can reconfigure your self-image to make you feel more attractive. Whether others might agree or not when glancing at before and after images is beside the point,” says Constance Dunn, a researcher focused on people perception and self-identity, Communication Management/Branding instructor at UCSB Extension (University of California, Santa Barbara) and author of Practical Glamour.

If you believe you are more attractive, it is highly likely that you will perform and behave with more confidence, more joie de vivre, and as a result, be perceived as more likable by others, says Dunn. “It’s a simple matter of “think and ye shall become.” That is because our perception of others is not merely based narrowly –on the arrangement of facial features. It’s a medley of variables that work in concert, including how we speak, dress and move, just to name a few,” Dunn says.

A friend who had plastic surgery anonymously concurs:

“I had breast reduction done in 2001. After years of yo-yo dieting, my breasts were too big and pendulous for me to function physically. I have scoliosis and my chest wasn’t helping my situation. It was also affecting me socially. Too many unwanted stares and comments from men and women (who were more prone to touching me than men) made worse when I met new people. I usually stood with my arms crossed in my front of my chest. I felt very uncomfortable walking into a room where I didn’t know anyone. So I met with a plastic surgeon for a consultation who thought breast reduction was the right choice for me.

Post-surgery, I no longer feel like I stick out as a sore thumb. I can face any situation without feeling like all eyes are on my chest. Men make eye contact with me –it’s been a while! I no longer worry what other people are thinking about me. It’s cliché, but plastic surgery gave me back my long-lost confidence.

What I didn’t realize was how my body anxiety was taking a toll on my friends. My complaining didn’t exactly make me someone they wanted to hang out with. They’d worry how awkward or cold I’d act to someone I just met. I didn’t realize how I hijacked their good time because of my insecurity. Soon, I was a little more chill in newer situations, to the point that I’d just roll with anything coming my way. “

So, what do you think? Have you or someone in your life had plastic surgery? Has it changed how likable you or they are? Have you noticed this difference, above and beyond the physical ones?

Posted June 17, 2015, Written by Corrie Shenigo

For all the factual information out there on cosmetic surgery, there’s an equal amount of gobbledygook, flimflam and hornswoggle. Today we’re going to look at a few popular misconceptions being bandied about in order to clear the air using a little something we like to call reality. Here we go!

Let’s start where it hurts the most: your wallet. Many people forgo even considering cosmetic surgery due to the belief that “it’s just too expensive.” The truth is that along with procedures (particularly non-invasive ones like injectables and laser hair removal) becoming less invasive, they’ve also become more affordable. This may be why the number of nonsurgical procedures performed in the U.S. has consistently risen since 1997 with more than 10 million surgical and nonsurgical procedures performed in 2014 alone. Many plastic surgeons also offer financing to help make cosmetic surgery more affordable.

There’s really no way around it. All surgery produces scars. By choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon who’s been trained in the technique and art of aesthetics, those scars are likely to be minimized and hidden as much as your chosen procedure will allow. For example: scars from a tummy tuck procedure are typically hidden beneath the bikini line, facelift scars hide neatly along the hairline and within the contours of the ears, and breast augmentation scars are often hidden in the armpit, in the crease beneath the breast or through the areola making the scarring less visible.

There are numerous myths and rumors concerning breast augmentation and how safe the procedure really is. So let’s put those aside by sharing what we do know:
1) The US FDA has approved various saline and silicone implants for medical use after vigorous clinical trials and research, and
2) Data is still routinely collected to determine if there is a link between implants and cancer or any other illness. So while no procedure is without its risks, we can be sure that the implant itself is safe.

Perhaps the most powerful myths that stop people from considering cosmetic procedures are the ones that live inside our heads. “People will think I’m vain,” “I’ll look unnatural,” and “It’s emasculating for men to get cosmetic procedures” are a few biggies — all of them self-perpetuating stigmas and shames that are no longer relevant in this age of information and empowerment.

Vanity? Why not? It’s a well-known fact that how a person feels about their looks directly affects their self-esteem, overall health and general well-being. So in the spirit of self-care, why wouldn’t someone seek out a procedure that will help them feel better about their appearance?

Gone are the days when cosmetic surgery did indeed leave some patients looking “plastic.” Today’s goals, however, are focused on achieving a natural and “un-done” result that leaves the patient looking like themselves… only better. With the myriad of advances in technique, product and procedure, and your American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) board-certified plastic surgeon will ensure that yours and their expectations are aligned and realistic, leaving little room for miscommunication or a “plastic” looking result.

The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery cosmetic surgery 2014 statics showed a 43% increase in the number of men undergoing cosmetic procedures over a five year period –and that number is rising. So much so that notable plastic surgeons, like Southern California’s Dr. Grant Stevens, M.D., are now focusing a portion of their practice on catering to the specific needs of men From this we can surmise that the sexist stigmas that may have haunted cosmetic surgery in the past are now archaic and out of touch with the modern man.

Of course, none of our myth-busting means that cosmetic surgery is without its risks, but ensuring that your procedure is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon will significantly reduce any risk of a botched procedure or surgery-gone-wrong.

 

Posted 06/01/15, Written by Mary Cunningham.

NBC’s recent story about the major consequences of seemingly minor facial treatments calls our attention to a scary but true scenario- doctors you trust for significant care in certain areas of your life –from dentistry to internal medicine–are not likely the best option to administer facial fillers or Botox. But until you know what qualifications to look for, you may be swayed to get an enhancement at the hands of a Botox novice.

To gain some perspective on what we should look for when considering Botox and other facial fillers, Michael C. Edwards, MD, FACS, the president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery gives us the basics on why credentials matter, even for routine aesthetic enhancements.

Mary Joan Cunningham: What have you seen as the most common negative results when someone receives Botox from an unqualified medical professional?

Dr. Edwards: The goal of Botox treatment is to relax the specific facial muscles in a manner to soften lines from muscle action and even lift the eyebrows a bit with proper placement. Treatment by an unqualified injector can lead to dropping the eyebrows, one or both sides, making some patients feel they look worse than they did before. Also, treating too close to the mid eyebrow can lead to a sagging or lazy eyelid called ptosis. These things can happen in the hands of a qualified injector, but I think you can feel confident the incidence will be rare.

Mary Joan Cunningham: Dr. Edwards, in your post about the difference between cosmetic and plastic surgeons, you explained that plastic surgeons receive far more training and have a deep knowledge of their specialization. While we understand why that is important when undergoing major surgery, does that carry a benefit for those only seeking Botox or fillers?

Dr. Edwards: Botox treatment should not be equated with surgery and although the laws differ state to state, there are differing levels of injectors (nurses to physicians of different specialties). If a doctor goes to a weekend course to bring this into their practice as a financial supplement, they should have a solid knowledge of the anatomy and action of the treatment administered. They should also have an understanding of potential risks and possible complications so they can recognize and treat these if they were to occur.

Mary Joan Cunningham: With that in mind, should patients seek out a member of ASAPS when choosing who to administer Botox injections?

Dr. Edwards: They can be rest assured that members of ASAPS have a detailed and comprehensive training about facial anatomy. Patients should feel confident seeking care from a board-certified plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, occuloplastic surgeon and dermatologist.

Mary Joan Cunningham: What do you hope that those curious about Botox will take away from this interview?

Dr. Edwards: That they will realize Botox is a medication with intended positive effects. There are virtually millions of very happy and satisfied patients who undergo treatment every 3-6 months. Everyone should do their homework and seek out care from a properly trained and credentialed board-certified plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, occuloplastic surgeon or dermatologist.

Want to know what specific questions to ask? Check out my interview with Miami’s Dr. Adam Rubinstein

Not all health care professionals administering Botox have the same credentials and experience with facial muscles. Remember, this is the only face you have. Choose wisely.

 

 

 

Posted May 1, 2015

Local nurse and mom of 8 shares her decision to have a tummy tuck.

By Linda Hankemeier

As the mom of eight, Tere (pronounced “Terri”) knows what it means to work hard to get her figure back after childbirth. However, after her last pregnancy — giving birth to triplets at age 51 — the exercise and diet that had worked so well after her earlier pregnancies wasn’t successful in getting “everything” back to normal this last time.

“I had triplets, which included a C-section. But even with the demands on my body, I was able to restart my exercise routine and managed to get back down to my prepregnancy weight,” Tere shared. “But, even with reaching that goal, I was still surprised that my midsection never went back to normal. The excess skin in my stomach wasn’t going anywhere.”

As all eight of her children grew, Tere continued her active lifestyle and her healthy habits such as exercise and proper diet. But, her midsection never seemed to change. Ten years later, her stomach looked pretty much like it did six months after her last delivery. And the extra weight around her midsection made it difficult for her to run, try on clothing, and maintain the active life she wanted. “I wasn’t worried about having the perfect body or making a spouse happy, as my husband loved me just as I was,” Tere commented. “This surgery was about getting my life back to normal.”

Realizing the shape of her stomach was beyond her control, Tere made the decision to look at medical options. She began researching abdominoplasty, more commonly called a “tummy tuck,” and met with one of the board-certified plastic surgeons of Twin City Plastic Surgery.

As a nurse, Tere was an informed patient. She researched types of procedures, consequences, and recovery times, and had many questions for the doctor and staff that were specific to her health and medical situation. “The number one question on my mind regarding any surgery was risk versus benefit, especially at my age.” Tere shared. “After all, I have eight kids and a husband. I needed to know my options, weigh the pros and cons, and make an informed decision.”

Twin City Plastic Surgery’s doctor and staff worked closely with Tere discussing in depth the surgical procedure itself, the process, recovery, and even recommended to Tere different possible procedures to address her concerns. In the end, she decided the tummy tuck and muscle wall repair would give her the results she wanted, and her surgeon confirmed she was a great candidate for the procedure. She was physically strong and maintained a healthy lifestyle, so a tummy tuck would be a great way to remove the excess skin and fat and return her to the active lifestyle she had prior, which was greatly needed as her triplets were nearing the preteen years.

Even her recovery went well. “Prior to surgery, I spent time exercising my legs to be stronger. Two days after surgery I was up walking, but careful. I walked bent over for about two weeks to make sure I didn’t pull any stomach muscles or loosen my stitches.”

As a part of her procedure, a pain pump tube was inserted in Tere’s stomach along the incision area. The pump provided her round-the-clock pain management. At times the pain was a little more severe, but she was able to manage it with oral pain medication. Within the first week, she found that extra strength over-the-counter pain medication successfully managed the pain. Within two weeks of surgery, she started working part-time again, and could comfortably walk, sit, and drive a car.

Tere resumed her normal exercise routine about two to three months post-surgery, starting first with walking and biking. Six months after her tummy tuck, Tere completed a 100-mile bike ride and was feeling fit again.

One year after her surgery, Tere said she feels amazing. Her stomach is hard and toned, with no lingering side effects of the surgery. Even her scar is hardly noticeable. “I’m so thankful I had a tummy tuck,” Tere shared. “I feel like my stomach is back to normal. But, more importantly, my life is back to normal.”

Board-certified plastic surgeons Laura C. Randolph, Chad Tattini, and Paige Holt, along with their professional and compassionate staff, comprise Twin City Plastic Surgery. Their Bloomington office is located at 2502 East Empire Street, Suite C, which is 1 mile east of Veterans Parkway, turning on to Audie Murphy Drive. More information on their practice, surgical options, tummy tucks and their consultation services is available by calling their office at 309-662-6772 or visiting online at twincityplasticsurgery.com.