Plastic Surgery up in 2010

2009 may have seen a bit of a plunge in plastic surgery procedures, but 2010 saw a serious comeback in a number of different procedures, according to the newest stats published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Here are some of the most popular surgical procedures that rose in 2010:

• Breast augmentation procedures were up 2% in 2010 compared to 2009

• Breast lifts (Mastopexy) went up 3% in 2010 compared to 2009

• Breast reduction in men were up 6% in 2010 compared to the year before

• Buttocks lift (we’ve written about this) were up 5% in 2010

• Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty) was up 3% in 2010

Some of the most popular minimally-invasive procedures in 2010 were:

• Botox/Dysport treatments were up 12% in 2010 with over 5.3 million people having this procedure

• Intense Pulse Light treatment was up 7% in 2010

• Laser hair removal was up 5% in 2010

According to ASPS President, Michael McGuire, MD. “The current economic climate will likely not have an impact on long-term growth. The largest contributor to the increase in procedures over the past decade has been the advent of injectable wrinkle fighters and other minimally-invasive procedures.”

“It would seem, as innovations in cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures increase, surgery will continue to decrease,” added Dr. McGuire. “However, as the economy rebounds, more patients and Boomers will continue to seek surgical body contouring procedures (liposuction, tummy tuck), eyelid surgery and breast augmentations. In fact, breast augmentations are up 36 percent since 2000. Silicone implants are now used in 50 percent of all breast augmentations.”

As more and more people continue to get both surgery and injections, the technology and healing time will continue to improve. I’m excited to see the evolution thus far and even more excited to see where we go in the future.

Questions about these procedures or any others? Please let me know!

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Plastic surgery for men

I don’t think we talk about plastic surgery and men enough. Men can be just as concerned with how they look and feel as women can be. As a matter of fact, 35% of my patients are male. The biggest question I get is “What’s the most popular procedure?” In my experience, it’s been the blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). This is also popular for women, don’t get me wrong, but it’s definitely a popular one for men. It can make a world of difference. Having the procedure done can completely rejuvenate the eyes — the patients look more awake and alert. The pain is usually very mild and the recovery is relatively rapid. Check out some before and after photos here.

Other popular procedures for men are the gynecomastia surgery (male breast reduction) and liposuction of the waist. Gynecomastia surgery is often a last resort for men who have tried dieting and working out with weights, with little improvement. I’ve had male patients that have been so insecure about the way they look that they hadn’t taken their shirts off in public for over 10 years. Some men have never even let their wives see them without a shirt. The only solution for men with excessive breast tissue is to remove it surgically, either with liposuction, direct excision, or both. I try to minimize the size of the incisions, but frankly, many of my patients don’t really care about the incisions as long as their contour is improved. Gynecomastia surgery is one of the most rewarding procedures, with great emotional benefits.

Liposuction in men is most commonly performed around the waist, where it’s more difficult to lose fat under the navel. In many patients, liposuction higher on the abdomen can allow the stomach muscles to be more visible for a “six pack” look. I’ve found men are particularly interested in returning to work as quickly as possible, so we use pre-operative ultrasounds and other treatments to help the swelling go down quickly. Our new Tickle Lipo machine allows me to perform the procedure in the office, with minimal downtime (1 or 2 days!).

I understand that men can have fears and reservations about plastic surgery. Men also approach the decision to have plastic surgery differently — women are generally more social and are able to have conversations with friends and family about it. Men, on the other hand, are much less likely to do this. I feel like if we talk more about this, it will help men be a bit more open about how they feel. What are your thoughts?

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Hilarious Tickle Lipo Video and Open House

Who knew liposuction could be this fun?

Not everyone reacts like this, of course. There are so many great aspects about tickle lipo. It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s painless, and it’s less expensive than regular lipo because there are less things to factor in…such as OR and anesthetics, etc.

Here’s another video of another patient experience as well as a brief introduction on Tickle Lipo:

If you’re in the New Mexico area, we’re actually having a Tickle Lipo Open House in Santa Fe at Chrysalis Salon. Details are below and on Facebook and below. Come out…ask questions…learn more. There will be door prizes and all kinds of fun stuff in store. Hope to meet you soon!

Chrysalis Salon and Beauty Store
540-1 Cordova Road
Santa Fe, NM

Tuesday, October 19th from 6-8pm

As always…if you have any questions, let me know!

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Tickle Lipo Update

It’s been a few weeks now since I’ve gotten the new Tickle Lipo machine, and I have to say, it’s been fantastic! We’ve talked about this before . . . all the reasons why I held off on purchasing a laser lipo machine . . . I just wasn’t comfortable with the unregulated energy it let off under the skin. There also wasn’t enough research on it and the early models caused some patients to burn. Yes, the technology has now improved so that the devices are safer, but still not to the point where I’m comfortable with it.

So, let’s talk about Tickle Lipo and why I chose to go that route: the technical name for Tickle Lipo is called Nutational Infrasonic Liposuction. This name actually has to do with the motion of a gyroscope – the nodding and twisting is called nutation. This causes sound waves to liquefy the fat so that it can be sucked out easily.

This funny motion of the liposuction device causes so many vibrational signals to go to the brain that the brain doesn’t have any room for pain signals. It’s called the “gating theory” because there is a “gate” that processes all sensory signals into the brain. This gate is flooded with the vibration signals, which the brain perceives as a tickling sensation. So, it’s not painful. My favorite things about it:

1. It’s SAFE.
2. It’s an office procedure.
3. No pain equals no anesthesia . . .which saves money and downtime.

Let’s talk about it in more depth:

Have you experienced Tickle Lipo yet? What are your thoughts? How did you feel? How do you feel now?

If you have any more questions on the matter, don’t hesitate to call me, email me, or set up a consultation.

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Trunkplasty: Excess back skin removal

Before

Before

We’ve all seen it. Perhaps some of reading this blog post actually deal with it, or know someone else who does. Back fat. And for some people, no matter how much they exercise or work out, it doesn’t go away. This can be especially problematic for someone who is experiencing major excess skin after massive weight loss. There is a solution. It’s called Trunkplasty.

Trunkplasty is an excision procedure where the surgeon goes in and actually cuts the excess skin off. Many patients also incorporate liposuction in the lower back for shaping purposes.

After

After

Although it does cause a scarring, (Kris Wrede, our Aromatherapist can help with this issue), for women, the incision is hidden in the bra line. The down-time is about a week. The scar heals slowly in terms of redness and width – like arm and thigh scars, they take longer to remodel than do breast and abdominal scars. But eventually, with the scar hidden behind the bra, it looks great.

Questions?

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Will the Real Aesthetic Surgeon Please Stand Up? The Difference between Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons and all Other ‘Cosmetic’ Surgeons

In July 2007, the Arizona Medical Board suspended the license of a physician who was board-certified in internal medicine, and had been performing cosmetic procedures. The Board took action after a third liposuction patient died under his care. The suspended physician was/is not board-certified in plastic surgery or in any surgical field.

Can anyone call themselves a plastic surgeon?

Yes, and there are an increasing number of doctors shifting their practices to include plastic surgery procedures – but calling yourself a plastic or cosmetic surgeon does not make you a qualified plastic surgeon. In most states, licensed physicians are not restricted from performing plastic surgery regardless of their training. Here are some questions we’ve heard.

My gynecologist is offering Restylane and Juvederm injections, and she is Board-Certified. What does that mean?

Just because a doctor is board-certified does not mean he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). You probably would not take your car to an airplane mechanic, and you would not ask a brain surgeon to do a heart transplant. Although there are some well-qualified other doctors who can perform cosmetic surgery, many are inexperienced and poorly trained, performing services for which they are not experts.

To be ABPS-certified, a physician must meet these rigorous requirements:

• Graduate from an accredited medical school

• Complete a combination of at least five years of general surgery and plastic surgery residency training. At least two of these years involve aesthetic plastic surgery.

• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams

• Regularly attend continuing medical education courses

• Adhere to a strict code of ethics

• Perform surgery in accredited surgical facilities

There are other Boards that certify physicians to perform “aesthetic surgery”, but this can sometimes be meaningless. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, for example, will certify a dermatologist to perform cosmetic surgery after completing only a few weekend workshops!

I made an appointment with a facial plastic surgeon for an eyelid tuck– is that OK?

In addition to formal plastic surgery training, there is another qualified training program that teaches facial aesthetic surgery. Ear, nose, and throat doctors can train for an extra year in facial cosmetic surgery, and can call themselves “Facial Plastic Surgeons.” It would be safe to go to them for facelifts, nose jobs, Botox, wrinkle fillers, and eyelid surgery. Unlike true plastic surgeons, they are not trained in the surgery of other parts of the body, such as breast surgery, tummy tucks, or liposuction.

Everyone seems to be injecting Botox, even my Pediatrician. Isn’t that safe?

Botox is not just a cure for wrinkles, and can be used incorrectly if it is just injected into them. Plastic surgeons understand 3-D facial anatomy and use Botox to reshape the face by changing the balance of facial muscles. It takes this knowledge of facial anatomy, as well as skill and artistry, to prevent the frozen, paralyzed look. In fact , many patients come to me after having had Botox elsewhere because their faces are off balance, or their eyebrows are droopy.

How can I tell if I am going to the right doctor?

Before you even get to the doctor’s office, there are 3 questions you can ask to determine if it is even worth your while to have a consultation.

1. Be thorough in your research about the doctor’s credentials. You can start by asking if they are Board-Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. If they are not, ask which Board did certify them.

2. Ask if the doctor has hospital privileges, which implies that they have some respect in the medical community.

3. Is the price significantly lower than other doctors’ prices for the same thing? Ask why.

This is a pretty intense subject. Let’s discuss it.

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The New Tickle Lipo Demonstration

As many of you know, I’ve begun a new liposuction procedure called Tickle Lipo™. It’s been such an amazing experience so far. We had a great Open House to discuss the procedure with locals as well as those who came in from out of town. I wanted to be able to show you what this was all about, so we had a patient give consent for us to film her having Tickle Lipo performed.

This procedure saves money and time. The reasons for this are because the procedure is again, in-office. There are no OR costs associated with the procedure nor anesthesia costs to go under. The anesthetic is injected into the area at the same time the fat is being melted and sucked out. For patients, it’s a pretty painless, fairly quick procedure that have them walking out of my office to move about their day. Very little time off from work is required, sometimes only a day! It truly is a breakthrough in liposuction techniques.

The patients I’ve had the opportunity to perform Tickle Lipo™ on have been very excited about the procedure and the results. If you’d like to know more, please feel free to call my office or email me at info@danielronelmd.com. I’d love to hear from you.

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The New Lipo – Custom Acoustic Liposuction (Tickle Lipo)

I’m pretty excited. After about a year of deliberation and holding off on getting a new liposuction machine, I’ve finally decided which route to go. We’re getting a custom acoustic liposuction machine. Now, this technique is one in which I have a lot more confidence in versus the smart lipo machines. I wrote a post not too long ago about some of the newer procedures out there. But, I’ll be honest…I was really concerned about the amount of energy the laser machines were/are putting out. In other words, I was concerned about burning. (Although the latest version of smart lipo has a very good system to prevent this burning, I’m still not 100 percent on it.)

So, I held off. I’m glad I did. This new machine, which is really just new to us, was developed in Belgium and has been used there for some time. It works by using acoustic waves to break up the fat cells, combined with gyrational motion of the tip that happens 10 times per second and does not generate heat. The heat thing was a big deal for me. The little tubes (cannulas) are also only the size of an IV, so it’s much less invasive than traditional lipo.

As this machine works, it actually puts in the anesthetic solution at the same time as it melts the fat and sucks it out. This makes it nearly painless, extremely quick, and it’s an in-office procedure that patients will be able to walk out of. This also means quick and easy spot treatments. Also, by having the procedure in-office, it will be notably less expensive because patients won’t have to worry about operating room or anesthesia costs.

We spoke about this on the latest episode of the Humanity Behind the Vanity. Here you go:

We definitely have quite a few people that are excited to check it out. If you’d like to know more, feel free to call my office or ask right here. I’m happy to answer any questions you have. Also, as Betsy said in the video, we’re welcoming suggestions for naming the machine. I like Tickle Lipo. Any thoughts?

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Understanding Liposuction

I think everyone has heard of the term, Liposuction, but I’m not sure that everyone really understands what it entails, the different types of liposuction, and the results that can ensue. I feel like this is always a great topic to cover and feel it flows well with our ongoing conversation about getting to the root of making changes.

Okay, so you’re at the point where you’re exhausted. You’ve been making small changes, getting a little healthier every day, and perhaps even working out a bit, but even through all the hard work you’ve been putting in, you’re ready to just have that excess fat sucked right out. (This is what patients have said to me, literally.)

So, my wife and I were going through New Beauty Magazine and they just happened to also be talking about liposuction in their issue. Here are some of the different lipo procedures they mentioned along with my take on them.

1. Power-Assisted Liposuction – Okay, this is still basically traditional lipo. What it means, though, is rather than the doctor using his/her own physical endurance to handle the canula, the doctor guides it along, and a machine does the movement instead of the doctor.  This type of liposuction is great when the doctor is working on the entire body.  I did a case last week where I removed fat from a woman’s abdomen, hips, inner thighs, arms, and flanks.  That’s a lot of work!

2. Water Jet Liposuction – This type of procedure is still in the experimental stages. It uses high frequency, tiny water jets to break up fat cells.  Not ready for Prime Time.

3. Laser Assisted Liposuction (also called Smart Lipo, Cool Lipo, Laser Lipo, and several other somewhat gimmicky names) – This is currently best for smaller parts of the body and the face. The laser energy breaks up the fat cells, which are sucked out, and the energy also causes the skin to tighten.   I think this is the most exciting concept in liposuction, but we cannot tell you exactly what the long-term effects are because it’s so new.  I’m not sure that laser energy is the best form of energy – there is now radiofrequency energy and that may be safer.

4. Ultrasound Assisted Lipouction, aka Vaser – This type of lipo treatment is not as new. It has been around for a while. Although it can cause burns if not done properly, it is very effective, and we know how to use it. I’ve found it actually works very well on men, and I explain why in the video.

As usual, I like to send my patients to a nutritional counselor and/or an exercise counselor to make they’re on the right track for making long-term changes. Since liposuction can be such an intensive surgery, I typically have patients enrolled in the Whole Being Plan, integrating alternative forms of therapy. Patients who participate in the Whole Being Plan typically see a faster recovery, have less bruising and soreness, have reduced pre/post surgery anxiety, and have a better understanding of their physical and spiritual selves.

Okay, let’s look a little deeper into these as well as talk about the traditional procedure.

If you would like to learn more about our alternative therapies and Whole Being Plan, click here to read my white paper on alternative practices.

Questions or comments?

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