Elsevier Releases Illustrated “Aesthetic Plastic Surgery” Book

Elsevier is the world’s leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information, and has recently produced a comprehensive book about aesthetic plastic surgery. The book is full of illustrations and has been created by international contributors to provide a broad view and up-to-date perspective on aesthetic surgery procedures and the state of the industry.

In addition to outlining what the various outcomes of cosmetic surgery procedures are, the text lays out various techniques and innovative tools used to perform advanced procedures including the MACS lift,  endoscopic facelifts, cohesive gel breast augmentation, lipoabdominoplasty and suture suspension threadlifts amongst others. The book also covers, in detail, the procedure and outcomes of Sculptra, Restylane, Botox and Radiesse.

According to Sue Hodgson, Publishing Director for Global Medicine at Elsevier, “All of the major contemporary procedures in aesthetic plastic surgery are covered and described by the experts in the field. It is a resource no surgeon who performs aesthetic procedures can afford to be without.”

The text has been edited and reviewed by several notable plastic surgeons and professors of plastic surgery. The three editors of the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery book are Sherrell Aston, MD, FACS, the past president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York; Douglas Steinbrech, MD, FACS, the Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the New York University School of Medicine and an attending surgeon at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York, and Jennifer l. Walden, MD, FACS, an attending surgeon and Program Director in Plastic Surgery at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York.

The book is designed to serve as a practical guide for both beginner and experienced surgeons, and contains the latest information on a wide range of procedures and techniques.

UK Surgeons Demand Ban on Advertising of Plastic Surgery

The media and advertisers continue to produce persuasive ads promising the fountain of youth in an injection or with surgery, but some plastic surgeons around the globe are saying that it’s time to call a ‘time out’ on this type of marketing. Nigel Mercer, President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) recently stated that it’s time to call a ‘halt’ on the unregulated trade of advertising cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures.

Dr. Mercer points out that many of the medical and non-medical procedures that have entered the market have been able to draw in huge profits by promoting the illusion of a perfect body – only to leave patients disappointed after they pay the high price for surgery.

He states, “We have reached a stage where public expectation, driven by media hype and, dare one say, professional greed, has brought us to a ‘perfect storm’ in the cosmetic surgical market.”

Today, many plastic and cosmetic surgeons have been able to attract more business simply by offering non-invasive procedures such as Botox, Hydrelle, laser peels and other wrinkle treatments that cost a fraction of the price of most types of surgery. Still, demand for breast augmentation, facelifts and liposuction continues to remain strong, but much of this is prompted by surgeons who are boosting business by offering two-for-one offers, deep discounts on conventional procedures, and aggressively marketing the idea of transforming the body or face with just a single procedure.

Members of the BAAPS warn that it’s every doctor’s primary responsibility to protect the patient, and to not always look out for their profit potential. However, many doctors are simply looking for financial gain, and will do everything possible to attract more patients – even if it means undertaking false advertising practices. Still, many UK surgeons are stating that surgery is simply not a ‘quick-fix’ solution, and that all patients should be advised about the potential risks and dangers associated with their procedure.

New York Plastic Surgeon Reduces Pain of Rhinoplasty with New Technique

Rhinoplasty, otherwise known as a ‘nose job’, typically involves the removal of nasal tissues and resculpting of the nose to create a more aesthetically pleasing profile. However, rhinoplasty is often associated with post-operative pain, and this pain is a common fear of rhinoplasty patients. Dr. Oleh Slupchynskyj, Director of the Aesthetic Institute of New York and New Jersey, has recently unveiled an innovative rhinoplasty procedure that does not use traditional packing methods and results in less pain.

Dr. Slupchynskyj uses a state-of-the-art plant-based biopolymer material which is easily absorbed into the tissue and helps with the clotting process.  He states that, “rhinoplasty can be performed with minimal or no bleeding post-operatively, therefore with a majority of my patients, I don’t use nasal packing…if it is necessary, I use a dissolvable packing which is much more comfortable for the patient and disintegrates over 24 hours.”

Rhinoplasty procedures continue to be among the most sought-after cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures for men and women alike, but many people refrain from undergoing this procedure because of the pain associated with it. The procedure typically takes several hours and requires several days  and weeks of downtime. Only a few surgeons use advanced techniques that can minimize pain and irritation associated with the packing process, and this may provide more options for patients.

Dr. Slupchynskyj is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngolgoy, and has advanced training for the head, neck and face. He has been named one of the Top Surgeons of 2009 by the Consumers’ Research Council of America, and has created a number of surgical alternatives including the “S” implant that helps create an attractive profile for African American patients.

More information about the latest rhinoplasty procedures and developments can be found here.

Surgeon Introduces iSurgeon Apple iPhone Application

If you’ve ever wondered what you might look like if you went ahead with plastic surgery, there is now an iPhone application available to help you find out. The iSurgeon application has been designed and launched by Dr. Michael Salzhauer, the author of “My Beautiful Mommy”, a book that stirred up controversy last year because it was designed to teach children ‘deal’ with their mother’s plastic surgery.

The iSurgeon iPhone App allows patients to alter images of themselves to find out what they might look like after undergon plastic surgery. They can pick out different size implants, lip augmentation options, and see what they might look like after a tummy tuck from the convenience of their iPhone. The app will be free for the first month of its release, and can then be downloaded for a fee.

According to Dr. Salzhauer, “iSurgeon serves a dual purpose, providing those interested in cosmetic surgery treatments with a clear visual of what they would look like post-surgery, while also providing a fun entertaining game tool.” (Source: Reuters.com)

The app is capable of rendering realistic images based on a basic uploaded image, and the digital version can be stored on the iPhone for further review by the patient and their plastic surgeons

Another similar app has been developed by Dr. David Shafer of New York. The Shafer Plastic Surgery App was launched in October 2009, also for the Apple iPhone. This app features over 1,000 questions and answers about different cosmetic surgery procedures and is designed primarily for patients looking for more information about different procedures. Patients can send questions directly to the plastic surgeon from their mobile device. The Shafer Plastic Surgery App costs $2.99 for its full version.

More information about common questions and answers related to plastic and cosmetic procedures can be found here.

(Photo courtesy of Apple.com)

Nevada Board of Medical Examiners Adopts Emergency Botox Regulations

The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners has adopted a new regulation to stop medical assistants at medical spas and cosmetic surgery centers from administering Botox injections to patients.

The regulation was enforced after recent controversy about unlicensed medical assistants administering Botox, dermal fillers and other procedures that are meant to be administered only by a licensed physician.

Many medical spas and aesthetic surgery centers around the country deliver a range of treatments that are not always administered under the direct supervision of the doctor. For example, medical spas that offer Botox http://www.locateadoc.com/surgery-guide.cfm/cosmetic-surgery/botox-injections-treatment , Restylane and other injectable fillers typically work with a licensed physician or medical director who may or may not be at the facility when the injection is being administered.

A recent report in the Las Vegas Sun states that the regulation in Nevada will be in effect or 120 days and is effective as of the middle of September. The new rules prohibit a medical assistant from administering Botox and other cosmetic fillers, as well as any type of anesthetic that would leave the patient unconscious or semi-conscious. Medical assistants in Nevada are also not permitted to administer any anti-inflammatory drugs or chemotherapy of any kind.

Louis Ling, the Executive Director made a statement to the press recently, indicating that “there was confusion in the press [and] it was disrupting patient care.” The issue will be presented to the 2011 Nevada Legislature to determine exactly what an appropriate role is for medical assistants working for physicians and plastic surgeons, and what type of regulations would be most effective to ensure patient safety.

Currently, unlicensed medical assistants are not permitted to use lasers of any kind to get rid of wrinkles (laser reserufacing procedures), or perform laser treatments to get rid of moles, scars or blemishes. Only a licensed physician is permitted to perform these skin rejuvenation procedures, and may work with a medical assistant who is a licensed esthetician to perform standard facial treatments or follow up with the patient.

(Source: LasVegasSun.com)

RealLipo Technique Now Available in Louisiana

Many men and women interested in losing a few pounds around the waistline have been turning to laser liposuction and Smartlipo procedures that promise to melt the fat and deliver better results than conventional liposuction. However, many plastic surgeons who met at the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery meeting in Las Vegas this year pointed out that many patients did not achieve the most desirable results and that even the latest technologies have not been able to deliver exceptional results.

A new procedure by the name of RealLipo has recently been unveiled in Louisiana and is a step above conventional laser lipo and Smartlipo procedures. This liposuction procedure has been developed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Simeon Wall, Jr. of The Wall Center for Plastic Surgery, and is deisgned to correct and refine the results of patients who have already undergone liposuction and were not satisfied with the results.

RealLipo works by correcting unevenness of the skin and removing excess fat without leaving any bumps behind. Dr. Wall, Jr. points out that this technique involves the use of specialized cannulas that help to separate the excess fat from the skin before removing it, so there is little pain and bruising involved. There are no lasers involved that may damage the skin tissues, and the procedure is performed in an efficient manner to minimize downtime.

Dr. Wall states, “In addition to producing more dramatic and smoother results than traditional, ultrasonic, or laser liposuction procedures, RealLipo usually results in little to no bruising and requires minimal downtime. RealLipo does not involve the use of heat-generating lasers or ultrasonic devices that can burn and melt the body’s tissues and cause severe scar contractures or other problems for my patients.”

The procedure is currently available only at The Wall Center for Plastic Surgery, a center that has over 50 years of combined experience in plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery.

U.S. Senate Considers Imposing Federal Tax on Plastic Surgery

In the wake of the 1 trillion dollar healthcare reform initiatives developed by the Obama administration,  the U.S. Senate is discussing the idea of imposing a federal tax on cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures. The U.S. Senate is considering a tax of up to 10% as an excise tax on procedures that are “not deemed medically necessary.”

For the most sought-after surgeries such as liposuction, breast augmentation and facelift surgery that often cost upwards of $10,000, consumers would be paying over $1,000 to cover the cost of the tax. Plastic surgeons worry that the additional cost could prevent many people from undergoing surgery, and that the tax would affect the middle class population the most.

Dr. William Strinden of Lufkin Plastic Surgery recently interviewed with KTRE.com about the tax discussions underway and states: “I think that like most additional expenses it will most likely impact the amount of cosmetic surgery that is done.”

StopBotax.org has been set up to encourage people to petition against such a tax, and points out that the burden of this type of tax would fall on the shoulders of women, the middle class population and medical professionals. Women account for 86 percent of cosmetic surgery patients each year. The middle class population earns an average household income of $30,000 per year, and may also feel the pinch from this type of tax. In some cases, they may simply fore go plastic or cosmetic surgery all together because the price is beyond their budget. Finally, medical professionals may end up closing their doors because of a decline in business, and find it difficult to market their services to their target markets.

Individuals who want to petition against the plastic surgery tax can fill out the form on StopBotax.org with some basic personal information, and indicate whether they are a patient or medical aesthetic professional.

FDA Approves Celution 700 System to be Regulated as Medical Device

Celution 700, a device designed by Cytori Therapeutics to fill out soft tissue voids and for body contouring, has recently been cleared to be regulated as a medical device by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This means that Cytori must submit a formal marketing application to the FDA to determine if clinical evaluations will be needed in order for the product to be used in services for the consumer market.

According to Christoper Calhoun, CEO of Cytori, “This important decision provides greater clarity of our regulatory path in the U.S. and is consistent with our interpretation of current device regulations. We are preparing for the next steps in the process of working with the FDA to determine the specific device marketing application to submit, including whether clinical evaluations will be necessary.”

The Celution system harvests adipose tissues, separates the fat cells into a concentrate, and then returns the cells into the patient to begin the reconstruction process. It is designed primarily to promote bone healing and tissue regeneration, and the system is one of the latest advances in reconstructive plastic surgery.

Cytori received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office related to the use of the Celution system for treatment bone-related disorders in early July 2009. Other patent claims have been filed, but it the system is now under review by the FDA review boards and committees. According to Cytori’s website, “The Celution® Technology has been developed as the first bedside device to enable real-time, adult stem and regenerative cell processing. This innovative technology automates and standardizes the separation and concentration of a patient’s own (autologous) adult stem and regenerative cells from body fat (adipose) for real-time redelivery to the same patient.”

The FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research will conduct further investigations to determine if the device meets all Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) regulations and standards.

(Source: MedCompare.com)

Covidien Unveils New Devices for Minimally Invasive Surgery

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) annual meeting took place on June 21 to June 26, 2009 in Grapevine Texas, and featured several major medical supply and equipment vendors from around the globe. Covidien was among them, a leading global provider of healthcare products, and showcased several innovative devices for minimally invasive surgery and soft tissue repair.

Covidien has been providing some of the most-commonly used surgical instruments to physicians around the United States for several years, and recently unveiled a set of devices that could improve the results of procedures such as lap band surgery and the effects of various lapaoroscopic instruments. These devices are designed to improve the effects of tissue manipulation, tissue recovery and may even reduce the effects of scarring and tissue damage that occurs from various types of treatments.

Some of the featured products included the:

LigaSure Advance – a multifunctional laparascopic instrument that allows the surgeon to control tissue fusion and monopolar dissection with their fingertips.

Valleylab Solid Lap Electrodes – an electrosurgical accessory that allows surgeons to customize their laparascopic procedures and reduce the risk of burns at the treatment site

Parietex ProGrip – a compound made with monofilament polyester and a resorbably polylactic acid gripping system that can be positioned and placed without sutures.

Force TriVerse – a single-use electrosurgical instrument that gives the surgeon more control when manipulating tissues, and features three different settings including the traditional coagulation mode.

ForceTriad – an energy platform that delivers tissue fusion through one software-driven unit. The software is updated remotely through the Internet, so it is always up-to-date.

Covidien’s booth also featured several other state-of-the-art devices and products including the Duet TRS Reload, the Kendall SCD Sequential Compression System, the Allergan LAP-BAND AP Adjustable Gastric Banding System, and the Versaport Plus Bladeless Trocars. Representatives at the show were able to demonstrate the products, answer questions about the devices, and share website information about each innovative device.

(Source: MedicalNewsToday.com)

Survey Says 80% of Breast Implants are for C-Cups

A survey published in the March/April issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal suggests that more than 80% of breast implants performed for only cosmetic surgery purposes, are for a C-cup, or a 300 to 400cc size.

Many women who undergo breast augmentation choose at least one or two cups larger than their natural size to ensure that the outcome appears natural.

Choosing the right size is essential for creating the right look and silhouette, and is one the most important decisions made during the procedure selection process.

Surgeons who want to create a natural look typically use saline implants because these are easy to implement, and have fewer risks than silicone implants. According to Dr. Rod Rohrich and Dr. Edward Reece who recently led a study on the types of materials plastic surgeons prefer to use, 60% of surgeons use saline implants, and the majority prefer to use saline for first-time patients. Results of the survey were recently revealed to members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and results indicate that saline is still the favored choice, regardless of the low risk of having the implant ‘burst’ or migrate to another part of the body.

Other important considerations when selecting breast implants is the texture of the surface, and the shape of the implant.  Many doctors offer both smooth and textured surfaces as an option for patients, since the textured surface typically creates a more natural look, while smoother surfaces create an artificial appearance.

Different types of patients have different needs; for example, models may prefer a smoother implant because these look better on camera and will maintain their round shape.  Textured implants may be more appropriate for women who just want to enhance their figure and balance out their silhouette.

Whatever the case may be, studies suggest more women are interested in increasing their breast size to a C-cup, regardless of the type and shape of implant that is used.