Blog

Taxing Cosmetic Procedures and Surgery in Health Care Reform

There is sure to be much discussion to a provision in the U.S. Senate’s version of Health Care Reform which would impose a tax (penalty) on elective cosmetic procedures. With a tax rate of 5%, the measure presumably will raise close to $6 billion of the projected $850 billion price tag of the healthcare bill. Read More…

Sports-Related Facial Fractures – Early Return to Activity after Treatment

Over the past two decades, I have treated many hundreds of facial fractures from a wide variety of mechanisms. By far, domestic interactions and motor vehicle accidents make up the reason that almost two-thirds of these facial injuries as the cause. Facial fractures from sporting events make up a small (less than 10%) number and Read More…

The Differences between the Male and Female Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is one of the top five cosmetic procedures for women but is performed much less frequently in men. Because men do not get pregnant, their abdominal skin does not suffer as much loss of elasticity and can ‘snap’ back better after weight loss. Men are also less tolerant of a Read More…

Combining Liposuction in a Tummy Tuck for Improved Safety and a Faster Recovery

Liposuction and abdominoplasty are two of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. While commonly used to treat different body areas, they can be combined to improve one’s abdominal contour and shape. When done together and weaved into a single procedure, it is known as lipoabdominoplasty or liposuction abdominoplasty. A traditional abdominoplasty or tummy tuck involves Read More…

Corrective Surgery for Lower Facial (Jaw) Asymmetry

Facial asymmetry is generally the norm, not the exception. The same may be said to be true for any paired body part. Few people have identical facial halfs but most such asymmetries are minor and essentially undetectable. With the asymmetry becomes more than minor (greater than five millimeters or more), however, it may become Read More…

Cheek Implant Augmentation – Preventing Complications and Improving Outcomes

Cheek augmentation is done for a variety of different aesthetic reasons. Besides the obvious need to fill out a sunken in cheek appearance and improve facial balance, they are just as commonly used for an anti-aging effect. By augmenting the soft submalar tissue to fill midfacial hollows, the lifting of this tissue provides a facial Read More…

Complexion Skin Lightening – Reality vs. Myth

The recent controversy regarding the potential skin color change of Sammy Sosa is fraught with issues of history and culture. If you’ve seen recent photos of him, it is easy to see why it has stirred up such debate. My last visual memory of him was that his skin color was closer to mahogany, not Read More…

The Psychology of Structural Facial Surgery (Facial Reshaping Surgery)

Making changes to one’s face is always a big consideration that requires a good deal of thought from surgeon selection to the final choice of operation(s). While there are lots of facial procedures to consider, they can be divided into those operations that treat aging changes (skin and soft tissue sagging) and those that Read More…

Perspectives on Rhinoplasty for the Middle Eastern Nose

As the U.S. population continues to become increasingly multicultural, one of the increasing ethnic groups is that from the Middle Eastern region. This is a geographic term that does not have a true precise meaning as it can vary based on which countries one chooses to include in the region. Most commonly, many would include Read More…

Dysport Clinical Study – Is It Better than Botox?

Dysport, with its recent FDA approval, offers a competitive product to Botox. Another neurotoxin for aesthetic use is highly welcomed by many as some are frustrated by the service and price that comes from a monopolistic manufacturer. As Dysport has become commercially available, rumors abound that it lasts longer than Botox and its price Read More…