Plastic Surgery Blog

A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Resource.com is proud to announce the joining of San Francisco Plastic Surgeon Karen Horton, M.D.  Dr. Horton specializes in the “mommy makeover” spectrum of plastic surgery procedures to rejuvenate the breasts and body following completion of child-rearing. “Mommy Makeover” plastic surgery focuses on breast lift, breast augmentation, tummy tucks (abdominoplasty), and liposuction.

She graduated from Medical School with Honors at the University of Toronto (MD) and served her Plastic Surgery Residency at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. Karen Horton, M.D. then settled down in San Francisco after completing her final year of training in Reconstructive Microsurgery and Hand Surgery at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. 

If you are looking to have a plastic surgery procedure, look no further. Karen Horton, M.D. is conveniently located in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco. If you are looking for Breast Augmentation in San Francisco or other procedures like Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Rhinoplasty or Eyelid Surgery, visit her detailed listing here.

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Botox on the brain was detected by The Italian National Research Council’s Institute of Neurosciences after conducting a study whereby Botox was injected into muscles around the whiskers of rats. In fact, it only took days before Botox had migrated to brain stem cells and within six months the migration continued to other areas of the brain.

The study suggested that an ingredient in Botox inhibits nerve cell signals through the destruction of an essential protein that assists with cell interaction. By the same token, the amount of Botox used for cosmetic purposes is comparatively small.

In addition, doctors take special care during the injection to ensure it has a local effect. The risk that Botox will implicate the central nervous system in a cosmetic Botox patient has not been documented since it was approved by the FDA in 1989. Botox continues to be a mainstay for releasing contractions that create lines on the forehead and reducing the possibility of new wrinkles.  

“We need further data in humans to demonstrate accuracy in the results that Botox travels and causes inhibition of nerve cell communication in order to substantiate the validity of this claim. Furthermore, the dissemination of high dosages of Botox into rats and the notation of by products in the brains of rats does not relate to humans. This study does not produce a cause for concern in Botox treatment. Botox is one of the safest treatments available for smoothing out wrinkles on the forehead.”, explains Dr. Stephen Greenberg of New York.

The use of Botox in humans for cosmetic purposes has produced complications in rare cases, including lack of movement in the treatment area and sagging eye lids. Botox is used in higher dosages for other medical applications. These medical applications include: muscle spasms in celebral palsy victims and migraine headaches. There have been reports of Botox complications resulting from higher dosages that include difficulty breathing and swallowing. 

http://www.jneurosci.org/

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In France 2005, Isabelle Dinoire’s face was revived after receiving a partial face transplant involving the mouth and nose because of a dog attack. Professor Jean-Michel Dubernard, Bernard Devauchelle and a group of surgeons used a brain dead person’s nose and mouth to rebuild Isabelle’s face. By 2006, Isabelle had made significant progress by regaining facial sensitivity, movement and had reaped aesthetic improvements to her face. For the past several years in Europe, facial transplants have been used to treat victims of trauma resulting in disfigurement.

In 2004, The Cleveland Clinic had been screening patients to apply microsurgical techniques in free tissue transfers to those afflicted as part of a study to refine the procedure. The definition of success in a facial transplant case is at the crux of controversy in the case of facial transplants. It is clear that improvement in quality of life for any traumatized victim is beneficial. Yet, medical research and development will continue until all protocols involving facial transplants are refined and prove beneficial in years to come.       

The procedure involves the surgical removal of donor live tissue and recipient traumatized tissue so that the donor tissue can be surgically placed in the treatment area. In some cases, the procedure involves the replacement of fat, blood vessels, and nerves to help replace lost functionality resulting from the trauma. This is a very delicate procedure involving the transfer of very small increments of tissue at a time. While the success of free tissue transfer on the face is the primary focus of research and development, patients requiring a facial transplant may need facial implants (such as a cheek or chin implant) to complete the treatment plan.

The concern about facial transplants is in the difficulty of the successful transfer of nerves and blood vessels which control sensation and movement in the face. In addition, there have been reports of low immune system response in the treatment area because of the foreign donor tissue that is attached. Finally, the technique and complications management have not been standardized. Though, it is clear that the long term beneficial implications associated with facial transplants can be life changing events for people in years to come.

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Today, there are a variety of treatments available to enhance your beauty through minimal downtime, greater ease and reduced costs when compared with traditional plastic surgery. In fact, the benefits offered through minimally invasive procedures can delay the need for plastic surgery and helps to bolster stronger results in years to come.

Medical Grade Skincare: Skincare programs offered through plastic surgeon’s offices help to exfoliate skin at greater levels to accommodate for the slowed natural skin exfoliation process that occurs with age. The results can be complimentary offering silkier skin, smaller pore size, greater elasticity, and reduced fine lines. Maintaining healthy skin in more youthful years helps postpone the need for more aggressive treatment later on.

Botox and Facial Fillers: It used to be that the only method for improving facial lines and folds on the forehead or nasiofold area was through plastic surgery. Now Botox and facial fillers help delay plastic surgery requirements for later times.

Plastic Surgery: The need for traditional face lifts is delayed through advances in facial plastic surgery. The endoscopic brow lift (forehead lift) is commonplace today. An alternative to the open brow lift, the endoscopic approach produces less bleeding, requires smaller incisions, and offers a speedy recovery time. Mini face lifts and thread lifts tout similar benefits and can be quite enhancing for your image.

As. Dr. Richard Greco, Vice Chair of the Public Education Committee, The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, explains, “People considering cosmetic surgery have a wealth of less invasive options to choose from today. Through less invasive procedures, people can recuperate more quickly with smaller incisions and still reap the benefit of a positive outcomes.”           

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According to the American Society for Plastic Surgeons, there were over 104,000 breast lift procedures performed in 2007. Yet, the breast lift is not a commonly requested procedure when patients arrive at the plastic surgeon’s office. Instead, consumers are most familiar with breast augmentation and breast reduction. It is true that both of these procedures do offer life changing results. Yet, a fully satisfactory outcome cannot always be achieved through one procedure alone.

For patients who are concerned about the droop of the breasts and lowered location of the nipples, the breast lift is the procedure of choice. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that a breast lift may be all that is required to achieve your desired breast enhancement.

The breast lift is common among women who have bore children or breast feed. Women who have aged may be interested in a breast lift. Those with a genetic deformity may achieve complimentary results through a breast lift. The breast augmentation builds volume in the upper pole of the breast. The breast reduction reduces fat and glandular tissue in the breast. The breast lift elevates the breasts. Weather you require a breast augmentation or a breast reduction, it is also important to consider a breast lift as well.

Another important question to answer when it comes to a breast lift is “should the procedure be performed at the same time when an augmentation is required”. Some plastic surgeons believe that the risks associated with performing both procedures at the same time do not outweigh the benefits. They prefer to perform the procedures separately. For example, blood flow is reduced when performing an augmentation lift combination. In addition, because the breast will drop over time, the surgeon must estimate appropriate lift requirements and placement of the nipple.

These two factors may make it important to research information about the doctor performing the procedure before deciding if you should do both procedures simultaneously. As Dr. Paul Glat advises, “The combination augmentation lift procedure is one of the most difficult procedures to perform at the same time. I would advise patients to seek out board certified plastic surgeons who have performed many of these procedures over the course of time. A surgeon who is well trained, conservative and experienced.” Dr. Glat is certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery. He has been published extensively on topics relating to plastic surgery.

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