Plastic Surgery Blog

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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The recent death of 18-year-old Stephanie Kuleba has sparked countrywide interest and concern about whether, we as a society, are provoking, allowing and enabling our children to go under the knife at too early of an age.
Although the Stephanie, who was the captain of her cheerleading squad, appeared to many on the outside as being “perfect” she apparently didn’t feel this way and made the decision to have corrective breast surgery.
In the aftermath of her surgery gone wrong and sudden death, many Americans are asking questions like: Why would a parent allow her teenage daughter to have surgery to “enhance” part of her body? Especially when it may not be done developing?
Number of Surgeries Rising
According to the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, an estimated 12 million cosmetic plastic surgeries were conducted in the year 2007 alone.
Data shows that this is a seven percent increase from 2006 and a 59 percent increase from 2000 with the most desirable surgeries being face and chest surgeries.
The Surgery Debate in America
The current debate regarding surgery in the U.S. stands between elective surgery and cases of young girls, like Stephanie Kuleba, getting nipped and tucked.
Kuleba is now known as the face of cosmetic surgery and the importance of making the right decision for both yourself and those you love when it comes to “perfecting” your appearance.

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As the amount of cosmetic surgeries being performed yearly continues to rise and more Americans go under the knife for lipo, facial surgery and breast augmentation, the country seems to be delving deeper into an age of pure vanity. To top off the “must look perfect at all times” phase that is the current trend in the U.S., is our ever growing fascination with being tan.
It was hoped that with all the research revolving around how bad tanning can be on your skin and the risks that come along with getting that desired glow, people would be thinking twice and be more cautious before surrendering their bodies to the UV rays. However, lately the opposite seems to be happening and more men and women are hitting the beach and the tanning salons to get that golden look.

TV Ad Claims Tanning is Safe
A TV ad that is set to start airing in the upcoming summer months, reportedly claims that tanning can actually be beneficial and good for people.
The group sponsoring this ad backs their claims up with the known fact that vitamin D, which the body gets from the sun, is essential to our overall health.
According to Sarah Longwell, from the Indoor Tanning Association, studies against tanning are supported by “junk science” and tanning is completely safe.
“More and more it’s becoming just what the doctor ordered,” says Longwell.
Then how do we account for the numerous cases of skin cancer that have arisen in patients who spent too much time in the sun? Are all scientists, researchers and medical experts lying to us, for whatever reason, because they don’t want us to be enjoying some nice weather or looking slightly darker than normal from time to time? Highly doubtful.

Campaign Proves to be Controversial 
Many dermatologists and researchers believe that the advertisement is only going to be harmful to consumers and increase their risk for developing various skin complications and even cancers related to sun exposure.
These health experts want to remind the American people that although the body does need vitamin D, this is available to them through various foods and drinks.
Which is why there’s no real point, whether some “tanning associations” are trying to promote burning your skin or not, to test the findings of experts in the medical field and risk your own health for that “perfected” look.
A healthy alternative to frying your skin? There are numerous tanning products currently on the market that work wonders and spray tan has proven to be just as successful in appearance as the real deal.

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