Cosmetic Surgery 411

Coming back from a recent medical conference (and boat show, to be honest – it was Miami) in February, I came across an ad in Sky Mall magazine showing the prices for a facelift and other cosmetic procedures in foreign countries…and as I read more closely, for medical procedures as well such as open heart surgery. I was floored! Now, kudos to Delta’s advertising team, as I imagine, in order to get to Zimbabwe for a breast augmentation one would potentially purchase a round trip ticket for them and their caregiver through Delta. Good advertising, but bad idea. I did…

I often get asked about having two or more procedures completed at the same time. There are generally two types of patients who this is a concern for: The patient who is required to have a medically necessary procedure, but would also like to have something cosmetic “while they are asleep,” and The patient who has a laundry list of concerns from a cosmetic standpoint, but only wants one recovery period. It is fairly common for patients to add a cosmetic procedure to a medically necessary surgery, and generally this can be done quite safely in a hospital setting. A…

Our patients at Advanced Aesthetic Surgery range greatly in age. Since we live in a world in which lines, wrinkles, excess fat, and inelastic skin can be improved through surgical and nonsurgical procedures, more people feel comfortable discussing their cosmetic options at any stage in their lives. With such a wide array of patients seeking to rejuvenate their appearance, our practice is always very busy. I have definitely noticed certain procedural trends emerge at my Marietta plastic surgery practice, depending on the age of the patient. Female patients in their 20’s are most inclined to desire breast surgery—specifically augmentation. When…

This is a question that I really wish I heard more often. Patients are bombarded with everyone telling them they HAVE to have a flu shot. And, you don’t even have to talk to your Primary Care Physician anymore to get one, you can get one at Publix or your local pharmacy…just walk in, stick your arm in the window…thank you, now go get your groceries. When I was in training and fresh out of medical residency, the flu shot was for the very old and the very, very young…now if you have skin, you are told you have to…

The bane of most women’s existence… I have more requests to “fix” cellulite than most anything, and frankly, I really wish I had the magic bullet. If I did, I’d buy it. Then I’d name my 60+ foot sailboat “Cellulite” and retire… but, I don’t. I am writing today about what cellulite is, the 100+ things “they” say you can do to improve or remove it, and what I really think is the best method for treatment. Cellulite is not just extra fat, and it is not only a problem for larger people. In fact, it’s much more common in…