You were born in the 80s and 90s, you prefer texting to talking, and you may have a job, but not necessarily a career. While rest of us surf the web, you were born and raised there. If you think your breasts are not enough, or your nose is too much, you can travel the information highway to a destination to achieve your goals. You are young. You’ve always been young. Getting older is not only unpleasant, it is hard to comprehend.

As a plastic surgeon, and as an unwilling participant, I know about aging. “Beauty for Life” is a concept of the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery which provides aesthetic care guidelines for the various stages of life. The approach is proactive. The products and services we use protect and preserve skin health. Retin-A and Hydroquinone help make the skin smoother and fade blemishes. For more severe damage we have Fraxel and IPL therapy.  Botox can weaken muscles that lead to deep wrinkles and frown lines. Latisse can make eyelashes longer and fuller. Our home care products are tailored to your needs and life style. The passage of time is inevitable but the aging process should be managed. That’s what we do.

Susan and I recently returned from the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgery Nurses meetings in Denver, Colorado.  I was asked to give a presentation on the Peri-operative nursing care of a Mommy Makeover patient.  I spoke directly to the nurses and shared the success our office has had in taking care of our Mommy Makeovers.  As you well know, a Mommy Makeover is a very popular procedure and it sparked a lot of interest.

We had a great time and I met some wonderful people who I will look forward to seeing again in the future.  The weather in Denver was fabulous, which I hear is typical.  Everyday had brilliant sunshine with temperatures in the  mid 70s and low 80s.  The food was great.  If you are in Denver anytime soon and like Mediterranean food I would heartily recommend Rioja, which is a wonderful restaurant with a Spanish flavor in downtown Denver.

Aside from the food and weather, the meeting was great.  One of the concerns that face plastic surgery nurses and plastic surgeons alike, is the proliferation of highly discounted skin care services that are largely unsupervised and provided by personnel with marginal training.  In our practice we strongly believe in integrated care which provides the patient with both aesthetic and medically based care.  We also try to provide our patients with the greatest value for their skincare dollar.  That is not to say we are are least expensive, but we do feel that we offer you the greatest return on your investment in terms of results and service.  There are many great medically based spas and skin care centers throughout the country who share this philosophy.  I know it is hard to resist bargain-basement Botox when you’re on a budget.  However, skincare, like medical care, is a service.  The value of which depends on how the service is provided and not solely on the cost of the products that are used.  A result the is less than satisfactory is not a good deal.

Henry G. Wells Jr., MD, PSC

I can’t believe July is almost over. School will start in a few weeks and many moms are engaged in the war of wills otherwise known as The Summer Reading Assignment. There those whose kids need no prompting and do everything when they are supposed to. There are the rest of us whose kids deny the existence of summer homework or “have it under control” (translation: will wait until the last minute and then panic). For all the moms with teenagers, whose orderly lives will become a series of adolescent crisis interventions, this blog is for you. We have felt your pain and have a plan. Treat yourself to a massage or facial. Let us pamper you. Let us fill those hard earned wrinkles and Botox those frowns away.

Summer is still here, but remember, when you feel the need for a little TLC this fall, give us a call- we’ve got you covered.

For those who will spend time outside this weekend, be mindful about hydration! Did you know that men need about 3 Quarts of water a day and women need about 2 Quarts? Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics and significantly increase our need for water. Beverages with high concentrations of sugar can slow down absorption of water and may interfere with rehydration. Thirst does not let us know when we need water it just tells us when we are running on empty. As you may already know, you can function on less but not nearly as well. Your skin and other tissues are more easily damaged. You will tire easily and are slower to recover. We want you to feel good and feel good about yourself, so don’t forget that water bottle!

Memorial Day Weekend 2010 is going to be great! The weather looks like it will finally be warm and sunny. The recent rainfall that we’ve had in the Bluegrass region has transpired into brilliant green trees and lawns, and flowers in full bloom. It is beautiful. I hope everyone takes the time to appreciate the beautiful weather and the extra day at home. For those of you who will be outside most of the weekend it is extremely important to wear a good sun block and reapply it every two hours. It surprised me to read that the most effective detterent to un-protected UV exposure was not the threat of cancer, but the threat of developing wrinkles. Whatever fate you wish to avoid- looking old or putting yourself at the risk of cancer, please use your sublock wisely this weekend and have a safe and happy Memorial Day.

Mother’s Day

Mothers Day is a great reminder of how wonderful mom is. Mom is a title that is earned with a lot of work and sacrifice. Today’s woman is a leader in the workplace and in the public. Sagging breasts and bulging tummies are no longer a necessary part of motherhood. Restoring your figure may take more than exercise and a healthy diet. The “Mommy Makeover” can bring you back better than ever. Contact our office to find out what we can do for you.
When you look good you feel good about yourself. Confidence is empowering. Talk to us about how we can help you be your best once again.

BOTOX® Cosmetic Important Information

Indication
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) in people 18 to 65 years of age for a short period of time (temporary).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic:

• Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months
• Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice (dysphonia), trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria), loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when
BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines.

The dose of BOTOX® Cosmetic is not the same as, or comparable to, another botulinum toxin product.

Serious and or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. These reactions include itchy rash, swelling, and shortness of breath. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you experience any such symptoms; further injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic should be discontinued.

Do not take BOTOX® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® or Dysport®; have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease], myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including severe dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and respiratory compromise (difficulty breathing) from typical doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you have: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles, such as trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed (it is not known if
BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, or vision problems. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Other side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a pharmaceutical drug administered by physicians and is available only by prescription.

Please see BOTOX® Cosmetic full Product Information including Medication Guide.

LATISSE® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% Important Information

Indication
LATISSE® solution is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker, and darker.

Eyelash hypotrichosis is another name for having inadequate or not enough eyelashes.

Important Safety Information

If you are using prescription products for lowering eye pressure or have a history of eye pressure problems, only use LATISSE® under close doctor supervision.

LATISSE® may cause eyelid skin darkening which may be reversible, and there is a potential for increased brown iris pigmentation which is likely to be permanent.

There is a potential for hair growth to occur in areas where LATISSE® solution comes in repeated contact with skin surfaces.

If you develop or experience any eye problems or have eye surgery, consult your doctor immediately about continued use of LATISSE®.

The most common side effects after using LATISSE® solution are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness.

Click here for full prescribing information.

JUVÉDERM® Important Safety Information
JUVÉDERM® injectable gel (including JUVÉDERM® Ultra, JUVÉDERM® Ultra Plus, JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC, and JUVÉDERM® Ultra Plus XC) is indicated for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds). Side effects were usually mild to moderate, lasting 7 days or less, and included temporary injection-site reactions such as redness, pain, firmness, swelling, and bumps. JUVÉDERM® is not for people with severe allergies. For more information, please click on the About Safety link at www.juvederm.com or call the Allergan Product Support line at 1-877-345-5372. JUVÉDERM® injectable gel is available by prescription only.

We welcome any questions or comments that might provide useful information for our readers. Our goal is to provide  information that will help you understand plastic surgery and learn more about our practice. We look forward to hearing from you.  We do reserve the right to remove comments that may be  inappropriate.

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