Over the next few days I would like to discuss two articles that recently caught my eye. The first was published in last week's New YorkTimes and discussed a new night cream by a prominent cosmetic company that claims to "synchronize" your skin's "clock genes" to enhance the repair process. While clock genes in skin were recently discovered, it is unclear if they can be "synchronized" and if so, what effect it will have on the appearance of the skin.  The article points out that because this is not an FDA approved medical treatment, it can be marketed only as a cosmetic product.   Although it is being marketed only as a cosmetic product, the company can, however, make this kind of claim with only minimal scientific evidence to support it.  Patients should speak to their plastic surgeon or dermatologist before selecting any products that claim to have great therapeutic effects. Unfortunately, truly effective products take years of research, development and peer-reviewed testing as well as a significant financial investment to bring to market. Don't be fooled by the advertising and claims that cannot be supported by accepted scientific studies. Buyer beware!

I have just returned from Seattle, WA where I was an attendee and a presenter at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  I was a speaker as one of the expertson a "Hot Topic" panel discussion on laser lipolysis. I presented my highly favorable experience with the SlimLipo technique. Over the next few days, I will be posting some of the highlights of the meetings.

The Harmonic Scalpel is one of the most exciting recent developments in not only plastic surgery, but surgery in general.  The Harmonic Scalpel uses ultrasonic energy to cut tissue while simultaneously sealing blood vessels.  This results is less blood loss peri-operatively, and a dramatic reduction in bruising and swelling post-operatively which drastically reduces healing and recovery time.  In my practice I have been using the Harmonic Scalpel in all my facelift cases. It has in fact, become my new standard of care because I feel that the difference in recovery time is so substantial that it would be wrong not to offer this option to my patients. Using traditional surgical technique, patients typically require at least three weeks for the bruising and swelling to subside, but by using the Harmonic Scalpel, patients can return to work within days.  One patient reported going out to lunch the day after her facelift!  

This patient was so happy with her facelift that she sent us pictures of herself less than 24 hours after her procedure. Her results are amazing - there is virtually no bruising. In over 25years of practice, no patient has volunteered her photos like this!

 

This is very exciting technology and I am considering using it in other procedures such as upper and lower eyelid surgeries as well.

Liposuction is a time-tested and well-known means to sculpting areas of stubborn body fat.  Traditional liposuction (the kind you may have seen on reality television) is certainly not a delicate procedure, requiring 4-8 weeks of uncomfortable recovery time. Before the first fat cell could be suctioned, patients would need to be put under anesthesia. Then a large metal tube would be inserted under the skin through surgical incisions. The surgeon would vigorously “attack” the fat, breaking down the tissue with his own mechanical force. As a result, patients would experience black and blue bruising, swelling and soreness that often required narcotic medications to alleviate. Because of the anesthesia, patients would awake from the procedure feeling groggy and sleepy and be unable to leave the surgeon’s office by themselves. Patients were required to wear an uncomfortable surgical compression garment for at least 3 weeks after the procedure and usually took close to a week off from work to recover and return to the surgeon’s office for suture removal.   

Fortunately, there is an alternative to traditional liposuction that may better suit the lifestyle of today’s busy, discriminating patient. SlimLipo, or laser-assisted lipolysis, is a new technology that has revolutionized the liposuction industry by minimizing recovery time, potential complications and may provide the much welcome benefit of skin tightening as well. In the SlimLipo procedure, the surgeon will first insert a laser fiber through the skin via several puncture wounds about the size of a pencil.  The heat from the laser fiber quickly melts the fat, breaking the fat cells without the physical trauma one would see in traditional liposuction. The laser also heats up the surrounding skin, tightening and toning it from the inside. After lasering the desired areas, the surgeon inserts a small suction tube through the same puncture wounds to easily extract the liquefied fat. Blood loss, bruising, swelling and pain are minimal. Best of all, this entire procedure is done under local anesthesia, much like having a filling put in at the dentist. Patients simply get up off the operating table and walk out of the unaccompanied if they chose! A surgical garment is worn for only 3days (as opposed to 3 weeks in traditional liposuction), but patients will be able to return to work the next day. There are no sutures to remove and any minor discomfort is usually taken care of with just a Tylenol or two. Results are often immediately noticeable, but the treated sites will continue improve in both tone and skin quality over the following 6-12weeks.

For more information on SlimLipo and how it can help you to achieve the sculpted body you dream of, please feel free to contact Dr.Rothaus.

http://www.wmagazine.com/beauty/2008/12/beauty_buzz_i05

Welcome to my new blog.  I'll be posting information here regarding the latest issues and techniques in plastic surgery.  Specifically, I'll be blogging about issues including the minimally invasive harmonic facelift, the latest techniques in laser liposuction, cosmetic lasers, and other interesting techniques.  If there are interesting media coverage of these issues, I'll discuss them from the perspective of an expert plastic surgeon.

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