Research on 351 women found that those “who consistently breast-fed their children had waist circumferences that were an average of 2.6 inches smaller than women who had never breast-fed.”

Read more on womenshealth.gov

In this recent ABC News segment Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Genter says he’s skeptical about acupuncture for wrinkle treatment, pointing to the lack of supporting scientific evidence for that purpose. Still, some people claim that it works; are they seeing real results or are letting optimism cloud their judgment?

Julia Engstrom, who says she has used Botox and laser treatments in the past, believes facial acupuncture has improved the texture of her skin and reduced the appearance of wrinkles. Nearing the end of 10 treatments, she says her improvements have come through improved sleep and relaxation. “I’ve noticed that my skin is a lot smoother, [there’s] a lot less red pigment in there and the wrinkling seems to be a lot less,” Engstrom said. “I [also] have a lot less darkening under my eyes and I’ve been getting a lot of compliments.”

Acupuncture, a process during which tiny needles are placed strategically into the body, is said to bring improved health and well-being. In an article for Prevention magazine, licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner Phyllis Olson asserts that acupuncture can indeed lessen the appearance of wrinkles. She attributes this to a core premise of acupuncture – that health is reliant upon the healthy flow of chi (energy) in the body, which can be disrupted for a myriad of reasons. Acupuncture treatments are believed to break up energy blockages that prevent optimal blood flow to certain places in the body, improving circulation.

Beata Maslanka, acupuncturist in Philadelphia and author of the “Art of Wellness” acknowledges that acupuncture doesn’t yield visible results that compare to Botox or other facial fillers, but claims that beauty actually comes from within; looking good comes from resolving internal imbalances.

Olson agrees, noting that the treatments foster relaxation of facial muscles, thereby reducing wrinkles. “Aside from the light, momentary stings, acupuncture is really quite relaxing,” she adds.

The results Ms. Engstrom points to are hard to discern from the video, but one can wonder about the salutary effects of relaxation and optimism, not to mention the natural human tendency to see (and believe) what we want to see.

If acupuncture does have a wrinkle-relaxing effect, how long could this last?

NYC dermatologic surgeon Barney Kenet, MD tells Prevention: “If acupuncture relaxes the muscles, it might reduce wrinkling temporarily. As for the increased blood flow, at most it will probably give you a temporary rosy complexion–something you don’t want if you have an inflammatory condition such as acne or rosacea,” he warns. “Otherwise, cosmetic acupuncture is relatively harmless.”

Maybe so, but then you may want to consider the cost of acupuncture. The average price is about $60 to $100 per session, with 10 sessions recommended by Olson, followed by monthly maintenance procedures.

In contrast, the average Botox treatment in the US costs $472 and a single treatment will last 3-6 months. By comparison, this makes acupuncture wrinkle treatments appear costly as well as unproven. Dr. Genter, whose patients are proof that Botox and other facial fillers visibly reduce the effects of aging on the face, says: ”If it increases your well-being that’s great, I just don’t know that it can make your face look younger.”

Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc has applied for FDA clearance to market Botox as a headache treatment.  However, researchers say they cannot fully explain how Botox works to relieve headaches. One co-author of the study, Rami Burstein says, “it may block the signals in sensory nerves located on the outside of the head.”

• Archives of Dermatology
• Bloomberg News

One patient who documented his tummy tuck experience online said he perceived a “stigma or shame associated with male tummy tucks,” saying he was “initially embarrassed” when he first made inquiries about the operation.

A good plastic surgeon will be able to give you specific advice about abdominoplasty on a male patient. One man on RealSelf asks about skin laxity on his abdomen due to weight loss:

I’m dealing with loose skin after a 50 lbs weight loss in my teens. I’ve totally transformed and I’m very athletic with well-defined abs, but have laxity mostly below the navel and around the lower back. The problem areas are very localized and I hide it under the belt line with no one suspecting I was obese. But I feel “unfinished.” The front skin is very thin and hangs, the back is mostly smooth. Is there a tummy tuck technique that would excise the abdominal skin and provide modest tightening in the lower back?

Dr. Chris Hess, a Fairfax plastic surgeon, answers: “Even though we tend to have better skin tone than women, we can still end up with excess skin due to skin memory. It sounds like you could undergo a mild excision of the excess tissue — less than a mini tummy tuck.”

Some cases are more severe. When a man has experienced a greater weight reduction, the full tummy tuck may be recommended. Dr. Cuzalina of Tulsa Surgical Arts writes “Do not hesitate to use a full abdominoplasty for a male patient with extreme skin laxity. Men tend to heal better than women after abdominoplasty.”

A comprehensive approach such as this may be necessary to provide satisfactory results. Dr. Alan Matarasso, scientific editor of Aesthetic Surgery Journal tells Modernmedicine.com “you really need to treat [men] circumferentially, all the way around, because if you ask most men what bothers them, it’s the ‘love handles,’ and that goes all the way around to the back.”

Clearly, many plastic and cosmetic surgeons can offer specific advice for men considering abdominoplasty.  So if you think you might benefit from the procedure, ignore any perceived “stigma” and ask a qualified surgeon for more details.

Related Links

• Traditional Tummy Tucks Remain a Viable Choice
• Modernmedicine.com
• Abdominoplasty in San Francisco

Manufacturer Allergan Inc posted data about patient comfort obtained during clinical trials, reporting that over 90 percent of the 72 participating subjects said they experienced less pain with Juvederm XC.

That data is crucial, because some people have questioned the value of anesthetic contained in a dermal filler: Is it just for the sake of marketing? When Prevelle Silk came out in 2008, Dr. Joe Niamtu said this to Cosmetic Surgery Times:

“The issue with a hyaluronic acid filler with lidocaine is that it doesn’t work until you actually start injecting patients, and these injections are so quick, by the time the lidocaine takes effect, you’re almost finished”

I wouldn’t expect plastic surgeons to abandon the already effective methods of pain management, but if the Juvederm XC formula acts quickly enough and you get a more comfortable treatment, that can’t be a bad thing.  We’ll know more when the filler comes to San Francisco.

• Juvederm at Dr. Maddali’s office
• Juvederm website with info on XC

Most plastic surgeons agree that silicone implants mimic natural breast tissue more closely than saline. However, natural results can be achieved with either implant. If you’re concerned about getting a natural look or feel in your breast implants, there are a few factors to consider:

• The amount of tissue covering the implant will affect the way it looks and feels, so you make sure you discuss implant placement options (sub glandular, sub-muscular or partial sub-muscular) in breast implant placement.
• After breast augmentation with saline implants, the breasts may be very firm but soften over time.
• Patients with a thin body and thin breast tissue will often be advised to choose silicone implants because of the possibility of visible wrinkling caused by a lack of adequate soft tissue coverage.
• Choosing the proper breast implant size is critical for achieving a natural result that matches your body size.

Read more about breast augmentation in San Francisco

Lidocaine helps control discomfort and swelling

Today, a number of non-surgical facial procedures can be done with little or no discomfort, thanks to local anesthetics that numb one or more areas of the face beforehand. Lidocaine is the one most frequently used by plastic surgeons, and there’s no doubt it makes an injectable procedure more comfortable for the patient.

Your dentist uses Lidocaine as as a quick and simple way to numb the mouth prior to potentially painful dental work. Plastic surgeons have found that lidocaine is an excellent local anesthetic for injections. It blocks the pain signal sent by the nerve endings on the skin in response to injections of the dermal filler solution. Patients quickly feel the anesthetic taking effect, and numbness kicks in.

Lidocaine – the benefits for use in facial cosmetic procedures

• Reduces or eliminates pain when the doctor is injecting into sensitive facial tissue
• Minimizes tissue swelling after injection
• Without swelling, the doctor can resculpt and correct the targeted areas of the face with more accuracy to get the most attractive, natural looking result
• The patient can relax during the procedure
• Often eliminates the need for general anesthesia in more extensive procedures

More information

Medicine Net
Mayo Clinic
Juvederm San Francisco
Bay Area Radiesse

The Fraxel system will be used to reduce the appearance of scarring caused by traumatic thermal damage. The Burn Center is a worldwide leader in innovative treatment and care for burn patients and their families.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Grossman Burn Center (GBC) is the largest plastic surgery-based burn practice in the western United States. But the work of the Foundation does not stop on the US border. The Grossman Burn Foundation provides burn care and medical resources in developing countries all over the world, including a burn center in Kabul and a physician triage training program for doctors in underdeveloped countries. The Foundation is also involved in the development and distribution of satellite based telemedicine equipment to doctors and first responders all over the globe.

As the leader in its field, Solta Medical’s laser technology was a perfect match for the Burn Center. The Fraxel system delivers a minimally invasive clinical solution to resurface damaged skin. It works by penetrating the outer layers (epidermis) to reach the deeper layers of skin beneath the surface where collagen and elastin are located. This stimulates a natural healing process that not only produces new collagen, but literally replaces the damaged tissue with new, healthy skin cells.

“The goal of restorative burn care is to return the patient to as close to pre-injury status as possible…” said Rebecca Grossman, the Chair of the Grossman Burn Foundation. “We plan to use the cutting-edge Fraxel technology to restore our burn-injured patients and play a key role in providing better and faster patient outcomes.”

What is skin resurfacing?

Skin resurfacing is a part of a growing trend in the medical aesthetics field. In fact, the same Fraxel technology being put to use in the Burn Center has been FDA-cleared to treat a wide-range of skin conditions including: age spots, acne scars, surgical scars, actinic keratoses, sunspots, melasma, and even wrinkles around the eyes. And, as the technology gets better, so do the results. Today’s lasers are a gentler and safer alternative than those used in the past.

In making the donation to the Burn Center, the Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Solta Medical, Inc., Stephen J. Fanning, applauded the Grossman Burn Foundation’s efforts to provide highly-skilled non-profit reconstructive surgery to treat patients’ scars and help their recovery.

• Read more about Fraxel laser treatment in San Francisco

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty is one of the top 5 plastic surgery procedures performed each year in the U.S. The traditional abdominoplasty involves removing a significant amount of loose, sagging skin, tightening the abdominal muscle wall, and reshaping the upper and lower abdomen. In the process, stretch marks in the area are eliminated and the navel is repositioned to accommodate the new contours of the body. The result is often dramatic, with the mid body restored to a taut, firm condition and a more youthful, attractive appearance.

Mini Abdominoplasty

A mini abdominoplasty (also known as a partial abdominoplasty or “mini tummy tuck”) is a variation on the full abdominoplasty, but designed to remove excess fat and loose skin only on the lower abdomen, below the navel. If you are within 10% of the ideal weight for your age and height and have relatively good skin tone and muscle tone on your upper abdomen, you may benefit from this procedure.

A mini abdominoplasty typically consists of removing excess fat and loose skin to correct a sagging lower belly. In some cases, the procedure includes tightening the lower abdominal muscles and/or doing liposuction to further sculpt the abdomen into an aesthetically pleasing shape and contour. Mini abdominoplasty will not eliminate stretch marks on your upper abdominal area, and the navel is left intact.

Which Procedure is Right for You?

To determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the mini abdominoplasty, it’s important for you to do your homework. If you’re reading this blog, you’re already on your way and that’s great! You’ll want to gather as much information as you need to help you make a choice that’s best for you and that you feel comfortable with.

If you know individuals who have undergone this procedure, you have the advantage of being able to learn about their experiences and ask questions you likely have. But even if you choose not to discuss it with anyone, you have a wealth of information at your disposal.

Do Your Research

The Internet is obviously an invaluable tool for gathering information. However, not all cosmetic surgery sites contain content that is reputable and accurate. If you are in the beginning phase of learning about mini abdominoplasty, we hope you’ll take time to view our site. Then, you might want to learn about what some others are doing to figure out which abdominoplasty procedure is right for them. Of the many consumer websites that focus on cosmetic surgery, we recommend that you check out the following:

Resources

• RealSelf – reviews of tummy tuck surgeries performed in the United States
• ASAPS – the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has excellent before & after photos of tummy tucks
• Our site: Read more about tummy tuck surgery in San Francisco with Dr. Maddali
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons: the ASPS has some good patient stories to read about tummy tuck surgery.