Specials for Your Skin

Dallas-area cosmetic surgery center A New Reflection is offering some of its favorite procedures this coming month in celebration of Valentine's day. Procedures like Botox, vibraderms, peels, and even Ultherapy will be available at discounted rates through the month of February. This means that you can go in for a quick procedure before your meeting your Valentine for the big night, or if you're considering getting a bit of work done before spring rolls around.

The image above details the specials that A New Reflection will be featuring, but you can find out information on these and more cosmetic procedures at Dr.Wallace.com.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Attribution: Jamison Weiser

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching which means that we can almost smell the aromas of romance that promise a tender night with that special someone. It’s exciting, actually, to know that in just a few weeks so many people will be celebrating love for the sake of love; it’s nice to see people are eagerly anticipating an evening where they can express their affections just because they can. Some of these people might even be making enormous decisions for their future by proposing to their significant other.

But not every love-fueled decision is a great one. This might be the year where people start to lament the ill-advised tattoo that they plastered on themselves only a few years ago. They, too, may have been equally intoxicated with love when they decided to have someone’s name permanently etched into their flesh, only to realize that their affections were not as steadfast as the print that now dwells on their skin. This might be the year that tattoo owners cut their losses and just rid themselves of their ex’s inky namesake.

People like this are certainly not alone in their predicament. A reported 1 in 8 people who have tattoos admit that they regret ever having gotten one to begin with. Fortunately for these people, however, laser removal has become very effective in getting rid of a tattoo that their love lives have made obsolete. Laser tattoo removal consists of multiple treatments in which the tattoo is exposed to concentrated light waves that penetrate the skin and break down the existent ink. Once the ink has been weakened, the body naturally begins to clear the ink from the area.

Multiple sessions are required because the lasers need to be able to access deeper layers of skin to more thoroughly break down the tattoo ink. However, the number of sessions that any single patient requires is determined by what is called the “Kirby-Desai” scale. The scale accounts for the differences in skin type, placement, color, ink quantity, and scarring that have resulted from the tattoo. Tattoos will always vary from person to person (the reason that the person got one in the first place because they wanted something unique) so the Kirby-Desai scale acknowledges these differences and translates them into a suggested amount of laser treatments.

Patients should be warned that subsequent treatments can make the skin more sensitive, and physicians often advise patients to take a painkiller before treatment. The treatments are still non-invasive, and although they might not start off painful the focused wavelengths of the laser can begin to irritate the skin region after several treatments. It is therefore advised that the patient have about 7-8 weeks recovery time between every treatment so as not to be over-exposed to the laser, but to still optimize the rate of ink-absorption.

Many people look to “covering up” old tattoos by having an artist add to the original design in a manner that conceals the old tattoo. This type of correction has a few adverse variables to consider: the artist may not necessarily be as artistically adept as you would hope, and you may end up with another tattoo that you will want to get rid of in the future. Covering up a tattoo is a risky endeavor that could potentially leave you in a worse situation than you were in to begin with. Tattoo removal eliminates the possibility of a botched ink-job and instead clears the entire area, giving you the option to get a different tattoo later on.

If you’re embarrassed about the tattoo of a past relationship and don’t want future relationships to be affected by it, laser tattoo removal might be a wise decision. Consult a cosmetic physician in your area who practices tattoo removal and see if he or she can help you renew the skin lying under that awful reminder of a past love life.

Miss America Contestant's Bold Announcement

Courtesy TalkSkinCare

Although the pageant may already be over, there is still a great story about one of the contestants that the web is talking about. The pageant's D.C. representative, Allyn Rose, revealed late last week that she plans on undergoing a preemptive double mastectomy in the near future. Allyn comes from a long family history of breast cancer victims, saying that the devastating death of her mother drove her to consider the procedure.

This touching story serves two purposes: firstly, I think that it validates Allyn's participation as a Miss America contestant - no, she didn't win, but Allyn's courage allows her to bring some much-needed nobility to a tradition that many will argue has been lost entirely to vanity and the objectification of women. Which brings me to the second purpose - if ever there was a time that the institution of pageantry were in jeopardy of retaining a negative reputation, it's now. With the rise in television shows depicting the abhorrent culture that lies behind pageantry (for children, in particular), it's easy to disregard contestants as self-absorbed byproducts of their mothers' years of vicarious child-rearing. Allyn brings a candid freshness to the program, and shows that beauty contests can be more about just having a body, but rather about actually using it to make a positive statement. Best of luck to Ms. Rose - she truly embodies all the beauty and grace that a Miss America contestant could ever hope to have.

Here's a perspective on the issue that elaborates on the details surrounding Allyn's decision, and provides a physician's opinion on the matter. Enjoy.

Photo courtesy of TalkSkinCare.com

Which Type of Breast Implant is Right For You?

The New Year is upon us and millions of Americans are promising themselves that this year, this one for sure, is going to be the one where they decide to bite the bullet and make the move toward a healthier, thinner, and hopefully sexier future. But as the months go on, the numbers of enthusiastic resolution-makers will dwindle and dwindle until they’ve tapered off into the handful of folks who get to enjoy the summer turning heads while they relax Oceanside.

But a new health regimen may not be at the top of everyone’s list this year. Maybe you are one of the determined few who emerged victorious from the rigors of last year’s fitness promises, but are just not as satisfied with the results as you could be. This is why many women are changing the focus of this year’s resolution, and hope to make this the year that they get breast enhancement surgery to complement the body that they worked so hard for last year.

As of 2011, more than 300,000 Americans underwent some kind of breast augmentation, showing an increase in patients having this kind of procedure of 45% since 2000. This means that you are certainly not alone in your decision toward cosmetic improvement, and shouldn’t be shy when considering this type of procedure. With several decades of successful applications, breast augmentation is only becoming safer and more effective as technological innovation sprouts up around it.

So like any kind of major decision, medical or non-, you want to make sure that you are as informed as possible so you aren’t plagued with buyer’s remorse in the weeks following your procedure. And, again, like most decisions, breast augmentation provides its clients with a variety of options that range in terms of cost and substance to make the choice oh-so-much-more frustrating. What you need is a little bit of quick education (paired with the direction, care, and expertise of your physician, of course) on the subject of your cosmetic decision so that you can evaluate which type of implant is going to be the most feasible for you.

The Choice

Until recently, breast augmentative procedures generally relied on two types of implantation devices – Saline and Silicone - to help their patients safely replicate the look and feel of a natural breast. That means that the ambivalent patient could at least choose with a coin-toss if they really, really just couldn’t decide. But within just about the last year, a third type of implant has been introduced, which is proportionally increasing selection anxiety by about 50% for all women who were thinking about going under the knife.

The History

Before the advent of the new implant, the arena of breast improvement was dominated by the aforementioned implant types. The Silicone breast implant was the preferred implantation device, and was also used in the very first augmentation procedure in 1962. Shortly thereafter, the Saline implant variation was developed and deemed appropriate for medical use two years later in 1964. The Saline alternative was considered the second choice for breast enhancement surgery.

But in the early 1990s, the type of silicone implant that was being produced had to be hastily recalled and subsequently banned by the FDA after silicone implant leakage was linked to complications with the patient’s immune system; the saline alternative immediately took the role of the sole implantation device being used, until a satisfactory silicone design reemerged in the 2000s.

At about this time, clinical trials began on a new, third type of implant that would be an alternative to both the saline implant as well as the redesigned silicone options. Originally produced by Brazil’s Silimed, the new high-strength silicone implants began distribution under the “Sientra” title once the FDA concluded that they were safe.

The Candidates

The following material will objectively describe what you can expect from the silicone, saline (both offered by Natrelle and Mentor) and cohesive gel (Sientra) options for breast implantation. We’ll discuss how each implant is inherently unique, as well as some other factors such as risks and costs associated with each one. No bias here, just info.

What’s Inside

The attractiveness of the saline implant lies in part with its long record of safety. Deflation and implant rupture are always possibilities when undergoing a procedure like this, but the saline implant ensures that there will be no severe medical complications resulting from such an event. Although the outer shell of the device is silicone, this type of implant is filled, instead, with a sterilized saltwater solution, so in the event of a burst the familiar solution won’t throw a wrench in your body’s system.

The silicone and cohesive-gel variations, on the other hand, consist of silicone shells filled with additional silicone substances. Standard silicone implants were originally filled with a liquid gel, but after they were banned in the early ‘90s, the viscosity of the gel was increased to the point of it almost being jelly-like. This new, thicker silicone would be less likely to find its way into the patient’s blood stream, thus making it safer than its predecessor. On the other hand, the Sientra implants feature a “high-strength cohesive silicone gel” that is even more firm than that of the silicone implant. This shape-maintaining substance has earned the Sientra product the title of the “Gummy Bear Implant” since it can even retain its form after the implant has been cut in half. And although the nickname isn’t endorsed by Sientra, it still offers a pretty concise and accurate description of what the product aims to do; studies are still being conducted to determine whether the tastes are similar*. It should be noted that silicone implants allow for a wider range of implant shapes, so you should expect to make a second aesthetic decision after deciding against a saline implant.

*Studies not actually being conducted to determine similar tastes.

The Procedure

The silicone and Sientra products are both typically inserted the same way. They are considered “form stable” devices since they are inserted into the breast in their solid states. The outer membranes are filled with the respective form of silicone before the implant is deposited into the patient’s body. This means that a 3-4cm incision will be necessary to give the implant ample room for entry into the designated area. Although the size of the incision isn’t negotiable, the placement actually is, as you can choose to have it under the breast, or around the areola (outer nipple), depending where you and your doctor will think the small scar can be best concealed.

As opposed to the pre-filled silicone varieties, the empty silicone “sack” of the saline implant can be inserted before it is actually filled. Once the silicone barrier is in place, the solution inflates the implant gradually through a needle, rather than before the fully-expanded device is implanted.  If you are concerned about a scar being too visible or otherwise unattractive, the saline implant is a way that the marks of your augmentation can be more difficult to detect.

The Cost
As of 2011 the national average for the cost of breast augmentation is $3,694. However, this number only reflects the surgeon’s costs, and additional fees associated with the hospital, anesthesia, medications, tests and anything else will obviously make that number larger. Nevertheless, this figure will be the one that will reflect your actual implant selection.

The most affordable option is the saline variety, which is roughly $3,300 for a procedure with this choice. Above that will be the basic silicone implant at about $3,700, and the Sientra product is currently the most expensive, with estimations at about $500 more than the basic silicone option. You can see that there is a direct correlation between the filling substance of each implant and how expensive it is, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that price denotes success or effectiveness. A thorough evaluation of your body type and, really, what you expect to get from the procedure, should be considered before you think that the priciest option is objectively the best. It is also important to know that insurance will more than likely not cover breast augmentation since it is regarded as cosmetic.

Other Points of Consideration

In case you are interested in getting your implants early, you should know that there are age restrictions on which type of implant you will be allowed to have. Because mammary development continues into young adulthood, both types of silicone-filled implants will only be given to patients who are at least 22. However, the saline options are available to 18-year-old patients, likely because the filling solution can be deposited/removed more easily, should natural development affect you implants in the first few years after surgery.

The Verdict

Obviously there isn’t a definitive answer as to which implant will be the best for you. As mentioned before, your physician’s opinion is very valuable, and can help you select an implant that will be comfortable, and look the most natural. You have options, and should thoroughly consult your doctor about what you hope to get from this kind of cosmetic improvement. Being an informed patient will help you be more confident about a decision toward breast augmentation, and will ensure that you enjoy your future self-image.

Here's another resource that discusses implants and the general culture surrounding cosmetic surgery!

Father of Three Brides Undergoes Cosmetic Procedure

This blog post responds to a recent news story in which a man agreed to undergo a cosmetic procedure in preparation for the three consecutive weddings of his three daughters. However, it's also a great illustration of how men shouldn't be timid when considering any type of cosmetic improvement. There is such a vast amount of procedures that can be used to improve the male self-image, and men shouldn't neglect these possibilities because of their shyness and unfamiliarity with cosmetic augmentation. There are plenty of practical ways that cosmetic resources can be used to help a man look younger.

The blog post can be viewed here.

The very talented Jewel shows her commitment to wanting all breast cancer survivors to understand that they have breast reconstruction options after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. She has joined with PSA to be a part of the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, or BRA Day USA, campaign. This effort is designed to educate women about their options after breast cancer.

Jewel's benefit song, "Flower" can be found on BraDayUSA and is also on iTunes. Raising awareness is such an important task and we commend her and all those involved in this mass education for women everywhere.

Many women still do not understand that reconstruction is an option for them in the first place. The need for awareness is huge. Waiting until after treatments and surgery significantly effects their options and results for breast reconstruction. A recent study shows that:

• Less than a quarter (23%) of women know the wide range of breast reconstruction options available.
• Only 22% of women are familiar with the quality of outcomes that can be expected.
• Only 19% of women understand that the timing of their treatment for breast cancer and the timing of their decision to undergo reconstruction greatly impacts their options and results.

For this reason we have to say thank you to Jewel and all the others who have joined in the effort to educate women of their options. Knowledge is power!

Endoscopic axillary or incision through the armpits is one type of incision a plastic surgeon can do to place breast implants. This type of breast augmentation is also known by many as minimal incision. This type of insertion is done through the armpit. Unlike inframammary incision where the surgeon can work closely to the part of the body he or she is operating one, with endoscopic axillary incision, your surgeon would need the assistance of an endoscope or a camera.

With this type of operation, the breast implants whether saline or silicone are placed behind or under the muscles. The good thing about this kind of incision is that the scar would be far from the breasts however one should keep in mind that even if you would like this type of incision to be done on you during your breast augmentation procedure, not everyone is a good candidate for such an operation.

Although the results are usually good with this incision type, there is the burden of difficult of revision. If you for example do not like the results or are not happy with the size of your breast implants, it will be more difficult for your cosmetic surgeon to fix it. If complications occur, ensuring that the implants do not cause your body any damage would also be a hard thing to do because of how the implants were placed.

So should you still ask your doctor about this procedure? The only way to determine if you are a good candidate for this kind of breast placement or not is to talk to your doctor. Asking as many questions about the incision is a good idea. It is also a good idea to ask your surgeon about other types of incisions and which ones are most suited for you. Dr. Charles Wallace, MD FACS, an expert in Dallas breast augmentation and well known for his "no scar on the breast" axillary approach for breast implants offers free consultations because, "Every body and body type is unique and there are many things to consider when choosing which approach is best for you." If you are considering breast augmentation in the Dallas area you can find more information about Dr. Wallace at www.drwallace.com.