Inland Cosmetic Surgery

Allergan Inc announced FDA approval of Juvederm XC last week, the latest filler in the U.S. to contain the anesthetic lidocaine, for increased comfort during injection.

During the FDA approval process, a clinical trial was cited where 93 percent of the 72 participants reported a more comfortable procedure with Juvederm XC. “Before the introduction of Juvederm XC, it often took up to 30 minutes for an anesthetic block to take effect.” said Charles Boyd, MD, Boyd Cosmetic Surgical Institute and clinical investigator in a company news release.

The new filler follows in the footsteps of Prevelle Silk, another wrinkle filler containing lidocaine. In 2008 however, when Prevelle Silk was introduced the response from surgeons was lukewarm. “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” said Dr. Joe Niamtu to Cosmetic Surgery Times.

Traditional pain control methods (numbing cream and dental blocks) are quite effective, so it may take some time for Juvederm XC to gain popularity, even if it does offer a significant improvement in pain control.

The results cited by Allergan sound great and the safety profile is very similar, so it could really take off. We’ll know more as Juvederm XC finds its way to cosmetic surgery practices here in southern California.

According to a complaint filed in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Obagi Medical Products is being sued by its founder and former owner Dr. Zein Obagi, alleging that Obagi Medical interfered with the distribution of a new line of anti-aging products developed by Dr. Obagi for his current company, ZO Skin Health.

Apparently, the lawsuit at least in part stems from an alleged non-compete agreement between the parties.

Competition is definitely increasing between makers of high quality skincare products, perhaps because the demand for anti-aging skin care products has increased among baby boomers over the last decade.  Between 2006 and 2008, U.S. sales alone rose 13% to 1.6 billion dollars, and the trend shows no sign of weakening.

Skin health is affected by a number of variables, including the environment (sun, wind, pollution), lifestyle (diet and exercise) and genetics. As a person ages, the process of skin-cell-rejuvenation is also slowed. Topical aesthetic and therapeutic skin health products on the market today are specifically designed to address these effects.

The tummy tuck is one of the top requested 5 cosmetic surgery procedures in the U.S.  It’s chosen by women and men alike to resculpt and tighten the abdominal muscles and to eliminate loose, wrinkled skin, excess fat tissue and even stretch marks.

Today, I want to talk about the mini abdominoplasty (often referred to as the “scarless tummy tuck” or the mini tummy tuck).

Mini abdominoplasty

The mini abdominoplasty is a variation on the traditional abdominoplasty, suitable for those who have excess fat and/or loose skin only below the navel. Mini abdominoplasty calls for a smaller horizontal incision than the traditional full abdominoplasty, and it’s made near the top of the pubic hair line, enabling you to wear two piece bathing suits and other types of clothing that reveal the mid-body. Excess skin and fat are removed and slightly loosened muscles tightened. Then the skin is pulled downward and sculpted into place. Sometimes the procedure is combined with liposuction to remove excess fatty tissue.

7 possible indicators for a mini-tummy tuck

1. You are within 10% of the ideal weight for your age and height and have good skin elasticity and tone.

2. You have only a small amount of excess fat and loose skin and it’s localized below the navel line (lower abdomen).

3. You are not planning to get pregnant again.

4. You don’t have significant stretch marks that extend over your entire belly & abdomen. Stretch marks are not addressed by a mini-abdominoplasty. However, a full tummy tuck may be able to hide stretch marks.

5. You have a firm upper abdomen with no separation of the muscles, but have some weakness or protrusion between your navel and the top of the pubic mound.

6. Subcutaneous fat (fat that is situated just under the skin) is limited above and below the belly.

7. You have a disciplined diet and exercise regimen. You’ll want to avoid future weight gain to maintain your new shape.

• Read more about the mini-tummy tuck at Inland Cosmetic Surgery

A magazine called New You is scheduled to debut this month, brought to you by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

Visually stunning images and cutting-edge information will populate the pages of New You, to keep consumers informed about proven cosmetic procedures and new trends in medicine.

Each issue of New You will offer tips and features like these:

• Patient stories and photos – from consultation through recovery
• How a cosmetic surgeon can enhance your appearance with the latest medical techniques.
• How you can avoid negative results and stay safe
• How to choose a trustworthy cosmetic surgeon

The primary distribution of New You will be in the waiting rooms of 2500 practicing cosmetic surgeons. An additional 50,000 copies will be distributed to newsstands and other medical professionals.

For more information, visit newyoumag.com

Most of us in Southern California like to start the New Year on a positive note, taking stock of our accomplishments and focusing on things we could improve. If time has etched lines, wrinkles and grooves into your face, finding a solution may be near the top of your resolutions.

Have you thought about Botox?

Botox Cosmetic may be the single most popular non-surgical procedure to reduce or eliminate fine lines.

Wrinkles form gradually

Crow’s feet, lines and even deep grooves appear on our faces over the years, the result of our natural expressiveness, lifestyle habits, and the tendency to move our facial muscles in habitual ways. For instance, you may squint a lot (when you’re concentrating, when you’re worried, when the sun is bright, or when you are trying to focus your vision.) As the years go by, this repetitive motion begins to carve lines in your face and can eventually result in a permanent expression of worry or intense concentration.

We frequently notice these facial lines and wrinkles on friends and strangers alike. At times, we also find ourselves looking at someone and wondering, “Why is she so angry?” or “Why is he so uptight and stressed?” We’re talking about that vertical line that runs down the center of the forehead: one of the most obvious facial flaws, in otherwise attractive men and women.

Read more »

About two years ago we reached the conclusion that to better serve the community in the Inland Empire and southern California we will need a larger facility. We therefore set out to find a suitable space. After much searching we found our home just two blocks north of our current location on 8680 Monroe Court.

This new location comes with ample parking and the privacy and comforts our patients’ desire. In addition to gaining more space for our practice, we built a state of the art surgical center named Surgical Arts of The Inland Empire. This Surgical Center is equipped with the latest technology for endoscopic surgery as well as traditional and laser assisted surgery.

In addition, being that Dr. Haiavy is a fellowship director and is passionate about teaching, the facility is built with latest video and computer technology to be able to host other surgeons for live surgery courses.

With this expansion and move we will be able to associate with other surgeons that can serve our patients as well. We will be working with some very talented surgeons:

• Cosmetic Podiatrist
• Vascular surgeon for vein therapy and sclerotherapy
• Bariatric surgeon for the Lap Band procedures and weight loss surgery
• Cosmetic Gynecologist for laser vaginal labioplasty and other procedures

You are invited to visit our new facility as we feel proud of our new home and hope to continue to serve you in the future.  Please look for an upcoming open house in the near future.

Remember the old saying, “beauty is only skin-deep”?  According to new research, the scientific truth may be quite the opposite.

Your appearance may be an accurate indicator of your health and potential after all, according to results of the study: “Perceived age as clinically useful biomarker of ageing: cohort study.”

Danish researchers measured the perceived age of twins and found that perceived age was correlated with survival; i.e. the younger looking twin was likely to live longer than his or her counterpart.  Researchers also found significant correlations between perceived age and healthy functioning – both cognitive and physical.

Read More online in the British Medical Journal. Perceived age as clinically useful biomarker of ageing: cohort study.

A “liquid Facelift” is a non surgical alternative to the traditional face lift, made possible by recent technological advancements in wrinkle fillers.  This breakthrough procedure is a cost effective solution for patients who are concerned about looking tired all the time, and are beginning to see loss of volume in the cheeks and the loosening of the skin.

A Liquid Face lift will rejuvenate the skin to achieve a refreshed and younger look without the expense or downtime of a traditional facelift.  At Inland Cosmetic Surgery we provide expert injections by our experienced and highly trained Surgeons and Physicians’ Assistant.  The Liquid Face Lift replaces lost volume in the cheeks, under-eye hollows, and corrects deep creases in the nasolabial folds and frown line area.  These new generation, long-lasting wrinkle fillers stimulate collagen production and improve skin tone while rejuvenating the skin.

There are various wrinkle fillers that can be used and each Liquid Face Lift is personalized to meet the patient’s needs and provide the best result possible:

• Radiesse is a long-lasting wrinkle filler that instantly adds volume and smoothes the skin while stimulating collagen production.   Radiesse is commonly used for cheeks and jaw line as well as hallows around the eyes.
• Hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm or Restylane can be used for enhancing the lips, correcting deep nasal labial folds, restoring the eye area.
• Botox or Dysport is used to treat wrinkles in the forehead, between the eyes, to slightly lift the eyebrows, and to treat crow’s feet.

Give the gift of beauty this holiday season!  Gift cards are available if you want to get a Liquid Face Lift for that special person in your life!

Glo Minerals is a 100 percent mineral makeup line made of pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, high-pigment minerals and powerful antioxidants. This make up not only provides excellent coverage but also protects your skin from free radical damage, while providing broad spectrum UV protection.

Glo Minerals offers five foundation options that all give a flawless look, while calming and soothing even acne prone skin. The pressed base is the most popular foundation formula because of its convenient portable compact that makes mineral make up on the go easy, and provides medium to full coverage. Glo is also available in two liquid formulas for dry and oily skin types.

Glo Minerals is the preferred make up line of dermatologist, plastic surgeons, and leading skincare professionals all around the world.

This Holiday we are offering a Glo Minerals starter kit that includes products to help you create a flawless but natural look. Included in the package is a complimentary color matching; come in at your convenience and be professionally color matched into the correct Glo Mineral shade and formula for your skin type.

Here’s what else you get from our Glo Minerals starter kit:

• Hydration Mist for use before and/or after makeup application to set makeup and refresh the skin throughout the day, made of an exclusive blend of antioxidants.
• Concealer for under eyes, scarring, or hyperpigmentation that not only really covers but also improves the skin.
• Concealer brush to expertly apply Glo Concealer to any desired area.
• Foundation Brush to apply Glo Pressed Base, Glo Loose Base, Glo Bronze, and Glo Finishing powders. Made of the highest quality and all natural products.

We haven’t heard much feedback from patients regarding the proposed tax on elective cosmetic procedures, unveiled in the Senate health care reform bill.  Plastic and cosmetic surgeons have publicly opposed the bill, but the patients are the ones who will likely pay this tax if it becomes law.

So what do you think?  Is a tax on cosmetic surgery a proper way to pay for health care reform in the United States?