Any decent cosmetic surgeon will tell you that healthy patients have more successful surgery outcomes. That’s why surgeons often decline to operate on a patient who engages in unhealthy habits. Such patients – smokers for example - face an increased risk of complications like delayed healing.
Patients who are interested in cosmetic and facial plastic surgery first go through a sort of ‘lifestyle makeover,’ modifying their habits until they have reached a satisfactory state of health. At Edds Cosmetic Surgery, we want our patients to have the best experience and outcome possible, so we ask them to focus on this first. The ideal patient refrains from smoking or using illegal drugs, has a stable weight, and realistic expectations about cosmetic surgery.
Contact us for a consultation and we can provide more specific information on health and surgery outcomes.
Summer in Kentucky is lovely. While you’re at the pool, the golf course, or the barbeque with your friends, remember to protect your skin from the sun. You should also choose the right cosmetic treatments to prevent premature aging so you stay healthy and look your best. If you’re heading out for some fun in the sun this summer, here are a few skin management tips and procedures that can keep you looking hot while you’re out in the hot sun.
If your skin is in need of rejuvenation, a few microdermabrasion treatments each year can make a big difference. Microdermabrasion removes the top layer of skin to reveal a fresh, healthy layer underneath. It also stimulates collagen production, which improves skin elasticity. It’s an easy procedure that can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and even some forms of skin damage. If you use skin products (we recommend medical grade), it can increase penetration, so your daily skin care regimen is more effective. For many patients, this combination of at-home skin care and microdermabrasion is all it takes to achieve smoother, more silky looking skin.
If you exhibit age spots, zap them away with a CO2 laser or Chemical Peel. Rejuvenate your skin while reducing or removing age spots.
Sunscreen is important any time of year, but especially during these hot summer months. Choosing the right sunscreen for your face – one that addresses your skin type and skin conditions – is not always easy. Use a sunscreen every day. For days spent mostly indoors, use a foundation with an SPF15 or higher. For outdoors you want at least an SPF45 that is waterproof or water-resistant. The right sunscreen can prevent sun damage, skin problems, and even skin cancer. Harmful UV rays can damage skin cells deep within the skin’s surface, making your cells vulnerable to toxins (free-radicals) in the environment.
Self conscious about spider veins on your legs or elsewhere? Sclerotherapy can remove unwanted, unsightly veins so you can bare your legs at the beach again.
Let us help you maintain the health of your skin. Come visit us at Edds Cosmetic Surgery to find out which treatment will work best for your skin type; then look forward to looking hot all summer long!
Some drugs gain widespread appeal for uses that were never intended, and such is the case with Latisse. The hot new eyelash enhancer was born out of a group of popular medications called topical prostaglandins, drugs frequently used to decrease intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients.
What doctors labeled a ‘complication’ or side effect of using these topical agents was “hypertrichosis,” a condition characterized by darkening, thickening, and lengthening of the eyelashes.
Allergan offered the topical prostaglandin Lumigan in 2001, a drug that contained the active ingredient bimatoprost. Two important precursors to Latisse occurred after the FDA gave clearance for Lumigan.
Jan Marini Skin Research Inc had over $2 million worth of product seized by the Food and Drug Administration. The product, Age Intervention Eyelash, evidently contained bimatoprost, which was unapproved for cosmetic use at the time. Allergan later filed a patent infringement suit against Jan Marini and several other companies that had tried to market bimatoprost in their eyelash enhancing drugs.
Some doctors started prescribing Lumigan off-label to enhance eyelashes. Knowing the desirable side effects it could produce. But Lumigan wasn’t formulated for cosmetic use and many believed more research was needed to confirm the safety of topical prostaglandins for cosmetic use.
Clinical trials and further research is exactly what Alllergan Inc did. In one early study, 278 healthy adults with minimal to moderate eyelash prominence applied bimatoprost or a placebo to their lash line. The results were favorable; researchers observed that the average patient’s eyelashes were 25 percent longer, 106 percent fuller, and 18 percent darker, while only 3.6 percent experienced itchy eyes and redness, and only 2.9 percent experienced skin hyperpigmentation.
Latisse received FDA approval late last year for the treatment of ‘inadequate’ eyelashes. Allergan now owns the patent on use of bimatoprost for eyelash enhancement.
Tennis star Simona Halep, who won the junior French Open just last year, says she plans to undergo breast reduction surgery in the fall.
According to news sources in the UK, Ms. Halep complained that her large (34 DD) breasts have slowed her reaction time on the court and caused discomfort. “It’s the weight that troubles me – my ability to react quickly”, she told The Sun.
Ms. Halep is now ranked 317th in the world.
Women pursue breast reduction surgery for a several reasons, increased mobility being just one of them. One breast reduction patient stated, “Before I didn’t want to run anywhere, [not] even across the street. If something happened, I would not run. It was painful and embarrassing” (Klassen 2009).
Beside issues with physical activity, many women hope to alleviate irritation around their bra strap and underneath the breast, pain in the back and neck, and discomfort during sleeping.
The procedure can be described as a ‘normalizing’ experience for women. Once the surgery is complete, patients often say they are less self-conscious, they fit into more ‘regular’ sized clothes, and their shape is more characteristic of ‘the norm’ for the female body.
Last March, researchers with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) conducted a survey that has given us some insight about patients who choose wrinkle treatments. Researchers sent questionnaires to 687 patients who had received Botox and/or dermal filler treatment.
The following statistics illustrate the opinions of the ‘typical’ patient. Who is the ‘typical’ patient? “A married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.”
Roughly 70 percent of the respondents claimed that Botox and dermal fillers play an important role in their cosmetic routine.
When asked what their motivation was for pursuing Botox treatment, 34 percent said their appearance looked “stressed” or “angry”. Others said that a friend, family member, or their physician had recommended it, or they were preparing for a social event. 66 percent said they received Botox treatment 2-3 times per year. 72 percent of the respondents chose Botox to treat glabellar lines – the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows.
When asked about their motivation to use hyaluronic acid fillers, the majority (63 percent) of patients reported a desire to remove facial wrinkles and folds – mostly the nasolabial folds that travel from the nose to each side of the mouth.
Nearly 70 percent of the respondents who had been treated with Botox also opted for dermal filler treatment.
A full summary of the results is available (in MS Word) here.
Any decent cosmetic surgeon will tell you that healthy patients have more successful surgery outcomes. That’s why surgeons often decline to operate on a patient who engages in unhealthy habits. Such patients – smokers for example - face an increased risk of complications like delayed healing.
Summer in Kentucky is lovely. While you’re at the pool, the golf course, or the barbeque with your friends, remember to protect your skin from the sun. You should also choose the right cosmetic treatments to prevent premature aging so you stay healthy and look your best. If you’re heading out for some fun in the sun this summer, here are a few skin management tips and procedures that can keep you looking hot while you’re out in the hot sun. 
