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Archive for the ‘Cosmetic Surgery’ CategoryParticipate in Our Online Poll About the “Botax”Tuesday, December 1st, 2009Since we wrote about the proposed cosmetic surgery tax last week, the media has been buzzing non-stop about the “Botax” and other new options that are supposed to help cover healthcare reform. Plastic and cosmetic surgeons are opposing the tax for a variety of reasons. Others in support of the tax have suggested that, aside from generating revenue for healthcare, it could encourage talented medical professionals to work in areas of general medicine that need them. What’s your opinion? Cosmetic Surgeons in the U.S. Opposing New TaxSaturday, November 21st, 2009The elective procedure tax we wrote about last July is now part of the latest healthcare reform bill and could be implemented as early as 2010. The tax is a 5 percent charge on any procedure, administered by a licensed medical professional, that isn’t necessary to ameliorate a disease, injury or congenital deformity. Cosmetic and plastic surgeons have offered strong objections to the bill. One such objection is that women, the predominant consumers in this industry, will pay the projected 5 billion dollar revenue almost entirely. The tax is “discriminatory” and therefore, “the wrong way to raise money to pay for expanding health care.” Others, such as the ASPS, are trying to draw attention to the fact that cosmetic surgery procedures are not a luxury for the rich and famous, but services primarily purchased by the middle class. A recent press release said the following:
Follow the links below to learn more about the elective cosmetic medical tax.
A Better Surgery Consultation With Dr. Edds – in 2 StepsThursday, November 19th, 2009
Follow these 2 steps to ensure that your consultation with Dr. Edds is productive. 1. Prepare Yourself: have questions and know your general goals It also helps to know your general goals; what would be the ideal outcome of cosmetic surgery, for you? Some patients know the answer right off the bat because they’ve researched cosmetic procedures for a long time, while others are just beginning their search. In either scenario, you can benefit from a surgery consultation. 2. Communicate, be open, and be creative if necessary. Great communication is important from the first consult all the way through the surgery. If it seems difficult for you to communicate your goals, use pictures or other visual aids. You can view our before and after photos or bring examples that you think are appealing. Communicating your desires and specific needs better will help Dr. Edds serve you better, so use whatever tools you think will help. You should not hide your medical history, past procedures, goals or motivations for surgery. There’s no commitment necessary; after the consultation, you can take as much time as you need to consider your options. Special Surgical Glue Could Enhance Tummy TuckFriday, October 23rd, 2009
Cohera Medical calls the new product TissuGlu®, and recently announced plans to move forward with clinical trials this November. As explained in a recent press release, the adhesive bonds flaps of tissue together during tummy tuck surgery to reduce fluid accumulation and thereby, the chance of complications. Most tummy tuck surgeries require placement of a special drain to remove fluid. A method that uses surgical adhesive could, in theory, make drains unnecessary. Cohera Medical CEO Patrick Daly explains, “This unique product will ultimately help surgeons address a critical need and improve patient care.” In Germany, as many as 40 patients are expected to be enrolled in clinical trials to investigate TissuGlu’s safety and efficacy. About Abdominoplasty The tummy tuck is a common cosmetic procedure designed to reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen, whether it is due to weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or aging. See our homepage to learn more about how Dr. Edds performs this procedure right here in Owensboro, Kentucky. Better Patient Health Means a Better Surgery OutcomeMonday, June 29th, 2009
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. Surgical Enhancement: A Career Perk?Friday, May 29th, 2009Medical practices in Prague are offering free surgical enhancements to nurses as an employment incentive, according to this NY Times article. One nurse opted for breast augmentation and liposuction, free of charge. The piece raises some interesting ethical questions: While the procedures could certainly be beneficial to individual nurses in the short term, would such a practice harm the nursing profession as a whole? According to reporter Dan Bilefsky, nurses in the region “insist they are under enormous pressure to look good in a society where attractiveness is often as highly prized as clinical skills.” Critics argue that the incentives could promote an idealized body image for nurses, in a profession already suffering from misconceptions about technical competence. A spokeswoman from the Czech nurses association argues that nurses are still perceived as “low level workers” with little to offer besides manual labor. Nurses after all, aren’t intended to be models, but caregivers that provide an enormous benefit to the medical profession and the public they serve. A misplaced emphasis on their physical appearance could undermine public perceptions of their competence and value. Still, others may not see any problem with offering incentives through procedures like breast augmentation or rhinoplasty; perhaps they’re analogous to employee discounts at a retailer, vacation packages, or other career perks. The ethical issues being discussed probably aren’t a product of the incentive programs alone, but rather an objection to the sexism and discrimination that underlie them. More Cosmetic Surgery Consultations Go ‘Virtual’Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Multiple web-based communication tools have emerged to aid in this process, with email being the most prominent. Prior to a consultation in person, you can write us with questions and concerns you may have. As more patients decide to research plastic surgery online, the popularity of these services will grow. CNN reports that some surgeons have gone as far as implementing a “virtual consultation” using live chat services like Skype or iChat. These platforms are known for being user-friendly. One East coast surgeon claims that roughly 15 percent of his patients opt for his virtual consult. Surgeons abroad have also capitalized on the technology, which has greatly increased their clientele. For the potential patient or customer, it’s a great way to gather information or determine their comfort level with a particular surgeon. Michael Boeckle, who helps schedule surgery “vacation packages” says, “patients usually do not pick their doctor by price, but by how comfortable they feel with the information they have received.” With any method you use to contact us, we can ensure your privacy. We’ll also do our best to address your questions in a timely manner. Breast Implants Surpass Liposuction in PopularityFriday, May 8th, 2009
341,144 liposuctions were done in 2008, while breast augmentations numbered a surprising 355,671 during the same time period. “For the first time in the twelve years these statistics have been collected, liposuction is a runner up in popularity to breast augmentation”, said ASPS President Alan Gold. Dr. Gold theorizes: “Changes in fashion, i.e. décolletage baring styles, might be a factor in bringing about this change. This turnabout will generate discussions in the medical community and the public at large”, he predicts. We’re curious about what our readers think. Is this change surprising? Is it an obvious result of “changes in fashion”? |
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While it may be relatively low-stress, a cosmetic surgery consultation is like a job interview in some ways. It represents an opportunity to develop a professional relationship and accomplish great things, and likewise, there are better and worse ways to go about it.
A Pennsylvania medical company is set to begin clinical trials for a new adhesive they say could improve the safety and efficacy of cosmetic surgeries like the 
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.
At our Kentucky surgery practice, we believe the consultation is an opportunity to educate our patients and familiarize them with our procedures.
Industry statistics from 2008 indicate a shift in the popularity of certain cosmetic surgery procedures, most notably with breast implants. According to the ASPS, last year marked the first time that breast augmentation procedures surpassed liposuction procedures.