Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Continuing Education for Plastic Surgeons: An Essential

When I went to Chicago last year to attend the annual conference of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, I had the privilege to attend the INAMED Academy, an educational course provided to board-certified and board-eligible plastic surgeons, and plastic surgery residents by INAMED Aesthetics, (formerly McGhan® Medical Corporation). The stated mission of INAMED Academy is “to educate through a unique forum that reinforces product knowledge, encourages practice innovation and allows for the exchange of new ideas”.

INAMED has been in the business of manufacturing and marketing of breast implants, tissue expanders, and dermal filler products for the past 25 years. The company has pioneered innovations such as the patented INTRASHIEL® Barrier Shell, the BIOCELL® Textured Shell and unique silicone-fill technology. INAMED is well known for its unique BioDIMENSIONAL® Planning System, which provides guidance for patients and their plastic surgeons in finding the right implant for individual breast characteristics and personal goals. In 1999 INAMED acquired the Collagen Aesthetics Corporation and it emerged as the leader in injectable dermal-filler products. The company's Zyderm® and Zyplast® injectable collagen product line has been used in more than 1.5 million procedures and has become the standard of care for the past 20 years.

The course program consisted of a whole day of lectures and updates on different topics. In the morning, lectures were given regarding advanced approaches in Facial Contouring. Among the topics discussed were: “Optimizing Facial Aesthetic Outcomes”, “Combination Therapy: Expanding Role of Dermal Fillers within Surgery”, and case study reviews by a panel. The panel discussed treatment approaches and options, facial contouring, technique “pearls”, and minimizing and avoiding complications. There was also a live injection demonstration of advanced techniques.

This was then followed by talks regarding practice enhancement and “Marketing Tools for Success”. Specific topics discussed were: “Marketing Basics/External Marketing/Managing Your Marketing”, “Practice Enhancement Programs”, and “Running a Practice: Case Example”.

The afternoon lectures centered on breast implants. Among the topics discussed were the following: “FDA Update”, “Rationale for Form Stable versus Non-Form Stable Breast Implants”, and “Personal Experience Using the Style 410”. This was then followed by an Interactive Panel which discussed breast surgery complications, management of breast asymmetry, and expander-assisted breast reconstruction.

The course faculty was composed of distinguished plastic surgeons, namely, Scott Spear, G. Patrick Maxwell, Mark Jewell, Steven Teitelbaum, Per Heden, and several others.

Continuing education is very important for medical professionals and it is essential for plastic surgeons to avail of opportunites like the INAMED Academy to keep up to date with the many developments in plastic and cosmetic surgery products and techniques. It is in this way we can provide our patients with the best options and techniques available.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Plastic Surgeon or Cosmetic Surgeon: What's the Difference?

With the increasing popularity of cosmetic or aesthetic surgery, patients often encounter different terms such as "plastic surgeon", "aesthetic plastic surgeon", "cosmetic plastic surgeon", "plastic and reconstructive surgeon", "cosmetic surgeon" or "aesthetic surgeon". Is there any difference whether a patient chooses a plastic surgeon or a cosmetic surgeon to perform the procedure they are interested in? The answer is YES, there is a difference.

Patients considering plastic surgery should know that in the Philippines, it is legal for physicians who are NOT PLASTIC SURGEONS to perform cosmetic surgery. Once doctors get their medical degrees, they may practice any specialty, even if they have not completed advanced training in the field they have chosen. And so, a doctor who performs cosmetic plastic surgery is not necessarily trained as a plastic surgeon.

Many documentaries have been made and many horror stories have been told about plastic surgery that went terribly wrong , but in most cases these procedures were done by unskilled and unqualified physicians.

Plastic surgery - like any surgery - carries risks and must be treated seriously. To ensure the best results for the surgery you are considering, choose an authentic plastic surgeon with the training and experience that is essential for the success of your surgery. Choosing the right surgeon is the single most important decision a patient considering plastic surgery will make.

Plastic Surgeons


The primary difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon is the training that they have undergone.

To become a plastic surgeon and use the title of "Plastic Surgeon" in his clinical practice, a doctor must be fully licensed to practice medicine and must undergo at least five to six years of a formal residency training program in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery that is accredited by the Philippine Board of Plastic Surgery, in a hospital or medical center that is accredited by the Philippine College of Surgeons to provide such training. This includes three to five years of general surgery residency and two to three years of plastic surgery residency. Doctors who have completed residency training in plastic and reconstructive surgery are the only doctors who can rightfully claim to be plastic surgeons.

A fully trained plastic surgeon can therefore use any or all of the following titles: Plastic Surgeon, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon, Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon, Facial Plastic Surgeon, Aesthetic Surgeon, and Cosmetic Surgeon.

Cosmetic Surgeons


On the other hand, cosmetic or aesthetic surgeons are doctors who perform cosmetic surgery procedures, regardless of the training they have received. Thus, the use of the titles "Cosmetic Surgeon" or "Aesthetic Surgeon" may mean many different things. The patient must inquire into the training of the doctor because these doctors have varying credentials, such as residency training in general surgery, ENT, OB-Gyne, dermatology, or the doctor may not even have formal surgical training.

In the Philippine setting, it is usually a doctor who practices cosmetic surgery and who has not undergone an accredited formal residency training in plastic and reconstructive surgery, who uses the title of "Cosmetic Surgeon" or "Aesthetic Surgeon". From an ethical point of view, such doctor should not use a title containing the word "Plastic" because only those with accredited training recognized by the Philippine College of Surgeons are entitled to do so.

Doctors who call themselves "Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons" or "Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons", but have not undergone residency training in plastic and reconstructive surgery, are misleading the general public and engaging in unethical medical practice.

Choosing a Cosmetic or Plastic Surgeon


The extensive training that a plastic surgeon undergoes gives him a definite advantage over a cosmetic surgeon who has not had this specialized training.

Mere familiarity with the anatomy of a certain body region does not automatically give a doctor the skill to perform cosmetic surgery in that area. The principles of plastic surgery require years of training and experience to be mastered.

General surgeons have more training in doing intestinal resections, appendectomies, cholecystectomies, mastectomies,thyroidectomies and hemorrhoidectomies than in doing cosmetic surgery. Dermatologists have more training in the medical treatment of skin disorders and often do not have training in the surgical treatment of skin lesions. Ear, nose and throat specialists and obstetrician-gynecologists have more training in their fileds of specialty than in doing breast augmentations, facial surgery and liposuction.

A doctor who practices cosmetic surgery must not only know how to do a procedure, but he must also know what to do in case wound healing does not proceed normally or when other complications arise. The specialty of plastic and reconstructive surgery has a major focus on the treatment of difficult wounds and chronic non-healing ulcers. Surgery is not an exact science and the body may react in unpredictable ways. A plastic surgeon is trained to respond to unexpected outcomes.

In addition to possessing an array of technical skills to use when dealing with complications, a plastic surgeon develops a sense of form, an aesthetic judgment, and an ability to visualize the end result. His training and years of experience make a definite difference in the quality of work and success of the surgery.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Mentor Implants Now Available in the Philippines

Patients considering breast augmentation now have a wider array of breast implants to choose from with the entry of Mentor Corporation into the Philippine market. Mentor is one of only two companies in the world to receive US Food and Drug Administration approval for saline implants. It is also one of only two companies allowed to sell silicone gel products in the U.S. under an Adjunct Study.

Mentor has been making breast implants for the past 30 years. It is recognized for its rigorous quality control process and offers a lifetime replacement policy on all its gel and saline implants.

Mentor offers 3 kinds of cohesive gels in its implants: Cohesive I, Cohesive II and Cohesive III.

Cohesive I is the standard cohesive level gel used; it is the softest gel and is used in Round Moderate, Moderate Plus, High Profile and Becker implants.

Cohesive II is a slightly firmer gel, for those who want a firmer feeling implant. This is used in Round Moderate Profile implants.

Cohesive III is Mentor's most cohesive gel. It provides retention of shape with more firmness than Cohesive II, for optimal cosmetic results. This gel is used in Mentor's Contour Profile implant.

It is best to sit down with your plastic surgeon in order to determine the breast implant that is best suited to your needs.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Dimples, Anyone?

Cheek dimples have long been considered an attractive feature in the face.

The surgical procedure used to create dimples is, in itself, a fairly simple one and is commonly done on an outpatient basis. The procedure involves simulating the natural way a dimple is formed, by forming a connection between the skin and the cheek muscle, such that when the muscle contracts, it pulls the skin inwards to form a dimple.

So how exactly is a dimple created?

A punch biopsy instrument is placed against the buccal mucosa (inner cheek) and circular motions are made to cut through the mucosa, submucosal fat, and cheek muscle. A circular core composed of these tissues is removed, leaving the skin intact, which will create a shallow cylindrical-shaped defect under the skin.

This 'defect' then is closed by placing an absorbable suture through the cheek muscle on one side of the defect, then through the dermis layer of the skin and finally through the cheek muscle on the othe side of the defect. A surgical knot is tied, which in turn will result in dimpling of the skin even without smiling.

The skin will, however, flatten out in a week or two when the suture is absorbed. The internal scarring which takes place will connect the muscle to the skin, creating a dimple when one smiles.

The surgery can be performed on any kind of cheek, be it chubby or not. It would be easier if the cheeks are not too chubby. If someone wants dimples that are very prominent, a bigger punch biopsy will be used to be able to remove a bigger core of soft tissue.

Usually performed under local anaesthetic, the surgery takes about 30 minutes, and normal activities can be resumed straight after the procedure. You walk in without a dimple and leave with your desired facial indents.

There is usually minimal swelling after, and the after care steps are just as simple and uncomplicated as the procedure. The after care usually involves regular mouth rinsing with Betadine oral antiseptic solution or Bactidol (chlorhexidine) solution, and antibiotic intake.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


How to Look Good this Summer Without Really Trying

Summer vacations in an archipelago like the Philippines are often spent on the beach, frolicking in the water, enjoying the sun and surf, or idling the time away on the sand just watching other people have fun. To many people, the coming of summer means a return to the gym or health club in order to whip one's body back to shape, shedding excess pounds, burning the fat away, in order to look as good as possible in skimpy bikinis or swimming trunks.

For many who do not have the time nor the motivation to spend hours working out in the gym, cosmetic surgery offers a quick solution to the problem of how to look good in swimwear without having to exercise. The popularity of cosmetic surgery coupled with its increasing affordability has made cosmetic surgery a viable option for many who desire an attractive body shape.

What better way is there to get curvy or flat contours other than liposuction? In 2005, it is estimated that more than 270,000 people underwent liposuction in the U.S.A. alone, making it the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure. Such big numbers indicate a desire of a large number of people to have an attractive figure. For men, this generally means having a flat abdomen coupled with straight flanks on both sides. Women on the other hand undergo liposuction to get thinner waistlines and to remove localized fatty bulges that are most difficult to get rid of even with rigorous exercise. Areas where fat deposits are the hips, thighs, abdomen, and buttocks, as well as on arms, knees, calves, upper torso, neck and under the chin.

Liposuction is a safe procedure when done by a well-qualified plastic surgeon. Patients with young, healthy elastic skin who have localized areas of fat are the best candidates for liposuction. This procedure can be done on an outpatient basis, if the fat to be removed totals 5 liters or less. (For amounts greater than 5 liters, it is recommended that patients stay a night or two in the hospital). After liposuction is performed, patients are advised to wear compression garments for 2 weeks, in order to prevent accumulation of blood (hematoma) or serum (seroma), and to enable the skin to adhere to underlying tissues.

There may be some swelling and bruising after liposuction, but these usually subside within 6 to 8 weeks. Patients are advised to restrict their activities for the first two weeks following surgery. Sports activities are resumed gradually on the third postoperative week. Direct sun exposure of liposuctioned areas should be avoided until all bruising has disappeared, usually within 2 to 4 weeks. This schedule for gradual resumption of normal routine should be kept in mind by those who would like to be active on the beach by the time summer starts.

The second most popular cosmetic surgery procedure is breast augmentation. Current norms of beauty regard women with full shapely breasts and thin waists as more attractive than those with breasts of lesser dimensions. It is no secret that women with bigger breasts will get more admiring looks from men compared to those with flatter chests. Do you still wonder why "Baywatch" is the most watched television show all over the world?

Following breast surgery, patients may have minimal to moderate pain which is controlled by painkiller medications. Antibiotics are also prescribed to prevent infection. Patients are advised bed rest and limited activities for the first few days after surgery. Sutures are removed in 5 to 7 days. After one week, massage of recommended to keep the breasts supple. There may be numbness around the treated area but this is usually temporary. There may be swelling and discoloration, but these disappear in a few days. Scars from the incisions are initially pinkish in color but this will gradually fade with time. Patients who wish to undergo breast augmentation should schedule their surgery around a month before summer starts in order to allow time for recovery and resumption of normal activity.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines