The Cosmetic Surgery Loophole
What if I told you that any doctor can perform cosmetic surgery? You might suggest that you have to be a plastic surgeon but you’d be wrong! Believe it or not, the rules are lax enough regarding which type of doctor does which operation outside of a hospital or an accredited surgery center. In a […]
Risks (and Benefits) of a Deep Chemical Peel
Earlier today, a viewer of my YouTube video on the phenol-croton-oil deep chemical peel, asked about the risk of hypopigmentation (skin lightening). In other words, with a deep chemical peel, aside from improvement in deep wrinkles, does the skin lose pigment and result in patches of lighter skin? As you can see in this pre-treated […]
Sientra Round and Shaped Breast Implants [video]
Patients often ask what the differences are between round and shaped breast implants. The short video below compares the various options you have when it comes to breast implants for your breast augmentation or breast reconstruction. Either round or shaped implants can be used in cosmetic breast augmentation but the wide-based shaped implant is more […]
The CoolSculpting Machine [video]
We often discuss how CoolSculpting provides non-surgical fat reduction but we seldom discuss the actual machine and how it provides treatment. In the video below, we discuss the CoolSculpting machine itself and how it pulls skin into the suction cup and starts the “programmed cell death” of unwanted fat in the abdomen, thighs and love […]
Botched: Season 1, Episode 6
As a follow up to my previous post on the E! show, Botched, I’m going to provide further insight into each episode that they couldn’t touch on due to time constraints. I’ll point out potential alternative treatments and highlight some of the psychology with these complex patients. So here goes…Botched, season 1, episode 6! Mike, […]
What to do and where to go in Pacific Heights!
Now that I’ve been here in San Francisco and specifically living and working in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, I’m starting to find and discover new favorites. From a favorite burger joint, sushi bar, restaurant to a favorite park. I recently had a patient new to the area and they asked for my thoughts in regards […]
When is liposuction appropriate?
With such a great non-surgical alternative to liposuction, i.e. CoolSculpting, it’s harder and harder for consumers to know which is appropriate for them. Hopefully some of the comments below will help with your decision. If you only have distinct pockets of fat like the love handles or thighs, CoolSculpting may be right for you. But […]
Do I always need general anesthesia?
For many patients considering cosmetic surgery, one of their major concerns is the type of anesthesia that will be used. “Will I need to be completely knocked out?”, “What if I don’t wake up?” are among some pretty standard questions I hear during the consultation. To better answer these questions, let’s agree on the terminology […]
Medical Tourism Infographic
Dr. Alia Nasser, a doctor with the Verve Cosmetic Clinic in Australia sent me the medical tourism infographic below, over the weekend. It highlights some aspects of medical tourism throughout the world. This medical tourism infographic is very interesting. I’m not sure where they obtained the pricing listed for cosmetic procedures in the US, but […]
Office Based Operating Room: The patient benefits!
If you’re in the market for a plastic surgeon, look for one that has their own operating room in their office. I know this sounds self-serving since I am a plastic surgeon with their own operating room, but hear me out! As with any company, it’s natural to assume the president or CEO has their […]
Code Black: A look into the future of healthcare
I think the official title of “Code Black,” a movie just released on June 20th 2014, is Code Black: A look into America’s busiest ER. Check out the trailer here. But I also think it’s a look into the future of healthcare for many Americans. The documentary, written and directed by an ER physician-in-training, Ryan […]
Is Medical Tourism Ever Safe?
Another horror story involving medical tourism came out of the Dominican Republic last week. A woman from New York went down to the DR for a tummy tuck and apparently died on the table. While details are murky at this point, there are a few lessons that can be drawn from this situation. Unfortunately for […]
