For better or worse, this is the best time to get cosmetic surgery

best time to get cosmetic surgery

Here we are, emerging from  the acute phase of the coronavirus pandemic, entering the unknown chronic phase. There is much we still don’t know about the virus, including why some become symptomatic but others remain asymptomatic. Even with these unknowns, the world must press on, doing our best to adjust our lives and maintain some […]

What’s not going to happen if there’s a new surge of coronavirus

new surge of coronavirus

Let’s review the initial response to the first wave of coronavirus by hospitals, city and state governments. Hospitals cancelled elective cases. Cities and states ordered a shelter in place order, shut down restaurants and closed parks and beaches.   These techniques were able to mitigate some of the worst predictions. 100,000 deaths instead of 2 […]

Do collagen supplements work? A synopsis

do collagen supplements work

While I always felt that collagen supplements in the form of pills or tablets were degraded by stomach acid and didn’t work, there’s really more to the story. You can find an overview of the great “do collagen supplements work” debate here. Or you can read the synopsis below.   One thing we know is […]

Dispelling two myths after surgery

myths after surgery

As seen in the image, I received a text message from a patient the morning after her surgery. She underwent a Brazilian Butt Lift and Tummy Tuck. In the text message, she’s thanking me after getting out of the shower. It was the first time she was able to look in the mirror and was […]

Introducing our new dermatologist: Dr. Gaetano “Guy” Zanelli

Dr. Zanelli

Dr. Kaplan and the entire PHPS Family are excited to welcome Dr. Gaetano “Guy” Zanelli to the practice. He’s a board certified dermatologist with decades of experience. As you can see above, he brings new aesthetic, non-surgical devices to the office! Now taking appointments for the full breadth of medical and cosmetic dermatology, including: Botox and […]

No more waiting in doctor’s offices!

no more waiting in doctor's offices

When we consider black swan events, which I’ve discussed here before, they’re often looked at in a negative connotation. And rightly so. But in an effort to find a silver lining to this pandemic, we should consider the pandemic as a black swan event, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a dramatic improvement in society. There […]

Why everything, including cosmetic surgery, will be more expensive now

more expensive now

Here’s the sad truth. Everything will be more expensive now. Regardless of what business you as a customer frequent, the business owners’ expenses are going up. And they’re not arbitrarily using COVID as a pretext to raise their prices. Expenses are up because restaurants, clothing stores, doctor’s offices etc are spending more on personal protective […]

Ice cream shop : takeout food :: cosmetic surgery : elective surgery

cosmetic surgery

Think back to your SATs. Remember the analogies? The goal was to determine the relationship between the first pair of words and then choose the second pair of words that had an equivalent relationship. In the title above, ice cream shops are to takeout food as cosmetic surgery is to elective surgery. In other words, […]

Cinco de Mayo, Margaritas and Botox (Webinar)!

While a Cinco de Mayo party with margaritas and Botox would be fun, that’s probably ill-advised at the moment! So join us for the next best thing: a webinar discussing Botox, fillers and other injectables, with a margarita in hand! Dr. Kaplan (aka @RealDrBae on Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok), along with Nancy Rooney of Current Clothing and Stephanie Argiros, are […]

Will HIPAA privacy rules be relaxed permanently?

HIPAA privacy rules

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, better known as HIPAA, is a huge piece of legislation. While many new laws emanate from this Act, most Americans associate HIPAA with privacy and privacy alone. While the goal of “privacy” is certainly well-meaning, this bill instills so much frustration in the modern healthcare landscape. […]

Yes, we charge for virtual consults

virtual visits

For years now, our consultation fee has been $100. This payment holds your spot on the schedule. In our experience, if we don’t request a consultation fee, the “no show” rate is higher. And it’s not a wasted $100 regardless. If you do purchase products, injectables or book a cosmetic procedure, that $100 goes towards […]

COVID-19 rapid antibody testing and you

Covid-19 rapid antibody testing

While we were all quarantining at home, I wrote this article arguing that testing for COVID-19 was pointless at the time. Sure, if you were really sick in the hospital and your doctor suspected coronavirus, it made sense to get the test. But if you, like everyone, was on lockdown, why get a test? If you’re […]