Showing posts with label Orlando Plastic Surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orlando Plastic Surgery. Show all posts
Monday, August 15, 2011
Dr. Armando Soto on Fox's Good Day Orlando!
I wanted to recap for readers the essentials of my discussion with Michelle of Fox 35 Orlando this morning, as well as elaborate on the important things to know and ask before allowing anyone to do any kind of elective plastic surgery procedure on you.
This discussion was of course brought about by the recent events in the Phoenix area, where a local ER doctor was accused, indicted, and then convicted of second degree murder and manslaughter after 3 of his patients died while undergoing (or shortly thereafter) liposuction.
The case is noteworthy not just because of the fact that 3 human beings unfortunately lost their lives during procedures that should have been very safe for healthy people like them, but because the doctor was found guilty of MURDER, and not just of malpractice.
To review, the prosecutors successfully argued that as Dr. Peter Normann was intelligent enough to complete medical school and training in Emergency Medicine, he should also have been intelligent enough to understand that his complete lack of legitimate training in plastic surgery and liposuction (he took a weekend course) constituted an untoward risk for his patients. In other words, Duh! You're an ER doctor- probably shouldn't be doing liposuction on people.
Furthermore, they reasoned that he should also have had the wherewithal to know that his advertising a level of expertise in these procedures that he clearly did not have, along with his lack of training, and the fact that he performed the procedures in a facility without appropriate accreditation was fundamentally wrong...
Therefore, they concluded that he clearly showed more regard for his income than for his patient's safety, and displayed what they (the prosecutors) called an "extreme indifference" to human life, which met the guidelines for murder in the second degree.
Scary.
So- what should we all take away from this?
Well first of all, as a plastic surgeon, clearly it would be wrong for me to offer to do heart surgery on a patient- as cool as it would be to be able to say I do heart surgery AND plastic surgery, I know it would be wrong.
The amazing thing is that it would NOT be illegal.... At least not if I could talk someone into letting me do it on them in my office under local anesthesia.
And that's a big part of how so many unfortunate patients wind up injured or dead after cosmetic surgery.
Historically, what kept doctors "honest" and prevented them from trying to do procedures on people that they were incompetent to perform, was the hospital credentialing system.
We'll use myself as an example... If I (as a trained Plastic Surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery) wanted to obtain privileges at a hospital for the performance of liposuction, I would need to submit a great deal of paperwork to the hospital's Credentialing Committee proving that I had received legitimate, ACGME approved training in plastic surgery and liposuction.
The ACGME, or Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, is the body that judges whether residency training a doctor receives is adequate and appropriate before letting them say they are trained in the discipline. From their website:
This discussion was of course brought about by the recent events in the Phoenix area, where a local ER doctor was accused, indicted, and then convicted of second degree murder and manslaughter after 3 of his patients died while undergoing (or shortly thereafter) liposuction.
The case is noteworthy not just because of the fact that 3 human beings unfortunately lost their lives during procedures that should have been very safe for healthy people like them, but because the doctor was found guilty of MURDER, and not just of malpractice.
To review, the prosecutors successfully argued that as Dr. Peter Normann was intelligent enough to complete medical school and training in Emergency Medicine, he should also have been intelligent enough to understand that his complete lack of legitimate training in plastic surgery and liposuction (he took a weekend course) constituted an untoward risk for his patients. In other words, Duh! You're an ER doctor- probably shouldn't be doing liposuction on people.
Furthermore, they reasoned that he should also have had the wherewithal to know that his advertising a level of expertise in these procedures that he clearly did not have, along with his lack of training, and the fact that he performed the procedures in a facility without appropriate accreditation was fundamentally wrong...
Therefore, they concluded that he clearly showed more regard for his income than for his patient's safety, and displayed what they (the prosecutors) called an "extreme indifference" to human life, which met the guidelines for murder in the second degree.
Scary.
So- what should we all take away from this?
Well first of all, as a plastic surgeon, clearly it would be wrong for me to offer to do heart surgery on a patient- as cool as it would be to be able to say I do heart surgery AND plastic surgery, I know it would be wrong.
The amazing thing is that it would NOT be illegal.... At least not if I could talk someone into letting me do it on them in my office under local anesthesia.
And that's a big part of how so many unfortunate patients wind up injured or dead after cosmetic surgery.
Historically, what kept doctors "honest" and prevented them from trying to do procedures on people that they were incompetent to perform, was the hospital credentialing system.
We'll use myself as an example... If I (as a trained Plastic Surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery) wanted to obtain privileges at a hospital for the performance of liposuction, I would need to submit a great deal of paperwork to the hospital's Credentialing Committee proving that I had received legitimate, ACGME approved training in plastic surgery and liposuction.
The ACGME, or Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, is the body that judges whether residency training a doctor receives is adequate and appropriate before letting them say they are trained in the discipline. From their website:
- The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education is a private, nonprofit council that evaluates and accredits medical residency programs in the United States.
- The ACGME was established in 1981 from a consensus in the academic medical community for an independent accrediting organization. Its forerunner was the Liaison Committee for Graduate Medical Education, established in 1972.
- The mission of the ACGME is to improve health care by assessing and advancing the quality of resident physicians’ education through exemplary accreditation.
If I, on the other hand, asked for privileges performing heart surgery in the same hospital, my request would be quickly denied (and I would probably even be denied privileges in procedures I can prove competence in- just for asking to do something so far outside my area of training) because I would be unable to provide proof of ACGME accredited training in this discipline.
But here's the thing.... What if I could convince people to let me try doing heart surgery on them in my office under local anesthesia?
By avoiding the hospital, I've also avoided the Credentialing Committee.
And there is no law to stop me from doing whatever I want to patients in my office, as long as I have their (the patient's) permission to do it.
It's true- if you were dumb enough to let me charm you into having heart surgery under local anesthesia in my office, I could legally do it. The outcome may not be so good, but I could do it.
And that's why I always tell people that if you could only ask your provider one question, the most important one would be, "Do you have privileges to perform the operation you are proposing for me in a hospital?" (but don't take their word for it- call the hospital and check).
Now heart surgery in an office setting is so obviously ridiculous that there are probably very few people alive who would consent to it (although someone probably would).
But what about if we were talking about liposuction? How hard would it be to distract you from the fact that I might not have the proper training in the procedure and fool you into letting me do it on you?
What if I were able to convince you that the machine I use in my office makes it so easy that you're not really having surgery at all, but rather a "minimally invasive" fat removal?
What if I convinced you that I'm the only one in town who knows how to do it- by giving my procedure a cute name?
What if I (fraudulently) advertised that my procedure was fundamentally different and better than liposuction, and that there was minimal or no downtime?
What if I (falsely) told you that having it done under local anesthesia was "safer" because you don't need general anesthesia?
Now it's not so hard to understand how otherwise intelligent people might put their happiness and safety in the wrong hands, is it?
And believe it or not, there are ER doctors, gynecologists, and an eye doctor here in Central Florida making all of these claims.
So let's all realize the following:
- All liposuction is surgery. It doesn't matter what machine is being used, or how you're anesthetized. If someone is removing fat from your body through an incision, however small, you're having surgery.
- All surgery has risks (just ask the families of the 3 patients who died in Dr. Normann's OR)
- You can minimize your risks by choosing the right surgeon, the right facility, and the right anesthesia provider- and all 3 are important.
- Conversely, your risks of a bad outcome are much greater if you let yourself be fooled into having plastic surgery performed by someone who does not have legitimate, ACGME training in plastic surgery.
And with regard to the last point- make no mistake about it, Dr. Normann was not an isolated numbskull. Every large community in America now has ER doctors, gynecologists, family doctors, and even an eye doctor (here in Orlando) calling themselves liposuction experts, despite a lack of ACGME accredited training in the procedure.
How do you protect yourself and those you love?
- Do as much research as you can
- Research the surgeon
- What was his training in?
- Is he Board Certified- and just as important- by WHICH BOARD?
- Where was his training?
- Research the facility in which the procedure is to be performed
- Is it accredited? Ask to see the certificate
- By whom? Make sure the facility is accredited by The AAAASF or JCAHO
- Research the anesthesia provider
- Who is taking care of you while you are having surgery is just as important as who is doing the surgery!
- Is it an anesthesiologist (a doctor of anesthesia)? PREFERRED
- A certified nurse anesthetist? LESS IDEAL
- The surgeon himself or a nurse?? BE VERY CONCERNED
Finally, where can you look for these important answers? Here you go...
- Check the website for the State Medical Board in the state in which you live. You can learn about the doctor's training (or lack thereof) and much more. For Florida, the link is: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00profiling/searchform.asp
- You can also check reputable doctor review sites. The word reputable is critical here... more on that later. The very best is www.RealSelf.com
- What makes it the best? Quite simply:
- It is complete- there is a wealth of information about doctors, their training, and their outcomes
- It is fair- Realself balances doctor's legitimate concerns against patient's in the most fair fashion of the sites out there right now. As I will write about in the near future, there is no perfect site, but this is as good as there is at the present time.
- Realself requires doctors market honestly, and only in the specialty in which they actually are trained. Critical.
And finally, if you are still uncertain about a doctor you have seen, email me and I can help you figure out what their training was all about-
And for those cynics out there-- this is not about me feeling competitive. As long as you are in the hands of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I'm good.
It's the damage done to the reputation of ALL plastic surgeons and plastic surgery itself by injuries and deaths caused by non-plastic surgeons that I'm trying to prevent here.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Plastic Surgery by a Non-Plastic Surgeon?
Reprinted from The Arizona Republic:
Liposuction deaths: Phoenix area doctor convicted of murder, manslaughter
by Michael Kiefer - Jul. 15, 2011 10:28 PM
The Arizona Republic
An Anthem physician who had three patients die during plastic-surgery procedures in his clinic was found guilty of murder and manslaughter Friday in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Dr. Peter Normann was pronounced guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of Ralph Gonzalez, 33, of Scottsdale, and Leslie Ann Ray, 53, of California, and of manslaughter for the death of Alicia Santizo Blanco, 41, of Gilbert.
Throughout the trial, which began June 10, Normann's attorneys, John Johnsonand Vikki Liles, maintained that the deaths were accidental, the result of known risks of plastic surgery, and claimed that if Normann, 50, were found guilty, it would mean that all doctors would be liable for procedures gone wrong.
Autopsy findings had listed the deaths as accidental.
But in her closing arguments earlier this week, Deputy County Attorney Jeannette Gallagher said the "combination of incompetence and arrogance in trying to cover up his (Normann's) incompetence led to their deaths."
Gallagher claimed that two of the deaths constituted second-degree murder because of Normann's "extreme indifference to human life," and the third death was manslaughter because of Normann's "conscious disregard of substantial and unjustified risk of death."
After a day and a half of deliberation, the jury came back supporting Gallagher's side of the story.
Normann's friends and family were surprised at the verdict.
"He is not the monster he's been painted to be," said his friend Cindy Jones. "He's a pure, sweet man."
Liles said she and Johnson plan to file a motion for a new trial, claiming that Gallagher had committed perjury in insisting that Normann did not have inventory of a drug that could have saved the lives of one or more of the patients.
Normann had been an emergency-room physician, certified as an internist, and had never done a residency in plastic surgery or anesthesiology.
Gallagher maintained he had undergone six days of training in liposuction and had done some "hands-on training" in liposuction and breast augmentation. He had never done training in fat augmentation, Gallagher said.
Furthermore, she said, his operating room lacked proper oxygen and monitoring equipment, and he worked without anesthesiologists or nurses, relying on a massage therapist and a former restaurant worker with little or no training as medical technicians.
The massage therapist, who assisted in surgery, has already pleaded guilty to eight counts of unlawful practice of medicine and was sentenced last year to five years in prison.
Gonzalez stopped breathing during liposuction in December 2006, due to what Gallagher called a lethal dose of lidocaine, which is used in the procedure. Then, she claimed, Normann mistakenly inserted a breathing tube into Gonzalez's esophagus instead of his trachea, depriving him of oxygen.
When paramedics arrived, they noted that Gonzalez's belly was distended because of the oxygen being pumped into his stomach instead of into his lungs, and they maintained that they tussled with Normann, who insisted on riding in the ambulance and refused to let the EMTs reinsert the tube correctly.
David Duarte, one of the paramedics, told The Republic after the verdict, "He physically was holding onto it, from the get-go."
Duarte threatened to break Normann's arm and then tricked him into letting go of the tube so he could pull it out. Normann insisted on reinserting another.
Duarte said he filed complaints against Normann with the hospital and the state medical board.
Santizo died in April 2007 during multiple procedures, including repositioning a badly placed breast implant, liposuction and an attempt to inject fat into her buttocks to enhance its shape.
During the fat augmentation, Gallagher said, Normann injected the fat directly into a vein, which carried it to her lungs and killed her.
As had occurred during Normann's attempts to resuscitate Gonzalez, Normann was unable to properly insert a breathing tube.
Duarte, coincidentally, was in the hospital when Santizo was brought in, and he filed another complaint.
After the second death, Normann agreed to a voluntary suspension of his medical license and he hired a homeopathic physician, Gary Page, to do liposuction. Gallagher maintained that as a homeopath, Page was not qualified or licensed to perform such procedures.
Ray had traveled from her home in Blythe, Calif., for the surgery in July 2007, which Page performed with no assistance, serving as surgeon, anesthesiologist and monitor.
After the surgery, Page left the clinic, and Ray was left in a recovery room, where later that night, Normann discovered her in respiratory distress because of a reaction to the combination of drugs she had been given. Normann was again unable to insert a breathing tube when she stopped breathing.
Page was charged with manslaughter in Ray's death, but on Friday, he pleaded guilty to the lesser felony charge of endangerment.
Normann will be sentenced Aug. 19 by Judge Paul McMurdie.
Over the past few years, several things have become clear to me about this significant patient safety issue:
Liposuction deaths: Phoenix area doctor convicted of murder, manslaughter
by Michael Kiefer - Jul. 15, 2011 10:28 PM
The Arizona Republic
An Anthem physician who had three patients die during plastic-surgery procedures in his clinic was found guilty of murder and manslaughter Friday in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Dr. Peter Normann was pronounced guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of Ralph Gonzalez, 33, of Scottsdale, and Leslie Ann Ray, 53, of California, and of manslaughter for the death of Alicia Santizo Blanco, 41, of Gilbert.
Throughout the trial, which began June 10, Normann's attorneys, John Johnsonand Vikki Liles, maintained that the deaths were accidental, the result of known risks of plastic surgery, and claimed that if Normann, 50, were found guilty, it would mean that all doctors would be liable for procedures gone wrong.
Autopsy findings had listed the deaths as accidental.
But in her closing arguments earlier this week, Deputy County Attorney Jeannette Gallagher said the "combination of incompetence and arrogance in trying to cover up his (Normann's) incompetence led to their deaths."
Gallagher claimed that two of the deaths constituted second-degree murder because of Normann's "extreme indifference to human life," and the third death was manslaughter because of Normann's "conscious disregard of substantial and unjustified risk of death."
After a day and a half of deliberation, the jury came back supporting Gallagher's side of the story.
Normann's friends and family were surprised at the verdict.
"He is not the monster he's been painted to be," said his friend Cindy Jones. "He's a pure, sweet man."
Liles said she and Johnson plan to file a motion for a new trial, claiming that Gallagher had committed perjury in insisting that Normann did not have inventory of a drug that could have saved the lives of one or more of the patients.
Normann had been an emergency-room physician, certified as an internist, and had never done a residency in plastic surgery or anesthesiology.
Gallagher maintained he had undergone six days of training in liposuction and had done some "hands-on training" in liposuction and breast augmentation. He had never done training in fat augmentation, Gallagher said.
Furthermore, she said, his operating room lacked proper oxygen and monitoring equipment, and he worked without anesthesiologists or nurses, relying on a massage therapist and a former restaurant worker with little or no training as medical technicians.
The massage therapist, who assisted in surgery, has already pleaded guilty to eight counts of unlawful practice of medicine and was sentenced last year to five years in prison.
Gonzalez stopped breathing during liposuction in December 2006, due to what Gallagher called a lethal dose of lidocaine, which is used in the procedure. Then, she claimed, Normann mistakenly inserted a breathing tube into Gonzalez's esophagus instead of his trachea, depriving him of oxygen.
When paramedics arrived, they noted that Gonzalez's belly was distended because of the oxygen being pumped into his stomach instead of into his lungs, and they maintained that they tussled with Normann, who insisted on riding in the ambulance and refused to let the EMTs reinsert the tube correctly.
David Duarte, one of the paramedics, told The Republic after the verdict, "He physically was holding onto it, from the get-go."
Duarte threatened to break Normann's arm and then tricked him into letting go of the tube so he could pull it out. Normann insisted on reinserting another.
Duarte said he filed complaints against Normann with the hospital and the state medical board.
Santizo died in April 2007 during multiple procedures, including repositioning a badly placed breast implant, liposuction and an attempt to inject fat into her buttocks to enhance its shape.
During the fat augmentation, Gallagher said, Normann injected the fat directly into a vein, which carried it to her lungs and killed her.
As had occurred during Normann's attempts to resuscitate Gonzalez, Normann was unable to properly insert a breathing tube.
Duarte, coincidentally, was in the hospital when Santizo was brought in, and he filed another complaint.
After the second death, Normann agreed to a voluntary suspension of his medical license and he hired a homeopathic physician, Gary Page, to do liposuction. Gallagher maintained that as a homeopath, Page was not qualified or licensed to perform such procedures.
Ray had traveled from her home in Blythe, Calif., for the surgery in July 2007, which Page performed with no assistance, serving as surgeon, anesthesiologist and monitor.
After the surgery, Page left the clinic, and Ray was left in a recovery room, where later that night, Normann discovered her in respiratory distress because of a reaction to the combination of drugs she had been given. Normann was again unable to insert a breathing tube when she stopped breathing.
Page was charged with manslaughter in Ray's death, but on Friday, he pleaded guilty to the lesser felony charge of endangerment.
Normann will be sentenced Aug. 19 by Judge Paul McMurdie.
Over the past few years, several things have become clear to me about this significant patient safety issue:
- There are some people who will always knowingly and willingly put themselves at risk if doing so will allow them to save a few dollars... These patients probably cannot be helped.
- Some physicians are inherently more ethical and moral than others... in other words, and as I have stated many times in the past, the days when it was safe to assume that all doctors were honest professionals with high levels of moral character and integrity are unfortunately over
- Doctors with questionable ethics, morals, and training are capable of amazing acts of deceit (if not fraud) in order to attract patients and convince them to have surgery.
- The eye doctor here in Orlando who advertises heavily as an expert in liposuction even gives procedures long established in the legitimate plastic surgery community cute, trendy sounding names ("Naturalfill") to make it seem to patients that he is the only one knowledgeable in the technique, and that he has somehow captured magic in a bottle. This violates the code of ethics of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons- but because he is an eye doctor and not a plastic surgeon, he does not have to comply with this important ethical code.
- The same eye doctor advertises himself as "Board Certified", without saying in what or by whom. I believe this is actually a violation of Florida law- but again, no one will do anything about it until and unless there are complaints.
- The tragic truth (at least so far) has been that when patients are injured or deformed as a result of surgery performed on them by an ER doctor, Eye Doctor (or anyone else without plastic surgery residency training) they almost never complain to the appropriate authorities.
- Many Central Florida women don't realize that this problem is prevalent in their backyard. In Orlando alone, there are ER doctors, a urologist, and the eye doctor I describe (!) all claiming to be liposuction experts.
These last 2 facts are what I hope to contribute to changing.
I have found that for patients who have experienced the trauma of misplacing trust for their safety and happiness in someone other than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, the only thing that they believe could make their situation worse is to have to talk about how they ended up making the poor decisions that lead to their terrible outcome.
I've seen it over and over again in patients who come to see me for correction of problems resulting from surgery performed by local ER doctors and especially the local eye doctor... They want to have their problems corrected, but usually cringe at the notion of having to re-hash the experience as they would have to do if they complained to the authorities with the power to stop these untrained practitioners from practicing plastic surgery. I believe they behave very much like victims of sexual abuse...
Because there is a perceived stigma associated with being "duped" into compromising your safety and appearance, most of these patients won't complain...
But here's the problem... Unless and until patients injured and disfigured complain to authorities, the only way to stop untrained non-plastic surgeons from harming (or indeed killing) more patients is to wait for someone to die- this is the only circumstance that would require the state to investigate without a complaint.
So unless someone dies, without people affected complaining, these doctors can go on performing procedures they are ill-trained to perform on unsuspecting patients- injuring more of them over time.
Please don't let yourself or someone you love be the victim of doctors practicing outside their training. And if you are, please contact the Florida Board of Medicine.
Friday, July 8, 2011
A New Kind of Plastic For Plastic Surgery
Do you cringe every time you look in the mirror because you’ve always wanted to fill out a pair of jeans like Kim Kardashian or JLo? Good news - you no longer have to save up the pennies in your piggy bank for years on end to splurge for plastic surgery procedures. Care Credit offers an instant solution with payment plans specifically for many cosmetic procedures such as: Mommy Makeovers, Brazilian Butt Lifts, Breast Enhancement procedures and even dermal fillers.
You know that dream home you’ve always wanted and will end up paying for it over the next 30 years? Well, this is kind of the same idea BUT with a shorter payoff time, a higher approval rate…AND you’ll feel like a million bucks as you flaunt your new “assets” everywhere you go (not just when you have company over)!
Whether you need breast reconstructive surgery, a new svelte shape or just a little tweak here and there, we offer a full spectrum of aesthetic services here at Aesthetic Enhancements Plastic Surgery with Care Credit as a payment option. The boost in confidence and overall sense of happiness that comes from being satisfied with your self-image is without a doubt priceless, so why wait?
Call today to meet our Board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Armando Soto. He’s an expert in making women feel beautiful everyday and would love to see how he can help you. 407.218.4550.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Celebrity Plastic Surgery - Hot or Not?
Here are some celebrity plastic surgery stories with happy endings! They knew what to fix and when to quit...resulting in a much more natural outcome! The moral of this story: find a plastic surgeon who can enhance your beauty, not totally change it!
Maybe it’s her newly wed glow, but Megan Fox is looking more stunning than ever. Tabloids are making speculations of her going under the knife for multiple facial procedures and a breast augmentation. Either way, she looks great! Now, if we can just work on that attitude problem…
It’s hard to tell if our “Friend”, Jennifer Aniston has had plastic surgery and that’s when you know it is done right! We do know one thing though, she has had a nose job! She told People "I had (a deviated septum) fixed - best thing I ever did. I slept like a baby for the first time in years." ... And just so happened to make her look even more beautiful! Jennifer is also rumored to have had a modest breast augmentation and maybe even more facial procedures, but she won’t let us in on the truth!
Kate Hudson finally gave in... she bought herself new breasts for her 31st birthday! It appears she has small implants which fit the rest of her body nicely. Another lovely example of how less can be more.
Ashlee Simpson underwent rhinoplasty to straighten her crooked nose. Ashlee’s new nose makes her whole face look softer and less edgy. She insists that there is nothing wrong with going under the knife to enhance your looks, but people should take it seriously. It’s not like shopping for a new pair of shoes. Ashlee said, “If people want to get surgery, it's a personal thing. But it's not something anyone should rush into. Once it's done, it's done.”
The infamous mommy of eight, Kate Gosselin, looks great after her tummy tuck! A popular procedure for mom’s to get their pre-baby body back, the tummy tuck made a world of difference for Kate. Though it appears she may have had more work done because of her fantastic body, she denies any other type of cosmetic surgery. Kate says she stays fit by keeping up with her handful of little ones!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Patient Empowerment is not the same as Entitlement...
Last week, here in my hometown of Orlando Florida, a young transplant surgeon was murdered by a former patient as he was leaving the hospital. Killed by someone whose life he had saved before he could go home to his young family after what I'm sure was a long and stressful day of work.
As you can probably already tell, I am more than a little disturbed by this...
Over the last 40 years or so, we have seen a general decline in the esteem and respect the general population feels towards the medical profession in general... people respect and trust doctors and scientists less and less, even as the demand for the rapid development of medical breakthroughs grows. We demand that our medical care be state of the art, be cheap, and be directed by us, and that if our outcomes are not exactly what we think they should have been, we want to be able to take it out on the doctor.
It is hard, in the end, for me to disagree with this overall decline, as I myself know better than most people how poorly some doctors behave. On the other hand, reason must prevail, and attempting to harm, injure, or kill your doctor because you didn't get exactly what you wanted is irrational and wrong.
The best outcomes, whether in my aesthetic surgery practice, or in any other type of medical practice, will ALWAYS come from healthy relationships based on mutual respect and commitment to the plan and its execution.
Having a healthy relationship with your doctors begins with a clear understanding that the relationship should be important to you, and that just as with any other important relationship, it will require work on your part to maintain. Placing an appropriate value on the relationship from the beginning will go a long way towards helping you appropriately weigh the advice you get from the doctors in your life, as well as improving the quality of the information you get- it's true... doctors are people too, and we tend to be more engaged when people are nice to us (remember the Golden Rule we learned in Kindergarten?)
You would not expect to have a long and successful marriage if it was one in which only one of you was committed to its success or the happiness and fulfillment of the other, would you? It is similarly impossible for doctor-patient relationships to be successful if patients believe that it is the doctor's responsibility to make them happy, no matter what their own behavior may be.
Just as with any other important relationship, you must communicate with your doctors- completely, honestly, and respectfully.
Too many people treat their doctor's visits like a trip to a restaurant, believing they should be able to request what they want and demand they get it, rather than understanding the partnership nature of healthier doctor-patient relationships, or the fact that the nuances of their problem may make their exact goals impossible. This leads to unreasonable expectations and irrational behavior when they are not met.
The importance of good communication cannot be over-emphasized- it is no more appropriate for patients to be demanding of unreasonable expectations for their outcomes than it is for doctors to be patronizing, condescending, and paternal in their communications with those patients.
The importance of having reasonable expectations is worth further emphasis.
The internet has brought many good things to the delivery of healthcare- patients are better educated at all stages of their care, and this generally contributes to better communication and higher rates of satisfaction. Unfortunately, in plastic surgery, it has also contributed to the occasional development of unrealistic expectations and the restaurant attitude I describe above. Some percentage of the population, when viewing the many before and after photographs available online sees them as choices available to them, or worse, as representations of what they themselves would actually look like if they had the same procedure.
The reality is that the science and art of plastic surgery are actually much more subtle, and the actual outcome any individual patient achieves will depend GREATLY on their individual preoperative anatomy, the details of the operative technique used, the skills and experience of the surgeon, the quality of the anesthesia and postoperative care, and their (the patient's) compliance with all postoperative instructions.
In other words, before and after photographs are valuable, but only as representations of the overall quality of a surgeon's work- NOT as detailed representations of what you as an individual should expect- your body is different than the patient in the photo.
It is very important that once you have found a surgeon whose work you admire, and with whom you think you could work constructively (that is, with whom you think you could have a good relationship), that you listen carefully to his or her estimation of what reasonable goals FOR YOU might be. And I do mean listen.
On the (thankfully) very few occasions when I have had a patient dissatisfied after surgery, without fail, it has been because their expectations for what could be achieved were simply completely incompatible with their starting anatomy- despite my best efforts to educate them and their preoperative assurances of understanding (I even have one irrationally angry young woman who writes bad things about me on the internet because I could not make her congenitally deformed breasts look perfect).
The frustrating part of this is that spending a great deal of time and effort trying to help some people understand their reasonable expectations (as I did with the example patient I mention) does not seem to help if they are not listening and are only hearing what they want to hear...
And again, unfortunately, our modern attitudes towards medicine, doctors, and our unreasonable expectations for perfect outcomes sometimes causes a small and irrational subset of the population to react to the disappointment of an imperfect outcome in an unhealthy manner- like by writing ugly things about the doctor, or worse, murdering him.
I personally believe that, while there are certainly examples of doctors with inappropriate, unethical, and immoral motivations and practice patterns (indeed I write about them often), the majority of us are still honest, hardworking people who want the best for each of our patients. Even the eye doctor in town who (in my opinion) daily compromises his Hippocratic Oath by allowing patients to believe he is a plastic surgeon specializing in liposuction probably does not deserve to be shot. For this to have happened really should be inspiring more outrage among us all than is has.
As you can probably already tell, I am more than a little disturbed by this...
Over the last 40 years or so, we have seen a general decline in the esteem and respect the general population feels towards the medical profession in general... people respect and trust doctors and scientists less and less, even as the demand for the rapid development of medical breakthroughs grows. We demand that our medical care be state of the art, be cheap, and be directed by us, and that if our outcomes are not exactly what we think they should have been, we want to be able to take it out on the doctor.
It is hard, in the end, for me to disagree with this overall decline, as I myself know better than most people how poorly some doctors behave. On the other hand, reason must prevail, and attempting to harm, injure, or kill your doctor because you didn't get exactly what you wanted is irrational and wrong.
The best outcomes, whether in my aesthetic surgery practice, or in any other type of medical practice, will ALWAYS come from healthy relationships based on mutual respect and commitment to the plan and its execution.
Having a healthy relationship with your doctors begins with a clear understanding that the relationship should be important to you, and that just as with any other important relationship, it will require work on your part to maintain. Placing an appropriate value on the relationship from the beginning will go a long way towards helping you appropriately weigh the advice you get from the doctors in your life, as well as improving the quality of the information you get- it's true... doctors are people too, and we tend to be more engaged when people are nice to us (remember the Golden Rule we learned in Kindergarten?)
You would not expect to have a long and successful marriage if it was one in which only one of you was committed to its success or the happiness and fulfillment of the other, would you? It is similarly impossible for doctor-patient relationships to be successful if patients believe that it is the doctor's responsibility to make them happy, no matter what their own behavior may be.
Just as with any other important relationship, you must communicate with your doctors- completely, honestly, and respectfully.
Too many people treat their doctor's visits like a trip to a restaurant, believing they should be able to request what they want and demand they get it, rather than understanding the partnership nature of healthier doctor-patient relationships, or the fact that the nuances of their problem may make their exact goals impossible. This leads to unreasonable expectations and irrational behavior when they are not met.
The importance of good communication cannot be over-emphasized- it is no more appropriate for patients to be demanding of unreasonable expectations for their outcomes than it is for doctors to be patronizing, condescending, and paternal in their communications with those patients.
The importance of having reasonable expectations is worth further emphasis.
The internet has brought many good things to the delivery of healthcare- patients are better educated at all stages of their care, and this generally contributes to better communication and higher rates of satisfaction. Unfortunately, in plastic surgery, it has also contributed to the occasional development of unrealistic expectations and the restaurant attitude I describe above. Some percentage of the population, when viewing the many before and after photographs available online sees them as choices available to them, or worse, as representations of what they themselves would actually look like if they had the same procedure.
The reality is that the science and art of plastic surgery are actually much more subtle, and the actual outcome any individual patient achieves will depend GREATLY on their individual preoperative anatomy, the details of the operative technique used, the skills and experience of the surgeon, the quality of the anesthesia and postoperative care, and their (the patient's) compliance with all postoperative instructions.
In other words, before and after photographs are valuable, but only as representations of the overall quality of a surgeon's work- NOT as detailed representations of what you as an individual should expect- your body is different than the patient in the photo.
It is very important that once you have found a surgeon whose work you admire, and with whom you think you could work constructively (that is, with whom you think you could have a good relationship), that you listen carefully to his or her estimation of what reasonable goals FOR YOU might be. And I do mean listen.
On the (thankfully) very few occasions when I have had a patient dissatisfied after surgery, without fail, it has been because their expectations for what could be achieved were simply completely incompatible with their starting anatomy- despite my best efforts to educate them and their preoperative assurances of understanding (I even have one irrationally angry young woman who writes bad things about me on the internet because I could not make her congenitally deformed breasts look perfect).
The frustrating part of this is that spending a great deal of time and effort trying to help some people understand their reasonable expectations (as I did with the example patient I mention) does not seem to help if they are not listening and are only hearing what they want to hear...
And again, unfortunately, our modern attitudes towards medicine, doctors, and our unreasonable expectations for perfect outcomes sometimes causes a small and irrational subset of the population to react to the disappointment of an imperfect outcome in an unhealthy manner- like by writing ugly things about the doctor, or worse, murdering him.
I personally believe that, while there are certainly examples of doctors with inappropriate, unethical, and immoral motivations and practice patterns (indeed I write about them often), the majority of us are still honest, hardworking people who want the best for each of our patients. Even the eye doctor in town who (in my opinion) daily compromises his Hippocratic Oath by allowing patients to believe he is a plastic surgeon specializing in liposuction probably does not deserve to be shot. For this to have happened really should be inspiring more outrage among us all than is has.
Monday, May 16, 2011
How To Properly Care for Your Sunburn
With Spring’s sunshine in full swing and Summer just around the corner, it is time to let the outdoor activities and sunburns commence! If you are among the many who dread the oily application of sunscreen, you may be all too familiar with lobster-like remnants of the sun’s harmful rays. Luckily, there are a few steps that can be taken to help keep you comfortable and minimize your healing time after a scorching sunburn.
TO SOOTHE
Step 1: Aloe.
Especially when taken directly from an aloe plant, aloe’s soothing properties will cool your skin and ease the sting of even the worst sunburn.
Step 2: Shea Butter.
Following your aloe application, use a moisturizer containing shea butter to quench your skin’s thirst for hydration. Shea butter is one of the most nourishing skincare ingredients and known to be a highly effective skin healer.
If you have oily or acne prone skin, shea butter may be just a little too rich for your skin type and could lead to breakouts, so watch for any untoward reaction after your first application.
TO REPAIR
Once the dreadful redness and peeling have subsided, it is time to repair the damage that has been done. Give your skin the touch of TLC it desires with antioxidants that will increase thickness, improve elasticity, scavenge free radicals and restore skin structure.
Vitamin C, Coffeeberry, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Grape Seed Extract are highly effective antioxidants and can be easily found in many skin care products. At our Orlando, Florida Plastic Surgery and Skincare Center we have a variety of medical grade skincare products such as Revale, Neocutis and Sesha containing all of the vital nutrients needed to repair and replenish your complexion. Our skin care consultations are free and we love helping people look their best- come see us soon, or look us up at www.DrArmandoSoto.com.
Amanda Chapman, Paramedical Aesthetician
Friday, May 6, 2011
Common Fears of Plastic Surgery
Here are some of the more common concerns associated with Plastic Surgery, and find out how you can be sure to make the right decision when it comes to your procedure.
Potential Risks.
There are potential risks and complications associated with any surgical procedure. The risks do vary depending on what procedure you are interested in, your state of health, the facility in which it is to be performed, the anesthesia provider, and how well you follow your surgeon’s instructions.
It’s very important to do research on your plastic surgeon making certain he/she is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. If you are in hands you can trust, the chances of any serious complications are extremely small.
Botched Jobs.
No one wants to spend the money and energy on a procedure that will leave them looking less attractive than before. Choosing a plastic surgery provider because he/she offered the lowest price, or because they had the best ad will increase your risk of ending up unhappy, or even unsafe. Some unethical providers distract consumers from the fact that they are not Board Certified and their lack of experience by employing deceitful ads, special promotions and discounts.
Educating yourself on the potential risks associated with your surgery as well as your surgeon’s education and training is key to staying safe and achieving the outcome you want.
Don’t fall prey to a promising sales pitch, inviting marketing materials, or a bargain that you just can’t seem to pass up. What matters most is that your plastic surgeon can provide you with the best outcome while keeping your safety on the top of his priority list.
Looking “Plastic”.
Another common concern is having fake and unnatural results. No one wants to look like the cartoon-ish Catwoman. This is understandable, and your surgeon shouldn’t want that for you either. As long as you have realistic expectations and you choose a highly skilled Board Certified plastic surgeon, your results should be natural and inconspicuous. After all, the goal should be to keep those around you wondering how you manage to look so fabulous, not wondering how many procedures you’ve had.
Going Under.
The idea of being unconscious during surgery is a scary thought for some. The American Society of Anesthesiology published some helpful statistics that might just calm your fears. When considering all patients, regardless of health condition that undergo general anesthesia for a surgical procedure the risk of dying is .0004% (This means you have a greater risk of being struck by lightning). This risk is even less for a healthy patient undergoing plastic surgery with a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. It should also be noted that the vast majority of providers who will offer to do your surgery under local anesthesia (awake plastic surgery) are NOT plastic surgeons, and are doing so because they do not have permission to do such procedures in accredited facilities. Furthermore, the number of women who have died undergoing these procedures under local far exceeds the complication rate of patients having surgery by surgeons certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.
If you are considering cosmetic surgery, but have some questions or concerns, please call Aesthetic Enhancements Plastic Surgery for a consultation with Orlando Plastic Surgeon Dr. Armando Soto. Dr. Soto is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and received his medical degree at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University with an extra year of fellowship training specializing in breast surgery. You can be sure to feel safe in the hands of his hand selected Board Certified Anesthesiologists at our state of the art certified operating room. Call today for your complimentary consultation with Dr. Soto– 407.218.4550.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Say Goodbye to Under-Eye Bags
Your eyes are said to be the windows to your soul- so why wouldn’t you want them to look as young and vibrant as you feel?
Under-eye bags are one of the most common and frustrating signs of aging, and may occur at various ages in different individuals. There are certain measures you can take, both non-invasive and surgical, to turn back the hands of time giving you fresh, younger looking eyes.
Why Do We Get Under-Eye Bags?
There is no doubt that the aging process takes a toll on the delicate tissues surrounding the eye area. As we age, the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around our eyes become weak, causing the fat to shift out of place and leaving unsightly bulges beneath the eyes. Though these effects are typically minor, unfortunately, these little guys can add years onto your age!
How Do We Get Rid of Under-Eye Bags?
There are many questionable topical treatments available for those concerned with just puffiness and dark circles. If you are thinking about taking the next step to plump up the troughs around this delicate area, injectable filler treatments are an excellent minimally invasive option that can prove to be a very beneficial solution.
Here, at Aesthetic Enhancements, we offer 3 different types of dermal fillers (Juvederm, Restylane & Radiesse), that may be just what you need to address any hollowness and fine lines that have developed under or around your eyes.
Though filler treatments are not permanent, nor do they permanently remove sagging skin, they can camouflage this problem area and allow for a fresher, more youthful look without surgery or downtime.
When choosing your place of aesthetic care, it is important to choose a highly trained and experienced provider. Keep in mind that not just anyone holds the skill level to provide a flawless finish when it comes to your face. Choosing someone who understands the anatomy of the face and who will keep your safety at the top of his or her priority list is key when selecting your injector. Here at Aesthetic Enhancements, our Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, Michelle Boone, has over 13 years of experience and would love to meet with you for a complimentary consultation.
Say “Good Bye!” to your unwanted bags for good with a more permanent option, Blepharoplasty. This procedure, also known as eyelid surgery, is another option offered by Orlando Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Armando Soto here at Aesthetic Enhancements Plastic Surgery that can reshape and rejuvenate your eyes permanently. With lower lid blepharoplasty, the skin and fat under the eye are repositioned while your muscles are tightened resulting in a firmer, more youthful appearance.
Seeing is Believing:
Visit Aesthetic Enhancements Plastic Surgery for a complimentary consultation and to view before & after pictures of some of our patient's results. 407.218.4550
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Legitimate Plastic Surgeons Fight for Their Name
This month, the monthly newsletter for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons published on their front page, an important article describing the problem I have been decrying for some time; a problem that seems to be getting worse, and is damaging the reputation of all of plastic surgery, and the safety and happiness of every prospective or real patient.
I speak of the problem of physicians without legitimate, ACGME accredited training in Plastic Surgery calling themselves plastic surgeons, or otherwise marketing themselves in such a deceptive manner as to allow an otherwise reasonable person to believe they were plastic surgeons.
The reason the article was written was because a patient in Los Angeles recently died during a tummy tuck and liposuction procedure. The California Board of Medicine is likely to take his license. The headlines read, "Plastic Surgeon could lose license..."
Only the doctor was NOT a plastic surgeon. He had been offering plastic surgery procedures, and indeed marketed himself in a way that only an experienced and savvy physician would be able to tell that he was not a legitimately trained plastic surgeon, but in fact, he was an Ob/Gyn.
Close examination of the circumstances very quickly shows that this doctor had a very poor understanding of safe and appropriate care in these procedures, and it is clear that the death could have been prevented had the patient been in the hands of a surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.
The most shocking part of the story, however, is how little interest there was in the media in making a written correction and bringing the fact that the doctor was not a plastic surgeon to the public's attention. And this is part of why these deaths and injuries continue to mount.
The good news is that many state governments are now pursuing legislature mandating that all healthcare providers be honest and forthcoming in describing and marketing their educations and training to patients.
We'll have to keep a close eye on this....
Think this couldn't happen to you? Here in Central Florida, Dr. Roger Bassin calls his practice "Bassin Plastic Surgery" and his advertisements make it seem as though he is not only a plastic surgeon, but an innovative one in a position of leadership in the field. His training? Ophthalmology. He's an eye doctor.
Be careful out there.
I speak of the problem of physicians without legitimate, ACGME accredited training in Plastic Surgery calling themselves plastic surgeons, or otherwise marketing themselves in such a deceptive manner as to allow an otherwise reasonable person to believe they were plastic surgeons.
The reason the article was written was because a patient in Los Angeles recently died during a tummy tuck and liposuction procedure. The California Board of Medicine is likely to take his license. The headlines read, "Plastic Surgeon could lose license..."
Only the doctor was NOT a plastic surgeon. He had been offering plastic surgery procedures, and indeed marketed himself in a way that only an experienced and savvy physician would be able to tell that he was not a legitimately trained plastic surgeon, but in fact, he was an Ob/Gyn.
Close examination of the circumstances very quickly shows that this doctor had a very poor understanding of safe and appropriate care in these procedures, and it is clear that the death could have been prevented had the patient been in the hands of a surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.
The most shocking part of the story, however, is how little interest there was in the media in making a written correction and bringing the fact that the doctor was not a plastic surgeon to the public's attention. And this is part of why these deaths and injuries continue to mount.
The good news is that many state governments are now pursuing legislature mandating that all healthcare providers be honest and forthcoming in describing and marketing their educations and training to patients.
We'll have to keep a close eye on this....
Think this couldn't happen to you? Here in Central Florida, Dr. Roger Bassin calls his practice "Bassin Plastic Surgery" and his advertisements make it seem as though he is not only a plastic surgeon, but an innovative one in a position of leadership in the field. His training? Ophthalmology. He's an eye doctor.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Nip/Tucks Tailored to Ethnicity
While most women long for a flatter tummy, toned legs and slimmer arms, some ethnic groups share features that make particular plastic surgery procedures more popular among them. Michael Jackson and Sammy Sosa not withstanding, when handled by a responsible, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon like Orlando’s Dr. Armando Soto, these changes can be very natural and attractive.
Plastic Surgery to “Fit In”.
It’s a big adjustment for people coming from all over the world to fit in the American lifestyle. Language, culture, beliefs, and clothing are just a few of the differences that may contribute to a person’s feeling just outside the inclusion circle of their adopted home. Whether to create a more rounded eye with a sharp upper lid fold, a more western, Caucasian appearing nose, or other changes, these procedures are now very common.
The number of ethnic minorities, particularly Asian Americans, undergoing plastic surgery has dramatically increased over the past few years. For example, Phillipino pop star, Charice Pempengo underwent Botox injections to make her naturally round face appear narrow for a more American look before her big premier on Fox TV’s “Glee”. Botox along with invasive surgeries, such as blepharoplasty and rhinoplasties, are becoming more popular among Asian Americans as well.
Enhancing Cultural Beauty.
While some are going under the knife to look “more American”, many long for curves that are associated with women of certain ethnicities. The Brazilian Butt Lift is a trending cosmetic procedure that can allow for a more curvaceous shape, while enhancing a woman’s natural silhouette.
Regardless of your reason for wanting plastic surgery, it’s important to have realistic expectations and to find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who can safely and effectively provide you with the results you are hoping for! Call today for your complimentary consultation with Dr. Armando Soto, our Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and body-contouring expert here at Aesthetic Enhancements Plastic Surgery.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Everything You Wish You Knew When You Were Younger....
As I sat by the pool last week at the resort my family and I enjoyed during the Spring Break from school, I saw many young and middle aged people who had obvious physical evidence of irreversible (without surgery) damage to their appearance (and health)- or who, through the actions they were engaging in, were going to (almost inevitably) experience these adverse effects over time.
It is a great irony to me that the time period in our lives when we can do the most to assure long life, good health over that life, and minimization of the appearance of aging, is the time period when we are the absolute least likely to care about the future.
As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I know how likely it is that most of these people (mostly women) will eventually be deeply concerned about the decline in their appearance related to these activities, and how much regret they will express and feel over the bad habits of their youth. I had a recurring thought...
It reminded me of the day in medical school that my pathology professor showed us all a pair of human lungs taken from the body of a long time smoker, next to lungs from a non-smoker. The black color, small size, generally ill appearance, and stark contrast compared to the healthy, pink, fluffy appearance of the healthy lungs has been an image that enters my mind every time I have been around a smoker, or even thought about trying a cigarette.
If women better understood the changes in their health and appearance that would inevitably result (to varying degrees) from their poor choices, wouldn't at least some of them alter their behaviors?
And while it is true that I make my living restoring many of these women to an attractive and natural appearance, the truth is that I am not overly concerned that I am somehow diminishing my pool of prospective patients, because I know that most people would rather have fun now and pay the piper later...
Nonetheless, for those women who do care and have the "third little pig" (who built the brick house) in you, here is at least some of the education you wish someone had given you before you damaged yourself in your youth... Please share this information with the young people in your life- hopefully it will affect at least a few of them positively over the course of their lives.
1. All carcinogens (cancer causing influences) will have a greater effect on younger people than on older people, and their effect will also be related to the intensity of the exposure. This means that smoking, the sun, and exposure to chemicals are all particularly dangerous to young people, because of the fact that these young people have cells that are still dividing actively- they are still growing. Damage to the DNA of a younger person is likely to not only affect the cells experiencing the DNA damage, but all cells that eventually come from those cells as the person grows.
2. Here's the thing- for the same reasons that poor choices raise the risk of cancer more the younger you are, they are also more damaging to your overall health and appearance. Let's take smoking as an example... Cigarettes causes long term damage to the small blood vessels of the body- in the heart, this explains smokers' increased risk of heart attacks; in the brain, the increased risk of stroke. What many people don't understand, though, is that the small blood vessels in the skin and subcutaneous tissues are also affected, and that these effects will usually be seen before something as dramatic as a heart attack occurs. When the small blood vessels of the skin are damaged, the decreased blood flow results in a dull, dry appearance, with diminished production of the skin oils and sebum the skin needs to stay young and healthy. Collagen and elastin production also suffer, leading to an increase in wrinkles. We all know what older smokers look like, right?
Bottom Line- Don't smoke. And the younger you are, the greater the risks...
3. I used smoking as a starting example because it is easiest to follow, as most of us have grown up in the post- American Lung Society push to reduce smoking... The effects of sun worshipping, drinking to excess, and poor control of your nutrition are all more likely to cause you irreversible problems when you engage in them in your youth.
4. Let's talk about weight control- because I think most of us know at this point that we should avoid excess sun exposure and wear sun screen. Hopefully, most of us parents also understand that protecting and teaching our kids about the dangers of the sun is even more important (again, because of their youth). What I know most people do not understand, however, is that once skin has been stretched beyond a certain point, it will never again achieve that tight, thick, smooth appearance and character youthful people enjoy. And while this may be a relatively minor concern of all those related to the epidemic of youth obesity in the US, it is nonetheless a fact that it adversely affects the health and happiness of those affected for the remainder of their lives.. The truth is that stretch marks cannot be cured once they have occurred, and that the lost skin elasticity that they represent cannot ever be restored- not by lasers. radio frequency, potions or lotions, or even surgery. Surgery can removed some of the stretch marks, and can address the excess of skin- but the poor quality of the skin that remains will still be poor. It really bothered me that so many pre-teen and teen-aged young women are already developing stretch marks and loose skin because of their lifestyle choices- or worse, because of those of their parents...
Bottom line- teach your young people the importance of living a healthy balanced lifestyle by helping them understand the consequences of their choices. It may be hard for a younger person to understand diabetes or future heart attack risks, but most young people will understand how unfavorable it is to have to deal with loose, stretch marked skin-and the social implications of the appearance of same- especially when it could have been prevented.
Over the next few months, we'll revisit this from time to time- send me your thoughts and questions so I can better help you stay healthy and happy.
www.drarmandosoto.com
It is a great irony to me that the time period in our lives when we can do the most to assure long life, good health over that life, and minimization of the appearance of aging, is the time period when we are the absolute least likely to care about the future.
As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I know how likely it is that most of these people (mostly women) will eventually be deeply concerned about the decline in their appearance related to these activities, and how much regret they will express and feel over the bad habits of their youth. I had a recurring thought...
It reminded me of the day in medical school that my pathology professor showed us all a pair of human lungs taken from the body of a long time smoker, next to lungs from a non-smoker. The black color, small size, generally ill appearance, and stark contrast compared to the healthy, pink, fluffy appearance of the healthy lungs has been an image that enters my mind every time I have been around a smoker, or even thought about trying a cigarette.
If women better understood the changes in their health and appearance that would inevitably result (to varying degrees) from their poor choices, wouldn't at least some of them alter their behaviors?
And while it is true that I make my living restoring many of these women to an attractive and natural appearance, the truth is that I am not overly concerned that I am somehow diminishing my pool of prospective patients, because I know that most people would rather have fun now and pay the piper later...
Nonetheless, for those women who do care and have the "third little pig" (who built the brick house) in you, here is at least some of the education you wish someone had given you before you damaged yourself in your youth... Please share this information with the young people in your life- hopefully it will affect at least a few of them positively over the course of their lives.
1. All carcinogens (cancer causing influences) will have a greater effect on younger people than on older people, and their effect will also be related to the intensity of the exposure. This means that smoking, the sun, and exposure to chemicals are all particularly dangerous to young people, because of the fact that these young people have cells that are still dividing actively- they are still growing. Damage to the DNA of a younger person is likely to not only affect the cells experiencing the DNA damage, but all cells that eventually come from those cells as the person grows.
2. Here's the thing- for the same reasons that poor choices raise the risk of cancer more the younger you are, they are also more damaging to your overall health and appearance. Let's take smoking as an example... Cigarettes causes long term damage to the small blood vessels of the body- in the heart, this explains smokers' increased risk of heart attacks; in the brain, the increased risk of stroke. What many people don't understand, though, is that the small blood vessels in the skin and subcutaneous tissues are also affected, and that these effects will usually be seen before something as dramatic as a heart attack occurs. When the small blood vessels of the skin are damaged, the decreased blood flow results in a dull, dry appearance, with diminished production of the skin oils and sebum the skin needs to stay young and healthy. Collagen and elastin production also suffer, leading to an increase in wrinkles. We all know what older smokers look like, right?
Bottom Line- Don't smoke. And the younger you are, the greater the risks...
3. I used smoking as a starting example because it is easiest to follow, as most of us have grown up in the post- American Lung Society push to reduce smoking... The effects of sun worshipping, drinking to excess, and poor control of your nutrition are all more likely to cause you irreversible problems when you engage in them in your youth.
4. Let's talk about weight control- because I think most of us know at this point that we should avoid excess sun exposure and wear sun screen. Hopefully, most of us parents also understand that protecting and teaching our kids about the dangers of the sun is even more important (again, because of their youth). What I know most people do not understand, however, is that once skin has been stretched beyond a certain point, it will never again achieve that tight, thick, smooth appearance and character youthful people enjoy. And while this may be a relatively minor concern of all those related to the epidemic of youth obesity in the US, it is nonetheless a fact that it adversely affects the health and happiness of those affected for the remainder of their lives.. The truth is that stretch marks cannot be cured once they have occurred, and that the lost skin elasticity that they represent cannot ever be restored- not by lasers. radio frequency, potions or lotions, or even surgery. Surgery can removed some of the stretch marks, and can address the excess of skin- but the poor quality of the skin that remains will still be poor. It really bothered me that so many pre-teen and teen-aged young women are already developing stretch marks and loose skin because of their lifestyle choices- or worse, because of those of their parents...
Bottom line- teach your young people the importance of living a healthy balanced lifestyle by helping them understand the consequences of their choices. It may be hard for a younger person to understand diabetes or future heart attack risks, but most young people will understand how unfavorable it is to have to deal with loose, stretch marked skin-and the social implications of the appearance of same- especially when it could have been prevented.
Over the next few months, we'll revisit this from time to time- send me your thoughts and questions so I can better help you stay healthy and happy.
www.drarmandosoto.com
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Coolsculpting by Zeltiq improves your Body Contour without Surgery
Here's an article from a news outlet in Hawaii about a young mother who successfully improved her abdominal contour via Coolsculpting in the office of a colleague.
At our Orlando area Plastic Surgery, Skin Care, and Hair Restoration Center, we are pleased to have been the first in Central Florida to offer this safe, effective, and easy treatment.
At our Orlando area Plastic Surgery, Skin Care, and Hair Restoration Center, we are pleased to have been the first in Central Florida to offer this safe, effective, and easy treatment.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In November Hawaii News Now was at Asia Pacific Plastic Surgery when a new mother from Mililani underwent "Coolsculpting" in hopes of losing the excess weight she gained on her stomach during pregnancy.
Three months later we went back to see if the treatment produced the results she wanted.
"I have a reduction now. It's not as pudgy. It's more flat," Liz Rashkin said as she showed off her new slimmer stomach.
Coolsculpting is a non-invasive body contouring procedure developed by Zeltiq. The device is applied to fat on either a patient's stomach or love handles. The fat is sucked into an applicator, and then cooled.
"What it's doing is it's cooling down an area of fat to temperatures very close to freezing without damaging the skin. When the fat is cooled down to that level the fat cells undergo a change over the course of about two or four months they slowly disappear," said Doctor Shim Ching.
Zeltiq claims a one hour treatment eliminates between 20% and 25% of fat in the treated area.
Rashkin is a believer.
"A lot of women have asked me about it, and you know, at first I'm not going to tell you anything until I see results. But (now) I would definitely recommend it to women to try," Rashkin said.
She said it has improved her figure and her confidence.
"It's that boost. I think it's an overall feeling you get about yourself. When you feel good you walk differently. You smile. It's just everything about you. You feel good," Rashkin said.
"Now I'm motivated to get even more weight off."
If you have questions about Coolsculpting, give us a call, or visit www.CoolsculptingOrlando.com to learn more
I won't say this is a good reason to get silicone breast implants...
Boa constrictor meets its match, and it's silicone
Authorities say no autopsy is planned for a boa constrictor that reportedly died of silicone poisoning after biting a model on the breast last month during a photo shoot.
Israeli model Orit Fox, 28, had traveled to Tel Aviv for the photo shoot with the snake for Spanish television network Telecino, the London Daily Mail reported in its March 15 online edition.
Minutes into the shoot - shortly after Fox went nose-to-nose with the snake for a kiss - the reptile curled over and latched onto her left breast, which had been augmented by a silicone implant. An assistant rushed to detach the snake from Fox's breast, and the model was taken to a nearby hospital.
Fox received a tetanus shot, while the snake died, the Daily Mail reports.
Authorities say no autopsy is planned for a boa constrictor that reportedly died of silicone poisoning after biting a model on the breast last month during a photo shoot.
Israeli model Orit Fox, 28, had traveled to Tel Aviv for the photo shoot with the snake for Spanish television network Telecino, the London Daily Mail reported in its March 15 online edition.
Minutes into the shoot - shortly after Fox went nose-to-nose with the snake for a kiss - the reptile curled over and latched onto her left breast, which had been augmented by a silicone implant. An assistant rushed to detach the snake from Fox's breast, and the model was taken to a nearby hospital.
Fox received a tetanus shot, while the snake died, the Daily Mail reports.
Friday, March 11, 2011
New Body, New Beginning
Choosing to have plastic surgery can be a very personal decision, and you should give yourself time to do your proper due diligence.
While there are many different reasons for having plastic surgery, a rising trend in the U.S. seems to be for men and women of all ages to seek enhancements right around the time of a major breakup or divorce.
Some recent studies show that women and men with the relationship blues account for roughly 30% of all plastic surgery cases performed today.
There can be no doubt that Plastic Surgery can be an effective way for patients to gain some self-confidence before jumping back into the dating pool. However, it’s important to carefully consider your motivations before going under the knife- as even the very best surgical outcomes will probably not get you a better job, husband, or salary.
And the most important thing to remember is that when you are ready, be sure you take the time to choose the best board certified plastic surgeon for you.
If you are wishing to consult with a responsible, board certified plastic surgeon, call today to set up a consultation with Orlando Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Armando Soto at 407-218-4550.
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