Dr. Thomas Haas' Blog Archive – January 2008
Tags: plastic surgery, botox, filler, breast augmentation, silicone implants, facial wrinkles,
Today's NY Times had an article on Botox being named in something like 14 deaths, according to 'Public Citizen', a 'consumer watchdog group'. What they always leave unanswered when they (the NY Times - in reality a plaintiff lawyers biggest friend) is 'who is this public citizen'. No kidding, it is funded by the trial lawyers. Major mouthpiece to get the great unwashed, ie public, up in arms about malfeasance on the part of the big bad corporations. Dr. Signey Wolf, the head of Public Citizen, is of course outraged, yada, yada, yada. Reading the article it is easy to parse that all but one of these deaths 'caused' by Botox were in unfortunate individuals with significant medical problems involving their musculoskeletal system, and only one (doubtful even that) was for wrinkle removal. Public Citizen has weighed in on silicone implants...BAD, while the average breast augmentation patient of mine says - silicone implants - GOOD.
Yesterday's Times...remember Thursday is the usual Plastic Surgery update day...had an article on the lack of facial wrinkles on women in TV compared to years ago. Yawn. They had the usual Botox/filler clients who admit to using these wonderful products, and then saying that's where they draw the line. They will 'never have surgery'. Yeah. Right. Suuuuurrrre. Talk to me in 10 years.
Just my opinion. Actual mileage may vary. See dealer for details. Some restrictions apply.
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Tags: cosmetic surgery, breast implants, breast augmentation, plastic surgery, silicone, mammograms liposuction, tummy tuck,
Today is Thursday, and that means the NY Times Thursday edition has a section called "Thursday Styles". What it should really be called is "Cosmetic Surgery Update", because they always have a prominently featured article on this. Sometimes it is positive, but just as often, it's negative...and I think that's one of this country's problems is the negativity of the mainstream media...but that's a whole 'nuther story.
Anyway, today's article relates to how long breast implants last. The bottom line is no one knows for sure but some of the current thinking is changing them every 10-15 years. Absolutely no science behind that, other than that number came up somehow. I tell all my patients considering breast augmentation that they are most likely committing themselves to some further surgery in the future. I also tell patients who have had their implants for 20-30 years that if they feel fine, their breasts have not changed (not hardened, no pain, no change in shape), and they have mammograms describing no problems with their implants, to do nothing and leave well-enough alone.
The NY Times drags out the usual docs across the country who have managed to position themselves as self-appointed experts (most of them anti-implants or screechingly loud anti-silicone), and feature their opinions. Luckily, there are some quotes from legitimate mainstream plastic surgeons being reasonable. There is bias in everyone, and of course I'm biased as well...I'm biased because I see every single day how much patients lives are improved with breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tucks, and plastic surgery in general.
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Tags: cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck,
Last week we had two relatively nice days in a row...Monday and Tuesday, when it was warmer than usual and sunny. Based on 15 years experience in the cosmetic surgery field, I told the front desk that the phones would be ringing that day. Sure 'nuf.
It happens that way every January and February. Any sign that spring is imminent makes potential patients realize that yes, once again, it will be nice out pretty soon which means warm weather which means more skin exposed....which means it is time to start thinking out breast augmentation, tummy tucks, liposuction, whatever. We are much busier in the first half of the year than the second half for primarily that reason. Talking to other plastic surgeons across the country reflects similar experience...except in areas where it always nice, i.e. Santa Barbara. (My alma mater is University of California, Santa Barbara. I tell everyone, I went to college in paradise...go figure, now I'm in Louisville).
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Tags: cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, thyroid storm, safety, anesthesia,
Thanks for the comment. I purposefully added no mention of any patients name so the consult I related could in no way be linked to a patient...again, just for information, and the fact that the more people know about plastic surgery, the better patient they will be. Always a huge believer in the value of education.
Your other concern...your thyroid. Thyroid storms are unusual and related to a problem with someone's thyroid...anesthesia does not cause a thyroid storm in someone without any thyroid problems. We make sure and get a letter of clearance from any patient who sees any primary care doctor, and if a patient relates a history of thyroid problems to me during her consultation, we are certainly going to have that fully evaluated and treated prior to any of our cosmetic surgery. Safety is the ultimate concern...and plastic surgery and anesthesia is safer than ever. I tell patients all the time that there are risks to these procedures and we are very precise in our informed consent process and our consent documents are extensive. We all take risks every day, whether we realize it or not, ie driving on the Watterson or I-65. Bottom line...absolutely, you need to have ALL your questions answered to your satisfaction prior to any procedure. That is one of the reasons we like to see prospective patients TWICE prior to their procedure...to make sure the patient and me are on the same page. Again, thanks for the comment and never hesitate to ask any question...of me or any doctor.
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