Dr. Thomas Haas' Blog Archive – February 2008
Tags: cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation, silicone breast implants, saline breast implants, liposuction, tummy tucks, facelifts,
Just got back from a major cosmetic surgery meeting in Miami. Besides it being 85 and sunny, the best part of the meeting was talking with the Allergan people about their silicone implants. Allergan anticipates their 'gummy bear' implants getting US approval sometime this year...but that may be too optimistic.
I've noticed our breast implant business has changed significantly over the past few years. The amount of breast implants we are doing is going up, but the amount of saline implants is decreasing while the silicone implant business is really increasing. I'm happy with that because I believe silicone is a better implant...it feels more natural, not just to anyone feeling a breast, but to the patient herself. In tomorrow's usual Tuesday morning staff meeting, we're going to try to figure out a way to decrease our price on silicone breast implants just because I like doing the procedure and the demand is there. I'm trying to schedule a meeting with some of the Allergan execs to explore ways to get this option to more patients. Of course this time of year is busy for all cosmetic surgery...liposuction, facelifts, tummy tucks, etc.
Almost always, a patient's objection to silicone implants is either a worry about safety...which I can assure them that is not a concern...or a price consideration. Currently silicone implants are about $1250 more than saline. That amount of money prevents some patients from getting the silicone implants that they want. We've got to figure out a way to decrease that price difference.
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Tags: plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, lipodissovle.,
That enticing ad stuck on the front of the CJ Wednesday morning (1/30/08) was about 'lipodissolve'....the 'fat-melting' injections that 'contour your body without surgery'. You remember the same stuff that just managed to get the nationwide franchise 'fig' into bankruptcy due to overwhelming complaints from patients. A local ob/gyn office is now offering this service.
I've talked to our staff and expressed my confusion as to how an ob/gyn office can offer this service with anything close to the professionalism and care that we do, or any real plastic surgeon's office does. We struggle with efficiency all the time...making sure we offer great value in our cosmetic surgery services...and that's ALL we do. I just can't imagine how an ob/gyn office - the absolutely notorious leader in making women wait hours and hours for SCHEDULED appointments while their doctor delivers a baby—can even hope to keep the 'lipodissolve' clientele satisfied. I can see the scenario now, pt comes to her consult, is told the doctor she is supposed to see had to go to the hospital to deliver a baby, the other docs are tied up seeing pts, so take a seat in the waiting room for some HOURS...and since this procedure, which has to be repeated multiple times. To me that equation equals unhappy patients. Like I said, I can't imagine my patient base tolerating such. Another thing, who is doing the injections...is it a nurse or nurse practitioner who is overbooked and has other patients (pregnant) waiting. Could be entirely wrong, it may fit in nicely for their office, but I doubt it.
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