Mother Teresa said, “It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you… every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.”

Never have those words been more true than for this holiday season.  The pandemic has devastated our lifestyles, our traditions, and our freedoms.  It has reversed one of the strongest economies our country has ever known, leaving millions out of work, and causing entrepreneurs to question their ability to overcome.  It has shattered families in so many ways, through illness and death, through financial harm, through depression, anxiety and stress.  It has accentuated hopeless over hopefulness, and replaced optimism with fear and worry.

In his music from the Broadway show “Mame,” Jerry Herman wrote: “I’ve grown a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little older, and I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder, I need a little Christmas now.”  

Yes, we all truly do. But that’s where Mother Teresa’s words really matter… because now that Christmas 2020 is technically behind us, it can still be Christmas every time we let God love others through us… through our positivity, our enthusiasm, our kindness and caring, our random acts of kindness, our generosity, our willingness to forgive, our gratefulness, our unconditional love.

As challenging as this year has been, the overwhelming majority of us have made it through this, and we know the dawn is near.  Let’s keep celebrating Christmas every day in 2021 and “Let God Love Others Through Us.”  Blessings for you all. 

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Due to the explosive demand for injectable agents into the face, dentists, family doctors and others have ventured into cosmetic treatments.  Some companies even offer weekend training programs to entice non-plastic surgeons to sell their products.  When it comes to facial rejuvenation and body contouring, American Board of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) certification is the gold standard.  All other boards that include the word “cosmetic” are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.  

Plastic Surgery training is at least 7 years after medical school because there is so much to learn including properly assessing and treating patients, and evaluating techniques.  When contemplating facial injections, you should consider possible negative effects. Also have conversations about how and where you want injections with your highly trained, experienced Plastic Surgeon.  Treatments typically last many months, but won’t last if done improperly. Or worse, you will be forced to tolerate unflattering results for the duration of action of the product. Products like BOTOX or Juviderm could be your best option, but you should understand options. Other options include harvesting your own fat and re-injecting it into other areas (Autologous Fat Transfer).  

As for the cost difference, if you consider all factors, including the expert care you receive and the peace of mind knowing you will be pleased with your results, there is no doubt that a plastic surgeon provides your best value.  We have a few appointments available before the holidays, if you call our office.  And remember that you can easily print last minute gift certificates on our website. Happy Holidays![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

There is a big difference.  It is clear that doctors who advertise themselves as certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) do not meet the criteria that is required for board-certified plastic surgeons.  Ear doctors, dermatologists, family practice, and Emergency room physicians are the most common physicians who call themselves cosmetic surgeons, but do not have the training to do what Board Certified Plastic surgeons do. Unfortunately, misleading marketing and overtly false advertising are fairly widespread.  If you compare the required training, a board-certified plastic surgeon must have at least six years of surgical training, and complete an accredited plastic surgery training program. They must perform thousands of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery procedures of different types, pass rigorous written and oral examinations and commit to continuing education and assessment. In comparison, ABCS-certified physicians complete only one year of surgical training, and one written and oral examination completed during a single weekend, with no continuing medical education requirements.

According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 1.8 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed last year.  This high demand underscores the need for regulation and education to help patients make informed decisions.  In a study recently published in the ASPS official medical journal, information was reviewed to assess residency training history and advertised scope of practice for 342 ABCS-certified physicians.  The study revealed 62.6% of ABCS Surgeons advertised surgical operations beyond the scope of their residency training. 

I cannot emphasize strongly enough the critical importance of patients having surgical procedures performed by a plastic surgeon credentialed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who is a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Is labiaplasty common? While many procedures have become more openly discussed, labiaplasty is an important but not widely known medical procedure. Vague terms like “vaginal rejuvenation” and “designer vagina” can undermine the seriousness of an elongated labia, particularly for patients with one. This condition is often attributed to congenital causes, supplemented hormones, chronic irritation, childbirth, aging, and external physical causes. Women at nearly every age may have symptoms such as tugging, twisting, urinary tract infections, personal hygiene issues, painful intercourse, pain during exercise, exposure in clothing and deviation of the urine stream.

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that alleviates the symptoms and significantly improves the quality of life. My practice has seen a large increase in the number of labiaplasty procedures performed, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports over 11,000 were performed in 2019. The surgical goal is to reduce the size of a woman’s labia minora, the inner lips of the vaginal lips, and make them more symmetrical so they don’t protrude or hang beyond the labia majora.

It is usually done on an outpatient basis in less than one hour. The procedure causes minimal discomfort, and the sutures dissolve on their own. Following surgery, patients should avoid significant physical exertion and exercise for approximately one month, as well as sexual encounters. If performed properly, the condition rarely recurs. My experience and recent scientific studies indicate that labiaplasty has a high degree of patient satisfaction and success.
If you would like to know more, please contact my office to help determine if it is right for you.

Click here to learn more about Labiaplasty.

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Gynecomastia is a condition where men have enlarged breast tissue. This can develop during puberty or in later years as a result of hormonal changes in male physiology. You can get rid of gynecomastia with our help at Mentor Plastic Surgery. It can also be the result of taking prescription medications, steroids, or marijuana. For years, the only treatment was surgery by direct excision through large incisions. But today, I can very successfully treat Gynecomastia with the minimally invasive options of VASER Liposelection and Renuvion.

VASER LipoSelection is an advanced body contouring procedure that selectively removes unwanted body fat using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology. VASER LipoSelection can differentiate targeted fat from other important tissues, such as nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. Innovative VASER ultrasound technology breaks up fat while preserving these other important tissues to promote smooth results and rapid healing.

Once the excess breast tissue and fat are removed, especially for men who have a larger amount of it, there is a good amount of sagging skin. That’s where Renuvion is utilized, using a combination of helium plasma and radiofrequency energy to tighten skin without additional incisions or longer recovery associated with surgical skin excision. The Renuvion energy causes the skin to tighten while stimulating the production of collagen.

For many men, this condition of having excess breast tissue causes anxiety about their appearance, which can lead to lasting insecurities in their self-image and confidence. It may lead some men to shy away from social or intimate interactions. Through this modern non-invasive technology, I can help men have a firmer and flatter chest with less scarring and a faster recovery. Please contact my office for a private and confidential consultation. You can get rtid of gynecomastia. We will discuss all of the options you have at the consultation and how we can best help you.

Schedule Your Consultation today.

Learn more about gynecomastia here.

My initial recommendation is, if you are not having any issues with your implants, leave them be. This is as individualized as the original decision to have breast augmentation. If you have issues that cause concern, I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), there are about 300,000 breast augmentations annually. Fewer than 15% of this amount have implant removal surgery, so these numbers strongly indicate that the majority of women having breast augmentation are happy with their results.

Before you hastily decide, you should consider the pros and cons. Besides the cost of having implants removed, probably the main reason not to remove implants relates to your personal confidence, which likely was one of the reasons you initially had breast augmentation. Removing the implants that gave your chest perkiness and a full look will not only return you to your original shape, but your breasts will likely sag more than they did before, along with significant loose skin. Loose skin and low nipple position after implant removal may lead to you not being satisfied without undergoing a breast lift.

Also, while we minimize as much scarring as possible, there will always be some at the incision site and with any major surgery, there are risks associated with anesthesia and possibility of infection.
On the other hand, if you are experiencing breast capsule pain, or if you have noticed a breast shape change that seriously affects your appearance, you should see your plastic surgeon to discuss all possible remedies, and review the reasons for whatever you are experiencing.

Definitely! This is a fairly common condition, mostly caused by weight loss, aging or genetics. For many years, we could only reduce or eliminate this excess skin surgically, with a procedure known as Brachioplasty. This was done under general anesthesia, and typically took 3-4 weeks for bruising to disappear, 3-6 months for swelling to go away, and 6-24 months for scars to fade.

With the recent technological advancement of Renuvion, this procedure can be performed more efficiently, with minimal downtime and scarring. While Renuvion works on loose, saggy skin almost anywhere on the body, it offers especially dramatic outcomes tightening lax skin of the upper arms. Renuvion utilizes cold plasma, which is produced when helium gas is energized by radiofrequency energy and delivered via the Renuvion device. Helium gas is quite stable so it can be ionized at very low energy to enable a targeted, predictable and flexible delivery. Since cold plasma is cooler than laser energy, the Renuvion arm lift procedure is less cutting, so less chance of damaging the tissue. The degree of skin revitalization and improvement from cold plasma energy is unmatched compared to other available technologies, such as laser, ultrasound or radiofrequency.

The Renuvion procedure is performed in my office using local anesthesia. The outcomes, skin tightening, shrinking, and rejuvenation from within, are instant and continue improving as your body recovers. The upper arm area usually feels slightly tight or sore after the treatment, so I can prescribe mild pain medications for minor discomfort. Your decision about your skin laxity and your response to this energy is best reviewed in consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who routinely does both procedures.

For many years, I have had patients ask me if I could help with their hair loss and hair thinning, but until recently, I was unable to find a solution that I knew would be effective.  I am pleased to say that I now provide “KeraFactor” programs to assist with men and women in need of better scalp and hair health. 

I perform an in-office pre-treatment which uses radiofrequency microneedling technology to create a microscopic channel in the scalp. This rejuvenates the scalp, while also opening areas for the KeraFactor treatment serum to effect both the scalp and hair health.  To give the best results, I strongly recommend a schedule of six treatments every two weeks.  

In between office treatments, patients apply a KeraFactor Scalp Stimulating Solution at home.  This solution has double the concentration of the same growth factors as those in the in-office treatment serum. This product was designed to be used daily, to micro-dose your scalp and hair. Patients also use a KeraFactor scalp exfoliating and conditioning shampoo daily, which should be massaged in vigorously to help remove dirt and debris, and enhance scalp circulation.  This in-treatment and in-home regiment maximizes the total quantity of the patented KeraFactor Peptide Complex used.  Patients can expect to start to see improvements in multiple areas, including the scalp, hair quality and thickness starting at between 6 to 8 weeks after the first treatment.

For anyone showing any signs of hair loss, I welcome you to contact my office to see if KeraFactor can be a viable solution for you.

For those who may not know what you are referring to, banana rolls are the crescent-shaped strips of fat that accumulate just under your buttocks. This is usually caused by carrying a little extra weight, but very often it is more related to your genetics.

Dieting probably won’t help once you have developed a banana roll, because diets can’t target specific areas.  There are a few exercises that may help, such as single-leg deadlifts, donkey kicks, the gluteal bridge dance, and the lunge-to-squat.  If these sound exhausting and difficult, they admittedly are, which is why more and more patients are coming to me for assistance.

My personal recommendation is Renuvion cosmetic technology, which is the result of extensive scientific research and clinical development. Because of its proprietary balance of helium and RF energy, Renuvion as ideal for medical procedures where precision and control are key to an effective treatment. Renuvion delivers even, controlled energy to defined areas with exceptional precision.  I can apply energy beneath your skin, causing a contraction effect that’s gentle on tissue. Renuvion can help to remove the fat, contour the body, and tighten the skin, all in the same procedure. This will give you the most toned result and can also help shape the calves.  While most people see some improvement quickly, some of my patients have told me that thy continue to see effect of the treatment over time.  

I can better explain how this works in person, so I suggest that you make an appointment for a full consultation on how this can help you.  Maybe best of all, I now can perform Renuvion procedures in my new offices without patients paying extra hospital or clinic costs.   

truSculpt flex is the latest noninvasive (nonsurgical) muscle sculpting technology from Cutera that can be customized to each person’s fitness level, goals and body type. It is effective for people who want a refinement to their fitness program, or it can provide some benefits of a workout without the work. Trusculpt Flex works!

Only truSculpt flex with Multi-Directional Stimulation deploys a unique method of electrical deep muscle stimulation to target specific muscle groups using three treatment mode options, covering the largest treatment area in the body sculpting industry. Prep Mode creates a twisting motion to warm up, stretch the muscles, and slowly build a tolerance to muscle contractions. Then Tone Mode contracts the muscles, holds it to the point of exhaustion, and then relaxes it to increase strength and enhance endurance. Finally, Sculpt Mode creates fast, deep, sequential contractions of the muscles to build muscle mass and increase basal metabolic rate. Up to eight areas can be treated in one 45-minute session.

As for patient comfort, truSculpt Flex delivers heat to the entire fat layer to optimize clinical efficacy while maintaining a comfortable skin temperature. Patients initially feel a gentle contraction sensation and, as the intensity slowly increases, muscle contraction intensifies but remains comfortable.

truSculpt flex requires no recovery time, and patients can immediately return to normal activities afterwards. Some patients notice tingling in the treated areas for up to a few hours and/or slight muscle soreness or tenderness for a day or two. Amazingly, muscle tone and contour often continue to improve for weeks and even months after treatment.