Plastic surgery statistics

Here at Cosmetic Surgery Associates we have definitely seen a shift in how people are viewing cosmetic surgery. People are concerned about the economy and are more willing to do smaller things now such as botox or fillers to maintain their looks rather than address the bigger issues that might require surgery. The recent release of statistics from our national societyThe American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgerybears this out.  Here is a summary of the stats. Enjoy!

The top five surgical cosmetic procedures in 2008 were

1. Breast Augmentation (355,671)
2. Liposuction (341,144)
3. Eyelid Surgery (195,104)
4. Nasal Surgery (152,434)
5. Tummy Tuck (147,392)

Women accounted for 92% of the total.

The top nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were

1. Botox
2. soft tissue fillers: Restylane, Juvederm, Hylaform
3. Laser hair removal
4. Chemical Peel
5. Laser skin resurfacing

To read more go to http://www.surgery.org/download/2008QFacts.pdf

Dr. Jabs

Compression Garment and you

Benefits

 

I know many of you would rather wear anything but the compression garment.  It’s not the most comfortable piece of clothing to wear, but the benefits are worth it! The garment reduces swelling, contours the skins to your new body, and expedites the healing process.  Plus, it is likely you will only have to wear a compression garment for a week or two after surgery.

 

Just remember, by wearing the compression garment as prescribed, you will be able to enjoy the new you a lot faster, show off your new body faster and speed up recovery.

 

 

How to care for your compression garment

 

The compression garment is easy to clean. We recommend you handwash and line dry once the garment is dirty. This will prevent shrinkage and help the garment last longer.

 

Once the garment is clean please continue to wear it until your post-op visit with your doctor. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call our office at (301) 493-4334.

 

 

Penny

Patient Care Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

WE HAVE LATISSE IN BETHESDA AND MCLEAN

For all of you ladies wishing for longer, fuller, more lush lashes….we now have the product for you!  Allergan (of Botox and Juvederm fame) has just introduced Latisse, a topical liquid used each night on your upper lash line.  If you have not heard about it yet (info articles are in all the magazines), you will very soon, as Brooke Shields is the spokesperson, and Allergan will be starting direct to consumer marketing on TV and in print.  If you are wondering if this would be a good product for you, or just have questions about it in general, please give our office a call at 301-493-4334 or 703-506-0683 and we will fill in all the details.  Also, check your calendar for your last Botox or filler treatment and if it’s time for the next one, we can schedule that appointment as well.

M. Carr

Practice Mgr

Breast Reduction: Will my insurance cover it?

This is one of the most common questions that our patients do have when calling our office. But before we go into the insurance information, what exactly is breast reduction and why would insurance cover it?

Also known as reduction mammaplasty, this procedure removes excess glandular tissue, breast fat and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion to the patient’s body. Eliminating excess weight on the breast, allows the patient to feel better about her self, to live a more active life, and to live without discomfort.

Because breast reduction is considered a reconstructive procedure, your insurance company may cover the cost. Whether you choose a doctor within your insurance plan (in network) or not (out of network) the requirements are the same.

Example: Per United Health Care – PPO services.

A patient needs to present to the insurance company the following:

_ A letter or determination or medical necessity.

_ Doctor’s notes pertaining to the patient’s case.

_ Recent mammogram (depending upon health insurance plan).

The letter of determination and the doctor’s notes can be provided to you, by our office, a few days after your initial consultation. Keep in mind that final determination will depend upon your insurance plan. However, we want you to know that our office gladly assists our patients with the requirements mentioned above.

If you are considering having a breast reduction surgery, call us to make an appointment, and we will guide you through this process. Based on what we gather from our patients, breast reduction is one of the most rewarding surgeries. Do not wait one more minute and call us…and trust us when we say that this is truly worth it!

Hope to hear from you soon,

Susan

CSA Staff

Evolence in Bethesda and McLean!

I thought you might be interested to know that I just saw two more patients walk out of the exam room after having Evolence injected and they looked amazing!! The nasolabial folds filled out nicely, with almost no trauma to the area (i.e. bruising, swelling, needle marks) except a little pinkness to the skin which was completely covered with a touch of powder foundation. They both had meetings to attend when they left here and felt completely confident that no one would be able to tell where they had been.

And if that isn’t good enough news, the makers of this new soft tissue filler have a rebate program through the end of 2009 which provides you with a $50 rebate on each syringe of Evolence used, with a maximum of 3 syringes or $150 rebate for the year! So, do not delay another moment–call the office at 301-493-4334 or 703-506-0683 today and schedule an appointment to try Evolence for yourself.

M. C.
Practice Mgr

What is the best breast implant size?

This is the most common question that we are asked by women wanting breast augmentation. There is no right answer. Deciding on the implant size depends on your height, weight, chest width and your desired breast cup size after the procedure. Breast implants come in various volumes, profiles, shapes, textures and materials. You can view various breast implant size results in our breast photo section. Choosing the proper implant can only be done after a thorough examination and discussion of your goals. At Cosmetic Surgery Associates we take the time that is needed to help you achieve those goals.

Dr. Richards

Washington Breast Augmentation

Now is the perfect time to get ready for summer bathing suit weather. If you have been thinking about improving the shape of your breasts (breast lift, breast augmentation, breast reduction) now is the time to have it done and be ready for good weather. These procedures are all done on an outpatient basis with only a week of downtime. The slow economy means there is time available on our schedules. Come in for a free consultation and be ready to go to the beach or pool.

Dr. Jabs

New Soft Tissue Filler Offered

I had the opportunity to try a soft tissue filler that is relatively new to the U.S. market,. It is called Evolence. ( http://www.evolence.com/us/index-us.jsp) I was very impressed with how well it worked. It was easy for me to inject and easy for the patient to tolerate. My patient remarked how little it hurt. There was absolutely no bruising and very little swelling after filling the nasolabial lines (the ones that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth) . Evolence naturally stops bleeding on contact and since it is a neutral pH (not acid or base) it hurts less to inject.

The other big plus to this filler is that it lasts longer and therefore costs less to use over time. It is a natural cross linked collagen and does not require a skin test before use. You can get results at your first visit. Evolence will soon be bringing out another filler, Breeze, that is targeted to the small superficial lines you see around the mouth and eyes.

If you are looking for a soft tissue filler that is state of the art, lasts a long time, is less painful to inject and has less chance of producing a bruise, this is it. Be sure to check out their web site and come in and give it a try.

All the best,

Dr. Jabs

What makes Plastic Surgery Exciting?

For the patient it is the chance to correct or improve a physical feature that bothers them. To be able to be proud of something that was less than optimal. It can give the person a “bounce” in their step, a confidence that was lacking before. It often removes a psychological doubt about appearance that can hold someone back from being confident. The way we are perceived by others is almost as important as the way we perceive ourselves. I often see an improvement in patient’s general psychological outlook following procedures.  This even occurs in people that have body changes that are not readily displayed while wearing clothing, think liposuction or a tummy tuck.

For the doctor it is that plastic surgery is always advancing. It gives us the tools to help people physically,  which can result in an improved mental outlook. Plastic surgery is always advancing, always improving, always finding new ways to make an abnormal structure appear and function more normally in the case of reconstruction and improve the normal appearance in the case of an elective procedure.

We look forward to another year of discovery and wish you a healthy, happy New Year.

All the best,

Dr. Jabs

Male Breast Reduction

Male breast enlargement, also known as male gynecomastia, is not that unusual. Unfortunately, it can be a source of embarrassment. Guys with chest fullness are often uncomfortable when taking off their shirts and may prevent activities such as swimming or going to the gym. Often, even a loose fitting shirt, will not entirely hide the problem.

There is good news! This condition can now be easily treated with a procedure through a ¼ inch incision in the armpit area. No incisions on the breast! We have fine-tuned this technique, which uses a special kind of liposuction called internal ultrasonic liposuction, so that even the most fibrous breast tissue can be eliminated.

The procedure takes about an hour to perform and you can go home afterward. Most use a long weekend to recover; some may take a week off depending on the job requirements.

The results are amazing and look very natural. You can learn more by going to the male breast reduction site and you can view before and after photos on our website.

Franklin Richards, MD