The 24 Hour Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation

The 24 Hour Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation

By Grace Gold

Cinderella's fairy godmother may have transformed her with the instant wave of a wand, but today's cosmetic surgeons are pulling out all the tricks to come as close to that dream as possible, by reducing recovery times from minimal to nil.

The latest attempt? A rapid recovery breast augmentation method that some plastic surgeons are aggressively marketing, which claims you can return to work or leisure within just 24 hours -- a far cry from the typical seven to 10 day recovery most breast augmentations require.

While cosmetic surgery has gradually become more affordable and accessible to the working class, one challenge continues to stand in the way: not many are able to take the time off from work needed to fully recover from a procedure like a breast augmentation. And surgeons are increasingly offering options with this consideration in mind.

But does rapid really work? And more importantly, is it even safe?

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ashkan Ghavami is one of the doctors offering the rapid recovery method. A press release blast from Ghavami, touting "new boobs in a flash" recently found its way into my inbox. "The recovery is so painless that patients are even encouraged to take a shower the same days as their surgery, raise their arms, blow dry their hair, and even go out to dinner or a movie to celebrate! Many return to work the next day, or go out shopping!"

Having had a breast augmentation (you can view my before and after photos here), the prospect of lifting my arms above my head, showering and returning to work within 24 hours -- a bold claim made by this method of surgery -- actually made me shudder at the thought.

You see, in the days following my own breast augmentation, my elbows wanted to stay firmly planted to my sides. Raising my hands to suds up my hair would've seemed a Herculean task -- not to mention wielding a heavy blowdryer to style. And the only work I wanted to do was lift the remote control.

I had interviewed Ghavami on his intriguing and rather unique ethnic rhinoplasty procedure, so I knew the California surgeon wasn't opposed to riding the rails of controversy.

Ghavami says his method is based on the teachings of Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. John Tebbetts, who mapped out the common location of blood vessels in the breast, and figured out the least traumatic way to create a breast pocket for the implant. Tebbetts claims this controls any bleeding by not allowing it to occur in the first place.

"The ultimate key is that there is very little trauma and bleeding, therefore less pain and a quicker recovery," Ghavami tells StyleList.

The method also decreases the time it takes to do a breast augmentation from an average of one to two hours down to 30 minutes, claims Ghavami.

Yet immediate past president of The American Society Of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), Dr. Michael F. McGuire, says that a purported short surgery can be a red warning flag.

"Doing a breast augmentation in 30 minutes isn't necessarily a good thing. My main concern is that it could expose a patient to greater complication risks. You also can't get around the fact that it is a surgery, done under anesthesia, and the human body needs sufficient time to heal. Risks arise when you try to rush things just for the sake of saying you do it within a certain frame," says McGuire.

Even though the time and turnaround is what is most visually marketed in the method, Ghavami claims it's not his priority.

"Dr. McGuire is correct, but the goal here is not simply to be quick. Since the dissection is precise and there are no wasted maneuvers, and there is less trauma, then as a result, there is less anesthesia and surgical time," says Ghavami.

When questioning more experts on the time it takes to do a skilled breast augmentation, I encountered two conflicting schools of thought. One side argued that you need more time to do things correctly, and properly assess the surgical site, while producing an artistically attractive result that is unique to the patient. The other argued that if you know what you're doing, you can go in with a laser-like eye, and accomplish the mission in much less time.

Another point of contention is the whole showering issue. While recovery methods can vary, most breast augmentation patients aren't allowed to shower from a couple to a few days post-surgery. "It's a fact of human healing that a skin incision on the body takes about 48 hours to seal," says Wayne, New Jersey plastic surgeon, Dr. Parham A. Ganchi. "Taking a shower before this has happened could result in an infection."

After all, it's the presence of water and a moist environment that invites most infections to take root.

I personally left fine bandages called steri-strips on my incisions for weeks after my surgery, to guard against infection and allow the faint lines to heal into the seamlessly invisible marks they are today. And having seen photos of the raised and pinkish scars that weren't handled properly during healing, I can appreciate the time it takes for the body to do its thing. Yet Ghavami says he takes this all into consideration when telling patients that they can shower almost immediately following surgery.

"A glue that is waterproof is used on the incision, and it is covered with surgical dressings, which do not allow water to enter the wound. Not all shower the same day, but they can if they like, and this helps in recovery. I have not had a single infection using this technique thus far. If a breast lift is done at the same time, then the recovery and showering instructions are very different," says Ghavami, of the more involved procedure that uses multiple incision points.

Understanding the common risks of a breast augmentation is important and necessary. Photo: Getty

The most common risk of a breast augmentation is the chance of hematoma, or bleeding. Bleeding can vary in degree, from a small instance that can be drained without much trouble, to rapidly escalating situations that could require a second surgery, and even the removal of implants.

Fortunately, if you've chosen a qualified and skilled plastic surgeon, and follow your healing instructions, you can dramatically decrease any risk of bleeding. But herein lies the most serious criticism of the rapid recovery method.

"The vast majority of patients who develop bleeding after breast augmentation do so in the first 24 hours," explains Ganchi. "Wouldn't it make sense to avoid any stimulation of the muscle, and therefore the blood vessels, until they have sealed? This only requires relaxing for a few days. I don't think this is too much to ask to prevent bleeding," says Ganchi.

The rapid recovery method seems to fly right in the face of this, encouraging patients to raise their arms, shower and move about at a regular pace, immediately following surgery. Ghavami claims hematoma isn't a heightened concerned, as the more precise methodology "pre-emptively controls bleeding."

And according to a helpful chart by Tebbetts that aims to distinguish between a "real" 24 hour recovery and an unskilled surgeon who is merely riding a wave of hype, the ability to be active and move about freely on the same day as your breast augmentation is crucial to his method's mode of recovery.

(As a side note, the chart claims that the authentic version is called '24 Hour Recovery,' while the buzzword "Rapid Recovery" is used by surgeons who are just capitalizing on the trend. I personally think it's a matter of semantics, as fully qualified surgeons I spoke with used both phrases interchangeably.)

Experts also tell me that the 24 hour recovery method hinges upon choosing a moderate sized implant, which works with the mechanics of how this procedure heals. Granted, 'moderate' is a size that can vary in opinion from person to person, but let's just say that Pamela Anderson's version doesn't qualify.

While not openly touting a rapid recovery method, many of today's most skilled plastic surgeons combine elements of the method with more traditional methods of healing, for what they say is the ultimate combination of a low-risk and easy recovery surgery.

For example, traditional breast augmentation created the space, or pocket, for the implant by cutting through muscle. Many surgeons today use a heat method called cautery, to dissolve through tissue without causing the same amount of trauma and risk of bleeding. While this is a trademark of the rapid recovery breast augmentation, it's also an increasingly popular strategy used by surgeons performing a more traditional style of augmentation.

As a breast augmentation patient and now adviser to other women who are considering the procedure, I can tell you that our greatest fear is of something going wrong. Sure, a quick no-frills way to get ample, perky cleavage sounds like a dream, but nearly no woman wants to do it at any kind of significant risk to her health.

If you're considering a plastic surgeon who uses the rapid recovery technique, do your homework to make sure you're getting the real deal. Make sure the doctor is board-certified by the American Board Of Plastic Surgery, which is recognized by the medical community as the most prestigious credential.

And from surgical plan to any risks like bleeding and infection, make sure your doctor addresses each point with expertise and detailed explanations that can be backed up by independent studies they're so familiar with, they can conversationally refer to them. You also need to feel a genuine sense of care from the surgeon.

Because unlike Cinderella, the choices you make as an empowered patient place your destiny into your own hands.

What do you do if you're unhappy with plastic surgery results?

What to do if you're unhappy with plastic surgery results
By Dr. Murray Feingold

An increasing number of people are undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in an effort to improve their appearance. These procedures can be painful and expensive, and they are usually not paid for by insurance.

Do patients have any recourse if they think the results are not what they expected or not what was promised?

Patients can file a malpractice lawsuit if the physician made medical errors, but what can be done if the patient just doesn’t like the results?

One of the difficulties is beauty is in the eyes of the beholder; thus, there may be differing opinions concerning whether or not the results are good or bad. The plastic surgeon may think the results are technically excellent. However, the patient isn't that interested in how difficult the procedure was but how good the final product looks.

A recent article discussed the best ways to determine the outcomes of cosmetic plastic surgery. Questionnaires were developed to obtain the views of the patients who underwent various procedures.

It was determined that the most accurate way to determine the outcome requires input from both patients and physicians. But is it always that difficult to determine if the results are good or bad?

For example, Mrs. Jones wants to get rid of her many wrinkles. A photograph of the wrinkles are taken before and after the procedure. Although she was told she would have about an 80 percent improvement, unfortunately, there was only about a 25 percent improvement.

Should she have to pay for surgery that did not accomplish what she not only anticipated but was also told would take place?

The doctor agrees more needs to be done. Should the patient have to pay for the second procedure? And what about the discomfort the patient experienced and the time involved?

Frequently, in this situation, the patient pays for the first procedure but pays less for the second procedure. Is this fair? It doesn't sound right to me.

It is important that, prior to surgery, the doctor explains in great detail what can and cannot be accomplished. Also, the doctor should discuss with the patient the plan if the patient's realistic expectations are not met.

But when it comes to wrinkles, you don't need any fancy scientific studies to determine that too many wrinkles are still there after surgery.

Dr. Murray Feingold is the physician in chief of The Feingold Center for Children, medical editor of WBZ-TV and WBZ radio, and president of the Genesis Fund. The Genesis Fund is a nonprofit organization that funds the care of children born with birth defects, mental retardation and genetic diseases.

More women turning to acupuncture before cosmetic surgery

With botox getting some bad press this week that users may have trouble reading other people's emotions, it's one more reason some women are looking for alternatives, including one approach that's been around for centuries.

Kelli Hodge just turned 40 and is hoping that the age-old art of acupuncture will take a few years off her face. 

"What we're trying to do is create a micro trauma under the skin to take advantage of the body's natural healing process," explained acupuncturist Rick Bernard.

Bernard says that the treatment stimulates collagen production which helps fill in wrinkles, and there's another benefit.

"It wakes the nerve up and gives you a natural lifting effect," he said.

It can also help minimize vertical lines between the eyes.

"I think it's definitely taken off five years," said Nicki Banucci who recently got cosmetic acupuncture. "My laugh lines improved completely."

Most people need about ten sessions at about $100 dollars each. Kelli finds the treatment surprisingly relaxing.

"It's just a slight pinch," she said. "The needle goes in and the pinch goes away once the needle is in."

Occasionally the client gets a little bruising, and while Kelli may not get the same dramatic and quick results of botox, she says she'd much rather take this chemical free approach to beauty. After three treatments, she saw results.

"I think the wrinkles diminished and these deep set lines diminished as well," Kelli said. 

Best of all, she says she still looks like herself, only younger

Results can last up 18 months, which can be extended with maintenance treatments.

Look for a practitioner who specializes in cosmetic acupuncture or facial rejuvenation acupuncture.

How 'Normal' Is Your Belly Button?

How Normal Is Your Navel? Belly Button Facts and Figures You Probably Didn't Know

Do you have an innie or outie? How germy is your belly button? Do you get belly button lint? We investigated this oft-overlooked body part and found out everything you need to know. How does your navel compare?

By Amy Capetta

Talk about navel-gazing: Since February, a group of scientists at North Carolina State University has been studying the germs that inhabit our belly buttons as part of a study called the Belly Button Biodiversity project.

Sounds like an odd research project, but the belly button is the “ideal location” to study germs, says Jiri Hulcr, PhD, a postdoctoral research assistant who is heading the project.

“We’re trying to educate the public about the role bacteria play in our world,” says Dr. Hulcr. “Bacteria are always present on our skin and in our bodies. In fact, there are many, many more bacterial cells on and in our bodies than actual human cells.” (Each person carries about 100 trillion microbes; the human body contains about 10 trillion cells).

Unlike such body parts as the nose or armpits, the navel doesn’t secrete anything. Also, since most people tend to ignore their belly buttons — after all, you don’t scrub or exfoliate it like you do your face — navel bacteria tend to be untouched. “Believe it or not, the belly button serves as a good representation of the types of bacteria found on the body,” Hulcr says.

Good Germs and Bad Germs

The scientists so far have collected nearly 500 samples from belly buttons on cotton swabs, and posted magnified images of each person’s microbes on their Wildlife of Your Body Web site. You don’t need to be a biologist to notice that the cultures vary greatly from person to person.

So what types of bacteria inhabit our belly buttons? “All kinds!” says Hulcr, although his team has mostly found two common skin bacteria, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, which he says are, for the most part, “friendly.”

“We absolutely need bacteria in order to survive,” he says. “It’s like asking an animal who lives in a forest if he needs the trees. The presence of bacteria is not harmful — it’s only under certain conditions when these bacteria can be potentially unhealthy, like if someone has lowered immunity or a skin injury, like a sunburn.”

The takeaway: Don’t be freaked out by your belly button germs.

More Belly Button Facts

We asked Hulcr and other experts to tell us everything you never knew about your navel. Here, the top seven fascinating finds:

1. Innies dominate. Hulcr’s team asked study participants whether they had “innies” or “outies.” Only 4 percent of those studied said they had outie-shaped belly buttons.
2. You can’t control whether you get an innie or outie. Technically considered a scar, belly buttons mark the connection of a mother’s umbilical cord to her fetus in the womb. “The cord serves as the unborn baby’s lifeline, providing her with vital food and oxygen and removing waste products like carbon dioxide,” says Karen Marie Jaffe, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist affiliated with the University Hospitals of Cleveland. The cord is clamped immediately after birth and the remnant eventually falls off to unveil the belly button.
   The ultimate shape of the belly button depends on a number of factors, according to Indianapolis plastic surgeon Barry Eppley, MD, including how the scar attaches to underlying muscles, the looseness of surrounding skin, the fat under the skin, and how flat or protruding your belly is. “Belly buttons vary greatly in their size and shape,” he says on his blog, Explore Plastic Surgery.
3. Your belly button shape can change — under one special circumstance, pregnancy. “The expansion of the abdomen can cause some “innie” belly buttons to pop out and become outies, but most often, there is not much change in the structure itself,” says Dr. Jaffe. And after birth, the belly button often retracts to its former shape.
4. Hate your belly button? There’s surgery for that. Yes, people really do get elective plastic surgery to change the appearance of their belly button – it's called umbilicoplasty, according to Richard Chaffoo, MD, president of the San Diego Plastic Surgery Society and chief of plastic surgery at Scripps Memorial Hospital, in Encinitas, Calif. “The popularity of low-rise jeans and midriff tops has lead to an enormous increase in the number of requests for belly button revision surgery in the past few years,” Dr. Chaffoo says.
   According to the most recent data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 8,000 umbilicoplasty procedures were performed between 2002 and 2005; 92 percent in women. Most people have the surgery to transform “outies” to “innies.”
5. There is an “ideal” belly button shape. According to University of Missouri researchers who showed pictures of various belly buttons to a group of men and women, a small, vertical, T-shaped navel with a little flap of overlying skin was deemed most attractive.
   Having an appealing belly button may make you a more attractive mate, according to Finnish scientist Aki Sinkkone, who published his hypothesis in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in 2009.
6. Certain people are more prone to belly button lint than others. You’re more likely to have belly button lint if you’re male, older, hairy, and have an “innie”-shaped belly button, according to Australian researcher Karl Kruszelnicki, who surveyed nearly 5,000 people about their belly button lint. The lint is a mixture of pieces of clothing fiber that get trapped in your belly button and sweat, skin cells, and bacteria.
   As for smelly belly buttons, well, blame the abundance of bacteria growing in that confined space. “The cultures we analyzed eventually smelled like dirty socks!” says Hulcr.
7. Belly button, meet soap. Hulcr’s team reports that most people say they don’t wash their belly buttons very often. So what is proper belly button hygiene? “It’s not necessary to scrub it — just taking a shower is good enough,” he says.
8. Pause before you pierce. Belly button piercings take longer to heal (up to nine months) than other piercing sites (ear and eyebrow piercings heal in six to eight weeks), according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The long healing time can make the site vulnerable to infections; wearing tight clothing can increase the risk. The AAFP says getting pierced with a barbell instead of a ring can help reduce irritation and scarring (you can switch to a ring once the site has fully healed).

Positively Shakespearean Cosmetic Surgery

Positively Shakespearean Cosmetic Surgery

Going under the knife to look like a celebrity is well known cosmetic surgery trend. But what about trying to look like a long dead figure, as is the case with Chinese author Zhang Yiyi? According to online reports, the popular author wants to look like playwright William Shakespeare.

The plan does not come cheap, as he will spend over $150,000. It will reportedly involve having 10 procedures done in 10 months. Zhang explained his plans by saying, “Life is a process of striving to become a better person. I think the surgeries are worth the money.” Interestingly enough,l the surgeon slated to perform the procedures feels that Zhang’s face already has a similar structure to the late bard’s. He feels that this will makes the process easier.

For Many Chinese, New Wealth and a Fresh Face

A Beijing doctor worked on a woman who wanted a new jaw line and chin. In 2009, China ranked third in the number of cosmetic surgeries.

For Many Chinese, New Wealth and a Fresh Face
By SHARON LaFRANIERE

BEIJING — Even in a blue-striped hospital bathrobe, her face wiped clean of makeup and marked with purple lines by her surgeon, the young woman who called herself Devil embodied an image of beauty widely admired in China: large, luminous eyes, a delicate nose and softly sculpted cheekbones.

But her jaw line? Too square for her liking. So the 22-year-old television reporter recently traveled from a coastal province to a private hospital in downtown Beijing to have it reshaped — for about $6,000. Her boyfriend, a 29-year-old businessman wearing designer eyeglasses, picked up the bill.

“I am not nervous at all,” said Devil (the English first name she chose for herself, and the only one she would reveal) as she awaited surgery at Evercare Aikang hospital in downtown Beijing. “I will look more sophisticated and exquisite.”

The breathtaking pace of transformation for upwardly mobile Chinese — from bicycles to cars, village to city, housebound holidays to ski vacations — now extends to faces. In just a decade, cosmetic and plastic surgery has become the fourth most popular way to spend discretionary income in China, according to Ma Xiaowei, China’s vice health minister. Only houses, cars and travel rank higher, he said.

No official figures exist, but the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeryestimated in 2009 that China ranked third, behind the United States and Brazil, with more than two million operations annually. And the number of operations is doubling every year, Mr. Ma said at a conference organized by the Health Ministry in November.

“We must recognize that plastic and cosmetic surgery has now become a common service, aimed at the masses,” he said.

Face-lifts and wrinkle-removal treatments are in vogue, just as in the West. But at Evercare, which runs a chain of cosmetic-surgery hospitals in China, two-fifths of patients are in their 20s, said Li Bin, the general manager and one of the founders.

Nationally, the most requested surgeries have nothing to do with age: The No. 1 operation is designed to make eyes appear larger by adding a crease in the eyelid, forming what is called a double eyelid, said Zhao Zhenmin, secretary general of the government-run Chinese Association of Plastics and Aesthetics.

The second most popular operation raises the bridge of the nose to make it more prominent — the opposite of the typical nose job in the West. Third is the reshaping of the jaw to make it narrower and longer, he said.

The youthful patients include job applicants hoping to enhance their prospects in the work force, teenagers who received cosmetic surgery as a high school graduation present and even middle school students, most of whom want eye jobs, surgeons say.

China’s regulatory system, by all accounts, has not kept up. At the conference in Beijing in November, Mr. Ma, the vice health minister, said the situation “can even be called neglect.”

Out of 11 clinics and hospitals offering cosmetic or plastic surgery that were inspected late last year, he said, fewer than half met national standards. Employees lacked professional credentials, he said; equipment and materials were subpar. Beauty parlors are flagrant violators, illegally administering Botox injections and performing eyelid surgery.

Mr. Ma likened the industry to a medical “disaster zone,” with frequent accidents. His point was underscored when a 24-year-old former contestant on the Chinese reality show “Super Girl” died after her windpipe filled with blood during an operation to reshape her jaw in Hubei Province.

Health officials demanded an inquiry. But Mr. Zhao, who also serves as the vice director of Beijing’s government-run Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, said it was impossible to gather evidence because the body was quickly cremated — a common practice in China when hospitals privately settle malpractice claims.

“Personally speaking, I think this is pretty despicable,” he said. “We need to get to the bottom of such cases in order to protect people in the future.”

The shortcomings of China’s medical system are hardly limited to cosmetic and plastic surgery. But the industry now generates an estimated $2.3 billion in revenue, and the government has begun to take note. Officials say new regulations will probably be issued this year.

One implicit goal is to halt the flow of Chinese patients to better-established hospitals in South Korea. Mr. Ma estimates that Chinese make up 30 percent of cosmetic surgery patients in Seoul.

For now, many beauty salons, like one downtown Beijing branch of a major chain, are capitalizing on the lack of oversight. One recent afternoon, a 62-year-old woman in a white coat who described herself as an internist said she could summon a doctor who could give a visitor double eyelids in 20 minutes about $180, a fraction of the standard hospital fee.

“Immediately you will look different,” she said.

“Strictly speaking, this thing is not allowed,” she added. “But why do we have it? Because many people want to look good and find the price of the procedure too high and they can’t afford it.”

Of two dozen Beijing beauty salons contacted by phone, 15 said they offered either double-eyelid surgery or Botox injections or both, along with manicures, pedicures and facials.

At the other end of the spectrum is Evercare’s Aikang hospital, with a grand piano in the lobby, an underground tunnel for patients who want privacy and surgeons like Dr. Wang Jiguang, who has performed thousands of operations. Patients younger than 19 are told to return when they are old enough to make a decision about a permanent change to their looks.

Mr. Li of Evercare, a 46-year-old former government journalist, said the typical procedure cost between about $1,500 and $3,000. Having renovated one part of their face, many patients find the lure of more work irresistible. Between 30 to 40 percent return, he said.

Chen Xiaomeng, a petite 25-year-old, said her double-eyelid surgery two months ago made her look less sleepy — an effect she once tried to achieve by using thin strips of clear tape, available at 7-Elevens throughout Beijing. Now she is considering a nose job.

She made no effort to hide her operation from her colleagues at a Beijing advertising and entertainment agency or from her friends, five of whom have undergone the same procedure.

“Cosmetic surgery is now accepted in practically every household,” she said cheerily as she picked at her lunch. “It is not a big deal any more.”

Not everyone is so open. Down the hall from Devil’s V.I.P. suite, a Chinese military officer had secretly arranged an operation that cost about $9,000 to reshape her 23-year-old daughter’s jaw. First the officer told her husband that their daughter was traveling with friends. Then she called him from the hospital and asked him to deliver chicken soup to help the daughter’s sore throat. The father found the girl in bed with a heavily bandaged jaw and a swollen face, barely able to speak.

“She looked very pretty before, but now Chinese want to be perfect,” said the mother, who refused to give her name. “If she had my jaw,” she added, “I wouldn’t have allowed her to have this operation.”

After a classmate had her jaw reshaped, the mother said, her daughter pleaded for the operation until finally she gave in.

A 23-year-old bank employee from Harbin in northeastern China said she deliberated for a week before she underwent a $15,000 operation to reshape her cheekbones and jaw line. Her other thought, she said, had been to open a Starbucks with her savings.

“It was a snap decision,” she said, seated on her hospital bed, her face swathed in bandages. “I was curious to see what I would look like.”

Her family had no idea. Asked how she would explain her new face to them, she paused before replying, “I am right now trying to figure that out.”

Shi Da, Li Bibo, Zhang Jing and Jonathan Kaiman contributed research.

Spring is the Perfect Time For It...

Spring is the Perfect Time for Weight Loss and Plastic Surgery

Dr. Eric Mariotti, a plastic surgeon near Walnut Creek, suggests that those who want to slim and tone their bodies in time for summer make spring their season for healthy weight loss options and body-contouring procedures such as liposuction.

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Mariotti (http://www.drmariotti.com) recommends considering spring as the ideal time to sculpt your summer body through diet programs and plastic surgery. At his Walnut Creek practice, Dr. Mariotti offers a variety of body-slimming procedures such as liposuction or a tummy tuck.

"Many people who are attempting weight loss in Walnut Creek are eating right and exercising, but they are still bothered by minor imperfections," Dr. Mariotti says. "Addressing these concerns now with cosmetic surgery allows for adequate recovery time so that you can have your body in shape for summer."

Having enough time to heal after plastic surgery is an important consideration that is often overlooked by people who are eager to get outdoors and show off their new physique, according to Dr. Mariotti. He typically recommends at least 6 to 8 weeks for full recovery from body contouring procedures.

"Although many people who have plastic surgery can return to their normal routine in about 7 to 10 days, it takes about 2 months for the swelling and bruising to subside in order to see the full results," Dr. Mariotti says. "So for people hoping to get into their swimsuit by summer, spring is an ideal time for surgery."

While plastic surgery can be a good option for men and women who have already adopted healthier lifestyle habits and are at a stable weight, Dr. Mariotti emphasizes that surgery is not intended to be a substitute for a healthy diet.

"Body contouring procedures are intended to help refine specific areas of the body that do not respond to diet and exercise," Dr. Mariotti says. "Plastic surgery is not a 'quick-fix' weight loss tool and should be thoroughly discussed with a qualified plastic surgeon in Walnut Creek."

Some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures for spring at Dr. Mariotti's practice include liposuction, abdominoplasty, and breast augmentation. For people who have lost a substantial amount of weight, Dr. Mariotti suggests considering procedures such as arm and thigh lifts.

"The increased pressure to look good in summer attire such as a bathing suit may account for the rise in body sculpting treatments during this time of year," adds Dr. Mariotti. "People want to look their best during the warmer months so they can get outdoors and feel confident in their appearance. For many people, plastic surgery is the perfect way to improve their body and self-image."

Knife attack girl Jessica Knight gets plastic surgery

Knife attack girl Jessica Knight gets plastic surgery for scar as 18th birthday gift
by Lucy Stroud, Daily Mirror

AN 18th birthday is an important milestone for any youngster but Jessica Knight celebrated by getting plastic surgery after surviving a horrific knife attack.

Stabbed 30 times in the chest, stomach, back and neck in an unprovoked assault which severed her jugular vein, perforated her bowel twice and damaged her lung, Jess should not be here today.

So she wanted to take another step towards eradicating the memory of that terrible day three years ago which left her close to death. And she is ecstatic about her birthday present from her parents – the much longed-for cosmetic surgery to cover up her deepest scar, a daily reminder of the harrowing attack.

Jess says: “Getting plastic surgery for my 18th birthday has been the best present. Some people might want money or clothes but for me it’s the surgery.

“The plastic surgery is for the biggest scar I had on my left arm. I would stare at it all the time and find myself thinking back to the attack. It would bring back all the horrific nightmares and I found it was holding me back from moving on. It means I can make a fresh start.”

Jess was left battling for her life after the frenzied knifing by former chef Kristofer Beddar, who pounced as she listened to her iPod while walking through a park near her home in Chorley, Lancashire, on January 21, 2008.

Amazingly, after six days in a coma and three months in hospital, Jess pulled through – and, despite it all, she doesn’t feel anger towards her would-be killer.

She says: “When I think of him I just feel like he is some bad ex-boyfriend, that you just want out of your life.”

But there is another physical legacy of the attack which can’t be cured by anything as simple as plastic surgery.

A series of mini-strokes has left her slurring her words and her uncertain health played havoc with her education. Jess says: “A lot of things people take for granted, I’ve missed out on. I missed out on an education. I’ve tried to make it up, by doing a foundation course, but that has ended up not working out because I cannot guarantee a full attendance.

“My attack still haunts me as I have mini-strokes which make my speech slurred and my leg go numb and mean I can’t walk, and I get double-vision. No one can predict when they will kick off.”

However, she is determined to celebrate her 18th like any other youngster. The excited teenager says: “My birthday is the same day as the royal wedding, and my mum is keeping my other presents as a big surprise. On the day I’m going into town with my friends on a pub crawl. I don’t like meeting new people so I hold my friends very close to me.

“I have a boyfriend. We’ve only been going out for a couple of months but we’ve known each other for a year and have liked each other that amount of time.

“But I have serious trust issues and always have my guard up, so it’s been hard for him.

“My brother Chris, who is 21, is very protective but he is in Leeds at the moment. He hasn’t met my boyfriend and when he does it will be a tough test as Chris always looks out for me.”

For mum Jill, 41, that night three years ago is one that will always be etched in her memory.

She says: “That night was the worst night of my life. The image that will forever haunt me is seeing her in intensive care, hooked up to drips and a life-support machine.”

French national Beddar, then 21, was caught after confessing to his mother, who told police and gave evidence against him at Preston crown court, where he was was jailed for life with a minimum of 12 years for attempted murder.

Despite her lack of anger towards her attacker, Jess adds: “I am scared of him being released. I am scared in case he hurts someone else or even that he comes back after me.

“He might go back to his old ways as he obviously has anger issues and a leopard can’t change its spots.”

Erasing lines and filling needs

Erasing lines and filling needs

By JODY BOWES

The Julian Institute of Plastic Surgery was founded by Dr. Marc Polecritti, D.O. last October.

The institute is Polecritti's first business venture. He named it after his son Julian, now seven months old. "The name means 'to be youthful,'" Polecritti said. "I thought it was a great way to start a practice."

Polecritti said he was recruited to Spring Hill by Spring Hill Regional Hospital. He's currently on staff at Spring Hill and Brooksville Regional Hospitals.

"They did a needs analysis and felt we could really fill a need here in Hernando County," Polecritti stated. He said COO Gino Santorio and CEO Alex Contreras-Soto have been very accessible and helpful getting him up and running. His dad, a former business owner, also helped with a lot of over-the-phone advising from Pittsburgh.

The Julian Institute specializes in reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery of the face, breast and body. They also offer less invasive treatments, like Botox® and dermal wrinkle fillers, and carry skin care products. They are an authorized Obagi® skin care system medical practice.

Polecritti loves the hand-eye aspect of medicine. "I enjoy the artistic portion of recreating or trying to fix a problem that's always different. You have to customize for each patient," he added.

"Plastic surgery is pretty much broken up into two general categories, cosmetic and reconstructive," Polecritti explained. "Some plastic surgeons only focus on one category. I like the variety of both."

"The difference is that most reconstructive patients are referred by their physician. They come here with a purpose. For elective cosmetic applications, most patients are 'shopping.' They're looking for pamphlets and handouts of product and procedure descriptions."

Skin cancer and breast cancer reconstruction are the most common types of reconstructive surgery he performs. Because of family members who have had procedures to treat breast cancer, Polecritti has a special interest in post-mastectomy reconstruction.

He also does consultations for motor vehicle or other injuries. "I do full body as well as head and neck, scar revision, burn injuries, chronic wounds, hand and upper extremity surgery," he added.

For cosmetic procedures, Polecritti said the most popular is some level of facial rejuvenation, from injectables to skin care to an actual surgical procedure.

"Somewhere in that wide range," he explained, "is the most frequent reason somebody comes in. They want to know what they can do to look a little more refreshed, and like they did a few years back. We go through the entire range of options then customize what the patient wants to do, and what the results they hope to achieve are likely to be."

He said cosmetic patients range in age from "mid-thirty-year-olds interested in getting rid of a few wrinkles with Botox, to forty-plussers maybe adding an eyelid lift or face lift."

We asked what procedures yield the most dramatic effect. "It depends on the area of the body," he replied. "You can get a significant change with a number of procedures. A tummy tuck shows a dramatic before and after. Breast augmentation or lift makes a big difference, and a face lift is probably the Cadillac of facial rejuvenation."

Polecritti cautioned that patients must be medically fit, able to tolerate anesthesia, and likely to do well with recovery.

"If those criteria are met," he continued, "the second most important thing is that the patient forms a comfortable, trusting relationship with the surgeon and staff, knowing the staff will walk them through the entire process, not give them the cheapest price, rush them in and rush them out.

"Unfortunately many facilities do that with cosmetic surgery. I think they prey on patients not being informed as to what they should expect. I always try to counsel the patients so they're as educated as they want to or can be about whatever surgery they're contemplating."

Polecritti also uses his surgical skills to help those in need. In 2010 he traveled to Haiti, providing plastic and general surgery to injured Haitians. Locally the institute has offered support to the Business Professional Women's group that works closely with breast cancer awareness. Polecritti is looking for opportunities to speak and present to support groups within the community for breast and skin cancer awareness.

The Julian Institute's website has more about Polecritti's work in Haiti as well as his affiliations, education and experience. There are detailed descriptions of their services, a contact form for submitting questions or requesting a consultation, and "before and after" photos. They are also on Facebook and @DrPolecritti on Twitter.

The institute takes all major insurance coverage and offers CareCredit patient payment plans.

Polecritti will participate in the Stolte Eye and Hearing Center's Health Fair Thursday, April 7 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Stolte's Jennifer Rickert (stolteeyecenter.com) said they were excited to invite Polecritti to discuss cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The show will also feature free hearing evaluations, eye exams and vendors selling discounted high-end frames, like Gucci.

The Julian Institute is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for consultation and appointments. Dr. Polecritti can be reached 24/7 through his answering service. The office is located on Spring Hill Drive on the right side of Trinity Plaza. A large "Botox" banner beside the road is a good landmark.

BIZ AT A GLANCE

Name: The Julian Institute of Plastic Surgery

Location: 10429 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill

Telephone: (352) 556-5248

Website:

Email: Info@julianplasticsurgery.com

Breast Implant Removal Stops Cancer Linked to Device

Breast Implant Removal Stops Cancer Linked to Device, Researchers Say

By Pat Wechsler 

Breast implant-linked lymphoma can be controlled by removing the implant and the surrounding tissue, researchers said.

The industry-funded study by the Rand Corp. is based on a review of 29 cases of a rare form of immune-system cancer in breast-implant patients and input from a panel of experts. While the aesthetic devices have been linked to the lymphoma for more than a decade, there is still no evidence to prove the disease is caused by the implant, researchers also said in the study published online yesterday by the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a notice in January linking anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and breast implants. The agency didn’t recommend removal of the implants because the cancer is rare and only associated with patients who are experiencing pain, lumps, swelling or asymmetry.

“If the FDA were really concerned, they would have pulled the product from the market,” saidSoeren Mattke, the study’s senior author and a senior scientist at Rand, a policy institute inSanta Monica, California. “The good news here is that in those very few cases in which this type of cancer develops it can be successfully treated by removing the implant.”

About 60 cases of the lymphoma have been reported globally in women with breast implants, including 34 published in studies from January 1997 to May 2010, the FDA said in its January notice. About three cases of these tumors in the breast are diagnosed annually per 100 million women, the agency said.

‘Huge Shadow’

“These results take away a huge shadow from these implants,” Mattke, who heads Rand’s health consulting practice, said yesterday in a telephone interview.

Allergan Inc. in Irvine, California, and New Brunswick- based Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), the world’s second-largest health products company, each control about half of the implant market, according to Gary Nachman, an analyst at Susquehanna Financial Group. About 5 million to 10 million women worldwide received implants, the FDA said.

The report identified 29 cases of the cancer involving implant patients and found 12 had a history of cancer, including eight who had had mastectomies, before the implants.

“We can’t rule out causality; we just can’t prove it,” Mattke said. “The risk of developing this lymphoma is extremely small, but this is a cosmetic procedure and you don’t die if you don’t get” an implant.

To contact the reporter on this story: Pat Wechsler in New York at pwechsler@bloomberg.net.