Dr. Genter's Blog | Montgomery & Philadelphia County

Cosmetic Treatments Drop Two Percent During 2009 Recession

March 10th, 2010 by copywriter

At about this time every spring, groups of surgeons like the ASAPS provide surgery_stats statistics on cosmetic procedures that were popular in the previous year. The news always gives us an opportunity to discuss nationwide trends in plastic surgery.

Due to the economic recession, statistics for 2009 show a 2 percent overall decrease in cosmetic treatments compared to 2008. Of the nearly 10 million cosmetic procedures performed in the United States, non-invasive procedures like Botox and Juvederm increased slightly while a moderate (17 percent) decrease was seen in surgical procedures such as liposuction, abdominoplasty or breast augmentation.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the top cosmetic treatments in America are as follows:

1. Breast augmentation
2. Liposuction
3. Eyelid Surgery
4. Abdominoplasty
5. Facelift

Non-Surgical
1. Botox/Dysport
2. Hyaluronic acid wrinkle fillers
3. Laser hair removal
4. Microdermabrasion
5. Chemical Peel

Why has Breast Augmentation been the number one procedure for two years straight?

In 2008, breast augmentation surpassed liposuction as the number on cosmetic surgery in the United States. In 2009, the procedure remained on top with over 311,957 estimated procedures. Several different opinions have been offered explaining why this procedure has gained such popularity. We asked Dr. Genter and he cited these reasons:

Excitement over new silicone implants
Relatively quick recovery from the procedure
Immediate obvious results = immediate gratification

More 2009 numbers should be released in the coming weeks from other professional groups. We look forward to comparing them and continuing this discussion of plastic surgery trends.

Tags: surgery statistics
Posted in economy | No Comments »

Bulletproof Breast Implants: A Survival Story in the News

March 1st, 2010 by copywriter

A plastic surgeon is hoping that his patient’s story of surviving workplace violence implants2 will motivate manufacturers of breast implants to pay for her reconstructive surgery.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lydia Carranza was shot in the chest last year, causing her implant to deflate and leaving her with scars. Much worse was the traumatic experience and death of her co-worker. When a man opened fire in her office, Lydia was shot twice, with one shot intending to kill: “The bullet fragments were millimeters from her heart and her vital organs” said Dr. Ashkan Ghavami to the Times.

The presence of Lydia’s saline breast implant could have been the deciding factor between life and death, according to a firearms instructor interviewed about the story, who also mentions that, of course, breast implants are not “the equivalent of a bulletproof vest.”

Discussing the Relation Between Weight Gain and Aging

February 22nd, 2010 by copywriter

This morning on National Public Radio was a discussion about weight gain and the aging process. Why do we seem to gain weight easier as we get older?

The program focuses on physical fitness and why that is so important during your later years. They say fitness is important because 1) muscle mass decreases with age (the percentage of muscle drops in your body) and 2) muscle repair becomes slower. Muscle plays a critical role in burning calories, which as you know affects your weight, health and appearance.

Listen to today’s NPR morning edition to hear the whole story or read the article.

Link: Why We Gain Weight As We Age

Tags: aging
Posted in Interesting Topic | No Comments »

Botox For Headaches? New Research Says Yes

February 21st, 2010 by copywriter

Doctors could prescribe the popular wrinkle treatment Botox Cosmetic as a botox-PA headache treatment. New research published in Archives of Dermatology shares new research about clinical studies of Botox used as a headache treatment, finding that certain patients experienced less frequent migraine attacks after using it: “patients who responded to Botox reported their migraines were reduced to fewer than 1 day a month from almost 7,” said Bloomberg news.

Manufacturer Allergan Inc has applied for FDA clearance to market Botox as a headache treatment. But researchers say they cannot fully explain how Botox works to relieve headaches. One co-author of the study, Rami Burstein says, “it may block the signals in sensory nerves located on the outside of the head.”

Tags: Botox, dyport
Posted in BOTOX® Discounts, Botox™ Jaw Reduction | No Comments »

When to Consider Revision Breast Augmentation

February 16th, 2010 by copywriter

Today’s post is by a guest blogger. Michelle had a breast augmentation years ago and is now considering a revision surgery. She did some research and wrote about her experience for this article.

How often should breast implants be replaced?

Breast implants do not have an expiration date and there is no requirement to have them replaced at ten years Researchers can give us general estimates about their longevity:

According to the Institute of Medicine, the average life expectancy of a breast implant is 16 years.
FDA studies of silicone breast implants suggest that most implants last 7-12 years.

However, some breast implants clearly last much longer. So there really is no definitive recommendation. Speaking for myself, I am at 25 years and counting. My breast implants have far outlasted my marriage!

“Breast implants do not last forever,” warns the FDA. “If you decide to get breast implants, you will likely need additional surgeries on your breasts over your lifetime due to rupture, other complications or unacceptable cosmetic outcomes. However, as long as the breast implant is intact and you are not experiencing any complications, there is no real need to have a breast implant revision.

After 25 years, I am not experiencing any major complications or significant positioning problems, even after two pregnancies and breastfeeding – but I am still considering breast implant replacement. I want to be proactive and avoid any complications. I also want to benefit from new technology and use this opportunity to achieve a new look.

Breast implant revision involves the removal or replacement of your current breast implants. An evaluation and possibly replacement of breast implants is recommended around 15 years after breast augmentation. Evidence shows that somewhere between 10 and 20 years after surgery, most women will either be experiencing some type of complication or desire an improved appearance of the breast. Over time, positioning changes may occur because of accidents or natural causes.

A revision surgery provides a chance to (once again) alter shape and size. After all, it is a whole new decade and your lifestyle is quite likely different than when you originally chose to get breast implants.

Got a question or comment about Michelle’s post? Email Her

Tags: breast implant removal, breast implant repair
Posted in Breast Surgery | No Comments »

A New Juvederm With Lidocaine Gets FDA Clearance

February 8th, 2010 by copywriter

Juvederm XC received FDA clearance last week, as pharmaceutical co. Allergan Inc juvederm_graph cited positive results from clinical trials where over 90 percent of the 72 participants reported a more comfortable procedure with the new formulation.

Juvederm XC is the latest addition in the wave of fillers released in the U.S. that contain lidocaine, an anesthetic said to numb the treatment area within seconds. The first wrinkle filler of this kind, Prevelle Silk, was approved in 2008. However, physicians weren’t so eager to jump on the lidocaine-bandwagon 2 years ago.

“The issue with a hyaluronic acid filler with lidocaine is that it doesn’t work until you actually start injecting patients, and these injections are so quick, by the time the lidocaine takes effect, you’re almost finished” said Dr. Joe Niamtu to Cosmetic Surgery Times.

Despite the positive results cited by the pharmaceutical company, it may take some time for Juvederm XC to gain approval, and even then I wouldn’t expect surgeons to abandon traditional pain control methods like dental blocks and numbing cream, which are actually very effective.

The safety profile and effectiveness (typically for treating nasolabial folds) is similar for both Juvederm and the new Juvederm XC.

Tags: juvederm xc
Posted in Injections and Botox | No Comments »

Rib Cartilage: The ideal nasal implant substance?

January 18th, 2010 by copywriter

Researchers at the University of Texas recently evaluated the use of rib cartilage eyes and nose grafts during rhinoplasty and found that the technique was “well-tolerated” and “yields superb results.”

During rhinoplasty, cartilage can be taken from the septum or the ear, but sometimes that’s not an option. In such cases, rib cartilage from a donor can be used.

What surgeons want is a graft material that meets conditions like these, as outlined by the authors of the study:

Readily available in large quantities
Resists infection
Resists absorption
Completely integrated into host tissues
Causes little patient morbidity

Based on their research, rib cartilage taken from human donors appears to be a viable option for rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty. When researchers viewed long-term (24 year span) results of patients who used these grafts, they documented low complication and high satisfaction rates.

Tags: Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty, Rhinoplasty
Posted in Facial plastic surgery | No Comments »

New Holiday Specials!

December 10th, 2009 by drbg

Get Glam For The Holidays!

Botox® treatments can be used to improve the appearance of worry, frown and laugh lines, crow’s feet and other wrinkles caused by aging. Best part about botox? Instant results and no down time!

Juvederm™ – If wrinkles or facial folds are becoming more noticeable than you would like, a long lasting filler may be the solution you are looking for. Don’t spend another day adding worry lines to your most prominent feature. Results from Juvederm™ can last up to 9 months. For fuller and more youthful lips, Juvederm™ is also the perfect choice!

Latisse® – Imagine the beauty and confidence that comes with longer, thicker and darker lashes. Enhance the appearance of your eyes…one of your most distinguished and striking features.

Our unique 3 tier approach to rejuvenate your skin. Includes enzymatic exfoliation along with a lactic and glycolic acid peel. Also includes extractions. A soothing, hydrating vitamin C masque enhances this special skin care treatment. Get ready to look radiant!

Tags: specials
Posted in BOTOX® Discounts, Injections and Botox, Interesting Topic | No Comments »

Surgery After Weight Loss

October 30th, 2009 by admin

The benefits of weight loss with or without surgical assistance (gastric bypass, gastric banding) are beyond doubt. The problem of the remaining extra stretched skin remains long after the pounds are shed.

Post-bariatric surgery (surgery after weight loss) is the newest field in plastic surgery. This surgery addresses the extra skin of the abdomen, back, thighs, arms, and breasts with artful surgical removal to best enhance the new lean body now hidden by folds of extra skin.

A variety of operations address the various areas of the body: brachioplasty (arm lifts), mastopexy (breast lifts), breast reductions, abdominoplasty (tummy tucks), circumferential belt lipectomy to address the abdomen and lower back, body lift for the buttock, thighs, and back; and thigh lifts to tighten the thighs. Facelifts are often used to treat redundant skin of the face and neck left after weight loss. Even more interesting, some of the excess skin that would normally be removed can be used for auto-augmentation (augmentation using your own tissues) of the buttocks and breasts. All of these techniques must be customized to treat each patient’s individual needs and priorities.

I began performing these post-weight loss operations more than 15 years ago, when surgery to treat massive weight loss was risky and rare. Newer techniques have made this a much safer procedure and, therefore more common. Also, better understanding of nutrition and exercise has helped many people lose weight without surgery and has also helped people maintain excellent health after massive weight loss.

I would enjoy hearing about the experiences of my blog readers and I would be happy to answer your questions.

Pre and Post Body Lift

Pre and Post Brachioplasty

Tags: Abdominoplasty, Arm Lift, auto-augmentation, Belt Lipectomy, Body Lift, Brachioplasty
Posted in Dr. Genter's "Biggest Loser", Interesting Topic, Mommy Make-Overs, Post Bariatric Surgery, Surgery After Weight Loss | No Comments »

Non-surgical “quick fixes” in cosmetic surgery…

June 5th, 2009 by admin

Cosmetic fillers (Dermal Fillers) have been mostly known in our industry as a quick, short-term solution for decreasing the appearance of wrinkles, enhancing lips and improving overall appearance. In today’s economy, this has proven to be a more “budget friendly” way to be “on top of your game”, look your best and boost confidence. In as little as fifteen minutes, under one-thousand dollars these fillers have the ability to make you feel/look years younger! The procedures are non-invasive, giving you the ability to return to “life” the same day…

Over the last few years, we have been finding more creative ways to use these fillers. Amazing results… without surgery.

non-surgical rhinoplasy (nose job)
jaw reduction
more defined cheek bones
filling in “hollowed out eyes”
reshaping, plumping earlobes

These are just a few of the newer procedures we use on a daily basis! Please visit our website to view before and after pictures of some of these procedures!

We will work with you and design a package to give you long-term results, while working within your budget. Of course, financing is available to help make your wishes a reality.

If you have any questions, please e-mail our practice either through our website or directly to info@drgenter.com .

Tags: cosmetic fillers, Cosmetic Jaw Reduction
Posted in Dermal Fillers, economy, non surgical procedures | 2 Comments »

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