Archive for the ‘Awake procedures’ Category
Popular Non-Surgical Cosmetic Treatments
Monday, November 5th, 2012
Cosmetic procedires
It’s surprising how many people have an old-fashioned view of plastic surgeons and plastic surgery. Here at the Peer Group in Florham Park, New Jersey, we get calls from prospective patients who have images of spending days in bed recovering from cosmetic procedures with bandages wrapped around their heads. The fact is, while our surgeons are highly skilled and experienced in plastic surgical operations, many of the procedures we perform today are non-surgical cosmetic treatments. Given the advances these therapies have demonstrated in recent years, for some conditions, a skilled plastic surgeon using the tools and treatments available today can deliver results almost as good as surgical procedures, but with dramatically reduced cost, downtime and discomfort. These non-surgical treatment options include injectables, chemical peels, and laser therapies. (more…)
Off Label Uses for Botox
Friday, July 6th, 2012
Botox injections have remained the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure since the FDA approved Botox in 2002 for reducing or eliminating vertical frown lines – glabellar lines – between the eyebrows. Treating frown lines is still the only cosmetic procedure for which the FDA has given its blessing for cosmetic Botox treatments. So why, you may ask, do physicians use Botox also to treat wrinkles that occur on many other areas of the face and even the neck? That’s because these other treatments constitute what are called “off-label” uses of Botox. Once the FDA approves a drug after finding it safe and effective for treatment of a specific disorder, physicians may use it for related uses they have reason to conclude the drug or device can treat. Many cosmetic physicians have found Botox Cosmetic is effective for treating wrinkles in areas besides the glabellar lines. Common “off label” cosmetic uses of Botox injections include treating the outer corners of the eyes, where it can reduce or eliminate crow’s feet. Wrinkles on the lips and chin are also commonly treated with Botox Cosmetic. Injections of Botox in the forehead are administered to remove horizontal creases and wrinkles. Treating laugh lines around the mouth and “bunny lines” on the sides of the nose are also common off-label uses of Botox, as are injections in the neck to reduce wrinkles.
Here at the Peer Group in Florham Park, New Jersey we have extensive experience with off-label uses of Botox. But as we stress to our patients, treatment must be tailored to each individual. A plastic surgeon, like all of the members of our medical staff, will consider skin condition, depth of wrinkles and many other factors in developing a recommended treatment for the patient. Carefully check the qualifications of any plastic surgeon or other specialist you consider working with. Ask to see before-and-after pictures of their patients’ procedures. That will help ensure off label treatments are top shelf quality.
New Attitudes and Advances Driving Demand for Cosmetic Procedures
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
Advances for Cosmetic Procedures
We recently blogged about the latest annual survey from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). For 15 years the ASAPS has been tracking trends in plastic surgery and non-invasive cosmetic procedures performed by board certified plastic surgeons. These surveys, taken together, show the changing attitudes toward cosmetic medicine – including its growing acceptance. Almost 9.2 million cosmetic surgical and non surgical procedures were performed in the United States in 2011. That’s a 197 percent increase – almost three times the number performed – since the first survey in 1997. Of course a large part of the increase is because now there are minimally invasive treatments like Botox, laser treatments, and other that make cosmetic medicine simpler, faster, and more effective than it has ever been. The efficacy of these non-surgical therapies is reflected in the fact that they account for more than four out of five cosmetic treatments (82%). Fifteen years ago, if you wanted a more youthful appearance, a plastic surgery facelift was one of the few options. Today, products like Juvederm and procedures like laser skin resurfacing can produce results rivaling cosmetic plastic surgery solutions, with much less cost and downtime. Some historical trends continue. The number of women seeking cosmetic medicine far outnumber men, accounting for more than nine out of ten (91%) of the aesthetic procedures performed in 2011.
What’s important to remember is that the ASAPS survey is of board certified plastic surgeons, surgeons certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. Cosmetic procedures may be offered by a variety of providers, but board certified plastic surgeons have the training and expertise to offer the most effective and thoroughly tested treatments. We advise anyone considering cosmetic procedures to carefully check the credentials of any provider they consider working with. We also invite anyone who wants to learn more about advanced treatment options to contact the board certified plastic surgery doctors here at the Peer Group in Florham Park, New Jersey.
The Top Ten Cosmetic Procedures of 2011
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
Top Ten Cosmetic Procedures
My, how we love Top Ten lists: The Top Ten movies, Top Ten songs, Top Ten books and yes, the Top Ten Cosmetic Procedures. Since 1997 the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has taken an annual survey of cosmetic surgeons to find out about trends in cosmetic procedures. Among other questions, the survey asks about the number of various procedures performed by plastic surgery doctors. Now the results of the 15th annual ASAPS survey have been released, and here’s the Top Ten list of cosmetic procedures for 2011– both plastic surgery procedures like facelifts and liposuction, and non-invasive procedures like Botox injections, laser treatments, and other so-called non-surgical facelifts.
The top five surgical cosmetic surgery procedures in descending order were: liposuction (325,332 procedures); breast augmentation (316,848 procedures); abdominoplasty, or tummy tucks (149,000 procedures); eyelid surgery (147,540 procedures) and breast lift (127,054 procedures).
The top five minimally invasive aesthetic procedures of 2011 were: Botulinum Toxin Type A – that is, Botox and Dysport – injections (2,619,739 procedures); Hyaluronic acid treatments (1,206,186 procedures): laser hair removal (919,802 procedures); and IPL laser treatments (439,161 procedures).
Just like the list of the Top Ten box office hits, these results can tell us quite a bit about our shared values, changing attitudes toward cosmetic treatments, and much more. For example, the survey shows that demand for cosmetic procedures continues to grow – even as the list of the most popular procedures remains fairly constant. The results of this national survey are mirrored by the preferences we see in our clients here at the Peer Group in northern New Jersey. It’s important to note that this survey is based on the responses of plastic surgeons. Cosmetic procedures are available from a variety of providers, but we recommend seeking treatment only from a qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon. These procedures require skill and training that our experts possess. There’s more to be learned by looking behind these numbers of the Top Ten lists, and we’ll dig into them in a future blog. In the meantime, if you have questions about advanced procedures in cosmetic medicine, we invite you to contact our team of plastic surgeons at the Peer Group in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Recovering from Eyelid Surgery
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Eyelid surgery can have a dramatic impact on restoring a more youthful appearance to your eyes, removing the bags and the droopy eyelid tired look. One of the first questions we get from patients considering eyelid surgery performed by our plastic surgeons at The Peer Group in northern New Jersey is about the recovery process. Given the sensitivity of the eyes, and how important our vision is, people considering eyelid surgery want to know about the level of discomfort and how long it will take until they’ve recovered from having “work done” on the eyelids. To be sure, you will require time to heal, but the recovery is fairly quick and not unduly uncomfortable. You will experience swelling and bruising as a result of the surgery. The swelling usually peaks the morning after the plastic surgery procedure was performed., while bruising begins to fade in a few days. A mild aching or burning sensation is also not unusual, but this discomfort is easily controlled with non-prescription pain relievers and application of cold compresses.
Swelling usually subsides within ten days while bruising is gone within two weeks.
Normal activities can be resumed within two days of your plastic surgery, but strenuous activities should be avoided for two to three weeks after the procedure. Your cosmetic plastic surgeon will review the recovery process and advise you when you are healed sufficiently for various activities. A small amount of puffiness around the eyes may persist for several months after eyelid surgery, but these aftereffects will eventually disappear, leaving your eyes with a more youthful and vigorous appearance.
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