[firstname] [lastname], Patronella Spring 2007 Newsletter

		Greetings to everyone and thank you for taking the time to read this first addition of the ACPS newsletter. These email newsletters are designed to keep you informed of what’s going on in the field of plastic surgery, what’s new in my practice and most importantly, strengthen the bond between myself and my patients. It is my hope that you find these newsletters valuable.

		What’s new in Cosmetic Surgery? The big story in cosmetic surgery today is the FDA’s approval of Silicone Breast Implants after they were pulled from the market 14 years ago. Both the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the two largest and most respected plastic surgery membership organizations, applauded the FDA’s decision. There are two manufactures who received an “approval by conditions” letter by the FDA, Allergan Corporation and Mentor Corporation. Both companies have been conducting long-term trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of silicone gel-filled implants. The “approval by conditions” means the implants were FDA approved on the condition that Allergan and Mentor meet several requirements including continuing their implant study through the next 10 years (see www.breastimplantsafety.org/ImplantOptions/trials.php for more about these and other FDA conditions). ASPS statistics page shows 383,886 women elected to have a breast augmentation procedure 2006. The addition of silicon implants will give women more choices over what goes into their body. When considering the Breast Augmentation or Breast Reconstruction procedures, be sure to ask you surgeon about the differences between saline and silicone so that you may make a well informed decision. ASPS and ASAPS have set up a joint website to help the public understand their choices and make a better informed decision, www.breastimplantsafety.org.

		Body Lift Surgery: Loss of skin tone or flabbiness in the abdomen, hips, thighs and buttocks is a common complaint among both men and women. In some instances where there is only a minor amount of excess skin and the skin has maintained its elastic characteristic, liposuction alone may be an effective option to re-contour the body. Sadly, when there is a large amount of excess skin and/or the skin has lost its elasticity, liposuction alone is not optimal. In these cases the Body Lift surgery is the best option with the highest likelihood to gain back that youthful figure. The Body Lift procedure is the surgical removal of both fat and skin from the hip, waist and buttock area. It is usually done in combination with a tummy tuck and often done with a breast lift for the best body contouring enhancement. Body Lift surgery is most commonly performed on those who have lost a significant amount of weight or have had multiple pregnancies and are left with an accumulation of excessive skin. The procedure itself can be quite involved especially when coupled with a tummy tuck and/or breast lift. The operation may take up to 5 - 6 hours or performed in two stages. Down time varies from patient to patient but in general, plan to be off work for 3 - 5 weeks. The severity of the scarring will depend on the extent of the loose skin removed and your individual ability to heal. A good surgeon will be able to hide your scars below the underwear line so that you can feel comfortable in a bathing suit showing off your new body. The complexity of this surgery highlights the importance of choosing a qualified board certified plastic surgeon experienced in this advanced body contouring procedure. Dr. Patronella has spent years perfecting his technique and is a recognized authority in the plastic surgery community. Recently Dr. Patronella presented his surgical techniques and safety methods at the Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons in and won the top award, “The Best Paper Award”. He also presented at the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in April of 2007. His techniques and effort to optimize safety for this procedure is recognized locally, nationally and internationally. Not everybody is a candidate but certainly many people will benefit from the Body Lift procedure. To learn more or to view before and after photos visit www.patronellamd.com.

		Face Lift or Soft Tissue Fillers? The effects of aging occur gradually and many who suffer from the effects of age on the face find themselves in the position where they are not quite ready for a facelift but desire some improvement. Modern medicine has responded with several non-surgical answers to this dilemma. For over 20 years women and men alike have relied on BOTOX to reduce facial wrinkles, one of the most common signs of age. Today there are a range of what are called soft tissue fillers that are injected into wrinkles and/or hallow areas of the face to give it back the fullness it once had. As the years have passed, new and better fillers have hit the market. Some of the more popular ones today include: Hyaluronic acid which included Restylane® and Juvéderm™. Collagen Calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse®) Polyactate (Sculptra®) In addition to BOTOX® and the soft tissue fillers mentioned above fat grafting is another great way of restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking face. Fat grafting is the process of harvesting your own fat cells from one area of your body and transplanting those cells to another. Although this process is very safe and there is no risk of an allergic reaction, the number of fat cell that survives the transplant can be a bit unpredictable. However, for many the use of one’s own tissue is an appealing alternative to the fillers listed above. When considering any of the procedures listed above remember that each product is different in its chemical make-up, longevity and cost. Your surgeon can educate you on their differences and help you make the best choice. These fillers are the simplest and least expensive method of re-contouring the face but are not a replacement for a facelift. These fillers can be used for smoothing out wrinkles, giving you fuller lips, correcting hollowness around the eyes or cheeks, smoothing out the jaw line, and correcting a deep furrow.

		ACPS’s Medical Spa Spot: Laser Hair Reduction is now for Everyone: Laser hair reduction has been around for over 30 years. Laser hair removal works by causing localized damage to dark target matter. Basically the dark matter (or melanin in the hair follicle) absorbs the light energy better then the lighter matter. Early lasers worked best when there was a large differentiation between the skin tone and the hair color. Pale individuals with light hair and dark skinned individuals were not good candidates for laser hair reduction. The introduction of the long pulse Nd:YAG lasers with its longer pulsewidths and wavelengths have made it possible to treat patients with darker skin tones and those who have but a small differentiation in skin tone to hair color. Please not that hair with no melanin is still not treatable nor does the Nd:YAG technology offer “permanent hair removal”. Lasers built for the purpose of hair reduction can only penetrate 2 millimeters deep into the skin. The majority of the dermal papilla, the only structure of the hair that can reproduce a new root system, is found approximately 4-7 millimeters deep. Therefore, given enough time most if not all hair will return. The Food and Drug Administration acknowledges that there is currently no hair removal procedure that is permanent and will not permit the use of the term “permanent removal”. Anyone claiming otherwise should be approached with skepticism. The FDA has approved a few lasers to claim “permanent reduction”. These few lasers have proven their superior hair reduction efficacy to the FDA and have been certified to make that claim. At ACPS we are proud to own two Nd:YAG lasers approved by the FDA to claim “permanent reduction”. The Candela corporation’s Gentle:YAG is among the safest and most efficacious lasers on the market. Whether you are fair skinned, dark skinned or well tanned, the GentleYAG can eliminate your need for shaving or waxing. It’s suitable for the delicate small areas like the upper lip and the large areas of a man’s back. Swimsuit weather is approaching fast. The time is now to begin your treatments. Download and print the coupon below to receive $300 off your next treatment or package. We have two locations to serve you. One coupon per patient. To make an appointment call (713) 799-9999.

For additional information on this Newsletter article, please contact:

Jeremy Hartling
(713) 799-9999