Mederma is a non-prescription cream, which has been used for years to help improve scar healing. Its main active ingredient is an onion extract – derived from a particular type of onion – called allium cepa, which is rich in the bioflavinoid compund known as quercetin.Recently, I reviewed the published studies on this product: and the results, […]
One of the frustrating problems that can sometimes occur after breast implant surgery is known as “rippling” – an irregular wavy look or feel to the breast. This is caused by a combination of factors, related to the physical properties of the implant, the patient’s own soft tissue and how it may have changed over […]
I was astounded to learn that each year, 16,000 children are seriously injured by lawn mowers here in the U.S. each year.Since June is National Safety Month, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is doing its part to remind people about this commonplace hazard. Of course, lawn mowers don’t “attack” on their own. Most injuries – such […]
Here’s an interesting press release from ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), discussing a new survey in which Botox Cosmetic and fillers like Restylane and Juvederm were now “mainstream” topics of discussion amongst patients, and not any big “secret”. This matches with our experience – our female patients openly discuss their treatments, much like […]
One of the most worrisome problems for surgeons is known as venous thromboembolism (VTE) – blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. These can occur after long operations, even in seemingly healthy people – and can be a life-threatening problem. In the past, we’ve used compression stockings, pneumatic sequential compression devices, or injectable blood […]
Back when I was a general surgery resident, one of the sayings passed down from our surgery professors was that “redheads were trouble”, because they seemed to bleed a bit more than the average patient during a typical procedure. It was like a surgical superstition, a part of surgical lore that hadn’t been proven scientifically, […]
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, the Thread Lift was a much-hyped procedure in which a special type of barbed suture would be placed under the skin, to draw the loose facial tissue upward. The idea was to get a facelift-like lift, without actually doing a real facelift. It sounded so […]
This week, Q-Med, the Swedish pharmceutical company that is the home to Restylane and Perlane, announced Restylane® Lidocaine and Restylane Perlane™ Lidocaine as the latest additions to their Restylane family of dermal fillers. These products have the familiar Restylane and Perlane hyaluronic gel fillers, together with a small amount (0.3 %) of lidocaine, a commonly used […]
Here’s a great story of performing under pressure: A doctor in rural Australia used a household drill to bore into a skull of a young boy with a head injury, to drain a potentially-lethal blood clot. The local hospital did not have neurosurgical tools or a neurosurgeon on site, and the young boy was in […]
I noticed a new (to me) product at the 2009 ASAPS meeting: a saline-filled lip implant. I kid you not. Known as VeraFIl, it has actually been FDA approved for about a year. Essentially, it is a tapered tubular implant with a silicone shell and a gore-tex outer coating. A tunnel is made in the […]
