Journalists at King 5 have revealed serious problems at a local cosmetic clinic well known in the Seattle area because of their pervasive advertising.  Sono Bello, a clinic that advertises body contouring all over the Puget Sound, is denying accusations of questionable conduct documented by King 5.

What is a cosmetic clinic? Watch this segment for more information on regulation and reporting required for cosmetic clinics in the state of Washington.

This week, King 5 documented several cases of complications – from liposuction and laser treatment, to problems with anesthesia.  One patient reported burns from her laser treatment; another said she experienced blood clots as a result of facial liposuction, and another patient died following a body liposuction procedure under local anesthesia. It is unclear what the qualifications are of practitioners at the clinic, but one of the above mentioned procedures was reportedly performed by a “surgical consultant.”

The cause of death ruled by the medical examiner was “acute lidocaine intoxication” a rare complication that according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons president Phil Haeck, “raises the question of how much lidocaine was placed into the body at the time of the surgery, and whether there was an adequate way to monitor the patient after the surgery.” She was reportedly recovering from the procedure alone in a hotel room.

Make sure you check the qualifications of the people performing your cosmetic procedure to ensure they have formal training in plastic surgery, and make sure the operating facility is accredited and safe.

Scientists are hoping that an incredible new surgery developed in Australia could replace breast reconstruction with synthetic implants.

The procedure is said to stimulate regenerative growth of breast tissue, and trials are set to begin – with real human patients – in less than 6 months.

A biodegradable chamber is placed within the chest, containing stem cells obtained from the patient’s own fatty tissue. As the cells divide and grow, the natural fat of the breast is recreated.

Phillip Marzella from the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery, told ABC radio that the trials were “a proof of principle trial with about five to six women just to demonstrate that the body can regrow its own fat supply in the breast.”

It may take several years to fully develop this procedure, but scientists are optimistic about its potential to replace the current procedures in breast reconstruction, which use saline or silicone breast implants to recreate the breast after mastectomy.  The science of breast reconstruction seems to be progressing rapidly in recent years, causing some writers to say we are “winning the war on breast cancer.”

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Read more about breast augmentation in Bellevue, Washington.

Doctors in Germany are going to investigate whether a specially designed surgical adhesive can improve the safety success rate of tummy tuck surgery.  A Pennsylvania based company called Cohera Medical has introduced TissuGlu®, a product that CEO Patrick Daly says “will ultimately help surgeons address a critical need and improve patient care.”

Sections of tissue that get separated during surgery are supposed to be bonded by the adhesive, a process said to reduce accumulation of fluid and thereby improve patient safety.  About 40 people are expected to enroll in clinical trials this November to ascertain the safety and efficacy of TissueGlu.

What is Abdominoplasty?

Abdominoplasty, also known as the tummy tuck, is a common cosmetic procedure designed to reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen, whether it is due to weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or aging.  See our homepage to learn more about how Dr. Michael Leff performs tummy tuck surgery here in Bellevue, Washington.

Pharmaceutical company Allergan Inc. – the manufacturer of Botox -  has filed a suit against the FDA, contending that marketing restrictions for Botox are actually inconsistent with the interests of patients and physicians.

While Botox is commonly used, as FDA approved, to treat wrinkles on the face and forehead, a wide range of other treatment applications have been successfully used.  Doctors have used Botox to treat hyperhidrosis, migraine headaches, muscle spasms, and many other problems.

According to current U.S. law, doctors are permitted to administer medicine for whatever application they deem appropriate.  Doctors aren’t however, allowed to market medicine for any application they please.   Last year, the FDA announced that Botox reactions had been linked to off-label use, particularly in children treated for limb spasticity.

The marketing restrictions placed on off-label Botox have evidently hindered Alelrgan’s ability to distribute safety information related to such uses.  The current lawsuit is intended to increase the physician’s ability to access safety information such as possible risks, benefits, dosing, patient selection, etc. and is in no way intended to boost Botox sales.

Read more about Botox Cosmetic.

During consultations at our Bellevue office, patients often ask about breast augmentation and whether breast feeding could be disrupted in a future pregnancy.  Sometimes, they ask whether the presence of a synthetic implant poses any safety risk for the newborn.

It is uncommon, but a certain number of patients do experience a disruption in the ability to breast feed.  Usually, this problem is associated with the type of breast augmentation incision chosen.  If future breast feeding is a concern, you should investigate the surgical incision techniques that avoid manipulation of the nipple such as those near the armpit, breast crease, or navel.

Some surgeons will recommend sub-muscular breast implant placement as well, even though breast feeding is not necessarily compromised by sub-glandular (above the muscle) placement.

Research studies published in the late 90s regarding infant safety haven’t found any measurable risks associated with breast implants.  In the late 90s, a study was published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showing that women with silicone breast implants carry no higher levels of silicone (silicon) in their breast milk than women without implants.  It isn’t known what effect would occur if a small amount of silicone were to pass through to the infant.

If you still have concerns, feel free to speak with Dr. Leff or your OB/GYN.  Whether you plan to become pregnant or not, it is best to understand all of the possible breast augmentation risks before proceeding with surgery.

Dr. Leff is now offering permanent lip augmentation in his Bellevue, Washington office.

Although Dr. Leff’s Bellevue practice is known for performing mostly body contouring procedures, permanent lip augmentation with the SurgiSil Perma Facial Implant™ will now be an option available to our patients.

This single procedure can provide fuller, sexier lips in one visit.  Lip augmentation with Juvederm or Restylane has recently been the norm around Seattle, but such treatments offer only a temporary enhancement; to maintain their look, patients often have to return after less than 1 year.  The lip implants can be placed alone or during other facial plastic surgeries, such as a facelift, brow lift, rhinoplasty, or eyelid surgery.

Contact us for more information on the SurgiSil Perma Facial Implant.

The Beauty for Life survey conducted by the ASAPS and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found marked differences in the way certain age groups perceived beauty in themselves and their partners.  ASAPS President Renato Saltz says the survey was intended to help surgeons “understand what patients are most concerned about at different stages of their lives.”

Participants were grouped by age to determine how members of each generation approach physical appearance of the self, and physical appearance of a partner.

Survey respondents in their 20s, 30s, and 40s reported that a “fit, well proportioned body” was what they found most appealing in another person.  Patients over age 50 gave responses indicating that healthy skin was of significant importance.  When it came to their own physical characteristics, every age group was concerned about their faces.  The abdomen and hips were said to be areas of significant concern (especially in the 30s), but the breadth of patients said they were most conscious of their facial appearance.

In all age groups, use of cosmetic procedures ranked fairly high, alongside diet, exercise, and skin care.  Through the link listed below you can easily view the results (in a pdf file) of the Beauty for Life survey.

http://www.surgery.org/private/download/BFLUserSurvey.pdf

Blogs, news outlets, and even radio programs in the U.S. are making a buzz about a cosmetic surgery tax proposed to help finance health care reform. According to LA Times blog Top of the Ticket, the tax could attach a 10 percent charge to any elective procedure – your liposuction, tummy tuck, breast implants, or Botox could be heavily taxed. Political blog writers for the Speaker’s Lobby say the tax proposal is probably “off the table” for now, and that the idea likely came from a treasury department official.

People are taking issue with this so-called ‘Botax’ or ‘vanity tax’ for a few different reasons, but here are two arguments that keep being reiterated:

Would it be gender discrimination?

The tax would be paid almost entirely by women. Despite the growing popularity of cosmetic procedures for men, women still make up over 90 percent of the patient demographic in the United States. Obviously, imposing a tax such as the one in question would unfairly discriminate against women. Think about it this way: would a tax be imposed on men who purchase expensive tattoos, fashionable clothing, or bodybuilding equipment? It doesn’t seem likely.

Would it affect the upper or middle class?

There’s a common misconception that’s probably at work here: it’s that “only the rich and famous pursue cosmetic surgery.” Experience in the industry will show you otherwise. A 2004 survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons showed that “about a third of people considering plastic surgery reported average household incomes below $30,000.”

Recall this New York Times piece by Natasha Singer titled “Who Is the Real Face of Plastic Surgery?” Ms. Singer discusses the fact that a large number of patients choose to finance their cosmetic surgeries, just as they would a new car.

At our Bellevue surgery office, we think hair is pretty sexy actually, but it’s a different story when it’s anywhere other than on top of your head.  But don’t worry!  These days, it seems like the we have an endless array of options to remove unwanted body hair from the bikini line, back arms, and even the underarms

You could choose to keep shaving, plucking, using the different types of electronic tweezers, waxing, using creams, or electrolysis.  But these methods are basically temporary. The ideal method is laser hair removal.  It’s safe and permanent, and won’t feel any worse than a rubber band snapping against the skin.

Lasers send a low-energy beam through the skin. The dark pigment (melanin) present in the shaft of the hair follicles absorbs the laser beam. Initial hair reduction is seen immediately after treatment. Permanent results require repeated treatments because of the hair growth cycles.
There are different types of lasers that can be used to remove unwanted hair.  The first lasers approved for hair reduction by FDA were the ruby, alexandrite and diode lasers. But these could only be used on select individuals – not those with tans or ethnic skin.

The newest lasers have longer wavelengths and therefore, the ability to treat darker skin types, including African-American skin, Asian skin, and those with a tan.  One of the biggest benefits is the convenience; immediately following your hair removal treatment you can return to work, school or any of your regular activities.  Contact Overlake Plastic Surgeons for more information.