Woman with Largest Breasts Faces Staph Infection Complication

July 26th, 2010 by editor2

Sheyla HersheyA Brazilian woman with the largest breasts in the world is experiencing complications following her latest breast surgery.

Sheyla Hershey has undergone more than 30 plastic surgeries, and, according to Fox News in Houston, she suffered her first complication when a severe staph infection reached both of her breasts following her most recent breast augmentation procedure in Brazil earlier this summer.

Hershey, a mom who lives in Houston, said her new surgeon told her she should be concerned for her life because the infection could leak into her bloodstream. To fight the infection, Hershey has had to give herself infusions of intravenous antibiotics every twelve hours and is undergoing further treatment, possibly to remove her implants according to news reports. Hershey’s website, www.sheylahershey.net, provides updates on her condition.

Dr. Michael Will, a cosmetic surgeon near Washington, D.C., and president of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, says that infection related to breast augmentation is rare, and when encountered, the implants frequently need to be removed and replaced at a later date.

He stressed the importance of the consultation between the doctor and patient prior to surgery:

Breast augmentation procedures should be preceded by a comprehensive consultation between the cosmetic surgeon and the patient, where the patient’s concerns and expectations are discussed in relation to the patient’s breast and chest wall anatomy.

An effective evaluation and treatment plan should result in a post-operative outcome that reaches a balance between the patient’s expectations and the surgeon’s surgical and anatomical limitations to yield an esthetic and healthy outcome. When the surgical tissue tension and stress exceed the capacity for normal healing, wound breakdown and infection often develop.

Dr. Branman performs several breast surgery procedures—including breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast implant replacement—in his Little Rock Surgery practice. His website has more information on breast augmentations risks.

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Claire Danes Shows Off her Latisse-enhanced Lashes

July 20th, 2010 by editor2

Claire Danes Latisse before and after photosActress Claire Danes, the latest celebrity spokesperson for Latisse, shows off her new longer lashes in a before and after photo gallery posted on latisse.com.

Latisse is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA to grow lashes longer, fuller and darker. Since its approval by the FDA in December 2008, about 1.5 million kits of Latisse have been sold. Brooke Shields was the first celebrity spokesperson to use and promote Allergan’s eyelash product.

With photos at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of product use, the before and after gallery illustrates the product’s effectiveness on Danes’s eyelashes. The gallery also showcases her lashes at multiple angles, including front, angled and profile views, which clearly show her lash growth. According to the website, none of the photos were retouched.

Danes says she became a “Latisse girl” because she was curious about the product. “The more I learned about Latisse, the more impressed I was. I’ve never used a product that actually affected real physical change,” she explains.

Allergan discovered the active ingredients of Latisse during 2001 clinical trials of Lumigan, a widely-used glaucoma drug. In clinical studies of Lumigan, doctors observed abnormally long lashes among users of the drug. This led Allergan to study the active ingredient in this other product, and after a clinical trial, Latisse earned FDA approval.

During research of Latisse, doctors reported on average:

  • 25 percent increase in eyelash length
  • 106 percent increase in eyelash fullness
  • 18 percent darkening of the eyelashes

Latisse is applied once-a-day to the base of the upper eyelashes, and patients usually start to see results in a few weeks; if you stop applying Latisse, your eyelashes return to normal.

Dr. Branman carries the drug at his Arkansas cosmetic surgery practice and reports that his patients love it. (Before and after photo via latisse.com)

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Botox Gets U.K. License as Migraine Treatment

July 14th, 2010 by editor2

The U.K.’s drug regulator became the first in the world to approve Botox as a treatment for preventing chronic migraine headaches, Allergan announced last week. While it is best known as a wrinkle treatment, it can now be used on migraine patients in the U.K. who have headaches at least 15 days a month, including migraines on 8 days.

The U.K. approval could shortly precede a decision on Botox as a migraine treatment from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The clinical trial had 1,384 adult participants who had a history of migraines and who experienced 15 or more headache days of which at least 50 percent were migraine or probable migraine during the trial’s 28-day baseline period. After the baseline, patients were randomized to receive either Botox injections or placebo.

Patients who received Botox averaged 8.2 fewer migraine days by week 24 following treatment, which was significantly greater than the change from baseline observed in placebo-treated patients of 6.2 days.

Lee Tomkins, director of the U.K.’s Migraine Action, stressed it was not a “cure” but said it offered hope for those who suffer the most frequent migraines. “We have been following these studies really closely and the evidence is really pretty solid. These people spend half their lives in pain. Even if they get half the attacks, it can really improve their quality of life,” said Tomkins.

In 2009, Botox was the number one minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ most recent statistics. Botox is also the most  popular non-surgical treatment at Dr. Branman’s Little Rock office.

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Thermage Featured on Today Show

July 7th, 2010 by editor2

NBC’s Today Show recently profiled four women who received noninvasive skin treatments, including Thermage.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Dr. Anne Chapas, a dermatologist in New York City, explained to Meredith Vieira how she used Thermage to help patients with skin laxity. Thermage was developed to tighten skin without surgery. It works by using radio frequency energy to heat the tissue below the skin while it keeps the skin surface cool. This “tightens” existing collagen and stimulates new collagen growth.

Lisa, a new mom, received Thermage treatment on her stomach. She explained that she had a lot of extra flab in her mid section after her second child. According to Lisa, Thermage tightened her belly and helps her fit better in her clothes.

Thermage can also be used to tighten the face. Lisa B. was suffering from skin discoloration, breakouts and blotches, and looseness. She first received Thermage treatment, which helped tighten her skin and build collagen, followed the next week by a noninvasive treatment called Fraxel to help even out her skin tone.

Thermage treatments are available at Dr. Branman’s Little Rock, Arkansas office.

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A Simple, Low-cost Way to Fight Aging

June 28th, 2010 by editor2

Between your cosmetic procedures, don’t forget about everyday ways to fight aging. You probably know some of the more common ones—such as wear sunscreen and don’t smoke. But one thing you may not have thought of as anti-aging: flossing.

Flossing daily may help fight the effects of aging over the long-term. You leave 40 percent of your teeth dirty with bacteria if you’re not flossing, which causes staining and yellowing between and around teeth, Dr. Eugene Antenucci, a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, told MSNBC for a recent article.

Too much plaque can lead to gingivitis—the first stage of gum disease. Symptoms of gum disease include red, swollen, or bleeding gums, receding gums, and the formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums, according to WebMD. If left untreated, it can end with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth.

“You register an older look because you see more spaces, less and uneven gum tissue,” according to Antenucci. Hence the old saying that someone looks “long in the tooth.”

Eventually gum disease can cause the bones underneath to dissolve away, explains Dr. Donald Clem, a dentist in Fullerton, Calif. “In later stages of periodontal disease we would see disfigurement in terms of caving in of the lips and cheek and wrinkles around the lips and cheeks.”

In a recent study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal, researchers looked at issues related to how specific bony aspects of the face change with age and what implications these structural changes may have on the techniques used in facial cosmetic surgery, according the abstract.

So between your cosmetic procedures—whether it’s a breast augmentation or Botox—don’t forget that good hygiene, such as flossing daily, can go a long way in helping you age well. Dr. Branman offers a full range of surgical and non-surgical procedures in Little Rock, Arkansas to help patients look their best.

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Injectable Advancement Means Less Pain for Patients

June 21st, 2010 by editor2

The July 2010 issue of Cosmetic Surgery Times reports that the U.S. injectables market now offers lidocaine-containing versions of popular hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that is injected directly into the body area and decreases pain by temporarily numbing that area, according to WebMD.

Three injectables won FDA approval in February 2010 for lidocaine versions in the U.S.:

Dr. Michael H. Gold, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and School of Nursing, says the products performed similarly to their lidocaine-free predecessors in terms of efficacy and safety.

Furthermore, in the clinical trials, he says, “The incorporation of lidocaine has surely provided a higher comfort level for patients.”

Based on his clinical experience, Dr. Gold says when undergoing an injection that includes even a small percentage of lidocaine, “Most patients say they barely feel the second stick. To me that is the home run of lidocaine in these fillers.”

In the 72-patient trial of Juvederm XC, patients were blindfolded and their nasolabial folds were treated with either Juvederm or Juvederm XC. Patients assessed pain levels during treatment and then 30 minutes and 24 hours post-treatment. In the study, 93 percent reported less pain when treated with the lidocaine formulation versus the non-lidocaine formulation of Juvéderm.

The FDA also cleared a method for doctors mixing lidocaine with Radiesse in July 2009. “Originally, I was against doctors mixing a lot of fillers because I was afraid of potential changes in the products themselves,” says Dr. Gold. But once the FDA clears these products, especially those premixed by manufacturers, “I’m pretty comfortable with it.”
Both Juvederm and Restylane are offered at Dr. Branman’s Little Rock office.

Read the full story from Cosmetic Surgery Times: “Fillers with lidocaine among latest injectable advancements.”

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Plastic Surgery Becomes Popular Gift for Grads

June 14th, 2010 by editor2

One of the latest trends in plastic surgery is for teens to receive a procedure as a graduation gift, according to Crain’s New York Business’s recent article “Pomp and rhinoplasty honor grads.”

The demand for plastic surgery among teens has grown in the last few years, and it’s becoming a popular graduation gift for high school and college grads.

Over  8,000 U.S. teenagers aged 18 and 19 had breast enlargements in 2009—more than triple the number in 2001, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The increase was seen during the recession, at a time when there was a drop in the overall number of plastic surgeries.

Teens make up just 2 percent of all cosmetic surgery patients in the United States, but their numbers are growing. Surrounded by reality shows like Extreme Makeover and an increasing openness in America about plastic surgery has led to more teenagers asking their parents for nips and tucks according to Crain’s.

“In the past few years, I’ve seen more younger people doing more plastic surgery than ever before,” says Dr. Andrew Jacono, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in New York City. “There’s a lot of pressure on young people to look a certain way, and when kids go away to college, it’s a chance to start all over.”

The most popular procedures for teens include nose jobs, liposuction and breast augmentations. “Breast surgery is at the top of the list for graduates now,” said Dr. Mauro Romita, a plastic surgeon in Manhattan.

Stephanie Michelle, who graduated from the University of Buffalo this year, first asked for a nose job for her high school graduation present. Her parents said no, but they promised to pay if she still wanted the surgery when she graduated from college. Now the family is researching doctors.

“This is the perfect time to do it,” says Ms. Michelle. “I am going to be on my own and moving to the city and becoming an adult.”  To learn more about this trend, view the full story at Crain’s New York Business.

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Preserving Ethnic Traits in Rhinoplasty: How Cosmetic Surgeons Are Doing It

June 7th, 2010 by newseditor

In a new article for ModernMedicine.com cosmetic surgeons are discussing rhinoplasty and how they meet the needs of a patient who wants to maintain his or her ethnic appearance.

“There are subtle things that we can do to make a change in the profile, in the definition of the nose, without changing their ethnicity, without intrinsically changing their appearance,” said Charles M. Boyd M.D.

For surgeons, managing the patient’s expectations is important.  Likewise for the patient, communicating desires and aesthetic goals for rhinoplasty is critical.  Each doctor-patient relationship will go through this process in a different way.  One emerging trend facilitating this communication process is the use of 3-dimensional imaging to visually approximate the results that can be achieved.

“I use computer imaging and this is very helpful in pinpointing what patients are trying to achieve, and it enables them to see what’s in my mind as well,” said Steven B. Hopping M.D.

When it comes down to operating, there are of course, anatomical considerations for the ethnic patient.  To learn more about how these surgeons approach rhinoplasty in patients of Asian, African American, and Middle Eastern descent, read the article.

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Surgeons Gather for Annual Breast Surgery Workshop

May 17th, 2010 by newseditor

40 surgeons recently gathered in Ohio for the 4th annual Breast Surgery Workshop.  To attend, doctors from England, Canada, Taiwan, and other areas of the U.S. traveled to the practice of Cincinnati cosmetic surgeon Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown.

Sponsored by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the nation’s largest medical society of cosmetic surgeons, the 3 day workshop focused on procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction surgery. “Our course has earned excellent recognition and is one of the most popular breast courses in the Academy,” said Dr Mandell-Brown.

The doctors discussed the latest development in cosmetic breast surgery.  Through a combination of lectures, surgery, and anatomy labs, the visiting physicians can improve their skills.  “It’s also a great way to showcase Cincinnati to our visiting doctors” observed Therese Holden, Nursing director.  She added, “we really strive to make this an outstanding educational experience for the participants.”

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National Women’s Health Week is May 9-15

May 10th, 2010 by newseditor

National Women’s Health Week began yesterday and continues until May 15, 2010. During this time, we should “recommit to breaking existing barriers and improving the health of American women for generations to come,” says a proclamation by President Barack Obama.

The official press release recommends several steps to help achieve these goals, including the following:

  • Lead healthy lives and set an example for your children.
  • Take advantage of preventive care with routine screenings and checkups.
  • Practice simple everyday activities like using sunscreen, exercising regularly, and eating healthy.
  • Emphasize the role of women in promoting the vitality of our children and communities.

The federal government also offers several online resources for promoting the goals of women’s health week, including the Whitehouse Council on Women and Girls, womenshealth.gov, and girlshealth.gov.

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