Dr. Rhys Branman's Cosmetic Surgery Blog

Bad News From Thailand

November 23, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

The Huffington Post has recently reported on a death in Thailand from cosmetic surgery. It seems that Thailand is being populated with inexpensive clinics where unqualified people are performing cosmetic surgery. A 33-year-old woman who hoped to become a model died recently from an illegal injection, and this is just one incident. As a board certified cosmetic surgeon, I am very happy the Health Ministry is cracking down on these clinics and arresting large numbers of "beauticians" who have been performing surgical procedures and injections. They are also called "Bag Doctors." These unqualified practitioners travel around with their bags of...

Breast Implants and Mammograms

November 21, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

The American Cancer Society estimates that 39,510 women will die from breast cancer in 2012, the ACS put out some critical information for women who have breast implants. The ACS recommends a mammogram every two years for women over 40. I want to make you aware of some significant information if you have implants from breast augmentation and were afraid to get that mammogram, or if you were just wondering if it mattered. YES! It does matter. And YES it will still work. It is true that if your implant was placed above the pectoral muscle part of your breast...

New Study From Norway

November 16, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

A recent study in Norway concluded that 49% of Norwegian women would consider cosmetic surgery. PhD. Iiná Márjá Jávo was surprised to find that half of the young women in her study were so amenable to cosmetic surgery. Most women wanted breast augmentation, liposuction or tummy tucks. Some of the women who participated in the study had been bullied about their looks. Others had eating disorders. In fact, apparently in Norway, there is a strong link between eating disorders and the desire for liposuction. Dr. Jávo has been the first to document this. In fact, she reported that "20% of women...

The Mathematics of Beauty

November 14, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Cosmetic surgery is about symmetry, proportion, and aesthetics. As humans, we naturally recognize another human face, we even recognize the distinction between a beautiful face and a not so attractive face. Somehow we do this without doing mathematical calculations in our heads too! But it turns out there is a mathematical aspect to beauty. It is a mathematic concept that you may have heard of , even if you are not sure what it means, called Phi. Phi is a ratio, a relationship of parts, and I am going to leave that as the definition because frankly, I don't want...

Dangerous Pumping Parties & Illegal Surgeries

November 13, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Over the past year, I have become horrified at the sheer amount of news stories reporting illegal cosmetic surgery. I have written about this before, but now I wondered just why the trend is on the increase. It seemed to me that it would be obvious that a patient would know that legitimate cosmetic surgery would not be performed in someone's apartment! I could not believe that people would risk their lives seeking procedures from people who were not medical professionals. Well it's about money. When people are desperate, for whatever reason, they will try to cut corners. Just this...

What Is Cellulite? Why Does Cellulite Form?

November 9, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Cellulite is not a medical term at all. The term "cellulite" was made up to refer to the dimples of fat some people accumulate over the years. Cellulite is plain old body fat that is mixed in with connective tissue. The connective tissue under the skin is made up of fibrous bands called septae. These septae that connect the skin to the muscle underneath become stiff and contract as we age. As the septae contract, the fat deep in the connective tissue is squeezed outward. The result is the skin appears to have a dimpled appearance. Thus cellulite is formed....

Confused About Various Cosmetic Skin Treatments?

November 8, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Do you wonder what the difference is between a Micro Laser Peel and micro-dermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing and a chemical peels? Many Arkansas cosmetic skin resurfacing treatment patients are confused! Let me explain the options I offer for cosmetic skin resurfacing treatments at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center. Please feel free to click on the highlighted links to see just who would be a candidate for each procedure. I use the latest technology for all of these procedures. Micro-dermabrasion (the word is a combination of derm = skin and abrasion =  abrading, or sanding ) is advanced exfoliation procedure. Micro-dermabrasion...

Manboobs?

November 6, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Remember the "bro" otherwise known as the "manssiere?" Now, before you laugh yourself silly, remembering  the episode of the Seinfeld show in which Kramer and George's father invent  this product for manboobs, know that this overdevelopment of the male breast is a real condition. It is called gynecomastia and about half of the male population has enlarged breasts to some degree, at some point in their lives. Several types of gynecomastia exist and may have to be treated differently. Pure glandular gynecomastia can occur in men with lean bodies. In this case the excess tissue is composed almost completely of...

The Right Way to Approach Cosmetic Surgery

November 5, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Vivian Diller, Ph.D., a psychologist in New York City, uses the acronym S.A.F.E. to remember to ask the right questions before you have cosmetic work done on your face or your body. The letters of the acronym stand for Safe, Affordable, For Whom, and Expectations. A recent article in the Huffington Post touts her 2010 book 'Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change.' Ms. Diller was a professional dancer and model before she became a psychologist. There is no doubt experience in these professions has given her an educated view of cosmetic surgery, why women want procedures,...

Celebrity Gossip?

November 2, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

When it comes to celebrities and the tabloids, all we hear about is cosmetic surgery gone wrong. But what about all those subtle, successful cosmetic surgeries the stars have had? The camera picks up every flaw and shadow. Movies stars are paid to be splashed across the big screen for our inspection. And celebrities don't have a lot of privacy out on the streets either. I was in Hollywood, a while back, in the Beverly Hills Mall actually, and found myself standing at a checkout line next to Ed Marinaro who looked excessively self conscious. Later in Starbucks, across the...

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