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By Allen D. Rosen, MD—Montclair, N.J. Monday, April 29, 2013
Plastic surgeons have always responded to the needs, wants and desires of the public for cosmetic treatments, and the newest trend in beautification of the upper arms is no different. New technologies and techniques have made it more reasonable to treat heavy upper arms, which have driven many patients crazy for years. It is no surprise that procedures to reshape the upper arms have increased over the past 10 years since the science and technology have finally come together to meet this demand.
Diet, exercise and for some, gastric bypass surgery, are transforming us into better physical shape than ever before and we want to show it off. Why not? Look good, feel better. But for some, areas of excess skin and fat resist all efforts of diet and exercise. 
No doubt that celebrity hard-bodies and fitness gurus inspire us all to be the best that we can be, but in the past when it came to upper arm reshaping, unsightly arm scars precluded many from having surgery. The patients who undergo massive weight loss have hanging “bat wings” and gladly trade this off for an inner arm scar. Gastric bypass has increased the number of patients like this in the past decade, but I have also seen many more patients, from teens to the elderly, who take charge of their lives and lose massive amounts of weight through diet and exercise alone. It’s definitely a phenomenal trend. Combine this with today’s barbed suture technology, fractional laser treatments, silicone-gel sheeting and other scar management treatments and you now have a greater population of patients getting better results from brachioplasty (arm lift) than ever before.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There were always so many patients with full, fatty, “pudgy” arms that were not candidates for brachioplasty and would be turned down for surgery. They can now have fat removal via improved liposuction techniques including traditional hand-held, power-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, laser-assisted and nonsurgical techniques that involve “fat freezing” or “thermal melting”. These reduce fat and all give some degree of skin tightening.
It’s no secret that the “Holy Grail” of plastic surgery has been to find ways to tighten skin without cutting it off and today’s energy-based devices are getting better by the minute. So by combining new methods of fat removal and skin tightening technologies, we can offer more patients, better results with less down time and minimal to no scarring.
The ASPS annual statistics showing the exponential growth of upper arm lifts definitely reflect the result of this “perfect storm” of new technologies/techniques and patient demand.
Botox
- Buy 25 units and get 10 free ($170 value)**
Juvederm
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Latisse
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**Must be Used During the Same Treatment Session
Limited Appointments Available with
Dr. Barry Citron, M.D., F.A.C.S.
May 6 – May 10th, 2013
and
Teresa Hartman, PA-C
May 10th, 2013
Please join The Plastic Surgery Group for an Ultherapy event on June 21st at 6pm. Attendees will receive 10% off Ultherapy – spaces are limited, so call 973-233-1933 to reserve your spot.
The Plastic Surgery Group is proud to announce that our very own Dr. Allen D. Rosen has once again been named a 2012 Jersey Choice Top Doctor in New Jersey Monthly’s annual survey of New Jersey doctors. It is a prestigious designation, as the list is determined by the state’s practicing physicians, who submit the names of doctors who they would recommend to a loved one. Dr. Rosen, who has been named a Top Doctor numerous times, was selected by his peers as a trusted and talented surgeon.
A study released by the Aesthetic Surgery Journal reported that 93% of patients are most concerned with a physician’s training and expertise. Carefully selecting a surgeon that is board-certified and highly-trained is a critical step in your decision to get cosmetic surgery. They are also two criteria many doctors consider when selecting a physician or surgeon.
Along with his already extensive education and training, Dr. Rosen is constantly improving his knowledge, skills and techniques to provide the best possible patient experience. He is published in several journals for his innovative strides in optimizing surgical procedures. Displaying great leadership, Dr. Rosen also takes an active role in many industry societies, associations and foundations.
New Jersey Monthly is only the most recent media outlet to feature Dr. Rosen. Good Morning America, MTV, Eyewitness News, CBS and NBC have profiled Dr. Rosen’s work. He has been an invited guest on News 12 New Jersey and numerous other network media shows. Allure, Shape, and Self magazines, the New York Daily News, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Times have interviewed Dr. Rosen for feature articles on cosmetic surgery, as well.
Visit this page to learn more about Dr. Rosen’s training, experience and activities as a practicing surgeon for over 25 years.
Congratulations, Dr. Rosen!
Recently, there seems to be a “buzz” about the rising number of chin augmentations performed in the United States. I must admit that the Plastic Surgery Group has noticed an increase number of patients who will consider this option as part of an overall approach to facial reshaping, contouring or rejuvenation. Generally, chin enlargement is not done as a stand-alone procedure, without other associated techniques like neck liposuction or nasal reshaping.
Facial rejuvenation has become more popular within the last couple years for many reasons, including the availability of new technologies. Chin augmentations may still lag behind rhinoplasty, facelift and eyelid surgeries, but now patients are aware of what we can offer as part of a more inclusive package.
Whether it is due to their own personal network or the media’s influence, patients are realizing the importance of balance for their face, allowing us, as surgeons, to take a more “global approach” during consultations. Patients tend to have multiple areas of focal concern, especially after they’ve seen a simulated 3D preview of their face before surgery. We use the Vectra 3D advanced imaging technique during consultation to develop a well-thought-out strategy. We then perform a virtual augmentation to let the patient experience a preview of the potential result before making their final decision.
Combination surgeries for a balanced and better end-result are becoming more popular. Some examples would be chin implants with nasal reshaping, or brow lift with eyelid rejuvenation. Chin augmentation is no longer secondary; it is now an integral part of the overall contour.
While recent statistics tout chin augmentation’s increased popularity, many are part of an overall facial rejuvenation, not stand-alone procedures. The actual number of chin augmentations performed remains lower than many other procedures so any relative increase may look statistically like it is outpacing the others. In any case, we, as surgeons, are thrilled to see patients starting to understand our goal of achieving “beauty in balance” and be and become more aware of just how important the lower face and chin contour are a big part of that.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ 2011 statistics, more than 1.5 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed in the U.S. last year. Of that number, 115,902 abdominoplasties, commonly referred to as tummy tucks, were performed. Most of these patients had to endure the discomfort associated with drains used for about a week following the surgery, designed to remove accumulations of fluid that collect under the skin after surgery. There is a better way, however, that is more comfortable without the need for painful drains.
Over the last five years, I’ve developed a specialized technique that offers patients seeking a tummy tuck a more comfortable and safe experience by eliminating the hassle of postoperative drains. Using a revolutionary, new suture technology with tiny barbs along the length of the stitch, and progressive tension technique, I create a “Velcro-like effect,” closing off spaces where fluid (seroma) could collect. It is a new technique based on an old concept that eliminates drains and the pain associated with them without increasing surgical procedure time. I was one of the first surgeons to perform, develop, publish and teach this technique. It is becoming more popular throughout the world since more patients are asking for procedures that are easier to recover from.
Details of the technique are published in several journals including Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Journal, and Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
The journals tell the medical side of the story. To hear what patients think, watch this video: Mommy Makeovers. You can also look at our before/after photos.
The Plastic Surgery Group is proud to announce that Dr. Valerie J. Ablaza, M.D. was inducted as President of The New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons this past weekend at the annual society meeting in Princeton. She is the first female to hold the rank of President of the state society in the modern era.
Dr. Ablaza will spend the year as president working closely with lobbyists and state government officials to support the enactment of policies and legislation that promote patient safety and education. The state society is always working to decrease out-of-pocket costs for patients in terms of insurance reimbursements as well as eliminating other add-on costs related to plastic surgery. New Jersey was the first state to implement a 6% tax on cosmetic procedures in 2004 and this past January, our state society’s tireless efforts led to a roll back of the cosmetic tax.
We look forward to a very busy and productive year for Dr. Ablaza as The New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons President.
Even though Botox and the names of many soft tissue fillers have gradually worked their way into everyday conversations, there are many unanswered questions about these regularly used products for cosmetic facial enhancements. One of the most common questions I hear is: “How often should I have this done?” While it may sound like a simple question, the answer is anything but straightforward. People like definitive answers or a formula to guide them, but unfortunately there is no right or wrong answer in this case.
In general, the effect of Botox that weakens muscle movement and therefore softens or eliminates facial wrinkles lasts from as little as three months to upwards of six months or more. Injectable gel-type materials to plump up creases usually persist for six months to more than a year, depending on the area of the face treated. The corrections achieved with both of these products gradually dissipate over time.
It may or may not be surprising that the timing people choose for subsequent treatments with Botox and fillers may not coincide with the expected duration of the product’s effect. In other words, a person may have another session of soft tissue fillers when the previously injected product has not completely disappeared or may return for additional Botox when there is still some wrinkle correction present. Of course, there are people who wait until all the effects of their Botox or fillers have completely worn off before returning for another treatment.
It’s best to avoid the “it looks good” then “it looks bad” cycle if possible. Getting additional Botox injections before the effect of the previous injections have completely worn off maintains a more consistent look without a more noticeable up and down variability. By following this routine, you can avoid “advertising” when you have gotten recent injections. It is no different than filling up the gas tank of your car before the “reserve” indicator lights up.
Deciding on when to return for one of these treatments is similar to the each person’s philosophy for getting manicures and hair coloring treatments. Do you wait until your highlights have grown out two inches or do you get a new treatment when you first begin to see your “roots”? Has your nail polish almost completely flaked off before you schedule your next mani?
From an economic standpoint, the total cost balances out over the course of the year. You can use a smaller amount of Botox and fillers more often or a larger amount of products less often. Some people choose to visit more frequently and use less of the product if they live close by or they may even time their visits as a method of budgeting their resources.
People have different philosophies on when they make a pit stop at the gas station, and they may or may not apply these same principles to how often they stop at their cosmetic surgeon’s office for a “refill”. The way I see it, there’s no reason to drive your car around running on fumes!
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