A diet high in fruits and veggies after cosmetic surgery may aid the healing process, according to a new study from Brazil. The researchers wanted to see if the additional intake of fruits and vegetables would result in a reduction of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation and infection.

Researchers asked 60 women (age 25-60) undergoing cosmetic abdominal surgery to eat six servings each of fruits and vegetables a day during the first month following surgery. According to the researchers, “fruits and vegetables are attractive tools for the combat of inflammation because of their rich endowment of anti-inflammatory vitamins.”

Participants started the diet on the third day after surgery and continued it for four weeks afterward. Interviews were held with participants the second and third week to rule out changes in dietary habits and to reinforce compliance with the diet.

The supplemented participants had more substantial fruit (5.2 vs. 3.9 servings, approximately) and vegetable (5.9 vs. 3.4 servings) consumption compared to the control group.

Results showed that C-reactive protein diminished in both groups, but a “more expressive decrease could be demonstrated for the high fruit and vegetable participants.”

The authors concluded that increasing servings of fruits and vegetables after surgery can be a feasible strategy to reduce C-reactive protein in adults. They also recommended future studies that focus on additional inflammatory markers, different disease contexts and longer periods of supplementation and follow-up.

The full study can be accessed through Pubmed.gov.

Two women recently shared with the TODAY Show how they got their ideal breast size through breast surgery: one with breast augmentation and the other with breast reduction surgery.

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Erica says before her breast augmentation she described herself as being in the “negative category” for breast size.

Jeanne was a triple D and only 4’9” and says it was a constant struggle for her to be active in her small frame before her breast reduction. In addition, she had neck, back and shoulder pain and rashes under her breasts.

Both women wanted to be a C cup, and they achieved it through breast surgery.

The women appeared on the TODAY Show about two weeks after their surgeries. Jeanne says that after surgery she saw her stomach for the first time in the shower.

Erica, who chose silicone implants, says breast augmentation is something she’s always wanted to do and that she’s more than happy with the results.

The women’s surgeon, Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, says that there is more scarring with breast reduction than augmentation, although the scarring for reductions is less than it used to be and that surgeons have gotten better at shaping the breasts in reductions.

Do different nationalities prefer different cosmetic surgery procedures? A  New York Times article finds that often different ethnic groups choose procedures that are “tailored to their cultural preferences and ideals of beauty.”

“When a patient comes in from a certain ethnic background and of a certain age, we know what they’re going to be looking for. We are sort of amateur sociologists,” said Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, of Long Island Plastic Surgical Group.

Here are examples of  some of the ethnic trends doctors interviewed for the story reported seeing:

• Egyptians are getting face lifts.
• Iranians favor nose jobs.
• Dominicans are getting buttocks lifts.
• Russian women favor breast augmentation.

Cosmetic surgery has been growing in populartiy within ethnic groups in the United States. A 2010 survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery revealed that more than half of the respondents thought the popularity of cosmetic surgery had grown among members of their racial/ethnic group in the last five years.

Motivations for ethnic cosmetic procedures seem to have changed according to Victoria Pitts-Taylor, a sociology professor at Queens College. She said that in the early days of cosmetic surgery immigrants underwent procedures to try to look “more American.”

Today, however, rather than trying to fit in, many immigrants have procedures that reflect their home culture’s trends.

“My patients are proud of looking Hispanic,” said Dr. Jeffrey Yager, whose office is in a largely Dominican neighborhood in Manhattan. “I don’t get the patients who want to obscure their ethnicity.”

One Dominican patient of Dr. Yager’s is Italia Vigniero, 27, who got breast implants in 2008 and is considering a buttocks lift. “We Latinas define ourselves with our bodies,” she said. “We always have curves.”

The doctors pointed out that in addition to their own cultures, immigrants are also influenced by American pop culture and reality TV shows about cosmetic surgery.

There are a variety of liposuction techniques, from an ultrasound-assisted liposuction device to a laser, but which ones do surgeons prefer? A new survey revealed that suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL), which is considered traditional liposuction, was the preferred method of fat removal for over half of the plastic surgeons who responded.

“In a field that is so rapidly advancing, it is essential to continually evaluate new technologies and methods to ensure that we maintain the safety of our patients,” said Jamil Ahmad, MD, lead author of the survey, which was published in the February issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

The survey explored surgeons’ preferences on liposuction, and for the 492 who responded, the preferred method of fat removal from most to least popular was:

• Suction-assisted lipo (SAL) (51.4 percent)
• Power-assisted lipo (PAL) (23.0 percent)
• Ultrasound-assisted lipo (UAL) (20.9 percent)
• Laser-assisted lipo (LAL) (3.9 percent)

Most of the surgeons who responded perform between 51 and 100 liposuctions per year, and they had the most experience with SAL, UAL and PAL liposuction. The surgeons had less experience with laser-assisted liposuction (12.8 percent), mesotherapy (5.7 percent) and noninvasive devices (12.8 percent).

“Our survey found that ASAPS members tend to more frequently employ the fat removal methods that have the longest track records and the most data to support their efficacy and safety,” said Ahmad. “In the future, we may notice preferences shift as we see additional prospective data comparing techniques, and as we gain more experience with newer methods. These factors will also help us continue to improve safety-related standards of care.”

Dr. Haiavy performs traditional liposuction (suction-assisted liposuction) and VASER liposuction, which uses ultrasound technology for fatty tissue emulsion and aspiration.

 FDA APPROVES EXPANDED USE OF LAP-BAND® ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING SYSTEM FOR OBESE ADULTS Obese Adults with a BMI of 30-40 with at Least One Obesity Related Comorbid Condition Now Qualify for LAP-BAND® System Procedure When All Other Conservative Weight-loss Therapies Have Failed

Obesity is the second-leading cause of preventable death in the United States, second only to smoking.

 To view Lap Band Patient testimonials, visit our surgical site at https://www.surgicalartsinlandempire.com/lap-band-patient-story-1.html 

Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the expanded use of the LAP-BAND® System, Allergan’s gastric band, for adults with obesity who have failed more conservative weight reduction alternatives, such as diet and exercise and pharmacotherapy, and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30-40 and at least one obesity related comorbid condition.

Currently, approximately 37 million Americans have a BMI of 30-40 and at least one comorbid condition,1,2 underscoring obesity as a growing health epidemic in the United States and the need for additional effective treatment options. 3 Given its known correlation to life-threatening comorbid conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and even premature death, obesity is a disease that requires medical treatment. Medical research has found that, if left untreated, those individuals who are currently obese will likely remain obese.4 However, not all weight-loss treatments are effective over the long term – as a preponderance of data, published literature and scientific research have found that diet and exercise is unsuccessful in 80-85% of patients at one year.5,6

January was a busy month for Dr. Jacob Haiavy as he gave three lectures at two different conferences he attended.

At the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s (AACS) 27th Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix, Dr. Haiavy was a lecturer at two sessions.

The first talk he gave was on the topic of “pocket revisions” as part of the “The Art of Cosmetic Breast Surgery” workshop.

He also gave a second lecture at the meeting in conjunction with Dr. Angelo Cuzalino, the current president of the AACS, on “Breast Implant Revision Surgery: Indications and Use of Capsulorraphies, Capsulotomies, Capsulectomies and Grafting Techniques (Allogenic & Synthetic).” During the talk, the surgeons explained how to correct asymmetries and other difficult problems that may occur in breast implant patients, such as implant displacement.

Dr. Javad Tavassoli, who is currently in the Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship Program at Dr. Haiavy’s office, also gave a talk at the AACS meeting on the “use of mesh reinforcement during abdominoplasty.” The results of this case report were published in the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery.

Dr. Haiavy also traveled to Monterey, Calif., where he spoke to members of the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons on January 16 about “Facial Cosmetic Procedures as an Adjunct to One’s Aesthetic Practice.” His talk covered the use of neurotoxins such as Botox, Dysport, and fillers (including Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra and Artefill) as well as the use of facial implants, such as mandibular implants, cheek implants or chin implants, and submental liposuction.

Dr. Haiavy serves on the board of trustees and as chair of the written board committee for the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and as secretary for the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. He was also elected to the board of trustees for the AACS.

Earlier this month, msnbc.com published a women’s health article titled “Nipped, tucked and wide awake” that investigates low cost cosmetic surgery under local anesthesia. The article is getting attention from those in the cosmetic medical field because it raises awareness about what could be a growing trend in cosmetic surgery.

To understand the issue more clearly, we asked Inland Empire cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jacob Haiavy to answer a few pertinent questions.

When is the right time for local anesthesia, i.e. an awake operation?

Local anesthesia – or better yet – tumescent anesthesia is a recognized method of numbing an area of the body for liposuction or small surgeries.  It has had an excellent safety record when done properly by trained cosmetic surgeons.  On the other hand, local anesthesia is not effective for longer, more extensive surgery cases.  Patients tend to become restless and the effects of anesthesia wear off after a couple of hours.

At Inland cosmetic we perform the majority of the procedures under general anesthesia or IV sedation with an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist supervising and monitoring the patient at all times.  Our patient’s comfort as well as safety is of utmost important to us.  We do a selected number of small procedures under local anesthesia with the patient’s consent.

Is breast augmentation or liposuction being performed under local anesthesia in Rancho Cucamonga and the Inland Empire?

There are physicians in my community that perform liposuction under local anesthesia but I do not know of anyone doing breast augmentations that way.

Outside of California and the United States, the practice of liposuction under local anesthesia is more common. In fact, the majority of liposuction cases in Europe are performed under local anesthesia.

New statistics show that in 2010 three fourths of cosmetic facial procedures performed in the U.S. were non-surgical, highlighting the trend toward less-invasive treatments. The survey results came from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).

The survey also found there was a 45 percent increase in the number of facial procedures performed annually over the last two years and a 16 percent increase in non-surgical facial procedures in the same time period.

“Non-surgical procedures are an excellent option for some people, with the added benefits of lower costs and shorter recovery time; two things that are consistently important to those considering facial plastic surgery,” said Dr. Jonathan M. Sykes. “We have been seeing a trend over the past few years that people who want to look and feel younger and rejuvenated are turning to non-surgical, less invasive procedures to obtain the refreshed look they want.”

The most popular non-surgical facial procedures in 2010:

• Botox
• Hyaluronic acid injections

The most popular surgical facial procedures in 2010:

• Rhinoplasty
• Face lift
• Eyelid surgery

Women received the majority of procedures; 83 percent of all surgical and non-surgical facial procedures in 2010 were performed on women.

Brow lifts, face lifts and eyelid surgery were the surgical procedures performed the most on women between the ages of 35 and 60, while a nose job was the top surgical procedure performed on younger women (under 35).

As for men, Botox, hyaluronic acid injections, nose jobs and hair transplants were the most common facial procedures performed last year.

The survey also found there was an increase in ethnic patients: two out of five surgeons reported an increase in their Asian American and Hispanic patients in 2010.

For more information on the survey, visit www.aafprs.org.

One of the topics with the biggest buzz at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s (AACS) 27th Annual Scientific Meeting, which recently wrapped up in Phoenix, was stem cells and their future in cosmetic surgery.

“We’ve learned that your own fat is a great source for stem cells,” said Dr. Mark Berman. “With our current technology, we can harvest fat and actually separate the stem cells.”

The AACS believes that cosmetic surgeons will be one of the principal players in this area of medicine.

“Not only will this be the next major plateau in cosmetic surgery, this is likely to represent the next major breakthrough in medicine in general,” Dr. Berman said.

A patient’s fat can be fortified with stem cells and then used for rejuvenation procedures for the face, hands, breast and other areas of the body. Liposuction, which many cosmetic surgeons perform, will most likely be the foundation for many stem cell procedures in the future.

Dr. Berman also stressed to American Health and Beauty that there are differences between fat transfers and stem cell procedures.

“I’ve been hearing people say ‘We’re doing this stem cell facelift, we’re doing the stem cell breast augmentation,’ stuff like that. That may be good for marketing but only as long as the patient understands what they’re getting.”

For the most part these procedures are simply fat transfer procedures, according to Dr. Berman. “Some physicians do separate and concentrate stem cells before injection, but these are not miracle procedures. More research is needed,” he said.

In other news from the annual meeting, dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD, told New You magazine that the “no-needle Botox” topical gel from Revance is set to begin phase 3 trials.

Also, Dr. Angelo Cuzalina of Tulsa Surgical Arts was named the new president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery at the meeting.

A recent Good Morning America segment looked at how some teens are considering cosmetic surgery in order to stop teasing and bullying they endure because of their appearance.

One teen featured was high school senior Erica Morgo, who says she was bullied by her classmates in middle school because of her nose. “They would call me Pinocchio. And in school, in class, people would point it out. I felt helpless. I felt like a loser,” she said.

Her mother, Dana Manzella, allowed Erica to undergo rhinoplasty at age 15.

“I think that was definitely a good decision, because it brought her back — her self-esteem back up to be able to do activities that she did before, with comfort,” Manzella said.

Good Morning America said that nearly 90,000 teenagers had cosmetic surgery in 2007, and that doctors say the numbers are growing.

“I do see a fair amount of parents coming in with their child because of bullying and teasing and feelings of self-consciousness,” said cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Fiorillo. “My preference is, of course, to work out the issues first, the bullying, the teasing. But there are certain situations where people are mature enough. And surgery is a final resort.”

Nose jobs, breast reductions, breast augmentations and ear tucks are some of the more popular cosmetic surgeries for teenagers.

Michelle Martin, another teen featured in the segment, got a breast augmentation at age 19, after years of being teased for having a small chest.

She said while the recovery from surgery was painful, it was a small price to pay to make up for the scars left by years of teasing and feelings of inadequacy. She said she “absolutely” feels prettier.

“This was just something to make me feel better. To make me happy. To make me feel like a beautiful woman,” said Martin.