Everyone has been touched in some way by breast cancer. No family should lose a mother prematurely. Or a dear friend, sister, wife, daughter, co-worker. No one of us, just diagnosed, should have to look at the mirror in the morning and say: Will I survive? Everyone deserves a lifetime: We feel it deep in our bones.

Finding a cure can now be a reality within our grasp. Each step the participants take on the Breast Cancer 3-Day brings us closer to ending the disease forever.

We at Inland Cosmetic Surgery are dedicated to finding a cure for this horrible disease. We are now proud sponsors of a team of courageous and strong women who are helping make this dream a reality. We have sponsored them so that they will not only meet their fundraising goals, but also for their tee shirts and overcoats

Dr. Haiavy has also decided to donate $100 from each surgery booked between September 1, 2008 and November 1, 2008 to the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. In addition, if any patient wishes to donate more to this cause, Dr. Haiavy will MATCH their donation as well. All monies raised from us will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust, funding important breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment.

We strongly believe that we can make a difference and have taken the first steps into reaching our goal of finding a cure. If you would like more information about this wonderful cause, you can visit the Susan G. Komen Foundation site at www.the3day.org to join the walk or make a donation. Our team, God’s Property, with the leadership of Lisa Nichols, star of the Secret, is an exceptional group of women who are dedicated in making a difference. We thank them for their hard work in training now and wish them luck on their 60 mile walk on November 21 to 23, 2008.

One of the most important decisions a woman has to make is what size implant fits her body the best.

Most women that are interested in breast augmentation have been thinking about it for months, if not years. They usually have an idea of what they want to achieve and what would look good on them.

Unfortunately breast implants do not come in “Cup Sizes” and frankly cup sizing is not a standard size therefore every manufacturer has a different template or pattern for their cup size. For example you may fit in to a Macy’s “B” cup bra and be a full “c” cup in Victoria’s Secret.

The implants come in increments of ounces. One ounce is equal to 30 cc’s. When patients come to our office for a consultation, we do an initial sizing and then recommend that they do a similar exercise at home with rice or bird seeds placed in to a stocking or nylon. Use a measuring cup to measure the number of ounces, then place in the nylon, tie the top, and mark the number of ounces for future identification. You can make three different sizes for example 12, 13 and 14 ounces.

Then buy the bra size you want to fill. Make sure that there is no added padding! Place the implants you made in to the bra and try some of your clothes. See which one of the implants gives you the best look and proportion. Have Fun! Have a fashion show with your husband, partner or your girl friends. Wear the implants around for a few days and see how you feel living with that size. You can even wear them to work. If you want to look larger or smaller make a pair of one ounce larger or smaller baggy.

When you come to your pre-op appointment approximately two weeks before your surgery, bring your favorite “baggies” with you along with the bra so we can see specifically the size you want.

Based on your physical examination and the measurements I take during the consultation and the amount of ounces you like on the outside of your breast, we can choose an implant size that will fit your body the best and imitate what you like. I will make adjustments to the number of ounces you come up with because the implants look smaller when they are inside the body.

(Moderate, Moderate Plus or High Profile) that fits your body the best.

Some times I see my patients struggling with the number of ounces or cc’s that they want in their implant. Let me just reassure you that we will guide you through this process and help you reach your goal. In addition, let me inform that an ounce of saline which is 30 cc’s is equivalent to two table spoons of water.

One ounce adjustment to your implant will not make a significant difference in your cup size. To make that much of a difference, on an average size person we will need to add or take off five full ounces or 150 cc’s. Therefore please concentrate on the look and proportions more than on the cc’s when you do your home work and enjoy the process. This will be a life changing and rewarding event for you.

–Dr. Haiavy

One of the most important decisions when considering cosmetic surgery is choosing the right doctor to perform your procedure.

When considering cosmetic surgery, patients are almost universally unaware of the difference between “cosmetic surgery” and “plastic surgery.” For this reason, they may easily be misled to believe board certification in plastic surgery evidences a physician’s competence to perform cosmetic surgery. This is not always the case.

The truth of the matter is that a label or name does not guarantee a good outcome for the patient. To add to the confusion, many physicians use the term “cosmetic surgeon” loosely even though they are not specifically trained or certified in Cosmetic Surgery.

A patient seeking cosmetic surgery should know that a fellowship trained cosmetic surgeon, who specializes in the procedure you are seeking, is the most qualified surgeon to perform your cosmetic surgery.

A “fellowship” is an elite qualification that only a small percentage of surgeons performing cosmetic surgery can claim. A surgeon who has had an additional “fellowship” training has completed a focused and intense specialized training in a particular area of interest. This underscores a surgeon’s interest, commitment, and experience in performing procedures in that area of specialization.

Therefore when considering cosmetic surgery, you should seek the surgeon that specializes in the procedure you are interested in. To help give you guidance, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the nation’s largest interdisciplinary medical organization devoted exclusively to cosmetic surgery, has prepared guidelines with points to consider in helping you make an informed choice.

Qualified cosmetic surgeons will welcome your questions about their background and be pleased that you are concerned enough to ask. Here are some guidelines to assist you in selecting a qualified cosmetic surgeon:

First figure out what you want to improve about yourself. If unsure, interview a few doctors since there are different ways of performing a procedure.

• • Ask about the surgeon’s experience with the procedure you are considering.
• • Ask how many procedures of this kind has the surgeon performed and how many does he/she currently perform per year?
• • Look at before and after pictures and make sure that it is theirs. This may give you some indication of the surgeon’s ability.
• • Ask about previous patients that you can speak with regarding your procedure(s).
• • Ask about the anesthesia and the facility. Find out who will be administering the anesthesia and where will the procedure be performed.
• • Make sure that you are comfortable with the personal rapport between you and your surgeon.
• • In addition, you should feel at ease with the staff. You should always feel that your concerns are being addressed.

While there are several certifying boards that claim that their members have special qualifications in cosmetic surgery such as the The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, no certifying board requires demonstration of knowledge as extensive as the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. This is the only board that deals exclusively with cosmetic surgery.

A Diplomat of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery must:

• • Have satisfactorily completed specialty residency training and be board certified in their original surgical specialty as recognized by the board (Plastic surgery, General surgery, Otolaryngology, Maxillo-facial surgery, Oculoplastic surgery).
• • Complete a one to two year fellowship concentrated solely in cosmetic surgery.
• • Have performed at least 100 documented cosmetic procedures after their fellowship in the year leading to certification.
• • Pass a stringent two day oral and written examination.
• • Be of good moral character.

Becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is a significant professional achievement and honor. Diplomates must strive to represent the high ethical and moral standards of the ABCS and to support the Board activities for the advancement of the specialty of cosmetic surgery. Diplomates agree to adhere to the ABCS and AMA guidelines regarding the ethical practice of cosmetic surgery, including advertising and representations to the public, and to practice the highest standard of patient care and safety at all times.

People have always tried to improve their appearance since the beginning of civilization. Disfigurement of the skin has been particularly distressful for many. With the advent of new fillers there are excellent procedures available to correct such skin defects such as deep furrows and wrinkles on the face.

Depressions on other areas of the body can also be corrected through a procedure called autologous (from the same individual) fat transplantation. This procedure can help contour the face, enhance the cheek and chin and correct facial or body deformities.

Fat is removed from a donor site and then re-injected into the recipient site. This can be done under local anesthesia. The process is repeated until the desired amount of fat has been transferred and the defect is corrected.

With this procedure, problems of rejection or allergic reactions are not factors, because the fat is transplanted within the same body. Recovery time is very short and patients are usually up and around the day of surgery. The only downside of fat grafting is that some of the fat may dissolve and the patient may need additional fat grafting procedures to achieve the desired contour.

Facial implants and fat grafting are ways of restoring lost volume and proportion in the face through minimal incisions and minimal scars with a fairly quick recovery.