Southern Plastic Surgery - Blog
Posts for the ‘Educational’ Category
Southern Plastic Surgery Patients Help Raise $5600 for Breast Cancer Treatment and Awareness
Without the amazing support from my Atlanta plastic surgery patients and colleagues, I could not do what I do. For that reason, I would like to take this blog to thank the patients (and their families) who purchased tickets for this year’s Pink in the Rink event. Thanks to the Gwinnett Gladiators and your help, over $5600 was raised for The Sport of Giving 501(c)(3).
Thanks to your assistance, our locally founded, now nationally known, Sport of Giving can continue their mission of raising awareness and funds for women’s cancer treatment centers and prevention initiatives. In the event you didn’t get to participate in this year’s festivities, make sure you keep an eye on the Southern Plastic Surgery blog to find out about upcoming Sport of Giving events. If you haven’t already, make sure you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest breast reconstruction and plastic surgery news.
Thank you again!
Posted on May 6, 2011 11:41AM
Why does pricing for Botox® and Dysport® vary so much from provider to provider?
Botox® and Dysport® have become wildly popular wrinkle treatments for patients wishing to reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and wrinkles between the eyes. The active ingredient within these dermal injectables is a purified form of botulinum toxin A– a substance that works to temporarily relax the wrinkle causing muscles into which it’s injected. Most Botox® and Dysport® patients report noticeable reduction of their wrinkles for two to four months following the cosmetic skin treatment.
Given the temporary nature of the treatment, facial rejuvenation patients regularly search for the best Botox® and Dysport® discounts to try and minimize the size of their ongoing investment. Although, it’s important to understand that, just as the case with the cost of plastic surgery, there are many components involved in Botox® and Dysport® pricing. Injectable providers purchase their products from manufacturer representatives in various quantities and varying solution dilution percentages (based on patient demand, practice budget, relationship with representative, etc.) The providers (i.e.- board certified plastic surgeon or certified nurse injector) then charges for the product by the number of areas being treated, the number of units being used, or the number of syringes.
The best deal on Botox® and Dysport® treatment depends on the patient’s individual needs. If a patient has deep set lines and extensive wrinkles, they may want to explore a provider who offers injectables priced per area as pricing by the unit will be higher (more wrinkle relaxing product is required for more expansive wrinkles). If you’re looking to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles in numerous areas, price per area would not be the best option. At Southern Plastic Surgery, our Atlanta Botox® and Dysport® pricing is simple: we charge a flat fee for unlimited treatment areas with one injectable. With all of the media attention surrounding the treatment, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with all of the different offers. One thing to always remember before pursuing facial injectables or any facial plastic surgery procedure is to thoroughly research your plastic surgeon. A wonderful price cannot replace medical training and procedure experience.
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Posted on April 21, 2011 11:52AM
Cosmetic Surgery After Significant Weight Loss
Dr. David Whiteman, board certified plastic surgeon with Southern Plastic Surgery, in Duluth, GA (just north of Atlanta) is currently in the spring 2011 issue of Vim and Vigor Magazine, Gwinnett Medical Center’s quarterly publication discussing plastic surgery after weight loss and his patients’ experience with the post bariatric surgical procedure.
Posted on March 21, 2011 9:42AM
Negative Effects of Obesity May Include Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Health and wellness is an important part of my practice and my recommendation as a plastic surgeon. Plastic surgery can enhance a person’s body aesthetically, but without proper diet and exercise, the surgical results can be compromised. Obesity can negatively affect many people’s lives by worsening (and sometimes causing) health problems and diseases. In fact, new research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (American Association for Cancer Journal) shows that obesity may even increase the risk of triple-negative breast cancer.
As a plastic surgeon who offers breast reconstruction surgery for breast cancer patients after mastectomy, I’m all-too familiar with the disease and the toll it takes on patients. Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10 to 20 percent of all breast cancers and is particularly hard to treat. The results of the study showed that women with a higher BMI (body mass index) more frequently developed triple-negative breast cancer and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer than those women who lived physically active lives (and had a lower BMI).
Getting down to an appropriate, healthy weight can be challenging and frustrating. Plastic surgery is never an excuse to forego proper diet and exercise, but it can help you achieve your desired results. Body contouring, or liposuction procedures, can help remove stubborn areas of fat that just won’t respond to diet or exercise. Liposuction can be performed in almost any area you have concentrated, excess fat stored (i.e.- flanks, hips, abdomen, back, legs, thighs, arms, neck, buttocks).
Fat can stretch the skin, which means that after weight is lost, the skin may sag instead of bouncing back like it once did, especially in cases where a significant amount of weight is lost. When this occurs, body lift procedures may be performed to excise the excess skin while tightening the surrounding tissues and muscles. Tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a partial body lift procedure that tightens skin and tissue in the abdominal region. Post bariatric, or post weight loss patients may also benefit from arm lift, thigh lift, or even a complete body lift.
As previously stated, plastic surgery should never replace traditional diet and exercise routines, but can aid you in maintaining a pleasing aesthetic once you’ve done your part to live healthily. You can find plenty of helpful information in the health and wellness section of my blog, including healthy recipes, fat fighter tips, and health focused blogs. My goal is to educate my patients on overall wellness and its role in plastic surgery recovery and results. For more information on the plastic surgery procedures I perform, visit my website and keep reading my blog.
Posted on March 14, 2011 11:12AM
Eyelid surgery- Is it better than Botox®?
You’ve probably heard of the wrinkle-relaxing injectables Botox®and Dysport®, but have you heard of blepharoplasty? This facial rejuvenation procedure is a surgery Dr. David Whiteman performs to eliminate the excess skin and puffy fat pads on the upper and/or lower eyelid that contributes to an aged, tired appearance. Dysport® and Botox® are also designed to rejuvenate the appearance of the skin around the eyes, but there are a few differences that should be explained.
Botox® Cosmetic and Dysport® contain a purified form of Botulinum that temporarily relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles between (glabellar lines) and around (crow’s feet) the eyes that form with age and repeated facial expressions. Because the products are injected into the muscle, they are eventually absorbed and eliminated by the body, and must be re-injected every 4-6 months to maintain the facial rejuvenation results.
Posted on March 2, 2011 11:09AM
Selecting Appropriate Plastic Surgery Procedures Helps Patients Avoid Regrets
Plastic surgery sometimes gets a bad reputation when patients choose inappropriate procedures for their age and body type and end up with an overly altered appearance. Dr. David Whiteman knows that every patient is unique, and takes time to discuss each patient’s procedure(s) during a consultation to make sure they know what to expect with their plastic surgery results.
Posted on January 24, 2011 11:38AM
Botox Babies: The Rise in Facial Rejuvenation Procedures and Decrease in Average Patient Age
The early 30’s usually bring many positive life changes to individuals: growing into a career, earning a decent income from an enjoyable job, establishing a family, etc. One life change that many people in their 30’s aren’t so crazy about is the emergence of fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Decreased skin cell turnover and acquired sun damage can leave the skin of 30-somethings looking a little less dewy than it appeared during their 20’s. Many of these people are pursuing minimally invasive cosmetic treatments like facial rejuvenation with cosmetic injectables and laser skin treatments to zap their problem areas before they become too pronounced.
Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. David Whiteman performs many of these surgeries at his Southern Plastic Surgery center in Duluth, GA. The rise in these types of procedures has given way to the creative term “Botox® babies”- used to refer to the youthful adults pursuing versions of facial cosmetic surgery that only their parents and grandparents sought 15 years ago. Botox® babies contribute a large portion of the cosmetic surgery industry’s profits. In fact, according to the annual survey conducted by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), minimally invasive procedures like Botox®, Dysport®, Juvederm®, and Restylane® were the only category of cosmetic surgery to enjoy increased profitability for cosmetic surgeons during the economic slump of recent years.
Dr. Whiteman’s facial cosmetic surgery results speak for themselves, but he also likes to remind patients that much of what their skin (and face) looks in their 30’s depends on how they take care of it in their teens and 20’s. Focused on full-body health and wellness, Dr. Whiteman urges patients to regularly wear an SPF 30 sunscreen to prevent further sun damage, use an exfoliating cleanser to increase skin cell production, and eat a healthy diet (along with drinking plenty of water) to keep their faces looking younger longer.
To learn more about the cosmetic surgery procedures of the face, breast, and body that Dr. Whiteman performs visit his website and continue to read his blog.
Posted on December 27, 2010 5:04PM
Want longer eyelashes? Latisse could be the answer!
Posted on December 4, 2010 9:56AM
Choosing a Plastic Surgeon You Can Trust
While the commercial shown below is humorous, board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. David Whiteman uses the message as a reminder to patients to thoughtfully consider the implications of any cosmetic surgery and only entrust a certified plastic surgeon who maintains the patient’s best interest when making choices that effect cosmetic surgery results.
Women who select overly large breast implants that are not well suited to their bodies often end up needing breast revision surgeries such as a breast implant reduction or a breast lift at a later date. Some believe bigger breasts are better, but as with any cosmetic procedure, there are other important variables to consider when selecting a breast implant size like the patient’s height, rib cage size, overall body frame size, body weight, and original breast size. These variables explain the need for choosing a plastic surgeon that you can trust.
You should find a board certified plastic surgeon that you are comfortable with, who wants you to look your very best after your cosmetic surgery procedure. Your plastic surgeon should place more emphasis on your overall look instead of just the area he or she is enhancing. Take breast augmentation for example: be wary of any surgeon who suggests breast implants in a size you’re not comfortable with- no matter how good they promise it will look. Remember that your body is your own, and you have to live with the results.
Dr. David Whiteman has been performing plastic surgery procedures in Atlanta since 1993, and understands that no two bodies are the same. In preparation for a plastic surgery procedure, he takes time to discuss the patient’s expectations as well as realistic expectations. He listens to his patients and makes recommendations for their specific body types/ selected procedure, but overall the patient makes the calls. Dr. Whiteman believes that extensive patient education provides patients with results they will be happy with. For more information on other plastic surgery procedures that Dr. Whiteman performs such as rhinoplasty, facelift, liposuction, and tummy tuck, visit his website or continue to read his blog.
Posted on November 24, 2010 4:51PM
Grey’s Anatomy Features Teenage Gynecomastia Patient
All of you out there who are avid network TV watchers (like some of us are) may have seen last week’s episode of ABC’s long time hit Grey’s Anatomy, in which a young, 13 year old boy underwent male breast reduction surgery. The character’s over-sized breasts were attributed to a condition known as gynecomastia.
Effecting a large number of males (40-60% according to 2008 statistics), gynecomastia is the presence of excess fat or glandular tissue in the male breast causing an over-feminized appearance. Though often exhibited in teenage boys that have recently gone through puberty (like the Grey’s character), the condition is attributed to numerous causes including: spiked estrogen levels during puberty, taking certain medications, anabolic steroid use, and weight gain.
If gynecomastia is drug or weight induced, many plastic surgeons will first suggest adopting a healthier life style (i.e.- diet and exercise or stopping steroid use). However, if this isn’t the case, a board certified plastic surgeon, like Dr. David Whiteman can remove the excess fat via liposuction and then surgically excise any remaining glandular tissue. While this procedure is not complicated, usually taking about an hour to complete, male breast reduction results can be life changing.
To learn more about gynecomastia surgery or the other breast surgeries offered at Southern Plastic Surgery such as: breast augmentation/ breast enhancement, breast reduction, breast lift (mastopexy), or breast revision surgery visit our website or read our blog.
Posted on November 1, 2010 4:26PM
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Southern Plastic Surgery
David M. Whiteman, M.D., F.R.C.S.(c)
3855 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 370
Duluth, Georgia 30096
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Phone: 770.622.9100