I just wanted to write and say thank you to Dr. LeRoy and his entire staff for the wonderful and “almost” pain free experience. Everyone treated me with the utmost respect and concern through the entire process from my before picture all the way to the after picture. I was hesitant at first to even consider cosmetic surgery, but Dr. LeRoy made me feel very comfortable about the procedure and was very clear about what I should expect. He listened to what I was wanting and his “craftsmanship” showed in the results. I am very happy with my decision and would highly recommend Dr. LeRoy to any of my friends. Thank you again!
If you’ve already connected with me on Facebook and Twitter, then the recent article from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons about plastic surgery patients benefitting from social media networks based on a social media study by the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business probably comes as no surprise. Patient education is one of my top priorities as a plastic surgeon, so I use social media, my blog, and monthly e-newsletter to do so. Whether the information I provide benefits my patients or other surgeons’ patients, I believe that disseminating accurate information is vital to plastic surgery patient safety and allows individuals to make educated choices regarding their health.
With so much information about cosmetic surgery available online, both good and bad, I feel that it’s my job as a board certified plastic surgeon to distribute good, reliable information about plastic surgery. There are so many horror stories about botched plastic surgery and bargain botox, and while I do not want to scare perspective patients away, the possible risks associated with plastic surgery increase dramatically with inexperienced surgeons and fake injectable products that haven’t been approved by the FDA.
We all have to admit that there is usually that one thing we wish we could change about our appearances–it’s that cosmetic issue we just can’t help but notice when we look in the mirror or study a photograph of ourselves. I’ve deemed the term a “Waldo” because often, that one thing is totally imperceptible to the people around you until you point it out like that little man in the blue pants and red striped shirt from the children’s books.
My job as an Atlanta plastic and cosmetic surgeon is to maintain that objective point of view that hears the patient’s concerns and balances that against the physical symptoms of said concerns. I thought of this Waldo phenomenon when I read an article published in May by the Association for Psychological Science. The article cited research from St. Louis’ Washington University in which participants were analyzed and found that the perception other’s offered about them was more physically accurate than what they observed through self judgment.
The Band Aid Facelift is a minimally invasive version of a traditional facelift. Many of my patients were interested in the advantages of facelift surgery, but the longer recovery time and risk of more visible incisions made patients wary. Upon the development of my “mini” facelift technique, I coined the name “Band Aid” because the nature of this technique doesn’t require surgical dressings like the traditional facelift.
What’s the difference between a Band Aid Facelift and a “mini” facelift?
My original Band Aid Facelift falls into the same category as a “mini” facelift, although it’s not identical. While most “mini” procedures produce smaller scars and subtle results, the techniques I use in my Band Aid Facelift produce noticeable, natural looking facial rejuvenation to your areas of concern while only requiring an office visit and gentle numbing.
How do I know if I need a traditional facelift or a Band Aid Facelift?
The need for a traditional or Band Aid Facelift is determined by the significance of your signs of aging. Patients with minimal signs of aging typically prefer the Band Aid version because it addresses only the area that are starting to show aging whereas patients with more advanced wrinkling typically obtain the results they’re after with a traditional facelift, but patients with significant signs of aging are also very satisfied with the traditional facelift.
Most people understand the goal of facial rejuvenation procedures: to restore the appearance of younger, tighter facial skin with fewer wrinkles. What isn’t as widely known is that facial rejuvenation does not necessarily have to include facial plastic surgery. While a traditional facelift or eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is an excellent choice for mature individuals who wish to eliminate hanging, excess skin of the forehead, eyelids, cheeks, or even neck, those with less significant signs of aging may not need the dramatic results offered by such a procedure.
For Atlanta patients who are just noticing the formation of crow’s feet (wrinkles around the eyes) or creases between the eyebrows and on the forehead, wrinkle-relaxing injectables like Botox® and Dysport® are an excellent option. Made of slightly different versions of purified Botulinum, both Botox® and Dysport® inhibit the repeated muscle movements that cause wrinkles. If you’ve been contemplating Dysport®, now is an excellent time to try it because from July 15th through September 30th, 2011, you can save $50 on 300 units of Dysport®. Saving is simple; all you have to do is log on to dysportusa.com and register. After you’ve completed your registration you will be guided to a printable form which you can fill out and mail in to receive your $50 rebate.
Additionally, patients who have received Botox® wrinkle reduction treatment within the last three to twelve months can receive an additional $50 rebate (that’s $100 in total savings) by providing an itemized receipt of their previous Botox® treatment along with their mailed redemption form.
Just as with plastic surgery, no one cosmetic procedure is appropriate for everyone’s cosmetic needs. Dysport®’s “Think Outside the Bo**x” campaign is designed to allow you to trial your dermal injectable options to see which one works best for you in reducing wrinkles and making you look younger.
