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Plastic Surgery Blog: Another New Treatment for Lips and Eyes

Posted by admin on May 18th, 2012 Comments Off

For aging of the face, the eyes are central to the youthful look of the face. According to recent My Fox news article there is a new $60 lip and eye peel treatment that younger women are encouraged about, and they are just getting started with the process. Dark circles and stubborn, crinkly lines are a problem for many women. It’s an even harder problem if you have darker skin or your skin is very sensitive. With the new $60 cream ladies say they can feel a definite difference — softer and smoother. According to the article any difference is subtle. Dr . Brenman explains to patientsthat over-the-counter remedies to not have the same benefits as medical grade skin care products available within his practice. Patient should not expect results that are similar to surgical outcomes for many product that is administered topically. Patients who have concerns and issues with drooping eyelids and puffiness under the eyes should consider blepharoplastyas an option. For most patients removing a sliver of skin in the crease of the eyelid helps to create a more open and alert appearance. For the bags beneath the eyes, an incision is made in the other corner of the eyes and excess skin is at which helps to create a smooth and youthful appearance. Most patients the lip area can be improved dramatically using fillers such as Restylaneor Juvedermto fill in small lines and wrinkles that form around the mouth. Facial rejuvenation allows patients to enjoy their most youthful appearance.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery Blog: Washing Your Hands…Does it Go Without Saying?

Posted by admin on May 17th, 2012 Comments Off

It may seem self-explanatory when you consider the importance of washing our hands thoroughly. Many of us picture surgeons washing before surgery but seldom think about patients who have had surgery and those taking care of them. A recent online news article gave hand washing tips from the CDC. According to the article, they offered the following tips: washing your hands is one of the best and easiest methods to prevent infection and the spread of germs. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you should always wash your hands in these situations:

Prior to, while and after you prepare food.
Prior to eating.
Prior and following caring for someone who is ill or has an open wound or stitches.
After you use the bathroom, assist a child in using the bathroom or change a baby’s diaper.
Immediately after you cough, sneeze or blow your nose.
Once you have handled garbage, animals, animal feed or animal waste.

Dr . Brenman explains to patientswho have had procedures including abdominoplasty, facelift, breast lift, or thigh lift that when caring for their incisions following surgery it is critical that the area remain clean and germ free. Although patients are prescribed an antibiotic to fight infection it is critical that whenever the incisions are cleaned that the caregiver has washed their hands thoroughly. Infections are rare but can cause additional complications and should be avoided when at all possible.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery, Uncategorized

Plastic Surgery Blog: Your Morning Coffee Could Be Lengthening Your Life

Posted by admin on May 16th, 2012 Comments Off

The next time you indulge in your morning coffee a new study says you can add coffee to your antiaging routine. According to recent online article older adults who drink three cups of coffee or more every day could lower their risk of dying from common causes by 10 percent, in comparison to those who drink no coffee, a large U.S. National Cancer Institute study suggests. The finding is related to 50- to 71-year-olds drinking either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee. And it infers that coffee drinking is linked with a reduction in fatalities rooted in cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, stroke, diabetes, infections, and injuries and accidents. The team made a specific point that it remains unclear exactly how coffee might confer a health benefit, and that the study does not establish any cause-and-effect relationship. “I think it’s really important to point out that our study was observational,” said study lead author Neal Freedman, an investigator with the division of cancer epidemiology and genetics at the U.S. National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md. this means it relied solely on participants verbal admission of how much coffee they drank. Most people are excited to hear about different options that could help them to live longer. There is no doubt that Americans are living longer than ever before. Dr . Brenman emphasizes told her patientsthe benefits of plastic surgery and remind them that provided they are in good health their age is not a determining factor in disqualifying them from having plastic surgery. Some of the most popular procedures among older adults include facelift, and blepharoplasty. Dr. Brenman has found with older adults being more active many are becoming more willing to consider procedures like liposuctionand breast augmentation which are primarily chosen by younger patients.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery Blog: Smart Phone Apps May Help Reduce the Waistline

Posted by admin on May 15th, 2012 Comments Off

These days the smart phone is a part of the daily lives of many people globally. According to a Fox news story an increasing number of people, are now depending upon apps to help them “keep it together.” “Lose it”, “Meal Snap,” and “Foodchuzit”, are a sampling of the applications people are downloading to help them to restrict their appetites, and lose the weight for good! “Calorie Count” is a good app to help stay in your calorie range. “Restaurant Finder,” it tells you the calories listed in everything. But not everyone is endorsing and recommending the diet apps. Registered dietician, Emily Rubin, says they determine information based on your age, height and your weight, but there’s something else, she says needs to be considered. There are people who are on prescription medicines like, prednisone, that can affect their weight. People who have diseases like Crohns, where they have to consume certain foods. There are people who can’t eat too late at night because they have reflux. Patients have many options to consider when searching for a better way to jumpstart their weight loss program. None of them will work without a discipline patient committed to a healthy lifestyle. Dr . Brenman advises patientsthat there could be these situations when patients have unsightly bulges in unwanted places and liposuction is an excellent option. Liposuctionis not a weight loss procedure and can be extremely effective with healthy lifestyle choices that include diet and exercise. This helps to assure patients that the results will last long-term.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery Blog: Skin Cancer Checkup Is Due

Posted by admin on May 14th, 2012 Comments Off

The kickoff for summer is right around the corner. Many are planning to spend several days this summers down at the shore soaking up plenty of sun rays. According to recent ABC news story nearly 1 in five Americans are at risk for developing some form of skin cancer, even though it is extremely preventable. That’s why May has been declared Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Risks for skin cancer include a family history of skin cancer, and repeated sun exposure. It can occur at any age and with any skin color. You have the highest risk for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, if you have ever had a bad sunburn or you used a tanning booth. Dr . Brenman also encourages patientsto wear sunscreen daily as a preventative measure for skin cancer and premature aging. Some patients believe that when they experience premature aging and excessive wrinkling and sagging to the skin that a faceliftand /or blepharoplastyis a simple solution to helping them regain a youthful appearance. This is only partially true. Dr. Brenman can perform a facelift and improve the appearance of aging for most patients. However, if the skin is extremely sun damaged Dr. Brenman is limited in the results that he can acheive. For patients who have suffered uneven skin tone due to sun damage Dr. Brenman offers IPL treatments which are very effective for improving uneven skin tone. A skin cancer checkup should be performed annually at the very minimum.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery, Uncategorized

Plastic Surgery Blog: Mother’s Day Makeover

Posted by admin on May 11th, 2012 Comments Off

As baby boomers continue to be a large part of the population, Mother’s Day is not only about young mothers with young children. Mother’s Day is often a celebration of beautiful mothers who no longer have small children and desire gifts that are centered around celebrating and maintaining their most youthful appearance. Dr . Brenman consults with many patientswho are approaching middle-age, they feel great, and they’re concerned because they look more tired than they really are. Often times they are starting to see the signs of facial aging including wrinkles and loose skin. Dr. Brenman assures them that facial rejuvenation includes many different options that will allow them to choose the areas to treat that cause them the most concern. Non-invasive procedures, including injectables such as Botox , or fillers including Juvedermor Restylanehelp to temporarily smooth lines and fill in lost volume. For more long-term solutions Dr. Brenman may recommend a faceliftcombined with a blepharoplasty. This will improve the upper and lower eyes which will give the patient a more rested look. A facelift will improve loose and lax skin in the neck, jaw line, and lower cheeks. Studies have shown over time that patients who choose surgical facelift procedures tend to look about 7 to 10 years younger than their real age. It is difficult to find a better value as a gift for the mom who wants to look as young as she feels.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery, Uncategorized

Plastic Surgery Blog: Belly Fat Tells a lot About Your Health

Posted by admin on May 10th, 2012 Comments Off

A bulging waistline appears to have a lot to do with the health forecast for an adult. According to a recent online article a “spare tire” that encompasses the midsection raises the chances of sudden cardiac death in obese people, a new study discovered. An increased waist-to-hip ratio makes a bigger difference than body-mass index(BMI) when it relates to sudden cardiac death risk, said study researcher Dr. Selcuk Adabag, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Body-mass index is a measure of weight in relation to height used to determine normal weight and obesity. Obesity, a moderate risk factor for sudden cardiac death, and apple-shaped bodies often go together for those who are at risk. “The significance of this study is that it shows that abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death, even after accounting for factors such as diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease,” said Adabag, who is also a cardiac electrophysiologist at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis. These findings are important because some patientswho present themselves for consultation for body contouring procedures specifically abdominoplastyand liposuctionare not candidates if they are significantly overweight. Patient should consider these procedures early on ,as soon as they begin to see significant changes in their body contour. This is most evident in women who have had children. With each pregnancy it is not uncommon for women to maintain 10 to 15 pounds over their prepregnancy weight. However, patients who have abdominoplasty are usually thrilled with their new figure and tend to be proactive about maintaining a stable weight and their best appearance.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery Blog: Overweight Men Have a New Option

Posted by admin on May 9th, 2012 Comments Off

Testosterone therapy may be a new option for overweight men. According to a recent online article obese men with reduced levels of testosterone can lose weight when levels of the male hormone are increased to normal, a new study suggests. The key is it may not be the testosterone itself. Actually, it could be that men who are participating in the hormone therapy feel better and are feeling stronger so they exercise more and are more conscious of their diet, speculated experts that were not involved with the study. “It [the study's conclusion] is overly optimistic,” said Dr. Bradley Anawalt, a spokesman for The Endocrine Society and chief of medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. “There is very little evidence that testosterone should cause weight loss in men obese or otherwise; it usually results in weight gain.”Anawalt, who was not involved in the study, pointed a great deal of suspicion at the study, sponsored by Bayer, which makes testosterone supplements. He added “before anybody got excited about this, there [would] need to be lot more studies done to reproduce these findings,” Whether testosterone therapy works or not for reducing weight in obese men, one thing is certain; men are beginning to pay closer attention to their appearance. Dr . Brenman finds that men who consult with him concerning the appearance of aging on their face and body are typically interested in improving their overall appearance without an “obvious plastic surgery look”. Dr. Brenman is able to show his patientswhat they can expect using his state-of-the-art 3-D imaging system. Dr. Brenman can demonstrate facelift, eyelift, brow lift and liposuctionresults for men to view. This is an extremely effective tool especially for men who tend to be less familiar with plastic surgery in general. The machine has been invaluable in helping to ease the fears of many patients. Dr. Brenman has used the device for over two years and is able to confidently make recommendations to patients who have a much clearer understanding of his recommendations and what their expectations should be.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery Blog: IUD Linked to Moderate Weight Loss

Posted by admin on May 8th, 2012 Comments Off

The IUD is not as widely publicized as birth control pills as an option for childbearing women to prevent pregnancy; however, it is regaining some popularity. According to a recent online article women who use an intrauterine device (IUD) as birth control may not have to stress about gaining weight once the device is implanted, new research suggests. Researchers did a comparison of the medical records of 223 women between the ages of 15 and 44 who were using two different forms of IUDs, following them for up to two years later. Almost 50% of the women had a non-hormonal IUD made from copper while the others had a hormonal IUD implanted that released low levels of a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel (LNG) during daily. Women in both groups seem to lose approximately 1 percent of their body weight the first and second years of having an IUD. The study was scheduled to be presented Monday at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual meeting in San Diego.”We really expected to see weight gain, and we didn’t even expect that there would be weight loss,” said study author Dr. Erika Kwock, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Santa Clara. Dr . Brenman consults with many women who utilize some form of birth control. It is important that patientsshare with Dr. Brenman the type of birth control they are using. Most women are likely to be considering procedures such as breast augmentation and abdominoplastysince these procedures are very popular among women of childbearing age. Most of the surgical risk associated with birth control pills and surgery are specifically related to estrogen. Patients who have an IUD should still share the information with Dr. Brenman during their medical intake prior to surgery even though they are not taking birth control pills.

Posted in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery, Philadelphia Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstuctive Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery Blog: Back Pain Prevention Tips

Posted by admin on May 7th, 2012 Comments Off

Few adults go through their entire life without ever experiencing back pain. A recent online news article included some basic tips for adults aimed at helping them prevent back pain. According to the article The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises adults to engage in these activities that will help prevent back pain: Practice a consistent exercise routine that mixes aerobic exercises with those that are designed to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles. They also recommend that adults lose the excess pounds that can place a huge strain on the back. It is also recommended that adults do not smoke. Engaging in proper posture while sitting, standing, or lifting is also advised. Missing from this news article was the suggestion of breast reduction for those women who have excessively large breast. Many of these women tell Dr . Brenman that they suffer lower back pain because of their heavy large breast. Some women are amazed to learn that breast reduction for some patientscan alleviate the pain. Dr. Brenman explains to patients that by reducing the size of the breast and removing excessive breast tissue patients are able to not only maintain better posture but also exercise more which can both contribute to alleviating back pain. In recent years insurance companies have increasingly made it more difficult for patients to be covered for the breast reduction procedure; however, the procedure remains one of the best out-of-pocket investments a patient can make. The majority of patients tell Dr. Brenman that they feel immediate relief from back neck and shoulder pain and wished they would have elected for the surgery sooner.