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In the News: Stem Cell Face Lifts
‘Stem Cell Face Lifts’ in the News
From a recent article by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery…
“The use of ‘stem cells’ in advertising for cosmetic surgical applications is a global problem”……
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) laud the Los Angeles Times for its balanced reporting on a controversial cosmetic procedure, the so-called “stem cell face lift.” Stem cell face lifts and other similar procedures and devices lacking anything more than anecdotal scientific evidence are a major focus of the medical organizations as the growing trend of marketing trumping science proliferates in the plastic surgery field.
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Choosing the Right Surgical Facility: Your Health Depends On It
With the prevalence of non-plastic surgeons providing in-office cosmetic surgery procedures, it is more important than ever to do your homework when choosing where to have your surgery. You may have seen ads for lunch hour liposuction, quick face lifts, or even tummy tucks performed right in a doctor’s office. Buyer Beware.
Having surgery in your doctor’s office is not the same as having surgery in an accredited surgical facility. Although all surgery carries some risk, surgical center accreditation is designed to ensure the safest possible patient experience during surgery. The three most respected ambulatory surgical suite accredition organizations are AAAASF, AAAHC, and JACHO.
Our surgical suite maintains full accredited by AAAASF. AAAASF was started by plastic surgeons and maintaining accreditation requires that the participating surgeon uphold the most stringent standards of patient care, safety, and emergency response procedures.
In addition, AAAASF requires that the participating surgeon maintain hospital privileges for each procedure that s/he provides in their surgical facility. This requirement is important because it ensures that the surgeon is qualified to perform the surgery and that if a complication were to arise, the patient could be admitted to the hospital. AAAASF surgical facilities are frequently inspected in order to maintain their accreditation. If the facility does not uphold AAAASF standards it will lose accreditation.
To find out if your physician’s surgical facility is accredited, visit the websites of AAAASF, AAAHC, and JACHO. If you would like more information about our surgical facility, please contact our office.
Regarding the Recent Changes in Recommendations for Screening Mammograms
The new mammogram screening recommendations have been met with quite a bit of resistance in the medical community. Most physicians (including me) are still recommending that their patients follow the existing guidelines from the American Cancer Society.
It remains extremely important for all women, regardless of age, to perform monthly self breast exams and bring anything unusual that you find to the attention of your doctor.
Women who do not have a family history of breast cancer should begin getting mammograms at age 40 and get mammograms yearly thereafter. A woman with a family history of breast cancer should begin getting mammograms when she is ten years younger than the age at which the youngest woman in her family was diagnosed with breast cancer. If you have any concerns or questions, please initiate a conversation with your gynecologist or family doctor.
-Dr. Houser
Mammograms: Before and After Breast Augmentation
It is extremely important to continue getting mammograms after breast augmentation. I recommend that all of my patients begin getting yearly mammograms at age 35, or if you have a family history of breast cancer, 10 years before the youngest woman in your family was diagnosed with breast cancer.
All implants will obscure some breast tissue on a mammogram, but implants placed beneath the muscle obscure less than those above the muscle (that’s one of many reasons why I prefer to put implants under the muscle). When getting a mammogram, simply tell the mammographer that you have implants. They will take some additional images called Ekland views to see as much of the breast tissue as possible. Mammograms certainly are not comfortable but that is not a good excuse to avoid them. Also, self breast exams are extremely important for cancer screening because mammograms can miss 10% to 20% of breast cancers. You should contact your doctor promptly if you find something out of the ordinary during a self-breast exam.
MRI’s are not generally used for routine screening. Routine MRI’s following silicone breast augmentation to check the implants are not necessary. Usually, an MRI is only necessary if your doctor believes that there is a good reason to take a closer look.
If you are having troubles with your mammograms because of the presence of an older implant which may have been placed on top of the muscle, you should see a plastic surgeon to find out if you should have something done to better your breast cancer screening.
-Dr. Houser
I have seen advertisements about new laser breast surgery techniques. Do you perform laser breast lifts or laser breast reductions?
For the most part, the heavily advertised laser breast lifts and laser breast reductions are simply marketing techniques. They often carry with them, trademarked names and slick marketing materials. In these surgeries, a laser is used to tighten (actually shave off) some of the skin on the breasts. The laser does not create an internal bra; it just removes some of the skin on the top of the breasts. Sutures are then used to hold the heavy lower breast tissue to the chest muscle (which does not work well long-term).
Many women are attracted to these advertisements because they think that these surgeries are less expensive, less invasive, and quicker than the traditional surgical methods. What they are are less effective.
In order for the breasts to truly be lifted and to have the best long term results, tissue should be removed from the bottom of the breasts; the tissue on the top of the breasts should be left behind. This will give the breasts the best overall shape.
Patients are often concerned about the scars left behind after breast lifts and breast reductions and I certainly understand their concerns. However, in my experience, most patients who are bothered by overly large or sagging breasts, will gladly trade these problems for a few well-hidden scars and many years of nicely shaped and lifted breasts.
Rather than choosing a brand of surgery, I, along with many trusted colleagues, encourage patients to choose an American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) surgeon with whom you trust and feel comfortable. Then, have a discussion with that surgeon about the changes that you would like to see in your breasts. He/ she should be able to recommend surgical options that will meet your needs and give you the best long-term results.
In plastic surgery, just like in life, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t be fooled by gimmicks. Choosing a quicker, less expensive surgery may mean that you’ll be less than happy with the results and will require additional surgery.
-Dr. Houser