plastic surgery news Archives - Page 6 of 10 - Phase Plastic Surgery

Sientra Breast Implant Bankruptcy—What We Know & What It Means for Our Patients

You may have heard about the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing by Sientra on February 12, 2024. Sientra is one of three breast implant manufacturers with approved implants in the US. If you currently have Sientra implants or...

Welcome back to the natural look with plastic surgery and injectables

Who hasn’t cringed at the sight of a celebrity (or a friend) with overdone fillers or obvious plastic surgery? If you believe the hype now circulating online, everyone is lining up to have their fillers dissolved, breast implants removed,...

Why ultrasound is indispensable in plastic surgery

Ultrasound technology has become integral to modern plastic surgery practice. We use it for noninvasive skin lifting (Ultherapy), screening silicone breast implants for silent rupture, and placement of TAP blocks to dramatically reduce discomfort after tummy tucks. Ultrasound is...

How long will my plastic surgery result last?

Patients often ask “How long will my facelift last?” or “How often do my breast implants need to be replaced?” After doing plastic surgery for more than 30 years, I have a much better handle on how to answer...

Meet Daxxify, the long lasting wrinkle relaxer

At long last there is a longer lasting wrinkle relaxer to compete with Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Juveau. With these products, the typical duration of effect is 3 months, but “Daxi” has been shown to last 6 months or...

Understanding breast implant sizes: how to make the right choice

Good news: there are a LOT of options now for breast implants, which makes it easier to choose the size and shape that is best for each individual. The not-so-good news is that having so many variables can make...

Update on Breast Implant Illness: What we know now

Though most women are happy with their breast implants, over the past couple of years we have been seeing more patients requesting removal. For most it is a simple decision based on preference, but some patients are motivated by...

All about the Browlift: Why, When, and How

Browlifts are among the most useful but misunderstood procedures in plastic surgery. Lifting and shaping the brow is often the key to restoring a natural look for the upper face. There are several misconceptions about browlifts (also called forehead...

Botox® by the numbers 2022

Botox® cosmetic, the leading brand of Botulinum toxin type A, is having an anniversary this month. It’s been 20 years since Botox® cosmetic was approved and Allergan wants to celebrate! The official date is April 15, so I guess...

Anti-aging supplements: what works

Do anti-aging supplements work? It’s a simple question with a complicated answer, but there’s increasing evidence that some of them do, and many do not. The problem is measuring the results, especially if you are a stickler about what...

The surprising reason why breast implants might protect against breast cancer

It’s an open secret that having breast implants is associated with a lower risk of developing breast cancer. With all of the recent concern about the connection between textured breast implants and ALCL (a type of lymphoma that can...

2021 Top Ten stories in anti-aging longevity medicine

While headlines in biotech this year were dominated by the seemingly neverending pandemic, it’s also been a big year in anti-aging and longevity science. In no particular order, here is my top ten list of favorites: 1. Plant-derived photo-curable...

Gratitudology part 5: The anti-aging dividend of thankfulness

Gratitudology – my term for the scientific study of the benefits of gratitude – has become, in the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, kind of a big deal. When I first started writing about gratitude in 2014, I had to...

Eight tummy tuck variations: How to know what’s best for you

I’m updating the piece I wrote a while back on seven variations of tummy tucks to include mesh reinforcement of diastasis repair, which we have been doing more of lately. The reason for these variations is to allow the...

Next generation anti-aging skin care is here!

We are thrilled to announce that Emepelle, for post-menopausal skin, and OS-01, scientifically documented to restore aging skin at a molecular level, are here now! Even better, my patients can order them at an exclusive price including free delivery....

Subfascial Breast Implant Placement: Still Fashionable After All These Years

In the ever-evolving landscape of cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation continues to be a top choice for women seeking enhanced aesthetics. Despite the increasing popularity of breast reductions, lifts, and implant removals, as well as the influence of body-shaping trends...

Move over, anti-aging: de-aging” is where it’s at

When did anti-aging become a sensitive subject? “For Skin-Care Brands, It’s Not Anti-Aging Anymore. It’s Pro-Aging” proclaimed a recent article on the beauty business. Apparently the smart companies are pivoting toward the 50+ consumer, just don’t call it anti-aging. Isabella Rossellini,...

Introducing ERAS: A new era in recovery after surgery

ERAS, or Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, is a program to improve recuperation from surgery. ERAS has been proven to significantly decrease post-operative pain, reduce nausea, fatigue, and drowsiness, and to lower opioid use. A lot of the components of ERAS...

Is off-label off base?

Many products in aesthetics and Longevity Medicine fall into the category of “off-label,” which is when a drug or device approved for a specific purpose is used for something else. It’s a common and perfectly legitimate practice, but often...

Ten Things to Know About Breast Implant Revisions

Breast augmentation remains an extremely popular operation, with hundreds of thousands of women having the procedure every year. Surgical techniques continue to improve, implants are better, and patients are increasingly well-informed about their options. But what happens when things...

Breast implants by the numbers

Breast augmentation has held the top spot as the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure for several years, with around 300,000 each year. Implant options, manufacturing standards, and surgical techniques have continued to improve. Different degrees of silicone gel cohesiveness...

Will a facelift help you to live longer?

Would you believe that people who have facelifts live longer on average than those who don’t? We’ve long categorized plastic surgery as “anti-aging” but there's some evidence that it actually contributes to longevity. I came across this curious relationship...

A thousand tummy tucks and counting

A thousand tummy tucks and counting“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Lao Tzu It’s not like I put a notch on my belt every time I do a tummy tuck, but it recently occurred to...

Correction of animation deformity by conversion from dual plane to split muscle and Gala internal bra

In this video, Dr. Baxter demonstrates the technique for correction of breast implant animation deformity by converting from dual plane to the split muscle plane, with pectoral muscle reattachment. The patient also had a Galaflex internal bra to support the...

Beyond Informed Consent: Breast Implant Patient Decision Aid

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration announced that patients considering breast implants receive more detailed information about potential complications and rare health risks that can occur. The new breast implant guidelines would require that standardized patient decision materials called...

How’s my webside manner? Tips for effective online consultations

How’s my webside manner? Tips for effective online consultationsThere’s no true substitute for in-person meetings, especially for plastic surgery, but the reality of our circumstances requires that we do online meetings. To be fair, sometimes it is better, especially...

Top Ten advances in Anti-Aging and Longevity Medicine 2020

This month I became one of the first doctors to complete a certificate course in the emerging specialty of Longevity Medicine. As I have been hinting at in several posts over the past year, there is an abundance of...

Is generosity the next beauty trend? Gratitudology part 4.

It’s called the “good-looking giver” effect: Beautiful people are perceived to be good, and goodness is seen as beautiful. In Gratitudology parts 1-3, I talked about scientific evidence that generosity and thankfulness have a measurable impact on physical health and well-being....

Your skin is being attacked by zombies. How to fight back

This is for real: anti-aging research has revealed that as cells in your body get old or accumulate damage, they often fall into a zombie-like state called senescence. These “zombie” cells are bad news: they’re not quite dead and...

Is your skin older than you are? The new Photo Age Clock

One thing I’ve learned about anti-aging in my research is that we all age differently, and all parts of the body often age at different rates. This is especially true for skin; for example, you may be a fitness...

The colors and ages of beauty: What it means for plastic surgery

When you go to a plastic surgeon for facial rejuvenation, you expect him or her to recommend a plan specific to you. It may seem obvious, but standards of beauty and youthfulness are diverse, so it is important for...

From collagen to Covid: Why clinical trials are important

I just finished doing a peer review on a clinical study about breast implants, and I always find this activity enlightening. Clinical research requires this sort of independent double-check (the reviewers’ and the author’s identity are blinded to each...

The eyes have it: Looking your best when a mask hides the rest

It’s been said that the eyes are mirrors of the soul, but nowadays they are even more important in reflecting how we are perceived and how we express ourselves. When many of us spend much of our lives masked...

Update on anti-aging diets

What is the best anti-aging diet? I’ve been studying anti-aging science for a while now, and it seems like there is a new anti-aging diet being touted every month. There is no lack of research on dietary strategies for...

Is the golden ratio the key to beauty?

During the downtime of our office closure I read several books I had been meaning to get to, including Math and the Mona Lisa, about a concept in aesthetics called the “Golden Ratio.” Also called the golden mean or phi (ɸ), the Golden Ratio is...

Advantages of a private plastic surgery facility during Covid

I’m finding a few positives about working in my accredited private surgery facility, but it was hard to envision when the order to cease elective surgeries first hit us here in the Seattle area. After 9 long weeks, we...

Opening up about opening up

We have started to fill up the schedule and resume doing surgeries and injectables, and it’s been rewarding to reconnect with established patients and to meet new ones. As I’ve been listening to my patient’s concerns, it has been...

Comfort amid COVID craziness

How do we show a human touch without touching? How can we help our patients feel comfortable without actual contact? These may sound like Zen kōans or updated lyrics from an old folk song, but we are giving these...

Plastic Surgery post-COVID: The new normal

“It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” – Yogi Berra What will the post-COVID plastic surgery world look like? About the only thing we can safely predict is that it will be different. COVID-19 is going to be...

Anti-aging in the time of Coronavirus

With everyone so focused on COVID-19, and labs preoccupied with research on developing tests and treatments, it would be easy to overlook other important research that has been published lately. I had been wondering how I could pivot away...

Ob la di, ob-la-da, life goes on, bra-less?*

I have it on good authority that when the bra comes off, it’s a sign that you are staying in, and with everyone sheltering in place right now, bras don’t even leave the drawer some days. I generally advocate...

What we are doing to keep safe during the corona virus epidemic

COVID-19 update March 19 2020 In light of the unprecedented challenges our healthcare system faces with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to postpone non-urgent cases, in line with recommendations by the CDC and Department of...

What’s your real age? The new era of anti-aging

I just received the results of my biological age test, and as many of you suspect I am apparently immature for my age. Seriously though, the science of measuring biological age–as opposed to chronological age–is now a validated concept....

Breast augmentation in athletic women: update

While every woman considering breast implants needs to be fully informed about her options, there are specific issues for athletes, fitness models, trainers, and really any woman into fitness. Athletic women considering breast implants have several specific things to...

Are antioxidant supplements bad for you?

It seems almost heretical to ask whether antioxidants are a good thing or not, but more and more studies are casting serious doubt on their effectiveness. Even worse, it’s increasingly looking like they may actually do more harm than...

Getting Real: What Real Self tells us about trends in plastic surgery

If you haven’t visited RealSelf.com to research cosmetic treatments or plastic surgery, you may be in the minority these days. I’ve been affiliated with the Seattle-based site almost from their inception, and watched the company to grow into possibly...

The future of anti-aging is here and it’s looking good

Just as I finished reading Harvard scientist David Sinclair’s brilliant new book Lifespan: Why we age and why we don’t have to, I turned to see the November 2019 issue of Allure magazine again proclaiming “the end of anti-aging.”...

Plastic surgeons getting behind a ban on the BBL? Not so fast.

It’s neither Brazilian nor a butt lift, but the BBL or Brazilian Butt Lift, more correctly called gluteal fat grafting, has become the most dangerous cosmetic surgery operation in recent years. So much so that regulatory agencies and some plastic surgery...

Will local anesthesia work for my plastic surgery procedure? Understanding your options

We are often asked whether a procedure can be done under local anesthesia where the patient is awake but the surgical site numbed. There are three good reasons to consider local for your plastic surgery operation: You skip the...

Nutrition for optimal healing after plastic surgery

It’s a given that good nutrition is a basic requirement for healing after surgery, but plastic surgery patients often have unique needs. Being more body-conscious, they are more likely to diet, may already have had significant weight loss, and...

Top 5 myths in plastic surgery

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you in trouble. It’s what you know that just ain’t so.” - Mark Twain Is there any topic more fraught with misinformation than plastic surgery? How is the smart consumer supposed...

Bra fitting after breast implants

In many ways, bra fitting for women with implants is the same as without, but there are a few important differences, and a fair amount of confusing advice. Having placed thousands of implants over the years, it’s a subject...

Smart, smarter, smartest lipo: Update on liposuction and body contouring

What is the smartest approach to liposuction and body contouring? The answer is it depends on who you ask and what your specific situation is. There is a multitude of options to choose from now, including noninvasive fat freezing...

Pop stars get real about plastic surgery

Speculation about celebrities having plastic surgery is nothing new, but some stars are going public. I think it can be a healthy thing, and even helpful to others. Australian singer and model Iggy Azalea explained her decision to have...

New issues with breast implants: Should you be concerned?

Breast implants are in the news again, with the US Food and Drug Administration having issued warning letters to two manufacturers, and hearings on renewed safety concerns are set. But before getting too caught up in the controversies of...

Mind the gap: The Cleavage Conundrum

With so many options available for breast implants, and so much information available, patients are becoming increasingly particular about their desired results. This is especially true for the cleavage area. It may be that because this is more likely...

Botox Options: What’s in a brand?

Allergan’s Botox® brand of the wrinkle relaxer botulinum toxin type A remains the world leader with something on the order of a billion dollars in annual sales, but alternative brands are vying for a share. Dysport® appeared a few...

Plastic surgery trends 2018-19

Here in Seattle and the Northwest, trends in plastic surgery reflect our appreciation of all that is natural. At the same time, our regional economy is based on tech and innovation, so our patients are progressive thinkers. Here is...

Gratitudology Part 3

It’s been 3 years since I last looked at the science of gratitude, but I am happy to see that it is still a subject of escalating attention. For some time it’s been known that expressing gratitude measurably benefits...

Top 20 advances in plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine in the past 20 years Part 4

16. Increased emphasis on safety There was shift to outpatient facilities in the 1990’s for many types of surgery but especially cosmetic surgery. Because these facilities were often connected to individual practices rather than a hospital, this created a situation where...

Top 20 advances in plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine in the past 20 years Part 3

11. The MediSpa movement It seems that nowadays there is a medispa on every corner, but the idea was revolutionary not all that long ago. The only place to get cosmetic medical treatments was in a doctor’s office, usually a dermatologist...

Top 20 advances in plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine in the past 20 years Part 2

6. New materials for internal bra to maintain breast shape after reduction/lift When a breast needs to be lifted, it is because the skin envelope and the internal ligaments have weakened, yet surgeons have always had to rely on them for...

Top 20 advances in plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine in the past 20 years Part 1

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the world’s first live plastic surgery webcast in 1998, we are counting down 20 advances in plastic surgery over the past 20 years. They are in no particular order, and the list is personal,...

Mind the gap: How to treat post-pregnancy abdominal muscle separation (diastasis)

Pop singer Ciara has reportedly been working hard at the gym to correct her abdominal muscle separation, called a diastasis, after the birth of her second child. And she says its working, giving motivation to a dedicated following of...

When what you want is not what you need: How to have an honest discussion with your plastic surgeon

I am pretty sure that Mick Jagger didn’t have plastic surgery in mind when the Rolling Stones recorded the song “You can’t always get what you want” but like many things in life, it reflects an essential aspect of...

Clinical trial shows long term benefits of Galaflex internal bra

Read the PDF here.

Artistry in plastic surgery not just paint by numbers

I have been thinking more lately about the relationship of art and plastic surgery. Sometimes this happens when I am drawing a model, and noticing there is something not typical in the proportions. Often though what sets me onto...

The modern mommy makeover: Can you have it all?

Like motherhood, the modern mommy makeover has changed, and recognizing the importance of individualization is at the heart of both. Not every mom is the same, and the mommy makeover should not be a cookie cutter operation. True, there are things...

Cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, aesthetic surgery: Who is most qualified?

A couple of weeks ago I did an Instagram takeover for a day for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and it got me thinking about how I would explain what “aesthetic surgery” means. Is there a...

Double bubble troubles: Understanding a common breast implant problem

What causes the dreaded double bubble with breast implant surgery? It is a common cause of concern for patients, and rightly so; a groove across the bottom of the breast is unnatural and unsightly. There are two causes of...

Does the media create unrealistic standards of beauty – or vice-versa?

Humans have been adorning and modifying their bodies since the dawn of time. But with the rise of mass media, a global beauty product industry, and increasing popularity of plastic surgery, some are questioning whether unrealistic standards of beauty...

Does “Facial Yoga” Really Make You Look Younger?

Facial exercises have been promoted for years as an anti-aging alternative to surgery or injections, but a new study has given the subject renewed interest. I have been a critic of the notion because the logic behind it is...

Solutions for breast implant rippling

We do a lot of revision breast surgery here, and breast implant rippling is a common concern of patients seeking revision. There are two factors that contribute to this: thin tissue coverage and the characteristics of the implants. Correction...

Cosmetic surgery or nonsurgical treatments: How to make the right decision

Why do nonsurgical treatments such as Ultherapy work so well on some and seemingly not at all on others? I have been scanning the “worth it” ratings on Real Self, in particular, the negative reviews for nonsurgical treatments. I...

Bogus Botox crackdown: How to know you are getting the real thing

Anything as popular and expensive as Botox® is bound to have fakes and imitators. We may or may not take umbrage at counterfeit Cartier or ersatz Armani, but we expect the real thing when it comes to medical products....

Botox for forehead wrinkles gains FDA approval

An open secret for several years is that use of Botox for the forehead was “off-label,” meaning that although it was common practice, it was not specifically approved by the FDA for that purpose – until now. This now...

Is the term anti-aging over the hill? Allure’s fresh take

Allure magazine announced last month that they are officially dropping the term “anti-aging.” Does a beauty publication truly mean to embrace aging, wrinkles and all, or is there something more calculated underlying the move? It’s an important topic. I do...

Preparing for surgery: Do’s and Don’ts

The Internal Bra Defined

Over the past 17 years I have been working on the idea of an internal bra, and now that the idea is taking hold there seems to be some confusion about what it actually is. The purpose of a...

Is a muscle repair with tummy tuck always necessary?

I was surprised to find out on a review of my recent tummy tuck cases that I was only doing a muscle separation repair in about half of them. The reason this was a surprise is that abdominal muscle...

Waterfall ptosis and bottoming out: opposite problems with a similar solution

Lately we have been seeing more of a type of breast sagging that occurs after augmentation with implants, called waterfall ptosis (ptosis being the medical word for sagging; the “p” is silent.) It can happen years later, or sometimes...

How Much Does Liposuction Cost?

What the Savvy Patient Needs to Know Liposuction costs anywhere from about $2,000 to $6,000 or more, depending on several things: how many areas are being done, what type of anesthesia is used, the facility where the operation is...

Exparel Long-Acting Local Anesthetic: Still a Hot Topic

A major advance in pain relief Exparel, the long-acting numbing agent that provides pain reduction for up to 3 days with many types of surgery, is still making the news. I came across it in 2011 and immediately recognized...

When to Use Form-Stable (Anatomic) Implants

Determining the Right Body Type and Breast Shape Most breast augmentation patients will get a nice result from round, smooth surface implants, but there are specific cases where a shaped implant works better. These implants go by many names...

What you need to know about breast implant related ALCL

This week the US Food & Drug Administration issued updated information on a very rare form of cancer called BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma). As of February 1, 2017, the FDA identified more than 350 possible cases,...

Top 5 Misleading Terms in Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine

Few things are fraught with more confusing and misleading marketing hype than plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine. Just add “lift” at the end and you have a new and improved procedure! Here are my top 5 offenders: Liquid Facelift...

Fillers Unfiltered

More Natural Looking, Longer Lasting Injectables Like it or loathe it, the selfie trend is here to stay, and with it an increase in facial cosmetic procedures such as Botox, Juvederm, and even surgery. Who hasn’t had a day...

Correction of Breast Implant Animation Deformity by Conversion to Split Muscle Plane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vobe0-a-xPI What Are Animation Deformities? Animation deformities are distortions of the breast with muscle flexion and are common with implants under the muscle using the dual plane technique. This video will show correction of animation deformity in a patient...

Scar Tactics: Don’t Be Too Scarred from Your Mommy Makeover

It is normal to have fears about scarring, particularly with a tummy tuck and breast surgery for a mommy makeover. Plastic surgeons use a variety of strategies to minimize scars, but it is not possible (yet) to do surgery...

Significant Others and Plastic Surgery: A Surgeon’s Perspective

She's Doing It For Herself, But Hopes You Like It Women in relationships often get flack from their significant other for considering cosmetic surgery. “I love you the way you are, why would you want to change?” There’s no...

When It Comes To Plastic Surgery, Online Resources Are Off The Mark

When It Comes To Plastic Surgery, Online Resources Are Off The Mark According to several recent studies, online resources are off the mark when it comes to plastic surgery. The information is often misleading, inaccurate, or unintelligible. Take your...

Accused of Having Plastic Surgery!

Understanding The Lingering Controversy of Plastic Surgery Maybe you’ve seen this type of headline: “Carrie Underwood accused of plastic surgery” or “Kendall Jenner accused of getting breast implants” like it’s some sort of crime. Or just this week “Selena...

Attention To Detail: What I Learned At The ISAPS Meeting In Japan

I always look forward to the biannual meeting of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, held last week in Kyoto, Japan. One of the highlights this year was the keynote address from Nobel Prize winner Dr. Shinya Yamanaka,...

Say Goodbye To Bat Wings

As women age, it's not uncommon to notice sagging skin on the arms. Skin that was once tight and smooth tends to become loose and flabby as the force of gravity imposes its will. Despite physical activity like targeting your triceps and...

The Steps To Avoiding A “Botched” Procedure

The Steps To Avoiding A "Botched" Procedure Thanks to TV shows like “Botched” and the pervasiveness of celebrity media coverage, we’re all familiar with pictures of men and women with undesirable plastic surgery outcomes. For celebrities like Mickey Rourke...

Dr. Baxter nominated by King5 and Evening Magazine for Best of Western Washington’s “Best Plastic Surgeon 2016”

Decided by local voters, this content honors the best that Washington has to offer in regards to local services and businesses in categories such as doctors, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Many thanks to all of the patients who voted...