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Botox and Fillers, What’s Best for You?

Posted on March 29, 2013 in Practice News

Considering Botox® to treat your fine lines and wrinkles? You may actually need a filler treatment instead. Products like JuvedermTM or Restylane® treat deep wrinkles and focus on areas of the face that Botox does not treat. A recent article by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) presents differences between the various types of filler. Not sure which is best for you? Contact our Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeons to scheduled a consultation today.

Breast Augmentation Most Popular Form of Cosmetic Enhancement in Santa Barbara, CA and U. S.

Posted on November 3, 2011 in Practice News

plastic, surgeon, surgery, breast, augmentation, implants, santa, barbara, ca

Plastic Surgeon in Santa Barbara Discusses Breast Augmentation Popularity

The latest study from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) shows breast augmentation as the most common form of cosmetic enhancement in 2010, with more than 318,000 procedures performed. Dr. David Buchanan says the same is true at his Santa Barbara plastic surgery practice, adding that his patients prefer silicone to saline breast implants at roughly the same rate as patients across the U. S. More than 1.6 million surgical cosmetic enhancement procedures were performed in the U. S. in 2010 according to the latest data from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The study also shows breast augmentation, with 318,123 procedures performed, was the most popular form of surgical cosmetic enhancement. Dr. David Buchanan, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Santa Barbara, CA, says the same is true at his practice. “For twenty-nine years breast augmentation has been the most requested procedure I perform. Women everywhere wish to enhance their appearance and femininity, and if one is small-breasted, augmentation can beautifully improve your figure and make you feel more confident in a swim suit.” The study from ASAPS shows patients nationwide preferred silicone breast implants in 62% of the breast augmentation procedures performed in the U. S. in 2010. As his patients consider breast augmentation in Santa Barbara, Dr. Buchanan says the most commonly addressed concern in pre-operative consultations is the choice between saline and silicone implants. However, Dr. Buchanan adds that his patients tend to prefer silicone implants at approximately the same rate as defined in the ASAPS study, adding that patients often believe silicone implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue. Despite the numerous and comprehensive studies conducted by the FDA that have verified the safety of silicone breast implants, speculation continues to surface. However, Dr. Buchanan says silicone breast implants have never been safer for use in breast augmentation thanks to the use of an innovative silicone gel, which acts more like a solid than a liquid. “The newer gel implants have been studied extensively, and are now considered the best implants available. I often tell our patients that if my wife or daughter needed an implant I would definitely choose silicone gel.” About David Buchanan, MD, FACS Dr. David Buchanan earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He then completed his general surgery training at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara and the Maricopa County General Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Buchanan then completed his plastic surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Dr. Buchanan’s Santa Barbara plastic surgery practice is located at 427 W. Pueblo St., Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. The practice can be reached at (805) 762-4200, or found online at sbplasticsurgery.com, santabarbarabreast.com, or facebook.com/pages/Santa-Barbara-Plastic-Surgery-Center/90407104284?ref=nf. ###

BREAST IMPLANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Posted on January 31, 2011 in Practice News

The FDA released a statement January 26, 2011, describing the link between ALCL (Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma) of the breast and women with breast implants. Please look carefully at the information provided. Approximately 3 in 100 million women per year in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALCL in the breast. This is a minute number. It can occur with or without breast implants. It can occur with saline or silicone gel implants. It is not breast cancer. Early reports are that it can be cured by removing the scar capsule around the implant once it is diagnosed.

The FDA recommends that women with breast implants continue to be monitored by their doctors, but does not recommend implant removal because the risk of ALCL is “extremely low” (about .00000003%). Please do not panic from this report. After twenty-nine years experience with silicone gel implants, and having trained at Baylor University where they were invented, I have confidence in these devices and feel they are safe. They were exhaustively studied by the FDA between 1992 and 2006, and silicone gel implants were reapproved for cosmetic breast augmentation in 2006. Saline breast implants were available during that time period, and are still available today. I recommend that you watch the news and press releases on this topic and read them carefully. Bear in mind that some in the media may sensationalize this finding, and perhaps overstate the risk, which can create unnecessary concern in women who have breast implants. You are at greater risk of being struck by lightning than developing ALCL of the breast. Be calm. And call with questions or concerns.