Our patients want body contouring procedures all year long, but more so in the Spring and Summer seasons.  Throughout many years my staff has noticed an increased interest in breast augmentation and liposuction in the late winter and early Spring.  We assume their thoughts have turned to preparing for swimsuits, sun dresses, etc.  Anticipating days at the beach, taking kids to the pool, and weekends at the lake!

The arrival this week of Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition reminded us that this season is coming.  Web address: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012_swimsuit

We're ready to take care of you when you decide.  When the idea comes to you, schedule a consultation.  Call us at 864-676-1707.

We you've visited over the past several months, you may have noticed the redecoration of our lobby.  The project has been undertaken to provide more comfortable seating in the lobby.  Fowler Interiors assisted us, and we thank them for their good work.  Individual pieces have been arriving gradually, but everything is complete!

We hope your visits will be handled efficiently, and you won't have long to wait in our lobby.  But we want each of you to be comfortable while you're with us.  Plus, some of our surgery patients' family chose to wait during their spouse's procedures.  They are with us for a while.

If you have any other suggestions  to make your visit more comfortable, please speak with Dr. Graham or one of the staff, or comment here.  Enjoy!

I recently noticed this editorial from last September in USA Today newspaper on the subject of non-plastic surgeons performing cosmetic surgery on patients.  The editorial was published following an article about an unfortunate woman who selected a non-plastic surgeon to perform liposuction surgery on her.  Apparently the surgery was performed in a so-called med-spa. 

Plastic surgeons in South Carolina and nationally have been working to inform the general public and lawmakers about the dangers of our system in which all licensed physicians can legally perform all procedures.  This means patients must carefully select the doctor that claims qualifications to do their surgery. 

It can be hard since well-done advertisements often substitute for referrals from respected doctors and satisfied patients. 

The American College of Surgeons sums it up, "SURGERY BY SURGEONS."

Buttock Enhancement in a Women's Boutique

An iPhone App May Help Our Breast Augmentation Patients

How Do I Choose The Right Breast Implant Size?
 

RealSelf.com

Starting May 1st, there are special offers on injectable products for enhancing your facial appearance (non-surgical or non-invasive).  Perlane & Restylane are fillers that are FDA approved for softening the nasolabial grooves.  Dsyport is botulinum toxin, FDA approved to diminish over-active muscle lines between the eyebrows. 

Now Dr. Graham & Janice are adding Sculptra Aesthetic injectable poly-L-lactic acid.  It causes your body to create more collagen beneath the skin.  Surgeons refer to this effect as "voluminizing" rather than filling. 

We are able to improve:

• nasolabial grooves
• cheek wrinkles
• jawline
• chin
• temples
• cheekbones

ASPS survey provides ten predictions for cosmetic plastic surgery

Dr. Graham and the staff at Aesthetic Center regularly assist children and families in our region, effected by cleft lip and palate congenital deformities.

Scientists have been investigating a rare form of cancer occurring adjacent to breast implants (not well-known breast cancer) named Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). This entity gained attention recently when the FDA released a statement. Their information can be found at www.FDA.gov/breastimplants or www.FDA.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm24000.htm

Here is some background information. Early reports date back 25 years and a JAMA article appeared in 2008. Following this the American Society of Plastic Surgeons contracted with the Rand Corporation to do independent evaluation and this information was used by the FDA for its 2011 announcement. The FDA did not change the regulatory status or availability of breast implants.

ALCL occurs in breasts without implants at a rate of 6 women per year in the US (3 in100 million). That makes it 18/millionth the rate of common breast cancer. It also occurs more commonly elsewhere in the body (1 in one

Patient safety in surgery has long been important in the lengthy education and training of surgeons. Plastic surgeons typically have 4 years of medical school, 5 years of general surgical residency and additional years of plastic surgical residency or fellowship. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is a national organization that emphasizes patient safety in many ways. One of them is the requirement for ongoing specific patient-safety education, another is the requirement that member surgeons only operate in accredited surgical facilities.

ACCREDITATION is the process which recognizes that the facility meets detailed standards. The process is similar to that for hospitals and out-patient surgical centers, but tailored to the size and scope of the office facilities. The process includes complying with standards (architectural, equipment, staffing training, reporting, etc.). Our center is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facil