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. 

The local newspaper (The Greenville News, www.greenvilleonline.com) recently ran a McClatchy News Service article with the title, "Demand grows for low-cost cosmetic procedures." It is a well written article that refers to statistics from the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Graham is a member of both organizations. www.PlasticSurgery.org and www.Surgery.org. It also quotes non-surgeons and dermatologists.

One major point is that patients are seeking more temporary "quick fixes" now.

We are proud that we offer our patients both injectable and/or laser solutions and definitive surgical rejuvenation. We suggest patients tell us the results the seek and the available down-time, and we will offer options that are suitable for them.

Ranges of options for face, breast & body are not new for The Aesthetic Center. Dr. Graham has extensive training and experience. In addition, his staff includes a post-gradu

2010's start gives us the perspective to look back over the decade of 2000 and decide what the most important trends were in plastic surgery. The publication Plastic Surgery News did this in their Jan/Feb issue and here is their list:

10) MEDICAL TOURISM increases and raises the concern about sacrificing quality for cost.
9) Increased OFFICE-BASED COSMETIC SURGERY -- now chosen by the majority of patients over a hospital or out-patient multi-use facility.
8) Increase in MAJOR WEIGHT LOSS patients, following gastric bypass or other bariatric surgery.
7) POLITICAL ADVOCACY for plastic surgery, including stopping the national cosmetic procedure 5% tax from Washington and various state bills.
6) Stressing HIGH STANDARDS. After high profile deaths including Kanye West's mother Donda, and the author of First Wives Club Olivia Goldsmith, the media and the public became more interested in the message of quality & safety repeated by the American Society of Pla

Some recent online articles about cosmetic plastic surgery.

We want patients to have a great experience, whether they need standard facial rejuvenation surgery, some type of mini-lift, or enhancement with injectables such as Juvaderm, Restylane or Botox.

We recommend you do your homework. Ask about certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Otolaryngology (with Certificate of Added Qualifications in Facial Cosmetic Surgery) for surgical procedures. Ophthalmologists should also be experienced around the eye area.

Recently, doctors from all unrelated specialties have been attracted to cosmetic surgery (ie. Emergency M

On National Public Radio this morning a reporter discussed the controversial subject of having silicone liquid injected into various areas of the body as a filler.

The procedure is rarely done by qualified plastic surgeons, and thought of as a poor choice of filler material by most. Some of the people injecting silicone are not physicians and lack appropriate medical training. Some of the material is not medical-grade silicone.

We have seen some patients at The Aesthetic Center who have had injections of an unknown permanent material, who developed undesirable hardening, scarring and distortion.

Our recommendation is to avoid injectable silicone. Hyaluronic acid fillers are excellent, well-tolerated, and reversible.

SUMMER OFFICIALLY BEGINS JUNE 21st.

Join us for question & answer sessions. Dr. Sutton Graham and his staff at the Aesthetic Center for Breast & Cosmetic Surgery will host two summer presentations.

• Good chance to learn more about how procedures can benefit you.
• Opportunity to have your questions answered.
• Ways to help a friend or family member get helpful information. Bring them along! They're welcome.
• Find out about new procedures, costs, downtime, and specialized ways we minimize discomfort.

YOUR BEST FACE: Tuesday June 16th 6:30-8:00pm
Subtle or dramatic, but always natural. Injectables, minimally invasive, short-scar, modified techniques. And when established procedures give the best results.

Time Magazine ran an article in February with some very interesting observations on genetically identical twins and how environment makes us look younger or older. It reinforced recommendations that plastic surgeons have been making; that enhancing volume in the face makes one look more youthful. We use hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvaderm, Restylane, etc.) and Fat Graft Transfer to maintain full healthy cheeks, correct jawline thinning, and fill in under-eye grooves. Facelifting techniques elevate and restore sagging or lost healthy tissues. The article contains other thought provoking ideas.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1877717,00.html
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/injectables.html

More Magazine followed one woman through the process of blepharoplasty (eyelid lift). They show early post-op s

Johnson & Johnson has just obtained FDA approval to market Evolence, an injectable collagen used to treat facial wrinkles.

This will be interesting for several reasons. First, J&J is the first large pharmaceutical corporation to enter a market populated by smaller specialty companies like Allergan (Juvaderm) and Medicis (Restylane & Perlane). Their marketing will, no doubt, be superb. Second, the new product is made of porcine collagen derived from pig tendon. J&J emphasizes the source as "naturally sourced", rather than synthetic like established fillers. Finally, bovine (cow) collagen has been declining in popularity for 10-15 years. It was the first available filler, but fell out of favor because of rapid disappearance and the need for skin allergy tests.

Evolence has been used in Canada and some European countries, but there is little US experience. We will evaluate its risks and benefits over time before incorporating it into our select