San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog - Page 25 of 26

The FDA has approved silicone breast implants as safe for implantation (in November of 2006) after being off the market for several years due to fears they could be linked to autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other health issues. These issues were shown in large good studies to be unsubstantiated, and so silicone is once again being used for modern day implants. Some of the greatest risk factors seem to be capsular contracture, or hardening and scarring of the breast tissue.

Silicone implants since being allowed back on the market are generally the top choice over saline implants because they tend to feel more ‘real’ than saline implants. Regardless, it’s always best to have a detailed discussion with your doctor during a consult so you understand the pros and cons of silicone, and can make an informed and educated decision on what type you’d like to go with.
This is an intensely debated question without a simple answer. Some doctors suggest a rupture may happen in 10-15 years. Others remind us that for many patients a rupture may never happen. The FDA cites a rupture rate of about .05% at 3 years. Because of these figures the implant companies have recommended an MRI to scan for ruptures 3 years after implantation, and every two years following.

The rate really depends on what generation of implant you are using, as it will vary with each. Like all human made objects, implants keep getting safer and more advanced all the time. Regardless, for whatever the reason the life of an implant is not indefinite. For modern implants today, the rate of rupture is probably around 2-7% within 5 years.
Your Invited…

When: Thursday, November 5th from 6:00-9:00 pm

Where: Cocoon Urban Day Spa
330 1st St., 2nd Floor
(Between Folsom and Harrison)
San Francisco, CA 94105

What: An evening of friends, food, and fabulous freebies. Learn how to enhance your beauty inside and out with tricks and treats from the experts.

Bring a friend to get triple raffle entries and enjoy the night’s festivities, featuring:
- Insight into the latest cosmetic procedures from Dr. Mosser
- Exclusive product offers, including 20% off Clinique Medical, $20 off each box of Latisse, and injectable specials to be announced at the event
- Complimentary brow bar, polish changes, and gift cards, courtesy of Cocoon, valued at $50
- Complimentary surgical consultation cards, courtesy of Dr. Mosser, valued at $150
- Demonstrations and makeup advice from the artists of Shu Uemura
- Food and wine catered by Local (Restaurant and Wine Merchant)
- Updates in yoga, pilates, massage, and skin care from Cocoon staff
- Door prizes including Juvederm treatments (valued at $600 per syringe), a private yoga session (valued at $120), a mani-pedi combo (valued at $50), a one-hour massage (valued at $120), a Shu Uemura master class (valued at $1250), and more!
Don’t Miss this Fun Event!

RSVP by October 30 to 415.398.7778 or contact@drmosser.com.
Facial liposculpture isn’t to be taken lightly, unless you are keeping all work confined to the neck and jaw line. Work around the cheeks must be very conservative and can be fraught with irregularities in the cheek contour after liposuction. Other than that, most side effects are in keeping with any liposuction procedure for the most part.
A Rare Opportunity: Ensure results with the Artefill Assurance Program
The makers of Artefill are offering a rare perk to patients considering the dermal filler through the Artefill Assurance Program. If a patient does not receive optimal results full correction from the first 3-syringe Artefill treatment to correct smile lines, then he or she may be eligible for additional product free of charge providing there is room for improvement.

This is the first time Dr. Mosser has heard of a company standing behind their product’s commitment to full correction in this way.

As an expert injector, teaching physician for several filler companies, and the Northern California Consultant for Artefill, Dr. Mosser is one of a select group of doctors in the country to be a part of the Artefill Assurance Program. Please contact us for further details on this offer.

To take advantage of this offer, call for an Artefill Consultation and Skin Test by November 15.

$50 off Botox for Express to Success
Express yourself as much as you like this holiday season without any evidence of the lines. Botox can help you maintain a rejuvenated appearance long after the last cookie is decorated by treating frown lines, forehead creases, and crow’s feet. Minimally invasive, Botox delivers safe, predictable results.

In further celebration of the giving season, Allergan, the maker of Botox, will donate a portion of the proceeds on your behalf to the “Express Success” campaign through the end of 2009. The campaign, which benefits not-for-profit organization Dress for Success, aims to helps disadvantaged women succeed in the workforce by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Call now through Dec 31 to schedule an appointment for $50 off and a charitable donation in your name!

Lusting for lashes with Latisse
In many societies, eyelashes are considered a symbol of grace, beauty, and power. If you currently use false eyelashes or extensions — or are considering new ways to enhance your lashes — then Latisse may prove beneficial. Latisse is the first and only FDA-approved prescription treatment to promote eyelash growth. Most clinical trial participants noticed significant improvement in lash growth and fullness after two months, with full results occurring at 12 or 16 weeks. Prospective users are encouraged to partake in a short visit with Dr. Mosser to make sure Latisse is right for them.

Previous and new users: Take $20 off your purchase of each box of Latisse through November 30th.
Not always. It depends on the elasticity of the skin, the anatomy of the body and other extenuating factors. And yes, the skill and technique of the doctor plays a role. A qualified doctor can give you an idea during a consultation exactly what risk you may have of irregularities in contour after surgery.

One thing to keep in mind though is that there are two types of lumping that can occur. One type is temporary and occurs because of an uneven resolution of swelling in the tissue. Sometimes this lumpiness can be seen, others it can only be felt. It usually goes away on its own given time.

The second type of lumping happens less often but is much more serious. It occurs because of under or over resection of fat, and will require that additional surgery be done in order to even out the results. Another thing to keep in mind is that people who smoke or are otherwise not in great health can also end up having lumpy results.
There is no real difference. Some companies (like Vaser) have preferred to differentiate themselves with a different word for liposuction for marketing purposes only. It is best to really understand the technique your doctor uses and not oversimplify it between liposculpture and liposuction.

The term liposculpture is often used when talking about ‘shaping’ the body using liposuction. For instance when some patients want to sculpt the 6 pack look, the doctor would selectively remove fat in a particular pattern to create the effect desired. This is a more superficial liposuction procedure, but still… it’s liposuction.

Liposuction is simply the term used to describe the procedure itself, which is the removal of fat using a suction system. Regardless of what it’s called or the promises a doctor offers, choose your doctor based on their results, not what they call the procedure itself.
In every case, it is always best to reach your goal weight first, if at all possible. At the very least, get down to a weight that you know you can maintain easily. This will only make things better for you, as you will reduce the amount of revisions that may be necessary. If you lose weight after everything is tightened then things might loosen a bit more, creating the possible need for additional surgery.

If you are actively trying to lose weight still, then keep up the good work until you are at your goal or very close to it, unless you have lost a significant amount and are experiencing itching and irritation because of the loose folds of skin hanging down.

In that case go ahead with the procedure, because there will always be SOME loosening of the skin post-op regardless, and there is no need to continue suffering needlessly. Also, if you have reached a stable weight and have stayed there for several months, it should also be ok to proceed with your tummy tuck without too much potential for loosening later.
Actual weight loss is less than you would think. A tummy tuck is performed to remove droopy extra skin, and address things like rectus muscles that have been forced apart due to pregnancy, as well as excess fat. For most patients the actual ‘weight’ loss is less than a few pounds.

There are some instances if a person is extremely overweight where more pounds may be lost, but it is still not a significant amount even then. However the APPEARANCE of weight loss is big because of changes in size and contour. A tummy tuck is a reshaping procedure, not a weight loss procedure. So satisfaction comes from fitting into slimmer, sexier clothing and getting a more toned and tightened looking abdominal area, not from how many pounds are actually lost.
Yes, unfortunately scarring is the price to be paid when you undergo surgery. In the case of a tummy tuck, similar to when a tailor removes extra fabric, a surgeon removes extra skin and scars are just a part of the tradeoff one needs to accept.

A meticulous surgeon will do everything he can do to minimize the visibility of the scars. Some scars tend to be more noticeable than others, and this can depend on several factors. Skin tone and elasticity, genetics, and skin quality as well as the actual length of the incision will all play a role in how visible the scar is.

Generally though, given at least a year a scar will heal nicely and lighten up considerably, which will decrease its visibility exponentially. And because of its location along the bikini line, it really isn’t something one notices unless looking for it. Most patients are so happy with improved abdominal contouring post-op that the scarring is just a minor nuisance.