Tuck ‘N’ Stitch

YourNewBodyBlog.com features two eminent Beverly Hills plastic surgeons, Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler.

Here, we know Dr. Kotler as the “FaceDocBlogger” because his work as a surgeon is devoted to plastic surgery of the face and neck. For instance, Dr. Kotler has performed over 4,000 rhinoplasty procedures. Meanwhile, we call Dr. Linder our “BodyDocBlogger” because he has a plastic surgery practice limited to only bodily plastic surgery, such as breast augmentation and tummy tuck surgery.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, doctors Linder and Kotler appear here most weeks as the ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique takes on the news, trends and practices in cosmetic plastic surgery.

This Week:

What to Do if You are 60 — and Want to Look 45

When the Beatles sang, Will You Still Need Me….When I’m 64, they were not thinking about plastic surgery. But many 60-something people are thinking about it and go under the knife and, after healing, look like 45-year-olds….as long as they have observed a healthy lifestyle.

Here, Tuck ‘n’ Stitch tell which surgical rejuvenation procedures 60ish people often request to help keep them looking youthful. The doctors also include a few pointers and pit falls to watch out for while undergoing plastic surgery.

BodyDocBlogger: I’ll defer to you, doctor, because most people in that age group are interested in facial procedures.

FaceDocBlogger: Thank you, doctor. Most people approaching, or already in, their 60s and 50s are interested in face lifts. However, make sure your surgeon not only trims away excess skin but also lifts the tissues under the skin up toward the crown of your head. Otherwise, if only the skin is tightened, the end result is a “wind blown” look that does not look natural.

BodyDocBlogger: Tell them about those-oft maligned nasolabial creases on the older face, doctor.

FaceDocBlogger: Gladly. One feature that makes a person look older is the deep crease that runs from the corners of the nose to the outside edges of the mouth. It is a real mistake for a surgeon to try and pull the facial skin tight to make that crease go away. In some cases, the skin is pulled so tight, the patient’s eyes almost look Asian! A better answer is using facial fillers to plump out the nasolabial creases.

BodyDocBlogger: In the world of plastic surgery body procedures, the companion to the overly tight face lift is the overly tight tummy tuck. So beware of the surgeon who takes too much skin from the lower tummy. That can make the belly button almost disappear and cause the skin look like it is made of wax.

FaceDocBlogger: Let me add a little more about the nasolabial fold. That facial crease is hugely disliked so it has been the plague of cosmetic surgery for many years. In fact, the reason many facelifts have been pulled so tight is to get rid of that one feature. But the arrival of so many types of facial fillers has been a boon to cosmetic surgeons and their patients. Some fillers remove the nasolabial fold permanently. (Read more about ArteFill.)

BodyDocBlogger: It is very common to see a 60ish patient who wants her large 20-year-old breast implants removed and replaced with something smaller. Usually, her older implants made her look too matronly. Smaller implants — and perhaps a breast lift — make the woman look smaller, thinner, trimmer and, overall, more youthful.

FaceDocBlogger: I don’t want to sound like a broken record here, but I have more to say on overly tight face lifts: In some cases, a wrinkled face is the reason a surgeon has pulled the skin too tight. However, wrinkles are a different condition than sagging flesh and need a different treatment, which is usually a chemical or laser peel that resurfaces the skin.

BodyDocBlogger: Getting back to the body, many women approaching their sixth decade show up in my office asking for liposuction of the hips, often along with the inner and outer thighs. That procedure improves the figure and lessens the matronly look.

FaceDocBlogger: Yet another technique to turn the clock back from a 60ish appearance is upper and lower eyelid surgery. The skin of the upper eyelids become loose and saggy with age, while the wall that holds the fat back in the lower eyelids becomes weak and allows under eye bags to form on the face.

BodyDocBlogger: Doctor, I understand you have a special procedure for repairing loose necks, double chins and jowls that tend to become loose around the 60th birthday.

FaceDocBlogger: Yes, indeed. I make a small incision under the chin and perform some liposuction of the fat that creates the jowls. The body structure that causes a double chin is a loosen muscle known as the platysma. I liposuction any fat there, make the muscle tighter by shortening it and then suturing it like a corset. Patients who respond the best have skin that will spring back into place when the excess tissues under the neck are removed.

Have a question for FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Let us know and we’ll do our best to have it answered. Feel free to leave your comments below!

Tuck ‘N’ Stitch

YourNewBodyBlog.com features two eminent plastic surgeons — Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler — in Beverly Hills, the global Mecca of rejuvenation surgery.

Here, we know Dr. Kotler as the “FaceDocBlogger” because his surgical work is devoted to plastic surgery of the face and neck. Meanwhile, Dr. Linder, our “BodyDocBlogger” has a plastic surgery practice limited to only lower bodily plastic surgery.

Found only on YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Linder and Kotler appear here most weeks as the ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique takes on the news, trends, and practices in cosmetic plastic surgery.

This week: Plastic Surgery: When to Know You’re Really Ready

Many plastic surgery patients see a surgeon and then wait two, three, or even four years before going ahead with a procedure. Why? Plastic surgery is a life-changing event that always carries some small amount of risk. Even in the best of hands, an unforeseen complication can rear its ugly head. So, many prospective patients just can’t get off the dime. But you can tell when a person is ready for plastic surgery.

This week, Tuck’n’ Stitch tell when patients are finally, really ready at long last to have plastic surgery. Or not.

(LPatridge Photo)

BodyDocBlogger: Doctor, what do your patients say were their personal tipping points?

FaceDocBlogger: The first thing: they just can’t stand another sight of whatever feature is bothering them. They feel like if they glance in the mirror one more time and see that huge hump on the nose, sagging facial flesh, or that sagging jaw line, they will scream. So they call and make an appointment.

BodyDocBlogger: My body patients reach that point when they can no longer stand being unable to fill a bra or wear an attractive bathing suit. One tummy tuck patient told me her personal breaking point was when people kept asking her when the baby was due. And she wasn’t pregnant!

FaceDocBlogger: One of my face lift patients in her late 30s says she was pushed over the edge when she went to school to pick up her seven-year-old. The teacher said she was certainly happy to meet little Johnnie’s grandmother! Anyhow, the patient should know exactly what they want from rejuvenation surgery. And they should be realistic about what can be done. You won’t look 20 again, just the best possible version of yourself.

BodyDocBlogger: I know my patients are ready for the procedure when I fully explain everything that can go wrong. I tell them there is always a small chance a scar will heal badly or get infected. If they can accept the hassles involved after a complication, they are ready for the surgery.

FaceDocBlogger: What about the medical exams?

BodyDocBlogger: You’re right as rain, doctor! The patient is ready for plastic surgery when he or she has all the medical exams and clearances done and on the surgeon’s desk. We are duty bound by law, ethics and compassion to know that the patient is healthy enough for surgery!

FaceDocBlogger: Patients are ready when their homework has included reading about the surgeon’s training, his or her board-certification, how long the surgery will take them off their feet, and what’s involved in recovery. (Read Tuck ‘n’ Stitch’s blog about medical exams before plastic surgery.)

BodyDocBlogger: I like to see patients well educated before they are ready to go under the knife. That includes perhaps reading a book — written for consumers — about plastic surgery, and visiting as many plastic surgery Web sites and blogs as time allows. I also like to see them taking part in online bulletin boards and plastic surgery forums so that they can read about the experiences of other patients.

FaceDocBlogger: There’s another item to being ready for plastic surgery: finances. Because many of my face lift patients are older, they have plenty of experience running up large credit card bills and then struggling for years to pay them off. So they are saving first and then paying in cash. But however the patient does it, through cash, loans, or credit cards, he or she is ready for plastic surgery when the financing is in place. (Read Tuck ‘n’ Stitch’s blog about how, when and where to find discounts in plastic surgery.)

BodyDocBlogger: Almost as important is the person who’s going to be with you the first 24 hours after surgery. There are just too many undesirable things that could happen to leave a groggy patient alone the first 24 hours after surgery. So you must arrange for a spouse, relative, or friend to be with you. If nobody else is available, there are professional aftercare facilities that will watch over you. My rule is: no companion after the procedure, no surgery.

FaceDocBlogger: We’re nearing the end of the list. The final reason a patient knows he or she is ready for surgery is the patient understands what everything is for in the after surgery bag the doctor provides.

BodyDocBlogger: That’s correct. Along with printed instructions on how to take care of yourself, or how to empty drains, we provide the items you need. Like eye drops for eyelid surgery patients, pain killers, new dressings, and the like.

FaceDocBlogger: Right down to the Q-tips! I have a favorite brand I foist off on everybody! But the payoff for the patient is that new, fresh look in the mirror when healed.

Have a question for FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Let us know and we’ll do our best to have it answered. Feel free to leave your comments below!

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

Tuck ‘N’ Stitch

Two eminent Beverly Hills plastic surgeons, Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler, appear here most weeks with wise words for plastic surgery consumers.

Dr. Kotler is our “FaceDocBlogger” because his surgical work is devoted to plastic surgery of the face and neck. Meanwhile, Dr. Linder, our “BodyDocBlogger,” has a plastic surgery practice limited to only lower body plastic surgery.
Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Linder and Kotler are the ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique takes and views on the news, trends, and practices in cosmetic plastic surgery.

This Week: Plastic Surgery by a Team

After Christina Applegate, the 36-year-old star of TV’s “Samantha Who?” announced she had a double mastectomy and would be followed by breast reconstruction, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons announced that Christina’s surgery and reconstruction is a team effort, with as many as six medical specialties, taking part. ( Read more about Christina.)

Tuck ‘n’ Stitch tell how team plastic surgery is done and how it can benefit the patient.

BodyDocBlogger: Doctor, does your heart — like mine– go out to Christina Applegate? It’s certainly a tough decision to remove both breasts, even though only one had cancerous lumps. In these cases, when the oncological surgeon finishes his work, the plastic surgeon usually steps up to perform the breast reconstruction.

FaceDocBlogger: Certainly, I feel for Christina because she has the BRAC-1 gene, which means a predisposition for breast cancer. Her mother and sister had the affliction, too. In addition, her case shed some light on a situation in plastic surgery that most people do not know about.

BodyDocBlogger: Would you be referring to one plastic surgery session in which two different surgeons perform their procedures? One doctor performs a rhinoplasty while another does, oh, a breast augmentation, right doctor?

FaceDocBlogger: Spot on, doctor! The genesis was found in reconstruction surgery, say, when Siamese twins are surgically separated. That surgery is so grueling that surgeons worked as a tag team. Well, team cosmetic plastic surgery is rare but perhaps it should not be so. Team cosmetic surgery is most often performed by super-specialists, surgeons who perform the same small number of procedures day in, day out.

BodyDocBlogger: With team plastic surgery, the patient would only pay one O.R. fee, one anesthesiologist fee, and go through one recovery period.

FaceDocBlogger: If that patient could find a surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery of the head and neck and then team up with a surgeon who specializes in procedures of the body, a team surgery like that could be arranged.

BodyDocBlogger: In addition to saving on the costs of the O.R. and the anesthesiologist, are there other benefits to the patient by having two surgeons operate in one session?

FaceDocBlogger: As you know, a super-specialist does the procedure quicker because he or she does it so often. That doctor can literally see the anatomy of, say, the nose or the breast in his or her sleep. The patient’s return to work will be much quicker, too, because a super-specialist disturbs far less tissue. That means less bruising, swelling, and bleeding, which results in a quicker return to normal activities.

BodyDocBlogger: The cosmetic plastic surgeon who performs all 137 plastic surgery procedures does not serve the best interest of the patient. With so many procedures available to plastic surgery, no one surgeon can really master them all.

FaceDocBlogger: The super-specialists I know here in Beverly Hills are board certified, have a long fellowship behind them, and many years of experience doing a small variety of procedures rather than all the known operations in plastic surgery. The office of a super-specialist is usually a “boutique” and not “department store” practice.

BodyDocBlogger: Doctor, can you think of a good case example of a super-specialist?

FaceDocBlogger: Sure, mine! When I needed a hernia repair, I went to a super-specialist who does just that one operation. I was up and about the next day. But a friend of mine went to a general surgeon who does many types of surgeries and had the same procedure. My pal was recovering at home for a month!

BodyDocBlogger: At any rate, both Tuck ‘n’ Stitch wish Christina a quick, smooth recovery and prompt return to her acting career.

FaceDocBlogger: Hear! Hear! Well said, doctor!

Have a question for FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Let us know and we’ll do our best to have it answered. Feel free to leave your comments below!

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

Tuck ‘N’ Stitch

YourNewBodyBlog.com welcomes two eminent Beverly Hills cosmetic plastic surgeons, Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler.

Here, we know Dr. Kotler as the “FaceDocBlogger” because his work as a surgeon is devoted to surgical rejuvenation of the face and neck. Meanwhile, we call Dr. Linder our “BodyDocBlogger” because he has a plastic surgery practice limited to only lower bodily plastic surgery.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Linder and Kotler appear here most weeks as the ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique takes on the news, trends, and practices in cosmetic plastic surgery.

This Week: How Celebrities Have Plastic Surgery in Secret

Madonna (Wikipedia photo)

Actress/songbird Madonna has been in the news this week, with insiders talking about how she will undergo plastic surgery in secret over the next 12 months. (Read More about Madonna’s Plastic Surgery.) While Doctors Linder and Kotler are not taking part in Madonna’s rejuvenation surgery, they do — and have — jointly ministered to the plastic surgery needs of hundreds of Hollywood’s top stars. All on the hush-hush, of course. Dr. Kotler performs many celebrity face lifts while Dr. Linder has performed many breast augmentations on models, actresses and others.

They reveal how plastic surgery on the Q.T. is done.

BodyDocBlogger: Doctor, among the many hundreds of celebrity plastic surgery patients you’ve seen, what is your most memorable experience?

FaceDocBlogger: A top — if not THE top — actress arrived at my practice very early in the morning when she was the only patient scheduled. It all went well; she was completely out of the public eye until she crashed her car in the parking garage. To put it mildly, the cat was let out of the bag. She could not have attracted more attention!

BodyDocBlogger: I would love to know who it was but I know not to ask. After all, we plastic surgeons are obliged by professional courtesy, medical ethics, and the law of the land to keep patient identities private. It’s also important because, in the case of models, film and TV stars, and other notables, livelihoods are at risk. Loose lips not only sink ships, they sink careers, too.

FaceDocBlogger: Mix in the incredible pressure of celebrity news gathering and the seeming omnipresence of celeb photographers, and you have a real cat-and-mouse game. They are desperate to find out who is having plastic surgery and we are duty bound to keep it quiet.

BodyDocBlogger: My own best strategy is performing surgery at 4:00 a.m, while it’s dark, before the town, the paparazzi, parking lot attendants, and other busy news tipsters wake up. And, of course, there are no other patients scheduled that day.

FaceDocBlogger: I often use one more layers of concealment: we agree on a fictitious name for the paperwork and refer to the celebrity as, say, Mr. or Ms. Jones-Smith. That way, anybody who overhears a casual remark is not tempted by offers from the many people who serve America’s millions of inquiring minds. And our back entrance seems to work for celebrity patients leaving unseen after surgery.

BodyDocBlogger: Weekends are also very good for performing celebrity plastic surgery. I arranged a long time ago for the parking garage to be opened from my office. Of course, there is a premium charge for all these layers of secrecy but the celebrities understand that special arrangements are being made. What do your patients do for aftercare, doctor?

FaceDocBlogger: We have special nurses that take famous patients to an aftercare facility and stay with them 24 hours for a few days. Sometimes, somebody from our staff will go with the nurse to whisk the disguised patient out the back entrance, into a car and to the aftercare facility, just to make sure everything goes smoothly. I usually have to see the patient the day after surgery so I often go to the aftercare facility to check on him or her.

BodyDocBlogger: Any tips you give first time celebrity plastic surgery patients?

FaceDocBlogger: You bet, doctor! Don’t bring your own car because every photographer in town knows the license plate number!

BodyDocBlogger: Doctor, what’s the coolest, most effective disguise you’ve seen for a celebrity who just had plastic surgery?

FaceDocBlogger: A pith helmet with dark mosquito netting hanging from the rim. Even with X-ray vision, you could not tell who is inside that get-up.

Have a question for FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Let us know and we’ll do our best to have it answered. Feel free to leave your comments below!

If you liked this blog, you may also like Tuck ‘n’ Stitch’s blog about Hollywood’s Terrible Plastic Surgery.

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

Tuck ‘N’ Stitch

Two eminent Beverly Hills plastic surgeons, Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler, are established team members of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Linder and Kotler appear here most weeks as the ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique takes on the news, trends, personalities, and practices in rejuvenation surgery

On this site, Dr. Kotler is known as the “FaceDocBlogger” because his plastic surgery practice is solely devoted to procedures of the face and neck. Our other expert source, Dr. Linder, is known as the “BodyDocBlogger” because his practice is limited to plastic surgery procedures of the lower body.

This Week: Top 10 Tips for Helping Yourself After Plastic Surgery

Part of the healing process after any invasive plastic surgery procedure takes place during the days right after surgery. Almost all cosmetic surgery procedures are designed to help patients get quickly back on their feet, back to work and into their normal routines again. Thus, most plastic surgery procedures involve about 10 to 14 — and sometimes fewer — days of downtime.

A facial patient is marked with surgical
ink to guide the surgeon’s hand.
(Izabel Habur photo)

BodyDocBlogger: Doctor, did you ever hear of the “5Gs?”

FaceDocBlogger: Yes, indeed. That does not stand for 5,000 dollars but for Garlic, Ginko, Ginseng, Goldenseal, and Ginger, supplements that can adversely affect blood clotting.

BodyDocBlogger: While many people know that patients should avoid aspirin, aspirin-containing compounds and other herbs, those same people are usually not as aware that patients should also avoid those substances after the operation. Why? Because any one of those compounds can cause bleeding from an incision.

FaceDocBlogger: That no-no list should also include continuation of the smoking ban that started several weeks before the procedure. The cigarette smoke injures the blood vessels and prevents healthy circulation of the blood. In fact, smokers require more drugs during anesthesia to prevent coughing and wheezing. And that leads to a wake up time not much shorter than Rip Van Winkle’s record snooze.

BodyDocBlogger: I also remind my patients that smoking reduces circulation. And healing faster is based on blood bringing fresh oxygen to surgical incisions.

FaceDocBlogger: While Mark Twain may have said “Quitting tobacco is easy — I’ve done it a thousand times!” it’s never too late to stop smoking for good. Especially in facial surgery, it’s vital to keep good circulation, least the two edges of skin at the incision actually whither and die.

BodyDocBlogger: Here’s another handy tip for recovering plastic surgery patients: get up and get moving! Just slowly walk around the house or the yard the day after surgery, unless your doctor says otherwise. In most cases, a little movement helps your respiration. And when you use your muscles, you feel better. Gentle stretching can also be helpful.

FaceDocBlogger: And if you want to move more, don’t rely on narcotic pain pills too much because they tend to slow you down. Plus, if you only lie about in bed after your plastic surgery, you won’t eat as much. Post surgery is a time when your body needs nourishment. If you have no appetite, you may be taking too many pain medications.

BodyDocBlogger: And then there is always the big C — in this sense, I mean constipation. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a laxative or a stool softener. Patients are usually instructed to take pain pills only as needed because those medications foster constipation by removing water from your system. If you strain while sitting on the toilette, you also increase the pressure on your veins and set yourself up for popping a stitch or tearing an internal suture and bleeding.

FaceDocBlogger: Speaking of water, try and stay hydrated. Insufficient drinking is right behind smoking as enemies of rapid healing. Gatorade, soft drinks and ginger ale are all good. In fact, anything with sugar and water are great.

BodyDocBlogger: Always arrange to have somebody there with you in the days after your surgery. Some bandages and dressings can be hard to reach and you may need a more alert mind to read the doctor’s written instructions and perhaps perform some easy procedures, like removing a surgical drain.

FaceDocBlogger: If your doctor does not offer, ask for a package of the supplies you will need at home in the days right after surgery. Having the doctor supply those items is better than the patient going to the pharmacy and buying the wrong things.

BodyDocBlogger: What other handy tips do you give your patients for a quick recovery, doctor?

FaceDocBlogger: I always ask the patient for the number of a 24-hour pharmacy near the patient’s home. The patient may call me late at night and it’s my job to relay the call to the pharmacy for filling. But the missing link in the chain is often the actual pharmacy phone number. So if your surgeon does not ask, find the most convenient pharmacy near you and give the number to your surgeon, just in case

BodyDocBlogger: Airplane travel is another dicey area. Thanks to the Internet, many patients fly in from distant areas for surgery. But flying just after the procedure is usually not a good idea. For one, flying is stressful and I don’t want my breast augmentation patients reaching over their heads. That pretty much precludes using overhead bins on a plane! So I ask them to stay at least a week before flying anywhere.

FaceDocBlogger: Due to pressure changes, rhinoplasty patients are also very sensitive to flying. I usually ask them to wait seven to ten days, until their sutures have been taken out and no infection is present. By then, adequate internal healing has taken place so the chance of nosebleed will be minimal.

Have a question for FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Let us know and we’ll do our best to have it answered. Feel free to leave your comments below!

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

Tuck ‘N’ Stitch

YourNewBodyBlog.com welcomes back Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler – two renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeons.
Here, in this column, we know Dr. Kotler as the “FaceDocBlogger” because his practice is devoted to cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and neck. Meanwhile, we refer to Dr. Linder as the “BodyDocBlogger” because his practice is limited to only plastic surgery of the lower body.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Linder and Kotler regularly appear as ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique takes on the news, trends and practices in cosmetic plastic surgery.

This Week: Top Ten Myths & Misconceptions about Plastic Surgery

Largely due to overly imaginative and inventive television programs, popular urban myths and word-of-mouth lingering from several decades ago, many misconceptions and myths exist about the practice of plastic surgery. The BodyDocBlogger and the FaceDocBlogger clear up a few of the most often heard.

(Kanstantsin Shcharbinski photo)

BodyDocBlogger: I would say the top myth in my field — surgical rejuvenation of the body — is that silicone breast implants remain unproven. But after 16 years of testing, they have been proven safe. Moreover, more women than ever are now asking for silicone instead of saline. Even though silicone is more expensive, patients like the softer feel which seems more natural.

FaceDocBlogger: Nice observation, doctor. Another myth I often come across is that plastic surgery procedures are terribly painful. By the way, another good reason for going to a super-specialist: that surgeon will disturb much less tissue, thanks to being so efficient. So actually, most patients experience minimal pain. Less than five percent of plastic surgery patients complain about pain.

BodyDocBlogger: One misconception that works against patients’ best interest is the idea that any board certification is a good thing. Actually, there are only 31 approved boards, all of which are listed at website for the American Board of Medical Specialties. Many so-called boards, like the Board of Laser Surgery, are of no value. The two boards that test and certify cosmetic surgeons to the highest possible standards are the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology which is surgery of the head and neck.

FaceDocBlogger: A myth that works hand-in-hand with that misconception is that only a plastic surgeon can legally perform plastic surgery. Actually, any doctor with a valid M.D. degree can practice in any field of medicine. That’s why we keep reminding patients to check on a doctor’s training and certification. After all, a qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon has just as much special training as a brain surgeon! It’s also not the best situation if a board certified gynecologist or allergist starts performing cosmetic plastic surgery.

BodyDocBlogger: Here’s another myth we sometimes hear: no scar is involved in plastic surgery. Actually, whenever a surgeon cuts through the skin, the body creates a scar. It’s just that cosmetic plastic surgeons have special training in placing the scars in wrinkles, folds, and other unseen or hard-to-see places. A tummy tuck, for instance, requires a hip-to-hip incision, but I make sure the resulting scar is hidden by underwear or swim suits.

FaceDocBlogger: Some people still have the idea a face lift can make you look like a completely different person your own mother would not recognize or a famous person. But that’s not true. Our highest goal is to create the best possible version of you. I mean you now, not 25 years ago. That line of reasoning is what we surgeons mean when we ask that patients have “realistic expectations.”

BodyDocBlogger: Some patients are intimidated and think it is disrespectful to ask a surgeon probing questions about his or her background. In fact, we encourage such questions because it shows you are an informed patient. However, if you are reluctant to ask in person, bring up the surgeon’s website on your computer or call the surgeon’s office and ask them to send you a copy of the surgeon’s resume or vita.

FaceDocBlogger: Another common myth is that plastic surgery costs the same everywhere. Actually, costs vary widely. In very expensive places like Miami, Manhattan or Beverly Hills, where the cost of labor, office rent and other overhead are high, costs for plastic surgery are also high. But the same procedure by an equally qualified surgeon in a small town only 50 miles away from Beverly Hills could wind up costing 40 to 50 percent less. (Read more about costs of plastic surgery.)

BodyDocBlogger: Doctor, what about the advertising that claims to produce wonderful, long-lasting results from a shorter or quicker face lift?

FaceDocBlogger: I always chuckle when I see ads that say a “mini,” “quick,” or “lunchtime” facelift provides the same results — much quicker — as a full surgical facelift. The truth is: minimal efforts equal minimal results. A mid-face lift may be appropriate for some patients, but it can’t do as much for a lot of drooping skin as a full facelift.

BodyDocBlogger: Many people have the idea that plastic surgeons only make people look better through rejuvenation surgery. But we all remember med school and know that’s not true, right Doctor?

FaceDocBlogger: That’s for sure! Cosmetic plastic surgeons are also qualified to perform reconstructive surgery on abnormal structures of the body, caused by birth defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma or injury, infection, tumors, or disease. Reconstructive surgery is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance.

Have a question for FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Please leave your comments below!

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

Tuck ‘n’ Stitch

YourNewBodyBlog.com welcomes two eminent Beverly Hills plastic surgeons, Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler.

On this site, we know Dr. Kotler as the “FaceDocBlogger” because his work as a surgeon is devoted to plastic surgery of the face and neck. Meanwhile, we call Dr. Linder our “BodyDocBlogger” because he has a plastic surgery practice limited to only plastic surgery of the lower body.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Linder and Kotler appear here most weeks as the ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique takes on the news, trends and practices in cosmetic plastic surgery.

(iynmeyer photo)

This Week: Plastic Surgery Unsatisfying? Top 5 Remedies

Tip 1: Don’t get Angry

BodyDocBlogger: The first thing not to do is sulk, write contentious e-mail, or be angry. Even in the most expert of hands, plastic surgery does not always go perfectly. As we surgeons say, the only surgeon who has no complications is the surgeon who never operates!

FaceDocBlogger: That’s right, doctor. And don’t confuse an unexpected complication with an imperfect surgical result. Although the occurrence is unlikely, any surgery is open to possible infections, scarring, or poor healing. There’s no reason to be angry with the surgeon because unexpected complications are not the fault of your surgeon.

Tip 2: Ask for Some Time with your Surgeon

BodyDocBlogger: Nationwide, about 15 percent of plastic surgeries require some form of touch-up, additional work, or even a revision. If you have selected a boardcertified plastic surgeon, he or she has probably seen your case before and knows exactly what to do.

FaceDocBlogger: Moreover, the competent surgeon will stick with the problem until it’s rectified. Not only did he or she take an oath to do so, your surgery represents a walking advertisement, so it’s in the doctor’s best interests for you to be satisfied.

Tip 3: Look at Your Before Pictures Again

BodyDocBlogger: Due to typical swelling and bruising and a healing process that can take weeks, patients sometimes forget what they looked like before surgery. So take another look at your before photos and compare them with your present state. In the case of the average liposuction, you should be willing to wait three or four months to let the procedure settle before you consider a revision.

FaceDocBlogger: A rhinoplasty can take up to a year to fully heal. After all, the third party in your surgery is Mother Nature. And she just might take her time letting your body heal for your surgical enhancement to shine through. So sometimes, a little more time for healing will solve the complaint, disappointment, or any real or perceived unsatisfactory results.

Tip 4: Consider Minor Touch-Ups

BodyDocBlogger: Being dissatisfied with your surgery is not the end of the world. Quite often, a minor touch-up or a series of small procedures may correct the problem quite well. In a breast augmentation, for instance, it is not a major undertaking to inject a little more volume into one breast implant if the patient’s bust line does not look quite symmetrical.

FaceDocBlogger: Certainly. The most important thing is that patient and doctor meet, be totally honest with each other about what can — and can’t — be done and be mutually respectful. In the case of a rhinoplasty, for instance, some minor divots in the nose can be filled in the surgeon’s office with Juvederm or Restylane. The business details of the touch-up — that is, who pays for what — should be found in your pre-surgical agreement.

Tip 5: Consider a Second, or even a Third, Opinion

BodyDocBlogger: Caring physicians always have the patient’s best interests at heart. So if you and your doctor can’t agree on exactly what should be done next, ask for a second opinion from a highly-qualified physician who specializes in the same procedure.

FaceDocBlogger: For instance, suppose a rhinoplasty patient is not happy and wants a smaller nose. However, the surgeon says he can’t really make the nose any smaller — and still be safe. Nonetheless, the patient insists.

BodyDocBlogger: That would be the perfect time for some fresh thinking in the form of a second opinion. Some plastic surgeons will even suggest that at the beginning of the discussion.

FaceDocBlogger: That’s right doctor. Sometimes, a new idea crops up and just as often, the physician giving the second opinion tells the patient, “You know what? Your doctor is correct. It would not be safe to make your nose smaller.”

Have a question for FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Let us know and we’ll do our best to have it answered. Feel free to leave your comments below.

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

On YourNewBodyBlog, Dr. Kotler is known as “FaceDocBlogger” because he devotes his practice exclusively to cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and neck. Dr. Linder, our “BodyDocBlogger,” has a practice dedicated to plastic surgery procedures of the body.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Linder and Kotler frequently appear as ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique views and information about the untold side of plastic surgery.

This Week: Lives Changed for the Better by Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is transformation. Why? It goes far beyond mere ego or a medical search for the fountain of youth. A plastic surgeon can change lives by providing patients with a rejuvenated look by enhancing a disliked body feature that has somehow held a person back, made him or her shy, self-conscious, or reluctant to take a confident step forward in life, love, or career.

(Edward Bock photo)

Virtually all plastic surgery patients say they feel a renewed sense of self-confidence and pride in their appearance after plastic surgery. But what those patients often do with that confidence can be a stellar moment that changes their lives; typically changing the lives of the people that orbit them as well.

BodyDocBlogger (Dr. Linder): Older movies always showed a post-op plastic surgery patient looking completely different than his pre-surgical self. But what we surgeons usually do is mitigate one or two disliked features that have somehow been holding a person back.

FaceDocBlogger (Dr. Kotler): It seems like every one of the 4,000-odd rhinoplasty patients I’ve seen went to some length to try and disguise an unattractive nose. For women, growing hair longer and letting it hang down in their faces is common.

BodyDocBlogger: When it comes to women who need a so-called “mommy makeover” — usually a tummy tuck and a breast lift — the disguising item is usually baggy clothing like men’s shirts and big sweaters.

FaceDocBlogger: After a surgical rejuvenation, the person’s energy and thoughts are usually channeled elsewhere. For instance, a 53-year-old computer sales professional came here to surgically repair his baggy lower eyelids and drooping upper eyelids. Later, he wrote that he no longer looked sleepy and tired but, and I quote: “a more vigorous and energetic version of myself.”

BodyDocBlogger: What happened then with all that vigor and energy?

FaceDocBlogger: Actually, he had been in the doldrums and jobless for half a year and under-employed for two years before that. But, buoyed by the extra confidence he felt in his new, refreshed appearance, he redoubled his search and landed the highest paying computer sales job he ever had.

BodyDocBlogger: Many actresses — Demi Moore, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, and others — take a giant leap forward in their careers after a breast augmentation. It’s not only because the actresses look better, but because they feel better and sexier and project that confidence. Sophia Loren once summed it up well. She said “Sex appeal is 50 percent what you’ve got and 50 percent what you think you’ve got.”

FaceDocBlogger: Any other patients like that?

BodyDocBlogger: I recall a very successful businessman in his late 30s with a wife and four children at home. He had always dreamed of becoming a professional golfer. So by selling his businesses, he raised enough to support himself and his family for two years while going through golf school. He lost about 70 pounds in the process but had a large amount of hanging skin on his waist that affected his golf swing and putt. So he had plastic surgery to remove the excess skin through body shaping. That allowed him to play better and enter the pro ranks, fulfilling his life-long dream.

FaceDocBlogger: That’s amazing, doctor. Haven’t you enhanced quite a few Playboy models?

BodyDocBlogger: I recall one young woman interviewing at Playboy for a centerfold spread. She already had breast implants but they were too far apart, positioned incorrectly and did not look natural. So she was turned down. Later, she came to me looking for a breast revision and a more natural-looking bust line, which I happily provided. End of story? She was later selected “Playmate of the Month” and brought the magazine with her story to my office.

FaceDocBlogger: As you know, one of the hottest trends in cosmetic plastic surgery right now is facial plastic surgery so people will look more eager, energetic, refreshed, and be able to do the work for which they were hired or the jobs they want to land.

Want to respond to what the FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger have to say? Feel free to leave your comments below!

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

Tuck n Stitch

YourNewBodyBlog.com welcomes Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler, two prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeons.

With a practice exclusively devoted to cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and neck, Dr. Kotler is known as the “FaceDocBlogger.” Dr. Linder, who is known here as the “BodyDocBlogger,” specializes in plastic surgery procedures of the body.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Kotler and Linder are reputable plastic surgery insiders with unique takes on the news, trends and practices in cosmetic plastic surgery.

This Week: Negotiate Fees with Your Plastic Surgeon!

At a time when families are more concerned than ever about budgets, spending and costs, it comes as good news for many that you may be able to get a discount on the cost of a plastic surgery procedure you’ve had in the back of your mind.

But you have to play your cards right and be willing to have surgery during the surgeons’ slower times of the year.

(Oleg Prikhodko photo)

The BodyDocBlogger and FaceDocBlogger talk about a few common ways to make your procedure more affordable:

BodyDocBlogger (Dr. Linder): Seasonality is huge in plastic surgery! I think my wife summed it up best when she said: “The schools dictate your industry.” When the kids are in school, we are busier. Summer is the slowest for us because families are on vacation.

FaceDocBlogger (Dr. Kotler): Because many of our patients are older and are having facelifts, eyelid lifts, and chemical wrinkle removal, our seasonality is different. From Thanksgiving through December 31, we are extremely busy. Late spring, summer and early fall — when older students are out of school — is also very busy. For that group, it’s nose jobs and chin implants. The only less busy time is typically the first two months of the year, when adults are back working and students are back in school.

BodyDocBlogger: For body procedures, the busiest times are from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, and again during April through July. We see some slowdown at the end of August and September. Our schedule gets more crowded again in October.

FaceDocBlogger: We may be able to offer courtesy discounts up to 25 percent during those times of the year when surgery is less requested. That helps create an efficient, full surgery schedule for us. Of course, the exact amount depends on the availability of the anesthesiologist and the surgery center, both of which also have a vested interest in maximizing their services.

BodyDocBlogger: I don’t want to sound overly commercial, but you can also save by using what I facetiously call “the friends and family group discount plan.” If two people want to have an initial consultation, the fee is the same. If two people, say, a husband and wife or siblings, have a procedure together, it will cost less than two separate surgeries. If two patients take one room at a recovery center, it won’t cost double.

FaceDocBlogger: What other savings are available?

BodyDocBlogger: Additional discounts are available for those who can fill a vacancy on a stand-by basis. Usually, when such an opening develops, patients have one to two weeks notice to fill the slot and receive a significant discount. Patients with very adjustable schedules can give the surgeon’s office a list of dates on which they can have surgery. Discounts can also be found on the fees of the recovery center when both occupy a double room.

FaceDocBlogger: If we have a cancellation — like we do almost weekly — we won’t call you the night before surgery, but if a week or ten days prior notice is okay, that’s a win-win situation for everybody.

BodyDocBlogger: Let’s talk about insurance. In the world of body procedures, insurance companies may cover a portion — or even most — of a breast reduction because very large breasts can adversely affect a woman’s overall health. What about the face, doctor?

FaceDocBlogger: Insurance benefits are available to nasal surgery patients who must improve breathing or prevent sinus problems. In December, the demand for functional nasal surgery increases from both younger and older patients who are anxious to reap the benefits of their insurance deductibles and co-pays, which usually have been satisfied by then.

BodyDocBlogger: Speaking of fees — at any time of the year –it’s smart to call the office of the plastic surgeon you are considering and ask about the range of fees for the procedure you want. You need to know if you are in the ball park of that practice. Calling several nearby offices will give you a reading on the usual, customary charges.

FaceDocBlogger: We have patients create their own “layaway plan,” just like department stores do for far-sighted Christmas shoppers. Patients generate a significant discount when they make monthly payments before surgery so that they are paid up by the date of the surgery. That really makes sense because it is a form of zero-interest, self-financing.

Have a question for FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Let us know and we’ll do our best to have it answered. Feel free to leave your comments below!

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.

Tuck ‘N’ Stitch

YourNewBodyBlog.com welcomes two eminent Beverly Hills plastic surgeons, Dr. Stuart Linder and Dr. Robert Kotler.

Here, Dr. Kotler is known as “FaceDocBlogger” because his practice is exclusively devoted to cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and neck. Dr. Linder, who is known as “BodyDocBlogger,” has a practice that only performs plastic surgery procedures of the body.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Doctors Linder and Kotler appear as the ultimate plastic surgery insiders with unique takes on the news, trends, and practices in cosmetic plastic surgery.

This Week: Hollywood’s Awful Plastic Surgery

We’ve all seen the strange features on the faces of Hollywood celebrities: huge, overblown lips, badly-mangled noses that do not flatter faces, breast augmentations that look like grapefruit halves stuck to a chest, and other cosmetic surgery gone wrong.

Given the ability to pay for the best of anything and living cheek-by-jowl to — if not in the middle of — Beverly Hills (the world Mecca of excellent plastic surgery), it seems odd that wealthy celebrities such as Faye Dunaway, Meg Ryan, Kenny Rogers, and Bruce Jenner would endure bad plastic surgery.

Kenny Rogers (Wikipedia photo)

According to Dr. Kotler, most men do not like their eyebrows
placed too high during a facelift like Kenny Rogers, pictured above,
who has said he’s not pleased with his facelift.
(Photo by AFF/USA)

BodyDocBlogger: (Dr. Linder) When you see a woman who has breasts that look like two round bowls applied to her chest and a very wide cleavage, it’s a good sign the breast implants were put in above the chest muscles. Better surgeons take extra pains to put the implants below the chest muscles, thereby creating a more natural and soft look.

FaceDocBlogger: (Dr. Kotler) You are so right, Dr. Linder. The marching orders for reputable plastic surgeons are to make female patients look beautiful and natural, not alien and freakish.

BodyDocBlogger: Many people mistakenly think that wealth, fame and access to anything the heart desires would produce the very best in cosmetic plastic surgery. But of all things, not botched plastic surgery.

FaceDocBlogger: Celebrities will charm, cajole and beg for a certain plastic surgery procedure — even though the medical risks far outweigh the benefits. Nonetheless, the wise doctor knows when — and when not — to operate and certainly can “just say no.” A separate issue is that when there are the right reasons for surgery, sometimes, celebrities just choose the wrong surgeon. There can be a mismatch between the correct procedure and the doctor’s talent to perform it well.

BodyDocBlogger: A beginning surgeon, being young and impressionable, may give in to the charm and do that seventh or eighth nasal surgery on Michael Jackson.

FaceDocBlogger: Talk about somebody who does not know when to stop! It’s a proven fact that when men come in for an initial consultation about rhinoplasty, they are quick to say the one thing they do not want is a nose like Michael Jackson’s.

BodyDocBlogger: As in Priscilla Presley’s case, some celebrities are noted for jumping on the latest fad. If it’s not the cabbage soup diet or the Mistletoe diet, it’s the latest fad procedure from a momentarily popular doctor who was perhaps featured in the paper last week.

FaceDocBlogger: And then there are some cosmetic surgeons who are blinded by the limelight and think they are becoming a celebrity. It may seem apparent to the surgeon that he or she is soon headed toward the rarefied, but unreal, sphere in which celebrities live and receive homage from we ordinary mortals.

BodyDocBlogger: It can be very, very difficult to refuse the famous person sitting in front of you whose face may be known to billions of people worldwide.

FaceDocBlogger: Yes, indeed, doctor. Been there and done that! But the surgeon has to muster his best instincts and, like Shakespeare said, “Screw his courage to the sticking point” and then do the right thing for the best interests of all patients, regardless of fame.

BodyDocBlogger: Given that their faces are their fortunes, actors and actresses are the people who should be the most conservative about rejuvenation surgery and seek out the best, most reliable advice possible.

FaceDocBlogger: Right you are again, doctor. Let’s get the word out to avoid any more celebrity plastic surgery nightmares.

Have a question for the FaceDocBlogger or BodyDocBlogger? Let us know and we’ll do our best to have it answered. Feel free to leave your comments below!

*The opinions shared by FaceDocBlogger and/or BodyDocBlogger are their own personal professional viewpoints and in no way should be taken in place of an actual consultation with a licensed medical physician. The opinions of Tuck ‘n’ Stitch are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions/feelings of YourNewBodyBlog.com.