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

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

Doctors Linder and Kotler are exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com and 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:

Top 10 Plastic Surgery Procedures to Avoid

Because plastic surgery is a payment in advance business involving hardly any insurance forms — or the staff to process the paperwork — many practitioners offer some quick procedures that are advertised as “lunch time” and billed as “almost as good as traditional cosmetic plastic surgery.” Well, don’t believe it, Tuck ‘n’ Stitch have carefully looked at the matter and note the top 10 procedures they recommend skipping….or even considering. (Read our companion piece, Overblown Ads and Misleading Promises)

(Stockxchange.com photo)

BodyDocBlogger: There are some odd ones out there! One is a dome-like, plastic suction device worn over the breasts for long periods of time. It purports to produce breast enlargement through suction. I advise people who inquire about it to save their money and invest in enhancement surgery if they are not satisfied with their breast size.

FaceDocBlogger: Here’s my pet no-no. Many patients ask about the so-called “lunch time face lift” that can be done in an hour. I’ve seen the results and they are uniformly not good. The tissues under the skin are brought up only slightly, a little excess skin is taken off and the incisions closed. And that’s it. The lunch time lift does not last and does nothing to address loose skin under the chin and on the neck. Moreover, it can produce more facial scarring. My opinion? It’s a waste of time and money.

BodyDocBlogger: Many people are reading about fat transfer to the breasts to increase size. But I don’t recommend it. Sure, it’s the patient’s own fat but the transplanted fat can die and calcify, making it hard for doctors to read radiology films that spot breast cancer or tumors. And before we surgeons think about improved appearance, we have to think about what’s in the patient’s best interests.

FaceDocBlogger: Right you are, doctor. Also high on anybody’s list of forgettable procedures is injecting silicone into the lips. Patients should also stay away from any permanent facial filler for the lips. Why? Those materials can’t be taken out if the results are bad and cause, say, a sagging lip or some other undesirable outcome. If you want plumped lips, stick with Juvederm and Restylane. Sure, they dissolve in six months to a year, but that is far better than injecting something that can’t be taken out.

BodyDocBlogger: Here’s another. I’m frequently asked about implants used to create a buttocks lift. I advise people to stay away from them because a lot of weight is place on the human rear end. Patients too often end up with dead tissue, fat and seromas, a tumor-like building up of fluids. Plus, the incidents of complications like infection are too high. No implant does well in a place where there is a lot of bodily movement.

FaceDocBlogger: Also at the top of my “least impressive procedure” list are the so-called “thread lifts.” Instead of removing excess tissue and skin, this procedure relies on threading fishing-line like strings with hooks and barbs under the skin. That only tightens the skin by pulling. Such quickies have already started to fade in popularity because of unequal skin pulls, skin reactions and a short lived effect.

BodyDocBlogger: If you’ve read about mesotherapy and lipodissolve, forget about them. For one, no fat is actually sucked out. For another, whatever chemicals used are hard on the body. I’ve operated on a few patients who have one or the other injected and I’ve found the concoctions cause internal layers of tissues to turn hard and lumpy and result in scarring.

FaceDocBlogger: Doctor, let me go back to movement and implants: the little sacks inflated with saline that are surgically implanted inside the lips are also not a good idea. Again, it’s a question of movement. Even if you’re the silent type, there is some risk of reaction to the implant due to movement. Moreover, the insertion has to be nearly 100 percent perfect so that the results look natural and symmetrical.

BodyDocBlogger: Here’s a slam dunk: cosmetic leg lengthening. To gain a few inches of height, some traditionally short ethnic groups will suffer the breaking of both legs and then endure stretching devices with metal hardware fastened to their legs to extend them over a few months. If the pain and inconvenience is not too much, the price alone — at a high of $120,000 — should drive most short people away.

FaceDocBlogger: Doctor, I can think of one final thing. Stay away from any procedure done by untrained, inexperienced hands. Of course, the challenge for the layperson is to figure out exactly who is, and is not, trained.

Body DocBlogger: They can do that by checking the doctor’s training and credentials. Just go to the American Board of Medical Specialties and click on the box on the left hand box that says: “Is Your Doctor Certified?” Fill the doctor’s name into the search box and see if he or she has had top training. After that, consider revisiting our blog about super-specialists.

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.

Here, Dr. Kotler is known as the “FaceDocBlogger” because his surgical work is devoted to plastic surgery of the face and neck, with heavy emphasis on rhinoplasty. (He’s done over 4,000!) Our other expert, Dr. Linder, is referred to as the “BodyDocBlogger” because his plastic surgery practice is limited to procedures of the lower body with emphasis on breast surgery, tummy tuck and liposuction. Together, Drs. Kotler and Linder offer half a century of plastic surgery experience.

Exclusive to YourNewBodyBlog.com, Drs. 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:

Top 10 Things that Can Go Wrong in Plastic Surgery

Even in the best of hands, an unexpected wrinkle or complication may crop up after cosmetic plastic surgery. Of course, part of the reason for seeing a board certified, highly experienced plastic surgeon is because he or she will have seen it all, and knows what to do when the unexpected happens.

But some complications occur more often than others. Tuck ‘N’ Stitch tell which ones to watch for and what can be done for the top five breast and top five nose complaints. (Read our related blog on the Top 5 Remedies for Unsatisfying Plastic Surgery.)

FaceDocBlogger: When you see unhappy breast augmentation patients, is there a most common complaint doctor?

BodyDocBlogger: That’s easy! The number one complaint is capsular contracture, a type of scarring around the breast implant. In many cases, it becomes painful because the scarring makes the breasts feel hard. Sometimes, the surgeon removes only the scar tissue inside the breast but other times, the implant must also be removed. It all depends on the case. Doctor, what about less-than-pleased rhinoplasty patients?

FaceDocBlogger: The number one problem that brings nose surgery patients back to the surgeon is trouble with breathing. Over correction, under correction and problems with the septum or turbinates inside the nose during the first operation are usually the bug bears. It may require a revision surgery.

BodyDocBlogger: The next most common thing with breast implants is ruptured implants. There are many reasons an implant can rupture. So I do have a hint for potential patients thinking about having breast implants: consider a smooth implant. They rupture less often. However, if a woman does experience a ruptured implant, it’s important for serious medical reasons to see a surgeon as soon as possible.

FaceDocBlogger: The thing many nasal surgeons see over and over is a healed nose with some grooves, depressions and moguls that show on the outside. Those marks can be easily repaired, sometimes using small drops of silicone injected into the depression to fill it out. (Read more about silicone nasal injections.)

BodyDocBlogger: The third most common problem after a breast revision is because the implant is positioned less than perfectly within the chest. By the way, in my humble opinion, that tends to happen more often when the surgeon inserts the implant through the belly button in the TUBA (Trans Umbilical Breast Augmentation) procedure or through the armpit. Both approaches often result in an unnatural looking bust line or one with no cleavage. (Read more about why Dr. Linder does not favor this approach in TUBA: Not My Favorite.)

FaceDocBlogger: The facial surgeon also sees people coming for a revision when a nose is overdone and looks too pinched; it’s because the first surgeon took out too much tissue. But it can be corrected by replacing the missing parts with a similar tissue, usually nose cartilage or cartilage from behind the patient’s ear.

BodyDocBlogger: Another of the top five breast issues is bottoming out. That happens when the implant falls out of the pocket in the chest into the bottom of the breast, making the nipples point up. Bottoming out also may be due to overly large implants placed above — instead of under — the chest muscles. Technically, the problem is very difficult to repair and requires a highly trained and experienced revision surgeon.

FaceDocBlogger: For every rhinoplasty case that was overdone, a patient comes in with a nose in which not enough was done. The problem is usually that the first surgeon did not remove enough excess tissue and now the tip of the nose points downwards. So, the revision surgeon must redo the tip.

BodyDocBlogger: The fifth most common thing that goes wrong with breast augmentation is a patient being unhappy about her size. Usually, about six months after the procedure, when swelling caused by the procedure has gone down, that patient can see her final result and asks for a change. About 90 percent want a larger implant, while 10 percent want to go smaller. Some do not realize that some bodily conditions — height, body type, the width of the shoulders and hips, and so on — dictate the most appropriate implant size. In some cases, removal of implants may create a need for a breast lift.

FaceDocBlogger: The bent nose is a common complaint. It’s usually the product of nature or a sports accident — instead of a neophyte surgeon. But the patient’s nose just does not face straight ahead. You can also usually assume that the patient has breathing problems, too. The septum inside the nose is usually the key feature causing a nose to lean to one side and that the structure must then be repaired by the revision surgeon.

BodyDocBlogger: Having corrective surgery carries both bad and good news. The good news is that every nose and breast can be repaired!

FaceDocBlogger: That’s correct doctor, but before going ahead with any re-do, it’s smart to get a second opinion from another plastic surgeon who specializes in the area needing repair.

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.

Maybe you tune in Monday evenings because you enjoy seeing how a busy plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Robert Rey, Dr. Linda Li, and Dr. Jason Diamond, can successfully balance a thriving career and family life, or maybe you are hoping to catch a glimpse of the surgery you are considering for yourself.

No matter your reason for watching Dr. 90210, this program is one Reality TV show that allows you to get closer to the world of plastic surgery.

But what to do if you miss an episode (and you don’t have TiVo) of Dr. 90210 Season Six?

Fortunately, iEnhance.com allows you to play catch up! Providing detailed summaries of what goes on both in and out of the operating room, the weekly recaps are intended to provide prospective patients with important information about the doctors as well as plastic surgery procedures.

So if you desire breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck surgery, and/or even buttock augmentation, Dr. 90210 may become one of your regular Reality TV favorites on E!

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.

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.

As it turns out, she came into his practice under a fake name so she could not be traced. Low and behold, the story lands on ABC News with two clear photos of the perp’s new newly-lineless face. Botox theft is a crime just like any other - it is a theft of services.

In most doctors’ offices, it would not fall under “petty theft” either. If your check bounces after you have had your $1,000 worth of injections, the doctor cannot exactly recall your Botox! I’m not sure who officially released these photos to the media, but I hope it wasn’t the doctor for whom the doctor-patient privilege would have to take precedence over filing charges.

Read the full story here

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.

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.

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.

Elana Pruitt: Dr. Mendieta, why do you think butt enhancement has become so popular?

Constantino Mendieta, M.D.: Well, the buttock wasn’t addressed for years because, really, there was more concentration on other body parts. Then there was Jennifer Lopez and the green dress, and I realized that there was nothing out there to really enhance the buttock area. The biggest misconception about butt enhancement surgery is that women want to make their butt bigger. But really what they want is to make it shapelier. That is why I have created my own system of evaluation: “Highlight Liposculpting and Lipo Fat Transfer.”

E.P.: What type of patients visit your practice for butt enhancement surgery?

C.M.: Patients of all cultural backgrounds and ethnicities come in for consultation, ranging in ages from 18 to 65. However, the bulk of the operations are performed on those in their late 20s, early 30s. Hispanics were always interested, and in the last couple of years there has been a 20% increase in blacks undergoing buttock enhancement. There are also more Caucasian patients interested in this procedure.

E.P.: Do you also use butt implants in addition to offering the fat transfer method?

C.M.: In the beginning, the implant was used because there was nothing else out there. It just made the butt bigger. Lipo-contouring allows me to use the patient’s own body fat, inject it into specific areas of the buttocks, and shape it much better with more creative freedom. In 2000, 70-80% of cases were with butt implants, and now the numbers have switched to 98% fat transfer.

E.P.: Do males also visit you for this butt enhancement surgery?

C.M.: Yes, 92% of the guys who come in share the complaint that they are tired of their pants falling off!

E.P.: What makes your specialty so unique?

C.M.: “Highlight Liposculpting and Lipo Fat Transfer” is an artistic concept: removing fat from selective areas to specially highlight and sculpt other areas, such as the hip and buttock area. This technique is a sexier, highlighted art, and it gives me a panoramic view – a 3-dimensional view – while creating these new curves.

E.P.: Do you predict that butt enhancement will eventually rise to the growth and popularity of breast augmentation?

C.M.: I think it will, but it’s a concept of re-sculpting the buttock. It still has a negative connotation. When you open the view of it, it’s more “pan-cultural.” Lipo is the #1 procedure across the world, so it’s just learning how to transfer the fat into the buttocks.

Photo Credits: Jennifer Lopez http://www.celebspin.com
Photo Credits: Kim Kardashian: http://www.celebnewswire.com