Skin resurfacing for beauty has been in use for thousands of years. In prehistoric times, women would use rocks and shells to abrade the surface of their skin. In Babylonia and India, women used pumice stones to exfoliate the top layers of the skin. In the Middle Ages, the first chemical peels were performed; women would soak cloths in … Read More
New Options in Breast Augmentation
On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, the Allergan 410 shaped, cohesive gel breast implant (commonly known as the “gummy bear” implant) was (finally!) approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States. This device has been in use for more than 18 years in Europe and Canada, and has been studied in clinical trials in the United … Read More
“Why do you want to be a plastic surgeon?”
On Friday, January 11, I had the privilege of interviewing medical students for the combined plastic surgery residency program at Columbia and Cornell. One of the questions I always ask is “What made you decide to become a plastic surgeon?” The answers are as varied as the students, but most point to a single moment, a single case, or … Read More
Non-surgical rhinoplasty
If anyone had used the phrase “non-surgical rhinoplasty” 10 years ago, most plastic surgeons would have been completely confused. However, with the recent advances in non-invasive facial rejuvenation, it is now possible to subtly change the shape of your nose without undergoing surgery. Fillers, such as Radiesse, can be used to augment areas that need more volume. Keep in mind … Read More
I think I ruptured my breast implant…now what?
One of my earliest (and favorite) patients called me three weeks ago. She had undergone her yearly screening mammogram in May, which was very painful, and she noted a subsequent decrease in the size of her left breast. I asked her to come in to see me, and indeed, her left breast was significantly smaller than her right. I … Read More
Why I perform breast augmentation surgery
I love performing breast augmentation in my New York plastic surgery practice, because it is an operation that challenges me in many ways. It forces me to examine the many elements that determine breast shape. It allows me to use my surgical skills to provide an aesthetic result for a given patient. (I also get to use some great … Read More
Scars
I hate scars. We all do, but I really hate them because they can be difficult to treat. When I see “scar consult” on my patient list for the day, I get discouraged, not because I don’t want to see the patient, but because I know that I may not have the solution that the patient wants to hear. The … Read More
“Why are my breasts different?”
Breast asymmetry, or a different size or shape between breasts, is extremely common in women. Differences tend to become more marked during puberty, when the breasts are developing, and in most cases will resolve once growth is complete. Sometimes, these differences persist. There are many possible causes for breast symmetry, including congenital deformities, such as tuberous breast deformity or Poland’s … Read More
Sientra implants now available in the United States
On Friday, March 9, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of silicone gel implants manufactured by Sientra for both breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. There are now three companies in the United States who are able to offer silicone implants: Allergan, Mentor, and Sientra. Similar to requirements of the other two implant manufacturers, Sientra is required … Read More
Beauty Breakthroughs
Despite the number of products available on the market, there are only a handful of beauty innovations which have truly changed the way we care for our skin. The first is tretinoin, a vitamin A derivative which was the first retinoid approved by the FDA to treat wrinkles. Tretinoin increase the production of collagen, stimulates the formation of new blood … Read More