Renaissance Plastic Surgery

One of the first things we learned in blogger boot camp was the importance of writing regularly.  As a small business, this is the most challenging aspect of social media, as busy times of the year take over, and we just let the blog go, because we have clients to work with.  Now, this is most assuredly not a post about us not writing - that's one of the big no-no's.  You can't write a post about not writing posts, but what you do when you ran out of time to write? 

Turns out that's okay.  While we are supposed to be writing regularly, Jim has assured us that blogging is secondary to work.  We just have to commit to writing when we can, and making sure it is interesting when we do.  To make that easier, we'll be adding pictures, and video, and Twitter and Facebook - building a complete social media profile, and keeping it active. 

This blog has been mostly about plastic surgery, but we know plastic surgery - what we're learning is the importance of marketing and branding and online internet type communication.  More and more of our customers are typing in "Renaissance Plastic Surgery" or Dr. Mills, or even keywords to specific plastic surgery procedures before they ever pick up the phone, and that means we have to do a better job of writing about you, and your wants, and our business, and business in general.

Our doctors are great people.  Really, truly, they are, and our goal is to make sure you get us, and our place in St Louis and St Charles.  We're going to do our best to reach out in this blog to other blogs, bringing you not only cosmetic surgery procedures, but tips about what it takes to run a small business.

In February, I had the opportunity to speak at the DePaul Weight-Loss Institute Support Group and I was reminded of the miraculous transformation that these patients make.  I don't think that using the analogy of a caterpillar becoming a beautiful butterfly is too strong.  These patients make a significant commitment to improve their overall health and well-being through both surgical and non-surgical means.  They follow strict dietary guidelines and establish workout routines that most individuals could not maintain.  As a result, they lose significant amounts of excess weight and, along with it, some of the comorbities like diabetes and high blood pressure.  Thus, I applaud those patients who take that courageous first step toward their new body image.

I also want to thank the 80+ individuals who attended.  There were many intelligent and insightful questions.  We had a fantastic discussion and excellent interaction about the changes that occur with massive weight loss and its residual effects.  Many of those who attended had achieved or were in the process of reaching their goal weight.  On a daily basis, I see similar patients who also have improved their health through weight loss, but haven't been able to truly appreciate the differences because of the excess skin left behind.  As we discussed at the seminar, only through the removal of that excess tissue can one reveal the enormous changes that have actually taken place.  Going from severe obesity to a satisfying body shape is a journey and plastic surgery is the final step toward a positive self image and good health.

With the upcoming Melanoma Awareness Month (May), this post will get you ready for a sun-damage-free summer.

Going back 75+ years, women never had their bodies exposed to the sun and a female would be looked down on by society if an area such as the chest, neck or even face had any signs of sun damage. People aged better then and skin cancer was very rare. As the 1950's and 60's brought less clothing coverage, the damages of sun exposure became apparent. Now, most all of us can admit to the iodine, baby oil, tanning beds, etc. We must also confess to having at least one sunburn in our lives. And most of us cannot remember ever having sunscreen applied before going out to swim, or, much less, to just go outside to play. We can for the most part claim ignorance (or we'd like to), on the damage that the sun was causing and how it would effect our skin later in life.

Well, we can no longer claim ignorance! The statistics are staring us in our sun-damaged faces:

• The percentage of skin cancer in women under the age of 40 has tripled over the last 30 years
• It only takes one blistering sunburn in childhood to more than double a person's chance of developing melanoma
• Skin cancer is the #1 cancer in men over 50, more than lung and prostate cancer
• Melanoma is the third most common cancer in women 20-39 years old
• Exposure to tanning bed UVA rays before 35 years of age increases your risk of melanoma by 75%

It is essential that we take action on what we know and protect ourselves and our families.

We know that sunscreen is one way to protect our skin from the sun. But did you realize that it is necessary to use sunscreen everyday of the year? The UVA (aging) rays are constant year round, not just on the sunny summer days. These are the rays that we now know cause the majority of the skin cancers and are responsible for 80% of the damages we see as we age: laxity, brown spots, broken blood vessels, etc. There are also the rays that penetrate through your office window, car windows, and clouds and they are the primary rays in tanning beds.

Therefore, our sunscreens need to provide protection against both UVA and UVB (burning) rays. SPF in most over-the-counter sunscreens measures the amount of time you can stay in the sun without burning, so they only measure the UVB rays. Most of these sunscreens are typically "chemical" sunscreens; meaning, they contain ingredients that are absorbed in our skin before being activated. Therefore, you must apply them 30 minutes before sun exposure! Plus, they can sometimes clog pores, causing acne or hyperpigmentation, and they should not be used on our children under 12 months old.

Zinc and titanium are broad spectrum, "physical" sunscreens that sit on top of the skin and reflect the sun's rays. Physical sunscreens cover both UVA and UVB rays. Recently, the FDA has approved the use of Mexoryl SX, which has been used in Europe for over 15 years. It is the highest protection against UVA rays and available in the daily sunscreen Anthelios, from La Roche-Posay.

Here are some other misconceptions about SPF's, sunscreens and tanning:

• "The SPF in my makeup/moisturizer will protect me from sun damage."
• "Once I apply sunscreen, I'm good for hours."
• "I need to get a good base tan before I go on vacation, so I don't burn."

Do you know how much sunscreen should be used? This is the biggest misconception on sunscreen use to this day. A proper dose is one ounce, or a whole tablespoon. The SPF in makeup and moisturizer is so diluted that it is not giving you ANY protection. We would have to use the entire bottle on our face! It is great for added protection; but, it should not be trusted as our only defense.

Sunscreen should be used daily, every morning before you leave the house. As we are out in the sun for a long period, we should reapply every 90-120 minutes. If we are swimming or perspiring, it may be rubbing off, so reapply often.

The base tan you go get before your Cancun trip does not protect you. Being darker only protects you if you are naturally that dark. Despite what the salon tells you, tanning beds will harm you even worse than the sun. A short 15 minute stint in the tanning bed is the same as being in the sun for 8 hours! The last several years have produced many self tanners that look so natural and last much longer, that there is really no need to risk the damage from tanning beds. While you're at it, buy your teenage daughters a bottle, so they too can look sun-kissed without the sun-damage.

The fact is every person should be applying a SPF 15-30 sunscreen everyday. This includes our husbands and our children. If we teach our children now by making sunscreen part of our daily routine, they will be in the habit when they are older. So as the summer sun is beating upon us, please be sun smart and protect yourselves and your families.

The internet is such a fascinating technology.  It's hard to believe that only a few short years ago we were not able to buy things over the internet, or much less, converse with friends and family.

As a skin care specialist one thing that is concerning about the internet is the self-diagnoses and self-treatment that occurs because of the products available for sale online.  People can log on and diagnose themselves with something like rosacea, then shop online, and buy a prescription cream from, say, a Canadian supplier, and self-treat.  This undermines the education that a physician or specialist have and the expertise they can provide.  Yes, it is more convenient to shop from home and often less expensive, but how could it be safe?

Buying products over the internet can pose some real dangers.

• What is truly in the bottle?
• Is it expired?
• How long was it sitting on a shelf?
• Was it sitting in extreme temperatures that may have ruined the efficacy of the product?
• If there are any problems, would the website accept the return of your product?
• Are there any licensed practitioners who would be available if you have questions?
• Who would be available for you to meet with if you have an adverse reaction?

If some type of reaction occurs, the most likely call will need to be to a true skin care practitioner who can help.  But, if the doctor or nurse has not treated you or recommended the products being used, then how can the practitioner effectively help when he or she doesn't know the answers to the above questions?  Reputable companies only have their physician-strength products available at a physician's office, where experts can monitor and direct the use of each product for each patient, individually.   

Here is another concern.  Anyone can buy chemical peels and microdermabrasion machines.  Do they know the risks involved and how they could damage or scar their skin if they don't apply the peel or use the machine properly?  Are they choosing the treatment that is right for their skin condition or type?  We have seen the effects of self treatment as they come in, asking us to fix the problems that have been caused by at-home treatments.  When it comes to your face, you definitely want someone that is qualified to help, diagnose, and treat you.

True skin care practitioners and specialists have extensive training in skin care, plastic surgery and skin care products to ensure patient safety and the best results.  You can also expect them to have continuing education and product-specific training to reinforce their expertise.  Please for your own skin and health safety, trust the knowledge, education and experience of true skin care specialists.

As someone who gets migraine headaches, I can sympothize when I see patients who tell me, "I feel like an ice pick is stuck in my eye."  Therefore, the research on the use of Botox injections and surgical procedures to reduce and possibly eliminate migraine headaches has been near and dear to my heart (or at least my brain).

Migraines can be completely debilitating, lasting from hours to days. They are generally treated with medication, even narcotic pain medications. Traditionally they are thought to be related to blood vessels in the brain. However, recent evidence suggests that mechanisms outside the brain may play a significant role.

These mechanisms outside the brain are called trigger points. Many of us who have migraines understand this. They are the tender areas that seem to be the point at which the migraine starts. There are four main trigger points that have been identified. The first is the area between the eyebrows called the corrugator muscles. These are the little muscles that create the vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows. The next is the temporal area just above the sideburn. The third area is the back of the head at the base of the skull. The upper, inner nose is the last area, where the headache feels like it starts behind the eye. People with migraines can be seen putting pressure on any of these areas when they have a headache.

The first three areas have nerves that when squeezed or pressured from surrounding muscles may trigger the headache. Treatment has been targeted at these muscles by treating them with Botox to relax them. I have been doing this for 10 years. I have many patients (and myself) who regularly have Botox treatments to these areas and see a dramatic reduction in the intensity and duration of the migraine headaches.

Once the Botox is successful, we have succeeded in identifying a trigger point. Surgery can then be used to remove the part of the muscle which is causing pain. This will permanently remove the trigger point for the migraine. These treatments can result in amazing reduction in headache frequency and intensity. These surgeries are often a normal part of plastic surgery procedures that result in an improved cosmetic appearance with the added benefit of reduced migraines.

The first step to take toward fewer migraines is to keep a diary of headaches and complete a questionnaire about your headaches. This is needed to help create a plan toward a migraine free world.