To Breast Feed or Not

There remains a lot of controversy regarding breast feeding and the long term sequeloe it has on the shape of the breasts.

It is a very warm, bonding experience many women cherish - they wouldn't trade it for anything.

A recent study published in the September/October 2008 issue of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery says breast feeding is not a likely cause of post-partem drooping or sag.

Factors that played a more prominent role in the development of sagging after breast feeding were age, higher body mass index and smoking.

So, there you have it. Food for thought.

For more information about breast appearance, visit Dr. Brueck's web site.

Melanoma - The most dreaded skin cancer

Dr. Robert Brueck, Board Certified cosmetic surgeon in Fort Myers, Florida, reports on a new book about this dreaded form of skin cancer. Concerns about melanoma spring from its propensity to spread via the lymphatics as well as the blood stream.

The incidence of melanoma is rising by 4%-6% each year.

For years, we have been taught and have been telling our patients that sun exposure is a predisposing factor.

Now, along comes a book entitled "The Sun and the "Epidemic" of Melanoma: Myth on Myth!" The author is Dr. Bernard Ackerman, a world renowned expert on melanoma. His book attempts to dispel some myths about melanoma.

Dr. Ackerman believes genes are more important than sun exposure. He notes in his book that Asians and Africans only develop melanoma on their palms, soles, nails and mucous membranes (re: mouth-type).

I personally feel genes are very important, ie. we inherit skin type - freckles and such - from our parents. This can predispose us to melanoma.

I also feel that the sun can, in some cases, act as a catalyst to initiate the development of melanoma.

We are learning more every day. In the meantime, it's probably best to limit prolonged exposure to the sun and keep your skin covered whenever possible outside in the sun. I also recommend that you subscribe to a 'feed' of this blog to continue to receive updates about this subject and news from the world of cosmetic surgery.

As a Board Certified cosmetic surgeon practicing in sunny Fort Myers, Florida, I also cover a wide range of plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery subjects on my web site, http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com . You are invited to visit.

Longer eyelashes - News from Dr Robert Brueck, Fort Myers Board Certified cosmetic surgeon

Remember a while back, we wrote about the quest for longer eyelashes and some potentially new and exciting developments?

There now are some definitive studies to show its effectiveness. The drug in question is Allergan’s Lumigan, also known as bimatoprest. The drug currently is FDA-approved for the treatment of glaucoma.

In a double blind study, patients received a placebo (or nothing, i.e. water drops) in one eye and Lumigan in the other.

The results?

The eye receiving Lumigan had eyelashes grow two millimeters in six weeks, or twice as quickly as the eye receiving the placebo.

Allergan also warns that the drops may cause the iris to become darker.

So if you want longer lashes and darker irises, this is the ”holy grail.” You will, however, have to wait for FDA approval for this use, which is anticipated for 2009.

The only question I have is, “How do you measure eyelash length?”

For lots of interesting information about cosmetic procedures for the eyes and face, take a look at my web site at

http://www.beauty-by-Brueck.com/Eyelid-Surgery-by-Dr-Robert-Brueck.htm

or

http://www.beauty-by-Brueck.com/Face-Lift-Surgery-by-Dr-Robert-Brueck.htm