Holidays come early for Dr. Brueck's Cosmetic Surgery patients

If you are short of cash (more than 70% of people interested in cosmetic procedures need some sort of financing), Dr. Brueck MD now has arranged with Advance Care to provide liberal financing for patients who qualify. 

It's safe, easy and terms are so liberal, you may qualify for an interest-free period of 6 months or 14 months. To learn more, and see if you qualify for financing, visit http://advancecarecard.com/ online. Decisions are fast so you can schedule that pre-holiday surgery in quick order.

Cosmetic surgery study raises eyebrows

Some facial surgeries make you look younger and others make you look more attractive

October 17, 2013

Operations that change the size and shape of your nose, chin, cheeks and jawline can increase your attractiveness, according to Southwest Florida board certified cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Robert Brueck MD F.A.C.S.

A recent study of plastic surgery patients and their results raised a lot of eyebrows due to some unexpected results. Pre-op and post-op photos of patients (37 women and 12 men) who had facial rejuvenation surgeries such as facelifts, brow lifts and eyelid cosmetic surgery were evaluated by independent reviewers. The study found that plastic surgery made people look about three years younger but did not have a significant effect on how "attractive" they appeared to be.

Michael Yaremchuk, M.D., Chief of Craniofacial Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, discussed the study results with colleagues from the American Society for Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and put the study in context to explain the results. They turn out to less surprising when the facts are considered:

• The study, published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, included only one plastic surgeon's surgeries, which may not reflect plastic surgery results in general.
• It doesn't include any pictures of the surgical results.
• Most patients in the study had eyelid surgery (upper and lower lid blepharoplasty and browlifts), which can make eyes look round and hollow from the removal of too much fat and skin, which can appear to be be aging. In addition, young women actually have low brows, which may elevate with age. So it's no surprise that this surgery did not make people look younger.

Even more significant, according to the Yaremchuk, brow lifts, eye lifts and face lifts are designed to bring ones appearance to where it was years before. If ones face was considered attractive before the "lift," it will, at best, return the face to that appearance. If the face was considered unattractive before, it will return to a younger version of that "unattractive" face.

Attractiveness for a face is a result of the balance of facial features (nose, chin, cheeks and jawline). Cosmetic surgeries that change the size and shape of these features can make ones face more attractive. The primary determinant of facial appearance is the facial skeleton. Procedures with the most significant impact on facial appearance are those that manipulate the skeleton: rhinoplasty (alters the nasal bones) and cheek bone, chin and jaw implants.

So, it makes perfect sense that face lifts, brow lifts and eyelid surgeries can help you appear younger, but you should not expect them to change your level of attractiveness. If you're happy with your underlying facial structure and want to look younger, a face lift can achieve that goal. It's true, however, that "younger" is often perceived as more "attractive".

Satisfied Patients Tell Their Stories

As cosmetic surgeon in Southwest Florida, nothing makes me feel better than receiving grateful comments from satisfied patients about my work and results.

Here are a few I have received recently. Incidentally, no one was paid to provide these reviews. They all are voluntary. 

"My friends and family kept telling me I was crazy.  They said, “You look great” and “You’re being too critical” but, that’s not how I felt.  I found myself making things up to reply to comments such as; “Are you ok?” “you look tired” You look sad”, etc.  I would tell people I hadn’t slept well or that my allergies were bothering me when the truth was I felt great!  I was sick and tired of looking sick and tired but didn’t know what to do or where to start.  Then I met Dr. Brueck…He had been recommended to my son to have a spot removed from his face.  The results were fantastic so on his last follow-up appointment I mustered the courage to ask him about my concerns.  He told me that I didn’t really need everything I thought I did.  With a few minimally invasive procedures he could have me looking happy again.  From that moment on he had my full trust and I never looked back.  He preformed an upper eyelid lift and fat graph to fill the loss of volume in my cheeks and around my mouth.  Now I look as happy as I feel and will be forever grateful.  God has truly blessed you with a talent for this work as well as a kind, supportive staff.

You rock Dr. B!!" - JT

"I visited many doctors but after meeting w/ Dr. Brueck I knew he was the right doctor.  I know I made the right decision because my surgery went to smooth and I could not be happier with the results.  The care from pre-op to post-op has been incredible.  Special thanks to Dr. B, Chi 7 Debbie for making this the best choice!" - MS

"I have found Dr. Robert Brueck to be professional and experienced.  He did my breast augmentation and eyelift and I was extremely happy with his work that I went back to him for a mini facelift.  His staff also has treated me very well and the surgical staff treated me like gold.  I would recommend Dr. Brueck and his staff to all my friends and family." - PG

There are more like these on the "Testimonials" page of my website, if you are interested. Thanks.

Looking for a better "you"? Here's what others search.

RealSelf.com is an online community of people searching for answers to their questions about cosmetic surgery. Below is a list of  the top 10 subjects out of 52 million searches on RealSelf last year.

Obviously, each local geographic area has its own specific profile. But this list is roughly the same as what I see locally as a cosmetic surgeon in Fort Myers, Florida

1. Tummy tuck
2. Breast implants
3. Breast augmentations
4. Rhinoplasty
5. Brazilian Butt Lift
6. Botox
7. CoolSculpting
8. Breast reduction
9. Cellulaze
10. Liposuction

Conclusion? If you are considering any of the above procedures, you are in a large cohort of similar interest. 

Please contact me at 239-939-5422 and request a free, confidential, private consultation. There is no obligation. But I can guarantee that you will become wiser about your options.

Aging and Cosmetic Surgery - A Primer

As a Fort Myers cosmetic surgeon who is board certified and a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, I receive occasional notices from them that I like to share with my patients ad friends.

This one has to do with the aging process, which can be brutal,. Trying to combat wrinkles and other changes in one's face can be an uphill battle. But, trying to look as good as possible can soothe some of the anxiety that comes with growing older. According to a doctor writing for Inform.com, it's important to know how your face changes at certain ages, and what you can do to treat the issues for you as an individual..

Adolescent years are difficult for many, not just because of skin problems, though acne doesn't make things easier. For a lot of people, the teens are a heyday for healthy skin, with only an occasional pimple.

In one's twenties, skin products that are vitamin A-based, such as retinol, are often recommended . Of course, sunglasses and sun screen are also a must at all ages. An early start means fewer wrinkles as one ages.

Ten years later, many people start to see the first signs of aging. Fine lines commonly appear around the eyes. Skin underneath your lower eyelids may become puffy, particularly in the morning. To fight these signs of aging, one can enhance the face cleansing regimen, adding eye cream and a moisturizer at night. Be sure tor read the ingredients. Look for antioxidants, such as vitamin C or green tea.

This is also the age when some people begin to look into cosmetic procedures, such as Botox, to help combat the signs of aging. These minimally invasive procedures are quite popular, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The ASAPS found that for all women between the ages of 50 and 60, Botox was the number one cosmetic procedure in 2011.

During middle age, often defined as the forties and fifties, fine lines get deeper, particularly around the mouth and eyes, eventually becoming folds in the skin. If you lose weight during this time of life, you may find that skin doesn't rebound as it did at a younger age. It's lost its elasticity, according to the doctor writing for Inform. A tummy tuck can help combat sagging skin left over from the shedding of pounds.

Bone and muscle volume decrease during middle age, which can often result in a tired appearance that can bother some people. At this point, there are other cosmetic procedures that can help with this issue, such as a facelift or browlift. 

In my experience, a good strategy is to start fighting aging early on. People who wait until the aged look is problematic for them, and then undergo facial surgery, may find that the improvements are less natural-looking due to the reduction in elasticity that otherwise helps skin renew its appearance.

As with all generalizations about cosmetic surgery, different patients respond differently to each procedure, surgical or non-surgical. And these general observatins should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. See me persoanally for that.

TAXPAYERS REMORSE

In this blog post, Dr. Robert Brueck MD, Fort Myers cosmetic surgeon, rants about ill-spent tax collections.

It seems the news headlines are about a budget deal to reduce our deficit spending by 1.2 trillion dollars over 10 years.

After all, our families must live within their budgets. Why not expect our federal government to do likewise? The bigger the government becomes the more waste, fraud and irresponsibility creeps into the system. Have you ever seen an increase in government revenue that did not lead to an equal or greater increase in spending?

I recently read an article about the government paying or spending $363 million for obesity surgery on military families over the last 10 years. Taxpayers are on the hook for this expense through Tricare.

Okay. One can argue this is preventative, ie: losing weight can lead to fewer medical problems long term. But, during an investigation, it was found the government, that is, you and I, paid for tummy tucks, brow lifts, breast augmentations, etc. This is elective cosmetic surgery.

So in a time of runaway spending is this what taxpayers should be spending their dollars on?

Yes, it is a small item, but I think it speaks about the culture of runaway, irresponsible spending and who’s on the hook?

That’s right. You and I.

China? The New South Beach?

Another blog message from Dr. Robert Brueck MD, who writes here about aspects of health and plastic surgery. He practices as a Board Certified cosmetic surgeon in Fort Myers, FL

It seems we can hardly pick up the paper and not read about China - the new emerging economic and military power. As they have embraced free market initiatives, their middle class has really blossomed.

According to China’s Health Ministry, cosmetic-plastic surgery now ranks as the 4^th, that’s right, 4^th, most popular way to spend discretionary income.

The first three are home buying, cars and travel, in that order. The “big three” in cosmetic surgery are the United States., Brazil and now, China. Not only are they third but according to their health minister their numbers are doubling every year.

So what are the three most popular procedures?

1. Eyelid surgery to westernize their eyes.

2. Nasal surgery to elevate their nasal bridge

3. Procedures to narrow and elongate their jaws.

These patients are not elderly. Maybe 40% are in their 20’s. Medical tourism may soon flourish to the far East, if not already.

Dr. Robert J. Brueck regularly blogs about matters of health, beauty and cosmetic surgery. In this message he comments on a recently received testimonial.

I have often written about the effect of cosmetic surgery on how a person feels about himself or herself. I think it is important to keep that in mind because it is all too easy to disparage cosmetic surgery as an act of selfish indulgence. Yet, no one would speak that way about emotional therapy, would they?

I know from experience that 99% of the people who come to me for free consultation want to improve their appearance in order to overcome a lack of confidence, whether it is the way they look, the way they feel with friends, their ability to compete at work.

It is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do to hear from people for whom cosmetic surgery has been life-changing.

The other day, I received this poem from a patient. It says more eloquently than I can what cosmetic surgery is about. Please read it.

"Dr. Brueck:

I'm sure you receive so many gestures of saying "thank you" everyday.
A card, a smile, a homemade cake, each patient in own special way.

In my prior life, its words I'd use to express how a client would feel.
Trying to do it about myself makes it seem a little surreal.

My friends would ask if I was ok. I looked so stressed and tired
I couldn't explain the life I lead needs a sign that says, "Stress Required".

I can walk miles; eat just right, value life as I was taught to do.
But no matter how I tried, that stressed look kept bulging through.

The first time I came to see you, I had no idea I would find.
A very kind and generous man, who would help me, leave all that behind.

Thank you seems so silly, no short and not very clear.
But you have given me the gift. I don't shun at the lady in the mirror."
- J.T.

Incidentally, this letter and others, including videos, are posted to the testimonial page on my web site as well. Please visit when you have a chance. Thank you.

The Latest Plastic Surgery Stats, reported by Dr. Robert Brueck MD

Dr. Robert J. Brueck MD FACS, Fort Myers Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, regularly reports on news and events of interest in the fields of health and cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic surgery statistics for 2009 were recently released.

I have to say there were no major surprises. The total number of cosmetic procedures surgical and non-surgical was down 3% compared to 2008. The number of surgical procedures went down a whopping 17%.

This is what one would expect with the current state of the economy. Nonsurgical procedures such as Dysport, lasers, etc, 8,491,861 in 2008 was up slightly to 8,522,139 in 2009.

What heads the list? The top five surgical procedures are:

1. Breast augmentation

2. Liposuction

3. Eyelid surgery

4. Rhinoplasty

5. Tummy tuck

What were the top 5 non-surgical procedures?

1. Botox-Dysport

2. Fillers

3. Laser hair removal

4. Micro-dermabrasion

5. Chemical peels

The total number of cosmetic procedures by men were just over 9% of the total, so men need to catch up with the ladies a little bit in this group.

The age group having the highest number of procedures was 35 to 50. This cohort was 44% of the total.

So what was America’s total bill for all of this?

It was a paltry $10.5 billion. I say that with tongue in cheek only because our society has moved to thinking "a billion dollars here, a hundred billion dollars there" and pretty soon, we're talking real money. Many people don’t seem to blink an eyelash.

It is a tremendous amount of money. With all of this runaway spending in our government, why not offer everyone free cosmetic surgery?

It truly is a misnomer. We seem to think free healthcare, free food, free cosmetic surgery, free unemployment and the truth and reality is that it is NOT free; someone is paying for it.

One of my biggest complaints or irritations is the tremendous waste fraud and greed that has permeated into our culture and particularly our federal government.

It seems that we have adopted an attitude of "it’s all about me". I think we can all pray that better days lie ahead.

NEW LIPS - For keeps, by Dr. Brueck, MD

This is one in a series of blog messages on the subject of cosmetic surgery and beauty, presented by Dr. Robert Brueck, MD, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon practicing in Cape coral and Fort Myers, Florida. For more information about cosmetic procedures, see Dr. Brueck's web site at Beauty-by-Brueck.com

Many Hollywood stars tout their big beautiful luscious lips.

The look has become quite popular over the last several years. The mainstays to provide new and bigger lips have been injectible fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm and the like. One of the procedures I now do is a permanent lip implant that is tapered at both ends and has a very soft and natural appearance. It provides stable permanent lip enhancement. It is a simple, outpatient, 45-minute procedure that we usually do with sedation. No more painful injections and they last forever. Most of the fillers injected into the lips lasted 2 to 6 months and then the patients had to return for additional injections.

The newest and latest trend is “muscle grafting”.

In the journal, Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, some doctors describe a technique that they have used on 25 patients to augment their lips.

What do they do? They take a piece of the patient’s neck muscle with the overlying fascia and implant it into their lips. This was done frequently in conjunction with a facelift. They say the pink show of the upper and lower lips has increased 20 to 24%.

Is it worth it? You be the judge. As with any cosmetic surgery it is only worth it, if it is important to you.

Life is good. How to get more of it - from Dr. Brueck, Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

[This is one in a series of postings by Dr. Robert J Brueck concerning items of interest in health care. Other aspects of health, related specifically to cosmetic and plastic surgery, are discussed on Dr. Brueck's Web site.]

Now that we’ve learned that coffee can be good for your health, the more and more studies are showing other things are good as well.

We’ve learned in the past that omega 3 fatty acids from fish are great for your heart but new research shows they may also be good for longevity.

Heart patients that take omega3 fatty acids have longer telomeres -these are parts of the DNA molecules - and longer telomeres mean longer life expectancy.

Shorter telomeres are a key part of cellular aging.

I guess the lesson learned is that we should all go out and lengthen our telomeres.

Of course in order to verify this a double blind study would be necessary but it provides food for thought and hope for the future, enjoy.

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Now they want to tax how you look.

Thoughts from Dr. Brueck, Fort Myers plastic surgeon, on the latest government threats to tax cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures.

When will it ever end?

It seems every time I pick up the newspaper I read about healthcare. The amount of material is staggering.

It seems that the opinions of the party in control change like the wind. The cost of government healthcare is projected to cost 1 to 1.6 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. But, alas, it will be budget neutral.

Sure, we can all believe that - we only need to look at Medicare with its $30 to $60 trillion in unfunded liabilities; Medicaid which is bankrupting many states (look up Tenncare) and last, but not least, Veterans Care. We all have read about the horrible conditions at Walter Reed Hospital and the care that our war heroes get.

To my count, that is three strikes and in America, three strikes and you are out. To maintain “budget neutrality” the powers-that-be are proposing a 10% tax on ALL cosmetic procedures.

When will this never-ending litany of new taxes end? This administration is already spending our country into the brink of bankruptcy. If they spent as much time on our deficit and decreasing it as they do on dreaming up new taxes our country would certainly be far better off.

I recently resigned from the AMA, the FMA and the American College of Surgeons. It was done with much thought. It was a very difficult decision to make. But these organizations “support government health care” and all of this with no tort reform.

I recently wrote to the chairman of the AMA and a similar letter was sent to the head of the American College of Surgeons. I think it says it all. Something to ponder in a spare moment.

July 29, 2009
James Rohack, M.D.
American Medical Association
515 North State StreetChicago, IL 60654

Dear Dr. Rohack:

Recently I resigned from the AMA and recent events have solidified the purpose of my decision. I am utterly shocked, appalled, and disheartened by the AMA elite endorsement of Obama Care. The AMA “elite” have sold our patients, our physicians and the greatest healthcare system in the world down the river.

There is no question our system has flaws but remains the preeminent healthcare system in the world. Why do so many presidents and foreign dignitaries come to America to receive lifesaving medical care? The free medical marketplace breeds innovation and new technology, life saving pharmaceuticals, etc. There isn’t one socialized system that can compete with ours.

We hear about the “great Canadian system” yet thousands of Canadians cross the border every year to receive their care here in America. In 2005 the Canadian Supreme Court opened the doors to private medicine and healthcare in their country. Why, because the socialized system was broken and was not serving the Canadian people.

Over 15,000 people died in France in 2003 because of a heat wave. When was the last time that happened in America?

Look at the list of Nobel Prize winners in medicine over the last 20 or 30 years and the case is quite clear and obvious. 8 out of 10 of the last major medical advances such as MRI’s and CT scans were developed here in America. If you suffered from an MI in the 80’s and made it to the ER the survival rate was about 60%, today it’s over 90%. Stroke survival rates today are twice as great as they were 25 to 30 years ago.

Look at the longevity table today versus 20 or 30 years ago. Yet we still have that bastion of healthcare that is so vital, so precious to doctor patient relationship and now you want the government to intrude and destroy and destroy they will.

Mark my word. They are like an insidious cancer growing and advancing not to be stopped. We need less government control in medicine and in our lives in general. Healthcare is 20% of our gross developmental products. I do not want the government to control anymore of lives than they already do.

Look at the government medicine we now have, Medicare is going broke, Medicaid is breaking every state budget in the union and then let’s not forget the great government controlled Veteran’s healthcare system which is a shamble and a disgrace to our proud men and women serving in our Armed Forces.

To put 20% of our gross developmental product in the hands of our totally irresponsible government is abhorrent. A short time ago the house passed a cap and trade bill and in large NO ONE ever read the bill and now they are trying to rush through and ramrod a healthcare bill down our throats that NO ONE once again has read. I wonder what they want to hide!

Of course they want to rush it through for the sake of not having it read, discussed and digested so that they can have more control of our lives. Just like the takeover of the banks, the insurance companies and the car companies. When and where will government control of our lives and our country end.

The government’s reasoning is that we have 50 million uninsured. It’s interesting how that number has grown from 35 to 50 million. If we look at that numbers it’s really not all that significant. Of that number 10 to 12 million are illegal aliens and should not be entitled to healthcare. It’s also estimated that 14 million of these uninsured qualify right now for SCHIPS/Medicaid. Several million of these uninsured can afford insurance but elect not to have it.

The census figures also show that 18.3 million of the uninsured were under 34-years-old. Many have elected not to have coverage because they feel healthy and secure in their present situation. Many millions are uninsured for short periods because they are between jobs.

When all is said and done a Blue Cross Blue Shield study in 2003 found that there were approximately 8.2 million Americans without coverage for long periods of time. We also hear of the tremendous costs of uncompensated care and the shifting of expense from the non-payer to the payers.

A Kaiser Family Foundation study in 2008 said that the TOTAL uncompensated care was 56 billion dollars. So we are going to turn our healthcare system over to the government with a projected cost of 1 to 1.5 trillion dollars over 10 years.

We all know about government efficiency. I am sure their numbers are accurate. Look at the VA healthcare system. This has been in place for decades and it’s government run and look how it’s in shambles. We all recently saw pictures flashed across the screen about the poor conditions of our Veteran’s healthcare facilities.

We are also told that we need a government option to create competition. With over 1500 healthcare plans in America today this is nothing more than a ploy to get the government’s foot in the door and gain total control of our lives. Even if the government plan loses money don’t worry we have the taxpayers to fall back on.

Look at the postal system which now is projecting a deficit of 10 billion dollars and of course who is going to pay for it, the taxpayers. We will just throw another 10 or 15 billion here to subsidize another losing government proposition. Maybe we will give the government’s plan some free government subsidies.

What government program over the last 10, 20 or 30 years has run efficiently and under budget? The answer is none. Do we subsidize Amtrak, the postal system, you name it. The list goes on and on and to think that this is going to be budget neutral is foolhardy.

We also always read about Medicaid fraud, Medicare fraud, durable medical good mills and so forth. When was the last time that we read about a Blue Cross Blue Shield or Human fraud? It doesn’t exist because the private sector is far more efficient in delivering healthcare. It is also possible that the private sector might be better keepers and stewards of our hard earned dollars.

To pay for this we are told that we can “squeeze” $500 billion in savings from Medicare. Yet the enrollees in Medicare is set to grow by over 30% as the baby boomers are set to retire over the next several years. Now you tell me how you cannot take away from the quality of healthcare for our senior citizens by squeezing a half a trillion dollars from their budget and yet have their enrollment increase 30 to 40%.

They must have some Houdini pulling the levers at the Medicare center. Past history has always shown us that we can’t trust the wisdom and brilliance of bureaucrats in Washington.

Our president talks about the out of control spiraling healthcare costs but recent trends seem to refute his claim. Here are some facts:

1970 – 10.5%
1980 – 13.0%
1990 – 10.9%
2000 – 6.6%|
2003 – 8.6%
2004 – 6.9%
2005 – 6.5%
2006 – 6.7%
2007 – 6.1%

This really is a promising trend.

As a loyal American I want free market capitalism to be given a chance ahead of a huge government bureaucracy filled with corruption and waste. Free market capitalism is what has made our country the richest, the strongest, most prosperous nation in the world.

Repeat Webster’s definition of tyranny “repressive government control”. I question what direction our country is going. I am certainly appalled at your decision to support Obama Care and I certainly have no plans in the future to ever again become a member of the AMA and will actively campaign to have other friends of mine who are active members to renounce their membership as well.

With Warmest Regards,

Robert J. Brueck, M.D.

Cosmetic Surgery - To Tell or Not to Tell

Frequently patients will ask me, “Dr. Brueck, when can I go out in public and be presentable?”

I guess only you can answer that.

It depends on whether you want anyone to know if your lack of apparent aging is due to the crafty art and skill of your plastic surgeon or the fact that you are blessed with “good genes.”

But when apparent lack of aging is due to non-surgical procedures most Americans are willing to offer a confession. A recent survey from the Aesthetic Surgery Education Research Foundation (ASERF) found that nearly 9 out of 10 or 87% of respondents openly discussed their use of Botox and dermal fillers. These non-surgical treatments are now mainstream.

Just who are these women who openly confess their use of Botox and fillers?

They usually are married, working mothers, age 41-55, with a household income under $100,000. These women are health conscious and philanthropic in their views and many volunteer for charitable organizations. The reason for doing this is “to look more relaxed, less stressed-out”.

So there you have it. A new interactive conversation, open, honest, and why not?

Say Goodbye to Thread Lift Plastic Surgery

A short time ago there was a new cosmetic surgery procedure on the block. It was called a “thread lift”.

It received national media attention and was the cat’s meow for a long while.

I did the training and did several patients but quickly abandoned the procedure because the results were fleeting. It was expensive, not very difficult to do, but the expected results were lacking so I stopped offering it to my patients. Since then, I have seen several patients who have had thread lifts by other physicians who came in with exposed knots, dimpling of the skin, and the like.

It did receive FDA approval but that since has been rescinded.

There was a recent study done to compare results with three categories of patients.

The first category was patients who had thread lift only. The second category was patients who had thread lifts plus other procedures such as a blepharoplasty, chin implant and the like. The third category was conventional cosmetic surgery patients. They had a conventional facelift, blepharoplasty and the like.

The satisfaction with the thread lift patients was fleeting and the patients felt very dissatisfied with the longevity of their procedures.

The patients in group three had the greatest satisfaction level of all the groups. It was something that I saw a long time ago and lead me to abandon the procedure.

I guess it points to experience as a great teacher. My 30 years of experience has taught me a lot and the font of skill and knowledge continues to this day.

For more information about me, my experience and my practice, visit my web site at http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com

New techniques in cosmetic surgery for luscious lips

NEW RICHER FULLER LIPS

There are many challenges in cosmetic surgery today.

One has to do with creating fuller, more youthful looking lips (lip augmentation.)

The procedure of choice has been injecting dermal fillers. Fine, as far as they go. But injections can be painful and only temporary. They often require multiple injections over time to maintain that fullness.

We now have a new “gummy bear lip”. A new “PermaLip” implant is now available. It's made from silastic polymer with the consistency of a soft gummy bear. It has tapered ends simulating the normal lip line.

The implant is soft and has a natural feeling.

Implanting can be done in a simple outpatient procedure with light sedation which translates into no pain. Because there is no tissue ingrowth to the implant it is very easy to remove or reposition if necessary.

The before and after photos I think speak for themselves.

Photos are provided by PermaLip (c) and do not represent Dr. Brueck's work.

Recently a paper was written by Drs. Harris and Raphael of Plano, Texas, discussing their experience with 412 patients utilizing the PermaLip implant. Complications were minimal; 17 out of 412 patients required some repositioning of the implant and no patients lost their implant due to infection.

Satisfaction was almost universal, even after several months. Only two of the 412 patients expressed dissatisfaction and two requested removal due to family pressure.

It now has received FDA approval. No longer do you have to endure repeated injections to have full youthful lips. To schedule a complimentary consultation to see if you are a candidate for PermaLip please call our office at (239) 939-5233.

A chuckler testimonial for Dr. Brueck's plastic surgery

We get lots of compliments from our patients.

Many testimonials about our plastic surgery work come to us in email.

Usually, they come from the patient.

Very rarely do we get one from the spouse or companion of the patient.

This one made us chuckle.

I guess whether or not you take this as complimentary depends on what you think of Picasso's work. LOL

I choose to take it as positive.

What do you think?

Can Plastic Surgery give a lift to your job security

From North America to the UK, cosmetic plastic surgery is becoming an important part of the employee’s resume tool box.

Reuters news service reports that plastic surgeons are seeing increased interest from people seeking surgery to look younger and more employable. A male music producer in Los Angeles claims to have invested $17,000 in a face lift. His goal? To look younger and feel more confident. That’s right, a male.

Despite perceptions that cosmetic surgery is only for women, the Yorkshire (UK) Post reports that men also are having more cosmetic surgery these days. Cosmetic procedures for men have increased 25% in England in the last year. Patients range from accountants and attorneys to government employees, with the most popular procedure, according to the Post, being male breast reductions. Mini-face lifts to remove jowls also are popular.

Meanwhile, back in the US, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has completed a study in which they found more American women were thinking of plastic cosmetic surgery as a way to get a competitive edge at work. 756 women between 18 and 64 were surveyed.

Around 73% felt that a youthful appearance plays a role in getting employment, getting promoted and getting new clients. 13% said they would consider a cosmetic procedure to improve their chances of landing a good job. They cited the difficult economic times as contributing to the importance of looking young and energetic.

As a Board Certified plastic surgeon practicing in Southwest Florida I have observed that, as the job market gets tighter, more people are looking to get an ‘edge’ in the jobs competition. Many times this means ‘looking’ younger. Patients tell me they need to look younger because job interviewers seem more concerned about “appearances” than qualifications.

I am seeing people in their 40s and 50s, who must compete with people who may be 10 to 15 years younger. They are investigating cosmetic procedures to make them more competitive in the marketplace.”

If you are in a field that is populated by a large number of young people, looking young may help you succeed.

One woman, who asked not to be named, says she attends networking gatherings where she has noticed she is amongst women who are much younger-looking. “It’s difficult to be confident in that setting”, she observed. “I know some of these women have gone through facial rejuvenation and, darn it, they look younger than me. How do you compete with that?”

I recently worked with a 30-ish woman who came to me for facial rejuvenation. She was convinced that making her aging face look younger would help her land and keep the job she wanted.

In another case, a middle-aged woman came in recently and said she needed to look younger to be more competitive in this market. The procedure I recommended was an eyelid lift. I think it makes a big, big difference to get rid of that overhanging skin that makes your eyes look tired and old. After all, the eyes are one of the first places an interviewer looks. There’s a reason they call it ‘eye contact’.

An eyelid lift is simple, safe and recovery time is minimal. You can shampoo your hair the next day and have stitches out in 3 or 4 days.

But it’s not only facial procedures. Another young, working mother who was experiencing sagging breasts from nursing after childbirth, decided that a breast lift would put more bounce in her step, give her more confidence in her interactions with others and enhance her job security.

People who elect to have plastic surgery in today’s economy consider these procedures to be investments in their future earning power. Those who are short of ready cash for a procedure are finding financing opportunities. We accept financing through CareCredit . (see our (http://www.beauty-by-brueck.com/Links.htm ) CareCredit offers credit plans for medical care, some of which are even interest-free

The procedures can range from relatively inexpensive, non-surgical procedures such as Botox or other filler injections to eliminate age-betraying wrinkles to more extensive surgeries such as eyelid lifts, chin lifts, mommy makeovers (tummy tucks) and breast enhancements.

A male sales rep in New Jersey talks about being passed over for jobs he was qualified to fill. Once he chose to have wrinkles and other signs of aging around his face and neck rejuvenated, he found employers were more receptive. “Maybe I just came off as more confident and energetic, not necessarily “younger-looking”. So what? If it helped me get a job I might otherwise not have been considered for, that’s what matters.”

A web site devoted to members of the legal profession conducted a poll in which 58% of respondents said that implants could only help a woman’s career. It seems that a woman attorney who uses breast implants to improve her physique is apt to receive a positive reaction from her employers. But it is not surgically enhanced breasts that makes the difference. It is a more confident and forthcoming attitude as a result of a more youthful profile that may make a woman appear more qualified.

In reality, it is almost required that the enhancement not be noticeable. The kind of modest attire women in professions wear is designed to leave more to the imagination than to the eye. Therefore, breast enhancement for these women seldom exceeds one size. The result is a woman who feels better about herself and her appearance. More than one size can call more attention to the change than to the person.

For whatever reason, with competition for jobs, promotions and assignments on the uptick, anything you can do to look more confident, more energetic and, yes, even more attractive, may make the difference you need in your career development.

It would be wonderful if we all were judged solely on our inner beauty and professional qualifications. But in the real world how you look appears to influence how others see you and how you feel about yourself.

There is no escaping the fact that surgical enhancement may make a difference in getting employed more quickly and justifying a salary that supports your lifestyle.

If you are looking for ways to invest in your future and plastic surgery is a possibility, the first thing to do is talk to at least one Board Certified plastic surgeon about the available options. (You can arrange for a personal, private confidential consultation with me, simply by calling my office at 239-939-5233.)

Ask every question that comes into your mind, including how you will pay for it and if the doctor has any special deals. You may be surprised at how affordable this investment is. We are offering some deep discounts coming into the summer. Just ask.

For more information, click here to visit my website Beauty-by-Brueck.com

Thank you.

Plastic Surgery - What recesssion

The economic downturn has certainly had its effects on cosmetic surgery.

The "lipstick effect", which is a name given to the economic phenomenon of increased sales of lipstick and other feel good products such as cologne and mascara during hard times, seems to apply to cosmetic medicine in particular. The number of invasive procedures performed in 2008 was up 5% compared to 2007.

A large part of this increase was due to people spending less on surgical procedures and choosing minimally invasive procedures instead. The number of surgical cosmetic procedures dropped 9% from 2007 to 2008 and a big part of this was due to the economic downturn.

The overall top surgical cosmetic procedure in 2008 was breast augmentation with 307,000, followed by rhinoplasty 279,000, the third was liposuction 245,000, and eyelid surgery 221,000 and tummy tuck 122,000.

So this is the second year in a row that breast augmentation has topped the charts as the number one procedure. I believe that this is due to the fact that silicone implants have been put back on the market.

Botox continues to lead the pack of minimally invasive procedures with over 5 million injections in 2008. With the recent FDA approval of Reloxin from Medicis , we may see an increase as prices fall and demand will increase.

The second most common minimally invasive procedure was the injection of Hyaluronic acid fillers which was a far distant second with 1.1 million injections; reflecting a 6% increase over 2007.

Overall, women accounted for 91% of all cosmetic procedures performed. One of the most common procedures among men was blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery and that declined 11% in 2008 while rhinoplasty (nose surgery) gained nearly 1%.

Interestingly enough the number of repeat customers or repeat patients in 2008 was up 7%. Office facility procedures were also up 13%. So in general, 2008 was a down year because of the economy.

As the economy rebounds we expect the number of people seeking cosmetic surgical improvement and procedures will increase.

Skin Cancer Prevention with Coffee?

WOW!

That morning cup of Java may do more than lift your tired eyelids.

Recent work done by researchers has shown that mice given caffeine are protected against UV-induced (sun) skin cancer.

This research is being done by M. Allen Conney at the State University of New Jersey.

So, if you drink coffee, maybe you should have an extra 'cuppa' in the morning. If you drink tea, you might consider a caffeine pill as a booster.

Excuse me now. Have to go get another cup of morning Joe. The sun isn't up yet.

For more information about matters relating to skin health and cosmetic surgery, stop a spell to read Dr. Brueck's web site.

You could do it over coffee

Bionic Breasts?

We all remember the famous TV hit of manyyears ago, called "The Bionic Man".

We have bionic hips and knees, and may soon have "Bionic Breasts."

A company in Hackney, South Australia is undertaking studies for the new TriBrege titanium coated breast implants (Poly Implants Prothesis or PIP).

Titanium is naturally present in human tissue and is very inert biologically. It is not toxic and induces no inflammatory reaction. This may hold promise to help prevent the unwanted contracture that can occur with normal breast implants.

It currently is undergoing clinical trials. More to come.

Pay a visit to Dr. Brueck's web site for more information about all things plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery.