dr.kreidstein » “Secrets” of Cosmetic Surgery

Costs for Botox injections- Why do some practices charge more?

Dr. Kreidstein — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:15:56 +0000

The effectiveness of Botox depends on many factors, and you should consider more than the cost of the Botox in choosing a clinician. Cost per unit of Botox is a good starting point in comparing prices. $12 per unit may prove cheaper than $8 if the same effect can be produced with a lower dose of units. A practice that uses Botox frequently will have a fresher stock that may be more effective. Syringes that are designed to minimize loss can make a big difference, especially in small volume injections. A GP or dermatologist may never have actually seen the muscle they are trying to inject, whereas a Plastic Surgeon will have great experience in locating the muscle during surgery and will have greater success in placing an injection in the right spot. A second advantage of treatment by a plastic surgeon is that you want your treatment from a clinician who can give an unbiased opion of whether Botox is the right solution, or perhaps surgery is more appropriate. It is very difficult for a clinician to give a fair comparison of all the options if he is limited to offering only one of them!

Drains and Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck

Dr. Michael Kreidstein — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:10:35 +0000

Patients often express surprise that they will not require drains after their abdominoplasty/tummy tuck. Although some surgeons continue to use drains, our experience over the past 10 years matches published reports in which drains can be eliminated if certain steps are taken during surgery. Most importantly, we place ‘progressive tension sutures’ to attach the skin back to the muscle layer. Not only does this close the space that would otherwise accumulate blood/fluid, but it allows the final wound edge closure to occur without tension. This helps to prevent the scar from riding up (above the bikini line)after surgery, and may prevent scar problems that arise from excessive tension.

Are all facelifts the same?

Dr. Michael Kreidstein — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:51:18 +0000

There are few procedures in plastic surgery with more variations than the facelift. Understanding something about this operation may help you to understand the controversies, and may help you to ask the right questions when you meet with a prospective surgeon.With dozens of variations, the facelift is a fascinating operation for plastic surgeons. Surgeons may modify their technique over the years, or do the same operation for 40 years. What follows is a summary of some important decisions a surgeon must make in developing their technique.
1. incisions: if placed behind the hairline, the scar is better hidden, but the hairline is pulled back and can create deformity, especially if the procedure is repeated. So called short scar techniques minimize the scar behind the ear, but are less effective at correcting loose neck skin.
2. mini-lift vs formal facelift: Some procedures involve simple excision of skin from in front of the ear and possibly a suture hitching up the deep tissues. Results from such a procedure will be quite temporary, as there is little to stop the tissues from stretching out. If your surgery will take less than two hours, it is likely there is insufficient work to provide a durable result.
2. volume correction: A youthful face is not an old face with tight skin! Ask your surgeon to explain what efforts they will take to re-establish youthful contours in your face.
Understanding these issues will help you to understand why results, costs, and surgical recovery times can vary widely from surgeon to surgeon.