dr.kreidstein

Cohesive Gel Breast Implants – Are they all the same?

Dr. Kreidstein — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:41:21 +0000

At the recent Toronto Aesthetic meeting, the topic of smooth versus textured breast implants came up for discussion. The differences between Mentor and Allergan textured implants was also debated. Studies have not consistently demonstrated the superiority of one implant over another, in part because these implants have properties that allow one implant to be better in some situations, and another implant in others. Make sure you choose a surgeon who will consider all the available options to your benefit.

Labia Reduction and Vaginal Rejuvenation

Dr. Kreidstein — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:31:51 +0000

I performed my first labia reduction in 1994, when just a resident. Training at the University of Toronto included a 6 month cosmetic surgery rotation in which patients could obtain cosmetic surgery from a senior resident at a reduced fee. A young woman came to the clinic requesting labia reduction because she was an actress and was being offered ‘Sharon Stone-type’ roles! Since then, Labia Reduction has grown in popularity, in part driven by the opportunity for women to see images on the internet of labia different from their own. The internet has also allowed women to become aware of the availability of this procedure. Labia reduction has obvious cosmetic and functional rewards for women with enlarged labia minora. Our procedures bring relief from chafing and discomfort, and increased personal confidence.
We don’t offer vaginal rejuvenation procedures, intended to tighten the vagina. We believe that gynecologists would be more expert in managing this problem, and they don’t currently recommend the procedure

Cheek and Chin Augmentation

Dr. Kreidstein — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:53:34 +0000

Cheek and Chin augmentation don’t get enough respect from patients, or sometimes surgeons, but a recent increase in chin augmentation requests reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (and observed anecdotally in our Toronto office) is giving people some cause to reflect. There is speculation that the increased use of Skype and videophones is causing people to take a closer look at themselves, and a closer look at feature enhancement. Chin augmentation is a relatively easy procedure performed with a silicone implant through an incision under the chin. There are variations of the implants intended to mask jowls, or even create a chin dimple. Cheek augmentation with implants carries a higher risk of problems, as the incision through the mouth (or lower eyelid) is problematic, and symmetry is often a problem. Injectable fillers or injectable fat grafts are a much more popular option, with lower risks and down time, and have replaced the use of silicone implants in many practices.

What’s Hot in Cosmetic Surgery

Dr. Kreidstein — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:46:25 +0000

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has released statistics for sugical and non-surgical procedures in 2011, and 2011’s winner for top surgical procedure is……………Liposuction! Liposuction defeated Breast Augmentation for the first time in three years, regaining its old crown!
Toronto cosmetic surgery statistics generally match the American numbers, although Toronto breast implant numbers have been relatively steady as we have had access to cohesive gel breast implants for several years longer than Americans, and so the surge in Toronto breast augmentation surgery was spread over and longer time frame. Other procedures seeing increased popularity are the body contour surgeries (tummy tuck, breast lift, arm lift/brachioplasty), likely a reflection of successful major weight-loss patients seeking correction for cutis pleonasmus (loose skin). Buttock augmentations and Buttock lift remain relatively uncommon, as North Americans are less attuned to buttock aesthetics than in South America.

Is Cosmetic Surgery Bad?

Dr. Kreidstein — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:13:12 +0000

Despite what your mamma told you, it’s also what’s outside that counts.
Looking your best helps you to feel your best. It also helps you to make the most of your opportunities both socially and at work. Diet, exercise, and ‘choosing the right parents’ are important contributors to achieving good health and appearance, and many people also include cosmetic surgery in their formula for success.
The increasing popularity of cosmetic surgery has predictably provoked some negativity, and it’s worth reflecting on the justification of this criticism. Does cosmetic surgery ‘raise the bar’, so that average-looking people lose out to those artificially enhanced by surgery? Yes, but why should naturally-attractive people enjoy an unfair advantage over the rest of us? If we can accept enhancing test scores with tutors and athletic performance with coaches, we should accept cosmetic enhancement with surgery. Studies have also shown that most cosmetic surgery is performed for people trying to look average, not exceptional.
Is cosmetic surgery too expensive? At the price tag of a nice vacation, cost is a consideration. But instead of viewing cosmetic surgery as an expense, understand your appearance as an asset, and cosmetic procedures are intended to increase the value of that asset. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that whether in a job interview, a singles bar or a court room, others will make decisions about you based on your appearance.
Perhaps it is the perceived risks of cosmetic surgery that cause you concern. Although deaths have occurred, the risk is extraordinarily low, at less than 1 in 50,000 cosmetic procedures (your annual risk of dying in a traffic accident is about 1 in 7,000). The concern that you will be unhappy with the cosmetic results of your surgery is valid, but in expert hands, bad results are very uncommon. For every bad facelift you see at a cocktail party, there are countless examples of subtle, balanced, beautiful results from cosmetic surgery that quietly enhance the lives of people all around us.
Cosmetic surgery isn’t right or wrong. A thorough consultation with an expert surgeon will help you decide if it has a place in your life.

A New Wrinkle for Botox: Treating Depression

Dr. Kreidstein — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:03:56 +0000

We have long been impressed by the enthusiasm some patients have for botox injections, despite the modest (by surgical standards) cosmetic effect of the treatment. A recent study of the effect of Botox injections into the ‘frown muscles’ of patients with Chronic Depression indicates a powerful improvement in the symptoms of depression. If it is true that smiling makes you feel happy, perhaps not frowning makes you feel less sad!

Body Contour Surgery- How Much is Too Much

Dr. Kreidstein — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:12:20 +0000

Whether a mommy make-over or full rehab for a major weight-loss patient, body contour surgery is the most powerful tool for removing or lifting excess skin and fat on the abdomen (abdominoplaty/tummy tuck), breasts (breast lift/mastopexy), thighs (thigh lift), arms(arm lift/brachioplasty) and back/buttocks. Many consultations in our practice are focused on how much surgery to do in one operation. Some procedures go together very well, like liposuction hips with a tummy tuck, or tummy tuck and breast lift together. Advantages of combination procedures include:
1. single recovery period
2. lower cost- if procedures are compatible, once you are in the operating room it is cheaper to keep operating than to make a second trip
3. immediate gratification
There is no simple answer to how much is too much surgery at one time, but to optimize safety and provide an acceptable recovery experience we consider your overall health, the cosmetic goals, the volume of tissue involved, the amount surgery of time, your willingness to accept overnight stay or hospital surgery, and whether procedures are compatible. Inner (medial) thigh lift in particular can be difficult to care for after surgery and is prone to infection, so we don’t like to combine it with other procedures. Getting comfortable after an operation on your back and front is going to be tougher on you than separate procedures, and so your toughness/determination is also a factor we consider.

Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) Surgery

Dr. Kreidstein — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:43:03 +0000

A recent patient was raving about the results of her arm lift (brachioplasty), and wondered why it was so hard to find an expert in a big city like Toronto. Brachioplasty is a procedure that often gets plastic surgeons in trouble. It isn’t a very common procedure, and so an inexperienced plastic surgeon may try to approach it like a ‘tummy tuck for arms’. This approach is certain to damage the many small nerves and lymphatics in the arm and will result in wound healing problems. If you see a surgeon to tighten up your arms, reduce excess fat, or both, make sure the surgeon has good experience with arm surgery and can show you lots of before/after pictures.

Health Benefits of Tummy Tucks (Abdominoplasty)

Dr. Kreidstein — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:20:11 +0000

Most people who come to our North Toronto office expecting a tummy tuck to be ‘just’ a cosmetic operation, but the benefits are so much greater than just appearances.
1. Exercise and diet are frustrating if they just leave you with more loose skin. A tummy tuck will remove the loose skin and motivate you to continue to improve your health through proper diet and exercise.
2. Exercise is physically uncomfortable if you have loose skin flapping around, and compromised skin hygeine (including rashes and odour) can also make exercise unpleasant.
3. Improved self-esteem helps you to be more assertive in your relationships.
4. Women have expressed resentment of their children for having ‘wrecked’ their figure. Petty or not, restoring your beauty may help make you a better parent.
5. Repair of diastasis rectus may improve core strength and relieve back pain
6. Many women have expressed improvements in stress incontinence (peeing when you sneeze, jump or laugh) and sexual relations
There are many more benefits- hopefully our readers can add to this list!

Facelifts are for patients, not surgeons

Dr. Kreidstein — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:01:53 +0000

Toronto is home to some of the top plastic surgeons in the world, and the technical skill available for cosmetic surgery patients is world-class. But the preoccupation of many surgeons with how high they can lift a brow or a jowl is preventing these surgeons from appreciating that our patients are seeking to look better, but not different. Particularly with facial rejuvenation surgery, appearing ‘done’ is not a worthy goal. We arent advocating ‘mini-lifts’, as these minimally-invasive procedures don’t maintain their effects over time. Instead, we focus on safe techniques that provide lasting but subtle improvements. Our favourite thing to hear from our patients is that everyone is complementing them on how well-rested they look!