Wondering what to expect in Botox, breast implants, dermal fillers and non-surgical improvements in 2010 and beyond?

Last week I posted a review of Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery over the previous decade. We talked about how liposuction, Botox, breast augmentation and dermal fillers have evolved and become very popular over the past 10 years.

As a board certified plastic surgeon, I receive questions all the time about the “latest and greatest” procedures South Florida can look forward to in the coming years.

Check out my video below for the changes I am expecting in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures including:

• Botox
• Silicon breast implants
• Dermal fillers
• Surgical and non-surgical improvements

The medical field is always in search of less invasive procedures that allow for quicker recovery times and comparable results. While many South Florida plastic surgeons are already advertising non-invasive tummy tucks or face lifts, the technology has not yet arrived and consumers need to be careful to understand the procedures they are actually having.

For more information on Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Paul Wigoda, visit http://www.drwigoda.com. You can also follow the South Florida plastic surgery news and get updates and specials from the Aesthetics Institute by following Dr. Wigoda on Twitter, @drwigoda, or by becoming a Fan on Facebook.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Wigoda has been practicing Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery for over 10 years. As we roll into a new decade, Dr. Wigoda is taking a look back at the development of South Florida plastic suregery over the past 10 years.

Check out the video below to hear his thoughts on how liposuction, Botox, breast augmentation and dermal fillers have changed since 2000.

To hear where Dr. Wigoda believes plastic surgery is heading in the next decade, visit The Aesthetics Institute Youtube Channel.

For more information on Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery or to contact board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Wigoda, visit www.DrWigoda.com, become a Fan on Facebook, or follow South Florida’s favorite plastic surgeon on Twitter.

Check out the article about Dr. Wigoda that appeared in the South Florida Business Journal last week.

Tweeting doctors boost exposure and uncover their market
South Florida Business Journal - by Jeff Zbar

Paul Wigoda tweets a few times a week. It may be about breast augmentation, statistics on pectoral implants or the difference between “smart” and traditional liposuction.

To date, some 122 Twitter users are “following” the doctor. He hopes he’s reaching a new audience with every tweet.

“This is just one more way to speak to patients and potential patients,” said Wigoda, who practices plastic surgery in Fort Lauderdale. “It’s a quick way to interact with them.”

As a physician whose practice is 10 years old, Wigoda isn’t alone – or even a pioneer – in using Twitter to promote his business. In February, surgeons in Detroit tweeted live from the operating room during a cancer procedure. Across the social media landscape, more physicians – and other professionals, like attorneys and accountants – are using Twitter to reach their target market and establish their expertise.

The “Twitter-verse” is the new social and commerce marketplace, even for professional service providers like physicians, said Marvin Dejean, CEO of Markcom Industries, a Coral Springs interactive marketing agency. While some physicians, attorneys or accountants historically have shied from marketing and advertising, social media outreach for many no longer can be ignored, he said.

“This universe is becoming larger and larger. It’s becoming the marketplace touching every commerce and consumer point you can think of,” he said. “Online is the next marketplace, and social media plays a tremendous role in that.”

Wigoda works with a local interactive marketing firm to write three or four tweets each week, which the firm then posts to his site. Tweeting a few months now, Wigoda often will write a blog post – maybe on a procedure or a special offer – then tweet about it, he said. Whether Twitter is driving new business or new leads are coming from his Web site or blog, Wigoda cannot say. But, he believes he cannot ignore that marketplace.

To read the full article visit the South Florida Business Journal.

One of the first questions many women ask when considering breast augmentation is: Where will the incision go and how will the scar look?

It’s understandable that women want to look good, and in most cases, breast augmentation is for cosmetic purposes, so the concern about breast implant scarring is normal.

Dr. Paul Wigoda, a Fort Lauderdale breast augmentation plastic surgeon gives his insight to the types of breast implant incisions and the pros/cons of each.

Breast Augmentation Incisions and Scars
There are three different breast implant incisions that are offered for breast augmentation, including:

1. Inframammary: Below the breast in the fold
2. Periareolar: Around the lower half of the areola (nipple)
3. Transaxillary: In the armpit

According to Dr. Wigoda, some patients may be better candidates for using one incision over the other but most patients are good candidates for at least two if not all three types of breast augmentation incision. In most cases, placement of incision is up to the patient and where they would prefer to have their scar. The good news is, that in the vast majority of Fort Lauderdale breast augmentation cases the scars heal well and eventually are minimally noticeable.

Read on for the pros and cons of the three different types of breast augmentation incisions and scaring.

Breast Implant Incision: Below the breast in the fold (Inframammary)
Pro: This is the most common incision used by plastic surgeons. The scar from this incision is not visible when sitting up or standing. Also, in the future, if a woman’s breast implants need to be removed, most surgeons will do so through this incision. If the woman’s original implants were placed through a different incision, they will now have scars in two locations.
Con: The incision can be seen when the patent is laying down but in most cases the scar is unnoticeable after six months.

Breast Implant Incision: Around the lower half of the areola (Periareolar)
Pro: If placed correctly, the periareolar scar heals very nicely and is often difficult to find even by a trained eye.
Con: In order to use this incision the areola has to be larger than 3.4 to 4.0 centimeters across.

Breast Implant Incision: In the armpit (Transaxillary)
Pro: With the introduction of endoscopic surgery, breast augmentation through the armpit has become more common.
Con: For the first six months after breast augmentation the scar will be noticeable when a woman raises her arms and is wearing a sleeveless shirt. Women considering Fort Lauderdale breast augmentation and live in sunny South Florida may want to take this con into consideration.

For more information about breast augmentation, the types of incisions, and breast implant scars contact Dr. Wigoda at 954.463.7088 or visit www.drwigoda.com.

If you live in South Florida and have considered liposuction, chances are you’ve heard about the surgery centers that offer Smart Lipo as an alternative.  Dr. Paul Wigoda, a Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon, shares his insights on Smart Lipo and discusses the similarities and differences of the procedures.  Check out the video and information below and get smart about liposuction.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increased by five percent over the past year while traditional cosmetic procedures decreased by nine percent. Partially due to the economy and less spending, many patients interested in Fort Lauderdale liposuction seek out Smart Lipo believing it is either less invasive or less expensive than other types of liposuction. Dr. Wigoda, a Fort Lauderdale, board certified plastic surgeon, shares in his Smart Lipo vs. Liposuction video that Fort Lauderdale ultrasonic liposuction is usually the smarter way to go as Smart lipo is equally invasive and typically, equally priced as traditional liposuction. However, it is often not as effective.

“In South Florida, many Smart Lipo doctors advertise the procedure as safe and effective although they are not board certified plastic surgeons,” said Dr. Paul Wigoda. “These doctors open up an office or spa, declare themselves Smart Lipo experts, and perform Smart Lipo without any formal plastic surgery training other than maybe a one or two-day Smart Lipo course.”

As one of the most common Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery procedures, it is inevitable that enhancements or tweaks will be made to the liposuction process, however, when comparing the procedure of Smart Lipo vs. ultrasonic liposuction, the results are usually not similar.

Smart Lipo vs. Liposuction

• Smart Lipo claims to tighten the skin during the procedure; however, neither the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the companies that sell the device, nor anyone else has proven that statement. Similarly, traditional liposuction also does little to tighten the skin.
• A doctor does not have to be a board certified plastic surgeon to perform Smart Lipo. Dr. Wigoda advises clients to always choose a plastic surgeon that is a board certified in plastic surgery and has completed plastic surgery training.
• Smart Lipo was introduced to the market as a ‘lunchtime’ procedure with little pain and minimal downtime, usually to treat very small areas of excess fat. These claims were true when Smart Lipo machines emitted low wattage but as clients complained about minimal results, Smart Lipo increased the machine wattage, which also increased the pain, making the use of general anesthesia more common.
• The results from the highest wattage Smart Lipo machine yield the same recovery time as traditional liposuction yet the results are often not as impressive.
• Ultrasonic liposuction is much more powerful than Smart Lipo and is more successful at removing larger amounts of fat.
• Smart Lipo, traditional liposuction, and ultrasonic liposuction can all be done under local anesthesia, but most plastic surgeons recommend general anesthesia for comfort, especially if many areas are to be treated or large amounts of fat are to be removed. Non-plastic surgeons often cannot offer general anesthesia in their offices, so they tout the use of local anesthesia, when in fact, it is more uncomfortable for the patient.

“The bottom line is that the advantages of Smart Lipo don’t really exist,” said Dr. Wigoda. “If a patient is looking for long term, effective Fort Lauderdale liposuction results they need to look into all of the available options and most importantly, trust the doctor they choose.”

For more information on liposuction in Fort Lauderdale call 954.463.7088.