Chief of Plastic Surgery Paul Wigoda, M.D. treated Davie teenager Nicole Periu when she was rushed into Broward General Medical Center with deep wounds covering her back and legs and one ankle nearly severed.

Walking along a wall, Periu was pulled off by a large dog grabbing her by the ankle.

“I was screaming, ‘Help, I’m going to die’,” she said.

“This is one of the worst cases I’ve ever seen,” said Dr. Wigoda, an award-winning plastic surgeon located in East Broward County.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 368,000 dog bite victims are sent to hospital emergency rooms every year. The odds are three to one that the victim will be a child.

“A dog may not mean to hurt a child or their owner, they may just bite as a reaction, and the next thing you know, you’re talking about a permanent deformity,” said Wigoda, who was recently named Chief of Plastic Surgery at Broward General Medical Center.

Tips to Remember if Attacked by a Dog
Local10 News put together a list of tips to help avoid dog bites and what to do if a dog attacks in honor of Dog Bite Prevention Week, which runs May 16-23.

• If a dog attacks, curl in a ball, protecting your head and face with your arms. “Fighting back will only increase the aggression,” said veterinarian Dr. Lisa Radosta. Dr. Wigoda agrees: “When a dog latches on to you, your instinct is to pull away, but that will only increase the risk of tearing, and that becomes very difficult to treat.”

• If you are the victim of a dog bite, clean the wound and seek medical attention. “If the wound gets infected, you’re going to have a worse injury, worse scarring and worse pain,” said Wigoda.

To keep up with the latest plastic surgery news from Dr. Wigoda, follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook!

Board-certified plastic surgeon Paul Wigoda, M.D. to oversee plastic surgery operations at top Broward Hospital, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Metro Ranking.

Fort Lauderdale, FL – May 6, 2011 – South Florida award-winning plastic surgeon Dr. Wigoda has had quite the eventful year so far – from hosting two health chats for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, to receiving an award for “Exemplary Wound and Ostomy Patient Care”, to his most recent distinction: being named Chief of Plastic Surgery at Broward General Hospital’s Adult and Pediatric Care Trauma Center.

The Trauma Center provides multidisciplinary care of the highest quality in Broward County, led by surgeons specialized in trauma and critical care. Along with the recent expansion of its Trauma Resuscitation Unit, the center boasts state of the art technology including a dedicated 64-slice CT scanner, portable x-ray and ultrasound with access to PACS, portable ventilators, central monitoring and a rooftop helipad with elevator to deliver patients directly into the trauma resuscitation rooms.

In addition to an in-house trauma surgeon and surgical intensivist available 24 hours a day, other specialty services are readily available, to include: Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Urology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Pulmonary Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology.

Equally active on the social media sphere as in the OR, Dr. Wigoda makes it a priority to frequently reach out to current and potential patients via his South Florida Plastic Surgery and Beauty Blog, Twitter feed, an active Facebook fan page and YouTube Channel.

“Quite simply, I’m honored,” said the doctor, whose practice is based in Fort Lauderdale. “It’s an incredible opportunity to be able to work in such a state-of-the-art facility among the best doctors in the nation. Being named Chief of Plastic Surgery is a longtime dream of any plastic surgeon, and it’s both professionally and personally gratifying to be able to help so many people performing my life passion.”

About Dr. Wigoda
Dr. Paul Wigoda is an award-winning Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon, owner of The Aesthetics Institute and Chief of Plastic Surgery for Broward General Hospital. He is a board certified plastic surgeon and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Florida Medical Association, and the Broward County Medical Association. Dr. Wigoda specializes in Fort Lauderdale breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane, Botox, laser hair removal, and spider vein treatments.

Dr. Wigoda’s Ft Lauderdale Location:
1404 E Broward Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
(954) 463-7088

About Broward Health
Broward Health, providing service for more than 50 years, is a nationally recognized system offering world class health care services to our neighbors in South Florida. One of the 10 largest public health systems in the nation, Broward Health includes Broward General Medical Center, North Broward Medical Center, Imperial Point Medical Center, Coral Springs Medical Center, Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, Broward Health Weston and more than 30 facilities of the Community Health Services and Broward Health Physician Group. For more information, visit www.browardhealth.org.

Board-certified and award-winning plastic surgeon Paul Wigoda, M.D. answers consumer questions for men considering plastic surgery.

Fort Lauderdale, FL – April 27, 2011 – Do “real men” have plastic surgery? Statistics say more than ever! South Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Wigoda will be hosting a South Florida Sun-Sentinel online health chat, answering questions from men who are thinking about going under the knife.

As recently reported by the board-certified plastic surgeon on his South Florida plastic surgery blog, statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons indicate that more men than ever before are having work done.

Following the success of his first live health chat for the Sun-Sentinel in February, Dr. Wigoda has been asked to discuss this latest trend. The hour-long chat will begin at noon EST (11 a.m. CT/ 9 a.m. PT) on Friday, April 29 and discuss why more men are choosing to go under the knife and what types of procedures they are having.

No stranger to digital media, Dr. Wigoda frequently reaches out to current and potential patients via his South Florida Plastic Surgery and Beauty Blog, Twitter feed, an active Facebook fan page and YouTube Channel.

“I thoroughly enjoyed hosting the health chat the first time around, and I look forward to Friday’s discussion,” said the doctor, whose practice is based in Fort Lauderdale. “It’s very exciting to be presented with the opportunity to help so many people at once via a medium with the Sun-Sentinel’s reach.”

A full transcript of the chat will be available on the Health page of the Sun-Sentinel’s website soon after the chat’s completion.

About Dr. Wigoda
Dr. Paul Wigoda is a Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon and owner of The Aesthetics Institute. He is a board certified plastic surgeon and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Florida Medical Association, and the Broward County Medical Association. Dr. Wigoda specializes in Fort Lauderdale breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane, Botox, laser hair removal, and spider vein treatments.

Dr. Wigoda’s Ft Lauderdale Location:
1404 E Broward Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
(954) 463-7088

Wrinkle, wrinkle, go away. Dr. Wigoda thinks moms deserve more for less, so we’re celebrating Mother’s Day by offering a special price for Radiesse injections.

During the month of May, receive $100 off your first Radiesse syringe and $75 off each additional syringe purchased.

Radiesse Volumizing Filler is an FDA-approved treatment for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. Radiesse is the only filler to date that not only smooths lines and wrinkles, but stimulates the body’s own natural collagen production. This translates into longer-lasting results: a year or longer for many patients.

As with any injection, patients may experience side effects that usually resolve within a few days including redness, bruising, or swelling. Dr. Wigoda meets with each patient to discuss the pros and cons prior to performing any procedure. Call (954) 463-7088 to schedule a consultation to determine which filler is right for you.

We’ll see you at our Ft. Lauderdale location:

1404 E Broward Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

Chronic migraine sufferers are now able to smooth wrinkles and cure migraines at the same time, says the FDA. Chronic migraines are characterized by lasting at least four hours on fifteen or more days each month.

Botulinum toxin, or Botox, is best known for treating wrinkles by temporarily blocking signals from nerve endings to muscles. Botox is most commonly used to relax forehead lines, crow’s feet (lines around the eye) and frown lines.The April 2011 issue of More magazine explains how this treatment works for migraine patients; essentially preventing pain signals from reaching nerve endings in the tissue surrounding the brain.

More than 28 million Americans suffer from migraines each year. The recent FDA approval allows physicians to use Botox to treat those suffering at least 15 days each month. Around 31 Botox injections are administered around the head and neck every 12 weeks.

Botox has not been shown to be effective for those who suffer migraines less than 14 days out of the month, or other headaches such as tension headaches. Headache sufferers must consult their doctor to determine if Botox is an appropriate treatment for their condition.

Dr. Wigoda has performed thousands of Botox injections to South Florida patients; he has also previously commented on the hot topic from celebrity Botox such as Kim Kardashian, to a controversial New York Daily News article on the subject.

For more information, connect with Dr. Wigoda on his Facebook or Twitter pages, or call (954) 463-7088 to schedule a free Botox consultation!

A New Jersey woman is suing her doctor, claiming she can’t close her eyes after getting a procedure done on her eyelids. The eyelid lift was intended to restore a youthful appearance to the eyes by cutting away excess skin. However, when too much skin was removed, Liesz was left unable to close her eyes completely.

Marilyn Liesz is suing Dr. Paul Parker for negligence. Parker’s attorney told the jury Leisz was warned of the risks before performing the surgery in 2005, especially since she had previously undergone multiple other procedures  before seeing Dr. Parker.

Leisz now uses a gel and vaporizer at night so she doesn’t scratch her eyes. She also says she’s losing her vision and lives in fear of injuring her eyes.

“All the favorite things I used to, like tennis, racquetball, swimming, horseback riding, bike riding, skeet shooting, gardening, I can’t do those things,” Leisz said. While it may be possible to correct the procedure, Liesz is wary of going under the knife yet again.

Dr. Wigoda encourages potential patients to interview several plastic surgeons before having work done. Instead of rushing through a procedure, a good plastic surgeon will help decide whether a patient is a good candidate for a surgery and ensure the patient is fully aware of the risk involved.

For more plastic surgery news, find Dr. Wigoda on Facebook or Twitter!

Real men get plastic surgery and it is socially acceptable, experts say. Dr. Wigoda previously reported about the rise of plastic surgery in 2010 and the predicted uptick continuing through 2011. Now it appears that men are helping the trend, according to new data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Men underwent more than 1.1 million cosmetic procedures in 2010, accounting for 9.9% of all cosmetic procedures, or a 2% increase from 2009. The most commonly performed procedures? Facelifts, up 14% and nose jobs, 64,000 total, saw the biggest gains.

Other top male cosmetic procedures include eyelid surgery, liposuction, breast reductions and hair transplants.

Experts attribute the increase in male plastic surgery to a few different factors; namely, the lagging job market and the increase of celebrity culture.

“Men have a new attitude toward cosmetic surgery than what we’ve seen historically,” Dr. Phil Haeck, ASPS president and a board-certified plastic surgeon, told AOL’s WalletPop. “Many stashed away some cash during the recession so they could come out of it with a younger look, ready to attack the job market.”

“In our culture, younger is better,” says Ann McMahon, a clinical psychologist based in New York City. “The ‘man’s man’ is also seeing celebrities undergo various procedures, so it’s become more socially acceptable.”

Smart plastic surgery decisions can be priceless, but not without a price tag. When the plastic surgery investment does not always fit the cash flow, Dr. Paul Wigoda offers several different plastic surgery financing options to help assure the decisons are based on quality versus best price.

Often procedures such as breast augmentations or tummy tucks can be financed for little or no interest, or with a convenient payment plan. Many patients are able to pay as little as $99 per month via Care Credit, MedChoice Financial, Capital One, or Chase.

Despite the cost of plastic surgery, Dr. Wigoda urges potential patients to shop for quality over price and to use our plastic surgery checklist to assist in asking the right questions. Don’t fall for the ‘too good to be true’ South Florida advertisements that promise inexpensive procedures that may be risky. For more information on these centers click here.

At Dr. Wigoda’s office we will never cut corners.  Patient safety is always a priority and our aim is always to maximize the cosmetic result and the patient’s experience including using revolutionary techniques to minimize pain and discomfort.

Dr. Wigoda promises the best possible result, in a safe and caring environment, and at a price that is very competitive. A strong believer in treating his patients in the fashion that he would like to be treated, Dr. Wigoda likes to take the time to get to know each patient as well as possible. He believes developing rapport with a patient based on mutual respect, communication, and honesty is crucial.

As a special welcome to new patients, Dr. Wigoda is offering a coupon for $1000 off his signature painless breast implant procedure!

For more information on what Dr. Wigoda is doing to help patients finance their plastic surgery, visit www.drwigoda.com.

Five years after saving a woman’s life and multiple surgeries later, Dr. Paul Wigoda was featured on ABC Local WPLG this week; reporting on how a woman was attacked by a flesh-eating bacteria that stemmed from liposuction complications.

Flight attendant Marcia Beaird thought she was simply getting routine liposuction. Instead, she was rushed to the hospital a mere 48 hours after receiving the lipo on her stomach, lower back and thighs.

“I was already in renal failure and my organs had shut down,” she said. “From that point, the nightmare started.”

The bacteria consumed 80 percent of her body, eating through both muscle and fat.

“I thought she was going to die the first night I saw her,” said Dr. Wigoda, who was on call in the Broward hospital ER the night Beaird was rushed to the emergency room.

Dr. Wigoda was able to save Beaird, but the traumatic experience wasn’t over. Her scarred skin began developing chronic wounds and she again turned to Dr. Wigoda. “He never stopped trying something. When everybody else was ready to give up, he didn’t,” she said.

“I find strength in my faith and in Dr. Wigoda. He’s been an angel to me in my darkest hours,” Beaird asserted.

Click here to read the entire story on Local 10 news. To hear the latest news from Dr. Wigoda, and stay up-to-date on the latest news and offers through our Facebook Fan Page and Twitter @DrWigoda.

Paul Wigoda, MD has been saying that elective plastic surgery procedures will return as the economy strengthens since the New Year. Here is an infographic from DocShop.com that further drives this point home.

Over $10 billion is spent on surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures each year and over $1.1 billion of that goes toward breast augmentations. Over the last ten years, the number of breast augmentations has steadily increased, until the rough economy caused procedures to dip from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, however, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, this number started to increase again, climbing over 2% to nearly 300,000 breast augmentations.

Considering getting a breast augmentation in 2011? To learn more about Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery procedures, including Dr. Wigoda’s signature painless breast implant procedure visit: http://www.drwigoda.com or http://www.painlessbreastimplants.com.