One of the most common questions asked right before and right after surgery. From a physiological aspect the timing depends on the span of surgery. The more invasion the longer the recovery(but usually a better result). Injury whether intentional like surgery or accidental initiates wound healing that requires multiple steps; the most relevant to our question is neovascularization. New vessels... read more »

To explain why certain claims made by the "cosmetic industry" do not work (see the last two previous blogs) one just has to acknowledge that to affect a change in our tissue a change in the makeup of the tissue has to occur. In organic terms that means some form of trauma and its resultant healing process.   We all have fallen in love with... read more »

The latest "buzz word" in medicine has been "stem cell" treatments for many debilitating diseases. The process of stem cell treatments is in its infancy and that is almost a hopeful stretch when one examines the progress in this area. Stem cell research is just beginning and our knowledge is still very limited. We know that certain cells ( so far... read more »

Many people come to see me for aesthetic surgery but are very anxious that their result would leave them with bad scarring, like other scars they have from previous surgeries or accidents. Take heart, scar's appearance depends on location and direction of the scar in regard to lines of tension. In other words a large wide scar on the breast... read more »

People always wonder why areas of injury or surgery hurt more so many hours after activity has stopped or when they are just plain resting at night and not moving at all. The reason for this all too true phenomenon is the fact that the site of surgery has extra vessels (to provide the cells that will clean up the... read more »

Some words in our English language have taken on a meaning of their own, not reflecting the original intent, but rather a wish for quality that completely changes the communication . Such a word is "fade". As a plastic surgeon, who cares for as well as creates scars, I explain to patients that their wounds re-model and mature over time... read more »

Apparently a great deal of space, ink and blame has been devoted by the media on Tom Brady's knee surgery and resultant complications. The fault finding is aimed at physicians that did their best to help another person. Their well meaning intentions as well as expertise unfortunately did not produce the expected result. This is due to a well known... read more »

I just saw yet another patient with an open wound and instructions to keep the area dry with clean gauze. I will now reveal to you a long kept secret that will probably expel me from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Just Joking. We, as plastic surgeons, have always viewed ourselves as teachers not just technicians, and therefore have... read more »

All invasive cosmetic procedures require preparation even so-called "weekend " surgeries. In order to effect a permanent change invasion of the tissue has to be made which results in a typical inflammatory response along with bleeding. The combination can lead to swelling, bruising and even blood collections (hematomas). As the saying goes " an ounce of prevention is worth a... read more »

Just a friendly reminder and warning so that no one is disappointed. Bathing suite season will soon be upon us here in the NE, and like other seasons (holidays, Christmas, etc.) we need to plan. The time to undergo any treatment must take into account the recovery time as well. To look good in June/July one must consider having the... read more »