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Amazing Patient Transformation

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Experience Matters!

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) annual report, minimally-invasive procedures make up 14.2 million with an increase of Botox usage of 759% since 2000. It is estimated that this market is worth over 14.75 Billion annually. Due to the increasing demand for minimally invasive treatments both to correct and prevent aging, medical day spas are springing up like dollar weed.  Many of these providers do not have the expertise or rigorous training of ASPS-member surgeons.

Botox is a service, not like shopping for Bounty paper towels.  It is important that you know the qualifications of your provider and not just shop on price alone. As you search for a doctor to provide the services it is important to ask the following five questions:

 1) What are your qualifications?

2) What is the extent of your training with anti-aging minimally invasive procedures?

3) How long have you been doing this?

4) What is the setting?

5) What other services do you provide?

Let's look at these questions one by one to better help you determine who is going to be the best provider for your aesthetic services:

1)      What are your qualifications? There are many good dentists, chiropractors and nurses providing services but their training and expertise are not in facial aesthetics.  For example, if your concern was with wrinkles in your brow, but the root cause of the brow wrinkles is actually your eyelids, would they know to educate you that Botox may impair your vision more? It is essential that the services you were seeking are at the core of your providers skill set, and not just some cash based add on service.

2)      What is the extent of your training with anti-aging minimally invasive procedures? A board certified plastic surgeon would be the only provider who can offer the entire range of non-surgical and surgical options for your rejuvenation needs. Many other providers take a weekend class supplemented by experience with a few volunteers. Others may have trained under a plastic surgeon but that does not make them one. Do not let your result be limited by their lack of experience or expertise.

3)      How long have you been doing this? We all want our provider to have a lot experience prior to our treatment and we do not want to pay to be a guinea pig.  Their experience also means that they know how to avoid and handle complications when they do occur as well as to optimize a result that did not quite meet expectations.

4)      What is the setting? As we discussed, day spas are popping up as the self-improvement market grows. Some are required to have a medical director. It would be important to know about the qualifications of that medical director- what is their training, what is their expertise? Refer to question one. Where is the medical director located and are they on site, are they readily available for questions or concerns? Is the spa offering services that are within the confines of the law? What are their policies regarding your privacy? Do they adhere to HIPPA regulations? What are their sanitation standards?

5)      What other services do you provide? In asking what other services are provided, you can determine if what you desire is at the core of that business. While a dental office may be the perfect place to get your teeth cleaned or to have restorative work done, it is not the best location to have a comprehensive facial aesthetic consultation.  There is a saying which says “when all you have is a hammer; the entire world is a nail.” You do not want to be in a setting or working with a provider who can only do filler or only do Botox when what you need is a multi-modality approach to your rejuvenation.

Make sure that these answers you receive are verifiable via word-of-mouth or Internet, Better Business Bureau, medical and nursing board just to name a few. Doing your due diligence in research beforehand to verify board certification and business verification are all important parts of discerning if the provider and the practice are suitable to providing you the results and experience that matter to you.  In this ever-changing and growing world of facial aesthetics and minimally invasive surgical services please remember that there are so many more important factors than just price.  Remember the well tested adage “you get what you pay for.”  

Your experience matters… so our experience makes THE difference!

Diane G. Bowen, M.D.

Dr. Diane Bowen received her Bachelor of Arts from Emory University of Atlanta in 1983 and her medical degree from Medical College of Georgia in Augusta in 1987.  Her general surgery training was completed in Savannah at Memorial Medical Center. She went on to do her residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Tennessee in Memphis.  She completed two additional fellowships: one in breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery at Georgetown University in Washington, DC and the other in pediatric plastic surgery at Akron Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Diane Bowen is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  She came to the Golden Isles area and opened Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery in 1997 and has the only accredited surgery center on St Simons Island.     Her extensive experience and fellowship training allow her to address all of your rejuvenation needs. She and her highly trained team are ready and willing to help you in a professional and confidential setting.  Please feel free to visit www.drdianebowen.com for additional information about her practice.

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Sclerotherapy @ Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure done  at Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery to treat uncomplicated spider and reticular veins.  The treatment involves the injection of a solution into the affected veins.

Asclera is the solution used that is injected into the vein.  It works by damaging the inner wall of the vein, and eventually causing the vein to collapse on itself.  Overtime, the damaged vein is replaced with tissue.  Induvial results may vary, and  usually multiple injections sessions are required for optimum results. 

Treatment takes approximately one hour .  One injection is usually administered per inch with multiple injections per session.  It is recommended .  It is recommended to wear compression stockings following the treatment.  For 2 to 3 days post treatment it is recommended that you avoid heavy exercise, long plane flights, sunbathing, and hot baths/saunas.

Let's do something Beautiful....call to book an appointment today 912-634-1993

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SkinCeuticals Micropeel @ Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery

SkinCeuticals Micropeel

SkinCeuticals Micropeel is a customized epidermal peel that can benefit all skin types.  Dead skin cells are removed with a combination of dermaplaning, medical strength acids and cryogenic therapy. This procedure leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth, and with a natural glow. 

Micropeeling is a non-surgical procedure to remove dead skin cells in order to attain a smoother, gentler, better complexion.  The medically safe, mild chemical peels are used to expedite the shedding of dead surface skin cells.  SkinCeuticals pharmaceutical-grade professional peels are backed by science and have been proved to stimulate collagen production and thereby reduce facial lines and wrinkles and other signs of aging, decrease hyper-pigmentation, skin dullness, and treat acne breakouts. 

At Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery, a micropeel treatment session typically takes about an hour.  During this treatment, your skin is cleansed and analyzed by our esthetician.  The dead surface skin cells will be gently removed through a simple process called dermaplaning.  Dermaplaning is a mechanical exfoliation of the epidermis and removal of the fine vellus hair, also known as peach fuzz, using a hand tool.  The SkinCeuticals micropeel solution is applied based on your skin conditions.  Most experience mild, temporary burning and itching sensations.  The skin is neutralized within a few minutes.  The face and neck are treated with serums, moisturizers and sunscreen.

Immediately after a micropeel treatment, most people can resume with their normal activities.  Most will have no obvious evidence of a peel.  This treatment is gentle but effective enough that it can be used as one to three month maintenance to the skin.  It is recommended that home skin care products are used in conjunction with your treatments to ensure optimum results. 

Let’s do something beautiful…call today to schedule an appointment 912-634-1993.

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppVAGQtBYoE)

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Most common questions regarding PRP answered 

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Most common questions answered about Microblading Eyebrows

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm2TH0pmvBw)

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Well Woman, Whole Woman: Life After Diagnosis with Breast Cancer

Well woman, Whole woman…. Your life after diagnosis with breast cancer. 

Did you know? 

If you have breast cancer that your insurance company is required to cover breast reconstructive surgery including breast reduction, breast lift or augmentation on the other side to optimize symmetry. In 1998 a law was passed called the Federal Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act. This law mandates that after breast cancer surgery your insurance has to cover breast reconstruction and breast symmetry surgeries. The law also requires your insurance to cover breast prosthesis and treatments of other physical complications. 

What does that mean? 

Your insurance is required to cover your breast reconstruction. And if in a perfect world you would be interested in being a little smaller, little bigger or more perky then you have the option to consider breast reduction, breast lift or breast augmentation on you other breast or even to a have a prevention mastectomy and reconstruction. 

What if I do not know yet what cancer treatment surgery I am going to have? 

As part of your preparation for your breast cancer treatment it is helpful to have a consultation with a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction Even if you are considering lumpectomy, newer techniques allow your cancer treatment surgery to be combined with your breast reshaping surgery. This is called the “oncoplastic” technique. In this surgery your breast surgeon and your plastic surgeon work together to remove the cancer and then reshape your breast so that your results after radiation will be optimized. 

If I am going to have lumpectomy and radiation, why should I see a plastic surgeon? 

A consultation with a plastic surgeon will allow you to better understand how lumpectomy and radiation may affect the long term appearance of your breast. If a lady has large or saggy breasts, the radiation oncologist find it easier to plan the treatment if that breast is reshaped and resized prior to the radiation. This technique of removing the breast cancer and also reshaping your breast is called Oncoplastic surgery. The plastic surgeon is able to reshape your breast once the breast surgeon has removed the tumor. 

What if I already had my breast cancer surgery? 

You are eligible for reconstruction of that breast whether you had lumpectomy or a mastectomy and you are eligible for what ever surgery is required on your other breast to optimize your symmetry. Breast reconstruction can be done many years after the original breast cancer surgery as long as a woman is healthy. 

What if I have already had lumpectomy and breast radiation? 

The changes associated with radiation will alter techniques that can be used to reshape your breast. Nevertheless it is possible to improve your breast shape following lumpectomy and radiation. 

How long will my recovery be? 

Your recovery time is dependant on the type of breast cancer treatment that you have. A typical breast reconstruction is a series of surgeries over the course of 6-9 months. Once this is complete then a woman does not require mammograms on the reconstructed breast. The recoveries after breast reduction, lift and augmentation typically are 4-6 weeks prior to vigorous activity. 

After breast reconstruction do I need to have mammograms? 

While it is important to continue with regular self exam of your breast reconstruction, it is not necessary to have a mammogram of your reconstructed breast. If you were to feel anything new, then you may benefit from an ultrasound or MRI after seeing your surgeon. 

What if I do not want to have reconstruction but have a large saggy breast on the other side? 

There are women who either choose not to have reconstruction or because of advanced age are not prepared to have breast reconstruction. However, many of these ladies would benefit from having a breast reduction or lift on their remaining breast to aid in being able to use a smaller external prosthesis. Your insurance will cover breast reduction/lift as part of your breast cancer treatment. This is not considered cosmetic 

How do I learn more about my treatment options? 

It is important to establish a good working relationship with your team of physicians. The nurse navigator is another excellent resource to assist you with your questions. While your general surgeon can answer basic questions about your reconstructive options, a board certified plastic surgeon will be able to answer your questions in depth. Also your plastic surgeon can introduce you to other women who have had breast reconstruction who can encourage you especially in the practical matters of your recovery. While there is no end to the amount of information on the internet, many women find this overwhelming and are challenged to know what specifically apply to them. If you have access to a plastic surgeon with fellowship expertise in breast reconstruction then he/she will be best experienced to provide your reconstructive care and review your options with you whether you choose total breast reconstruction or the oncoplastic technique of .lumpectomy. 

For more information go to www.drdianebowen.com or call 912-634-1993 for an appointment.