Question:
Are there any clinical advantages to Breast Reduction surgery other than simply reducing the size because they look too big for my body?

Answer:
Breast Reduction surgery can improve one’s overall appearance AND help alleviate recurring symptoms that women with large breasts often experience.

Some of those include rashes underneath the breasts as well as shoulder, neck and back pain. Deep grooving in the shoulder area can also happen when bra straps dig into the skin. In addition, overly large breasts can cause premature sagging of the skin, causing the nipples to point downward. All of these effects can be corrected, or greatly improved, through surgery!

Breast Reduction surgery can be a safe, effective solution. I offer Breast Reduction with limited incisions as well as Liposuction of the Breasts, depending upon the size and volume of the breast tissue and quality of the skin.

Read more from Dr. Casas as quoted in Cosmopolitan Magazine Article here. For more information and photo galleries click here.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about a Surgical or Non-Surgical procedure we would be happy to set up a personal consultation. You may reach us at (847) 657-6884. We are located in the Chicago North Shore suburb of Glenview, Il

If you’d like to submit your own plastic surgery question please do so here!

Question:
Are facial fillers safe and reliable, and how do I know which one is best for me?

Answer:
Excellent question.

Yes, they are safe if performed by a qualified surgeon who has evaluated you in a safe environment such as a doctor’s office or medispa that is physician owned and operated.

Dr. Casas strongly urges her patients to ask the following questions when considering any injectable:

1. Is this a qualified physician/surgeon in an appropriately licensed facility, and does he or she administer these injectables regularly?
2. Is the injectable approved and recommended by the FDA? Make sure it is name brand only. There is no such thing as generic fillers or botox.
3. Has the Doctor evaluated you, recommended treatment, explained the risks/benefits, offered alternatives and given you informed consent material for your own benefit?

We have seen a national surge in popularity in fillers in the last 2 years! More than 4 million injections were performed last year, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Unfortunately, we do not know exactly how many were improperly administered or were incorrectly mixed with false substances. When this happens, it can lead to unreliable results. There have been reports of individuals using non-FDA approved substances or inauthentic products which can not only cause a bad result, or no result, it could tragically lead to disfigurement and rarely, death.

Read about the latest case in here. There is no ‘generic’ form of FDA approved fillers and if the consumer is not aware, it is confusing.

As President of ASERF (Aesthetic Education and Research Foundation) and chair of the Non surgical procedures committee of ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) I am passionately committed to safety and making sure that my patients get the right filler for them. There is a spectrum of injectables that can address a myriad of solutions; the trick is finding the right one for each person! The fact that we have so many available is exciting but it is crucial that the right choices are made by an experienced and qualified professional

To learn more from a source that provides unbiased, important information about injectables and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, see www.injectablesafety.org

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about a Surgical or Non-Surgical procedure we would be happy to set up a personal consultation. You may reach us at (847) 657-6884. We are located in the Chicago North Shore suburb of Glenview, Il

If you’d like to submit your own plastic surgery question please do so here!

Check out “Plastic Surgery Nightmare” by Gretchen Voss found in Marie Claire for futher reading on the importance of safety in plastic surgery.

It’s safe to say that trends are shifting and injectable treatments are now “accepted” options for everyday women! The Aesthetic Surgery Education & Research Foundation (ASERF) released results from a recent survey illustrating just that fact.

“In a similar survey issued four years ago, we dispelled the myth that Hollywood and corporate wives were the typical BOTOX® Cosmetic patient,” says ASERF President Laurie Casas, MD, a plastic surgeon practicing in suburban Chicago. “Now, demographic and perception data trends show us that aesthetic injectable treatments have continued to evolve into mainstream and accepted options for the everyday woman.”

Here are some of the survey results:

• The “typical” BOTOX® (Cosmetic/hyaluronic acid dermal filler) patient is a working, married female between the ages of 40 and 55 with one to three children. Many were primarily health-conscious and charitable volunteering for philanthropic causes and incorporating exercise into their lives. And Nearly half of the respondents reported a household income of under $100K
• Approximately 7 out of 10 respondents believe that BOTOX® (Cosmetic - 72%, and HA dermal fillers - 65%) are important parts of their aesthetic routine and openly discuss their treatments with others. Patients disclosed their treatment with close friends, immediate family, and spouse. But even beyond that, 43 percent said they’d discuss it with anyone who asked and 28 percent said included coworkers. Only 12% of respondents received criticism, most received support.
• The motivation for seeking treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic included; looking stressed or angry, a physician recommendation, friend/family member recommendation, a life event (e.g., wedding, reunion), and only very few were motivated by celebrity use.
• Most respondents (66 percent) said they had two or three BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment sessions per year.
• Motivation for using hyaluronic acid dermal fillers included; facial wrinkles and folds, physician recommendation, treatment for a life event (e.g., wedding, reunion) and because of friend/family recommendations. Only a small percent said it was due to branded promotions (e.g., sponsored events, advertisements), because they felt they looked unapproachable, or they were motivated by celebrity use.

Brand Breakdown

• 61% JUVÉDERM® Ultra/Ultra Plus
• 72% combining Restylane® (59%)/ Perlane® (13%)
• 6% “other” dermal fillers as well as Evolence®
• 4% Prevelle™ Silk and Hylaform®
• 3% Captique™
• 2% “don’t know”
• <1% Elevess™

You can download the complete survey results here (Word Document).