Cosmetic Surgery, Health and Fitness Information - The Adams Center, Boston, MA

Patients Lose Up to 15 Inches from Waist with FDA Approved Zerona

The Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent approval of Zerona opens the doors to a whole new world for those of us with a few stubborn areas of fat to lose. There have been several breakthroughs in non-surgical body sculpting for both cellulite reduction and fat reduction recently. The new Zerona™ system from ERCHONIA®, just cleared by the FDA, is one of the most promising.

My typical body contouring patient is someone who has stubborn areas of fat that they can’t get rid of, no matter how much exercise they do. Patients often come to me after trying various exercise programs that include biking, running, weights, etc. These pockets of excess body fat are actually one of the most difficult body issues to correct, and exercise alone often doesn’t work.

Zerona is leaps and bounds ahead of many of the other non-surgical body contouring or liposuction procedures. There are several laser, and other non-surgical products that claim results that, in my experience, aren’t accurate.

Zerona has been used for a couple of years to help break up fat cells prior to a traditional liposuction. However, plastic surgeons have recently begun using Zerona on its own to perform body contouring - no surgery required. Clinical testing of Zerona as a stand-alone procedure have shown that patients treated with the system lost from 3-4 inches; however, some of my patients have lost 12 or more inches.

Donna, a recent Zerona patient, lost an amazing 12 and a half inches. “I’ve always taken care of myself. Watched what I ate, and exercised. I walk five miles a day, but even with that, I still had some areas of fat that I couldn’t get rid of. I’d heard of Zerona, and saw that The Adams Center was one of the few plastic surgeons in the area that offered it. I went through the six treatment sessions in two weeks, and the rest is history.”

Zerona utilizes a low frequency laser scanner to help liquefy fatty tissue under the skin, which then gets passed through the body during the detoxification process. Treatment takes 40 minutes and needs to be administered three times a week over a two week period for best results. Because Zerona uses a low level laser, it produces no heat, making it a very comfortable procedure without interruptions from surgery, pain, wounds or compression garments.

“The Zerona procedure was actually very pleasant,” said Laura, another Zerona patient. “I’ve always exercised. Done kickboxing and weight training for a number of years, and I walk several miles a day. But, I still had areas that I wanted to shape to help boost my results from the exercise. I went through the Zerona treatments, and by the end of the two weeks, found I had lost 15 inches. The Adams Center’s staff and atmosphere made the experience even better. Zerona was terrific, start to finish!”

Right now, Zerona is by far the best non-surgical body contouring treatment available. The rapid developments in effective non-surgical procedures to do things that used to require a surgical procedure have been amazing. The Adams Center applauds the FDA’s approval of this effective, non-surgical body contouring method.

"Liquid Facelifts" Using Sculptra

“Liquid Facelift” is a term that I’ve been hearing in the press lately.

The report I saw was based on Sculptra Aesthetic, a poly-L lactic acid filler that can be used with great results over large areas of the face. However, the term “liquid facelift” can refer to any of the filler products such as Radiesse, Restylane, Juvederm, etc. Most have specific areas of the face for which they work well.

While Sculptra is primarily designed to correct marionette lines, smile lines, and chin wrinkles, it can also be effective in the brow and other areas. Sculptra works especially well for people with thinner faces , or hollowness in the cheek area.

Sculptra requires at least three injection sessions over a few months and can last up to two years. The product works well and it truly is like sculpting. Additionally, it provides a natural, more gradual improvement in your appearance.

In many cases, we use a combination of treatments, such as Sculptra to fill in hollowness and Botox to minimize crow’s feet. We’ve also found that Sculptra may be effective when combined with surgical procedures like a traditional facelift or mini-facelift to give an enhanced result.

What’s All the Buzz About Stem Cell Facelifts?

I read an interesting article in the The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) newsletter about “Stem Cell Facelifts” that was based in part on a Sept. 13, 2010 L.A. Times article by Chris Woolston.

While the procedure may be all the rage in Hollywood, stem cell facelifts, and other similar procedures have little more than anecdotal evidence to backup their credibility.

In the procedure, stem cells are retrieved through liposuction. Then the stem cells, along with fat cells, are injected into the face. Those performing this procedure claim that the injected stem cells rejuvenate the skin with new collagen and blood vessels.

President-Elect of ASAPS, Jeffery Kenkel, MD sums up the claims of this procedure by saying; “Although stem cells certainly have potential for use in the cosmetic surgery field, some of the claims being made about the procedures that are currently being marketed as ‘stem cell face lifts’ seem far-fetched. We simply don’t know enough about the safety and efficacy of these procedures. One of the major unanswered questions is whether the stem cells actually contribute to any of the positive effects that might be observed, or whether we are simply seeing the effects of injecting fat cells into the face, which can give the face a younger look.”

While stem cells may have use in cosmetic surgery and other applications, not enough is known at this time, and the studies that have been done to date, have been limited in time and scope.

The bottom line is: view articles like this with skepticism. If there are articles that you read, or news reports that you see, and you have questions, feel free to call my offices. My staff and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Breast Augmentation to Correct Breast Asymmetry

Most people think of a breast augmentation or breast enhancement surgery only as a way to increase breast size.

However, my breast augmentation patients also come to me for help to correct breast asymmetry – differences either in size, or shape. These differences may have been present all along, or changes can occur over time and lead to asymmetry.

While many think of their options as being limited to silicone gel or saline implants, the fact is that your choices are vast. There are over 140 different choices for shape, size, style, materials used, etc.

I prefer placing the implants under the muscle to provide better cover for the implant, and to make mammography to detect breast cancer easier. Implants can still be placed through any of the traditional incisions including under the breast (inframammary), under the arm (transaxillary), or under the areola (periareolar).

Many of our patients say that a breast augmentation has helped improve their self confidence levels, and overall happiness about their bodies.

The Adams Center Periorbital Rejuvenation

Wrinkles around the eyes, also known as “laugh lines,” “crow’s feet,” or “periorbital wrinkles” are one of the most common, and early signs of aging.

You don’t need to just accept laugh lines as a foregone conclusion. The Adams Center  has non-surgical treatments  for crow’s feet that include Botox, Total FX laser , Lux 1540, and the newest additions – Skin Anti-Aging Complex nutritional supplement, and OMNILUX new-U. By selectively combining these treatments we enable you to achieve the best result.

Botox and Dysport
Botox and Dysport work by reducing the activity of the muscles that cause laugh lines. Botox is a purified form of the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It’s a safe, effective, time proven way to diminish the wrinkles around eyes, forehead, lips and neck.

TotalFX
TotalFX is the “gold standard” for overall non-surgical skin rejuvenation. Part of the UltraPulse system, the TotalFX laser includes both the broad area ActiveFX laser, and the DeepFX laser.

Lux1540
The Lux1540 is a non-ablative laser that heats the layers of skin to cause collagen regeneration during the skin's natural healing process to create healthy new tissue, rejuvenate skin, and reduce wrinkles.

Skin Anti-Aging Complex
Skin Anti-Aging Complex is a uniquely formulated dietary supplement that defends your skin against premature aging, from the inside out. AstraREAL® Astaxanthin (an extremely powerful antioxidant), and other vitamins and botanicals provide outstanding nutritional support for skin health to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while improving the moisture levels, and elasticity of your skin.

OMNILUX new-U
OMNILUX new-U is the only FDA approved hand-held light therapy device that allows you to minimize crow’s feet. The light frequency used in new-U stimulates collagen production, increases blood flow to the cells, helps increase tissue oxygenation, and detoxification procedures.

The staff and I select the right combination for you to achieve the best result in the appearance of the area around the eye.

Don't Believe the Hype About Botox Breast Lifts

Recently, there have been several stories in the media discussing a “Botox Breast Lift.” This non-surgical procedure is highly speculative, and has offered incredibly mixed results for the patients who have undergone this treatment.

Botox works in preventing wrinkles by weakening the muscle that has created the wrinkle in the first place. The principle here is similar. Essentially, Botox is used to weaken the pectoralis minor muscle (one of your chest muscles), which pulls the breast down. This causes the rhomboid muscle (a muscle at the top of your back) to pull up your back slightly, potentially giving the appearance of lifting your breasts, and also putting more pressure on your back.

The procedure requires three injections on each breast, and proponents say that it lasts approximately 10 - 12 weeks. However, injecting Botox into the chest muscles is not only dangerous, but your chest muscles will most likely be unusable for up to six months. Furthermore, the major issue with sagging of the breast is skin and glandular, not muscular.

“Off label,” non-FDA approved practices such as this are not recommended, and unacceptable to most in the plastic surgery community, and to Allergan, the company that produces Botox.

If you, or anyone you know, is considering a breast lift, warn them to stay away from this potentially harmful procedure, and stick with the proven surgical methods available. While they may cost more money, the results last longer, and the danger is lessened when a qualified surgeon performs the procedure.

Melanoma on the Rise, but Preventable

I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal on the rising instances of Melanoma, which is the most serious form of skin cancer. Since we’re heading into the summer months, I wanted to share some of the pertinent parts of the article.

While cancer rates for many forms of the disease are falling, melanoma rates are actually rising. In fact it’s now the most common form of cancer for adults 25 to 29 years of age.

Although only 3% of all skin cancers are Melanoma, this type of cancer causes over 75% of deaths from the disease. However, there is good news. If a tumor is caught before it actually penetrates the outer layer of the skin, the survival rate is about 99%. As you can see, early diagnosis and treatment are critical.

Dr. Darrell Rigel, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center has identified 6 factors (using data from 300 patients with the disease and 300 control patients) that can help predict melanoma risk. These include:

• Blistering sunburns as a teenager
• Outdoor jobs for 3+ years as a teen
• Red or blond hair
• Marked freckling on the upper back
• A family history of melanoma
• A history of “actinic keratoses” – are dry, scaly, lesions that are an early stage of skin cancer

Two or more of these risk factors increases your risk of melanoma 5 - 10 times over the general population’s.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends checking moles using a tool dubbed the ABCDEs of melanoma:

• Asymmetry - one half is unlike the other half
• Border - irregular, scalloped or poorly defined
• Color - varies from one area to another
• Diameter - size of a pencil eraser or larger
• Evolving - changes in size, shape or color over time

If you think you have any of these signs, contact your primary care physician, or your dermatologist. They’ll be able to accurately diagnose and treat any skin cancer related issues. And, remember, sunblock is a necessity during the summer months.

Are Dark Circles Under your Eyes Making you Look Older

I’m only 40, and my eyes look like my grandmother’s! What can I do?

Non-surgical treatments can be amazing for many areas, but the eyes are one area of the face where results without surgery like blepharoplasty are minimal in more advanced cases for baggy eyelid skin, or dark circles.

Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Dark circles under the eyes can be their own special joy. While many products say they work to correct dark circles, this is only true in limited situations. The causes for dark circles under the eyes are actually quite varied. These include diet, heredity, dehydration, a loss firmness in soft tissue structures, and a decrease in bone mass of the bone under the eye.

Eye Creams
The staff and I are often asked for recommendations on a great eye cream. While a high quality eye cream such as iS Clinical’s Eye Complex, our Firming Eye Cream, or Obagi Elastiderm Eye Cream can be great for correcting puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles, and in some cases, even minimizing dark circles depending on the cause, most are not. I have yet to come across a store bought formula that works well for dark circles under the eyes.

A Treatment the Works
While a blepharoplasty is one of the single best treatments for saggy eyelids, a blepharoplasty alone may not be enough to correct dark circles under the eyes. A total eyelid rejuvenation may be the best way to completely revitalize the areas around your eyes.

This three-step approach blends laser blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), Arcus Marginalis Release, fat grafting, or Tear Trough Implants (depending on the exact cause of the dark circles), and a TotalFX treatment to totally revitalize the areas around your eyes. I’ll sometimes start patients with Obagi’s Elastiderm Eye cream to help lighten the pigment that accents the dark circle prior to surgery for superior results.

Latisse Works for Long, Luscious Lashes

Latisse is the only prescription treatment approved by the FDA for inadequate or not having enough eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker. Patients in a clinical trial noticed results in as few as 8 weeks, and full results within 12 to 16 weeks.

Latisse is a once-a-day treatment you applied to your upper eyelashes. It works gradually from the inside out by increasing the amount of hairs in growth phase, and the duration of, the growth phase. Patients in a clinical trial saw results in as few as 8 weeks with full results after 12 to 16 weeks.

Latisse works gradually from the inside out. Once you begin treatment, you must continue applying the topical solution each night and follow the directions for best results.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

Study Shows Women Are More Prone to Facial Wrinkles

A study by a team of plastic surgeons from the Netherlands, that was published in a recent issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal suggests that differences in the skin around the mouth (the perioral area) account for more, and deeper skin wrinkling in women than in men.

The study’s goal was to 1) determine whether or not women wrinkle earlier and more severely than men, and 2) to develop better strategies for the treatment of facial wrinkles.

The study found several contributing factors for more perioral wrinkles in women:

• Women have fewer sweat glands and sebaceous glands than men, which influences the natural filling of potential wrinkles
• The skin around a woman’s mouth contains fewer blood vessels than men, which may speed wrinkle development
• Women have tighter muscle to skin attachment around the mouth then men. This may cause more of an inward pull to create deeper wrinkles

Current treatments for perioral wrinkles include the use of ActiveFX and DeepFX lasers, Botox, and injectable wrinkle fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, and other methods such as Dermabrasion, and chemical peels.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field. 

Minimize Holiday Stress

The holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the year for many Americans. Whether it’s family dynamic pressures, or self imposed pressures of cooking a meal, or feeling like everything needs to be just so, the holidays can be tough.

Don’t fear, we have a few simple tips and techniques to help not just get you through, but to make sure you “live, thrive, and survive.” So, don’t dread the holidays, embrace them!

1. Smile - Research shows that when we turn that frown upside down we actually release endorphins that help change our mood and make us happier. Smiling is universal, and studies have shown that it’s used to communicate emotions worldwide.
2. Make time for yourself - Get a facial, a massage, a manicure, or whatever your personal “me time” may be, take the time for yourself, and do it!
3. Keep exercising - At the very least take a brisk walk every day to clear your thoughts, and get you blood pumping. This will not only release endorphins that give you that “runner’s high,” but will also help you feel less guilty about any extra calories you may be eating during the season.
4. Set realistic goals - Baking cookies for the entire neighborhood is not necessary.
5. Keep a list and prioritize – We can’t do everything all at once. It’s true at work, and it’s true for home and holiday planning as well. Make a list of all of the things that need to get done. Be realistic, and prioritize them using “A” for the most important (buying the turkey for instance), “B” for the next most important (buying your mom’s favorite condiment), and “C” for the less important things (ironing the curtains). You’ll shoot for doing all of the A’s, and most of the B’s, but you’re not going to stress out when you don’t get to the C’s.
6. Accept what is - Be compassionate and accept family members without internalizing criticism. Realize that they may be stressed too, and criticize as a defense against their own stress. Remember, you can't change people; you can only change how you react to them.
7. Make good choices - Make good choices regarding alcohol and high calorie foods.
8. Enjoy - Relax and have fun no matter what occurs!

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.