Happy New Year to everybody.  In the upcoming year, our website will be expanded to include more educational material, an expanded patient section with more online resources and a before and after gallery.  So, check back often and if you have any suggestions, please email at drjpierce@desertplasticsurgery.

The proposed 5% tax on cosmetic surgery and cosmetic procedures has been removed from the current healthcare reform bill.  Thank all of you who contacted your representatives.

I just did a short interview for bizymoms.com on the topic of abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).  Click on the link below to read the interview.  I will also post it on the website under the procedures section.

http://bizymoms.com/scottsdale/surgery/tummy-tuck-scottsdale.php

As many of you have heard, congress has proposed a 5% tax on all cosmetic surgery and procedures.  This has been introduced to help pay for the proposed health care reform.  This is a discriminatory tax aimed at the middle class (60% of people who have cosmetic surgery/procedures are considered middle class) and women.  It would be very difficult to enforce and places physicians in the roll of tax collector.  I urge all of you to contact your representatives and oppose this legislation.  You can find your elected representative by clicking here: 

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

After the loss of both of our aestheticians, we wanted to continue to provide a high quality skin care line that would be easy to use and simple.  After a lot of research, we have decided to carry the Dermesse skin care line.  Visit their site at www.dermesse.com.  I will post more information in the next few months as we get feedback from our patients.

We have been using Sculptra in our office for several years.  It was FDA approved for HIV facial atrophy but was used “off label” for cosmetic applications.  Below is the first paragraph of their press release.  I can forward the whole release if anyone is interested.  Just email me.

Sanofi-aventis U.S. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved SculptraŽAesthetic (injectable poly-L-lactic acid) for the correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold (smile lines) contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles which are treated with the appropriate injection technique in healthy patients.

SculptraŽAesthetic works gradually to offer natural-looking results that can last up to two years.

We are happy to announce that Artefill has been re-released.  The product was not available after the company that distributed it, Artes Medical, filed for bankrupsy.  The product has be bought by Suneva Medical and is once again available.  Artefill is a long lasting filler that we used for several years.  We had excellent results and we are glad to offer it as another tool for facial rejuvenation.  For more information, call to make an appointment or visit their website at www.artefill.com.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has launched a new breast reconstruction campaign.  According to their statistics, nearly 70% of women who are eligible for breast reconstruction, are not informed of their reconstructive options.  A large part of our practice involves breast reconstruction and I was suprised that many patients are not aware of their choices regarding reconstruction.  Click here to view the article and video.  The field of breast reconstruction is constantly changing and improving and every woman should have the option to make her own choice.

Lip enhancement is usually performed with dermal fillers such as Juvederm.  While the results are excellent with a high rate of satisfaction, the product usually only lasts around 6 months.  The FDA has approved a new silicone lip implant produced by SurgiSil.  We have placed this new implant in two patients and the initial results have been excellent with natural results.  We will be adding information to our procedures page soon.  Call us for more information or visit SurgiSil’s webite at http://www.surgisil.com/us/index.html.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is sponsoring an ad campaign about lawnmower safety.  Many injuries are seen by plastic surgeons and most can be prevented. Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Media/Press_Releases/When_Lawn_Mowers_Attack.html