Thursday, November 29, 2007

"QuickLift" is now in Fort Myers

Well you may have heard about it - waited for it - and now it’s here.

I am talking about the new “Quicklift”

I recently attended a meeting in Pittsburgh concerning the “Quicklift”.

We are inundated with reports about new creams, fillers, laser, procedures. So many are nothing more than market hype and really are no improvement over what we do.

So I decided to invest a small fortune to travel North to Pittsburgh to do my own investigation of the "Quicklift".

I was convinced!!

It really does allow for a shorter OR time and quickens recovery. In fact I returned on Sunday and did one the next day. The patient came back the next day, Tuesday, and I was pleasantly impressed that she looked so good.

With a small amount of makeup she really could have gone out to dinner that night.

I will soon be hitting the airways to promote the “Quicklift.”

Call now at 239-939-5233 to set up an appointment.

If you mention you read about "Quicklift" in this E-newsletter - blogsite, I will give you a 25% discount off the cost of the procedure.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

More will follow.

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Monday, November 12, 2007

What is Board Certification? Why should you care?

Thoughts on cosmetic surgery by Dr. Robert J. Brueck -

Unfortunately, it is rare that someone these days asks me if I am Board Certified. I got asked that question more frequently 20 years ago. Yet, today we live in a “buyer beware" market.

When I came to Fort Myers 28 years ago, there were four plastic surgeons. Now if you look in the telephone directory, there are maybe 60 or more surgeons. Most are NOT plastic surgeons – they are general surgeons, ophthalmologists, ENT, dermatologists, etc.

In the Yellow Pages, if you want to pay to be listed, they are more than happy to take your money. It matters not to them how qualified a doctor is.

What does it take to be Board Certified?

To be Board Certified in plastic surgery one has to complete four to five years of general surgery training followed by two to three years of training specifically in plastic surgery.

If you trained at an approved program you become “board eligible”.

Many times plastic surgeons will do fellowship training. This is time spent “ultra-specializing” in a particular part of plastic surgery. I did a fellowship in cosmetic surgery since it has always been my first love. Some plastic surgeons will do fellowships in burn therapy or hand surgery.

Written And Oral Exams

Once you have completed your residency and/or fellowship, you first must take an all-day written examination from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. (Yes, you get a lunch break.)

If you successfully complete your written exam then you become eligible for the oral exam. This process usually takes two to three years of private practice. During this time, you have to compile a complete listing of all your cases, which you submit to the Board of Plastic Surgery for its review. These are submitted before your exam and the Board will select certain cases for you to present and/or discuss.

These oral exams are conducted before two other Board Certified plastic surgeons. They will question you on your particular cases or on the whole gamut of plastic surgery. You must take two to three oral exams during the course of the day.

Once all the oral exams have been completed, the Board then goes into seclusion to discuss the results of all the examinees that day and you either pass or fail. If you pass, you are now Board Certified.

Quite an ordeal!

It is certainly more demanding than a weekend course on face lifts or liposuction. That is why, more than ever, you need to be cautious. With the proliferation of Medi-Spas, I am always amused when the doctor gives his or her name followed by the words, “Board Certified Physician.”

Surely, if he or she was Board Certified in plastic surgery, they would say so. Maybe they are Board Certified in podiatry, general surgery, ophthalmology – all important disciplines, but that is not the same as Board Certification in Plastic Surgery. A Board Certified plastic surgeon should be able to discuss all the options available to you as a patient, not just some.

Food for thought as you consider cosmetic surgery and who should perform it for you.

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Thursday, November 1, 2007

Liquid Facelift

It’s here!

No, this is not a face lift in a bottle but a facelift that is done with no anesthesia and we only use liquids, i.e. Juvederm, Botox and peeling solution.

If you want to get refreshed before the upcoming holiday season this may be just the right thing. There is minimal downtime.

The “LIQUID FACELIFT” consists of injecting Botox to soften severe creases, lines or wrinkles. Unwanted depressions or folds are plumped up with Juvederm or some soft tissue filler. It is then topped with an intermediate depth TCA peel., the Obagi Blue Peel.

(Yes, you will look blue and just like a smurf. We can even take your picture to include in your Christmas cards. Won’t that be fun?)

When the interim effects disappear, you will have a fresher, more youthful look to share with all your friends at holiday parties and soirees.

Call the MediSpa at 239-768-3403 to schedule an appointment for consultation. Get a head start on your holiday events.

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