Plastic Surgery - The new Botox (R)?

There may be a “new” Botox(R) on the market soon.

With its popularity unquestioned, Botox(R) may have a new French challenger. The drug is called Azzalure and it was developed by French drug maker Ipsen.

A few weeks ago, it was approved in Britain for use on the glabellar crease – those deep frown lines between your eyebrows. For years the drug has been sold as Dysport and used to treat spasms.

Like Botox(R), it is produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. Azzalure has been approved by health authorities in 15 European countries.

In the U.S., Ipsen has granted Medici Pharmaceutical the rights to market the drug for cosmetic use under the name Reloxin.

The FDA is reviewing their application. Their decision was due April 13^th – keep your fingers crossed.

Competition is good – it leads to lower prices.

Of course, for more and more current information about Botox, Azzalure or any filler, contact Dr. Brueck at 239-939-5233. For more information about Dr. Brueck, his practice and his specialties, stop by his web site at Beauty-by-Brueck.com.

Plastic Surgery - Fort Myers plastic surgeon performs innovative “short scar” breast lift surgery.

From local news coverage -

Fort Myers, FL – April 20, 2009 - Dr. Robert J. Brueck, MD FACS, a Board Certified, Fellowship Trained plastic surgeon, recently completed an unusual new breast lift (or mastapexy) procedure in his Fort Myers, FL surgical center. Dr. Brueck discusses the procedure in detail at http://DrBruecksblog.blogspot.com. His web site is at http://www.BeautybyBrueck.com

According to Dr. Brueck, “the customary procedure for correcting sagging breasts, resulting from post-childbirth nursing, leaves behind a scar on the under side of the breast, extending from the ariola to the point where the breast meets the chest wall, and then horizontally along the fold at that point. This is called an anchor type of mastapexy. It often left behind a scar that was often thick and unsightly.

“The new short scar procedure provides the same end result with a much shorter scar that is much less apparent. The medical term for the condition that this surgical technique corrects is ptosis. After a mother has gone through pregnancy and nursing a newborn, the breasts can become attenuated and acquire a noticeable sag. It’s almost like someone letting the air out of tire.

“While the procedure is cosmetic in nature, in this instance it is not indicated by normal aging and softening of breast tissue; it is the result of pregnancy and nursing stretching the skin beyond the amount breast tissue in place to fill it. It can occur in relatively young women. When that is the case, I consider it primarily corrective surgery in that it reverses an unnecessary, but normal process.”

The patient was a 33-year-old mother who gave birth approximately two years ago. After the procedure was completed the woman’s breast returned to the firmness and fullness that was part of her previous appearance. She said, “I feel much more confident in how I look now. It’s much easier to find clothes that fit right. I would recommend this to any woman in similar circumstances.” The surgery was performed at Dr. Brueck’s surgical suite at 3700 Central Ave., Fort Myers, FL

Before and After Photos are available on Dr. Brueck's website, http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com

Dr. Brueck also has innovated with minimally intrusive face lift procedures, called “LunchTime Lifts” because they can be performed in the hour available at lunch, and require fewer than two days for recovery.

Plastic Surgery - Who is having what done?

COSMETIC STATISTICS 2008

- Over 10.2 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed.

- Surgical Procedures 2008:

Breast augmentation (355,671)

Liposuction (341,144)

Eyelid Surgery (195,104)

Rhinoplasty (152, 434)

Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck (147,392)

- Non-Surgical Procedure:

Botox (2,464,123)

Laser Hair Removal (1,280,964)

Fillers (1,262,848)

Chemical Peel (591,808)

Laser Resurfacing (570,880)

Women had 92% of cosmetic procedures. The total number was 9.3 million which represented a decrease of 11% from the year before. Men had 8% or about 800,000 procedures. There was a 21% decrease from the year before.

It looks like the economy may be having an effect. But financing is available. And discounts are plentiful. Ask me about your options at 239-939-5233

Plastic Surgery - Dr. Brueck joins the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce

In an effort to reach out to members of the Fort Myers community and acknowledge his local roots, Dr. Robert J. Brueck, MD, Board Certified plastic surgeon, has joined the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Brueck has practiced plastic surgery for nearly 30 years, during which time he has been recognized several times for his professional and community activities.

Dr. Brueck has been named one of the Top Plastic Surgeons in Southwest Florida by Gulfshore Life magazine, in conjunction with Castle Connelly LLC, a peer rating service to the medical field, for five years in a row, most recently 2008.

He also was instrumental in the founding and operation of Paint Your Heart Out Lee County, a public service effort that provided free paint, and volunteers to apply it, to homeowners in buildings in blighted neighborhoods.

In addition, he has conducted numerous medical missions to impoverished Caribbean Islands. Last year, he undertook a medical mission to Siberia, where he comforted and counseled individuals and families in remote towns that did not have even routine medical care.

“I see this as an opportunity to become more involved in the community that has added so much to my life and experience,” Dr. Brueck said. “Of all my activities, the ones where disadvantaged people are given hope and encouragement to go one and make more satisfying lives are the things that have rewarded me the most.”

Dr. Brueck's state of the art surgical facility is located in his office at 3700 Central Avenue, Fort Myers 33907. He also has an office in Cape Coral for the convenience of patients living in Cape coral and North Fort Myers.

If you are considering plastic surgery of any kind, please contact Dr. Brueck for a free private consultation by calling 239-939-5233.

You may also reach him through his Web site at Beauty-by-Brueck.

Plastic Surgery - Stem cells for facial rejuventation?

There has been much news lately about stem cells and stem cell research.

A hospital in China – yes, the China of both the Great Wall and the drywall fame – is now offering stem cell therapy for facial wrinkles. The hospital offering this “unique” therapy is Beijing Tiantan Puhua Hospital. The cost is US$4,000 and the stem cells are derived from fat taken during liposuction.

The stem cells are segregated – grown – and then re-injected. The stem cells require 2 weeks to grow and then are injected into the face to give it a more youthful appearance.

For an additional fee of $200/year they will store your stem cells for up to 15 years. So if you are aging like fried rice and want to travel, this may be just what the Chinese doctor ordered.

Brought to you by Dr. Robert J. Brueck, whose major Web site at http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com discusses many techniques of facial rejuvenation. Visit any time.

Plastic Surgery - New Technique - Short Scar Breast Lifts

Breast enhancement is one of the most common procedures in plastic surgery.

Many times, after multiple pregnancies, a woman’s breasts have become smaller and ptotic, or “saggy”. After pregnancy and nursing, most women will suffer from post partum involution or shrinking of breast volume. It is sort of like someone letting the air out of a tire.

As long as the nipple stays above the intra mammary fold (the point where the breast meets the chest wall) the breast is not truly ptotic. It may “look” ptotic or like it is sagging; which is called pseudo ptosis.

Only if the nipple actually falls below the intra mammary fold is the breast truly ptotic. If this drop, or sagging, is significant, then one needs to perform a mastopexy or breast lift.

To put it simply, the amount of skin is greater than the amount of breast tissue. This results in ptosis. If the nipple is minimally ptotic, in other words, 1 centimeter or so, sometimes placement of an implant will take care of this. If the ptosis is more significant (more than 2 centimeters) one needs to have a mastopexy.

One of the more common types of mastopexy is the “anchor” type. It involves a scar around the nipple areola complex, from the six o’clock position of the areola to the intra mammary fold and then transversally along the intra mammary fold.

This incision along the intra mammary fold is not always a hairline scar. In most cases, it is rather thick and unsightly.

We now have a new procedure, a short scar mastopexy, which almost totally eliminates the intra mammary scar. We are excited to offer this new procedure to our patients.

For an example of this surgery as recently used by me for a Fort Myers patient, visit the before and after mastopexy page on my Web site.

CAUTION: If You are under 18 or offended by nudity, please do not visit this page.

If the problem is ptosis and hypo plasia then this can be combined with a breast augmentation as well.

To determine if you are a candidate for this type of mastopexy (breast lift), contact my office at 239-939-5233 and arrange a free, personal and confidential consultation.

Ask about my special Spring discount, with savings up to 35%.

Have a glorious Spring and Summer!