Friday, June 29, 2012

Mac users pay more - Orbitz


The Wall Street Journal today (Tues 6/26) had an article on the front page that caught my attention.  The title was “On Orbitz, Mac users steered to pricier Hotels.”  

Orbitz, through their information gathering machine, found that Mac users on average will spend $20-$30 more on hotels than their PC counterparts.  

Mac users are 40% more likely to book a 4 to 5 star hotel than PC users.  

We now live in a world of number-crunching and data-collecting.  This is commonly referred to the science of predictive analytics – now why wasn’t that offered to me when I went to college.  

It’s a brave new world. To me it’s not reassuring or comforting. Our privacy has long been stripped from us.  But, as your plastic surgeon in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, I can assure you that your personal information is secure with me and my staff..

Botox may help night-time teeth grinding


New studies have determined that Botox(R), the drug commonly used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, can also help those who suffer from nighttime teeth grinding, also known as "nocturnal bruxism".

MyHealthNewsDaily.com reports that University of Texas Health Science Center researchers in Houston tested the efficacy of using Botox injections to treat nocturnal bruxism, with results that Botox (vs. a placebo injection) reduced nighttime teeth grinding four weeks after the Botox injections were administered. The only side effect reported was a slight change in appearance for some people when smiling. A separate study was conducted at the Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit, according to MedicalXPress.com. It indicated that patients who experienced severe bruxism following head injuries, benefited from Botox injections, with no side effects, .

Nocturnal teeth grinding is one of the most common sleep disorders. It affects 30 to 40 million Americans. Many people don't know they have the condition until it is mentioned by their partner or a dentist. Nocturnal bruxism can damage the teeth, and has been associated with headaches and pain in the jaw area, according to 
DeltaSleepLabs.com
Experts believe studies on a  larger scale are needed to determine if Botox is truly effective in treating teeth grinding.

The wrinkle-reducing injectable has been approved for other non-cosmetic uses as well. According to BotoxMedical.com, Botox is also commonly used to treat urinary incontinence, chronic headaches, muscle stiffness, cervical dystonia and eye problems including muscle problems with the eyes (strabismus) or abnormal spasm of the eyelids (blepharospasm). Scientists are also currently testing Botox's efficacy in treating other conditions such as asthma.

The drug, however, is most commonly used to treat crow's feet, laugh lines and other wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the muscles. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Botox was the most commonly performed non-cosmetic surgical procedure in 2011, with more than 2.6 million individuals undergoing it.

While Botox often provides positive cosmetic results with few side effects, its effects are not permanent and injections need to be repeated every three to six months for the best results.

If you are interested in the procedure, please contact Dr. Brueck in Fort Myers or Cape Coral about safety and a positive outcome. 

Thursday, June 28, 2012

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF ABDOMINAL LIPOSUCTION


Abdominal liposuction is very popular, however, abdominal liposuction may cause an increase in visceral fat or fat found inside your abdomen.  

An article that appeared in the July 2012 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism studied 36 women who had small volume abdominal liposuction.

Half of the women 2 months post-op engaged in an exercise regimen and they were found to NOT have an increase in their visceral fat.  

This is good news because it is the visceral fat that is associated with heart disease.

It's the kind of information I am exposed to in my reading of medical literature, as I practice plastic surgery in Fort Myers/Cape Coral, Florida

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

SKIN CANCER LINK TO CHILDHOOD ABUSE


As a plastic surgeon practicing in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida, I must review a lot of medical literature. That led me to an article appearing in Archives of General Psychiatry quoting a study saying people who experienced parental abuse or neglect as children were at a much higher risk of developing skin cancer when they face stressful moments in their lives.  

This was due to a decrease in their body’s immune response to skin cancers.  

The greater the immune response, the fewer incidents of skin cancer.  This clearly is an example of how early childhood neglect or abuse can effect one’s life in later years.


Monday, June 25, 2012

MEASURING TROPONIN T - An important indicator


Troponin T is a protein molecule that binds to tropomyosin.  It is measured in patients who have heart attacks-the higher the level the more damage to the heart.

A new study in JAMA(Journal of American Medical Association) showed that measuring troponin T levels after NON cardiac surgery may show which patients are at a high risk of dying with the first month of their surgery.  

So the study concluded that perhaps measuring troponin T after one’s surgery may be a tip off that there may be cardiac damage and the patient needs to be monitored more carefully or further studies may be needed.

As a Fort Myers plastic surgeon, I find this encouraging news.

Friday, June 22, 2012

NSAID and Skin Cancer


NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. So if you use aspirin, you are using a non-steroidal drug, probably to reduce inflammation. Most of us, including this Cape Coral plastic surgeon, do

Now, an article appearing in the journal “Cancer” shows nsaids may decrease the risk of developing malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma.  The study was huge and was done in Denmark.  They compared people's incidence of these 2 types of skin cancer and whether or not those are people who filled more than two scripts for nsaids. Those who did showed a 15% decrease in squamous cell skin cancer and a 13% decrease in melanoma.  

The mechanism is not fully understood.  The nsaids target a certain enzyme also seen in these skin cancers.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Male facial plastic surgery

For most of their history, face lifts and injected fillers were presumed to be something women had done. Well, the times they are a-changin'.


From Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, comes a report that more and more men are getting Botox injections to revitalize their appearance. They even coined the term "Brotox". According to the story, "There are men in D/FW who are walking around with a big secret –– for them, it’s key to staying successful and fresh in today’s highly competitive job market." They say looking good is part of what keeps business growing.


Businessman Don Pelham (not pictured) said, “I usually get guessed for much younger than my age.” At 47, Pelham said it’s harder to stay fresh in a highly competitive field. “It was like I was 26 one day, and then I woke up and I was in my 40s.”


Pelham turned to Texas plastic surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Adelglass MD. A treatment usually reserved for  women was applied to Pelham's case. He had several treatments of Botox and fillers around his face to make him look like he used to look when he was younger.  And, he’s not alone.


In my practice as a Board Certified plastic Surgeon in Fort Myers, FL, I see older men turning to cosmetic procedures to help them compete with younger job-seekers. If a man looks older, he looks tired. In this highly competitive job market, employers want workers who are energetic, get-up-and-get-at-it people.


Whether we like it or not, that first impression can make the difference when it comes to getting the job or winning the new account. In my practice, I have long provided eyelid surgery for men, mostly associated with medical conditions where drooping eyelids can interfere with peripheral vision. Now, I am seeing men who want facial fillers injected, and chin lifts to eliminate the "turkey-gobbler" look.


It's a case of "confidence". If you feel younger when you look in the mirror, you have confidence in yourself and you can get anything done. Of course, there can be some stigma attached for men. But, when you think about it, men "work out" all the time to look better. So why should maintaining your looks through cosmetic procedures be any different. In the end, if it helps you get a job or a promotion that other men miss out on, isn't that the point?


Monday, June 18, 2012

How "Hot" is this?

Talk show host, Bethenny Frankel, discusses the affect of breast implants on her sexual experience. The link references an article and and video from the MailOnlinePLEASE NOTE: This conversation is very graphic and may be unsuitable for children.

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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Does Board Certification matter in plastic surgery


I always felt that board certification mattered.  It sets a standard – a baseline which is better than none alone.  

I recently read some comments by Tom Seery founder of RealSelf.com.  He made a controversial decision years ago to remove 3,000 doctors from his website because they were not board certified.  Real Self has analyzed tens of thousands of self-reported consumer reviews that were posted on their website.  The satisfaction rate was 15% higher when people went to a board certified physician.  For example, Botox injections has a 27% higher satisfaction rate when performed by a board certified physician.  So maybe board certification truly means something and it’s a simple question to ask – are you board certified and – this is important – certified by which board. 

I saw a patient the other day who came back for a re-consult.  Not unusual, but when we started reviewing what we had discussed during her first consultation she told me the other plastic surgery (E.N.T.) she saw said she wouldn’t be happy with just a necklift but said she needed a coronal lift.  

(I always encourage patients to get a second opinion. This will give them the confidence they need to know they’ve done their research and are ready to go forward. The negative about seeing 3 or 4 different doctors is you may get different opinions from each. This can cloud one’s decision making.)

Getting back to my patient above.  I said I understood where the other doctor was coming from – she does have a slight asymmetry to her eyebrows/eyelids, but it is minimal.  She has a nice fold to her upper lid and I think she looks fine.  She was so relieved.  

I never try to oversell procedures to my patients.  If someone comes in for a face lift, I don’t tell them their nose is too big or their hips are too wide.  I’m here to serve them and meet their needs – not mine. 

I said to my patient what the other doctor said was his honest opinion.  There are no right or wrong answers though sometimes there are different opinions.  His comments were legitimate but my patient was somewhat befuddled on where to go.  I explained some options for her and she decided to go forward with me doing just the neck lift.  

In all my years of practice as a Southwest Florida plastic surgeon, I have always maintained a very simple philosophy – total honesty and treating my patients like my family. 

Friday, June 15, 2012

What happens in Hollywood, doesn't stay there.

I guess it is always “cool” to know what’s going on in “tinsel town”.  According to Dr. Paul Nassif, a well known Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, two procedures are really popular now – temple fillers and the “Vampire” facelift.  This latter is a non-surgical procedure utilizing the patients own blood plasma.

In the Southeast, breast augmentation is popular and the now famous Brazilian Butt Lift.  This is basically a beautification of the buttocks through fat grafting or the use of implants.  It is pretty popular on the east coast.

Another procedure that has gained fame and popularity is the “Mommy makeover" which usually involves a breast augmentation and tummy tuck.  This is popular here in Southwest Florida.  RealSelf.com conducted a poll and saw patients self-esteem soar – self-confidence and attractiveness soared as well.  Many women even said their sex life and satisfaction was improved also.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

TANNING BEDS : Invitation to skin cancer

As a Florida plastic surgeon, I am very concerned with skin cancer. 

It seems the explosive rise in skin cancer can be directly related to the popularity of tanning salons.  These tanning salons came into vogue in the late 70’s.  

According to the latest statistics, patients who tan indoors are 74% more likely to develop melanoma, 2 ½ times more likely to develop squamous cell and 1 ½ more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.  

Who are these “tanners”?  It seems that over 70% of them are girls and women aged 16-29.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

LIPOSUCTION AND BODY FAT DISTRIBUTION

 This was an interesting study done in Sao Paulo, Brazil involving 36 healthy women.  The patients underwent a small volume liposuction procedure.  Even though the abdominal fat was decreased, the patients visceral fat was increased 10%, however there was no increase in abdominal fat.  This increased visceral fat could readily be removed with exercise. Something to think about as you consider liposuction in Florida.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Living Longer - It's possible

By now, everyone has heard about the effects of calorie restriction on longevity.  


It’s simple - wire your teeth shut - consume less - and live longer.  


There is a drug called Ropaniyium.  It is an immuno suppressive drug.  


Scientist at the Whitehead Institute and the University of Pennsylvania have been able to modify the campaign molecule to promote longevity in mice.  In previous studies it was shown that restricting calories by 20-40% but maintaining proper nutrition causes lab animals to live longer.  


Ropaniyium mimics this calorie restriction in mice.  So, who knows, someday you might be able to buy, say, 40 mgs of Ropaniyium and live an extra 6 months.  


Time will tell.


In the meantime, if you are going to live longer, it's a good time to think about how you will look in those extra years. You can arrange a free consultation with me now in my Fort Myers plastic surgery facility and we can discuss your options.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

FLORIDA BANS LIPOSUCTION IN UNREGULATED OFFICES

This April, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a law that will take effect January 2013.  From 2013 on, any liposuction involving removal of more than 1000 grams (2 pounds) must be done in a licensed surgical office equipped with life saving equipment and a doctor trained in advance cardiac life support. 

As a Board Certified
plastic surgeon in Fort Myers, FL, I hope non-plastic surgeons will give up doing lipsuction – enhancing patient safety.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Zinc & the Common Cold

Have we all have heard about the beneficial effects of zinc on the common cold?

A study published in the Canadian Medical Associates Journal shows oral zinc can lessen the effects of the common cold by from one to six days. However, many people experienced nausea.  Moreover, the zinc did not lessen the severity of the coughing, sneezing and congestion.  The study found that the best preparation of zinc was zinc acetate.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Antibiotics to Cure Cancer

Cancer cures vary - from surgery or radiation therapy to toxic chemotherapy,


Now, a new cure is rising on the horizon.  


Someday we may take an antibiotic as a cure.


A team of researchers at the Unniversity of Ottawa have discovered how our bodies adapt to low oxygen environments.  Their findings were published in Nature.  


When oxygen is present, cells make protein, but how do they adapt to low oxygen?  Apparently there is a trigger or gene that regulates protein synthesis in low oxygen environments.  This gene explains why people living at high altitudes can function normally or near normal. 


Cancer cells utilize this same protein synthesis pattern in low oxygen environments.  So if cancer cells use this same pathway to produce protein in low oxygen conditions, it is conceivable to someday develop a pill - or antibiotic - that could conceivably shut down this pathway to produce essential proteins hence leading to the death of the cancer cells.  This sane approach could be used to develop drugs to improve the outcomes of people who suffer strokes or heart attacks.  


This is a novel approach to treating cancer because researchers may produce a pill or antibiotic that would cut off the protein-making ability of cancer cells, leading to their deaths.  Dr. Stephen Lee - the head researcher - said work is being conducted now to develop a drug.


All of us medicine, including this Fort Myers, Florida plastic surgeon, pray for this development t  come quickly.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Patient is Thrilled with MiraDry




A review came in from a patient who suffered from hyperhidrosis, also known as excessive underarm sweating. She is a 19-year old who has had the problem for seven years. After trying everything on the market, nothing would reduce the amount of sweat she was producing. She wrote that she always kept another shirt in her bag because she knew she would have to change her clothes after sitting in an air conditioned room watching T.V...that's how bad it was. She contacted me and we agreed that the MiraDry procedure should help her.

She wrote, "I hope to encourage others to speak up about their problem with hyperhidrosis, and hopefully contact a doctor who supplies MiraDry, it is the best investment you can make.

" I have posted this "testimonial" to my website (http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com,) where you can read it in full. It closed with this statement: "If you have the opportunity to make your appointment with Dr. Brueck, jump at it. Dr. Brueck and his staff were so compassionate and his nurses stood by my side throughout the entire procedure and kept making sure I was at ease and comfortable... After my procedure, Dr. Brueck personally called me to see how I was doing and if I was to have any questions that I was to call him directly."

It is always gratifying to hear from patients who have had positive experiences. If you are included in that category, here is a web address to post your comments. http://www.realself.com/dr/58570/review. They will be appreciated, of course,. Thank you.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Predisposed to Alzheimers?

There are several conditions that many people suffer from in the middle age that can predispose one to dementia or Alzheimer’s.


Recently, as a practicing plastic surgeon in Florida, I came across an article about some California researchers who found that people who had chronic depression throughout their lives were at an increased risk for dementia/Alzheimer's.  In fact, this chronic depression maybe the early onset of Alzheimer’s.


Also people with more belly fat in middle age have a higher risk of dementia.  Even if your total weight was normal but you had more belly fat your risks went up.

People who smoked in middle age had an increased risk.  People doubled their risk of Alzheimers if they smoked 2 packs/day or more. 

Also people with high cholesterol in middle age increased their risk as well.


I guess good, clean living may have some benefits after all.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Melting Fat

A new kid on the block, Kythera’s ATX-101, sounds like a new space star wars game.  It is actually an experimental product injected into the submental fat to help melt it away.  It is a proprietary formulation of deoxy cholate.  When injected into the submental fat it melts the fat away.  

I remember a few years ago when mesotherapy was the new, hot "in" thing.  As a Fort Myers plastic surgeon, I had a patient who hated her chin, but did not want surgery.  So we did “mesotherapy”.  We did two, three, then four injections of deoxy cholate – no response.  Do we stop or try one more?  We decided to do one more injection and to everyone’s amazement, the fat seemed to melt away.  It was dramatic, but she was left with loose skin and submental – platysmal bands.  

So, I guess you have to pick your option.  Anyway, the clinical trials on Kythera’s ATX-101 are going well and it may soon be available for clinicians to use on their patients.    

Friday, June 1, 2012

GPS is for the Birds

As a plastic surgeon with an inquiring mind, I  have always been fascinated by the superb navigational accuracy of migrating birds over hundreds or even thousands of miles.  


How do they know where to go?  


Researchers have recently done work to discover birds' amazing sense of direction.  It seems as though migrating birds possess up to 53 neurons in their brain stems.  These highly specialized neurons can detect the earth’s magnetic field and act as a compass.  This compass tells the birds the correct direction of flight.  Interesting!