Patient Portal

Ezine 40 March 2006

March Savings!

Save 10% in February! Simply type "valentine" into the coupon filed during checkout to redeem your savings Note: This coupon cannot be combined with any other coupon.

Important Notes:

Due to the new policies of the following companies, we are not allowed to advertise our discounts for them online. For all our loyal customers, we are very proud to offer the opportunity to still receive great discounts. Simply type the following coupon code during checkout to receive 10% discount on any of the following product lines:

La Roche Posay - "larocheposay"

SkinCeuticals - "skinceuticals"

Revivogen - "revivogen"

These offers DO NOT have an expiration date. These offers CANNOT be combined with any other coupons.

Skin Care Tip:

Psoriasis Cures and Prevention

Psoriasis can be defined by a chronic, inflammatory skin condition. There are five different types of Psoriasis, Plaque Psoriasis, the most common form affecting 80% of Psoriasis sufferers. This can be identified as patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white, scales. The other types include, Guttate Psoriasis, Pustular Psoriasis, Inverse Psoriasis, and Erythrodermic Psoriasis.

Symptoms of Psoriasis can occur as early as childhood and the earlier it appears, the more widespread the symptoms. Most common symptoms begin to show up between the ages of 15-30. About 75% of Psoriasis sufferers develop symptoms before the age of 40. After age 40, a peak onset can begin between the ages of 50-60. Unfortunately, researchers still do not fully understand the origin of Psoriasis. They believe it is an immune condition because the body over-produces skin cell growth. Normal cellular turnover is 28-30 days and in Psoriasis patients, cellular turnover is 3-6 days. Instead of the skin cells being shed, they remain on the skin, causing visible lesions and redness. We also know that Psoriasis is the oldest recorded skin condition, dating back to 35AD.

There are many different treatment options for Psoriasis sufferers, but finding which one works is the difficult part. There are four main categories of treatment options, Topical, Phototherapy, Alternative and Systemic medications. Topical treatments are the first option and can help the skin cells slow down their rapid production. Phototherapy treatments are involved by exposing the affected area to wavelengths of ultraviolet light, or laser energy. Alternative approaches are another option, but it is suggested to check with your physician prior to beginning any alternative treatments because these options are not studied like the other treatment options. Systemic medications are orally prescribed medications that affect the entire body. This treatment option is only for moderate to severe Psoriasis patients.

The best physician-strength lines are neaclear and Obagi seem to be the most popular, best tolerated and most effective. neaclear was started by a plastic surgeon and Obagi by a dermatologist. Who better knows about your skin??

Anti–aging Tip:

Read a Good Book

Reading has become a less favored activity among adults and even children in the present day, due to Televisions and Video games. This is unfortunate for those who don’t read, because reading is one of the best activities for our minds. Another great benefit of reading is it can make you forget problems in your life for a short time as well as minimize stress. Being able to read and understand is one of the biggest tools we use throughout our lifetime, by reading instructions, articles on how-to, information regarding insurance, cars, etc. We utilize this skill daily and without it, we wouldn’t be very intelligent people. Reading, especially for the elderly, can help keep their minds sharp, stimulated and help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease.

Reading to your children or any small child is a great gift to give them. Children are like a book - they absorb and retain everything you give them. Teaching a child to read or even reading for them will give them the opportunity to learn and develop their own reading skills later in life. In children’s books, the morals of the stories show children how to relate to real-life issues, such as saying sorry, respecting adults and asking for forgiveness.

Plastic Surgery Tip:

Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation, also known as Augmentation Mammoplasty, enhances the size and shape of a woman’s breasts through surgery. During surgery, your board-certified plastic surgeon will place the implant behind the muscle, to give your breast a more natural appearance.

The most common reasons why women choose Breast Augmentation surgery:

  • Enhances the body contour of a woman’s breasts, because of size.
  • Corrects the reduction of tissue due to pregnancy and/or breast feeding.
  • Can help balance uneven breasts.
  • Can help reconstruct breasts post breast cancer surgeries.

Most plastic surgeons use saline breast implants, because the FDA has approved them as safe for use as implants. Silicone breast implants are being studied by the FDA and only if you choose to participate in the study will you receive Silicone implants.

As with any surgery, there are risks and complications that should be taken into consideration prior to your surgery, which includes:

  • Capsular contracture, which occurs when the scar around the implant begins to tighten. The breast will begin to feel hard and may require another surgery to repair the problem.
  • Excessive bleeding or infection, due to swelling and pain. Sometime another surgery may be required to cauterize the bleeding. Infections most likely happen within a week after surgery and may require the implant to be removed for a month or two while the infection heals.
  • Nipple sensitivity, which can become either over- or under-sensitive or even numb. These symptoms usually disappear over time, but may remain as permanent.
  • Ruptures, which includes breaking or leaking of the implant. Ruptures can occur from compression or movement of the breasts. If the Saline implant leaks, the saline solution is harmless to the body and the implant will inflate.

After surgery, you will feel tightness and soreness surrounding the breasts. Most plastic surgeons supply you with medications to help ease pain and swelling post surgery. Swelling takes between 3-5 weeks to disappear and some patients may remain swollen longer. It is recommended to wear a surgical bra or loose-fitting sports bra to support your breasts. During your post-op appointments, your plastic surgeon will instruct you how to massage your breasts to help them “bottom-out” which means drop and appear more natural.

To see before and after patient pictures, please click here.

During your consult with Dr. Speron, the patient will discuss their desired goals on an individual level. Then they will further discuss the course of treatment and potential complications at the appointment time. Please check out the wealth of information on our site by clicking here.

Make sure you chose a board certified plastic surgeon. A call to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or ASPS at 1-888-4-PLASTIC (ie. 1-888-475-2784) can tell you which doctors are legitimate plastic surgeons with outstanding qualifications. You can also visit the ASPS web site at www.plasticsurgery.org. The ASPS is the only one of the 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body.

To help you in making your decision, please click here to check out the 7 critical questions to ask any plastic surgeon before letting them touch you!

By far, the most important factor in the success of your procedure is the surgeon you choose. So please choose wisely...