Medical Tourism: The “Fly-In Patient” Protocol

International medical tourism has been gaining in popularity in recent years, but why not try domestic medical tourism? We’re located just minutes from LAX (Los Angeles International Airport), and our team will work with you to give you a pleasant experience, letting you fly home beautiful!

Step 1: The Consultation

If you’re not planning on making multiple trips to L.A., start with a virtual consultation. From learning about non-surgical treatments to choosing your breast implants, our Los Angeles practice is here to guide you through each step of the treatment process. With a virtual consultation, you can enjoy the benefits of speaking with a board-certified plastic surgeon from the comfort of your home.

Step 2: Scheduling

Once a treatment plan is in place, you will visit our practice the day before surgery. This appointment will take about 2 hours and will include a physical examination. Surgery is typically performed at the Marina Outpatient Surgery Center, and you may spend that evening in a postoperative care facility.

Step 3: Recovery

We usually recommend spending 7 to 10 days recovering in one of the many luxurious hotels in L.A. Our team is available to assist in the recovery process, and we can refer you to a local physician in your area for checkups.

Tags: breast implants los angeles, los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in Plastic Surgeon,General Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery for Your Ears?

Most people realize that it’s not uncommon for people in Los Angeles to have plastic surgery. However, what many don’t know is that ear surgery (otoplasty) is one the most commonly performed procedures. Ear surgery can create a more pleasing appearance as well as correct a number of aesthetic issues and abnormalities, including:

• Misshapen or protruding ears. Ear surgery is very popular among men and women who feel that their ears stick out too far. This technique can be performed on children as well as adults, and it helps create facial balance by positioning the ears closer to the head.
• Torn or injured earlobes. When a person’s ears are affected by trauma or injury, earlobe surgery can repair the damage. For example, individuals who have had heavy earrings or “plug” piercings may choose ear surgery to restore a more natural earlobe shape.
• Keloids. Earlobe keloids are large scars which grow beyond an original wound and protrude from the ear. They are usually red or brownish in color and can sometimes cause itching, tenderness or pain. There are many treatments available for keloid removal, so you surgeon will have to determine whether otoplasty is the best course of action for your individual situation. In some cases, earlobe surgery is combined with non-surgical techniques, such as injectables or topical medications, to achieve the best results.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in General Plastic Surgery,Otoplasty

Nagged by Neck Fat? Discover a Surprising Solution

At my Los Angeles plastic surgery practice, men and women concerned with fat around the neck, cheeks and chin often ask for my advice about how to contour those areas. They’ve usually tried dieting to no avail, and some worry that it will take a full facelift and neck lift to achieve their goals. What they’re delighted to discover is that, in many cases, I can use facial liposuction to gently remove fat deposits. The result is a beautifully sculpted face and neck.

Using liposuction for facial contouring rather than body contouring requires special skills. I make an extremely tiny incision in an inconspicuous area on the face or neck. Through the incision, I insert a slim tube called a cannula. Then, I extract fat cells from the targeted areas by using a suction pump or syringe.

Because it permanently removes fat cells, the benefits of facial liposuction are long-lasting. Your face and neck will look youthfully firm, and those unattractive bulges and sags from excess fat will be gone. Particularly if your skin has good elasticity, this procedure alone may succeed in meeting your cosmetic goals.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in Facial Cosmetic Surgery,General Plastic Surgery

The Advantages of Nose Surgery

At our Los Angeles plastic surgery practice we offer rhinoplasty procedures for women and men who are concerned with the shape and size of their noses in proportion to the rest of their faces. This cosmetic procedure can effectively change the way you feel about your facial appearance, and the way others perceive you.

Nose surgery is typically chosen as a way to reduce the shape and size of a person’s nose. Surgeons use a number of techniques to straighten the nose contour or change its overall appearance. A number of people will also use nose surgery to repair any damage they might have incurred during an accident.

When repairing damage and restoring the overall appearance of the nose, we usually try to improve the patient’s breathing as well. Rhinoplasty can restore healthy breathing through correcting problems such as a deviated septum.

Although nose surgery for purely cosmetic reasons is not covered by insurance, many people will receive insurance benefits for functional surgery that repairs problems related to breathing. Regardless of the reasoning behind choosing rhinoplasty, it is a great option for women and men who are unsatisfied with some aspect of their noses.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in General Plastic Surgery

Nonsurgical Rejuvenation Options

There’s a buzz going around in Los Angeles for plastic surgery practices that offer simple and effective treatments to combat early signs of aging without surgery. More and more people are beginning to experience the benefits of nonsurgical skin rejuvenation, but the key to choosing the right treatment is understanding each option’s ability to correct a specific problem.

Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular nonsurgical rejuvenation options:

• BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the most prevalent nonsurgical treatments due to its ability to quickly refresh a person’s upper facial appearance. This procedure targets specific facial muscles to reduce the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes and forehead.
• JUVÉDERM® XC is a smooth gel filler that is effective in temporarily smoothing nasolabial folds and fine lines around the lips.
• Dysport® is an alternative to BOTOX Cosmetic, and treats upper facial wrinkles by relaxing the muscles. The result is smoother skin in as early as 1 to 2 days.
• RADIESSE® Volumizing Filler targets well-defined wrinkles around the nose and mouth with a formula of calcium microspheres. This treatment provides immediate volume and stimulates natural collagen growth.
• SCULPTRA® Aesthetic is an optimal option for people who have lost volume in their cheeks and around their eyes. Over time, skin thickness increases and collagen production is stimulates to provide a more youthful appearance.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in Skin Care

Plastic Surgery Office vs. Medical Spa

As the founder of a Los Angeles plastic surgery practice, I am constantly seeing patients from all over the country for a variety of different procedures and treatments. I’ve noticed that many patients wonder which facility is appropriate for their procedure: a plastic surgery office or a medical spa.

First, I’d like to explain the difference between a plastic surgery office and medical spa facility. It is important to note that not all plastic surgery centers are fully-accredited. What fully-accredited means is that the center has met various national standards for equipment, operating room safety, and both staff and surgical credentials. You should only consider a surgical procedure once you have found a facility that possesses the proper qualifications.

A medical spa is a slightly vague term, as there is no single definition. Medical spas are different than regular spas, as they use medically-based treatments. Common treatments performed at a medical spa include laser skin rejuvenation, BOTOX® Cosmetic, as well as chemical peels. At a medical spa, a physician is onsite and plays an integral role in a patient’s evaluation and care.

In general, if you want to have a surgical procedure performed, it is better-suited for a plastic surgery office. If you are seeking minimally invasive treatments, you may be able to enjoy your procedures at a medical spa.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in General Plastic Surgery

5 Ways to Avoid Pain after Surgery

Even with modern techniques and technology, some degree of discomfort will occur following most Los Angeles plastic surgery procedures. Tolerance of discomfort differs from patient to patient, and also depends on the type of surgery performed. Although it is an unavoidable aspect of plastic surgery, there are steps that you can take to ensure that you will feel as comfortable as possible after your procedure.

1. Walk around. Begin walking around as soon as you receive clearance from your plastic surgeon to do so. Being mobile helps your circulation.
2. Drink plenty of fluids. It is common to be dehydrated after a surgical procedure. Drink water, soup, or fluids to replace electrolytes after your surgery as instructed so your body is ready to take care of itself.
3. Get enough sleep. Making sure you are getting the proper amount of sleep each night will help your body recover quickly.
4. Take any prescription as indicated. Many pain medications contain anti-inflammatory agents to reduce swelling, which can help tissue repair particularly during the first few days after surgery.
5. Alert your doctor about any allergies. Talk with your doctor before your procedure about any medicines you may be allergic to. Also, be sure to closely follow all post-surgical instructions your doctor provides.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in General Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation Incision Options

When considering breast augmentation, how do you know which incision method is appropriate for you? There are four common incisions that are typically employed; however, not all surgeons perform all of these techniques. The four main methods are:

• Periareolar incision (around the nipple)
• Inframammary fold (under the breast)
• Transaxillary incision (through the underarm)
• Transumbilical incision (through the belly button)

I take the time to guide my Los Angeles plastic surgery patients considering breast implants about their incision options. Experienced breast augmentation surgeons are the most helpful resource for women who want to understand these options in depth. When making a recommendation, several factors will be taken into consideration, such as your anatomy, your goals, as well as the type and size of your breast implants.

There are, of course, benefits and drawbacks to each incision method offered. The inframammary fold is one of the most commonly used incisions. This allows the surgeon full access to and clear visibility of the implant pocket. The periareolar incision, created around the nipples where they meet the breast skin, is also a popular choice due to the fact that resultant scarring can blend in to the texture and color of the areola. Also, the implant can be placed precisely in the pocket with this method. The transaxillary and transumbilical incisions are advantageous because they leave no scar on the breast, but many surgeons do not offer these incision options because access to the implant pocket is indirect.

How do you choose? Discuss your goals openly and honestly with your surgeon to find the appropriate incision method for you.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in Breast augmentation,General Plastic Surgery

On Facebook, It’s Personal

I’m all about communication, especially when it comes to my Los Angeles plastic surgery patients. Keeping lines of communication open helps them (by feeling informed and prepared for surgery) and me (by understanding their goals so that I can achieve optimal results). I like to know what procedures my patients are looking for, what my practice is doing well, and what we can do better. Imagine my excitement when I found a way to accomplish all this, and have some fun at the same time. That’s exactly why Marina Plastic Surgery Associates is on Facebook.

Sure, Facebook may seem like old news to those of you (probably most of you) who have had a personal account for a few years. But creating a business Fan Page for our plastic surgery practice is new and exciting. We established our Fan Page in November and now, only 6 months later, we already have over 1,300 Fans.

The reason for this success? I think we have so many Fans and get such great feedback about our Page because on Facebook, it’s personal. It’s like a conversation, not a one-sided resource like a Web site (although we’ve got loads of helpful information there, too). Our Wall is a lively place patients can go for support, education, and amusement. In addition to developing personal relationships with our Fans, we use our Facebook Page to:

• Offer Fan-only specials. We created Tabs with information that only our Fans can see, so they get exclusive access to these offers.
• Educate patients and the public about plastic surgery – procedures, news, trends, and more.
• Share details about our practice, including information about me, media coverage, and the treatments we offer.
• Allow patients to interact with each other directly, to provide support and advice.

We’re constantly adding new content to our Page, so our Fans (who come from all over the country) visit us regularly to stay up-to-date. You can visit our Facebook Page to become a Fan and get immediate access to exclusive specials and fun, useful content.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in Facebook