A recent study conducted for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons reported that 80% of those people surveyed said they would prefer and choose a facial plastic surgeon rather than a general surgeon or physician.  As the numbers of people who have cosmetic procedures done each year continues to grow…so does the need for education about how to recognize and choose “qualified” cosmetic/plastic surgeons.  Thus, the reason for my blog topic this time.

Stats tell us there are over 782,000 doctors in the United States but only 3.5% are really qualified to perform aesthetic (cosmetic) procedures.  So, It’s critical that before you go…you know about your doctor/surgeon.

In addition to the right education, training and experience,  Board Certification is important in helping you identify a surgeon who is truly qualified to perform your chosen procedure.  Why?  There are multitudes of doctors who are not Board Certified nor are they members of important medical organizations/associations. So here’s the “why” about being Board Certified:  Certifiying medical boards have rigorous testing/exams based upon the highest standards possible to ensure that a doctor knows, understands and is qualified to practice medicine and perform procedures within the scope of his proven abilities.  There are different boards for different areas of specialization.  The same goes for medical societies and associations that were established decades ago.  These exist to further educate, support and monitor physician/surgeon members, also to educate the population and give them a place to seek help with problems involving member physicians.  Every doctor/surgeon who chooses to become Board certified, must submit to this high standard and the rigorous oral and written exams in order to be eligible for board certification.  Board certification does not guarantee certain results but it does ensure that the surgeon is educated, well trained, skilled and qualified to perform that surgery.

Examples of Certifying Medical Boards and associations:  1) ABMS – The American Board of Medical Specialties (every doctor should apply to this board.)  2) ABPS – The American Board of Plastic Surgery (for certification in the speciality of “plastic” surgery). 3) ASAPS – The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (for plastic & cosmetic surgery of the face and body). 4) AAFPRS – American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.  (World’s largest association of “facial plastic” surgeons and reconstructive surgeons)  These surgeons focus solely on plastic and reconstructive surgery of the face, head and neck. 5) American College of Surgeons, 6) The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is thousands of members strong…with only one high standard to assure you are getting a surgeon who is qualified to perform your procedure.

Do Your Due Diligence  – Surgery of any kind is a serious event and you should want the most qualified surgeon performing your procedure.  You can “google” the doctor/surgeon you are considering and check credentials, qualifications, experience, testimonials and more before making a final decision to use that physician. Surgeon’s Websites should be comprehensive including education, training, medical degree(s), fellowships, experience and qualifications.  Know before you go!  https://www.davinciplastic.com.

Cosmetic v Plastic Surgery…there is a difference.  Cosmetic surgeons have considerably less training whereas a “plastic” surgeon gets 5-7 years of specialized surgical training.  Cosmetic surgery seeks to improve the aesthetic appearance and Plastic surgery is used to improve/restore function and reconstruct after trauma or illness.  Plastic surgery can include “cosmetic” procedures also.

Ask the right questions:  1) Is the surgeon Board Certified…which boards and for how long?   2) Does he/she have hospital privileges?  3)  Is their surgical suite certified?  4)  Does the surgeon practice within the scope of their chosen field?

Look at Patient Portfolios…a picture really is worth a thousand words! 

Revision surgeries are on the rise…because unqualified doctors and beauty beauty professionals are doing procedures they have no business doing! Every year, my colleagues and I see more patients desiring “revision” surgeries to undo the disappointing, disfiguring damages inflicted upon them by the hands of unqualified doctors and so called professionals.  Please trust your face and body only to a qualified plastic surgeon!

Well, this blog is a bit long….but I couldn’t leave out any of the info included.  Please read and consider.

Enjoy the sun…with the right precautions!

Best to you and yours,

Steven Davison M.D.

DAVinci…where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.

I’ve written a few blogs about female genital (V Zone) surgeries and how they have been life changing for so many women today.  This blog covers “Monsplasty”…the benefits of it and what some Top Docs are saying and doing in this arena of female health and wellness.

MONSPLASTY…what it is and the benefits you enjoy. Also called a Pubic Lift, Monsplasty is a surgical procedure used to reduce the size of and tighten the Mons Pubis. It is often done in tandem with a Tummy Tuck and Body Lift surgery to achieve maximum satisfaction.  Or it can be combined with other V Zone procedures such as Labiaplasty and Vaginoplasty.

Childbirth, weight gain or normal aging affect the Pubic Area.  Women with an overly large Mons Pubis complain that it interferes with getting clothes to fit right, it often hinders normal urination and can really hinder sexual intimacy.  I correct a sagging, enlarged Mons Pubis by reducing the sagging skin and tightening muscles and tissue to improve the appearance and restore normal function and enjoyment!

TABOO YESTERDAY…POPULAR TODAY!  MONSPLASTY SURGERY IS ONE OF TODAY’S MOST “IN DEMAND” SURGICAL PROCEDURES!

COMMENTS BY OTHER TOP DOCS:   DR. GARY ALTER …AMERICA’S POPULAR AND AGGRESSIVE SURGEON…dealing with sex changes, male/female genital corrective and designer procedures, and much more…is a West Coast surgeon and pioneer in his field of life saving/life changing procedures for both men and women.  He has invented a new labia surgery technique for reducing the labia majora…and is calling it the “Alter Labia Contouring Procedure.” Simply put, it reduces the size of the LM while preserving the contour, color and anatomy of the Labia’s edge. His new technique is loved by his patients who say…the surgery is virtually undetectable but the wonderful improvements….are clearly detectable and enjoyable!

Dr. Alter’s patients have removed the word “taboo” or embarrassment, or pain and suffering, ugly signs of aging and more from their vocabularies….because his Male and Female procedures are life changing….without embarrassment.  Dr. Alter along with many other notable “top Docs” widely promote their corrective and designer surgeries…around the world.  The younger generation in particular…is totally uninhibited, according to Dr. Alter and Dr. Christine Hamori...another front runner in the Vagina Designer arena. Dr. Hamori specializes in helping women of all ages and stages regain function, sexual satisfaction, youthful appearance, self confidence and more.  As a much sought after speaker/presenter….she is asked to explain her procedures and teach her techniques also.

IT’S ABOUT HEALTH AND HAPPINESS…and their patients all agree!  Aging, weight fluctuation, childbirth, illness, trauma, genetics etc. all factor into the changes our bodies endure across the lifespan.  Used to be…certain things absolutely were not talked about….women and men suffered in silence until they died.  The tide has changed!  An educated, enlightened population is choosing total health and the pleasures it offers.  Dr. Hamori works with women to correct female genital issues….to  restore health, function and a youthful appearance.  She is an educator and pioneer…highly respected among her peers and loved by her patients, their families and friends!

Dr. Alter has several other procedural techniques that he has not yet published…but his peers and patients are excited to learn about them. Both “Top Docs” are fulfilling a vital area of need in healthcare today.  I appreciate them and all they have brought to the table.

about sunbathing and sunburns! Vacations have already begun (Spring Break this past month) meant many bodies on the beach….or poolside.  After being in all winter…or enduring a gray winter as many parts of the country did…be smart when enjoying the sun.  Here are a few tips: 
1.  A stumpy shadow means the sun is directly overhead and UVB exposure is up to 50% greater during this time.  2. Wear hats that throw a shadow over your face and neck.   3. Be generous with sunscreen…a thin layer does nothing!    4.  Summer white/pastel gauze type fabrics absorb rays because they lack color pigments…when wearing them wear a layer of sunscreen also.  5. Apply sunscreens indoors….to allow them to “bind to” skin proteins….otherwise they don’t work!   Come back next blog for more tips!

Stay well….and let’s get you going on your “beach body” procedures!  Weddings, graduations and more are also around the corner.  Want to look your very best….let’s talk!

Steven Davison M.D.

“DAVinci…where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.”

Injectable fillers used to be just…wrinkle fillers.  Today’s Liquid Miracles…the injectable treatments I am able to use for my patients not only immediately erase lines and grooves  but also “lift” and “contour” aging facial features and flaws for men and women.

Temples, brows, upper eyelids, undereye areas, cheeks, mouth corners and jowls are all easily treated and magically lifted.

How Do They Work?  

Injectable fillers like Radiesse work immediately by replacing volume and stimulating your own collagen renewal while attracting water to the treated area. Juvederm is used in areas requiring less structural improvement…such as under the eyes and for marionette lines. Botox is used to inhibit muscle action allowing forehead furrows to relax and smooth out and also prevents future lines and wrinkles.

Old Injectables V New Injectables

When first introduced, injectables were primarily used to fill in wrinkles.  With product advancement and refined techniques, they are used more widely with effective natural outcomes.

Aging Face…it shows

As we age, the different facial compartments “shift” and fat pads migrate downward (e.g. the cheeks) often being reabsorbed into the tissues. Constant volume loss from lifestyle, aging, illness etc, causes facial contours to change and become visible as lines, wrinkles, grooves, sagging mouth and more.

Reconstructing the face with fillers allows for the architecture (framework) of the face to be lifted, restoring the natural…youthful contours of the face.

Using today’s fillers and getting the desired natural looking and long lasting results requires specialized training, experience and skill.  I am a trained/qualified/experienced “expert injector.”

Summer Events…weddings, family reunions, family trips, class reunion, job interviews… etc… often call for Quick Fixes  Don’t despair…you have safe, effective, quick options without downtime and with results that will amaze you and dazzle the special people in your life!  See http://www.DAVinciplastic.com for more info.

Age Defying Facial Rejuvenation…How we do it:

• Shape the cheeks…seamlessly shaping this area with Hyaluronic acid and long lasting fillers restores youthful contour & a refreshed, natural look 
• Lift the Mouth…get rid of that downturned smile and look young again
• Smooth out the jawline…to lift it before it goes too far south to redefine this part of the face
• Open up the eyes…revolumize this area to restore that fresh, full look
• Elevate the brows…restore volume to this sagging, sunken area
• Define the eyes…restructure the undereye area to compensate for bone loss, fat and thinning skin

About today’s “Injectors”…

It’s true that you can walk into many spas and get Botox for example…but are you willing to risk possible bad results by having an unqualified person work on your face?  Know this:  there are over 1 million doctors allowed to perform injectables and filler treatments…in the US alone.  ONLY 3% of these are qualified to do so.  Choose wisely!

Summer fun in the sun can wreak havoc with your skin and face…we have options to correct it.  In the meantime…remember the hats, sunglasses, Obagi sunscreen, lots of cool water and shade.

Enjoy your family times…make lots of wonderful memories.

Steven Davison M.D.

DAVinci…have a patient centric experience in an environment where we combine the supreme elements of art & surgical science.

There are a host of reasons people come to me for Rhinoplasty (Nose) surgery. These include, but are not limited to, injuries…sports, accidents etc., illness or disease that has changed the shape and functioning of the nose,…or people simply want the nose of their dreams.  Whatever the reason, I am specially trained in all cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries of the nose and face and have performed a host of nose surgeries.

Since, I’ve blogged quite a bit on “facial” procedures, I think it’s important to educate you on surgeries of the nose because…

Rhinoplasty is one of the most elegant and complex surgeries being performed today. People of all ethnicities, genders and ages/stages in life decide to have rhinoplasty surgery for one or more reasons.

Rhinoplasty…Nose surgery… is done for either cosmetic or functional reasons and sometimes for both reasons.  Nose reshaping can reduce or increase the overall size of your nose…change the angle between the nose and upper lip…remove a hump…narrow the nostrils span…reshape the tip or the bridge of your nose….and more.

Sports injuries of the nose are common and usually result in a deviated septum…this hinders your ability to breathe and changes the facial landscape…often dramatically. Sometimes a nose becomes distorted from disease or illness…or an accident…or even previous nose surgery at the hands of an unqualified professional.  Some people were born with misshapen noses….other people watch their noses changes size and shape as part of normal aging.

The concerns and reasons are many and varied. However, I have been helping people with their nose problems for decades now….and can safely, effectively and skillfully improve the appearance of a nose.

HERE’S A SHORT LIST OF THE BENEFITS OF RHINOPLASTY SURGERY:

• Rhinoplasty is a delicate surgery…a surgery of illusion & balance
• The nose is the most focal point of the face & adds or subtracts from facial balance
• Over 1/2 million people of all ethnicities, ages, genders have nose surgery
• Seniors often want their noses restored to a more youthful size & shape
• Rhinoplasty restores function to an injured nose (deviated septum etc.)
• Rhinoplasty can change the size, shape & or angle of the nose
• Rhinoplasty corrects damage from previous nasal procedures
• One “nose job” does not fit all faces…I skillfully create a nose that fits your face without altering ethnic characteristics…

That’s a good start or overview on Rhinoplasty.  I use the most advanced techniques and technology to achieve the desired results and the enhance youthfulness and natural beauty.   Next time I’ll get into FAQ’s…and procedure overview.

Until then, stay well and watch out for “nose jobs.”

Dr. Steven Davison

At DAVinci…I combine the supreme elements of art & sugical science.