Update on Implant Problems in Europe!

Dear Dr. Kavali, I've recently heard from a good friend that the French want to remove all silicone implants from patients who had breast augmentations there. I also heard the same thing is happening in the UK. I have Silicone implants myself and this concerns me for obvious reasons. Am I safe? Do I need to have my silicone implants removed immediately?

Not to worry! This problem belongs overseas, not here in the states. A French breast implant manufacturer named Poly Implant Prothèse supplied silicone implants to patients all over Europe. It’s recently reported that about 1,000 of the women who have undergone breast augmentation with these implants have experienced rupturing (out of 30,000 patients). A major concern is how the body will react to the industrial grade silicone, and most have reported burning, soreness, and pain. This prompted French officials to recommend that women with these implants have them removed as soon as possible. Again, for women who had their breast augmentation procedures done by us in our Atlanta plastic surgery office, it’s not a problem. We buy French Fries and French wine but we don’t buy French breast implants!

Thanks for asking!

To your health & beauty,

Carmen Kavali, MD 

The Skinny on Your Body Fat

When people think of fat, many people picture an abundance of fat that they would rather live without. People will picture someone unhealthy. But, fat actually has some very healthy qualities. It stores energy, influences our ability to fight infections, regulates our blood pressure, and affects the way our blood forms clots. Therefore, too little fat could be just as unhealthy as too much. What we need to find is a healthy balance, not to mention that we should pay close attention to our visceral fat.

Our bodies store two types of fat: subcutaneous and visceral. Subcutaneous fat is the kind of fat my Atlanta plastic surgery practice can help you with. Because it resides right beneath your skin, I can easily perform liposuction on it. My practice also provides laser-assisted liposuction. Watch as your thighs, love handles and belly pouch shrink to give you the contoured look you’ve always wanted. 

However, when it comes to visceral fat, you are on your own. This fat settles in your abdominal cavity and cannot be surgically removed. Lipo does not penetrate that deeply. The more visceral fat you have, the more at risk you are. It has been known to have a hand in diabetes, cardiac disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, and other health issues. 

How do we get such high amounts?

Our heredity does have a hand in how much visceral fat we store. But habits like not exercising and eating junk food are the main reasons. It’s why even people within, or close to, their healthy weight can have high amounts of this fat. How many times have you seen a fairly skinny person except for their bulbous belly? Men, especially, sport beer bellies, but may be perfectly proportioned in every other aspect.

So how do we get rid of visceral fat or avoid it altogether?

Since lack of activity and unhealthy eating habits are the cause, the best options are to start exercising daily and cutting back on the junk. Think walking or running every day with less potato chips, beer and ice cream. In fact, unless you suffer from obesity, which can qualify you for Barriatric surgery or oral medication to curb your appetite, these are your only options for ridding your body of visceral fat. And though it may not be as easy as gaining it, losing the unhealthy fat can be done if you are committed and focused.

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Carmen Kavali

Restylane For Your Lips

In Atlanta, dermal fillers are a popular treatment with my patients. Aging causes the fullness in our hands and face to deplete, causing deep lines, hollowed looking eyes, and an overall older appearance. Dermal fillers, such as Restylane, can temporarily rectify these issues for up to a year, or even longer if you return for a touch up. Even better is the fact that a treatment such as this works instantly!

But were you aware that Restylane is good for other things too?

At my Atlanta plastic surgery practice, I use Restylane for lip augmentations with great results. The results are smooth and can last up to a year. Restylane is also great to use as a “lip liner” to plump the lip margins, which prevents lipstick-bleed. What woman wouldn’t want that? To put it simply, Restylane as a lip plumper is great for overall volume.

As of right now, Restylane is the only FDA approved dermal filler for a lip augmentation. No others can do what Restylane has been shown to do. Aside from some redness and minor swelling at the injection site within the first few days, patients that opt for this treatment are very happy with their new plump lips. So don’t just stick out those lips in hopes that you will appear pouty and sexy. Instead, get yourself a real pout in a matter of minutes.

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Carmen Kavali

What Traffic Does To Your Skin

In Atlanta, plastic surgery is very popular, especially with patients seeking to reduce wrinkles or skin spots. I frequently treat patients with Botox or dermal fillers to get rid of wrinkles. Other patients opt for laser skin resurfacing or microdermabrasion. Of course, some patients choose to undergo a face lift or forehead lift. All will give a patient a more youthful appearance.

But what if I told you that part of the reason you could be aging is due to traffic-related airborne particles? Particles such as this have already been found to be harmful to your lungs, and have also been linked to an increased risk for type 2 diabetes as well as cognitive failure in the elderly. Studies are also trying to find a link between Alzheimer’s and traffic-related airborne particles.

But new studies are now linking these particles to early skin aging too. After studying a group of people who lived in a heavily industrialized area, as well as a group in a rural area for twenty years, a strong association has been established between residing near areas with heavy traffic and increased wrinkling and pigment spots. The association was so strong that traffic-related airborne particles is now ranked third, underneath UV radiation and tobacco smoke, as the most potentially modifiable major factor in early skin aging.

Perhaps it’s time to cut back on the all the cars and buses after so much evidence has shown its harmful effects to not only the environment but to us also.

To your health and beauty,

 
Dr. Carmen Kavali

Does The Fat Come Back?

In Atlanta, liposuction, whether it be traditional or laser-assisted lipo, is one of the most common procedures I perform. Many of the patients that come into my Atlanta, Georgia plastic surgery practice have worked really hard to reach a healthy weight but have one or a few areas of fat they can’t seem to shake. Due to liposuction being a body contouring procedure, these patients are ideal candidates and can easily obtain the body they’ve been working towards. It also helps to be as close to your goal weight as possible because new studies show that fat has a tendency to return within one year of a liposuction procedure.

Don’t just write off liposuction just yet. In fact, fat has shown to be quite adamant in returning after dieting and exercising as well. However, whereas fat usually returns to the same spots after diet and exercise, the fat will not settle back into any areas that have previously been liposuctioned. Meaning, your sexy shape will still be retained.

But why is fat so adamant on returning no matter what we do? Scientists believe that the brain, or possibly some other part of the body, is trying to regulate the body after weight loss, which could cause the body to gain back any poundage that has been lost. If scientists are able to prove this, it means that maintaining a healthy body weight from the start is more important than ever. It definitely is worth considering before you reach for the chips over whole wheat crackers to give to your children.

The bottom line is that a healthy lifestyle should be maintained no matter what. Liposuction is a great tool to help with any problem areas, but it is not a weight loss procedure. Even afterwards, it’s important to continue a healthy diet and to exercise daily in order to combat the fat that will try and return.

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Carmen Kavali

Could I Have Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

With cosmetic enhancements becoming more widely accepted in today’s culture, it’s only natural for more people to want them. Just like the rest of America, in Atlanta, cosmetic surgery is certainly no longer just for the rich and famous.  And in a society that values beauty and youth, more and more people decide to utilize a plastic surgeon’s talents. Can cosmetic enhancement ever become too much of a good thing?

In fact, yes, it can, for those who have one procedure after another, but are never satisfied with the way they look. Those folks may have a psychological condition called “Body Dysmorphic Disorder” in which the affected person is excessively preoccupied by a perceived defect in his or her physical features. Similar to individuals suffering from a disorder like bulimia, who never see themselves as thin enough, those with BDD never see themselves as physically “perfect” enough.

Of course, it’s common for us to be critical of ourselves, especially when it comes to appearance. Simply thinking someone’s breasts are better than yours doesn’t mean you suffer from BDD. Patients who come to our Atlanta plastic surgery office for a breast augmentation, and later on (or even at the same time) they decide to have a liposuction procedure doesn’t mean they have BDD. Maybe they just have a few things on a list that they’d like to change about themselves. So, how can you tell when you, or someone you care about, might have a problem with Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

Here are some symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder:

• Preoccupation with physical appearance, ie, beyond that of most other people.
• Strong belief that they have an abnormality or defect in their appearance that makes them ugly. One wrinkle can turn them into a tailspin. 
• Frequent examination in the mirror or, conversely, avoidance of mirrors altogether. 
• Belief that others view their appearance in a negative way.
• Constantly seeking reassurance about their appearance from others.
• Frequent cosmetic procedures but little satisfaction with the results.
• Unusual body habits, such as hair plucking, picking at their skin, etc.
• Extreme self-consciousness.
• Refusal to appear in pictures.
• Always comparing their appearance with that of others. 
• Avoidance of social situations.
• The need to wear excessive makeup or clothing to camouflage perceived flaws.
• Obsessing over specific parts of their body, such as breasts, abdomen, and/or face.

OK now, don’t get worked up if a few of these apply to you. In fact, several of these are fairly natural and occur in almost everyone to a degree. The warning lights should go off, however, when these minor symptoms occur so frequently and they are combined with other unusual behaviors such as refusing to appear in pictures or frequent cosmetic surgery without satisfaction. When that happens, it could be time to talk to a professional. Through therapy, those with BDD can learn to view both their inner and outer beauty in its fullest.

Do you ever worry that you, or someone you care about, might have Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Carmen Kavali

Bristol Palin's Plastic Surgery: Necessity or Narcissism?

By now everybody knows that Bristol Palin, famous teen mother of presidential hopeful, Sarah Palin, AKA former Governor of Alaska, has visited a plastic surgeon. Atlanta folks, along with everybody else, have been told that it was for “health reasons” as a plastic surgeon, I’m not so sure. What did she have and was it done well?

First of all, it appears that she’s had a mandibular advancement to move her lower jaw forward.  She may also have had some liposuction of her neck (under her chin).  Her brows are thinner and more arched, which could mean a good waxing artist, or could indicate Botox usage.  

Although I fully agree with jaw surgery in young people for functional improvement, I wouldn't necessarily use Botox in a 20-year old. Regardless, I do think she looks better.

What do you think about Bristol Palin’s plastic surgery? Would you be willing to allow your 20-year-old to have this kind of surgery? Why or why not? 

Can't wait to hear your opinion!

Carmen Kavali, MD