Nip This Tuck That

Young women have the power to attract attention from men and other women.+�-� The more attractive the young woman, the more attention she receives.+�-� As women age, they slowly notice that they are not receiving as much attention as they used to…and they don’t like it!+�-� That was the gist of the discussion between a patient today and some of my female staff members.+�-� I took the cue to hightail it out of the treatment room and run for cover just in case the conversation turned to a “we hate all men” scenario.+�-� I’m brave in the OR but let’s face it I’m not stupid.

+�-�+�-�Seriously though, I have run +�-�across numerous women, in my career, that have had a difficult time adjusting to the perceived drop or lack of attention.+�-� They come to me seeking+�-�advice on how to look younger, more feminine and attractive.+�-� I remember the first time a woman explained her feelings about this situation.+�-� I like most men, never had…or will have+�-�this type of influence on women.+�-� For men,+�-�only the most attractive of us+�-�will ever have a taste of this level of attention.+�-� So we can’t really understand what it is that these women have lost.

+�-�Women go through a period of+�-�greiving when it occurs to them that they don’t turn heads like they used to anymore.+�-� Their words, not mine.+�-� It’s sad to them and I can understand how that would be a difficult thing to loose.+�-� We all want desperately to fit in…even more to be liked and to have someone pay attention to us and tell us that we are special.+�-� Loosing that clearly would create a sense of loss and depression.+�-� I see how that would cause, some women, to look to Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery as the answer to regain the glory, and attention, of days gone by.+�-� I try to explain to my patients that they should feel lucky that they ever had that experience and that instead of trying to get it back…focus on being the best that they can be at any age…any life situation…at any time.+�-� If you want Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery to improve your appearance so that you can be the most attractive version of yourself…right now today…I am all for it.+�-� If you are trying to look like you did years ago…that may be a problem because you are not that person anymore.+�-� Look, you can appear 10 years younger in 90 minutes with one of my Custom Minilifts and Radiesse (soft tissue filler) to shape the cheeks into a more youthful appearance…buy you’ll still be the same person inside that you are today.+�-� Learn to celebrate that person and the fact that you were forunate enough to have all that atention in the first place…even if it was in the past.

+�-�Just got out of the OR.+�-� Did a Minilift with Radiesse to shape the cheeks into a more youthful appearance….she looks+�-�10 years younger.+�-� It’s amazing, tomorrow, she’ll pull her hair down in front of her ears, put on makeup and go out. I even Use dissolveable sutures that don’t need to be removed.+�-� Did a Breast Augmentation on a 20 year-old.+�-� Saline breast implants to make her a small D Cup.+�-� She looks great!+�-� Consults for more Face Lifts and Rhinoplasty this afternoon.

+�-�Got an e-mail that two record labels may be interested in signing Ashton to a record deal…calling the entertainment attorney as we speak…I mean as+�-�I complete this entry.+�-� Also getting tickets for Evan to attend the Kids Choice Awards for his role on “Unfabulous”.+�-� That’s inbetween seeing postops, doing Botox to the vertical lines around the mouth and lips and seeing consults for Breast Augmentation, one for a Custom Minilift, one for a Rhinoplasty and another consult for Liposuction.+�-� Reviewing a piece on Celebrity Plastic Surgery.+�-� Somebody stop me…I’m on a roll and I love it!+�-� Reviewing a media piece on Celebrity Plastic Surgery.

Francis R Palmer, III MD

WOW!+�-� I have to make major decisions on several key entertainment items that, I believe, will have significant impact on my career.+�-� It’s so strange that it’s not enough to be a highly trained, skilled, experienced Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon…you have to be media savvy and camera ready as well.

I actually have taken the role as a teacher and beauty advisor to the general public.+�-� I do it for all of my patients so why not for everyone.+�-� That’s the basis for my appearances on TV, my articles in Magazines and the TV show projects that really interest me the most.+�-� I want you, to see quality…experienced…balanced images of+�-�a Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon.+�-� I want you, as consumers to be well informed about the wonderous things that are available and have a good idea of what types of things will make you more attractive…that’s why I came up with my “Palmer Beauty Principles”.+�-� But there is so much more to my career and life.

+�-�I want you to try and imagine a typical day in my life.+�-� I have breakfast with my family, like many people do everyday and I come to the office.+�-� In consultation I see people with one thing on their mind…”how can they become more attractive.”+�-� Whether it’s their first surgery or a revision, that’s the gist of our conversation.+�-� People, as you can imagine run the entire gambit from very sweet to downright belligerent..from reasonable to completely unreasonable (in their expectations) and from easy to improve to next to impossible.+�-� I need to compassionately deal with all of them in the best way that I know how.+�-� How do I do that?+�-� Very early in my career, as I grappled with those questions, I decided that the best way for me to handle every patient was to simply “tell them the truth as if they were one of my family.”+�-� So that’s what I have always done and it has served me well over the past 16 years that I have been in practice.+�-� I further decided to teach every patient, during consultation about their own unique beauty and exactly how…and why…I would improve their appearance.+�-� What comes out of all this exchange is a customized list of possible ways to make them more attractive based on their unique situation.+�-� That’s the easy part…the psychological part and the teaching…the difficult part, as you can imagine, is doing the surgery.

+�-�When I was a resident surgeon training at LA County USC Medical Center, one of the World’s largest ( and busiest) teaching institutions I used to comment that “surgery is stressful.”+�-� I’m sure that comes as no surprise to anyone but the level of stress can’t be imagined unless you have ever done surgery.+�-� Imagine walking into a room with several other people all waiting for you to begin.+�-� The patient is asleep, draped and prepped and the Scrub Tech hands you a scalpel.+�-� You take the scalpel and cut into the skin of the face or body and it starts to bleed.+�-� In between, stopping the bleeding with an electrical cautery device, you continue to lift and separate the tissues with scissors.+�-� Most of the time, important things like nerves and large vessels are where they are supposed to be…but not always…so your concentration can’t wane…not even for a second.+�-� You’re hesitant to even blink but yet you must continue….you are the moving force of this event and without priogress, on your part, the surgery won’t get done.+�-� You press on…dealing with micro changes in the tissues at a continuous rate, adjusting what you do based on the sensory feedback received through+�-�touch, sight and sound.+�-� You try not to think about this patients’ wishes, hopes or her/his family as this takes away from the the level of concentration needed to press forward.+�-� You remain alert and incredibly focused.+�-�

+�-�This goes on for as long as it needs to continue for you to complete the surgery to your satisfaction…you then breath easilly…you are finished.+�-� It’s been said that all great surgeons perform each and every operation a minimum of 3 times.+�-� Once in their head before the surgery starts, during the actual surgery and once again after the surgery is completed in their head to see if there was anything…anything that could have been done better.+�-� I find truth to that saying, but I have always done that ..plus prayed for my patients before…during and after the surgery.+�-�

+�-�How do you deal with all this pressure…I can’t speak for all Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeons but I get strength from having a clear aesthetic plan, for each patient, before I ever pick up that scalpel, from the confidence that I know what I am doing…and what I have to do to accomplish my aesthetic goals for this patient, in the experience that I have gained from 18 years of doing similar operations on others and the strength from saying a prayer to God to guide my hands during the operation.+�-� With all of these things, I find the confidence and strength to pick up the scalpel, make that cut and move through the surgery to completion…while I chat with the OR personnel or relax listening to music making it look effortless and easy.+�-� Pressure…what Pressure?

This is what goes on behind the scenes when you have a Rhinoplasty, Face Lift, Brow Lift, Blepharoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Lip Augmentation, Cheek or Chin Implants or a Tummy Tuck.+�-� Each of these Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Procedures has its own skill set, you have to get into the correct frame of mind whether you’re working on the average Joan, a captain of industry or a major celebrity.

Dr. Francis R Palmer, III

+�-�Tag this one under ” Buyer Beware”…+�-� Had lunch with the Beverly Hills area Restylane sales rep at a very trendy sushi restaurant and during our conversation he mentioned that bootleg Restylane was found in the US.+�-� Now for those of you unfamiliar with Restylane, it’s a great soft tissue filler that’s injected into facial folds and wrinkles.+�-� It can also be used to plump up the lips.+�-� It’s been approved for use, here in the US, for about 1 year and we do a large volume of Restylane Injections in our office.+�-� I personally think it’s a great product.+�-�+�-�

+�-�Bootleg Restylane apparently is being sold to doctors in the US from sources other than the company that has the distribution rights.+�-� I know our office frequently receives faxes offering Restylane, Botox and other injectable products for amazingly low prices.+�-� We have never felt comfortable buying these products from any company other than the company reps.+�-�

+�-�You may recall a similar incidence with Botox in Florida where Botox was obtained from a source other than Allergan, the company that distributes Botox in the US.+�-� Several people became ill and after an investigation, the Botox used was not up to snuff.+�-� How does this happen and how can you protect yourself from it happening to you or someone you love?+�-� The best way, is never use price as a deciding factor when getting soft tissue fillers or any plastic & cosmetic procedure.+�-� By doing so, you may be falling prey to doctors that will buy these materials from other sources in order to cut costs.+�-� Remember, if it sounds too good to be true…it probably is!+�-� So what was in the bootleg Restylane that the company discovered.+�-� Well my sources tell me that it was in an identical box to the real Restylane but contained liquid silicone.+�-� Yikes!+�-� Be sure to ask+�-�your doctor where he/she obtained the Botox or Restylane and be sure to go to well kown reputable physicians for your Botox, Restylane, Radieese or Collagen injections.+�-� Pay the going rate for these services and you should be OK.+�-� It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in Botox, Breast Augmentation, Rhinoplasty, Blepharoplasty, Forehead Lift, Face Lift, Cheek Augmentation, Chin Augmentation, Lip Augmentation, Rdiesse Injections+�-�or a Tummy Tuck…do not choose your Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon based on price.+�-� Experience, aesthetic vision and expertise are the proper means by which to judge and select your plastic and cosmetic surgeon

Dr. Francis R Palmer, III

March 7, 2006: I saw the lady that had+�-�the Tummy Tuck+�-�yesterday…see that post…for her first post-op visit.+�-� She has 2 bulb drains+�-�under the skin over the abdomen to remove any excess blood and serous fluid. These typically remain in for 3-4 days after the surgery.+�-� She’s also wearing an abdominal binder. It’s like a girdle that goes across the abdomen and gives some compression to the surgical area.+�-� She’s slightly bent over…we pulled and removed excess skin and patients usually can stand upright at about 1 week after the surgery.+�-� The muscles are a bit sore…we tighten them along the entire abdomen…that’s what gives the nice tight flat appearance to the abdomen after the surgery.+�-� But all in all she looks fantastic and she’s going to be thrilled.+�-�

+�-�Saw some consults+�-�for Tummy Tucks, Breast Augmentation, Face Lifts, Revision Rhinoplasty, Lip Augmentation, Blepharoplasty, Cheek Implants, Chin Implants, Brow Lift, Botox Restylane, Juvederm+�-�and Radiesse injections to scuplt the face without implants.+�-� They want what the celebrities get…natural beauty.+�-� You can read all about all of these procedures on my surgery website (sorry I’m still new at the HTML code for hyperlinks)

http://www.drfpalmer.com

I’ll share+�-�all of these prcedures, with you,+�-�over the coming days and weeks.+�-� But for now, feel free to read all the material that+�-�I have written on the subject and take a look at some of the before and after photos.

+�-�Celebrities are getting facelifts, Rhinoplasty and Breast Augmentation+�-�in post-production!

Now I don’t want to burst any+�-�bubbles so close to Hollywood’s big night but it seems that the celebs are getting a liitle help in the digital realm.+�-� That’s right, yours truly, the good doctor, has administered more than a little help to some celebs images using $250,000 computers at a post production visual effects house.+�-� This is a kick…I use my Palmer Beauty Principles +�-�to make the images younger and more attractive…best part is there’s no bleeding, bruising or recovery time.+�-� This will be the wave of the future in TV and Movieland and you heard it here first!

The technology allows the stars faces and bodies to show effects of Botox, Radiesse, Cheek Augmentation, Rhinoplasty, Face Lifts, neck Lifts, Blepharoplasty, Browlift, Liposuction, Breast Augmentation, Tummy Tuck, Lip Augmentation and skin Care….basically all similar results tahn if the celebrities had actually and recently undergone all of those procedures.+�-� How cool is that!

+�-�Dr. Francis R Palmer, III

Am I the only one that wonders what happened to all the plastic surgery makeover shows?+�-� They seem to have fallen off the planet despite very favorable ratings?+�-� Well it’s going around the rumor mill that lawsuits filed by, less than thrilled, makeover recipients may be the cause.+�-� I have mixed feelings about this if this turns out to be true.+�-�+�-�Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeons make no guarantees implied or otherwise (we do our+�-�best each and every time)+�-�and the people did get an awful lot of surgery for free…they did look better…so what’s their beef?+�-� Do you think this is right that they then turn around and want what?+�-� Money on top of free surgery?+�-� Seems no insiders are+�-�talking, so I guess we may never find out for sure.+�-� It’s a shame that a few people are able to completely eliminate you from seeing these types of shows.+�-�

There may be a revamped rendition of these shows in the near future using some C and D list celebrities looking to jump start their career after having Rhinoplasty, Facelift, Breast Augmentation along with some Botox, restylane, Radiesse for Cheek Augmentation and for sure some lip augmentation with Alloderm or Juvederm.+�-� Should be interesting.

I feel that the more information that you, as a consumer, can obtain…the better you are at making the correct decisions when you want to improve your appearance.+�-� It’s human nature to want to look good.+�-� I just want you to make the right choices.+�-� In my experience, the number 1 reason that people are unhappy after plastic & cosmetic surgery procedures is the fact that the wrong procedure was done aesthetically.+�-� This is a very complicated issue but read my Palmer Beauty Principles+�-� and+�-�How To Choose Your Plastic Surgeon+�-�for some really good basic information.

Dr. Francis R Palmer, III

Now that I wrote a bit about the Oscars and the Celebs…..it’s time for me to go earn my keep.+�-� I’m off to the OR to do a Tummy Tuck for a lovely woman who hates the excess skin on her abdomen.+�-� After several kids, the abdominal muscles+�-�are loose (no amount of sit ups will ever tighten them back up) and there’s quite a bit of excess skin to be removed.+�-� It should be about+�-�+�-�2 1/2 -3 hour surgery.+�-� Also seeing consults for Breast Augmentation/Enhancement with Breast Implants, Rhinoplasty, cheek Augmentation with Radiesse Injections or Cheek Implants+�-�and Facelift.+�-� Psst, maybe a celebrity or two.+�-�+�-�

Read more about Abdominoplasty here:+�-� http://www.drfpalmer.com/Abdominoplasty.html

Read more about Cheek Augmentation with Cheek Implants here:

+�-�http://www.drfpalmer.com/CheekImplants.html

Read more about Cheek Augmentation with Radiesse Injections here:+�-�

http://www.drfpalmer.com/radiesse-injections.html

Read more about Breast Augmentation here:+�-� http://www.drfpalmer.com/BreastAugmentation.html

Read more about Rhinoplasty here:+�-� http://www.drfpalmer.com/Rhinoplasty.html

Read more about Facelifts here:+�-� http://www.drfpalmer.com/FaceLift.html

+�-�Dr. Francis R Palmer, III

Friday 3/3/06: Man oh man+�G��-�let+�G��G��s call the last couple of days +�G��+�Plump, Fill and Freeze+�G��-�. It seems that the whole world was here getting Restylane, Collagen or Radiesse to their lips, various folds, lines and wrinkles. I put enough Botox in faces to single handedly raise the price of Allergan stock (Allergan is the company that makes Botox for the US). There+�G��G��ll be a whole lotta smooth and plump faces for the Academy Awards this Sunday+�G��-�.Botox like all of Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery is an art, so if you see someone with that frozen +�G��+�I+�G��G��ve had to much Botox look+�G��-�+�G��-�we didn+�G��G��t do it! I+�G��G��ve been doing Botox for almost 12 years+�G��-�and it+�G��G��s totally slick and amazing, but like all things, you can have too much of a good thing and look bad! Think Quality not quantity and you should do fine. Robyn, my wife has a Masters in Nursing and also does Botox and soft-tissue fillers like Restylane, Collagen and Radiesse+�G��-�In fact she does most of it since I+�G��G��m usually in the OR doing surgery. However, we both use my own special dilution formula and method of doing injecting the Botox.

The most popular Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery treatments, pre-Oscar night, remain Botox to smooth out lines around the mouth+�G��-�you know those nasty little lines around the lips that seem to defy treatment. Botox in the right spot+�G��-�and no more line. Yes, it+�G��G��s really that easy. Restylane or Collagen in the Lips give a very sexy pouty look that never goes out of fashion+�G��-�.seems everyone on and off the +�G��+�Red Carpet+�G��-� wants that very attractive look for this very special night in +�G��+�tinsel town+�G��-�. Let+�G��G��s not forget the nasolabial folds+�G��-�.these are the folds that go from the edge of the nostril down to the corners of the mouth+�G��-�.Restylane in these can literally soften the entire face and make you look years younger. The stars have known this secret for about+�G��-�an eternity and there was a whole lotta plumping and filling before the Academy Awards this year like all the years past.

The British film crew was here yesterday afternoon and it was a really cute piece. A young (in her mid twenties) aspiring actress was here to have me evaluate her appearance and share with her what Hollywood looks for in a female superstar. Of course, I used the Palmer Beauty Principles and gave her sound solid advice on how she could be star quality beautiful. I can+�G��G��t promise, of course, that she+�G��G��d get movie or TV role but she definitely would be more attractive. I suggested improvements in the Top three areas that I refer to as the +�G��+�one-two-three Beauty punch+�G��-�+�G��-�the shape of the cheeks, eye area and lips+�G��-�..explained in detail in my Palmer Beauty Principles. The producer asked me if anyone had ever approached me to do a reality show about my family+�G��-�.My daughter is almost 18 and has an amazing voice written and recorded several original song with a producer that worked with the band Maroon Five, my 15 year-old son has a recurring role on a Nickelodeon sitcom called +�G��+�Unfabulous+�G��-� and my wife is intelligent, strong and beautiful+�G��-�+�G��-�I laughed and said yes+�G��-�a couple of producers were actually working on that show idea as we speak.
That doesn+�G��G��t include the Doctor 90210 shoot or the new show that is being proposed for future development+�G��-�..sometimes I get dizzy with all my irons in the fire. But I am a Vigo and in particular a Virgo Dragon. I am the most happy when I have many, many projects and I thrive being able to juggle them all! Have a great weekend and be sure to watch the Academy Awards on Sunday. Hey, while you+�G��G��re at it+�G��-�tell your kids to tune into Unfabulous at 7:30 Sunday on Nickelodeon and you might see my son. Ciao!