Dr. Russell Ashinoff, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will be available to answer all of your questions and more.  What are your options? What procedures are available? What is the recovery like? Join us on Thursday, March 18th at 6pm for an informal discussion at Community Medical Center's Community Health and Outreach Building.  591 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, NJ 08755

There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required.  Please call 1-888-SBHS-123 and select prompt 4 to register for more information. 

Ever thought about taking a "cosmetic surgery vacation"? Just imagine, while you're getting your face lifted or your tummy tucked, you could be having a glorious time in some exotic, out-of-the-way location -- right? The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the nation's leading organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery, recommends against it. Here are some reasons why you may want to think twice, especially about traveling abroad for your cosmetic surgery:

• You won't be ready for a round of golf. Most cosmetic surgeries involve restrictions on normal activities, and particularly exercise, for several days to weeks. So, while family members might enjoy the benefits of a resort destination while you undergo surgery, just remember that most vacation-type activities will be off-limits for you.
   
• Sun bathing is taboo. If your idea is to recover from surgery lounging by the pool, remember that many types of cosmetic surgery require you to stay out of the sun until you are fully healed. Even then, you will likely be advised to protect yourself with sun block, sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat.
   
• Your doctor's credentials may not be what you think they are. Although there are excellent surgeons in many countries, it is often difficult to evaluate the training and credentials of surgeons outside the United States. Training and credentials vary, and there is no single international standard for quality such as, in the U.S., certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
   
• The surgical facility may not offer necessary safeguards. In the U.S., patients may choose to have surgery in an accredited facility that meets accepted safety standards for equipment, personnel and emergency procedures. Many facilities outside the U.S., or those within this country that are not accredited, may fail to meet even minimum safety standards.
   
• Necessary follow-up care may be unavailable. Cosmetic surgery patients need to be seen by their surgeon at various intervals following the operation. Initial visits are to determine that recovery is progressing as expected, and later visits are to evaluate long-term results. If your surgeon is hundreds or thousands of miles away, there is no such continuing relationship. If for some reason you decide to have cosmetic surgery away from home, make sure that your surgeon has a professional colleague nearer to where you live who has agreed to see you for any necessary follow-up care.
   
• Post-surgical problems are not easily handled. Serious problems are rare when cosmetic surgery is performed by a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon. However, the results of cosmetic surgery are never 100 percent predictable. Problems, most often minor, which require surgical revisions or other treatment are always a possibility. In such instances, it is important that your surgeon is accessible. Patients who believe they can have surgery abroad and then, if necessary, find a surgeon close to home to handle any problems may find it tougher than they think. Most doctors are reluctant to handle problems, even minor ones, of surgeries they did not perform, particularly if they are unsure of what specific techniques were used in the initial operation.

Many qualified and reputable plastic surgeons arrange pleasant after-care accommodations, complete with private duty nursing, for their cosmetic surgery patients. This can make the recovery process easier and more enjoyable, whether patients live locally or come from out of town. However, promises of turning cosmetic surgery into a fun-filled vacation should be regarded with skepticism and caution.

Almost 3.3 million BOTOX^® Cosmetic procedures were performed in 2005 alone. Not just models and movie stars, but people from all types of professions.

Maybe you heard a friend talk about her experience with BOTOX^® Cosmetic—and you think your friend looks great—but before you get treated, you’d like to know more about it first.

BOTOX^® Cosmetic is a non-surgical, physician-administered aesthetic treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people ages 18 to 65. BOTOX^® Cosmetic works by reducing the contractions of the muscles that cause those persistent frown lines that have developed over time.

When it comes to selecting a physician-administered aesthetic treatment, chances are you’ll want proof, not just claims. The proof for BOTOX^® Cosmetic is in the numbers.

• In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women surveyed rated the improvement in the appearance of frown lines between their brows as moderate to better 1 month after treatment. Results vary.
• Results can last for up to 4 months, and may vary.
• BOTOX^® Cosmetic was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 for the temporary treatment of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people ages 18 to 65.
• The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ranked BOTOX^® Cosmetic as the most popular physician-administered aesthetic procedure in the United States for the fourth year in a row (surgical and nonsurgical combined).

Venous disease of the lower extremity is the most common form of peripheral vascular disease nationwide. Seventy two percent of women over 60 years of age and 40 percent of men over 60 years of age suffer from chronic venous insufficiency. The presence of venous insufficiency leads to the development of leg swelling, varicose veins, spider angiomata, reticular veins, lipodermatosclerosis, and, in the most advanced stages, chronic venous stasis ulceration. The most common symptoms associated with the disease are pain with prolonged periods of dependency, swelling, superficial thrombophlebitis, hemorrhage, and ulceration. Additionally, the cosmetic appearance of venous disease in the limb contributes significantly of overall patient unhappiness and quality of life.
The treatment strategy of venous disease depends upon the pathophysiology of the saphenous and deep veins of the affected limb. When reflux or incompetence within the saphenofemoral segment is detected sonographically, the patient is currently offered endovenous laser therapy, or EVLT, a procedure which replaces saphenous ligation and stripping, and which offers the advantage of being minimally invasive with no requisite incision, higher technical and physiologic success, lower recurrence, lower overall cost, and availability in an office as opposed to a hospital. The procedure involves accessing the saphenous vein under ultrasound and threading a laser fiber along the length of the vein. The laser is then used to cauterize the lining of the vein, resulting in ablation of the lumen. The vast majority of patients require no further therapy for the resolution of their veins, with a small minority requiring manual removal of varicose veins through microphlebectomy.

What should you know about the safety of outpatient surgery?

When considering plastic surgery, it’s natural to focus more on the expected result than on the surgical process. However, to be fully informed, it’s important to learn about the safety of the procedure as well as the expected outcome. Although thousands of people have plastic surgery every year without complications, no surgical procedure is risk-free. To maximize safety, ensure that:
• The facility where your surgery will be performed conforms to strict safety standards - only operate in accredited facilities;
• Your surgeon is informed of any drugs you are taking and your full medical history, especially if you have had any circulation disorders, heart or lung ailments or problems with blood clots;
• The surgical facility will use skilled, licensed personnel to administer and monitor your anesthesia and your recovery immediately following the procedure
• Extra safety measures are taken if you are having a more extensive liposuction procedure

-Courtesy of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons