Cosmetic Surgery, Health and Fitness Information - The Adams Center, Boston, MA

The Aging Face: Facelifts, Fillers and Total FX

As a plastic surgeon in the Boston area for over 2 decades, I'm constantly impressed with the advancement and constant learning that we have in the field of anti-aging.

One of the things that we're discovering is that a combination of treatments is best for treating the changes that occur with aging. For instance, we can combine a surgical procedure like a mini-facelift to re-define the jawline and soften the effects of aging on the face and neck with a non-surgical procedure like a TotalFX treatment (using the Lumenis laser).

The mini-facelift corrects more advanced cases of sagging skin than the TotalFX treatment does, but it does nothing for problems such as brown spots, and redness which ARE corrected by TotalFX. By combining these two treatments, we improve a wider range of age related issues that includes age spots, fine lines, wrinkles and scarring, along with overall tightening of the skin.

Other great non-surgical treatments include Microfat injections, Juvederm, Restylane, Evolence and Radiesse. These, along with pre operative skin care and pre and post surgery Botox treatments will give the face a more youthful appearance without the stigmata of the "operated look".

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

My Thoughts on Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

As a current or future patient of The Adams Center contemplating a cosmetic procedure, I'm sure that you are concerned about the current state of the economy, as it impacts your personal and professional life.

Given the temporary downturn of today's economy, I realize that patients will continue to price shop for surgical and non-surgical services. The Adams Center's years of experience, and ability to provide quality care under my direct supervision sets us apart from other physicians and spas.

Since I began practicing plastic surgery in 1979, I have dedicated my practice to providing patients with the most positive surgical experience possible. I am especially fortunate to be able to offer patients the privacy, luxury, and safety of having their surgical procedures performed in our state of the art, AAAASF certified, surgicenter in our Peabody location.

My highly qualified operating and recovery room staff, board certified anesthesiologists and dedicated office staff all support our main focus - you, the patient. This devoted team works together to provide the high quality total patient care that my patients expect, and develop individual treatment plans for patients, while helping them investigate the surgical and non- surgical options available.

This total patient care principle even manifests itself in our fee structure. Our surgical fees are all inclusive - we don't have separate anesthesia and facility charges, and in many cases our non-surgical procedure pricing is based on a package of procedures, often including the skin care products required for aftercare. Additionally, all procedures performed at The Adams Center, and all products sold here have been selected by me - if I don't feel that something works, you won't find it at The Adams Center.

I realize that you have many choices available when choosing a plastic surgeon. Please take the time to ask these important questions:

• Is the surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? Any other certification (Cosmetic, Aesthetic, Facial Cosmetic) usually indicates significantly less training.
• Is s/he a member of The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery? This society requires that a surgeon be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, be a member of American Society of Plastic Surgery, and have a practice that is over 50% cosmetic.
• Do you feel comfortable with the surgeon and their staff? Discomfort can affect your outcome, as you may not ask questions important to your surgery and recovery. You should also feel comfortable with the staff, as they are your first introduction to the practice.
• Will the procedure be performed in an AAAASF certified facility?
• Does the surgeon have admitting privileges at a local hospital?
• Is the surgeon reachable if you have questions or problems after surgery?

At The Adams Center, our focus is on you as the patient. Whether we see you for a surgical or non- surgical procedure, we will always provide you with accurate, honest information.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

Combine Liposuction and Tummy Tuck for Better Results

I recently read a great article in the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (Heller, Teng, Knoll, Persing) on combining Liposuction with a Tummy Tuck in a procedure called "Lipoabdominoplasty".

The study compared the satisfaction levels, complication rates, and revision rates for patients who had just a Liposuction, patients who had a traditional Tummy Tuck, a modified version of the Tummy Tuck (called a modified low transverse abdominoplasty), and a combination of the modified Tummy Tuck with Liposuction.

The bottom line was that patients who combined the modified Tummy Tuck with Liposuction 1) were significantly happier with the end result, 2) had much lower complication rates, and 3) had far fewer revisions than those who had traditional Abdominoplasty.

This is just one example of how the field of cosmetic surgery is constantly evolving, and learning better ways to enhance patient outcomes, and add to satisfaction levels.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

What's a "Mommy Makeover"?

Q: What is a “Mommy Makeover”?

A: A "Mommy Makeover" is usually considered to be a combination of procedures like tummy tucks, breast augmentation, and breast lifts, and in some cases Liposuction. According to ASPS statistics, “Mommy Makeovers” saw an 11 percent increase from 2005 to 2006 in women ages 20-39, and were among the most popular procedures.

With women giving birth later, trying to juggle motherhood, while managing their careers and busy schedules, cosmetic surgery has become a great solution to returning to pre-pregnancy shape.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

Can I have Liposuction on multiple areas of my body during one visit?

Q: I'm thinking about having liposuction for my upper arms, front and back of armpit area. I'm not extremely overweight, but these areas have not gotten any smaller with exercise, and are out of proportion with the rest of my body. Can this all be done at once?

A: Liposuction is a great way to treat these areas. All of the areas you mention can be operated on in one session. In fact, many of our patients find doing this all at once preferable to minimize recovery time.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

Cosmetic surgery outside of the U.S.?

Q: Do you have any opinion on getting cosmetic surgery outside of the U.S.?

A: I've seen several articles recently on people traveling to foreign countries for a "cosmetic surgery vacation."

Most of the people in these reports decided to go outside the U.S. to receive less expensive treatment, or treatments not yet approved by the FDA. Predictably, the majority of these "vacations" did not have happy endings.

While there are certainly good cosmetic surgeons throughout the world, there is often little regulation, and researching qualified surgeons can be difficult.

Here in the U.S., the medical field is highly regulated. But even here, any licensed physician can perform plastic surgery. A surgeon's qualifications can be easily obtained and evaluated. You should carefully review these before considering a particular surgeon, regardless of location.

Some things to look for include:

• Training
• Board certification
• What the certification is for (for instance, are you evaluating a facial surgeon to do a breast augmentation)
• Fellowships and surgical society memberships
• Where the surgery will be performed, and whether it is fully accredited
• The qualifications of nurses and the support staff

The aftercare and recovery programs are other considerations, but in general, the risks outweigh the benefits when traveling outside the U.S. for cosmetic surgery.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

LaserLyte Peel Enhances Short Scar Facelift

The last few years have brought about some terrific advances in plastic surgery. Better techniques, more effective procedures, and combinations of procedures have all helped to improve our ability to turn back the clock.

Once we hit our mid to late 40’s, aging begins to become noticeable in the mid-face region. There are several great non-surgical treatments at this point that can reduce wrinkles and delay the clock for most people.

Until recently, women in their 40s and 50s wouldn’t have considered a facelift as an option. Within the past 5 – 7 years, less-invasive methods that are appropriate for younger women, such as the “short-scar facelift” have become available. Now, more patients are having facelifts, or combination lifts performed in their 40’s.

One of the combination lifts that we’ve had great results with is the combination of a LaserLyte Peel with a “short-scar facelift”. A short-scar facelift procedure involves only half as much cutting as a traditional face lift, which translates into a shorter recovery, a more easily concealable scar, and a more natural look.

While the facelift is a great procedure for treating wrinkles and repositioning fat, it does little to improve the “quality” of the skin. Age spots, sun damage, pigmentation disorders, and some wrinkles (in places not treated by the facelift) may still be present following a facelift. We’ve found that when we combine a short scar facelift procedure with a LaserLyte Peel we can correct other issues that may be present, providing a much better result for the patient, and minimizing recovery time.

Some may think that our 40’s or early 50’s is too young for a facelift. Beauty is subjective, and this is a very personal choice. Modern image enhancement techniques have advanced at an incredible pace in the past 10 years. We no longer have to resign ourselves to having an old looking face!

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

Will My Breast Implants Look Natural?

Q: I would like a breast enlargment, but I'm nervous about the procedure and the final physical appearence. I was a D cup when I was younger, a EE cup when I was pregnant and now I am a small B. I would like a full C or D cup, is it possible to look natural, firm, but not stiff?

A: Changes over time in breast size are very common. With a breast augmentation, there are over 100 different options for shape, size, style, materials used, etc. Finding an implant that looks natural for you in either a C or D cup should not be a problem. Anyone can go to a C or D cup but the width of the breast, volume of breast tissue and amount of fat determine the possibility of issues.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

Can I Breast Feed if I Have Breast Implants?

Q: I have breast implants, and I’m going to be having a baby. I remember something about not being able to breast feed after having breast implants. My Ob/Gyn is telling me it's okay to breast feed. Is this true?

A: It is perfectly fine for you to breast feed-the implants should not have any effect on breast feeding. I wish you much joy and happiness on your new journey.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.

The Truth About Non-Surgical Body Contouring Methods. Do They Work?

I often get questions from patients wanting to know about a non-surgical way to reduce unwanted, localized fat deposits and cellulite. People are sometimes put off by liposuction/body contouring surgery because of cost, downtime, or fear of complications.

Many times, these patients are inquiring about a procedure known as Mesotherapy.

What is Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is touted as a non-surgical method to remove fat and cellulite deposits. The procedure involves the injection of an unstandardized, and proprietary (to the mesotherapist) “cocktail” of vitamins, herbs, drugs (not necessarily FDA approved for this procedure), amino acids, local anesthetics, and more; into the targeted area.

Mesotherapy injections supposedly work by targeting fat cells, rupturing the cell, thus causing the fat cells to die. The theory is that the fat will then get washed out of your system through your body’s normal waste disposal.

Often times, a series of 10 – 15 injections are the recommended course of treatment. At $500 per injection, the cost is significant, especially for a procedure that may not work.

Does Mesotherapy Work?
The short answer is probably not.

Although Mesotherapy has been in use throughout Europe, and South America for approximately 50 years, there have been no true studies proving that it works. Proponents point to a 1995 UCLA study that showed positive results; however, since the Mesotherapy “cocktail” isn’t standardized, it would be hard to draw any conclusions between that study, and the treatment administered by a particular practitioner.

In some cases, not only does Mesotherapy not work, it can be harmful. A drug called phosphatidylcholine (used to treat liver problems and high blood pressure as well as break down fat deposits on artery walls) is sometimes used in Mesotherapy. Studies conducted in Brazil showed such a high incidence of hepatitis and liver failure in patients treated with a Mesotherapy “cocktail” that included phosphatidylcholine that the drug was subsequently made illegal in that country.

Then What Does Work?
There are also several interesting non-surgical methods that either are available now, or should be available soon.

• Liposonix ® and UltraShape ® are both ultrasound based lipoplasty methods currently being reviewed by the FDA (neither has been approved as of yet). If approved, ultrasound-based lipoplasty (which uses an external ultrasound device to target and destroy fat cells) may offer patients a convenient non-surgical alternative to traditional liposuction.
• Triactive - TriActive uses a combination of massage and diode lasers to smooth and tighten cellulite. 10 – 15 treatments may be needed. Results are long-lasting, but temporary.
• Velasmooth – This FDA approved treatment combines massage with infrared energy and radio frequency (RF) energy. The procedure works by heating skin to increase skin tightening and stimulate collagen while breaking up fat cells. Results are long-lasting, but temporary.
• Accent RF - Accent uses a type of RF energy that heats deeper layers of skin to create better skin tightening and increase fat cell drainage. 6 – 8 treatments are necessary, with results seen in 3 to 6 months. The FDA has approved Accent RF as a non-invasive wrinkle treatment, but not specifically for cellulite removal at this time. Results are long-lasting, but temporary.

As of now, Liposuction remains the only approved, permanent fat reducing method available. We know that liposuction works. It’s safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, there are measurable results to back it up, and the the fat reduction is permanent.

Contact me by e-mail, or by calling me at The Adams Center in my Peabody office at 978-531-0550, or 617-262-2208 in my Boston office for more information on this post, or any other information in my Blog.

Dr. Bill Adams is a greater Boston area board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field.