Surgery After Weight Loss

The benefits of weight loss with or without surgical assistance (gastric bypass, gastric banding) are beyond doubt.  The problem of the remaining extra stretched skin remains long after the pounds are shed.

Post-bariatric surgery (surgery after weight loss) is the newest field in plastic surgery.  This surgery addresses the extra skin of the abdomen, back, thighs, arms, and breasts with artful surgical removal to best enhance the new lean body now hidden by folds of extra skin.

A variety of operations address the various areas of the body:  brachioplasty (arm lifts), mastopexy (breast lifts), breast reductions, abdominoplasty (tummy tucks), circumferential belt lipectomy to address the abdomen and lower back, body lift for the buttock, thighs, and back; and thigh lifts to tighten the thighs.  Facelifts are often used to treat redundant skin of the face and neck left after weight loss.  Even more interesting, some of the excess skin that would normally be removed can be used for auto-augmentation (augmentation using your own tissues) of the buttocks and breasts.  All of these techniques must be customized to treat each patient’s individual needs and priorities. 

 I began performing  these post-weight loss operations more than 15 years ago, when surgery to treat massive weight loss was risky and rare.  Newer techniques have made this a much safer procedure and, therefore more common.  Also, better understanding of nutrition and exercise has helped many people lose weight without surgery and has also helped people maintain excellent health after massive weight loss. 

I would enjoy hearing about the experiences of my blog readers and I would be happy to answer your questions. 

Pre and Post Body Lift

Pre and Post Brachioplasty

Non-surgical “quick fixes” in cosmetic surgery…

Cosmetic fillers (Dermal Fillers) have been mostly known in our industry as a quick, short-term solution for decreasing the appearance of wrinkles, enhancing lips and improving overall appearance. In today’s economy, this has proven to be a more “budget friendly” way to be “on top of your game”, look your best and boost confidence. In as little as fifteen minutes, under one-thousand dollars these fillers have the ability to make you feel/look years younger! The procedures are non-invasive, giving you the ability to return to “life” the same day…

Over the last few years, we have been finding more creative ways to use these fillers. Amazing results… without surgery.

• non-surgical rhinoplasy (nose job)
• jaw reduction
• more defined cheek bones
• filling in “hollowed out eyes”
• reshaping, plumping earlobes

These are just a few of the newer procedures we use on a daily basis! Please visit our website to view before and after pictures of some of these procedures!

We will work with you and design a package to give you long-term results, while working within your budget. Of course, financing is available  to help make your wishes a reality.

If you have any questions, please e-mail our practice either through our website or directly to info@drgenter.com .

To Finance or Not: That is the question!

The companies are out there… If you are determined, have decent (at least 650) credit score, someone, somewhere out there, can make it happen. for…. COSMETIC SURGERY?! What is this world coming to? I mean, it’s a wonderful thing… to have the ability to offer patients 0% interest, 18 month financing… it costs us a pretty penny, but at least our patients have options… lots of them. The companies we use offer everything from 3-18 month interest free plans… all the way to 60 month long-term payment plans. (with high interest)- but if someone wants a procedure, this seems logical. Let’s think about what we finance… and don’t really put much thought into-
1. Education- From the day we are born, first our parents.. they pay- they pay for preschool, primary, etc. tutors, instruction, (dance, ballet, art, guitar, Lacrosse, acting, teen tour) They teach us most of this so we may LEARN to make our OWN money… and spend it (or finance) Eventually, we get to college where we learn how to spend our parent’s money, we learn about what being “broke” means and we may even make an attempt to “budget”. Touchy word these days!! We eventually figure out that maybe even we will begin to pay for our OWN education- what a concept!  Again, accepted and embraced- This is mature!! you are making great choices and life will reward you-

2. car- you don’t HAVE to finance.. you can purchase, pay cash, but to do this, most would end up with one “less nice” vs. a payment plan car… newer, nicer… more expensive- but we justify this because it makes us ….feel good- Besides… if you finance, you will establish some credit… now that your education is complete, you know HOW to find a job and pay for your car and you even know how to make a good deal!  Totally acceptable- Nobody would question you- in fact, you would likely be praised for all the hard work and told “you deserve a nice car!”

3. House: Logical, right? Education, job, car…. what’s next in life?? A house of course!! It’s an investment!!  In fact… once you close, people give you stuff!! They bring you gifts, have parties, send you cards… your family tells everyone they know about your first house! It’s all so exciting-

then life happens…

You get married, (or not) you have kids, (or not) you work, you clean, you feel like a slave in your own kitchen… (guys this can apply to you, so keep reading) Or maybe… you work and work, never have time to enjoy this beautiful house or family you now have in your life… in fact, you feel run down- is this it?? Is this what I am making these OBNOXIOUS payments for? We all know, once we have the house, the family and all of those wonderful things that come along with it…. we need to finance more! Work harder, longer, get promoted…. spend more. Always. It’s a rule.

So after all of this… you start looking around. You notice your friends… their husbands and wives- they are doing things just like you- busy getting through life… but yet, somehow- they don’t look tired! You wonder… is it genetic? Is there some magic pond somewhere? Fountain of Youth? Finally, the truth comes out… your friend leans over and whispers… “I went under the knife! shhhh…. don’t tell anyone! It was only 14k and they did EVERYTHING! It’s interest free so the payments are small….”

what????? It’s a secret?? Yes- it is… for whatever reason, it’s not only acceptable, but encouraged in our society to finance all of what I have mentioned aboved, but when it comes to your body and how you feel, somehow making that happen through financing should be kept quiet!

In our practice, we see many, many men and women come to consultations with loads of cash saved… they have been secretly saving for maybe years!!

We begin to talk about the procedures they are interested in. There always seems to be some level of guilt associated with cosmetic surgery, even though you have spent your life giving to everyone else…

We want people to feel GOOD about what they are doing. We want to help make it easier to justify. We will help you make it affordable!! In this economy, WHY would you take this CHUNK of money you have saved, and spend it all, at once… on cosmetic surgery?!

Many cosmetic practices offer some kind of financing, but most are limited. Maybe they offer one or two programs. Short and long-term. In our practice, having the ability to offer many different options and paid off, for everyone! If it makes you feel good, DO IT! If you have the ability, DO IT! In our practice, we offer everything from 3-18 month interest free financing and even have terms that go as far out as 60 months!!!

Buying a new car only helps you feel better short-term. It’s a “fix”. Why not invest in YOU??? We would be proud to help you through it! If YOU feel good, the car won’t matter-

If you would like more information regarding financing your procedure, please e-mail me at jhoffman@drgenter.com to find out how!  If you want to look for yourself, go to care credit. They have all of the information at your fingertips!

You should feel good about YOU!!!

We hope to hear from you soon….

Welcome to 2009.

Economy drives change in the cosmetic surgery industry

Non invasive and non surgical procedures will provide quick results giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

Philadelphia, PA (January 8, 2009):  No industry has been immune to the impact of today’s economy. The Aesthetics industry has had to get creative. Bruce Genter, M.D., F.A.C.S. has noticed a significant increase in non-invasive and non-surgical procedures.

Jessica Hoffman, Practice Director at Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Skin Care Center said “the job market is very competitive, people are scared. With the combination of financing, decreased pricing (which we have been almost forced to do) and a wider range of services available, it becomes very realistic to give yourself a boost, go into that interview with an edge and just feel good all around”. Procedures such as a non-surgical nose job, shaping using injectable fillers takes about ten minutes, zero down-time, produce immediate results and cost a fraction of what a surgical Rhinoplasty would be. Other services such as skin-care, (micro peels, laser treatments, etc) Botox and fillers are used to accomplish a very broad range of results from simply filling in the little lines around your mouth, to a completely different look.

Dr Genter offers financing with programs that range from interest free to 48 month extended plans.

The Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Skin Care Center is located at The Colonade, 100 Old York Road Jenkintown PA 19046. Dr. Genter received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed his Plastic Surgery residency at Yale University Medical Center. He is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. For more information about Dr. Genter, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Skin Care Center, appointments and consultations, please call 215.572.7744 or visit the Center’s website at www.drgenter.com

Laser hair removal vs. waxing and other methods

I was interested in finding statistics regarding laser hair removal. It seems to be a growing interest in our practice. I have always been a fan and patients seem to love it, but it seems with the latest technology, what used to take many, many treatments, is becoming fewer and fewer- which means less out-of-pocket expense, as well as quick results. I found the article below- It seems the folks at American Laser Centers did some serious research and posted their results-  The results were very revealing and even though I see patients everyday- and the results, when I looked at these numbers I wondered why anyone would bother with anything else!!

Please contact us to schedule an appointment/consultation and get started!

Survey respondents reported they will spend more than 58.4 days removing hair from their bodies during their lifetime.  The survey also revealed that women remove unwanted body hair for an average period of 53.6 years using methods including shaving, waxing and depilatory creams.

While women report a small monthly spend on shaving, $15.87 per month, the
lifetime investment for females who shave adds up to $10,207.

Delapidory cream- or lotion-users are paying slightly more than those who shave for their hair removal, $10,555 through their lifetime, yet they only remove hair one to two times per month.

Waxing is by far the most expensive form of hair removal.  While respondents reported waxing only one to two times per month, women who wax will spend an average of $23,000 on hair removal in a lifetime.

American Laser Centers conducted the hair removal study to determine the cost savings benefit of laser hair removal verses a lifetime of shaving or waxing.  On average, women can save $7,000 by receiving laser hair removal on the areas of the body they typically shave.  When compared to a lifetime of waxing, women can save $20,000 by receiving laser hair removal on the areas of the body they usually wax.

“As people are more time crunched than ever, laser hair removal has evolved into a lifestyle decision for our clients,” said American Laser Centers Corporate Medical Director Dr. David Turok.  “Like Lasik surgery for contact and glasses wearers, laser hair removal is a decision to free yourself from one of the most mundane processes in your life — hair removal.  When performed by American Laser Centers trained professionals, laser hair removal is safe, effective and painless.”

In addition, laser hair removal is a procedure that will help conserve water.  Fifty-two percent of women surveyed reported shaving with the water running the entire time.  Women surveyed reported an average shaving time of 10.9 minutes and an average of shaving 12 times per month.  With the average shower using five gallons of water per minute, this means the average woman will use 7,848 gallons each year and a total of 420,652 gallons of water shaving throughout their lifetime, nearly enough water to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool.  Only 2 percent of women shavers do not use water when shaving.

Please visit our site for specific information about our practice, services offered and to request an appointment!!

We may be offering discounts but article reminds patients to check credentials!

Caution Urged as Patients Seek Deals on Cosmetic Surgery

ASPS Member Surgeons Offer Tips for Finding Quality Care

For Immediate Release: November 21, 2008

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Consumers looking to cut costs during the economic downturn cannot afford to cut corners on quality of care, warns the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). While it’s one thing to temporarily substitute fillers for facelifts, ASPS says the worst thing patients can do is to put price before professional training. This concern was discussed recently at the ASPS annual scientific meeting in Chicago.

“The search for bottom-basement prices may impact safety, and patients should proceed carefully before putting their faces in the hands of just anyone,” says John Canady, MD, ASPS President. “No one is more qualified than ASPS Member Surgeons to perform the full range of cosmetic medicine procedures, and patients can avoid costly mistakes by doing their homework.”

Some questions to ask your plastic surgeon:

• Are you an ASPS Member Surgeon?
• Where and how will my procedure be done?
• Who will be performing the procedure?
• What are the qualifications of any other medical personnel involved?
• How many of the procedures have you (they) done?
• How effective is the procedure?
• Is the product FDA approved for the use prescribed?
• What can I expect from the procedure?
• Can I see before-and-after photos that illustrate the procedure?
• What are the risks and complications?
• What are the after-effects and the recovery time?
• How long can I expect the results to last?
• Are there alternative procedures I could consider?
• What are the pros and cons of those procedures?

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Am I basing my decision on credentials of the medical professional and not the price?
• Does this sound too good to be true (if so, it probably is)?
• What do I expect from my procedure?
• Are my expectations for results realistic?
• Have all my questions been answered?

ASPS says you can still save money by having non-invasive procedures, but you should never swap quality care for cost.

“ASPS Member Surgeons put safety and outcome satisfaction first. The point is, while less expensive procedures appear more desirable when money is tight, cheaper is not better if the procedure is being done by someone who is unqualified or not properly supervised,” Dr. Canady says.

Consumers are encouraged to go to the ASPS website to find an ASPS Member Surgeon who can provide the treatment they desire. In 2007, ASPS Member Surgeons performed nearly 10 million minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures.

For full article and more detailed information, click this link.

Consultation Fee?

Botox™ Jaw Reduction (Non-Surgical Jaw Reduction)

Excessively wide jaws that create a “squared off” lower face is a common problem. While a strong jaw may be desirable in males, females dislike this appearance.  In the past surgery was the only remedy, but now we have fabulous non-surgical solutions.  If you feel the angle of your jaw as you clench down, you can feel a mucscle bulging outward.  This muscle, called the masseter, is often the primary cause of the excessive jaw width.  Injections with Botox™ can significantly reduce the size of these muscles and narrow the lower half of the face. Your ability to chew is not weakened.  A side benefit is that the cheeks may be highlighted.  As you can see below, the results can be quite profound .  I just love being able to help people with this problem so easily.   Call our office for more information at 215-572-7744 or email us at info@drgenter.com. Also, visit my web site at www.drgenter.com.