I invite you to join me on this page where I’ll share with you what’s new in my practice, insights about health and beauty, and interesting and exciting innovations. And of course, I'll talk about plastic surgery because, after all, we're all curious about WHAT'S NEW aren't we!
Enjoy,
Latisse: Before and After
We’ve all seen the ads. Enter the beautiful Brooke Shields batting incredibly lush lashes below her perfectly defined signature brows. She uses Latisse. The buzz around this product is incredible, and I’m sure you have questions about what it is and why it works.
What:
Latisse was recently released by Allergan and contains the active ingredient, Bimatoprost (Lumigan). This drug was initially intended to treat glaucoma, an eye disease. It was noted that patients who received this medication reported increased eyelash growth as a side effect, and a new application was born.
How:
Latisse goes on like eyeliner. You apply a drop to a disposable applicator and spread it across the base of the upper lashes. It must be used daily to see results. The product gradually enhances the eyelashes by prolonging their growth cycle. The end result is thicker, longer lashes. There will be noticeable improvement within four weeks, with fullest benefit after 16 weeks. After the 16 weeks, the manufacturer recommends applying the product every couple of days in order to maintain length and fullness.
Rare potential side effects such as a darkening of eyelid skin and a possible increase in the brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye may occur. Other possible side effects include itching, redness, dryness, and irritation of the eye or surrounding eyelid skin where Latisse is applied.
Where:
Latisse is available at medical offices, including ours, and it is wise to consult with your physician as to whether you are a good candidate for it. Run, don’t walk; it’s going fast, and you’ll have to fight my office girls for it!
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
I am excited to report that Vogue Magazine has asked me to be one of their Vogue 100. This is a group of 100 women around the country selected by Vogue to serve as editors, tastemakers, and ambassadors in the world of fashion and beauty. Stay tuned for the inside scoop – I’ll keep you posted!
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
We can’t help but read the gossip magazines, or at least flip through them – our secret guilty pleasure. And even the ones we don’t read, we sneak a peek at when leaving the grocery checkout counter…
So what’s the latest gossip coming from the celebrity plastic surgery world? Victoria Beckham’s breast reduction! Rumor has it that she is so intent to be on the cover of Vogue magazine that she had her breasts downsized to increase her odds of landing the cover. Vogue’s editor, Anna Wintour, said she would consider putting Victoria on the cover, but told her she had to get her breasts looking better. Beckham recently had her surgery in France to downgrade from a 34DD cup to a B cup.
Victoria Beckham prior to her capsulectomy
So what’s the real scoop?
Victoria likely had a procedure called a capsulectomy, or a removal of the scar tissue surrounding the implants, with an implant exchanged to a smaller size. Victoria’s breasts were not only larger before, but they were also encapsulated, or hardened. This hardening occurs when the natural scar tissue that forms around any breast implant in the body thickens and contracts. The result is that the breasts look high, round, and unnatural. We’ve definitely seen plenty of evidence of this phenomenon in the pages of US Weekly.
Capsular contracture can occur in various degrees, from mild to severe. Mild encapsulation may be evident only as a slight firmness in the feeling of the implants, with minimal cosmetic consequence. More severe degrees can result in distortion of the breasts, and even pain in some cases. Long term untreated severe encapsulation is associated with a higher rate of implant rupture, and mammography in these patients is less reliable. For these health reasons, in addition to the undesirable cosmetic consequences, many patients may want to replace their encapsulated implants.
Luckily, most breast implants do not encapsulate to a severe degree, and there are various preventative measures that one can take, such as breast implant massage. Your surgeon should provide you with instruction as to how to best prevent encapsulation.
In the meantime, Victoria looks great. Her breasts are much more natural looking. I think they complement her figure nicely. Ms. Wintour should take note – only time will tell…
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
In a city that prides itself in being “au natural”, under the surface San Francisco is transforming itself – literally. Statistics show that San Francisco, not Los Angeles, leads the nation as the city where the most cosmetic surgery is performed!
I was interviewed by the very hip 944 Magazine recently about what’s driving the trend, and how the best kept secret in San Francisco is being held undercover.
FYI, the findings were arrived through per capita statistics provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy for Cosmetic Dentistry.
View the article in its entirety at 944 Magazine, and coverage of the story in Men’s Health Magazine.
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
I thought that it was interesting that MSNBC was reporting that some surgeons and patients are now citing increased interest in surgery among people wanting to look younger and “fresher” for the ever-competitive job market. This is a trend that I too am seeing in my office.
• The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a recent survey showing that American women were looking at cosmetic surgery to get a competitive edge in the workplace.
• About 13 percent of the 756 women surveyed, between the ages of 18 and 64, say they would consider having a cosmetic medical procedure to make them more confident and more competitive in the job market.
• About 3 percent said they already had a cosmetic procedure to increase their perceived value in the workplace, and 73 percent said they believed that appearance and youthful looks play a part in getting hired, a promotion, or getting new clients, particularly in these challenging economic times.
You can read the article in its entirety at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30112465/
Copyright 2009 Reuters.
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Carolyn Chang is a premier San Francisco plastic surgeon and immediate past Vice Chair of Plastic Surgery at CPMC. She is renowned for her beautifully natural aesthetic, and has helped thousands of patients achieve transformative results.
Dr. Chang lives in San Francisco, with her husband Patrick and their children, James and Jemma. She is an avid world traveler and loves sampling the best restaurants that the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer.
Dr. Chang is seeing new patient consults in Menlo Park as a courtesy to her Peninsula and South Bay clientele.
Please call 415.923.3070 for more information.
Dr. Chang is pleased to announce the addition of Tatiana Longoria RN, aesthetic nurse, specializing in dermal fillers, neuromodulators, lasers, and microneedling with a natural aesthetic.
Appointments available on select Mon/Tues, please call to schedule 415.923.3070.
2100 Webster St.
Suite 508
San Francisco, CA
94115
T 415.923.3070
F 415 923.3069
