Plastic Surgery | Manhattan | New York City

Plastic Surgery – Top International Rankings

editor — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:14:10 +0000

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has released statistics of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in countries around the world. The top plastic surgery spots by percentage of population are as follow:

1. South Korea – about one in 5 women have undergone an aesthetic surgery procedure, most commonly liposuction, nasalplasty (rhinoplasty) and eyelid lift (blepharoplasty).

2. Greece – breast augmentations were the most popular procedure.

3. Italy – liposuction came in at the top of cosmetic surgery procedures, and Botox® was the most common non-surgical treatment.

4. Brazil – the most common procedures were liposuction and breast augmentation. Interestingly, cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were made tax deductible by the Brazilian government this year, and discounts for elective plastic surgery are backdated back to 2004.

5. Columbia – liposuction tops the list of plastic surgery procedures. Medical tourism also accounts for a significant number of cosmetic surgeries.

6. USA – the study reports over 3 million cosmetic surgery procedures, whereas the America Society of Plastic Surgeons statistics reveal the total number of both invasive and non-invasive aesthetic surgery procedures to be over 13 million. The most common surgical procedures were liposuction and breast augmentation.

Dr. Olivia Hutchinson is a board certified plastic surgeon in Manhattan, NYC. Please contact us or call us at 212 452-1400 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hutchinson.

Springtime Skincare and Surgery

editor — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:45:10 +0000

We are delighted to offer our patients aesthetic plastic surgery options as well as the services of our aestheticians at our Upper East Side and Tribeca offices in NYC. Here is information on skincare recommendations and other treatments, provided for our patients’ benefit by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS):

1) Winter blues – The rain, snow, ice and wind from the winter months have done a number on your skin. Add in dryness and dull skin from the indoor heat and dead skin cells and you have a great need for a facial or more! Have one of Dr. Hutchinson’s professional trained aestheticians access your skin and find out what treatment is most appropriate. You may need a combination of aesthetic skincare procedures from a light chemical peel, laser rejuvenation or resurfacing, microdermabrasion…etc.

2) Warmer weather – The higher temperatures and possibility of vacations, sun and shorts means different things to different people. Have you worked out all winter and refused seconds during the holidays, but you still have problem areas? Come into the office and see if there’s a solution – it might be a common problem with a fairly straightforward fix, such as liposuction, microsuction, or skin tightening. There are also myriad possibilities with limited incision and minimally invasive cosmetic plastic surgery which can yield wonderful results and require minimal downtime.

Sweating is never a great look, whether it’s underarm sweat or on your face. Botox can be used to treat areas where you have excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), such as in the axillae (armpits).

3) Products – The moisturizer and face wash you use in the winter might not be the best for you when there’s more moisture in the air. While you should always hydrate your skin year round, you might want to turn to a lighter moisturizer that is not as heavy and change to a gentler face wash.

Dr. Hutchinson is a board certified plastic surgeon in private practice in NYC and NJ, with offices in Manhattan on the Upper East Side and Tribeca, and in Englewood, NJ. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hutchinson, please contact us or call us at 212 452 1400 to schedule a consultation.

Is There Mercury In Your Skincare Products?

editor — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:23:49 +0000

Dr. Hutchinson is providing the following information for our patients’ benefit, compliments of the Amercian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS):

The FDA has issued a warning that some face creams manufactured abroad and sold in the United States illegally contain mercury.

The California Department of Public Health reported to the FDA that a 39-year-old woman presented with more than 100 times the average amount of mercury in her urine and symptoms of mercury poisoning. For three years the woman and her husband had been using an unlabeled mercury-containing face cream that was brought in from Mexico by a relative. Several other family members who did not use the cream, including a four-year-old child, also had elevated levels of mercury. Virginia, Maryland and New York have reported similar cases. Products containing mercury have recently been found in seven states.

Make sure there is no mercury content in your skin lightener, anti-aging treatment or acne remedy, or any product that claims to remove age spots, freckles, blemishes and wrinkles. These products are frequently sold online and in Latino, Asian, African or Middle Eastern neighborhoods. Many of these products enter the United States through international mail and personal baggage. If you did not get a product from Dr. Hutchinson’s office or from a licensed seller of a product, you run into the potential of obtaining black market or fake products with dangerous ingredients.

Here is how the FDA recommends that you protect yourself:

Check the label of any skin lightening, anti-aging or other skin product you use. If you see the words “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury,” stop using the product immediately.

If there is no label or no ingredients are listed, do not use the product.

Do not use products labeled in languages other than English unless there is also English labeling.

If you suspect you have been using a product with mercury, stop using it immediately. Wash your hands and any other parts of your body that have come in contact with the product. Contact your health care professional or a medical care clinic for advice.

If you have questions, call your health care professional or the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

FDA investigations in the past few years have turned up more than 35 products that contain unacceptable levels of mercury. That’s why it’s so important that consumers and sellers know about the dangers of possible mercury poisoning associated with these skin products.

“Exposure to mercury can have serious health consequences, damaging the kidneys and the nervous system and interfering with development of the brain in unborn and very young children” warns a senior FDA medical official. Children can be adversely affected from breathing in mercury vapors or touching a parent who uses these products and then putting their fingers into their mouths.

Be careful when you try new products – always check the ingredient list and if you something doesn’t look or feel right, contact a physician right away. Physicians are patient advocates and are most concerned about your safety.

Dr. Hutchinson is a board certified plastic surgeon in NYC and NJ and is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. If you would like to discuss any aesthetic surgery concerns with Dr. Hutchinson, please contact us or call us at 212 452 1400 to schedule an appointment.

Melanoma Rates on the Rise – Latest Study Shows

editor — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:09:11 +0000

Despite preventive measures and an increased awareness of the potential risks of sun damage and exposure to UV ray, recent studies continue to show a rise in the number of cases of melanoma. The statistics are particularly alarming for adolescents and young adults, in particular young women, who show the greatest increase. In the most recent study in the April issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, melanoma increased 8-fold among women ages 18 to 39 in Olmstead County, MN. Some of the trend may be attributed to the use of indoor tanning beds, especially in teenagers and young women. UV ray exposure in tanning beds is particularly harmful, because tanning beds can emit 10 to 15 times more UV radiation than the midday sun.

Healthy behavior should be encouraged from a young age, and should include use of broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen with SPF of at least 30, and avoidance of sun exposure during midday hours (10am to 2pm) when UV rays are strongest and most harmful. In addition, regular skin examinations by physicians to identify suspicious moles are critical. Full body “head to toe” assessments including the scalp, face, arms and hands, breast and abdomen, back, legs and feet are necessary to rule out any lesions which may need treatment. In women, almost 1/3 of melanomas were found on the legs, whereas in men, it was most often found on the back. The upper extremity was the 2nd most common site for melanoma in both. Patients are at highest risk of melanoma if they have the following risk factors: family history of melanoma, use of tanning beds, having fair skin, light hair and eyes, and burning easily.

Avoidance of intense UV radiation not only protects against all skin cancers, it also has beneficial effects in terms of protecting against premature skin aging. A daily skin regimen which includes sun protection will result in smoother, tighter skin with fewer wrinkles, and a healthier and more youthful appearance.

Dr. Hutchinson is a board certified plastic surgeon with practices in NYC and Englewood, NJ. She performs excisions of benign, pre-cancerous and malignant skin lesions. Please contact us or call us at 212 452 1400 to schedule a consultation.

Fruits and Vegetables Enhance Skin Tone

editor — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:32:12 +0000

“You are what you eat” – once again, science is proving direct correlation between dietary food intake and physical appearance. In a recent study out of Scotland, researchers examined skin quality in patients based on their daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. Their findings revealed that even a modest increase in daily intake of fruits and vegetables, approximately 3 servings per day, led to a noticeable improvement in skin color after 6 weeks. The color changes included more pinkness and yellowness, which are associated with healthier and more attractive looking skin. These changes are due to carotenoids, which are the yellow and red organic pigments which produce color in fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids are known anti-oxidants, and as such are involved in potentially contributing to anti-aging processes as well as lowering the risk of certain diseases such as diabetes and cancers.

Establishing proper nutrition is the first component of looking one’s best. Additional skin care regimens, such as facial peels and laser resurfacing, and plastic surgery procedures such as Botox®, dermal fillers and fat injections, eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty), facelifts and neck lifts are additional treatments which produce optimal results when performed on healthy skin.

Dr. Olivia Hutchinson is a board certified female plastic surgeon in NYC and performs a full range of plastic surgery procedures for facial rejuvenation. Please contact us or call us at (212) 452-1400 to schedule an appointment.

Herbal Supplements and Plastic Surgery

editor — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:14:59 +0000

Herbal supplements and homeopathic remedies are being used by increasing numbers of people, and often they confer health benefits. Some of these products, however, can affect a person’s normal ability to clot, and so are potentially harmful when recovering from surgery. In addition, they may also interact with other medications such as anaesthetic agents used during surgery. All of these factors may cause an increase in complications and may compromise patient safety during and after plastic surgery procedures. This may occur regardless of the type of procedure being performed, whether breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, abdominoplasty, liposuction or minimally invasive plastic surgery.

In a recent study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, researchers examined a series of herbal supplements, combinations of herbs and herbal teas to evaluate their effect on post-operative bleeding. Some of the products studied, such as Chinese peony, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng, oil of wintergreen and saw palmetto, have been shown to interfere with the normal clotting process and may result in a higher incidence of bleeding problems after aesthetic plastic surgery. Other herbal supplements, such as Vitamin E, have yet to be studied extensively enough to prove or disprove potential impairment of normal clotting. Although it is an anti-oxidant with beneficial health effects and anti-aging properties, it may cause post-operative bleeding problems in plastic surgery patients and should be discontinued perioperatively. This may also hold true for chondroitin and glucosamine, which have known anti-inflammatory effects and may prevent progression of arthritis.

Many plastic surgery patients who maintain a healthy lifestyle and incorporate nutritional and herbal supplements into their diets consider these to be “natural” and so may not be aware of their potential effects on recovering from surgery. It is very important for patients to disclose to their plastic surgeons all their medications, including herbal teas and supplements, and to follow their plastic surgeons’ advice and instructions regarding their plastic surgery procedure in order to ensure the best outcome.

Dr. Olivia Hutchinson, a female board certified aesthetic plastic surgeon, performs plastic surgery procedures in the safety and comfort of her AAAASF certified operating room in NYC. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hutchinson, please contact us or call us at (212) 452-1400.

Eat Healthy To Help Stay Healthy

editor — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:19:43 +0000

Scientific research is lending increasing evidence to support the fact that nutrition directly impacts our health. Maintaining a healthy diet leads to improved health overall, and conversely, poor nutritional habits adversely affect one’s health. According to the latest studies, the risk of developing diabetes is related to certain foods. Eating blueberries, apples and pears reduces the risk of developing diabetes, whereas eating white rice may lead to an increased risk of developing the disease.

According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people whose diets included regular intake of blueberries, apples and pears benefited from a 23% reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This was thought to be due to the high content in these fruits of flavonoids, a natural compound also present in other fruits, vegetables and grains. Flavonoids have previously been shown to confer other health benefits, such as reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, and lower blood pressure. Blueberries are also high in anti-oxidants which target free radicals and are natural anti-aging agents. In another study published in the British Medical Journal, white rice consumption is directly proportional to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This confirms other research which previously reported such an association. Eating whole grains or brown rice instead would supply fiber and nutrients and does not lead to a higher risk of developing the disease.

Diabetes is a chronic, often debilitating disease with a significant impact on patients’ lives. In addition to the myriad health issues it creates, it also interferes with proper wound healing after any surgery, including aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. Optimizing a patient’s health status is essential before proceeding with surgery, and proper diet and nutrition in addition to exercise and physical activity are key in achieving this.

Dr. Olivia Hutchinson is a female board certified plastic surgeon in NYC and NJ. She is dedicated to her patients’ overall health and well-being. If you are considering plastic surgery, please contact us or call us at (212) 452-1400 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hutchinson.

New Silicone Gel Breast Implants Approved

editor — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:59:32 +0000

On March 9th, 2012 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of a new type of silicone gel filled implants manufactured by Sientra, Inc. The silicone implants will be available for use in aesthetic breast augmentation patients over 22 years of age as well as in breast reconstruction patients of all ages. These implants will provide a 3rd alternative to the silicone gel filled implants currently on the market from Allergan and Mentor.

Sientra presented data collected on almost 1800 patients over a 3 year course, which, similarly to previous data on other silicone gel filled breast implants, demonstrated the “reasonable safety and effectiveness” of the devices, as per Dr. William Maisel, deputy director of science of the FDA’s Center for Device and Radiological Health. The approval is contingent upon follow up studies to monitor the risks and complications of these breast implants over a 10 year course. Issues such as capsular contracture, infection, rupture and implant removal will be studied and reported. Data will also be collected regarding other diseases such as connective tissues and neurological disease, rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers.

Additional information as provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) is available here.

Dr. Olivia Hutchinson, a board certified female plastic surgeon in NYC, performs breast augmentation using both saline and silicone filled breast implants. Breast implants may be used in breast enhancement procedures alone or in combination with breast lift (mastopexy), liposuction or as part of a mommy makeover. Please call us at (212) 452-14oo or contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hutchinson.

Fat, Stem Cells and Liposculpture

editor — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:30:55 +0000

Plastic surgeons have long known that fat possesses wonderful properties, and that it can be harvested and injected for volume augmentation in many diverse conditions. What makes fat different from, and in many ways better than, any other fillers is the fact that it is natural tissue harvested from a person’s own body, and its longevity is much greater than that of synthetic non permanent fillers (such as hyaluronic acid fillers, e.g. Juvéderm®). Whether used to provide fuller cheekbones, fill in depressions, decrease the appearance of hollows under eyes, or plump up lips, fat yields long lasting and natural looking results.

Often referred to as liposculpture or lipostructure, surgical fat injections are used to shape, mold and beautify the contours of the face or body to create a more appealing and youthful look. The procedure involves a certain amount of artistry in order to produce the desired aesthetic results. Fat contains stem cells, which help in the survival (or “take”) of the injected fat by promoting new blood supply in the area and releasing growth factors which aid with healing. Although some of the fat may resorb with time, most of the injected fat survives and patients are usually extremely satisfied with the results of this procedure.

The first step in obtaining fat for liposculpture involves harvesting the fat using a process similar to liposuction. The fat is then centrifuged to separate out the liquid component of the aspirated material, and purified fat is then reinjected into the desired areas using cannulas and tiny incisions. The procedure is usually performed in the Operating Room under local anaesthesia with sedation, and recovery is very quick. Other aesthetic surgical procedures such as blepharoplasty, breast augmentation and liposuction may be performed concurrently.

Dr. Olivia Hutchinson is a female board certified aesthetic plastic surgeon practicing in New York and Englewood, NJ. She performs liposculpture with autologous fat transfers in the privacy of her AAAASF certified Operating Room in Manhattan. Please contact us or call us at (212) 452-1400 to schedule a consultation.

PIP Breast Implants – Issues and Recommendations

editor — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:39:56 +0000

PIP breast implants are manufactured by a French company named Poly Implant Prothèse, which was shut down in 2010 due to unacceptably high rates of implant rupture. PIP implants were made at significantly lower cost by using a cheap industrial grade silicone rather than the standard medical grade silicone used in other breast implants. Rupture rates of PIP implants are reported as twice those of other breast implants. Of the 30,000 women in France who have the implants, about 1,000 have had a rupture or leakage of their implant. Unfortunately, approximately 80% of the implants were exported outside France to the UK, Spain and Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela). Although the implants were never sold in the US, it is possible for American women who traveled abroad for breast augmentation to have received them in another country. It has also been reported that silicone breast implants under the brand name “M” implants, distributed by a Dutch company in Germany, and possible other European countries, may also be PIP implants that were rebranded as “M” implants.

Health risks associated with PIP breast implants and those resulting from ruptured implants are undetermined at present. The Ministry of Health in France has recently issued a mandatory removal of all PIP implants regardless of their condition. Other countries have yet to follow suit on recommending all PIP breast implants to be removed. There are an estimated 400,000 women worldwide who may have PIP breast implants. Breast implant removal may require additional procedures such as capsulectomy, and implant replacement with silicone or saline breast implants or breast lift (mastopexy) may be considered for optimal aesthetic results.

Photo source: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery “PIP Breast Implants Under Scrutiny in Europe and South America” http://www.surgery.org/consumers/plastic-surgery-news-briefs/pip-breast-implants-scrutiny-europe-south-america-1035970

If you have any questions about breast augmentation, please contact our office or call us at 212 452 1400 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Olivia Hutchinson. Dr. Hutchinson is a board certified female plastic surgeon in private practice in NYC and New Jersey, and has over a decade of experience with aesthetic breast surgery including breast augmentation with saline and silicone breast implants, breast implant removal and revision surgery.