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No Drain Abdominoplasty, The Newest Thing In Tummy Tucks Dr. Michaels' Blog

No Drain Abdominoplasty, The Newest Thing In Tummy Tucks

Abdominoplasty surgery continues to improve. We started to do outpatient tummy tucks in 1999. Then we pioneered rib blocks to control postoperative pain in 2004. Now we have begun performing abdominoplasties without drains additionally improving the postoperative experience. How can we do this and what does it mean for the patient? The purpose of the drain in an abdominoplasty was…
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January 3, 2017
ThermiTight, The New Minimally Invasive Face and Neck Lift Dr. Michaels' Blog

ThermiTight, The New Minimally Invasive Face and Neck Lift

Before After ThermiTight I have been following radio frequency facial rejuvenation technologies for more than a decade. The idea is very appealing. Apply a radio frequency to the skin to tighten the underlying collagen. Thermage© was the first available such device and got huge media attention on Oprah. The data was disappointing, however. It delivered a good result in only…
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February 2, 2016
Botox; An Antidepressant? Dr. Michaels' Blog

Botox; An Antidepressant?

Researchers at the University of Texas wondered,” if I look better, do I feel better?” They took a group of 30 patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and injected Botox© into their foreheads to eliminate frown lines. They then followed the patients for 24 weeks and tested for signs of MDD using multiple methods. The patients that received Botox had…
bmichaels
February 15, 2015
Permanent Makeup? Try Micropigmentation and Refresh and Restore Fading Features Dr. Michaels' Blog

Permanent Makeup? Try Micropigmentation and Refresh and Restore Fading Features

Micropigmentation, also known as permanent cosmetics, is a technique used to restore and balance facial features which can naturally fade with age.  Eyebrows often become sparse (particularly on the ends), lips may lose some of their color, and eyelashes can become thin, leaving our eyes with less definition. Often, a single office visit is all that may be needed to…
bmichaels
June 20, 2014
Gynecomastia: is breast tissue normal in a man? How can it be reduced? Dr. Michaels' Blog

Gynecomastia: is breast tissue normal in a man? How can it be reduced?

Enlarged male breast tissue can be caused by many factors ranging from endocrine abnormalities to normal adolescence. In some cases, blood tests to check levels of sex and thyroid hormones are necessary. If one side has a mass that is tender and growing, a biopsy to rule out cancerous changes may be necessary. But the most common cause after puberty…
bmichaels
February 6, 2014
I gotta lose these bat wings, I need an arm lift! Dr. Michaels' Blog

I gotta lose these bat wings, I need an arm lift!

Brachioplasty, or arm lift, is a common procedure after massive weight loss and for women after menopause. In both cases the upper arm skin hangs causing unwanted flapping. In some cases there is also subcutaneous fat that needs to be addressed for an optimal result. The amount of extra skin determines the orientation and length of the incision required to…
bmichaels
December 27, 2013
Microdermabrasion; what is it? What can it do for me? Dr. Michaels' Blog

Microdermabrasion; what is it? What can it do for me?

In 2013 microdermabrasion was one of the top 5 non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons,  974,000 microdermabrasion procedures were performed in 2013, an increase of 8% from 2012. Techniques to sand the skin have been around a long time. Ancient Egyptian physicians used sandpaper to smooth scars. When German surgeons…
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November 25, 2013
Does your finger lock up? Do you have pain at the base of your finger? You may have Trigger Finger. Dr. Michaels' Blog

Does your finger lock up? Do you have pain at the base of your finger? You may have Trigger Finger.

Repetitive injury problems of the hand can manifest in several ways like carpal tunnel syndrome, Dequervain’s tenosynovitis and trigger finger. These entities share a common problem, a tight space around tendons. The space is defined by ligament called a pulley. Chronic pressure on the pulley causes swelling which then squeezes the tendon. In trigger finger, the tendon then swells and…
bmichaels
October 29, 2013