Guest Posts blog posts and news

Breast Cancer Survival: Wigs 101

If you're considering buying a wig to wear during your chemotherapy treatments, there are many things to take into consideration, especially cost (wigs prices can range from about $100 on up to $6,000).

Guest post by Romi Cortier.

Romi is a celebrity hair guru in Hollywood, CA.

I recently worked with a client during this process. I met her at the wig maker's studio where I gave her various short haircuts that we photographed for fun. Ultimately, we took her hair fairly short, leaving a little length in the bangs. This helped the wig maker to get a near perfect fit until her hair had completely fallen out.

Once that happened, she went back for more adjustments. As her hair grew back, the wig was once again adjusted to accommodate her changing head shape.

I went to several holiday parties with this client and the only thing she heard was, "Your hair looks so beautiful... who does it?"

She'd point to me and say, "It's Romi's work." Since I did her weekly blow drys, it was in fact, the truth.

To this day, not even her friends knew she was wearing a wig.

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10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Breast Implant Size

The more questions I answer for RealSelf the more I have realized that there seems to be a lack of help, for some patients, to determine the correct size and style of breast implant for breast augmentation.

Guest post by Christopher L. Hess, MD, FACS.
Dr. Hess is a plastic surgeon based in Fairfax, Virginia.

Whether this is due to a failure of plastic surgeons to assist their patients in the decision making process, a lack of understanding on the patient’s part of the complexity involved in choosing implants or an over abundance of haphazard information from both the surgeon and the internet that ultimately confuses patients, I’m not really sure.

So in an effort to help all patients here are 10 things patients need to think about when choosing breast implants.

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13 Cosmetic Surgery Myths

Guest post on cosmetic surgery myths by Dallas board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Rod Rohrich and Dr. Jeffrey Kenkel.  Dr. Rohrich is the Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Dr. Kenkel is Professor and Vice Chairman. 

1. Myth: The “new” Botox – Dysport – is better and lasts longer.

Reality: The efficacy of Botox and Dysport is about the same. Both injectables are essentially purified forms of botulinum toxin A. Dysport may act somewhat faster and is expected to be about 15 percent cheaper. Dysport is currently being used in Europe and is anticipated to launch soon in the U.S. with FDA approval.

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5 Cosmetic Surgery Consultation Tips: Success Is No Secret

Guest post about cosmetic surgery consultations by board-certified plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD, the Facility Director and Surgeon at the Singer Surgery Centre in La Jolla, California.  Dr. Singer has published over 150 publications or national presentations at national and international surgical meetings. He is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and a prior president of the organization.

I’m often asked, “What is the secret to a good consultation with your doctor?”

My response: there is no secret.

Common sense and being a very, very cautious consumer are the elements that will help make your consultation a success.

1. Recognize that you get what you pay for

Before the consultation, make sure that the physician is fully trained , ideally a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Check with the State Medical Board Web site about the physician’s license status.

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How To Marry A Plastic Surgeon

First you have to meet one, perhaps on an internet dating service, at the local gym, or in the vegetable section of your organic food store. Or, you can examine your face or body and decide to undergo elective cosmetic surgery; the process of engaging a plastic surgeon is very similar to that of matrimonial commitment.

Or, as I tell my patients, a trip through an operating room door is like a walk down the aisle.

While patients can stumble unto a good plastic surgeon and might end up with a good result by luck, it is not a very reliable formula for a successful mature relationship between doctor and patient in as serious an endeavor as cosmetic surgery. Some people will fall in love at first sight and head straight for the altar that same night - but not many, and not if they are sane.

Yet patients routinely sign up for surgery after one consultation, maybe spending as little as ten minutes with the person with a sharp scalpel in his hands before handing a deposit over to a surgical consultant who is not even a doctor and who is often referred to as the ‘closer’ for obvious reasons. If the doctor or ‘closer’ seems too eager to ask for a deposit on the first visit, think of it as a person requesting sex on the first date, and slow down. Better yet, run out of the office.

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10 Must-haves For A Comfortable Cosmetic Surgery Recovery

As a personal concierge in New York City, I’ve helped numerous men and women recover from plastic surgery in their own homes and in hotel rooms. Through these experiences, I've discovered there are many items you need  to make your recuperation as easy as possible.  The 10 must haves in your home are:

1. Medication from your doctor. Your doctor will almost certainly prescribe you pain medication along with an antibiotic. Be sure to have your prescriptions filled a few days ahead of time. Sometimes pharmacies have to order medication and you don’t want to be running around town the day of your surgery trying to get your prescription filled. You’ll have enough on your mind already.

2. Surgical gloves. If you are having a surgery, such as a tummy tuck or facelift, that requires drains that will need to be emptied, your caretaker will appreciate it if you have these on hand. Gloves are also useful should there be any unexpected bleeding or vomiting from an interaction with the anesthesia. Extra gauze is also a good idea.

3. Reusable gel ice packs. With smooth edges, gel ice packs are gentler on bruised or sore body parts than regular ice. Plus the packs don’t drip.

4. Neosporin and Aquaphor. It’s not uncommon to incur minor scrapes after surgery. Neosporin will ensure these don’t get infected. Aquaphor is a thick, soothing moisturizer, especially for lips.

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