First Orthopedic Surgeon in Space
Posted on November 25, 2009
Robert Satcher Jr, MD, PhD, made history last Tuesday when he lifted off in the space shuttle Atlantis, headed to the International Space Station. Dr. Satcher will be the first orthopaedic surgeon to orbit the earth and is one of only 23 US physicians who have become astronauts. Dr. Satcher is serving as the flight crew medical […]
Senate Dems propose a 5% cosmetic surgery tax
Posted on November 19, 2009
As part of the 2000 page Senate proposal for health care reform released today, Senate Democrats are proposing a 5% tax on cosmetic surgery. More details can be read in the New York Times report (here). The way this proposal is worded, non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox, Restylane and Juvederm, laser treatments and pretty […]
New simpler rules for cholesterol testing
Posted on November 18, 2009
I had an interesting conversation with a patient this week, who strenuously asserted that the link between cholesterol levels and heart disease remains “unproven”. As it happens, this month’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has a major new study reviewing the link between cholesterol, heart disease and stroke, so I was able […]
New Government Mammography guidelines spark debate
Posted on November 17, 2009
This week, an influential government panel known as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), whose recommendations influences coverage of screening tests by Medicare and many insurance companies, has come out with new guidelines for mammography, particularly when testing should start, and how often it should be performed. Their article is published in the latest issue of Annals […]
Dr. Fiala tests the “Keller Funnel”
Posted on November 11, 2009
Ever see a product and go, “I wish I had thought of that”? Today, I tested a new surgical product called the Keller funnel, named after its inventor, also a plastic surgeon – and I had that very same sentiment. Essentially, the Keller funnel looks like a high-tech cake decorator’s funnel, the triangular bag with which […]
Johnson & Johnson pulls the plug on "Evolence"
Posted on November 7, 2009
Johnson & Johnson has announced this week that it has decided to stop making and selling Evolence, an injectable soft-tissue filler.Although Evolence has a good track record of safety and effectiveness, product sales apparently did not meet corporate expectations. The facial filler gained approval from the FDA in June 2008, but its market introduction coincided […]
Shameless request for votes!
Posted on November 5, 2009
PSB- the Plastic Surgery Blog has been nominated as a top quality blog by the readers of the Orlando Sentinel. The Sentinel is running a contest, known as the “Orbbie awards”, to determine the best blogs in town in various categories. This blog is in the miscellaneous category, called “Out of this World”. If you like […]
Propofol found in Weston Medi Spa patient
Posted on
New details have now emerged regarding the tragedy which occurred in south Florida, following liposuction surgery at an unlicensed medispa, which we discussed in an earlier chapter of the blog. According to an October 30, 2009 article in the Sun-Sentinel, the patient was not having the liposuction surgery performed with just local anesthesia (numbing with […]
New study on fat grafting to the breast
Posted on November 2, 2009
It’s seems like a perfect answer – “take a little off down here, put some a little more up here”. But fat grafting to the breasts has been controversial. A problem, known as fat necrosis, has been the #1 concern. Lumpy deposits of injected fat, which may feel exactly like a breast cancer, can result if […]
Good Plastic Surgery
Posted on October 29, 2009
Why don’t you ever see tabloid headlines about “Good Plastic Surgery” or “Great Botox”? Or maybe “Fantastic facelift” or “Tremendous Tummy tuck”? Well, besides the fact that 1) sensationalist headlines sell papers, and 2) we all have an excessive sense of curiosity about all things related to celebrities, regardless of their actual talent level, good […]