There have been exciting developments in plastic surgery in 2006 and this month we sat down with Dr. Mark Greene to discuss the latest in his specialty. “What I’m noticing is that people want to do less
invasive procedures at a younger age,” began Dr. Greene, “and
there are many more options available this year.”
As people move toward living a longer, healthier life, more and more
patients are looking to physicians to help them achieve a more youthful
appearance. The skin is the first to show an outward appearance of aging,
and often the first place people seek to improve their looks.
Traditionally skin rejuvenation has been achieved with a facelift by
surgically tightening the skin. Today however a multitude of minimally
invasive procedures are aimed at facial rejuvenation without the risk,
recovery time, and expense of major surgery. Along with the popular Botox,
there are a number of new dermal fillers, used to improve the contour
of the face. Most of the newer fillers are coming to the US from Europe,
including Arte-fill, Radiesse, and Juvaderm. They join other products
already widely in use, including Restylane and Sculptra. These products
effectively correct contour deformities in the skin such as fine to deep
wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, crow’s feet, acne and other
scars.
“People who are noticing changes to their skin as
they age present to my office at a younger age than patients who request
facelifts or trad1ftional surgical procedures. Using these new products
can stave off those procedures for years,” notes Dr. Greene.
The really big news, however, is that in November, 2006,
the FDA allowed the manufacturers of silicone breast implants to offer
their products to females 22 years of age or older who desire breast augmentation.
“Following a moratorium in 1992 on the sale and use of the products,
multiple studies done by various disciplines over the past fourteen years
show that there seems to be no relation between the silicone implants
and breast cancer or connective tissue diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis,
lupus, or other autoimmune disorders,” said Dr. Greene. “The
packaging of implants is different and improved: the outer shell is three
layers, and the gel is a much more viscous thicker material than the original
gel. Since November, 2006, We have noticed a marked increase in women
desiring silicone implants, and have seen several patients scheduled for
saline implant augmentation change to silicone implants.” The high
level of FDA scrutiny makes silicone implants the most closely studied
medical device ever approved.
Specializing in cosmetic surgery of the face,
breast and body, plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Greene has been practicing in
San Antonio for almost 11 years. Board certified in both plastic and reconstructive
surgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Greene has formal training
in dentistry, oral surgery, medicine and plastic surgery. He also trained
with several internationally-recognized plastic surgeons before opening
his private practice in 1996.