Posted by: skinandvein | July 21, 2011

Taking the Fear Out of Cosmetic Surgery

When I was growing up, going off the high dive for the first time was one of the scariest moments of my life at that time.  I remember the excitement when my parents said I was allowed to do this followed by the growing fear as I moved each rung up the ladder.  Believe it or not, I actually ended up chickening out my first trip up.  However, once I finally gathered my courage, the thrill of having completed the jump was exhilarating.

Getting cosmetic surgery is like jumping off the high dive.  When we first think about it, we get excited.  “This is going to be great.  I can’t wait until this is over so that I can look as good as I feel.”

Boy on a High Dive (Norman Rockwell)

However, just like when you are going up the ladder of the high dive, there are certain points along the way where you begin to get cold feet.  “What if the procedure doesn’t come out the way I want it to?” “What if I don’t recognize the person in the mirror when I’m done?”

Fear can come out at any point along the way—before the appointment call, after that call, before the consultation or after the consultation.

In addition to providing patients with the best care they can receive, it is our responsibility at the Skin & Vein Center to help calm those fears.  Hold their hand so that they can work through those fears.

For some, it is a matter of educating them on the procedure by informing them on such general questions as how long the procedure will take, what exactly is being done during the procedure and the time it will take to recover.  For others, they need to be reassured and it is up to us to be there for them and answer all of their questions whether they are seeking our counsel in the office or by phone.

In the end, our patients realize that getting cosmetic surgery is just like jumping off the high dive.  Everyone is scared in the beginning, but when it’s over, the results can leave you speechless and satisfied.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Cosmetic Surgery, Tips | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Posted by: skinandvein | July 14, 2011

Practicing Safe Sun: What Kind of Sunscreen Should I Use?

Summer is here and the time is right for dancing in the streets.  But with the summer sun comes the question, what sunscreen should I use to avoid sunburns.

SPF ratings.  UVA/UVB. Broad spectrum. Waterproof, scented, unscented. Like many other products, choosing the best sunscreen for you can be confusing.

Have no fear, for we at Skin & Vein Center are here to set the record straight and allow you to enjoy your moment(s) in the sun.

First off, let’s translate some of the more common acronyms and terminology you may have heard:

  • UVA/UVB rays.  Along with light, the sun gives off two kinds of ultraviolet (UV) light. UVA rays make up 95% of the spectrum and can penetrate more deeply into the skin. UVB rays penetrate only the top layers of skin and cause sunburn.
  • SPF stands for sun protection factor and measures the protection a sunscreen offers against only UVB rays.  Applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 means that it will take you 15 times longer to burn than it would without.

So what is the best sunscreen for you?  A water-resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is general recommendation as a starting point.  However, there are dozens of choices in this range.  You may even need to experiment to determine which brand and formula best suits your skin type and lifestyle.

Once you have found the sunscreen that is best for you, please remember to:

  • Make sure you apply enough sunscreen: about 1.25 ounces per application.
  • Apply sunscreen approximately 20-30 minutes before heading outside.
  • Reapply sunscreen after you have been outside for more than two hours, particularly if you are swimming or sweating heavily.

For more information on sunscreens, visit the American Academy of Dermatology.

Now go out and have some fun while the weather is still warm.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Dermatology, Tips | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: skinandvein | July 1, 2011

I am not only a cosmetic surgeon. I am also a patient.

Who remembers the Hair Club for Men promotions where the guy would say, “I not only the president, I am also a client?”  Well, I am not just a cosmetic surgeon.  I am also a patient.

You see, I started to lose my hair at age 28.  By the time I was 38, I had a big bald spot on the back of my head.  My attention was on it all of the time and it drove down my self-confidence.  I would paint it and do other things to cover it up, but nothing worked.  Needless to say, quite a bit of my time and energy was devoted to finding solutions and work-arounds, but to no avail.

Finally, I decided to get a hair transplant.  And you know what?  It made a world a difference.  Immediately, my self-esteem was back to normal and my attention could now be diverted to thinking of more constructive ways to make a difference in the world rather than worrying about my hair.

This is what cosmetic surgery can do for you.  Getting older is not easy.  For me, it was losing my hair.  For others, they may lose structure in their face.  Regardless, this can result in a loss of confidence and even depression.  The most common thing that I hear is people who look in the mirror their look is not consistent with how they feel inside.  While they don’t want to necessarily change their look, they just want it to be consistent with how they feel inside.

By performing a mini-facelift, we are able to “refresh” their look and take them back to how they looked about 10 years ago.  It is incredible to see when patients look in the mirror for the first time, give a great big smile and say, “That’s how I feel inside and how I want to show myself!”  This moment brings goose bumps to me every time.

Recently, I started thinking of new ways the Skin & Vein Center could give back to the community to those who cannot afford to have these types of procedures done.  We have been doing Freedom Ink, where we remove tattoos from ex-gang members at the Detroit iHisHispanic Development Corporation for several years now.

In May, we launched another program called Project Uplift, where, once a month, we are gifting a free-mini facelift to someone who could not have otherwise afforded this procedure.  The great thing about this program is from the nomination and voting process to the procedure, the whole office gets to be involved in making a difference in someone’s life.

In the end, the emotional rewards we get from making a difference in people’s lives through the procedures we perform is far better than any economic rewards we can gain.

1 Comment

Posted in Cosmetic Surgery, Freedom Ink, In the Community, Michigan, Project Uplift, Tattoo Removal | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: skinandvein | June 23, 2011

Remembering A Friend

By Dr. Eric Seiger and Steve Singer

Isn’t it amazing how often we take life for granted?  We find ourselves thinking, “I can call my parents tomorrow.”  “I will go to dinner with my friends next week.”  Essentially, our philosophy becomes, “Why do the things today that can be put off tomorrow?”

However, it only takes a second to regain our perspective when we lose someone we deeply care about.

Late Tuesday, we were ushered back to reality with the news that our friend Les Frahm had passed away unexpectedly.  As owner of 3D New Media in Birmingham, Les also was our “web guy.”  He enjoyed working with the Skin & Vein Center and liked our staff very much.  These sentiments were mutual.

Over the years, Les became a good friend and a teacher.  He was a really smart guy.  He was a really good guy.  And he will really be missed.

In honor of Les’s memory, we ask you to remember to live your life to the fullest.  Don’t put off tomorrow what can be done today.  Life is too short to miss out on any moment.

1 Comment

Posted in Michigan, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: skinandvein | June 16, 2011

Choosing the right cosmetic surgeon

Choosing a cosmetic surgeon is not a task you want to leave to chance.  After all, this is your body we are dealing with.  When you begin searching for a surgeon, go at it with the same intensity that you do when making any major decision in your life.

Particularly with an industry that is as highly competitive as cosmetic surgery, I want to share a few guidelines that can help you make the right decision when it comes time for you to select a surgeon who is right for you.

Obtain personal recommendations.  Ask friends and family members who have undergone similar procedures.  Your family doctor or other acquaintances in the medical field also can prove helpful.

Interview the surgeon.  When considering a cosmetic procedure, it is imperative that you are comfortable with the surgeon.  Don’t be afraid to ask your candidates about their medical license, certification and professional society memberships.  Some of the organizations to look for are the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).  Both of these organizations provide resources to assist you in verifying the physician’s membership.

You also should look at your candidate’s experience in performing the type of surgery you are considering and the types of tools that he or she uses.  Surgery is not a one size fits all procedure and what tool may work on one person might not be the right one for the next patient.  Determining the right tool is dependent on the patients’ skin, age, how their skin moves, how their skin has aged and how much structure has been lost.

Ask for a consultation.  No matter how minor the surgery you are considering, do not move forward with any procedure unless you are satisfied that you have received a complete evaluation.  When you meet with your prospective surgeon make sure that he or she takes a complete medical history and walks you through the procedure to show what would be done.  From there, you can both discuss the findings and determine what is best for you.

Ultimately, take your time in deciding not only what procedure you want done, but also who you want to perform it.  We are talking about your body here.  You should never feel pressured into doing anything that you do not want to do.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Cosmetic Surgery, Dermatology, Michigan, Tips | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: skinandvein | June 9, 2011

When contagious is a good thing

It’s not often that you will hear a doctor use the words “contagious” in a positive manner.  However, this word can be good when it means people helping one another because they saw someone else do it.  It is called “paying it forward” and it is something that I see happening when the Skin & Vein Center gives back to the local community.

I love those Liberty Mutual “a helping hand is contagious” commercials where a gentleman sees a lady stopping a delivery person before he endangers himself by walking into a busy intersection and later responds by helping a mother and her child get safely off the bus.

It reminds me of what happenings when our office gives back to the community.  In 2008, we started a program called “Freedom Ink,” where we visit at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and provide free tattoo removal procedures for ex-gang members.  The days I volunteer there are some of the most rewarding of my life.  By providing these services to people, who otherwise could not afford to have this work done, I know we will directly make a difference in their lives.

It is for this reason that we launched another initiative called “Project Uplift.”  Here, once per month, the Skin & Vein Center is awarding a deserving individual a free Mini-Facelift.  All that those who wish to be considered need to do is submit a short essay that answers the question, “How a Mini-Facelift would change my life, or the life of someone I love?”  I cannot wait until we select our first recipient for this free Mini-Facelift.

These are not services that I provide in hopes that I can earn extra money down the road, but things I do to make people feel good.  All I ask is that everyone involved—from the patients to my staff—return the favor by paying it forward.  This is when contagious is a good.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Cosmetic Surgery, Freedom Ink, In the Community, Michigan, Project Uplift, Tattoo Removal | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

« Newer Posts

Categories

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.