Nipntuck Blog

Red Carpet Over-Plumping

nipntuck — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:31:08 +0000

It’s Hollywood Award Season again. You might remember the Foster Farms ad campaign for their chicken products about over-plumping. In their television commercial, chickens are seen in a plastic surgeon’s office receiving injections to make them plumper. It is quite obvious that they are way too plump. This situation is underscored by the distorted facial appearance of the surgeon’s nurse when she finally reveals her face to the camera. It is a funny parody of the sometimes over-zealous use of fillers in Hollywood, perhaps on the Red Carpet this time of year.

I see over-plumping all the time, especially in the lips. The individuals, usually women, loose all of their natural lip shape and end up with what is often referred to as “trout pout.” They look as if the they have sausages for lips. The over-injection usually masks all natural proportion. The television commercial effectively uses this phenomenon for optimum comedic effect. However, I agree with the tagline, over plumping is never good.

A word of caution, the over-injection of any area of the body can lead to skin loss and terrible, uncorrectable scarring. The large volume of material simply reduces the blood flow to the treated area in such a way that the skin, muscle and fat die. Fortunately, this complication is very rare when only modest amounts of filler materials are used.

Finally, please avoid all silicone injections for any cosmetic reasons. The risk of chronic long term inflammation which arises is not worth it.

Dr. Bashioum on KARE TV Evening News

nipntuck — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:04:39 +0000

I was recently interviewed for a television news segment for KARE-11 TV. It is a story about a popular body modification trend, called ear gaging, One of my patients seeking to have the gaging appearance reversed, also participated. We were originally interviewed for an article by Jeff Strickler at the Minneapolis StarTribune. The procedure that is needed to restore earlobes to approximate normal looking ears requires cosmetic surgery.

Click here to watch the news segment.

Body Modifications: Second Thoughts

nipntuck — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:19:52 +0000

I was interviewed by the Minneapolis StarTribune last week regarding the popularity of body modification called ear gauging. Click here to read today’s article. This counter culture is coming full circle. Young adults who have chosen ear gauging are now moving into the work force. Even though they can remove the gauges, ear lobe deformity persists, which stands out as visual evidence of their past philosophies. They ask about having their ear lobes restored to the pre-counter culture state.

Fortunately, there is a simple surgery to eliminate the large hole in the ear lobe and at the same time reconstruct the natural shape of the ear. Under local anesthesia, the skin lining of the gauge hole is excised along with redundant lobe tissue. Simple skin closure leaves an inconspicuous scar that soon heals as the only evidence of their past choices.

Body Modifications: Second Thoughts

nipntuck — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:11:03 +0000

I was interviewed by the Minneapolis StarTribune last week regarding the popularity of body modification called ear gauging. Click here tomorrow to read Tuesday’s article. This counter culture is coming full circle. Young adults who have chosen ear gauging are now moving into the work force. Even though they can remove the gauges, ear lobe deformity persists, which stands out as visual evidence of their past philosophies. They ask about having their ear lobes restored to the pre-counter culture state.

Friday Photo: Winter Fun in MN

nipntuck — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:51:47 +0000

Now that winter temperatures have returned, I caught some adventurous ice sailors out on Wayzata Bay last weekend.

Recall of French Breast Implants

nipntuck — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:32:06 +0000

I recently received a guide from The American Society Aesthetic of Plastic Surgery for member plastic surgeons, addressing their concern for patients presenting with PIP Implants. The French manufacturer Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) and the Dutch company Rofil Medical used inferior, industrial grade, silicone in the breast implants they produced and sold.

What is wrong with the PIP/ROFIL implants? These products have a higher rupture rate than other available implants and these implants were never FDA approved here. Countries where these implants were available include England, France, Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Germany or the Czech Republic. However, medical tourism is popular and it is possible that some Americans may also have these types of implants.

I agree with the guidelines of The American Aesthetic Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and my colleagues at The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS) and who support the recommendation of the French authorities to remove the implants as a precaution, even if no symptoms or hints of rupture or leakage are present. Consult your physician if you have questions regarding what type of implants you have.

Patient Comment: Breast Surgery

nipntuck — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:08:52 +0000

Alicia writes:

I wanted to get my breasts done ever since I was 16. After a long year of doing research, I decided to wait till after I was done having children. That time came, and I started asking around for who might be the best surgeon to do it. I am glad that I went to see Dr. Bashioum. He and his staff forever changed my life!!!!!

From the free consultation, to the day of the surgery, the staff was AMAZING! They answered my questions, took the time to listen, and treated me with warmth and kindness.

On the day of the surgery I was never nervous. Everyone who was involved with the surgery met with me and made me feel calm.

After surgery, everyone was great and showed that they cared. Dr. Bashioum even telephoned me personally that night! I am so incredibly happy. I look and feel great. I will forever be grateful for Dr. Bashioum and his staff.
I will recommend him to everyone.

Friday Photo: Western Sky

nipntuck — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:01:04 +0000

My daughter Ashley took this photo with her new IPhone and sent it to us last weekend. What a great shot!

New Year’s Resolution: Some Nipntucks

nipntuck — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:35:02 +0000

Does your New Year’s Resolution include Cosmetic Surgery?

Every January I see a flurry of consultation requests for assorted nipntucks. New Year’s resolutions often include a pledge for personal change, but occasionally that change might be directed externally.

I can usually sense when a patient is merely in my office on a whim, rather than seriously considering the prospects of cosmetic surgery. Telltale signs include a patient presenting a laundry list of procedures, a patient insisting that I suggest what to “fix” and lastly, a patient who brings a friend to speak for them. I will always suggest that a patient schedule a second consultation to discuss specific details pertaining to the serious nature of considering surgery. This approach generally weeds out the “New Year’s resolution quick fix -it crowd.”

Friday Photo: Lake Minnetonka’s Wayzata Bay Docks

nipntuck — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:38:09 +0000

Across from my office, the deserted boat docks on Wayzata Bay still have significant open water this year. It has been a mild winter here so far and since I walk to work every day, I’m not complaining!