It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

The last two weeks of December can be the busiest time of year for plastic surgery.
One — because the time off around the holidays allows people to heal without having to walk around the office with any tell-tale puffiness.
And two — for people getting procedures covered by insurance, the end of the year can be a good time to save some money, if they’ve already gone to the doctor a bunch and met their deductibles.

Beauty takes no holiday

December, particularly the latter half, is the busiest time of the year for many plastic surgeons, cosmetic dermatologists and doctors who perform weight-loss operations like gastric bypass. Some doctors say they do twice as many of these elective procedures per day in this period as during the rest of the year.
The reason: After many cosmetic procedures patients want to go underground during the days-long recovery period, which might involve swelling, bruising and extra healing time. The holiday season makes it easier to avoid interacting with others at work or in school car pools. A patient can be under the knife or laser beams early in the week and still be presentable by the time the parties start.

Many patients opt for Laser treatments, which promises to make patients look younger by removing freckles and dark spots with a laser. Some people like to hide out while they heal. Laser procedures are meant to leave the skin looking younger and offers patients little or no downtime.  The Laser 360 treatment has more downtime, but with people off work for the holidays- it can be the optimal time to try an ablative treatment like this.  Many other treatments are optimal this time of year, including Fotofacials, Clear Lift Skin Remodeling and fillers and injectables, such as Botox and Juvederm.

A lot of patients opt for this time to have cosmetic surgeries or laser procedures to look good for the new year and before spring rolls around.  Because people have limited time in the sun this time of year and are covered under layers of clothes- it makes it the perfect time of year for a surgery or laser treatment(s).
With school on break during these weeks, you don’t have to worry about seeing other parents while dropping off kids at school. You can have enough time to heal and be fabulous for New Year’s Eve.
Health insurance can be another reason that demand rises for certain elective surgeries in December. In the case of bariatric surgery, for instance, people might have met their insurance plan’s annual deductible and want to have the operation before year end. Patients do want to fly under the radar and they can do that during the holidays.
For plastic surgeons, the most popular procedures for December can be those that require the most time for healing, like face-lifts, breast augmentation and tummy tucks.  Our office also performs Robotic Hair Transplants, which offers no downtime.  But for some patients who want to discretely come in for a procedure and go unnoticed- the holidays can be a perfect time.
Dr. Bishara provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Many of these procedures can be combined in order to achieve your desired appearance.
Please contact our office for further information at (817) 473-2120 or email at appointments@markbisharamd.com
 
 

Many myths surround the seemingly glamorous world of plastic surgery. But in fact, plastic surgery is a lot like every other medical specialty with highly-trained physicians providing many different services. Here are the Top 5 Plastic Surgery Myths.
#5 Plastic Surgery is All About Beauty and Vanity
Although breast augmentations, Botox and facelifts get all the press, plastic surgery encompasses everything from correcting birth defects such as cleft palates to post-cancer breast reconstruction and work-related hand injuries.
Plastic surgeons care about the functional and overall results after surgery, not just the aesthetics (although we are specifically trained to optimize those, as well). When a patient does choose to have surgery for cosmetic reasons, it is often to correct areas which are not amenable to diet, weight loss or nonsurgical procedures.
#4 Plastic Surgery Patients are the Rich and Famous
If plastic surgeons only operated on the 1%, we wouldn’t have a thriving plastic surgery industry.
Most aesthetic patients are not the rich and famous, but are average people who simply wish to restore confidence, enhance their overall appearance and improve their lives.
#3 Only Women Get Plastic Surgery
Although women have been the traditional customers of plastic surgery, men are turning to plastic surgery in increasing numbers.
Less invasive procedures such as Botox, laser treatments and dermal fillers can give men a rejuvenated and naturally youthful appearance without any downtime and at relatively low costs. These, along with liposuction, are the most popular cosmetic surgery treatments for men, with many men reporting a need for a competitive edge in the workforce as the reason they have pursued cosmetic treatments.
#2 Plastic Surgery Leaves No Scars and Lasts Forever
Plastic surgeons are great at making scars look better, more refined and smaller, but all types of plastic surgery will generally cause some type of scar formation. We can often recommend the best way to minimize scarring, and give advice and treatments on how to make your scar look as great as possible after surgery.
And while many plastic surgery procedures are long lasting and can give you years, if not decades of personal satisfaction, many factors determine how long the results will last. Plastic surgery can turn back the hands of time – but the clock keeps on ticking. Great skin care, less-invasive office procedures, surgical touch-ups, and your overall health are all important to maintain your natural good looks.
#1 Plastic Surgery is the Same as Cosmetic Surgery
All plastic surgeons do not have the same training. Many doctors trained in, and board certified in, other specialties such as gynecology or family medicine have ventured into plastic surgery, causing what is known as “white coat confusion“. Yes, they are board certified – but not in plastic surgery.
Being board certified in plastic surgery means that a physician has undergone years of specific training related to all the nuances of cosmetic and plastic surgery. Patients choosing a surgeon for their cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures should always inquire about a doctor’s specific board certifications.

This information is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa with offices in Mansfield and Southlake, TX



 

Plastic surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States and the transformative power compels thousands of men and women to go under the knife every year. Unlike most surgeries, cosmetic procedures are not medically necessary which can make it hard to analyze the demographics. While each individual’s needs and wants differ when it comes to choosing a procedure, the most popular cosmetic surgeries can be broken down by age group. While trends in plastic surgery vary from year to year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2012 statistics report shows that some procedures are consistently popular with certain age groups. Here’s why.

Nose reshaping is widespread among 13-19 year-old patients, simply because the nose you were born with is the nose you will have for life. While other parts of the body can change given time or lifestyle habits, the shape and structure of your nose changes the least. The skin does thicken and the cartilage can lose its support, but for the most part, the defining features remain constant throughout life. Adolescents who are approaching adulthood oftentimes turn to rhinoplasty to get a new start or a fresh look as they embark on milestones such as high school graduation or the start of college.
On the other hand, breast augmentation is a popular procedure for those who have gone through puberty: 20-29 year-olds. The breasts are typically fully formed by that age, and the size and shape are at a fixed point. Shifts in weight, pregnancy and lifestyle (bra usage) may alter breast size and shape but in an unpredictable way. This is a time when image is very important to women, so they seek larger breasts in order to boost their self-confidence and balance the proportions of their new adult figures.
Once men and women reach their 30’s, their metabolism begins to slow down. They notice a change in the way their bodies deposit fat even if their exercise pattern and diet have remained the same. Certain body parts store stubborn fat that is hard to lose even with healthy eating and exercise. Liposuction has traditionally been the remedy to this problem. We have seen an increase in the popularity of newer technologies that provide less invasive options for fat reduction. However, liposuction remains time honored and consistent in providing the most predictable results. A variety of techniques are available to safely remove fat and sculpt curves.
The 40’s are a time when the aging process really begins to set in. We typically start to see the earlier signs of aging around the eyes and forehead. The skin around the eye is prone to wrinkle and show redundancy. The upper eyelids and forehead can begin to droop and give a tired or sad appearance. Thus it’s no surprise that patients between the ages of 40-54 are likely to undergo an eyelid and/or brow lifting surgery in order to minimize these changes. The lower eyelids are treated by removing or tightening skin as well as treating fat pockets.
Finally, the facelift is an extremely popular procedure for those 55 and older. At this point, there are multiple parts of the face that need rejuvenating. The cheeks typically fall or deflate, the corners of the mouth turn down, jowls appear, the jawline loses its contour and the neck becomes loose and droopy at times, showing bands under the chin. A facelift helps restore a youthful appearance by addressing these parts that have aged including the eyelids, sagging of the neck and volume loss in the cheeks. Combinations of procedures can lift the brow, the mid face or cheek area and tighten the jaw line while treating jowls and reshaping the neck.
Of course everyone ages differently and each person’s goals are different, but these tend to be the most popular procedures by age group. Do any of these surprise you? What procedure have you been thinking about?
Dr. Mark Bishara provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Many of these procedures can be combined in order to achieve your desired appearance. Please call our office at (817) 473-2120 for more information.

 

So many women and men have thought of plastic surgery, but decide not to go through with it because aesthetic surgery procedures have a longer recovery time. While some people may be able to schedule a vacation to accommodate the time they’ll need recovering from a facelift, others simply can’t fit several weeks of recovery into their schedule. For these folks, “lunch hour “plastic surgery” can be a godsend.  Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Med Spa offer effective cosmetic procedures to help patients restore or achieve their ideal appearance, in order to feel confident about the way they look.
For anyone who is wanting to defy the aging process, Dr. Bishara offers a new procedure- The Lunch-Hour Facelift. This new high-tech procedure erases wrinkles in 60 minutes with lasers and injections, rather than a surgeon knife.

Traditional Facelift VS. Lunch-Hour Facelift

The conventional facelift is a surgical operation that requires an incision(s), that are placed along the hairline. Next, the surgeon may redistribute fatty tissue, modify the underlying musculature, and re-drape the skin. Lunch-hour facelifts are less invasive and involve several small nonsurgical procedures. These may include Botox injections, laser skin resurfacing, and dermal filler injections. The procedure can also be performed in under an hour with no down time.
Most often, individuals visit a plastic surgeons or dermatologist’s office for an injection of Botox or soft tissue fillers.  Botox works by paralyzing certain muscles in the face that cause wrinkling, while soft tissue fillers can fill in wrinkles or add volume to facial features. What makes these procedures special is that they can be performed in just about an hour – on a lunch break, for example.

Ideal candidate for this procedure:

Traditional surgical facelift are usually more suited for people in their mid-forties and older, but the lunch-hour facelift procedures are targeting men and women in their 30s and above.  The desire is to address and treat the first signs of fine lines and wrinkles as soon as they appear. Dr. Bishara’s unique treatments offer patients effective results through the most minimally invasive techniques.

Is this procedure worth it?

Some people may be discouraged by the idea of Botox, fillers and laser treatments, likely because of rumors that claim injections don’t offer real, long-lasting results. However, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) states that results from Botox and fillers can last for several months, and the procedure is not only a way to reduce wrinkles that have already formed but also prevent new ones from appearing on the face. For these reasons, Botox was once again the most popular non-surgical procedure in 2012, with doctors performing more than 4 million injections. Laser skin treatments also help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars and various other texture concerns.
The lunch-time facelift is effective because it encourages new collagen growth, fills in fine lines and wrinkles, and gives the skin a more youthful look that is still subtle and natural.  Patients fine lines and wrinkles will begin to disappear and their skin will be tighter. The lunch-hour facelift does not completely erase deep wrinkles.  A traditional facelift would correct that.

The lunch-time facelift has been growing in popularity due to patients opting for less invasive procedures that are also cheaper and less intense. While the days of traditional facelifts are far from over, increasingly more patients have been opting for this non-invasive feature that fits easily into their busy lives. Whether your looking for a lunch-time facelift or traditional facelift, we can help.  Dr. Bishara provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Please call us for questions and more information at (817) 473-2120.
 

Not so long ago, when a person went in for a cosmetic procedure, the entire procedure was kept under wraps as much as possible.  Though people speculated about whether or not someone they knew had had “work done”, rarely were such things discussed openly in public or even in privacy with friends.
But cosmetic procedures have changed a lot over the years. There are more technologically advanced procedures available today that require a lot less of a financial commitment and significantly less recovery time. The advent of Botox and other injectables and a variety of non-invasive liposuction options have made cosmetic procedures much more accessible and much more appealing to a wider range of people. As a result, more and more people are having cosmetic procedures performed and more and more people are also talking about their procedures more openly. at. Dr. Mark Bishara’s office we strive to help patients feel confident about their cosmetic procedures.
Though more people are admitting to having some sort of work done to cosmetically enhance their appearance, it is generally considered rude to ask another person about cosmetic procedures point-blank.  Many people will talk about their cosmetic procedures if they feel comfortable about it, but asking about it considered to be a social faux pas.  These days, patients are aiming to create natural looking cosmetic changes and when people notice the work that’s been done (and come right out and say it), this can be perceived as an insult.  And what if your friend or coworker hasn’t had any cosmetic procedures performed? Asking could make the person in question feel good about the way they look, or it could make them wonder if they need to consider a cosmetic procedure. Either way, you run the risk of putting your foot in your mouth.
One of the reasons why people change the way they look it because changing one’s appearance alters people’s reaction to their appearance.  It’s considered extremely rude to ask a person about whether or not they’ve had cosmetic procedures performed. It is best to let them confess to the procedure by their own volition.
If you suspect someone has had cosmetic enhancements, give them a compliment about their appearance. If that person wants to tell you about their cosmetic procedure, they’ll find an appropriate time or place to do so. Otherwise, you’ll just have to wonder. Remember, cosmetic surgery is not what it used to be and many people do end up spilling the beans. The whole point of cosmetic surgery is to make noticeable changes in one’s appearance and since approximately 9 million people in the United States underwent some kind of cosmetic procedure in 2011, many people feel like it’s counterproductive to keep their procedure a secret.  Rather than be secretive, many patients opt to clear the air and take pride in their renovated appearance. After all, who isn’t having work done these days?
To learn more about the minimally invasive and surgical cosmetic procedures that Dr. Bishara’s office offers, please call out office at (817) 473-2120.