• Great operation in Men and Women!
• A natural rested appearance is the goal
• Usually off the pain medicine the NEXT DAY and minimal if any bruising if ice and elevation are used.
• If only fat is removed there are no stitches to take out!
• Can be back doing cardio in a week.
• Huge result for minimal downtime and rapid recovery

Can be combined with Upper Eyelid Surgery at a substantial savings:

A one hour procedure done under twilight conscious sedation.To remove skin, the incision falls right under the eyelash margin where eyeliner normally goes – heals beautifully! To remove fat, a tiny incision is made on the inside of the eyelid leaving no scar!

Filler of the tear trough works best and often only when the skin laxity of the lower eyelid is minimal. HUGE benefit in rejuvenating the eyes and getting rid of a tired, old, sad ,or angry look. Great operation in Men and Women! A natural rested appearance is the goal

Usually off the pain medicine the NEXT DAY and minimal if any bruising if ice and elevation are used. Stitches under the lashes come out in 5 days. If only fat is removed there are no stitches to take out! Can be back doing cardio in a week.

There is NO non-surgical procedure that can came close to what eyelid surgery can do.

Huge result for minimal downtime and rapid recovery

Can be combined with UPPER EYELID surgery at a substantial savings:

Click here to view the Fall 2011 Newsletter.

A one hour procedure done under twilight conscious sedation. The incision falls in the crease of the upper eyelid
Removes excess skin so you see the youthful crease of the upper eyelid. Often we remove a bit of upper eyed fat if heavy upper lids are present HUGE benefit in rejuvenating the eyes and getting rid of a tired, old, sad ,or angry look. Great operation in Men and Women! A natural rested appearance is the goal

Usually off the pain medicine the NEXT DAY and minimal if any bruising if ice and elevation are used. Stitches come out in 5 days then you can apply makeup. Can be back doing cardio in a week.

There is NO non-surgical procedure that can came close to what eyelid surgery can do.

Huge result for minimal downtime and rapid recovery

The Aesthetic Surgery Education & Research Foundation announced today results of a new study that showed patients have significant and sustained improvements in body image after surgery. The researchers found that patients were not only satisfied with their surgery, but experience a decrease in the frequency of negative body image emotions in specific social situations for as long as 12 months after surgery.

“Patients experience a significant and lasting improvement in appearance and body image following surgery,” said Dr. David B. Sarwer, PhD.

Dr.’s and colleagues studied patients from eight cosmetic surgery practices across the country before surgery and three, six, and 12 months after surgery. The researchers found that 87% of respondents reported satisfaction with postoperative outcomes. One year after surgery, 97% continued to report that they would recommend surgery to others and 93% indicated they would have the surgery again. Patients reported significant improvements in their overall appearance as well as in the feature altered by surgery. Furthermore, they also experienced a decrease in the frequency of negative body image emotions in specific social situations. All improvements were maintained 12 months post surgery.

This study suggests that patients who invest their time and money in cosmetic procedures do experience lasting improvement in body image. “Patients did not experience a worsening of depressive symptoms or have other negative emotional outcomes. This suggests, for example, that patients expecting to like their nose better after rhinoplasty, will likely be very satisfied.”

SkinSpirit in the NEWS!
June, 2005

Have you been reading the Gentry Magazine, “Not-So-Extreme Makeover” Articles? SkinSpirit together with Gentry Magazine has been “Making Over” some of their very own employee’s! In the articles, they follow the progress and improvements of the non-surgical procedures that are done at SkinSpirit for six months. It has been fun and exciting to see the results and the changes that have been occurring through the process.

There has been a personal trainer, life coach, style consultant & hairstylist involved in the entire process to provide optimal results. Grab your June 2005 edition of Gentry Magazine to get all of the information on their exciting final results, Or call to book a personal make over of your own!!

SkinSpirit
701 Emerson Street
Palo Alto, CA. 94301
650.324.9600
www.skinspirit.com

Vistnes Plastic Surgery
1515 El Camino Real #B
Palo Alto, CA. 94306
650.322.5444
www.vistnes.com

CHOOSING YOUR COSMETIC SURGEON – ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Before you schedule your surgery, you may want to ask the following questions:

• Ask if the doctor is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. ASAPS membership ensures that the doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (see next bullet) and has also met other special requirements for cosmetic surgery experience and continuing education.
• Ask if the doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. When a doctor claims to be “board certified,” ask by which board. Only one, the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify doctors.
• If the doctor operates in an ambulatory or office-based facility, ask if the facility is accredited. Facilities that are accredited have met strict requirements for all aspects of operation, and such accreditation denotes a high standard of care. As of July 2002, ASAPS members performing plastic surgery in which anesthesia (other than local anesthesia and/or minimal tranquilization) is used must operate in a facility that meets at least one of the following criteria: accredited by a national or state-recognized accrediting organization; state-licensed; or Medicare-certified.

During your consultation, the following questions can be discussed with the surgeon:

• What experience does the doctor have in performing this procedure? Ask what training has been completed, especially in new techniques, as well as how often he or she performs the procedure. How many they he or she has done while in practice (estimate that is).
• What are the possible risks? There are risks with any surgical procedure. Find out what they are, how often they occur, and how they will be handled if they do occur. If the doctor does not openly discuss the risks or says that there are no risks, seek another opinion.
• What is the expected recovery for the procedure? Important points to discuss are postoperative restrictions on activity and typical time periods for resuming work and social activities.
• What is the doctor’s policy on surgical revisions? A small percentage of cases may require surgical revisions to achieve the desired result. Find out about any costs for which you may be responsible.
• How much will the surgery cost? Cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance, & payment is required in advance. Costs include the surgeon’s fee’s, fees for the surgical facility, & anesthesia. Other possible costs are the blood work, medications ” surgical garments. While it is tempting to “bargain shop”, or compromise, the training & experience of your surgeon are the most important factors in the success of your surgery. Do not compromise based on cost.

MESOTHERAPY NOT PROVEN AS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO LIPOSUCTION PLASTIC SURGEONS CAUTION AGAINST UNKNOWN DANGERS

The allure of shedding unwanted pockets of fat with a series of simple injections, known as mesotherapy, sounds too good to be true – and it just might be. According to an ASPS Device & Technique Assessment (DATA) Committee report, patients should be wary of mesotherapy until the safety and effectiveness of the procedure are confirmed. “The promise of a non-surgical, permanent method for fat removal and body contouring is obviously very appealing, but mesotherapy is not proven to be the miracle cure to a thinner you. The problem with mesotherapy is the whole technique is shrouded in mystery. Liposuction remains the only proven method to safely and permanently remove fat.”

Touted as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction, mesotherapy involves injecting medications and plant extracts into layers of fat and connective tissue under the skin. The injected ingredients may include agents that are used to open blood vessels, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, enzymes, nutrients, antibiotics and hormones. Mesotherapy may be used in conjunction with dietary modification, hormone replacement therapy, exercise and nutritional supplements. No drug is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in mesotherapy.

Although the practice of mesotherapy has been around for decades in Europe, it has only recently been introduced in the United States. There are no published scientific studies demonstrating if the effects are permanent, why or if certain ingredients work, or how safe mesotherapy is for patients. In addition, there is no standardization in mesotherapy. The types of drugs used vary from physician to physician as does the quantity and frequency of injections.

Mesotherapy may cost $1,000 to $1,500 per treatment with three to six treatments required. This can prove costly for patients who may not receive the desired results.

Plastic surgeons are constantly researching better methods to help patients achieve their desired look; however, patients’ health and safety is always foremost on our minds. There is no information on what happens to fatty acids once they leave the targeted area or how the various ingredients affect the body’s organs and other tissues. There is simply too much we do not know about mesotherapy to say it is unquestionably safe for patients.

Currently, liposuction is the only method that has been proven to safely and effectively remove fat. According to ASPS statistics, liposuction was the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2004, with more than 325,000 procedures performed.

Without data to support claims that mesotherapy works, the procedure appears to be a mystic type of therapy. We need to know a lot more about this procedure before plastic surgeons can endorse mesotherapy and recommend it to patients.

CHOOSING BREAST IMPLANT SIZE: A MATTER OF AESTHETICS

Surgical breast enlargement enables a woman to choose the breast size that she feels will enhance her body image and self-confidence. However, some women find that, following breast augmentation, their ideas about the ideal breast size have changed, and this can lead them to request additional surgery. Additional surgery means additional risks, so plastic surgeons are always looking for ways to help women make better choices about breast size at the time of their initial breast augmentation surgery.

A recent survey of 1350 breast augmentation patients showed that, while satisfaction with surgery was extremely high, nevertheless 34 percent of those who underwent re-operation did so simply to change the size of their implants. In most cases, women who change implant size switch to larger implants. However, implants that are too large can leave a patient looking “proportionally disfigured.” If a patient demands a size unsuited to her body type, it is hard for a plastic surgeon to guarantee the results.

While there are different opinions on selecting the appropriate implant size, most plastic surgeons agree that the base diameter of the breast should be the key measurement determining the selection. “After measuring the breast’s base diameter, I have my patient’s actually try on a filled implant in a sports bra to allow her to get a feel for the size that will be most suitable,” Dr. Vistnes explains. “This helps the patient to see, how an implant that is too large simply won’t fit with her body type.”

Even though implant size usually is best determined by measurement of the breasts, patients who are actively involved in the decision about implant size may be more likely to be satisfied with the results of surgery. When choosing implant size, patients should be aware that large implants, compared with smaller sizes, have a greater potential for certain types of complications, both in the short-term and long-term. Patients who select a more moderate size implant will give them a well-proportioned and more natural-appearing body contour. How can breast augmentation patient’s best explore their options for implant size before undergoing surgery?

• Be frank and open in discussing size so that there is clear communication, from the beginning, between you and your plastic surgeon.
• Select several photographs from magazines illustrating ideal proportions, and show these to your plastic surgeon as a way to begin the communication process. The examples should be of individuals with a similar body type to yours.
• Don’t define your desired breast size only in terms of bra-cup size. Cup size can vary significantly among bra styles and manufacturers.
• Plastic surgeons sometimes have implants in the office that are used for patients to “try on” different sizes by stuffing them inside their bra. Dr. Vistnes always uses this option at your pre-operative exam.
• Maintain realistic objectives and don’t assume that bigger is always better. Implants that are too large not only will upset the aesthetic balance of your figure, they also may be more prone to sagging and ultimately give you a “matronly” look. The best approach is to select implants that will look like a natural part of your body.

Dr. Dean Vistnes, MD is a Stanford trained, board certified Plastic Surgeon who practices in Palo Alto. He is also the founder of SkinSpirit, a medically supervised skincare clinic and spa located in downtown Palo Alto.

© 2005, Vistnes Plastic Surgery. All rights reserved.

VISTNES PLASTIC SURGERY AMONG THE FIRST IN PALO ALTO TO OFFER PATIENTS BREAKTHROUGH POST-OPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF SYSTEM

ON-Q—”Like A Walkman for Pain Relief”—Helps Patients Get Back To Normal Faster After Surgery

Palo Alto, CA—December 16, 2004—Vistnes Plastic Surgery today announced that it is among the first in the Palo Alto area to offer the ON-Q® Post-Operative Pain Relief System which provides completely portable, surgical-site, non-narcotic pain relief for patients recovering from surgery. Many patients fear surgery due to both post-surgical pain and not being able to quickly return to their normal routine. ON-Q provides patients with a way to get back on their feet faster by offering effective pain relief with less or no narcotics. ON-Q is a balloon-like device that provides targeted pain relief after surgery only where the body needs it, automatically delivering a narcotic-free numbing medication directly into an incision site for up to five days. This decreases the need for narcotics and their associated side effects. Patients carry ON-Q like a walkman while it provides them with continuous relief. This system enables some patients to leave the hospital within 24 hours, decreasing recovery time and allowing them to get back to their normal lives. ON-Q can be used for many different surgeries including: cesarean sections, hysterectomies, cardiovascular surgeries, knee surgeries, mastectomies, foot and ankle surgeries and some cosmetic surgeries. “Pain relief is a critical issue to us and to our patients. Vistnes Plastic Surgery is always looking for the most beneficial therapies to ensure our patients have a comfortable and satisfying post-surgical experience,” said Dr. M. Dean Vistnes, M.D. “We’re finding that ON-Q patients are often recovering faster and getting back to their normal lives more quickly.” Nearly 25 million Americans experience acute pain each year due to injuries or surgery. Clinical research demonstrates that ON-Q provides patients with a way to get back on their feet faster following surgery by reducing the need for narcotics by as much as 40-70 percent depending on the surgery. Narcotics, the historical standard of care, carry the risk of side effects like nausea, drowsiness, constipation, difficulty breathing and potential addiction. Patients should ask their physician about ON-Q prior to surgery. Insurance coverage will vary by insurance carrier and surgical procedure. In some cases, there is no additional cost to the patient. For more information about ON-Q, visit www.AskYourSurgeon.com or call 800-448-3569.

About ON-Q®

The ON-Q® Post-Operative Pain Relief System is a small, high-tech balloon pump that holds local anesthetic (a pain-numbing medicine) and delivers it through a tiny, specially-designed tube (catheter) directly into the surgery site. The pump delivers pain-numbing medication for up to five days, is completely portable and can be attached to a patient’s gown or clothing or carried in a pouch. When the infusion is complete, the catheter is removed and the pump is thrown away. Some patients are now able to leave the hospital with ON-Q’s “pain relief to-go” in less than 24 hours. ON-Q is cleared for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

About Vistnes Plastic Surgery

M. Dean Vistnes, M.D. is a Stanford University trained plastic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, The California Society of Plastic Surgeons, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr Vistnes has been in private practice in Palo Alto, CA for over 10 years and his practice is entirely devoted to cosmetic surgery. As one of the top cosmetic plastic surgeons in the San Francisco Bay Area, he sees patients from across the country as well as around the world. His attention to meticulous detail and beautiful, natural results, have given him an impeccable reputation among his patients and peers.

“The new wave of plastic surgery reality television is a serious cause for concern,” says Rod Rodrich, MD, ASPS president. ‘Some of these shows have an unrealistic and frankly, unhealthy expectations about what Plastic Surgery can do for them.”

Plastic surgery should not be viewed as an avenue to transform a person’s looks or life.
Rather, plastic surgery can help refine and or improve upon someone’s natural appearances. Of current particular concern is the young, impressionable audience watching these shows who are already self-conscious about their body image.

The public is being lulled into a sense that there are no real risks or complications in cosmetic surgery. People need to understand that it is real surgery that should be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon. To aid people in considering plastic surgery, the ASPS has developed a brochure titled “Making the Right Choice”.

This brochure offers information on managing expectations and questions to ask before going through with Plastic Surgery. You can access this brochure online at www.plasticsurgery.org.

Plastic Surgery Trends 2003

More than 6.6 Million cosmetic plastic surgeries were performed in 2003, up 41% from 2002. Of those procedures, Botox injections, was the overall top procedure performed with nearly 900,000 injections total.

The top 5 cosmetic procedures performed in 2003 were:

• Breast Augmentation (246,930)
• Liposuction (241,887)
• Eyelid Surgery (129,727)
• Tummy Tuck (97,698)
• Facelift (86,504)

Women represent the majority of patients with a dominating 85% of all procedures performed.

Age groups opting for plastic surgery:

• 35 — 50 Years of age, 45% (2.9 million people)
• 19 — 34 Years of age, 24% (1.6 million people)
• 51 — 64 Years of age, 22% (1.4 million people)
• 65 & Up Years of age, 6% ( 396,993 people)

VISTNES PLASTIC SURGERY, AMONG THE FIRST IN PALO ALTO TO OFFER PATIENTS BREAKTHROUGH POST-OPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF
December 15, 2004

Palo Alto, CA — Vistnes Plastic Surgery today announced that it is among the first in the Palo Alto area to offer the ON-Q® Post-Operative Pain Relief System which provides completely portable, surgical-site, non-narcotic pain relief for patients recovering from surgery. Many patients fear surgery due to both post-surgical pain and not being able to quickly return to their normal routine. ON-Q provides patients with a way to get back on their feet faster by offering effective pain relief with less or no narcotics.

ON-Q is a balloon-like device that provides targeted pain relief after surgery only where the body needs it, automatically delivering a narcotic-free numbing medication directly into an incision site for up to five days. This decreases the need for narcotics and their associated side effects. Patients carry ON-Q like a walkman while it provides them with continuous relief. “Pain relief is a critical issue to us and to our patients. Vistnes Plastic Surgery is always looking for the most beneficial therapies to ensure our patients have a comfortable and satisfying post-surgical experience,” said Dr. M. Dean Vistnes, M.D. “We’re finding that ON-Q patients are often recovering faster and getting back to their normal lives more quickly.”

On-Q Testimonials:

“The pain pump literally saved my life! I am allergic to most pain medications and the pain pump allowed me to be drug free during recovery, with minimal pain” CS

“All I can say is Thank God for Dr. Vistnes and his miracle pain pump! The recovery from my tummy tuck was much less than I had anticipated” EO

“The pain pump helped me tremendously! I could not even imagine what recovery would have been like without it!” EM

HOW DO AVOID LOOKING AS OLD AS YOUR PARENTS DID?
FACTS AND SECRETS OF THE ANTI-AGING INDUSTRY FROM AN INSIDER

A rapidly growing multi-billion dollar industry in the United States has emerged catering to those who desire to slow, prevent or reverse the aging process without surgery.. The quest to find the proverbial fountain of youth has led to the development of numerous procedures and products, founded on science, that really do work. They can dramatically slow the aging process as well as reverse some of the visible signs of aging. Along with these proven treatments however, are lots of things that do nothing but waste your time and money, shattering hopes of aging beautifully. Unfortunately, most average consumers don’t have the knowledge to know what’s real and what’s snake oil.

Non-surgical anti-aging options are categorized as either medical strength products or non-invasive medical procedures. In order for any treatment to work it must first overcome a barrier that has evolved over millions of years — the skin itself. The skin serves two critical functions. It keeps in the things we want (water or hydration) and it keeps out toxins and pollutants. For any treatment to work, it has to penetrate the outer layer of skin to get to the deeper layers. The sad reality is most skin care products, even those labeled as having anti-aging properties, do nothing but sit on the surface of the skin. It takes a significant amount of science and research, often using proprietary ingredients or technology, to get active ingredients to penetrate the skin. Simply layering expensive products on the skin surface is a waste of time and money. A great example is the numerous vitamin C products available today on the market. Vitamin C products work only when they are in the proper form and concentration. Unfortunately, no regulation exists that prevents a skincare company from selling products with the ingredient “Vitamin C” and labeling it as anti-aging. The same can be said for products containing retinol, copper peptides, vitamin E, growth factors, DNA, antioxidants, free radical scavengers and a host of others.

Both large and small companies use the industry buzzwords to capitalize on the consumer’s desire to slow the aging process. Market studies show that the average woman in the United States may have between $300-$400 worth of “anti-aging” products that are incapable of delivering any of the promises and claims they make. Anti-aging procedures such as Botox, Restylane, Thermage, Microdermabrasion and IPL have medically proven benefits in slowing or correcting the aging process. But again, in the “jump on board” mentality, non-medical entities like day spas, estheticians and salons offer watered down versions of the procedures that, although cheaper, fail to deliver the promised results. Nearly all these procedures, in order to be truly effective, must be done under the supervision of a physician. As the buzzwords become part of our vernacular, companies come out with products and procedures, misleadingly advertised as “better than botox” or “the non-surgical facelift procedure at the day spa”. Again, taking advantage of our desire to stay young.

So, the real secrets are not so secret! Products and services that work generally have science and medicine behind them. This means they are usually available only through a trained physician. Be skeptical of anti-aging claims at the day spa, esthetician’s office, or department store. If you don’t have the time or energy to research things on your own, consult with someone with a proven track record of delivering quality and results. Remember though, the best way to slow the aging process is through prevention (sun block, diet, exercise, not smoking, and avoiding stress). If you need more than prevention, make sure you are utilizing proven products and procedures.

Dr. Dean Vistnes, MD is a Stanford trained, board certified Plastic Surgeon who practices in Palo Alto. He is also the founder of SkinSpirit, a medically supervised skincare clinic and spa located in downtown Palo Alto.
Dean’s signature
M. Dean Vistnes, M.D.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year from the Vistnes Plastic Surgery Staff: Dr. Vistnes, Helena & Ida

Phone: (650) 322-5444
1515 El Camino Real Suite B Palo Alto, CA 94306

© 2004, Vistnes Plastic Surgery. All rights reserved.