Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dallas | Dr. Rai

Experiments have been done in using fat from elsewhere on the body to augment the breasts. Using liposuction, the fat is taken from places where it is unwanted, such as the abdomen, love handles, upper thighs or buttocks. This way of doing breast augmentation has caused concern that the grafted fat could interfere with mammograms, delay cancer diagnosis, or be absorbed by the body.

More recently, another way of potentially doing breast enlargement has been reported. It uses adult stem cells (not the controversial embryonic stem cells). Stem cells have the magical ability to transform themselves into other types of cell, such as red blood cells or bone cells, and they are found throughout the body. They are especially found in fatty tissue.

Natural Breast Augmentation

A pioneer in this procedure is one Todd Malan, M.D. in Scottsdale, Arizona. He has developed a procedure that uses a new way of taking the fat from elsewhere on the body, and a process that helps the transplanted cells live adaptively in their new location, developing into breast tissue cells.

The fat cells taken from the body are processed to separate out regenerative cells and stem cells, which are then washed and enzyme-activated. Then they are re-combined with the fat cells and injected into breast fat. They supplement the fat already there and add new volume. Typically, this procedure gives the woman a one or two cup size increase (250 to 500 cc). To conclude the procedure, a pressure splint is used to hold the fat in place while it heals and promote its regeneration.

So far, there has been no rejection of the stem cell fat and no inflammation. The breasts have a natural, smooth feel and mammograms can be successfully performed.

This procedure is far from being FDA-approved and available to the general public. But perhaps it will offer a new way to permanently increase breast size. It can be done along with liposuction for a general body re-contouring and a whole new look.

If you would like to know more about the options involved with breast enlargement, please call or email The Cosmetic Surgery Center today for a personal consultation with Dr. Rai. We serve Dallas, Texas and look forward to meeting with you.

Just as there have been “lunchtime” cosmetic surgery procedures for some time now – such as facial fillers or BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments – now the U.K. has come up with “Tweakenders”.

A company has been set up that organizes groups of women who would like to combine their Christmas shopping with a little cosmetic improvement for themselves. Because the U.K. has government-run medical care, prices are high and waiting lists are long; and this makes it practical to travel elsewhere for your cosmetic surgery.

The company, called Let’s Face It Together, was created by a prior cosmetic surgery patient who, eleven years ago, could not afford the U.K. prices and therefore traveled to South Africa for her plastic surgery.

She provides the service of bringing a cosmetic surgeon from London, about 115 miles away, to Norwich, where she is based, to consult with prospective traveling patients. That surgeon advises the women on options, realistic expectations, and prices, to help them decide which procedures would be best.

The current group being assembled is planning a trip to Antwerp in Belgium, where cosmetic surgery prices are about half what they are in the U.K. So even allowing for the cost of travel, the women still save significant money.

According to news reports, these trips are very friendly, with participants sharing plans and concerns and generally having a fun holiday. Said one previous participant who had breast augmentation done in Antwerp:

· “It takes some of the fear out of it. I don't worry about the risks. I know so many people who have had work done. For me, it's just like going to the hairdresser.”

And What About Follow-Up?

A cosmetic surgery procedure is not finished when you leave the surgeon’s facility that day. Nor is it very safe to regard it as like getting a hair cut. The recovery period is crucial to safety and good results. It would not be wise to run around doing Christmas shopping during your recovery period from procedures like breast augmentation or a facelift – you would not feel like doing that, in any case. They are not “tweakend” procedures, although it is true that minor cosmetic treatments can be done in an hour or so during a work day.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Rai always sees his patients in a series of follow-up visits so he can check on your healing progress and catch any problems early before they become painful or health-threatening. Your safety is of the highest importance at The Cosmetic Surgical Center.

If you would like to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Rai, please call or email our Dallas, Texas office today.

In the U.K., Moob Reductions have increased by over a thousand percent during the last five years, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) recent annual conference.

The medical term for over-developed male breasts is gynecomastia although this term is also used to refer to the procedure for removing the excess tissue. Dr. Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Center offers this increasingly popular procedure. Over-developed male breasts can occur at any age, although it happens most often over the age of 50 or so.

Gynecomastia is often related to overall weight gain, with excess fat being responsible for the large shapes. It can also be caused by an increase of glandular tissue which may be tender or painful. In these cases, weight loss will not reduce the breast size.

In cases where large weight loss has been accomplished, there can be sagging tissue on the chest, known as chest ptosis. In adolescent boys, it is not always caused by obesity, but by hormonal changes, and will usually disappear by the time they are adults. Each case of gynecomastia is individual – a unique combination of fatty tissue and glandular tissue.

Other popular male cosmetic surgery procedures are liposuction and abdominoplasty.

If you would like to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Rai, please contact our cosmetic surgery office today and we will be happy to set one up at a convenient time for you.

California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has finally been persuaded to sign into law a requirement that before having any cosmetic surgery, a person must obtain medical clearance from another licensed physician. That must be done 30 days before having the cosmetic surgery.

Where did this come from? Apparently, the family of one Donda West, the deceased mother of one Kanye West, a “hip hop” performer, decided that West’s death should not be “in vain”. They persuaded an Assembly Member to help them get a law passed to prevent everyone else from doing what their mother had done:

• Have cosmetic surgery despite having a pre-existing coronary artery disease

West had a routine abdominoplasty, but her heart condition and some post-operative complications led to her demise.

One has to wonder why West’s cosmetic surgeon did not notice her pre-existing condition. Any reputable cosmetic surgeon will check a new patient’s health history and do a thorough medical examination. A tummy tuck is major surgery, even though it can be done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthetic and a sedative.

Bill Rejected on the First Round

The West family entered their idea in a contest called “It Ought to Be a Law” and their entry was chosen as the winner. In 2008, it was introduced as a bill and was passed by the California house and senate. But Schwarzenegger vetoed it, along with 130 other bills he was presented with that day. He cited California’s severe and ongoing budget crisis as the reason:

• “I am only signing bills that are the highest priority to California," he said at the time. "This bill does not meet that standard and I cannot sign it at this time.”

In February this year, the bill was re-submitted and because of the Assembly member’s persistence, it was approved by lawmakers. On Monday this week, Schwarzenegger signed it. He also signed a law that authorizes $50,000 fines for paparazzi photographers if they snap celebrities and their children during “personal or familial activity”.

Apparently California’s budget problems are now solved and these two matters are of “the highest priority to California”.

Dr. Rai is a properly-qualified surgeon with extensive plastic surgery experience and many professional memberships. He is never careless in screening his potential patients. If you would like to schedule a personal consultation with him, please call or email our office today. We serve the Dallas, Texas area and we look forward to meeting with you.

In 2002, one Daryl Strenke was helping his ex-girlfriend’s father with work on a new campground near the Polk County/Barron County line in Wisconsin. His ex-girlfriend, Sam Verby, was in her new trailer nearby. Strenke started yelling at her to come out and talk to him. She invited him into her trailer to talk.

He entered and from ten feet away fired his 12-gauge shotgun at her head, killing her. He then shot himself in the head and severely injured the lower part of his face. Doctors later restored some function and he can eat and speak, but he is disfigured and cannot eat or speak normally.

Strenke was convicted of second-degree intentional homicide and is serving a 30-year prison sentence. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) is planning to treat him to a series of cosmetic surgeries to restore a more natural-looking facial appearance. In response to this news, Verby’s father stated:

“… he did it to himself. And being that he murdered my daughter, I have no sympathy for him.”

However, Strenke’s mother has stated: “It doesn't matter who they are or what crimes they've committed. Prisoners are still human beings and still deserve medical care."

State Representatives Opposing Cosmetic Surgery For Prisoners

Strenke has already been given medical care to restore function. The idea of prisoners being given further surgery for purely cosmetic reasons, at taxpayer expense, especially in this unstable economy, has upset many people, including State Representative Ann Hraychuck, who was the Polk County sheriff at the time of this incident. She stated:

• "I do understand that institutions are responsible for providing necessary medical treatment …[but]… I can't imagine the Department of Corrections secretary would OK any kind of surgery that isn't absolutely necessary."

Another State Representative, Brett Davis of the 80^th District, has written a letter to the Wisconsin DOC requesting data on how much they have spent in the past five years on cosmetic surgery for prisoners. His letter states, in part:

• “I would ask that you not only consider reversing this [Strenke] decision, but also review the process in which elective surgeries are performed with tax dollars.”

If a convicted murderer has intentionally shot his own face, are taxpayers obliged to pay for his cosmetic surgery? Perhaps the prison staff is pushing this, from discomfort at looking at Strenke’s disfigurement.

Insurance companies do not cover cosmetic surgeries for the exact reason that they are not medically necessary. We pay for our own rhinoplasties, chin implants, and lip surgery, perhaps borrowing for it, or at least budgeting.

At the Cosmetic Surgical Center, we are committed to working with you on financing and we work with MedicalLoan to help you obtain advantageous terms and conditions. If you would like to know more about cosmetic surgery affordability, please call or email our office today for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Rai.

In Pretoria, South Africa, this week, the laws have been tightened on who can perform plastic surgery. Until now, there was a loophole in the law that allowed general practitioners to perform plastic surgery that they were not qualified to offer. There had been facelifts performed, and other cosmetic procedures, that lead to disastrous consequences.

The Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is now requiring that only those actually trained in plastic surgery be allowed to provide it. This category may include other specialists than plastic surgeons, such as eye surgeons. South Africa has a Medicines Control Council that issues recommendations conforming to the HPCSA’s ethical standards, and the Registrar, one Boyce Mkhize, is urging physicians to practice according to those standards.

Mkhize has stated that any doctor found working outside his or her scope of practice will be investigated and could incur a penalty, whether a caution, a fine, suspension, or being entirely struck off the roll of qualified physicians.

Other Restrictions Imposed

Mkhize has also announced that no more jejuno-ileal bypasses can be performed. That is an intestinal bypass that shuts off part of the digestive system so that less food will be absorbed. It was popular in the U.S. also, during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, but was discontinued because of the many problems that stemmed from it. In too many cases, bacteria caused infection in the closed-off intestinal loop.

Restrictions in the U.S.

It has long been the case in the U.S. that only a qualified plastic surgeon can perform plastic surgery. To become qualified, a physician must do extra training and be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Cosmetic surgery is a form of plastic surgery – it is basically plastic surgery done for cosmetic reasons instead of health reasons.

Dr. Rai is fully qualified and stays current with new cosmetic surgery developments. For more detail, please see his Training and Credentials page. You could also view the video on our Home page for more about his approach to each patient’s needs and goals.

If you would like to know more about the plastic surgery we offer at the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, please call or email our office today and we can schedule a complimentary consultation for you with Dr. Rai.

On October 2 there was a news report featuring one Petra Bonilla, a young woman in New York who wanted rhinoplasty. She saved up the surgery cost and had the procedure done to modify the way her nose tip hung down too much. However, when the bandages were removed she was appalled to find that the tip had simply been removed rather than recontoured.

A few months later, she decided to try again and this time she did more research into potential cosmetic surgeons. She found one who specialized in ethnic surgery and the results this time were more to her liking.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), ethnic cosmetic surgery increased in 2008 to more than three million, eleven percent more than in 2007, but Caucasian surgeries dropped two percent to about 8.8 million. It is thought that the Caucasian patient base peaked earlier this century and is slipping because of the recession, but the ethnic patient base is increasing so quickly that the recession is not neutralizing it.

Perhaps it is all just part of cosmetic surgery becoming more widely accepted worldwide. In Brazil, it is regarded as trendy to be wearing a nasal cast to work after having a rhinoplasty.

Procedures Modified For Ethnicity and Gender

Since different ethnic groups have different facial and skin characteristics, it is natural that their surgeries might need to be done slightly differently. Some cosmetic surgeons specialize in Asian plastic surgery.

If you know that you have a particular type of face or skin, that should be part of your research when you choose your plastic surgeon. Bonilla had excellent results when she factored that into her search.

At the Cosmetic Surgical Center we offer plastic surgeries tailored to both males and females, as there are gender differences in the patient base as well as ethnic differences. Some procedures are very similar whereas others are modified according to the patient’s gender. For example, male liposuction often removes fatty tissue from the chest, chin, neck and waist, but female liposuction more often removes it from the abdomen, thighs and upper arms.

If you would like to know more about the plastic surgery procedures that would best suit your body type or facial type, please contact our office today for a free consultation. We serve both Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas.

Coming up on December 3, 2009 is the 15^th World Congress of the International Confederation for Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS) and it will be hosted by Delhi. There will be many thousands of plastic surgeons and physicians in related fields such as burn surgery and micro-surgery, all sharing ideas, test results, and new implements, for the benefit of the rest of us.

Cosmetic surgery has taken off in recent years in India. The Chairman of IPRAS, Rajeev B. Ahuja, says: “Peer pressure and advertisements promising ‘picture perfect’ looks after cosmetic surgery, drive most men and women to go under the knife.”

Some of the most popular procedures in India are

• Rhinoplasty – reshaping of the nose to give the face better balance and if necessary to also correct a deviated septum;
• Gynecomastia -- male breast reduction, which can remove both unwanted fatty tissue and the more fibrous breast tissue;
• Liposuction – for both men and woman, to remove excess fat that does not respond to exercise and good diet; and
• Abdominoplasty -- tummy tucks to remove extra skin and fat from the abdomen after childbearing or significant weight loss.

Like most of the world, Indians are also interested in non-surgical options as well as the more major surgeries. BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most popular such procedure in the U.S., according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and it leads in India as well.

Choose Your Plastic Surgeon Carefully

It seems to be a universal rule that whenever a service is popular and will be paid for out of pocket, unqualified people jump to offer it along with the properly qualified physicians such as Dr. Rai. It is always important to choose your cosmetic surgeon with full knowledge of his or her training and background.

India is experiencing that same risk of unaccredited hands wielding the “knife” (actually a laser in many procedures). Bona fide Indian physicians are finding that many new patients actually just need information and advice. In the words of Ahuja:

• “There are a large number of aspirants who just require counselling. Very often a plastic surgeon may also need to play the role of a psychiatrist.”

Have you been considering a cosmetic surgery procedure? If so, self-education is one of the first steps towards an excellent outcome, and choosing a well-qualified plastic surgeon is another. To move forward with both of those steps, you can schedule free consultations with possible surgeons.

To schedule your free consultation with Dr. Rai, please call or email our cosmetic surgery facility today. Bring all your questions. Our office serves Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas and we look forward to meeting with you.