Beauty and Biology, they really are linked. See why you have a fundamental need to look good, because it increases the chances of passing on your genes to the next generation! Beauty is all about biology after all!

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Although the name is scary, hyaluronic acid (HA) is actually the name given to a natural compound found practically everywhere within the human body. It was first described many years ago by Meyer and Palmer, examining the jelly found inside the eyeball. The jelly like substance in the eye is primarily composed of hyaluronic acid, after which it was named (hyalos means vitreous in Greek, and thus the vitreous humor in the eye was named for this). It is also found in the skin, and its function there is to maintain the softness and moisture in the skin, and in the cervix, where it forms the mucous plug that must be penetrated by semen to effect pregnancy. In fact, hyaluronic acid has many functions in the human body apart from its physical properties of maintaining and bonding water. That is why we often recommend treatments with HA’s [Read more...]

Please note that I have NEVER used PIP brand implants on my patients, ever!

Question: I have old breast implants in place but I have bilateral capsules. I am going to get my breasts re-done, and I am not sure whether I should have a new pocket done or just use the existing breast implant pocket. What is your advice? Answer: Breast Implant Re-Do: Which Pocket After Fixing Capsular Contracture? The standard textbook advice for capsular contracture is capsulectomy followed by site change and device exchange(1, 2). That means taking out the old implant, as well as the surrounding scar, closing the pocket, followed by making an entirely new pocket opposite to the original (under the muscle if the original was over the muscle) and using a new implant. There are as many option I have tried using medications (such as ACCOLATE®- aka Zafirlukast) on a few patients to alter the tightness of early capsules (3, 4), but the results have been disappointing. Surgery [Read more...]

Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation (Mastopexy-Augmentation) Many women will experience significant changes in their breasts following lactation and pregnancy. The skin of the breast will actually increase over time due to the gradual distension of the breast tissue (parenchyma) that develops vital milk for your baby. When lactation ends, the breast tissue, previously engorged, reverts to its dormant state, usually resulting in a rather dramatic decrease in volume. Some women have experienced as much as a two or three cup decrease in the volume of their breasts. So, what happens to the skin during this process? The skin is programmed in a very special way, so that when ever certain stretch is applied to it over a long enough period of time, it actually makes more of itself. You have no doubt seen this yourself in your own body- no matter how big you get, you never seem to run [Read more...]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an advisory on January 26, 2011 regarding a small number of cases of a very rare type of lymphoma (anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALCL) reported in women with breast implants. The data is poorly documented, and critical information is simply not available. Despite the risk of unnecessarily frightening people, I have decided it is prudent to tell you everything we know as soon as we know it because it is the right thing to do. I have prepared the following summary and I have also included links to the primary sources of data on the FDA website. Also, we are making extra office hours available for any of my patients who are worried about this and want to be checked by my team. Over the past several years, there have been a very small number of case reports of ALCL in women [Read more...]

Aging is a natural process and every stage of life has its rewards. Why not make the most of whatever age you’re at? Dr. DeLorenzi can help you look your best with a personalized Filler-Lift™ makeover. The Filler-Lift™ procedure combines the use of Juvéderm™ dermal filler with a cosmetic injectable to instantly refresh your look in a single treatment. As you age, your body’s rate of cell renewal slows down. With less collagen and elastin to support it, the skin thins out and wrinkles and volume loss occurs. Juvéderm™ is a dermal filler that uses hyaluronic acid, a sugar that occurs naturally in the body, to smooth wrinkles and bring back lost fullness. A cosmetic injectable softens and relaxes lines, such as crow’s feet, forehead lines and frown lines between the brows. Looking your best at any age is easy with Dr. DeLorenzi’s Filler-Lift procedure. Iolanda’s Filler-Lift™ Treatment: First, her [Read more...]

Question: Dear Dr. Dee: I am deathly afraid of pain. I really want to get breast augmentation because I got robbed in that department (my sister got it all, and I have almost nothing). How much pain is associated with breast augmentation surgery? -A Answer: Dear A: Many patients are surprised at how little pain they have after surgery. There will be some discomfort from any type of surgery, but we can do things to reduce it. For example, I put in some long acting anaesthetic solution into the implant pocket at the end of the operation. This will reduce the tight feeling and discomfort from the operation for several hours. Just like when you stub your toe, the most pain that you feel is right after it happens. Surgery is the same way, when most of the discomfort occurs immediately after the operation, and it then subsides. By blocking [Read more...]

Question: Dear Dr. DeLorenzi: I don’t feel comfortable talking to my surgeon. She never really answers my questions, and she often changes the subject and seems annoyed when I ask her a direct question. A lot of what she says seems like it is out of a legal document rather than just two people talking. Her prices are very good though, and I think I am going to go ahead with the surgery she proposed. What do you think? -JBT Answer: Dear JBT: It sounds like you have serious issues with your surgeon! That’s breaking one of the cardinal rules of the doctor patient relationship. If you don’t feel comfortable communicating with your surgeon before the actual surgery, how do you predict that will change after the surgery? Remember that you are creating a life long relationship here, and you should choose your surgeon with just as much diligence as [Read more...]

Question: Dear Dr. DeLorenzi: How can I choose a surgeon for my surgery? I have seen different surgeons, and they all tell me slightly different things? How do I know which one is the ‘right’ one for me? -DJ Answer: Dear DJ: Choosing a surgeon can be a scary decision, but it does not need to be. Remember that you are choosing someone to give you advice, to take care of you in case something goes wrong, and someone that you will probably go back to for many years into the future. Choosing your surgeon is a decision that will stay with you for a very long time, so take your time and choose carefully. Although some patients choose their surgeon based on costs alone, that may not be the best way to do it. Lets talk about what your rights and responsibilities are. You have the right to know [Read more...]