Q: What are stem cells? A: A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell which has the capacity, in the right circumstances, of forming any other tissue. When we look at your body, we see it is made up of many different tissues such as skin, fat, muscle, bone, and so on. How did we get from a sperm and an egg to all these different tissues? The pluripotent cells formed after the union of the egg and sperm have the ability to differentiate into any of the root tissues of the endoderm, mesoderm, or ectoderm (the inner, middle, and outer layers of the tissues in the body). As these groups of cells develop into the various tissues of the human body, some of the regenerative cells loose the ability to create other types of cells. Stem cells, however, continue to have the capacity to generate other tissues well into adulthood. [Read more...]

Q: Dear Dr.DeLorenzi: I’m thinking about to having a lower eyelid tuck. I am worried about possibility of lower white of eye showing , or my eye shape changing. How often does this happen? If it does happen, can it be fixed? What I want is to get rid of the fat bags under my eyes, and also get rid of the extra skin and wrinkles on my eyes. I am in my mid-50′s, and I also have a deep groove underneath the fat bags. Thank you. A: Hi there: What you are describing is called “scleral show”, and it is a sign of an poor result from eyelid surgery. ‘Scleral show’ occurs when lower eyelids have been treated with traditional lower eyelid surgery, often seen with ‘lateral bowing’. What does that all mean? The traditional (read “old way”) of doing eyelid tucks (blepharoplasty) was to cut away some skin [Read more...]

Juvista® (Avotermin) Scars after surgery or trauma can cause a significant degree of psychosocial distress for people. For centuries, surgeons have been searching for methods of reducing scars and optimizing healing, to reduce these effects. To date, we know that several technique related factors as well as post surgical factors can effect the quality of the final scar. A new drug called Avotermin (trade name Juvista®) is based on the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family of cytokines. These growth factors play a critical role in the final appearance of scars, and this represents one of the first drugs based on growth factors that may make a real difference in scars. Renovo is a biopharmaceutical product company involved in in the discovery and development of drugs to reduce scarring. I have no relationship with the company whatsoever (I have nothing to disclose). The July edition of the Plastic Surgery Journal (the [Read more...]

Prostaglandin Drug Causes Eyelashes to Grow Fuller, Thicker and Darker.

The DeLorenzi Clinic has just launched our brand new website! We are very excited about the new website, which integrates social media (facebook and twitter) as well as highlights all of our new procedures. We now have a blog that is written by Dr. DeLorenzi featuring news about Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, and new technology. The DeLorenzi Clinic is now located at 150 Edna St. in Kitchener along with Silhouette Cosmetic Laser Clinics. Now you can find two great clinics in one amazing location. The new surgical facility has been completely custom built to suit Dr. DeLorenzi. The state of the art operating room features the latest in surgical equipment and is fully accredited by the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. Feel free to leave us a comment and let us know what you think of the new site!

Wish your muffin top would just disappear? Want a bigger bust line? What if you could have both—in one single procedure? The DeLorenzi Clinic is now offering the new BodyJet device, which allows a flatter tummy and an enhanced bustline in just one procedure! The process entails removing fat from the belly area and putting it into the bust. In the past this technique was avoided, because when the fat healed in the breasts it created confusion, leading mammograms to be misread and unnecessary biopsies preformed. However, with new improvements in radiology this fear has abated, and the idea of fat grafting for breast augmentation is growing in popularity. This method is showing great results, and patients are very pleased with the outcome. Fat grafting is also used for other breast surgeries, such as filling uneven spots around a breast implant, correcting irregular sizing, and repairing breasts after biopsies. What [Read more...]