Getting Insurance to Cover Botox Migraine Treatment

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Botox Migraine Treatment is becoming an increasingly effective means of battling powerful migraines. However, as it is still a relatively new treatment – it was only approved for use with migraines by the Food and Drug Administration as recently as 2010 – some insurance companies might balk at the idea. So how does one go about getting insurance to cover it?

WHAT IS BOTOX?

Let’s start with what Botox is. It’s a neurotoxin that’s created using the bacterial compound onabotulinumtoxinA and, in medical circles, is intended to treat muscular disorders. In cosmetic circles, it’s known to eliminate wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles.

HOW DOES BOTOX AFFECT MIGRAINES?

When it comes to migraines, Botox is used in small but deeply concentrated quantities to stop brain signals reaching certain muscles. Typically, if left alone, those signals contract the muscles resulting in pain. With Botox, however, those muscles become relaxed and thus lessen the physical effects of the stress and tension associated with a migraine. This ultimately means that a migraine might be totally avoided (with no stress and tension to trigger it) – and it also means that by blocking nerve and muscle activity, Botox blocks the pain signals.

Botox therapy for migraines is not effective on every type of migraine; thus a patient’s eligibility for it is dependent on what they’re suffering from. According to the American Migraine Foundation, it works best on those experiencing chronic migraine. A chronic migraine is defined as more than 15 headache days per month as well as a minimum of eight migraine episodes – or if you suffer headaches that last a minimum of four hours.

THE THERAPY

With most migraine therapies, patients are required to administer medication once a headache has begun. Botox, though, is taken as a preventative measure. A person would get a set of 31 injections every 12 weeks with each session lasting around 15 minutes. Patients do not need to be sedated and can drive home after.

The botox is administered via injection.  Using a small needle, the doctor will inject into seven areas of both the head and neck including the nose bridge, the forehead, temples, and back of the skull. It is a relatively painless procedure; the patient only experiences tiny pricks.

It generally takes at least two sessions to begin to experience the benefit but some patients feel it sooner. The results last from four to six months. While it is an effective relief, it is not permanent – but some chronic sufferers can expect their headache days to be cut in half. Ultimately, botox treatment is just that; a treatment, not a cure.

The side effects can include stiff and sore neck muscles and some bruising or swelling around the injection sites. This usually only lasts for 48 hours. Other side effects may include dry eyes and skin rash – symptoms that mimic influenza. There are also nausea and headaches reported but nothing like the sort that is associated with migraines.

COST

The price of Botox migraine treatments can range from $200 to $500 per session. That can add up to serious money for the two to three courses a patient would require.  One option is the Botox Savings Program that allows eligible patients to save on costs – sometimes up to $1200 a year. The other, of course, is insurance.

INSURANCE

So how do you get insurance to cover Botox migraine treatment? In the past insurance companies saw anything Botox-related as cosmetic. There are some horror stories where patients were required by their insurance to try drugs that didn’t work. But times are changing and often, they will require evidence that other treatments have failed and this is more of a last-resort option. Since the FDA now approves the treatment, insurance companies can no longer claim the procedure is merely investigational.

And after all, migraines cost employers almost $13 billion every year – so it is definitely a huge health concern.

First, contact your insurance company provider to see what they cover. Some insurers work with your doctor and have you take several tests before they go ahead and authorize the treatment. This is known as prior authorization. The doctor will put together a report including your history of chronic migraines and submit this to them. You can assist your doctor with this report by providing additional information such as medications and treatments you’ve tried in the past and a detailed calendar of the frequency/intensity of your migraines.

FOUR BRIEF TIPS

Connect with your doctor’s nurse as your advocate.

Retrieve a recent copy of your insurance company’s formulary.

Compare policy coverage of the botox migraine treatment.

Talk directly to someone at your insurance provider.

You can also still use the Botox Savings Program in addition to insurance for a one-two punch at the costs. Either way, you should definitely get insurance before beginning what could be a costly but beneficial program.

5 Myths About “Lunchtime” Plastic Surgery

Lifestyle, Procedure Overviews

A dangerous new fad is simmering in some less reputable circles of the cosmetic medical trade. Fast plastic surgery or “lunchtime” procedures (so named because they purport to be done on your lunch hour) are suddenly all the rage… but at what cost? We’re breaking down the myths behind this too good to be true trend.

Myth #1 – You Heal as Quickly as the Procedure

While it may sound convenient and desirable to get a quick filler for your upper lip, the results (and resulting problems) are another reality completely. In one patient’s case, the material they used was hastily chosen and all wrong for her face. The swelling didn’t go away, even a week later… then she was told to wait six months… then five years passed and she is still dissatisfied with the bump in her lip.

Choosing your filler is a delicate and exacting process. By rushing into a procedure, you risk complications, pain, or worse. That’s why a reputable and trusted physician will weigh your options with you well before you plump those lips.

Myth #2 – Fast Equals Cheap

The notion that you can pop in for a quickie facelift and only pay by the hour is foolhardy on so many levels. First, you should never rush when it comes to your health. And second, true health care providers shouldn’t punch a clock and charge by the minute. 

Finally, just because it’s fast, that doesn’t mean it’s cheap. A so-called “lunchtime” facial procedure can still cost upwards of two thousand dollars, and since it’s performed so hastily, it will most definitely require follow up visits and special attention in the long run.

Myth #3 – I’ll Just Do It This One Time…

While Botox has been proven to be safe and effective if administered responsibly, there is a new theory that excessive and repeated sessions could do more harm than good. The rise of “fast” plastic surgery is now dovetailing with the preponderance of addictive behavior among patients who schedule multiple Botox sessions in quick succession. An estimated 40% of these lunchtime procedure enthusiasts are undergoing injections too frequently, according to health experts.

Myth #4 – It’s as Effective as the Real Thing

A procedure as delicate and involved as a breast augmentation requires extensive consultation and consideration. However, some disreputable surgeons are promoting their hasty methods for the lunchtime crowd these days. It is inconceivable to think that you could recover from such an invasive process in less than two hours.

Also, the actual technique required for a successful breast surgery doesn’t work in a truncated time frame. When done in a rush, surgeons can only apply the implant to the front of the breast, on top of your existing muscle. This won’t sit correctly, causing unsightly wrinkles and puckering where the implant meets your tissue. 

To be done properly, an implant must go beneath the muscle, which requires more time on the operating table. The experience may take longer, but the results are preferable in every way. In addition to the aforementioned aesthetics of a thorough intramuscular technique, the implant is also more protected when it is tucked within your existing tissue.

Myth #5 – Plastic Surgery Has Become Completely Standardized

While it’s true that medical science has progressed rapidly over the past two centuries, that doesn’t mean that it is now a “one size fits all” endeavor. Your body, face, and general physiology are unique. You have individual needs and specialized goals for who you are and how you want to look. If a doctor tells you that cosmetic surgery has become “standardized” or in some way uniform, then you need to visit another doctor.

For a consultation as special as you are, schedule an appointment with Dr. Binder. He is ready to listen to your questions, and he’ll take the time to explain his answers… even if that lasts more than just a lunch hour.

Botox Innovative uses

Surprising Applications of Botox

Botox

 

Ever since its FDA approval back in 2002, Botox has been the go-to injection for people looking to unfurl their wrinkles and eradicate their crow’s feet. But its effectiveness goes beyond the brow; Allergan (the pharmaceutical company that holds the patent on Botox) sees hundreds of potential uses for the wonder drug.

ADDITIONAL COSMETIC APPLICATIONS

Botox immobilizes certain muscles that lead to age lines in the brow, but this functionality can also help reverse several other facial abnormalities.

  •    Cleft Lips – Over 4,000 babies are born with cleft palates and/or lips annually. By introducing Botox to the affected area, doctors can alleviate the scarring process by allowing the afflicted muscles to heal.
  •    Facial Tics – Similarly, a small dose of Botox can reduce the facial spasms that lead to nervous ticks, delivering relief to its recipient.
  •    Crossed Eyes – The FDA has also approved Botox to help the approximately 4% of Americans who suffer from a condition called Strabismus or crossed eyes. The injection helps relax the surrounding tissue so the eyes can properly line up without stressing the muscles.
  •    Jaw and Lip Musculature – A strong jaw can have its benefits, but it may result in a silhouette that looks bulky and misshapen. By injecting these muscles with Botox, you can relax the face and slim down the profile. Also, injections into a “short lip” can help relax it and cover up what is perceived to be a “gummy smile”.

NO PAIN, YOUR GAIN

If you are experiencing chronic pain, be sure to consult a medical professional right away. You may be surprised at his/her diagnosis: Botox. This serum was discovered to be an effective treatment for migraine headaches all the way back in 1992 by a pioneer named Dr. William Binder. It took the FDA almost two decades to catch up, but they finally approved the use of Botox to alleviate migraines in 2010. The procedure involves approximately 30 injections around the head and neck and its benefits last for up to three months.

But headaches aren’t the only pains that can be treated with Botox. Lower back spasms may be reduced with these injections, as can mogigraphia, commonly known as writer’s cramp. The repetitive use of the hand and forearm creates tension in the muscles, but Botox can relax this region and bring relief to the suffering scribe.

Botox is also useful to patients suffering from coldness or tremors in their extremities. Patients could use the injections to counteract their painful esophagus spasms during the process of digestion.

PROFUSE SWEATING

One unexpected by-product of Botox injections is the reduction in perspiration. When doctors began noticing this trend, they started treating patients with severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis, aka profuse underarm sweat, with the aforementioned serum.

BLADDER CONTROL

For people suffering from OAB (overactive bladder), Botox presents a source of relief. A series of targeted injections can relax the spasms of the bladder, providing a treatment for incontinence, especially in patients recovering from spinal cord damage.

PARKINSON’S AND A.L.S.

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (A.L.S., also commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease) sometimes trigger excessive drooling by those afflicted. Botox can help curb the salivation process and help restore the patient’s facial control temporarily.

ANAL FISSURES

When the human sphincter spasms excessively, it can overexert the tissue of the rectum. This often leads to anal fissures: painful tearing of the internal rectal walls. Traditional treatment of anal fissures involves nitroglycerin ointment or surgery, but Botox presents a less invasive (and often more effective) third option. By relaxing the sphincter, the fissures are allowed to heal organically.

HEART RATE

One possible future application of Botox injections could be seen in the realm of heart surgery outpatient programs. After enduring an open-heart procedure, some patients suffer from atrial fibrillation or an abnormal heartbeat. Botox could help regulate these palpitations when the heart is at its most vulnerable, giving the subject a much-needed boost on the road to recovery.

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION

Another experimental use of Botox involves the treatment of premature ejaculation. By injecting the penis, the surrounding tissue relaxes and delays the subject’s urge to climax. The same material could also aid in female patients who suffer from pain during intercourse. Botox can reduce the spasms in a woman’s pelvic floor, which can lead to discomfort when overactive and/or pronounced.

EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

There is a burgeoning theory in some medical circles called the facial feedback hypothesis. This is the idea that Botox can make a patient look happier, which in turn can actually make them feel happier. It’s impossible to accurately quantify joy or sadness, but we have been trying for millennia. That’s why such clichés as “mind over matter” and “put on a happy face” have endured for so long. Perhaps there is some validity to the psychological benefits of using Botox to battle depression, but the statistical data is still inconclusive.

For more information on the benefits of Botox, consult a true maverick in the field: Dr. William Binder. His friendly and helpful staff can schedule a consultation to discuss your specific needs and guide you forward in your quest for a healthier, happier you.

plastic-surgery-age

What’s an appropriate age to consider cosmetic procedures?

Lifestyle, Procedure Overviews

Even though the number of plastic surgery operations in America and worldwide has increased every year for the last two decades, there is still a popular misconception that many people have of facial cosmetic procedures as something strictly reserved for those over the age of fifty years old. This is obviously a myth, and as plastic surgery becomes more normal than not, a more realistic view and understanding of facial plastic surgery will emerge.

In the meantime, here are some statistics to get a better idea of who is getting facial plastic surgery and why. According to statistics published by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, patients in the age range of thirty-five to fifty years old have received the most plastic surgery procedures since 1997, making up a plurality of 43% of the total number of surgical procedures performed.

Of course, there are plenty of patients older and younger than that age range who are receiving plastic surgery as well, and altogether they comprise a greater number of procedures, but no comparable age range has more plastic surgery operations than those aged thirty-five to fifty years old. And in just three years from 2014 to 2017, the average age of women getting plastic surgery has dropped three years, from forty-two three years ago, to an average age of thirty-nine today. The average age of men dropped two years over the same time period, from forty-seven to forty-five.

In the much younger thirteen to nineteen-year-old age group, there were 229,000 total cosmetic operations performed on thirteen to nineteen-year-olds in 2016. 66,000 of those procedures were surgical in nature and 163,000 were minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Of those aged twenty to twenty-nine years old, there were 829,000 total cosmetic procedures performed in 2016, with 256,000 of those being surgical in nature and 572,000 were minimally invasive.

According to the New York / New Jersey area Associates in Plastic Surgery group, the most common facial plastic surgery procedure for the thirteen to nineteen-year-old age group is a rhinoplasty operation or “nose job.”

They say:

“Puberty brings changes to the body, and the nose is no different. Significant changes can occur, but by the age of 16, the nose you have will typically be the nose you will grow old with. As you age, other body parts grow and take on new shapes, but the structure of your nose will change the least over time, meaning the defining features will remain the same throughout your life. Teens and young adults often turn to rhinoplasty as they are entering new phases, such as high school graduation. The late teens are the best time to perform this procedure.”

A rhinoplasty might be desirable by a patient of any age after puberty since rejuvenation is not the goal of rhinoplasty surgery – the goal is achieving a more aesthetic look by enhancing the harmony of the face’s lines and balancing the proportions of the nose. Rhinoplasty can achieve dramatic improvements to:

  • Nose size and proportion in relation to facial harmony
  • Nose width at the bridge, or a profile with visible bumps on the bridge
  • The size, shape, and position of the nostrils
  • A nasal tip that is bulbous, drooping, upturned, or hooked
  • Nasal asymmetry

In addition to aesthetic motivations that may lead a patient to desire a cosmetic nose job, rhinoplasty can also solve medical problems such as difficulty breathing due to the shape and structure of the nose, and a nasal structure that impairs breathing is not an age-related issue. There are other non-age-related medical issues that can be helped with cosmetic facial surgery.

Cosmetic facial reconstructive surgery is a welcome remedy for people who suffer a severe disfigurement or scarring from accidents, or even the ravages of infectious diseases, cancer, or other medical conditions. Mole removal is also a cosmetic facial procedure that has nothing to do with rejuvenation, and everything to do with better skin health and a patient’s personal aesthetic preferences for how they look.

The Rise in Teenage Cosmetic Surgery

With the advent of social media, young people are more conscious than ever of how they look. With every tweet, share, and like, teenagers are comparing their features with influencers, celebrities, and classmates. While we must maintain a realistic and healthy outlook for our friends in Generation Z, it is inevitable for them to be curious about their options in the realm of cosmetic procedures.

In the year 2017, approximately 230,000 patients from the age of 13 to 19 received such procedures. This accounts for roughly four percent of the total number of people who explored the world of cosmetic reconstruction. On top of these surgical procedures, teens racked up another 160,000 non-invasive touch-ups, chief among them being Botox visits and laser hair removal appointments.

With the influx of new patients comes an increased sense of caution. Teens must be well counseled before embarking upon any sort of cosmetic procedure to make sure they are doing so for the right reasons. In addition to the aforementioned guideline of 16 being the recommended minimum age for rhinoplasty, experts have agreed upon the following

  • Breast augmentations or reductions: 18 years and older 
  • Liposuction procedures: 18 years and older 
  • Otoplasty (ear alteration surgery): 5-7 years old
  • Retin A: 16-18 years of age 
  • Lasers for acne scar removal: 16-18 years old
  • Other laser procedures: 18 years and older 
  • Chemical peels: 18 years + 
  • Botox and other filler injections: 18 years and older

The Benefits of Cosmetic Procedures for All Ages

While the age restrictions above are vitally important to consider, there are also a myriad of benefits that facial procedures can elicit. According to a recent study of approximately 550 patients, the majority of those who underwent their desired cosmetic alteration reported blockbuster results.

Self-esteem skyrocketed in this sample group, as did feelings of joy and general satisfaction in life. As anyone who has endured adolescence can attest, it is a volatile period, characterized by self-doubt and insecurity. While teenagers shouldn’t rush into cosmetic procedures to counteract these forces, it can’t be overstated that looking good often leads to feeling good. Consult a trusted physician and don’t be afraid to discuss any and all psychological stresses and emotional issues you may be feeling. We can all work together to make sure that you grow up to be the best you possible.

About Dr. William J. Binder

Dr. William J. Binder is a facial plastic surgery specialist with over three decades of experience with facial plastic surgery.

For almost three decades, his individualized philosophy and approach to facial plastic surgery has led him to pioneer new techniques for facial surgery procedures and earned him international acclaim for his results.

If you want your facial plastic surgery performed by one of the world’s leading cosmetic surgeons, contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule an initial consultation.

History of Facial Rejuvenation

Lifestyle, Face Lifts

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a facial rejuvenation surgery performed by a licensed cosmetic surgeon in order to restore a youthful appearance to your facial features.

The facelift procedure as a cosmetic facial rejuvenation surgery turned exactly 100 years old in 2016. The very first face lift operation was performed by a German physician named Erich Lexer in 1916.

According to Dr. Rajiv Grover, the president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Lexer performed the first ever facelift by, “Lifting the [sagging] skin from the underlying fat, drawing it back, re-draping it and then removing the excess.”

Many other surgeons throughout the world began to perform the procedure after Lexer, but with no major innovations or improvements on the surgical technique until the 1960s and 1970s.

The first 70 years of facelifts in cosmetic surgery are now referred to as the Cutaneous Period of rhytidectomy (facelift) surgery. During this time facelifts were performed at the most surface level of the skin by lifting the skin from the face, pulling it taut, and cutting away the excess loose skin.

Surgeons became experts at performing plastic surgery during World War II in order to reconstruct the faces of injured war veterans, and these skilled plastic surgeons began turning their talents toward cosmetic facial rejuvenation in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the 1970s facial rejuvenation entered the SMAS period, which is short for Superficial Muscular Aponuerotic System— the stronger, deeper layer under the surface of the skin. Improvements in the safety and effectiveness of anesthesia and more precise surgical techniques allowed plastic surgeons to achieve more dramatic, natural looking, and longer lasting results by augmenting this muscle layer under the skin.

The first major innovation in facial rejuvenation surgery since its inception, the SMAS technique became the standard for facelifts throughout the 1970s. It allowed cosmetic surgeons to take a more extensive, radical approach to facial rejuvenation, enhancing more of the face and even the neck as well.

By the 1980s facial rejuvenation had entered the Deep Plane Period as plastic surgeons could skillfully and safely cut deeper into the face, down to the subperiosteal layer over the bone. Dr. Paul Tessier, the surgeon who had coined the term Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System, pioneered this deep plane facial rejuvenation technique.

In 1979 Tessier demonstrated that cutting to the subperiosteum above and to the sides of the orbital rim of bone around the eyes created a better looking result for the eyebrows than facelifts performed at the SMAS layer. This innovative approach could create a far more attractive and youthful appearance for cosmetic surgery patients.

From 1991 to the present, the history of facial rejuvenation has entered into what cosmetic surgeons call the Volumetric Period of rhytidectomy surgery. This period was characterized, in the early 1990s by a reconceptualization of the aims and means of facial rejuvenation surgery.

Plastic surgeons, starting in the 1990s, began to take more care reduce the appearance of scars from facial plastic surgery, and also began to focus on restoring the subcutaneous volume of fatty tissue under the skin that is naturally lost as we begin to age. Another major innovation in the volumetric approach to facial rejuvenation was the introduction of facial implants to contour the face.

The rapid advancement during this time of computer processing power and 3-D imaging techniques, along with computer aided drafting for perfectly fabricating custom facial implants, allowed this innovation to reach a very high standard of perfection in creating an ideal, natural looking result for patients seeking facial rejuvenation.

Dr. William J. Binder was an early innovator in the field of custom facial implants for cosmetic rejuvenation. When the technique first appeared, Dr. Binder saw the potential for aesthetic results for patients through the use of facial implants, but with a keen eye for facial anatomy, he noticed the results did not look completely natural; they were “non-anatomic” as he would say.

Dr. Binder did not believe facial implants could achieve the high standards of perfection he aims to achieve for his patients without applying the precision and power of high-resolution 3-D imaging, powerful digital rendering and imaging, and digital computer-aided drafting to fabricate ideal custom facial implants for patients seeking facial reconstruction or rejuvenation.

By innovating a system capable of fabricating custom-designed facial implants to a high degree of precision, Dr. Binder was able to pioneer a technique that allows the reconstruction of most facial contour defects with a higher degree of accuracy and better results than were ever before possible.

His efforts have helped to bring modern plastic surgery into the 21st Century.

 

About Dr. William J. Binder

Dr. William J. Binder is a facial plastic surgery specialist with over three decades of experience with facial plastic surgery.

For almost three decades, his individualized philosophy and approach to facial plastic surgery has led him to pioneer new techniques for face lift procedures and earned him international acclaim for his results.

If you want your face lift performed by one of the world’s leading facial plastic surgeons, contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule an initial consultation.

How 3-D Imaging is Innovating Modern Medicine

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3D-Imaging-Plastic-Surgery3-D imaging via medical diagnostic tools such as MRIs and CT scanning is completely revolutionizing modern medicine.

As these medical devices become increasingly more precise at an accelerating rate, they are providing doctors with more finely-detailed, high resolution 3-D imaging of their patients with each passing year.

At the same time as the rapid increase in the sensitivity and resolution of these modern imaging devices, the processing power of digital computation has continued its exponential growth in price-performance year over year, allowing physicians to render and analyze the data from 3-D imaging all the more effectively.

 

Innovations in 3-D Imaging Resolution

By contrast to the incremental improvements of medical techniques over the centuries, and even to radiography during the decades of the 20th century, in recent years the improvements to medical imaging are coming fast and making a difference by orders of magnitude.

A little over a year ago researchers at MIT announced they had developed an algorithm that exploits light polarization to boost the depth resolution of conventional 3-D imaging technology by 1,000 times.

Researchers say the technique is so promising that it could bring this technology to your pocket: “The technique could lead to high-quality 3-D cameras built into cellphones, and perhaps to the ability to snap a photo of an object and then use a 3-D printer to produce a replica.”

 

3-D Image Processing Speed

A high resolution imaging device has little useful application without the processing speed to match it. Processing power is essential to creating the images and manipulating the data in quality diagnostic scans made by imaging devices.

And it’s not only the rapid pace of improvement in the brute force of computer processing power that’s been essential to 3-D imaging innovation in recent years. It’s the implementation of software solutions that can use that power to effectively reconstruct volumetric data.

There’s also the configuration of hardware processing power in a way that’s effective and efficient for the kind of computation involved in 3-D imaging, such as the incorporation of GPUs (graphical processing units) like those used by gaming software to create better images faster than CPUs can.

 

Machine Learning and Modern 3-D Imaging

One innovator in the field, Mountain View, Calif.-based EchoPixel is helping surgeons take the guesswork out of surgical planning by allowing them to create a 3-D image from patient-imaging data and manipulate it in a virtual environment— to remove tumors, dissect tissues, or measure blood vessels. The technology is allowing physicians to get a more accurate view of their patients’ anatomy.

Furthermore, with the application of machine learning, the software records the clinician’s interactions with the 3-D imaging data, so other doctors can learn from the same steps and methodology. The software is compatible for use on different hardware devices, including wearable tech such as Google Glass, so it can be used in an operating room.

 

How 3-D Imaging is Saving Lives

An ounce of prevention: Along with life-saving advancements to surgery prep for critical surgeries that doctors perform on vital tissues and organs, 3-D imaging is saving lives in the critical field of medical diagnostics.

The use of modern computer 3-D images made from a composite of multiple 2-D radiographic images using tracers and contact dyes has allowed doctors to view a comprehensive image of a patient’s body and observe minor anomalies that would have otherwise gone undetected, providing vital early warning signs of potential health problems.

 

And Making Lives Better

With today’s level of sophistication in computer 3-D imaging technology, its use in medical practice has also found an ever-expanding role to play in helping doctors improve the quality and results of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

For patients seeking facial implants to improve the proportions or enhance the contours of their face, the computer era has made it possible for facial implants to be perfectly tailored to a patient’s face.

Custom implants made using 3-D imaging and computer-aided drafting look smoother, rounder, and anatomical, and allow facial reconstructive surgeons to correctly perceive the interaction of all facial features to create a balanced, well-proportioned face.

Dr. Binder was an early innovator in this field, noticing at first that facial implants of the time were not quite right, or as he would say: “non-anatomic.”

 

Pioneering Facial Contouring and 3-D Imaging

Before bringing the possibilities of high-resolution 3-D scanning, efficient digital rendering and imaging, and computer-aided drafting to fruition in facial reconstruction techniques, Dr. Binder did not see facial implants achieving the desired results he was striving to attain.

By innovating a system capable of fabricating custom-designed facial implants to a high degree of precision, Dr. Binder was able to pioneer a technique that allows the reconstruction of most facial contour defects with a higher degree of accuracy and better results than were ever before possible.

Reasons to Consider Getting a Rhinoplasty

Health Basics, Lifestyle, rhinoplasty

rhinoplasty-reasons

There are Many Benefits to Getting a Rhinoplasty

When your facial features are proportional and symmetrical, it enhances your natural beauty. Studies have shown that patients who get cosmetic rhinoplasties feel more confident about their overall appearance and have a better quality of life as a result. This is why cosmetic rhinoplasty remains one of the most popular cosmetic procedures amongst men and women across the world.

In addition to improving your overall appearance, there are many health benefits to getting a cosmetic rhinoplasty as well. Here is a list of reasons why you should consider getting a rhinoplasty as well as what makes someone a good candidate for the procedure.

What Changes will a Rhinoplasty have on My Appearance?

Getting a cosmetic rhinoplasty will improve any of the following issues:

  • Having a nose that’s too wide for your face.
  • A crooked or malformed nose.
  • A birth deformity
  • A bump on the bridge of your nose.
  • A bulbous nasal tip.
  • An elongated nasal tip.
  • Damage caused by injury.
  • Having a breathing problem caused by blocked nasal passages or a deviated septum.

More Reasons for getting a Rhinoplasty

  • It can improve your self-confidence and self-esteem.
  • It can improve your quality of life by correcting serious breathing problems. In addition, it can alleviate chronic snoring, which has been linked to everything from insomnia to heart health issues. Therefore, by getting a rhinoplasty you can avoid or eliminate these related health issues.
  • It can prevent you from getting sinus infections and sinusitis.
  • It can correct frequent nosebleeds.
  • It can fix how your nose looks and feels after an accident.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Rhinoplasty?

  • Age: In order to achieve successful rhinoplasty results, the patient’s nose needs to have stopped growing. For girls, growth continues until age 14 and, for boys, until age 16 – however, it is up to the parents to decide whether their child is emotionally mature enough for plastic surgery.
  • Realistic Expectations: If you are looking to improve your overall appearance but you understand that it is not possible to achieve perfection, then you are a good candidate for rhinoplasty. In order to set realistic expectations for yourself, it’s best to have an open discussion with your surgeon before your surgery.
  • Knowledge: The best rhinoplasty candidates are the ones who have educated themselves about the procedure and have spoken with their surgeon at length prior to having the surgery performed.
  • Self-conscious: If you are unhappy and self-conscious about the nose you were born with or an injury altered the shape of your nose, then you are a good candidate for rhinoplasty.

What else should I know about the Procedure?

  • If you are unhappy with the results of a previous rhinoplasty, it is possible to get a rhinoplasty revision and have the results of the previous surgery corrected. Because this procedure requires a tremendous degree of skill, it’s important to take care when choosing a surgeon.
  • You will find the results of your rhinoplasty get better over time. Initially, there is a lot of bruising and swelling that will dissipate for the most part after the first month. However, it can take up to a year for the swelling to go down completely.
  • It is possible for patients to have their noses reshaped using nonsurgical means. This procedure is performed using fillers, and the results last up to a year. While the results are only temporary, it is a great way for patients to get an idea what to expect if they elect to get a rhinoplasty.
  • In order to achieve facial symmetry, you may require additional procedures. For example, cheek and chin implant procedures are often performed alongside rhinoplasties.
  • Finally, the results of your rhinoplasty depend a lot on the experience and skill of the surgeon that you choose.

Cosmetic Rhinoplasty with Dr. Binder

Dr. Binder is a double board-certified surgeon that has been performing rhinoplasties, as well as rhinoplasty revisions, for three decades. You always know that you have the benefit of both skill and experience when you choose Dr. Binder as your surgeon.

If you have any further questions about having a rhinoplasty, please contact Dr. Binder today, and he will be happy to discuss them with you.

Smoking and Plastic Surgery

Uncategorized

smoking-effects-plastic-surgery

Smoking and Plastic Surgery: What to Consider

To attain optimal results from plastic surgery, you must first eliminate and remove those things in your life that could negatively impact the success of the procedure and recovery. One of these things is smoking.

Plastic surgery lives on the edge of blood supply, and smoking can wreak havoc during your surgical operations. The success of the surgery may dictate that you quit smoking weeks in advance of your surgery.

Smoking has a number of negative effects on the body that can largely disrupt the surgical procedure and recovery process.

Here is a look at key identifiers and challenges that smoking can cause on plastic surgery procedures.

Effects of Smoking on Anesthesia

During the plastic surgery procedure, breathing is the most challenging issue for anesthesiologists. Smoking generally results in weaker and damaged lungs, which can cause breathing concerns while the procedure is in process.

Compared with non-smokers, smokers need 33% more anesthesia throughout the operation and an additional 23% more pain medication after their procedure to achieve the same results.

Those who didn’t smoke, but were exposed to secondhand smoke, also required 20% more anesthesia and 18% more pain medication than non-smokers who weren’t exposed.

Key Concerns During Surgery

Plastic surgery lives on the edge of blood supply. During these operations, surgeons are operating at the limit of what the circulation of the skin and other tissues will allow. But, in order to have adequate circulation, blood flow through vessels must be sufficient.

Certain things have negative effects on the circulatory system and blood supply, and of them all, smoking is the worst.

Smokers who undergo surgery have an increased risk of experiencing some form of oxygen shortage, developing blood clots and contracting an infection. These risks, however, can be mitigated by quitting smoking well in advance of surgery. How far in advance — that is determined by your plastic surgeon.

Certain procedures, however, involve increased pulling or altering of blood supply. Thus, increasing the risk for a smoker. These procedures include face lifts, tummy tucks and the use of tissue flaps in reconstructive surgery.

In these cases, plastic surgeons may recommend alternative treatments or advise otherwise.

Smoking Delays Healing and Recovery

Smoking significantly delays the healing and recovery process, largely due to nicotine. Research has demonstrated that nicotine forces the blood vessels to tighten and damage the blood vessels. Thus, damaged and tightened blood vessels directly impact blood flow, requiring an extended duration of recovery.

The healing process requires normal blood circulation to help the body heal and recover properly. The chemicals in cigarettes, however, contain elements that make blood stickier and more likely to clot, thus clogging capillaries and blood vessels.

Smoking Ages You

Aside from the negative effects of smoking during the surgical procedure and recovery, plastic surgery and smoking don’t mix well because their reactions vastly differentiate in the body. While the goal of plastic surgery is often to make you look younger, smoking speeds up the aging process.

Negative effects of smoking that impact blood circulation restricts the skin from receiving the nutrients it needs. Additionally, the chemicals in tobacco products and smoke damage your skin by damaging elastin and collagen.

The damage results in loss of elasticity, resilience and volume in our skin – reversing the results of the surgical procedure or treatment.

Are E-Cigarettes Safe?

The exploding popularity of e-cigarettes has earned the trend of the year. Now used as a tobacco alternative, e-cigarettes are assumed to be less hazardous to our health than traditional cigarettes. But the risks are largely unknown.

Although e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco or produce cigarette smoke, they do use a liquid that contains nicotine, which is inhaled in the form of an aerosol. While it is a safer alternative to burning and inhaling tobacco, e-smokers are still taking in comparable levels of nicotine.

Nicotine can negatively impact the body’s ability to heal, thus increasing risks of blood clots and negative reactions with prescribed medication.

Schedule a Consultation

Smoking is a negative player in attaining the results you desire from plastic surgery. That is not said to discourage you from your goals, however. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Binder today to review your goals, to discuss how to quit smoking and your options, and to share his thoughts on the minimum length of time required to be smoke-free before surgery. Options are available, and we’re here to help you find the perfect fit.

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