Hair Transplant Memphis

Laser Hair Removal

Let’s face it, we all can be lazy sometimes. No one wants to wake up a few minutes earlier in the morning to shave their legs and underarms, but going without if for too long makes them feel like little cactuses and it can feel just plain uncomfortable. Sometimes – or most of the time, who are we kidding – shaving can get annoying and tedious, and waxing is pretty painful – not to mention that it has to be done every few weeks. Laser hair removal could be the best service to you if you’re looking for a more permanent solution to your unwanted hair woes, but some people don’t even know what it is, much less what all it can do for you. Here at Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, we want you to know exactly what you should be aware of when considering laser hair removal.

-How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses an intense beam of light – a laser – to remove unwanted hair. This laser penetrates through the skin into the hair follicle. It damages the hair follicle and prohibits it from further growth. Typically, it works best for people with light skin and dark hair, but anyone can try it. It doesn’t usually permanently stop hair growth on the first treatment and requires around five to six sessions (booking an appointment every four to six weeks is the most effective), but it does effectively slow hair growth even after the first meeting.

-Is it safe?

Laser hair removal is completely safe if it is done by a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office. However, there are a few risks: there is always a risk of damage to the eye when dealing with lasers. Both you and the person performing the procedure need to wear goggles specific to the type of laser that will be used. There are also risks with scarring, discoloration, and blistering. Some swelling and redness are common, but burns or blisters mean that the technician has used the wrong type of laser for your particular skin. Some skin doesn’t take to laser treatment, so it’s best to have the physician conduct a small sample test on a small area of skin before going through with the procedure.

-Does it hurt?

The feeling that has been described by most patients having gotten this treatment is that it feels like being snapped by a hot rubber band or a pinch. It’s very dependent on the individual’s pain tolerance. Although, almost all patients would say that the amount of improvement in stunting or stopping hair growth definitely outweighs the pain of getting the procedure done.

-What are some things I should know before going to a laser hair removal session?

There are a few things you should do (or rather don’t do) in preparation for a laser hair removal session:

DON’T GO OUT IN THE SUN before a laser hair removal treatment. You cannot receive laser hair removal treatment if you have a sunburn, or even if you have a tan. That even means staying away from tanning beds, spray tans and even tanning lotions. Getting treatments done in the fall or winter is the best idea; that way, you can be hair-free by summertime

DO SHAVE THE AREA that is getting treatment before going to the session. Laser hair removal is different from waxing in that you don’t need to let your hair grow out before treatment. That being said, you should not have a session if you’ve had a wax recently. The laser has to target the pigment in your hair follicle, and the laser can’t do that if there isn’t a follicle there!

DO ALLOW YOUR PHYSICIAN to perform a test patch on your skin at your first appointment. Unfortunately not everyone’s skin takes to this treatment well, and some may end up with scarring or discoloration, so it’s best to get a sample test to make sure your skin reacts well.

DON’T BOOK AN APPOINTMENT to get a full-body laser hair removal treatment; most places won’t let you anyway. Your body can only handle so much laser light and heat absorption!

What should I expect to do after I’ve finished my session?

Since your skin is super sensitive in the first few days after getting laser hair removal treatment, so it’s important to take extra good care of it.

DO LATHER UP that sunscreen after your treatment. Sunscreen is important anyway, but since your skin is vulnerable right after a laser hair removal treatment (even if it doesn’t feel like it is), you’ll want to put some sunscreen on to protect your skin as much as you possibly can.

DON’T TWEEZE OR WAX any hair in the area that received treatment. Shaving is fine, but waxing or plucking out hair follicles hinders the process. Put down the tweezers and let the hair fall out on its own.

DON’T TAKE HOT SHOWERS OR BATHS for about a week after getting the procedure done. Lukewarm water is the way to go, and your skin will thank you for it!

DO AVOID PERFUMES AND DEODORANTS as much as you can for 24 to 48 hours after the treatment. Fragrances tend to irritate sensitive skin as is, so stay away for a day or two. If you received the treatment on your face, try to limit makeup use for about a day or until sensitivity begins to subside.

See? Laser hair removal isn’t anywhere near as traumatizing as some might think, and it’s always best to be completely informed about a procedure before going through with it. Following these steps and tips on how to take care of your skin before and after will ensure smooth sailing while going through laser hair removal treatments. Not to mention freedom from prickly underarms and legs! The Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis would be happy to help you with any of your laser hair removals or any other skin treatments you need, so contact us and schedule a consultation by clicking on the link or calling 901.761.9030. We hope to see you soon!

The Mommy Makeover

If you’re a woman who’s been through one or more pregnancies, you don’t need us to tell you all about the toll it can take on your body. Pregnancy can affect the breasts, tummies, and even the legs. After nine months—or more, if you’re a breastfeeding mom —chances are you’ve caught yourself longing for your pre-baby body a time or two. Unfortunately, sometimes even a healthy regimen of diet and exercise can’t turn back the hands of time, and that’s where our Mommy Makeover comes in.

Many plastic surgeons, including our team here at Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, offer what we call the Mommy Makeover, a single-session surgery that specifically addresses a woman’s post-pregnancy body issues. This procedure typically combines the following:

Tummy Tuck
Breast Enhancement
Fat Removal with Liposuction

Let’s take a more in-depth look at each part of the Mommy Makeover procedure.

Tummy Tuck

Women tend to put an exceptional amount of stress on their midsections throughout their lifetime. Pregnancy, weight gain and loss—it’s little wonder that the shape and size of our stomachs change as we age. When diet and exercise aren’t providing the results you want, a surgical procedure like a tummy tuck can be an excellent option.

A tummy tuck will permanently restore firmness to the stomach and remove any loose skin. During the procedure, an incision is made at the pubic bone, through which your plastic surgeon will tighten up the muscles. Small pockets of fat can then be removed with liposuction. Once the muscles are tightened, the excess skin is removed.

There are a variety of tummy tuck procedures available, depending on the extent of your particular post-pregnancy concerns. These are:

Traditional Tummy Tuck – full abdominoplasty
Extended Tummy Tuck – belt lipectomy
Mini Tummy Tuck – short scar or small incision abdominoplasty
Reverse Tummy Tuck – the incision is made from the breast bone to the stomach
Nonsurgical Body Contouring – using liposuction, lasers, or injectables

Women who have had C-sections (or Cesarean sections) are in luck here—your plastic surgeon can often either use or remove that incision while performing the tummy tuck, so you will have only one scar.

Breast Enhancement

As joyful as motherhood can be, the physical effects of pregnancy can sometimes be drastic, changing your body in ways you never anticipated. Some women are lucky, and bounce right back to their pre-pregnancy bodies, but many others struggle to get close to what they looked like before babies.

A typical post-pregnancy problem is breasts that were a perfectly acceptable size and shape before and during pregnancy, but after breastfeeding, they seem to sag or to have lost tissue. This happens because during pregnancy and into breastfeeding, the breasts are affected by hormonal changes. Once these hormone levels even out and decrease, the tissue deflates.

Breast enhancement—whether augmenting with implants or a breast lift—can restore shape and size to your breasts, even making them bigger and fuller than they were before you got pregnant.

There are two different types of breast enhancement to choose from, based on your own post-baby body and what kind of look you’re hoping to achieve.

Breast lift: This can be a long-lasting solution to sagging breasts or loss of breast volume, but just lifting the breast won’t solve the problem in everyone. If there’s a significant loss of volume and sagging skin, a lift and implant might be more effective in recapturing the shape. However, if you’re satisfied with the size of your breasts but just want them to sit a little higher, a breast lift may be the best surgical solution for you. To help restore pre-pregnancy perkiness, a breast lift reduces excess skin and remodels the breast tissue so it can assume a higher position.

Breast implants: Most post-pregnancy patients just want to be the same breast size they were before, or possibly a little bigger. If you’re happy with the position of your breasts, but you’d like them to be a little fuller, implants can help replace the breast tissue that diminishes after having a baby. They may even be able to eliminate the need for a breast lift as long as you have healthy, elastic skin and no excessive sagging. In addition to enhancing actual breast size, implants can help restore some pre-pregnancy firmness.

Fat Removal

Liposuction on its own can remove fat, but it can’t do anything to treat stretched muscles or extra skin. While a tummy tuck takes care of the stretch marks, excess skin, and stretched abdominal wall, liposuction is often performed in conjunction with it to accentuate the waist and add definition to the abdomen. This is a crucial part of any Mommy Makeover! A contoured waist blends into the flattened abdomen in a more natural way, and a narrowed waist complements the proportions created by a breast procedure. The result is a body that looks much like what the patient had prior to pregnancy.

All liposuction is essentially the removal of fat from the body through the assistance of some form of suction. Fat removal involves the use of a cannula (a thin hollow tube that is inserted below the skin) to manually loosen fat. Suction is then applied through the cannula to remove the fat from the body with specialized vacuum-powered equipment.

Improvements in liposuction in recent years include the ability to use smaller cannulas, leading to smaller incisions and more precisely sculpted contours.

Who Mommy Makeovers are for

A Mommy Makeover with the Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis is perfect for women wanting to restore the look of their pre-pregnancy bodies.

It’s generally recommended to let your body heal for three to six months after delivery before attempting any surgery. You’ll also need to be done breastfeeding so our doctors can get a good idea of the true size and position of your breasts. If you’re done having children and are no longer breastfeeding, it’s safe to go ahead with planning a Mommy Makeover.

Who should avoid a mommy makeover

If you’re planning on having more children, you may want to wait to have your Mommy Makeover. No plastic surgeon can guarantee that the results of surgery will be retained with any additional pregnancies. Tummy tucks especially shouldn’t be done for women who are still having or wanting to have more children. If you’re not sure you’re done having children, or that you’re ready to stop breastfeeding, it would be better to wait until you’re certain about both of those before planning on a Mommy Makeover.

Mommy Makeovers with the Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis

If you are doing having children and breastfeeding, and are looking for a way to get back to your pre-baby body, our experienced team of plastic surgeons are here to help you do just that. From your initial consultation to your post-treatment care, Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis will offer cutting edge techniques and equipment to ensure less scarring, less downtime, and more effective and lasting results. Get in touch with us today to start the journey back to your body!

Weight Loss Resolutions: What Comes Next?

We’ve all made New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight, and chances are, we’ve all broken them, too. We’re three weeks into 2017, and this year, Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis wants to help you break the cycle of vowing to make a change and then abandoning it before you even flip the calendar to February. We’ve put together some tips to help you meet and maintain your weight loss goals this year.

Set realistic goals.

Setting lofty goals seems like a great idea on January 1, but will ultimately discourage your progress when you don’t see the scale moving as quickly as you’d like. Maintain your motivation by setting smaller goals that are easier to attain. You can always work your way up to more challenging ones if you start to get bored.

Measurable milestones.

Make your weight loss resolutions measurable, and give yourself a specific amount of time to reach them. Dividing your weight loss goals into specific and measurable goals lets you know when you have met one so can move on to the next.

Share your resolution.

Don’t keep your resolution a secret! Friends and family members can serve a fantastic support system. With their encouragement, you’ll find it easier than ever to make progress. You might even find a weight loss accountability partner who can help motivate you through the rough times.

Reward yourself.

Celebrate your success! Even small goals met are worth a reward. Treat yourself to some new workout clothes or a pedicure. You could even allow yourself a treat day to indulge in all the foods you’re missing. Regular treats can help motivate you to hit your hard-earned benchmarks even faster.

Don’t give up.

Over the course of your weight loss journey, you’ll inevitably encounter days that threaten to derail your diet and exercise plans. Remember that obsessing over the occasional slip-up won’t help you reach your goals any faster! Resist an all-or-nothing approach by being flexible enough to evaluate your goals and progress as you go.

Liposuction by the Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis

What happens next? You kept your resolution, you met all your weight loss goals, and you’re in maintenance mode. Depending on how much you’ve lost, you may find that even with regular exercise, you have some stubborn areas of fat that refuse to budge.

Liposuction is a method of removing that kind of stubborn fat through a small incision to help contour your body. It treats localized excess fat deposits that are usually genetic in origin. When the unwanted fat is removed, the remaining fat and skin tighten up over the next 3-6 months, giving you a new, smoother appearance. The fat removed during this procedure will not be redistributed to other parts of the body, and recovery normally only takes about one week.

Liposuction is not a weight loss technique. The best time to perform body-contouring is when you’re at your healthiest and most stable weight, so it’s a great long-term goal to have in mind. Doing liposuction while you’re still losing weight can be a bit like trying to hit a moving target! If you proceed with doing liposuction in areas that are still shrinking, the end result could be unpredictable. Waiting until you’ve achieved a healthy and stable lifestyle and you’re maintaining that lifestyle and weight as much as possible will give you far better, longer-lasting results.

SculpSure by Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis

Looking for a less invasive way to achieve the kind of body contouring you get with liposuction?

SculpSure uses cutting-edge technology that’s non-invasive, and the procedure requires no downtime or surgery. Not only that, but SculpSure offers fat reduction in significantly less time than other treatments.

As we get older and closer to adulthood, our fat cell count tends to become steady. From that point on, gaining weight doesn’t increase the amount of fat cells, but rather their size. One reason people gain weight is from eating more food than the body needs for energy. When an excess amount of food is consumed, the body processes the fat that it requires for an energy source, and the remaining fat is then stored in fat cells. The more excess fat stored, the larger fat cells can become.

When you lose weight from eating a healthy diet or exercising, those fat cells don’t disappear, they shrink. So, even with weight loss, the shrunken fat cells have the potential to enlarge again if you gain any back. The good news is that with SculpSure, fat cells are actually eliminated from your body. There’s no chance for these cells to regenerate in the treatment area since there won’t be any fat cells left to enlarge. It’s still important, though, to maintain a healthy lifestyle to make sure the surrounding fat cells that were not treated don’t get the chance to enlarge!

New year, new you

Whether it takes you six weeks or six months, Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis wants to encourage you to stick with your resolution and meet your ultimate goal. Once you get there, we’ve got the rest covered! Whether it’s liposuction, SculpSure, butt or breast lift, or a tummy tuck, we have an excellent team of surgeons and nurse-aestheticians on staff, ready to reshape those stubborn areas you aren’t able to shift on your own. All of our physicians are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and have over twenty years of combined experience. Although you have to do the hardest work yourself, we’re here to help you refine your results. Give us a call today or click here to schedule a consultation.

Hair Restoration For Men With NeoGraft®

As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, more and more men are seeking cosmetic surgery these days. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the top five most popular procedures among men are Botox, hair transplantation/restoration, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and liposuction. A recent Consumer Survey conducted by the AACS has shown that about 12% of men plan on having cosmetic surgery at some point in the future. Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis has certainly found this trend to be true, as our male client base continues to grow annually.

One of the procedures our male clients seek out most often is hair transplantation or restoration. By the age of 35, around two-thirds of American men have experienced some degree of measurable hair loss, and by the age of 50, approximately 85% have significantly thinning hair, according to the American Hair Loss Association.

Androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male pattern baldness (MPB), accounts for more than 95% of that hair loss in men. Approximately 25% percent of men who suffer from male pattern baldness begin the painful process before they reach the age of twenty-one. This hereditary condition is characterized by a receding hairline as well as a loss of hair on the top of the scalp.

Hair loss can have many possible causes. Let’s take a closer look at them:

Hair Loss and Hormones

Hair loss in men is often closely related to hormones. There is a male equivalent to menopause, called “andropause,” and it causes men to go through a similar decline and shift in hormones. Hormones regulate just about every function in the body, including hair growth. When testosterone levels fluctuate, it can impact the body’s ability to regenerate hair follicles.

The relationship between testosterone and hair loss lies with dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a derivative of testosterone. DHT can cause hair follicles to regress and die, which results in premature balding. More specifically, DHT shortens the growth cycle of hair and increases the resting cycle so that over time, hair in these locations grows less and becomes shorter until it simply stops growing altogether.

Excess levels of testosterone can often result in higher levels of DHT, and a greater likelihood of hair loss or baldness.

Stress and Hair Loss

Stress forces the adrenal glands to produce excess amounts of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. High levels of cortisol can deplete collagen, decrease bone density, and can also lead to hair loss. Constantly elevated levels of stress cause the adrenal glands to become overactive in time, due to the increased need for cortisol. When the male body has in this manner, it also produces additional testosterone and adrenaline. Additional testosterone means more DHT. lead, plus cortisol itself, can often leads to hair loss in men who consistently find themselves under a lot of pressure.

Hair Loss and Thyroid Imbalance

Hair loss can be a typical symptom of thyroid disorders. Thyroid disease is a form of hormonal imbalance, and when the thyroid gland isn’t functioning properly, other hormones throughout the body are also affected. Hair loss that occurs as a result of thyroid imbalance is often preceded by noticeable changes in the hair’s texture, such as coarseness or dryness. Facial and body hair growth may also be stunted by a thyroid imbalance.

Nutritional Deficiencies and Hair Loss

As boring as it may be to talk about, balanced nutrition really is the key to overall health. It’s important that you’re getting enough of the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your body needs to ensure that all your organs, tissues, and cells are functioning properly. Deficiencies in protein, iron, zinc, and biotin have all been linked to hair loss in men.

It’s not just nutritional deficiencies you have to look out for, though. Excess levels of certain nutrients, such as vitamin A or carotene, can also cause premature male pattern baldness.

Hair Loss Due to Medication

Hair loss can be a common side effect of a variety of medications. Blood-thinners, antidepressants, beta blockers, NSAIDS, and vitamin A-based drugs have all been linked to thinning of the hair or baldness. Chemotherapy is also well known for causing hair loss. However, as with chemotherapy, the hair follicles should resume growing once you stop using whatever medication is causing hair loss in the first place.

How hair loss can affect men

Numerous studies on the impact of hair loss have shown that a patient’s self-esteem and body image can be negatively affected by thinning or balding hair. This loss can affect multiple aspects of a man’s life, especially when it begins at a younger age. Men may feel a deep loss of self-confidence, leading to a disruption in personal and sometimes even professional relationships.

How NeoGraft® can help

It’s clear that hair loss can be a very emotional part of the natural aging process, and seeking ways to curb this process effectively used to be quite a challenge. However, as a result of recent improvements in technology and treatments, hair restoration procedures for both men and woman have been on a consistent upswing for the last decade. The more traditional methods of hair replacement have found competition in state-of-the-art hair loss solutions like NeoGraft®. While older procedures like the “strip” method come with post-operative pain, a slow recovery time, and potential loss of feeling at the incision site, modern methods such as NeoGraft® offer patients more natural looking results with minimal downtime and no scarring.

Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis is proud to be a certified provider of NeoGraft® technology! This breakthrough procedure for men who want to achieve a fuller, healthier head of hair has many advantages over more traditional treatments. This simple process uses your own hair to recreate a fuller, more natural-looking hairline.

When choosing a hair transplant procedure, the goal of most patients is results that look natural and restore confidence. Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis have partnered with NeoGraft® because of a common belief – the belief that every person suffering from hair loss deserves a desirable, discrete option that offers better results than the current established hair transplant methods and treatments. So if you find yourself struggling with hair loss or male pattern baldness, and looking for a procedure that provides the best results without impacting your daily routine, contact our friendly and experienced team today to set up a NeoGraft® consultation!

Posted on January 5, 2017April 5, 2017Categories News

SculpSure Taking The Nation By Storm

With coverage ranging from the New York Times to E! News, SculpSure is taking the nation by storm!

In case you’ve missed out on our excitement over being one of the first and only locations in Memphis to offer SculpSure technology, here’s a brief rundown on why this cutting-edge procedure is fast becoming a patient favorite.

What SculpSure can do for you

SculpSure can help you safely reduce stubborn fat in common problem areas like the belly and love handles by targeting fat cells under the skin with precision, resulting in impressive results in as little as six weeks. Since SculpSure is non-invasive, there’s no surgery to recover from, and its innovative body contouring technology can destroy those fat calls in just 25 minutes without affecting the surface of the skin.

How does SculpSure work?

SculpSure targets, disrupts, and melts fat cells under the skin. The damaged cells are absorbed, and over a few weeks, your body removes the melted fat. By applying the patented SculpSure applicator over the desired treatment area, we’re able to treat larger areas, as well as areas that are flat or convex. Because the applicators are flexible and non-suctioning, SculpSure is significantly more comfortable than other treatments. It’s such an easy procedure that it can even be done on your lunch break!

Is SculpSure right for you?

SculpSure is ideally suited for patients who struggle with stubborn fat deposits on the abdomen and flanks (love handles) who have a BMI of less than 30. It’s also an ideal choice for patients who don’t want (or can’t have) surgery or any recovery downtime. Most patients feel nothing more than a slight warming sensation, making this a well-tolerated treatment for those with a low pain tolerance or fear of painful procedures. Since melted fat is easier for the body to remove, SculpSure leaves less deep-tissue scarring than other treatments. As a matter of fact, SculpSure can even help smooth out irregular areas left over from previous liposuction procedures.

Who’s talking about SculpSure?

Everybody!

The New York Daily News covered SculpSure in 2015, back when the FDA first approved the procedure, calling it a ” high-tech, FDA-approved machine that melts fat with a laser” and stating it “could be the next great tool in the battle of the bulge.” Dr. Mitchell Chasin, medical director of Reflections Center for Skin and Body in Livingston, N.J., was quoted as saying, “This is probably going to be the biggest change in treatment in fat reduction in the last decade,” comparing its potential to that of laser lipo. Dr. Chasin also discussed the benefits of SculpSure in a segment on Fox5NY.

CBS News did both a video and a written segment about the FDA approval of SculpSure, calling it an “alternative to liposuction for patients who want to get rid of stubborn fat around the belly, hips and thighs.” They also spoke to Dr. Bruce Katz, a dermatologist who was a part of the SculpSure clinical trial and currently uses it at his New York City practice, who referred to it as “the first laser we’re using to melt fat.”

Cosmetic Surgery Times spoke with Dr. Lawrence Bass, M.D., a plastic surgeon in New York City who was a lead investigator in one of two FDA studies for SculpSure. Dr. Bass has completed over one hundred SculpSure cases in various clinical studies for Cynosure, and praised the versatility of the procedure, noting that “With SculpSure’s four separate applicator heads, I can treat multiple areas at once. Or I can adjust the pattern or arrangement of how I place the four heads, depending on where the patient needs it.”

E! News got in on the action, filming a brief segment discussing the exciting benefits of SculpSure, and the procedure has a big fan in Real Housewives of New York star Kyle Richards, who has been publicly singing the praises of SculpSure for some time now. She’s talked to People magazine, AOL.com, and Bravo about her experience with it, raving that “It literally is so easy!” Richards has also noted that SculpSure is painless and feels similar to a heating pad. She’s even claimed that she wants to “do my entire body from head to toe!”

SculpSure in Memphis

With SculpSure gaining attention across the country, the Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis is thrilled to be one of the first and only local providers of SculpSure technology. If you find that you’re struggling with stubborn fat that diet and exercise can’t seem to shift, get in touch with us today for a SculpSure consultation. We have a team of trained providers on hand to talk with you about all the benefits this procedure has to offer, and whether it’s a good match for you. Call today, or click here to set up your consultation, and join in the growing number of people getting great results with SculpSure!

Posted on December 19, 2016April 13, 2017Categories News

Introducing NeoGraft®

Hair loss can have many possible causes, including genetics, thyroid issues, cancer treatments, or side effects from various medications. Studies on the psychosocial impact of hair loss have found that a patient’s self-esteem, body image, and self-confidence can be negatively affected.

Why? We can mostly blame our culture, since almost every society in the world associates a luxurious head of hair with youth and good health. And to many, a full head of hair represents attractiveness and desirability, personally as well as professionally.

The facts are that approximately 50 million men and 30 million women suffer from male/female pattern baldness or thinning hair. The traditional “strip method” of hair replacement isn’t always the best option. There’s a slow recovery time to consider, the potential loss of feeling at the incision site, and some amount of post-operative pain involved. Many potential hair replacement patients may avoid this method, or may not be a good candidate for it at all.

Hair Restoration should be unnoticeable to all but those you tell.

Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis is excited to announce our newest offering, NeoGraft®. NeoGraft® introduces the “state-of-the-art” solution for hair loss. This game-changing technology automates the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method to give patients more natural looking results with minimal downtime, no linear scarring, and no stitches.

NeoGraft® Technology

NeoGraft® is a breakthrough procedure for men and women who want to achieve a fuller, healthier head of hair. The advantages of NeoGraft® are many, the process is simple, and it allows you to recreate a full and natural-looking hairline – using your own hair.

How does NeoGraft® work? Let’s take a look!

Step One

A certified NeoGraft® provider here at Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis will carefully extract individual hair follicles from the back of the head, also referred to as the “donor area.” This area is genetically programmed to resist the hormone that causes hair loss, meaning you’ll barely be able to tell that hair was taken from this area after it’s healed, which can be as soon as one week after the procedure. When extracting the grafts, our NeoGraft® professionals ensure they’re the same consistency in diameter and length, resulting in a dramatically increased percentage of hairs that accept the transfer.

Step Two

Once the desired quantity of follicles has been collected, the follicular units are carefully separated by size – one, two, three and sometimes four hair units – to allow for a more natural occurring pattern during the implant process.

Step Three

Your Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis hair transplant surgeon creates recipient sites for the hair on the thinning area in the proper angle, direction, and orientation created in the artistic transplant plan we design specifically for you.

Step Four

These newly transplanted follicles will then enter the normal biological process, “resting” before growing completely new hair in the grafted areas. The result? A fuller head of hair that’s entirely natural-looking. This new hair can be colored, cut, or styled in any fashion. Since there is no linear scar and the hair transplant procedure is completely undetectable, the only people who will know will be the ones you decide to tell!

Why choose NeoGraft®?

It’s the least invasive procedure for hair transplantation

Patients who receive NeoGraft® feel little to no discomfort

No stitches or staples are used in the NeoGraft® procedure

No scarring

No numbness in the donor area

Quick recovery time with little to no downtime

Flexible, natural looking results

Patients are typically able to return to work the next day

When choosing a hair transplant procedure, the goal of most patients is natural-looking results and restored confidence. Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis has partnered with NeoGraft because of a shared belief that every person suffering from hair loss deserves a more desirable and discrete option than the current established hair transplant methods and treatments.

If you’re struggling with hair loss and looking for a procedure that provides the best results without impacting your daily routine, contact our friendly and experienced team today to set up a NeoGraft® consultation!

Posted on December 12, 2016April 5, 2017Categories News

Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis Welcomes Dr. Nicholas Leonardi

Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis is thrilled to officially welcome Dr. Nicholas Leonardi as part of our team of experienced, caring, and committed plastic surgeons.

Dr. Leonardi was born and raised in the Midwest, though he is also a Memphian, having graduated from Houston High School in Germantown. He returned to his roots for undergraduate and medical school, as well as medical school and general surgical training, before heading back this way for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery training at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis. Once he completed this training, Dr. Leonardi decided to remain in the Midsouth to be closer to his friends and family. He’s still a lifelong Cubs fan, though!

Dr. Leonardi holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Zoology and History of Science, Medicine, and Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During his time in Madison, he helped found the UW Waterski Team, and was a former record holder who won National Collegiate Team of the Year honors. He was also elected the Great Plains Conference Delegate for the Midwest Collegiate Waterski Association.

After Dr. Leonardo completed his undergraduate studies, he was able to secure an Associate Research Specialist position with the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, where he assisted in investigating gene pathways in prostate cancer development. As a medical student at the Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, he was a recipient of the Illinois Health Education Consortium Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Program Scholarship. This allowed Dr. Leonardi to develop strong skills in cultural competency and medical Spanish proficiency.

Dr. Leonardi followed up this accomplishment with a five year residency in General Surgery at the University of Illinois Metropolitan Group Hospitals. Here he was Administrative Chief Resident, and was also awarded the Vijay Maker, MD Award for Academic Excellence in General Surgery. Dr. Leonardi is board certified in General Surgery, as well as Plastic Surgery and Reconstruction.

Outside of his education and training, Dr. Leonardi has enjoyed volunteering with United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South and the Wisconsin Early Autism Project. He is married to a wonderfully supportive woman, Amy, and they have two beautiful children together. Cooper and Lily are 10 and 5, and they keep Dr. Leonardi young — and on his toes! In his spare time, he loves neighborhood walks with his dog, cooking out when the weather permits, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Leonardi does not have a specific focus within the field, but rather takes an interest in all aspects of reconstructive and aesthetic surgery in both the pediatric and adult population. He believes this is beneficial to his patients, as he is able to continue to hone his skills in multiple areas of Plastic Surgery and Reconstruction. He also continues his commitment to lifelong learning by remaining involved in institutional review board approved clinical research.

Here at Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, we believe that a practice is only as strong as its providers. Dr. Leonardi is a fantastic addition to our team, and we are so excited to welcome him!

Posted on November 30, 2016April 13, 2017Categories News

2016 Holiday Gift Guide

With the holiday season quickly approaching, most of us have probably already started the annual struggle of finding the perfect gifts for the loved ones in our lives. What do you get for the friend that has everything? How will you ever find something unique for that hard to please family member? Sweaters and ties are useful, but don’t pack a lot of punch. Want to avoid re-gifting? With the Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, you can now give the gift of plastic surgery! We offer gift certificates in any dollar amount.

We know, it might seem like a crazy idea. But gift certificates are an increasingly popular choice for Christmas, especially when they’re as easily customizable as ours are. You may be wondering what a Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis gift certificate could cover. Let’s take a look!

Skin care products

We have a range of speciality skin care products available, starting at around $25. These include moisturizers, facial scrubs, and a number of other creams and potions to keep skin glowing right into the New Year.

Skin care procedures

We offer several skin care procedures here at Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, such as:

Botox and Dysport, to smooth frown lines and temporarily diminish the look of wrinkles

Juvederm and Restylne, to smooth facial wrinkles and folds by adding volume back to the skin

Latisse, for inadequate eyelashes by growing them longer, fuller and darker

Laser treatments, for skin resurfacing to reduce facial wrinkles, scars, and blemishes

Spider vein treatment, using sclerotherapy to cause the vein to collapse and fade from view

Chemical peels, to smooth skin and correct discoloration

Bonus: consultations with our aesthetic nurses are free! That means the entire gift certificate can be used to cover the cost of any chosen treatments.

Surgical procedures

Let’s say your loved one has already had a consultation with Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, and has agreed with one of our plastic surgeons on a particular surgical procedure we offer. Assuming the surgeon has agreed that the patient is an appropriate candidate, a gift certificate can then be used towards the total cost of that procedure. And we offer many! From tummy tucks to facelifts, Sculpsure to liposuction, we have a highly trained staff to both consult with and carry out any procedure needed to bring out the beautiful in our clients!

So don’t let the search for the perfect gift steal your Christmas cheer this year. There’s no stressful shopping involved when you choose a Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis gift certificate, and you’re guaranteed to give a gift they’ll remember. For more information, get in touch with us today!

Posted on November 17, 2016April 5, 2017Categories News

Laser Skin Treatments Turn Back Time

Who doesn’t want smooth, youthful-looking skin? Especially during the winter months, when our summer glow is fading and the dry air has us reaching for all the lotions and moisturizers we can get our hands on.

We often spend hours plucking, shaving, exfoliating, slathering on anti-aging creams and face masks, waxing, and threading in an attempt to look our best. There has to be a better way, right?

Luckily, there is! Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis offers laser skin treatments that can help you turn back the hands of time.

If you’re not familiar with laser skin treatments, you may be wondering what they can do for you and your skin. Let’s take a look at some of the ways they can bring out the best of your beauty.

How does it work?

It’s all about light! Our plastic surgeons use a laser to send short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin. This removes the unwanted, damaged skin in a very precise manner, one layer at a time.

The laser beam used in laser resurfacing removes your outer layer of skin, called the epidermis. At the same time, it heats up the underlying skin, called the dermis. These actions work together to stimulate the growth of new collagen fibers. As the treated area heals, new skin forms, but this skin is smoother and firmer. Put simply, laser skin treatments have the ability to improve minor facial flaws, such as:

    Fine lines or wrinkles around or under your eyes, forehead or mouth

    Scars from acne or chickenpox

    Non-responsive skin after a facelift

    Aged or sun-damaged skin

    Liver spots

These treatments also have advantages over alternative approaches, many of which may cause discomfort, bleeding or bruising. Not only are these uncomfortable, they also equal a longer recovery time. The good news is the lasers we use now are gentler and safer than lasers have been in the past, which means more comfort and less downtime for you!

What we offer

Laser Hair Removal

Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis offer laser skin treatments that can permanently remove hair. Shaving, waxing, depilatory creams, threading – hair removal often feels like a tedious and never-ending chore. And that’s before we talk about all the shaving nicks, painful waxing appointments, and expensive threading sessions. Stop wasting your time and money!

Our surgeons use Lumenis LightSheer® and the Lumenis family of permanent hair reduction products to offer unparalleled treatment speed and efficiency, while offering optimal comfort. LightSheer® offers a unique and effective solution for permanent hair reduction, pairing optimal results with maximum comfort. With LightSheer®, your treatment sessions are minimal, so it hardly makes an impact on your busy lifestyle.

Additionally, LightSheer® is more than 75% faster than the average hair reduction session. This treatment also features the unique HIT™ and ChillTip™ technologies for pain relief. LightSheer® is a smart economical choice, too, saving you all that money you’d normally spend on repeated temporary hair removal solutions.

Laser Skin Treatment

Would you like to even your skin tone? Reduce the appearance of old acne scars? Tone down those stretch marks, or get rid of that regrettable tattoo? At Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, we use the Lumenis M22, a modular multi-application platform which treats over thirty different skin conditions.

The M22 has four versatile modes, each one providing different functions and benefits.

Universal IPL

    Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT™)

    Single handpiece with changeable filters and lightguides

    For IPL skin treatments using photorejuvenation

ResurFX™

    The only true fractional non-ablative, with CoolScan™ scanner

    No disposables

    For skin resurfacing

Multi-Spot™ Nd:YAG

    The only laser with Multiple Sequential Pulsing (MSP)

    2 sized lightguides, changeable in seconds

    For treatment of leg veins and vascular lesions

Q-Switched Nd:YAG

    Homogenous beam profile for enhanced treatment safety and efficacy

    For skin toning by treatment of pigmented lesions, dark tattoos removal, and combination treatments

As you can see the Lumenis M22 is extremely versatile!

What to expect

Laser skin treatments are generally an outpatient procedure. Our surgeons may treat individual wrinkles around your eyes, mouth, or forehead, or treat your entire face depending on what you’ve discussed. Small areas will be numbed with a local anesthetic, or your surgeon may choose sedation. General anesthesia might also be an option if your whole face is being treated.

If you’re only having parts of your face treated, the procedure will take about 30 to 45 minutes. A full-face treatment can take up to two hours.

Following laser skin treatments, your surgeon will bandage the treated area. About 24 hours after treatment, you will need to start cleaning the treated area four or five times a day. You’ll need to apply an ointment, like petroleum jelly, to prevent scabs from forming. This wound care is to prevent any scab formation. Usually the areas heal in 10 to 21 days, depending on what you have treated.

Some swelling after laser skin treatments is normal. You may be prescribe steroids to manage swelling around your eyes. Sleeping on an extra pillow at night to elevate your head can help ease swelling. Ice packs on the treated area also help reduce swelling in the first 24 to 48 hours.

Schedule a consultation

At Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, we offer multiple laser devices and state-of-the-art laser skin treatments that deliver incredible results. If you’re ready to roll back the years, give us a call or fill out our contact form and book a consultation with us today!

Posted on November 12, 2016April 5, 2017Categories News

The Surprising Rise Of Male Plastic Surgery

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear “plastic surgery”? Is it someone like Pamela Anderson, or maybe Dolly Parton… even the Kardashian crew? No matter whom you picture, it’s likely to be a woman. However, in recent years, the number of men seeking plastic surgery procedures has skyrocketed. In fact, in the last twenty years, the number of cosmetic procedures performed among men has grown by 325%! From something as simple as nose reshaping to full facelifts, to spending thousands of dollars trying to look like David Beckham (or Jesus!), men are beginning to invest in plastic surgery almost as often as women do.

So what exactly are they having done? Actually, many of the same procedures that women do!

Facelifts for Men

If you watch TV or movies, you’ve already seen this in action, even though, for the most part, Hollywood’s leading men are still reluctant to admit it. But it’s not just A-listers who are attempting to hold back the hands of time! Many men are looking for ways to shave off a few years in a way that it isn’t obvious they’ve had any work done. Modern facelifts make that easy by restoring fat to its youthful location and carefully tightening the skin, instead of merely tightening the skin overall. This modern approach avoids that telltale pulled-back look to the facelifts of the past.

Eyelid Rejuvenation for Men

Otherwise known as an eyelid lift, this procedure addresses the signs of aging around the eyes, something that can occur in some of us as early as our mid-thirties! Men especially seem to suffer from sagging upper eyelids and puffy bags beneath the eyes. In some cases, this can actually cause vision impairment. This procedure can correct that look, in addition to giving the patient a more youthful appearance by removing the excess skin, tightening the tendons, trimming or smoothing fat, and subtle fat grafts.

Liposuction for Men

Although just about any area of the body can be suctioned, the three most common areas for men are the neck, abdomen, and love handles. This is a great option for guys who are watching their weight and exercising regularly, but still struggling with stubborn areas of excess fat. Many men feel that liposuction helps them achieve the lean, athletic look they desire. Since the fat removed does not redistribute to other areas of the body, it’s a look that lasts!

Breast Reduction for Men

Men might seem like unlikely candidates for breast reductions, but they are seeking it out in surprising numbers. In 2015, this procedure was the fourth most popular among cosmetic surgeries for men. In fact, men accounted for 40% of all breast reductions performed last year! It’s easy to write off “man boobs”, but there are real physical causes and real-life repercussions that go along with them. A sensitivity to or overabundance of female hormones can cause actual excessive breast tissue, while things like natural obesity and bodybuilding can enlarge the breast tissue. There are also men who have lost a large amount of weight and are left with extra hanging skin. Most of the males who seek out this surgery are younger and suffering from the challenges associated with enlarged breasts. In many cases, male breast reduction can make a big difference in the lives of those who choose it!

Clearly plastic surgery is becoming more common and accepted for men, helping to boost their self confidence and turn back the clock. People today are living longer and staying healthier, and they want to look as good as they’re feeling. That holds true for men just as much as women.

But how do you shift from considering a procedure to actually booking it? It’s extremely important that you find a board-certified plastic surgeon. This is a provider who has had at least three years of surgical training prior to two or three years devoted exclusively to plastic surgery, rather than a more general practitioner who just happens to do plastic surgery as well. If you want results that look natural but keep you recognizable, be prepared to invest in a skilled surgeon.

Here at Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis, all of our providers are highly trained and extremely dedicated to their craft and to their patients. We offer all of the procedures mentioned above, along with many more, and would be happy to talk with you about the look you’d love to achieve and how we can make that happen! Call us today to schedule a consultation, or fill out our contact form here. We look forward to meeting with you soon!

Posted on October 7, 2016April 13, 2017Categories News

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