Education is power and cosmetic plastic surgery is an investment in YOU! Shortcuts very rarely have a positive outcome. Protect your body and do your research.

Below is a picture of Dr. Laverson’s ASAPS Board Certification; proof in that he has dedicated himself to providing his patients with the best that cosmetic plastic surgery has to offer.

If you are in the greater San Diego area, and would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Laverson, please give us a call at (760) 753-6464.

For the most part MAKE THE DECISION FOR OR AGAINST YOURSELF, WITHOUT ADVICE FROM OTHERS.   You do it when the feature you want to change is really bothering you enough to invest in the improvement.   It’s a very personal decision, not one you necessarily want advice or help from others in making, for or against.  Only YOU know how much you want the change.

DON’T TRY TO GET YOUR MONEY’S WORTH IN QUANTITY (bigger lips or breasts, tighter face), get it in QUALITY.  Corollary to this rule: more is not better.

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS, e.g. Melting away fat and inches off your waist by moving a machine over your skin.   Corollary: Decide whether you want to buy hope, or reality (a real difference).

TAKE DRUGS.  While you don’t want to be in a stupor, and a small degree of discomfort is good so you don’t run around like nothing was done and pull your sutures apart, the combination of narcotics and benzodiazepines many doctors prescribe provide a unique opportunity for a few days of unsurpassed drug induced euphoria that many addicts and junkies would envy.  Enjoy the experience! Get ativan, Xanax, or Valium along with your Vicodin, Percocet, Demerol, or Dilaudid.

DON’T LIE ABOUT YOUR BRUISING OR SWELLING AFTER SURGERY.  So many people get injectables and surgery these days, they’re likely to suspect you’re not being truthful.  Losing your credibility is much worse than people knowing you had something done, plus, you get sympathy.  Just say “I had Botox, or I had my eyes or lips done, it’s getting better.”  lying about it doesn’t work, because not only will they know you had it done, but that you’re too insecure, ashamed, or embarrassed to fess up.

DON’T SHOP FOR “SPECIALS,” OR “SALES.”  Your face and body are most precious the only ones you’ll ever own.  Shop for safety, quality of the result, and trust.  These may cost a little more than the lowest price around, but as it turns out, the most expensive procedure is a botched procedure, or one you’re not happy with.  These are expensive psychologically, damaging emotionally, and more financially costly, because you often need it re-done.  Find someone you trust whose results you like.  Then either pay their price, negotiate what you can afford, finance it, or, if you can’t afford it, wait until you can.

Visualize that small change which can make a big difference…

San Diego Plastic Surgeon Offers Innovative Wrinkle Reduction Treatment XEOMIN

At his San Diego plastic surgery practice, Dr. Steve Laverson is now providing XEOMIN®, a skin tightening and anti-wrinkle treatment. XEOMIN®, developed by Merz Aesthetics, is an FDA-approved alternative to BOTOX® Cosmetic and other wrinkle reduction treatments. Dr. Laverson says the cosmetic treatment can be a cost-effective solution that can provide patients with long lasting results in the reduction of glabellar lines or frown lines between the eyebrows.

Board-certified San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Steve Laverson and his Feel Beautiful aesthetic enhancement practice are now one of the first medical professionals in the San Diego area to provide XEOMIN® for skin tightening and wrinkle treatment. Following the announcement of approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July, Merz Aesthetics released the treatment for use as an alternative to BOTOX® Cosmetic in the temporary reduction of glabellar or frown lines and the control of excessive underarm sweating. Dr. Laverson says he is excited to offer the treatment at his practice for patients seeking to enhance their aesthetic appearance through non-invasive procedures.

Approval of XEOMIN® from the FDA was based on results in two U.S. clinical trials during which it was shown to significantly improve the appearance of glabellar lines when compared to the placebo after 30 days of having received the injection. The treatment will be available nationwide to physicians in the spring of 2012, but is currently being offered at Dr. Laverson’s practice in San Diego.

Dr. Laverson says XEOMIN® offers a number of benefits to surgeons and patients over BOTOX® and other dermal injections. He says the new treatment requires no refrigeration or freezing until opened, is less expensive, and can offer longer-lasting results. Dr. Laverson also adds that XEOMIN® contains a lower protein load than BOTOX® or Dysport®, which can offer benefits to rare patients who have developed antibodies or may have an allergic response. He recommends consulting with an experienced, qualified plastic surgeon before undergoing any procedure.

About Steve Laverson, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Steve Laverson graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland and received his medical degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. He served as Chief Resident in General Surgery at Martin Luther King Jr. General Hospital in South Central Los Angeles and trained extensively in plastic surgery with the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group in New York, the largest and longest-standing private plastic surgery practice in the United States. Dr. Laverson is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, New England Journal of Medicine, and several others.

Dr. Laverson’s practice has two locations in the San Diego area: the Encinitas Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Office, located at 477 North El Camino Real, Suite D-304 in Encinitas, CA, and the Carlsbad Feel Beautiful Boutique, located at 2907 Carlsbad Boulevard in Carlsbad, CA. Both locations can be contacted at (760) 820-4252 or online at feelbeautiful.com or facebook.com/feelbeautiful.

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RITE-SIZE

Most women presenting for breast augmentation desire a result proportionate with their body, resulting in alluring, feminine, and sensual curves, with a naturally beautiful appearance.  Selecting implants that are too large may result in several adverse outcomes.  Artificially oversized breasts overpower other features, diverting attention away from facial beauty.  Breast skin may become stretched, causing implants to sag downward over time, and become uncomfortable.  Participation in active sports becomes more challenging, and fashions that fit well are harder to find.  Nipple sensation may diminish.

Axillary (armpit) perspiration

Excessive armpit sweating affects 1.4% of the U.S. population, and can be extremely disabling. Affected individuals are restricted in occupation, dress, social activities, and the condition is disruptive in many aspects of daily living. Recent introduction of the Delfin Vapometer which reliably measures the rate of sweating has demonstrated the effectiveness of a minor surgical procedure that offers a reliable cure: Suction-assisted arthroscopic shaving. The procedure takes 1-2 hours, and general anesthesia is preferred. A small opening is made adjacent to the armpit, and skin is elevated. The sweat glands are then shaved away and suctioned with a specialized arthroscopic device. A drain and bandage are applied, but both are removed the day after surgery. Resolution of excessive sweating is instant, return to work averages four days, and post surgical Vapometer readings are performed 1-3 months afterward to measure effectiveness of the procedure. Relief should be permanent, and cost of the procedure, including anesthesia, surgery center, and post surgical care is about $6000.

Gummy Bear Implants Innovative Alternative for San Diego Plastic Surgeon

At his San Diego plastic surgery practice, Dr. Steve Laverson discusses the Gummy Bear breast implants, including the advantages and disadvantages of the innovative substance, as well as a frank address of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval process. Whether used in breast revision surgery, breast reconstruction, or breast augmentation in San Diego, Dr. Laverson says this type of implant not only provides a safer, rupture-free implant, but also improves overall aesthetic quality of the breast surgery.

Steve Laverson, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Diego, CA, recently discussed the latest advancement in breast enhancement technology known as the cohesive gel or form stable breast implant. Also described as gummy bear implants because the texture is a soft solid resembling gummy bear candy, Dr. Laverson says the implants offer a more solid consistency compared to the saline or silicone gel implants currently available. When he considers the gummy bear implants cannot technically rupture or leak, as well as the fact that they may improve a patient’s overall aesthetic quality with a breast implant revision procedure, Dr. Laverson says he would recommend the gummy bear implants now, even before the final approval from the FDA.

Despite the fact that cohesive gel implants remain one of the best-selling implants worldwide [1], they are currently only available in the U. S. through clinical studies sponsored by Allergan and Mentor [2]. Unsure of why the FDA has not approved these implants, or even offered an update on the status of the U. S. approval, Dr. Laverson says the speed at which the FDA progresses is disappointing because innovators within the plastic surgery community and patients hoping to receive the safest and most effective technology suffer from this inactivity.

While there are disadvantages to the cohesive gel implants—including the need for a larger incision to place the implant—Dr. Laverson says they provide a valuable alternative for select patients in whom these particular devices offer a more natural result. When he considers the enhanced safety benefits and international prevalence of the cohesive gel implants, Dr. Laverson says he would recommend them to his patients regardless of the impending FDA approval.

About Steve Laverson, MD, FACS

Dr. Steve Laverson earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He completed 10 years of postgraduate study in general and plastic surgery, and is certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Laverson’s has two plastic surgery locations in North County San Diego, near Del Mar, Encinitas, and Solana Beach, CA. His Carlsbad Feel Beautiful Boutique is located at 2907 Carlsbad Blvd. in Carlsbad, CA 92008; his Encinitas Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Office is located at 477 El Camino Real, Suite D-304 in Encinitas, CA 92024. Both can be reached at (760) 820-4252, or online at feelbeautiful.com or the Feel Beautiful Plastic Surgery Facebook page.

[1] Just Breast Implants. History & Rationale of Cohesive Silicone Gel Breast implants. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from justbreastimplants.com/breast_implants/history_of_cohesive_silicone_gel_breast_implants.htm
[2] U. S. Food and Drug Administration. Breast Implant Questions and Answers. Retrieved April 1, 2011, from fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/implantsandprosthetics/breastimplants/ucm063719.htm#15

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