COVID Safety

We look forward to caring for you.

We’re working hard to ensure that the new precautions don’t detract from your experience and to help you feel secure and confident as you visit our office. Should you have any questions or special requests, please share them with our team.

We hope all our patients will continue to do their part to minimize risk and stop the spread of infection. By following protocols recommended by the state and our practice, together we will do our part to support the staged re-opening of business.

Any questions feel free to give us a call 269-329-0655

Breast Augmentation: Incision Decision

Getting a breast augmentation typically means getting breast implants. These implants will either be filled with a saline-solution or silicone-gel and inserted through an incision.

Interesting fact: soy oil and polypropylene string used to also be used as implant fillers; for various reasons these types of implants are no longer manufactured.

There are five different types of surgical incisions for the emplacement of breast implants:

Inframammary: an incision made below the breast, in the inframammary fold (often referred to as an IMF incision). Dr. Elluru prefers this incision location for many of the silicone-gel implant breast augmentations he performs. The benefits of this location are: the scar is easily hidden in the crease of the breast fold and it allows the greatest access for a precise cut and emplacement of the breast implants.
Periareolar: an incision made along the bottom half of the areola’s circumference. Aesthetically this is a great approach because the incisions are at the areolas’ border and therefore scars tend to be almost imperceptible. While this is a good approach, periareolar incisions do have a slight increase in the potential for post-operative functional issues. These issues could include altering the sensitivity of the nipples, a lessened ability to breast feed, and a slight incidence of capsular contraction. However, it’s important to note that this is a successful incision site without issues for many.
Transaxillary: an incision made to the armpit. This allows the surgeon to place the implants without producing visible scars on the breast. One downside to the armpit incision is that it is more likely to produce asymmetry of the implants’ position. Also, if any revision is necessary a second incision will have to be made – usually an IMF or periareolar – resulting in those scars as well.
Transumbilical: an incision made at the navel (often referred to as a TUBA incision). Like the armpit incisions, this approach allows emplacing the implants without visible scares on the breast. However, it cannot be used for silicone-gel implants and makes emplacement of saline implants more technically difficult.
Transabdominal: through an incision made in stomach during an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), this uncommon incision is referred to as a TABA incision.

While every plastic surgeon may be able to perform a breast augmentation using any of these incisions, each surgeon will have an incision preference-and therefore, more experience with that technique and it’s outcome. Like Dr. Elluru, any plastic surgeon worth his or her salt, will help guide you on which incision will suite your body type and goals best under his or her care.

Not Just For Women

Plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures are no longer considered just for women anymore. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ annual statistics, male cosmetic surgery has shot up by 28% since 2000.

Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery has also seen an increase in male patients, and we are proud to have office environments where men can feel relaxed and welcomed.

Although men are more apt now than ever before to seek out a plastic surgeon, their reasons for doing so differ from women’s. Most commonly, men are looking for techniques to address their physique. Liposuction is one of the most popular procedures to address ‘love handles’ or ‘beer bellies’. Also popular is male breast reduction which eliminates gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts, ‘man boobs’), especially after a significant weight loss. Other common cosmetic procedures for men include rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, and facelift.

Noninvasive procedures are also growing in popularity for men. This includes injectables like wrinkle smoother Botox, volume fillers like Volbella & Juvederm, and the double chin reducer, Kybella. Our aesthetician has also seen an increase in male patients. Men are asking for laser hair removal, chemical peels, and skin healing laser sessions.

If you, or a guy you know, is considering plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures and would like to know more, there is a lot of information readily available. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is a great place to start to gain facts about all of the surgical and noninvasive procedures available. Real Self is another information-packed site where you can ask questions to plastic surgeons, view before/after photos, and learn about other people’s experiences. And, of course, we are always available to answer questions and set you up with a consultation with Dr. Elluru to learn more about what a specific cosmetic procedure can do for you.

Choosing the Right Sunscreen for You

It’s finally time to have fun in the sun again, hoorah! And with the official start of summer next month, it makes good sense that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

By now, most everyone knows that UVA and UVB radiation are the cause for most skin cancers and contributes to the photoaging of our skin. While there are heroes like plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aestheticians that can help with the negative effects of sunlight, we can all help ourselves fight against skin cancer and photoaging with one, easy preventative measure: sunscreen!

Luckily, there are many, many different forms of sunscreen available for many, many different skin types. But, with all these options there can be confusion about which sunscreen is best for you. These are the first 3 factors to look at when selecting a sunscreen:

SPF: Sun Protection Factor

Sunscreen with a higher SPF should offer more protection from the sun’s harmful rays. For example: An SPF of 15 blocks 93% of UVB radiation, SPF 30 blocks nearly 97%, and SPF 50% blocks an estimated 98% of UVB rays.

Studies show that SPFs above 50 only have a minimal increase in protection, making wearing an SPF 50 practically the same as wearing an SPF 100. Interesting fact: Regulatory bodies in Europe and Australia have capped the SPF of sunscreen to their consumers at 50. In part, this was done to avoid consumers having an over-confidence in a higher SPF sunscreen and thus not applying it as directed leading to sun damage.

The SPF on a sunscreen mainly refers to only the amount of UVB protection. While you may not be getting a sunburn from UVB rays because of your sunscreen, you could still be getting large amounts of skin-damaging UVA radiation. Which brings me to the next important factor in an effective sunscreen:

Multi-spectrum, Broad Spectrum, UVA/UVB protection

Because SPF refers only to the UVB blocking percentage, you’ll want a sunscreen that also offers UVA protection. The ingredients should contain some combination of the following UVA-blocking ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, ecamsule, and oxybenzone. This is often labeled on the product as multi-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or UVA/UVB protection.

The last factor – synthetic versus mineral – has largely been debated. Some, such as those with ultra-sensitive skin, may not have much of a choice between the two. However, I think it’s important to note that either choice is sunscreen and something everyone should be using on the daily.

Synthetic vs Mineral

Synthetic sunscreen: There are over 30 synthetic sunscreen ingredients that are used. Synthetic sunscreen is often referred to as chemical sunscreen, which is incredibly misleading. All skincare ingredients are chemicals – including water.

Pros: Begins to work immediately, is generally found in a products that have a thinner texture, is preferred for water-resistant formulas, and is more likely to have an accurately labeled SPF.

Con: Can be sensitizing for those with extra-sensitive skin.

Mineral sunscreen: There are two mineral sunscreen ingredients: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Mineral sunscreen ingredients are often referred to as being organic, but they are, in fact, not. They are actually inorganic chemicals.

Pros: Begins to work immediately and has almost no risk of irritating skin.

Cons: May leave a white cast on the skin, needs more frequent and liberal applications than a synthetic formula, and studies such as those done by Consumer Reports show that mineral sunscreens are most likely to fail SPF accuracy tests and have a much lower actual SPF rating.

We carry several different types of sunscreen at our Portage office – including OBAGI’s Sun-Shield, a tinted face lotion available in cool or warm that has an SPF of 50 and offers a broad spectrum protection.

Body Sculpting for Swimsuit Season

We’ve all seen these ads: beautiful, slim models wearing gorgeous, expensive swimsuits. The catalogs come in the mail; the TV weight-loss ads push swimsuit-clad women touting their amazing results; and women’s magazines, lined up in the candy aisle at the grocery check-out, are chock-a-block with stunning women in bikinis. Inside, we realize that these are hyped up images geared to motivate us to buy: the magazine, the swimsuit, the weight-loss program. But most women also feel a twinge of self-doubt looking at these photos. Perfection is not just offered—the subliminal message is clear: if you don’t have a body like this, you aren’t attractive. I think that’s a shame, as I’ve been working with thousands of men and women all over Michigan for many years, and not a single one of them were unattractive. Sure, they had features they wanted to change, but that was to make them happier with their appearance—not to make them supermodels. There isn’t a surgical procedure that I can perform to change your body into that of the Photoshopped images in the magazines, but there are several that we can think about that will improve your appearance a great deal. Here are some of them.

A Mommy Makeover is a combination procedure that includes a tummy tuck, a breast enhancement procedure, and liposuction. The goal is to help a mom “recover her figure after she has finished bearing her children. It’s also a great procedure for any woman with torso concerns, even if she never had children but has had weight loss/gains and/or has some body sagging due to aging. Depending on the woman, the breast enhancement might be a breast augmentation with or without a breast lift or, for women with overly large breasts, the breast portion of the procedure could be a breast reduction to bring the breasts more in alignment with the rest of her body.

Although a Tummy Tuck is part of a Mommy Makeover, it can be performed alone, too. It sculpts the tummy by surgically reconnecting the muscle (called the abdominus rectus) that runs down the middle of the abdomen. After that, the tummy tissues are pulled down like a window shade to a tighter position and sutured. You even get a new belly button! My Michigan Tummy Tuck patients are ecstatic with their results, because a Tummy Tuck really gets rid of that bulge that is so tough to reduce with diet and exercise, especially after having babies. Also, if you have stretch marks, all or at least most of them can be removed with a Tummy Tuck. Next to liposuction, it’s one of the most popular body sculpting procedures that I do here in my Michigan plastic surgery practice.

Liposuction is also part of a Mommy Makeover and is often part of a Tummy Tuck because either due to pregnancies, weight gain/loss cycles and/or aging, spots of exercise-resistant fat often remain even after a Tummy Tuck. Liposuction can get rid of those little pockets of fat. While it’s not a weight loss method per se, liposuction will definitely make you look like you’ve lost weight. Because I only need a few tiny incisions to insert the liposuction wand (called a cannula), recovery is usually rapid for liposuction patients. It’s great for the tummy, love handles, thighs (inner or outer), back fat and even the area above the knees.
If you’re concerned about the appearance of your body and you’d like some improvement before this year’s swimsuit season begins, call 269-329-0655 and make an appointment either at my Battle Creek or Portage plastic surgery office. If you’re reading this after office hours, click this link to complete an online appointment request form.

2018 Plastic Surgery Trends

As a Michigan board certified plastic surgeon, I belong to two plastic surgery associations: The ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) and the ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). The ASAPS recently released their predictions for the hottest procedures and treatments for 2018. Here are four of the top predictions!

1. Dermal fillers. My Michigan plastic surgery patients love dermal fillers as a way to maintain a youthful appearance! As time goes on, the prediction is that fillers will get even better—more “bendable” for the face when it animates. You can trust my many years of experience to select the right filler for the job (softer fillers for lips and firmer ones for cheeks, for example), and to inject just the right amount.

2. Prejuvenation. This is a new word! It basically stands for the use of Botox and fillers before the appearance of wrinkles, sagging, and/or age spots. If, for example, we use Botox to stop your forehead from creating creases, and lasers to keep your skin producing lots of collagen (the building-blocks of youthful skin), I’m sure you can see that you will actually avoid creating these wrinkles and sagging! Cool idea, right? It’s a trend!

3. Non-surgical rhinoplasty (nose jobs), also called injectable rhinoplasty or lunchtime nose jobs. No, we can’t do a complete rhinoplasty with injectables (Radiesse, Juvéderm, etc) but it’s possible to make a nose smoother, more symmetrical, and more or less pronounced, with dermal fillers. The experts say this will become even more popular as patients on the go desire physical improvements without the downtime of surgery. (Keep in mind that the “downside” of injectables is the fact they don’t last long—some last only 3-4 months, while a rhinoplasty lasts—essentially—forever).

4. More Men Opting In. Based on numbers from previous years, this is an ongoing trend. Men are jumping on the bandwagon of physical improvement and why not? They’re in the work force, the romance force and they’re aging just like the rest of us. At one time, a man wouldn’t be caught dead going into a manicure parlor but you see them in there all the time now. Cosmetic improvements are no different! According to a survey by the American Academy of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, over 30% of surveyed men said they were “extremely likely” to consider a cosmetic procedure (surgical or nonsurgical). Of those men, 58% wre between 25 and 34 and 34% were younger.

Why Cheap Botox Isn’t a Bargain

We all love a bargain, don’t we? Most of us are careful to look around when purchasing a product or service with the goal of finding the best value, i.e., the most “bang for the buck.” This is true of beauty purchases as well, like dermal fillers and Botox. After all, since you have to repeat these anti-aging injections every few months, it just makes sense to look for the best price, right? I couldn’t agree more, with just a few caveats.

How Cheap is Cheap Botox?
Most plastic surgeons in our area sell Botox in michigan between $10-12 per unit. This is because Allergan, the manufacturers, sell it to us at a set price, making our “margin,” or profit, fairly low. In other words, we can’t go beneath a certain price and still cover our overhead. Our patients understand this. Have you seen “deals” online for 20 units of Botox for $159? I have. That’s less than $8 per unit. Why would a reputable practice sell Botox at that price? Here are some possible reasons.

Newbie Injector(s)
If you don’t have a group of patients who repeatedly come in for Botox and dermal fillers, you, as a physician, might elect to offer Botox at a rock-bottom price (actually losing money in the process) to attract clientele. Does that mean the physician isn’t a good injector? Not necessarily. Perhaps she or he is just new to the area or new in the profession. Of course, that begs the question as to whether you want to go to someone who doesn’t have the years of experience that I have.

Over-diluted Botox
Before Botox can be used, sterile saline (salt water) must be added to it according to manufacturer’s directions. Like adding water to make your pot of soup stretch farther, if you add extra saline to the Botox, the Botox will be weaker, right? That means it will stretch farther because you added more water, right? And maybe one could sell it for less because of that fact, right? I’m not pointing fingers but suggesting this as one way to “make Botox cheaper.” We would never do this.

Old Botox
Did you know that Botox is supposed to be used right away? The manufacturer states this. Would it seem logical that Botox Michigan that’s left to sit around might weaken with time, which is why the manufacturer instructs the injector to use it right away? Of course. Do some practitioners use Botox that was mixed days or even weeks ago, selling it at a cheap price to get rid of it? I don’t know. We wouldn’t. I’ve heard that some do.

The bottom line is that if you work with a plastic surgeon that you know and trust, you’ll get the results you want. Will you pay a fair price? You will with us. We won’t be the cheapest in town, but we’re certainly committed to being the best and, based on what our patients tell us, we are.

Should You Wear Sunscreen in the Winter?

It might seem logical to ditch your sunscreen in the winter months, since winter skies are typically overcast compared with the rest of the year. However, there are important reasons to make this a year-round habit!

Reasons to wear sunscreen year-round are abundant. Studies show that the reflection of the sun’s rays on snow packs a powerful punch. Furthermore, up to 80% of the sun’s rays can reach your skin on a cloudy day. This puts to rest the notion that the sun can’t damage your skin on rainy days or during colder months.

Facts About the Sun’s Rays
There are two types of rays: UVA and UVB. UVA rays cause aging by destroying your skin’s collagen and elastin while UVB rays cause burning. Your tender skin is exposed to both UVA and UVB rays year-round. While it’s easy to know that your skin has been burned by the sun, the effects of UVA rays are more insidious: you won’t see the damage for years!

What Kind of Sunscreen Should You Wear in the Winter?
You might suspect that there are “special” sunscreen products designed for winter use but, in fact, you don’t need a “winter” sunscreen. You can continue to use a broad-spectrum product that protects against both kinds of rays. It should have a minimum of 40 SPF. Higher SPF products are more expensive but provide very little additional protection. Be sure you use enough: a dollop about the size of a quarter for each area of exposed skin is about right. Be sure to extend the sunscreen to your neck, as well as the back of your hands.

Wearing sunscreen daily will protect your skin from premature aging caused by UVA rays! Come in and see our options so you can maintain protection during the winter months!

Sarah’s Winter Skin Fixes!

Winter is a particularly challenging time for skin, but it’s a perfect time to fall in love with your skin! Here are four tips to perfect your healthy glow!

Try a Topical Retinoid

Topical retinoid and vitamin A products, like Avene Retrinal 0.1% Intensive Cream, increase cellular turnover, which means that younger cells are replacing older, duller looking cells at a faster rate. These younger cells absorb moisture better, and contain more of the skins healthy, natural oils to maintain a youthful appearance. You may also find that continued use lessens the appearance of dark spots from scarring or excessive sun exposure. (Just be sure to use a sunscreen, as retinoids use can increase your sensitivity to light!)

Stay Hydrated

Especially with winter still upon us, skin is thirsty more now than ever. Not only does drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated impact total overall body health, but it helps the health of your largest organ: your skin! As a rule, try to drink half your body weight in ounces daily! Additionally, investing in a humidifier for use at home (or anywhere you spend a lot of time) balances the air and soothes dehydrated, itchy, cracked skin.

Set the Scrubs Down

Since dehydrated skin is more likely to have crack and microtears, exfoliating scrubs and brushes. However, this doesnt mean that you can’t exfoliate. Using a leave-on AHA or BHA exfoliant, such as Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm or Exfoderm Forte, or a exfoliating moisturizer, such as Glytone Age- Defying Antioxidant Night Cream, naturally helps shed unwanted flaky skin without causing excess irritation!

Don’t neglect you body either! Try an exfoliating body lotion, such as Obagi KèraPhine™ Body Smoothing Lotion.

Always Remove your Makeup

Let your skin breathe after a long day by remembering to remove the dirt, oil, and makeup that has settled in your pores. Using a gentle non-soap cleanser, like Obagi Nu-Derm® Gentle Cleanser, provides modest hydration and a perfectly prepped canvas for your professional serums and hydrators to do all the work during your beauty sleep!

As a fulltime aesthetician, it’s my honor and privilege to offer you the best products and services to give you glowing, soft, youthful skin! Schedule a time to come and visit with me to discuss your skincare needs—my consultations are free! Email me with questions here: sfrost@swmphs.com.

What is Revision Rhinoplasty?

Beautiful young woman face. Close up. Over white background

Rhinoplasty, also known as nose reshaping or “nose job,” is an outpatient cosmetic surgery procedure to adjust the size and/or shape of the nose so that it’s in better balance with the rest of the face. The first rhinoplasty is called a “primary” rhinoplasty. A Revision Rhinoplasty is performed on a patient who has had a “primary” rhinoplasty in the past.

Why is a Revision Rhinoplasty Performed?
Here are 3 reasons why a patient might wish to have a revision rhinoplasty:

To refine the results.

While a patient might be perfectly happy with their primary rhinoplasty results, sometimes they wish to have the plastic surgeon refine the nose a tiny bit. Perhaps it’s to lift the tip ever so slightly, or adjust the bridge of the nose. It varies with each patient.

Dissatisfaction

If a patient is dissatisfied with the results of their primary rhinoplasty, they may wish to have a do-over.

Breathing Difficulties

Often a rhinoplasty is performed because the patient is having difficulties breathing through the nose. This is often called a septoplasty. If the patient had a rhinoplasty and then has breathing problems afterwards, an adjustment or revision rhinoplasty may be done.

How is a Revision Rhinoplasty Performed?
A revision rhinoplasty michigan is performed the same way as a primary rhinoplasty, with one exception: there are scars to deal with. That means that I, as the plastic surgeon, must “work around” or “work through” these scars. It might mean that my patient will have an open rhinoplasty rather than a closed one, or it might mean that they will have the same procedure they had the first time. An open rhinoplasty is one in which the nose is cut where it meets the face—at the bottom of the nose, at the nostrils. This gives me the best visibility, and is often the best choice for a revision’s rhinoplasty patient. Depending on the reason for the revision, however, I can quite often meet the patient’s needs with a closed rhinoplasty. All of these issues would be covered at my patient’s consultation at one of my plastic surgery offices in Portage or Battle Creek.

Recovery from Revision Rhinoplasty
Recovery from either an initial (primary) or secondary (revision) rhinoplasty mi is the same: ice packs, keep the head elevated, and take pain medication as prescribed. The swelling and bruising will take time to resolve, and the final results are visible about four months after the procedure, though peak resolution may take up to a year.

If you have questions about nose surgery, schedule a consultation with us! I promise to steer you in the right direction.