Sum T. Tran, MD
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
The NEW YEAR is approaching and in 2006, Sum T. Tran M.D. will be celebrating his 22 years of service in the Santa Clarita Valley. I appreciate very much your trust in choosing me as your plastic surgeon, and I would also like to update some advancements of plastic surgery available in our office.
First, I will discuss the Short Scar Facelift. This technique is also called minimal incision facelift developed by renowned New York plastic surgeon, Dr. Daniel Baker. This procedure is less invasive, less bleeding, and it is a safe operation with good results and speedy postoperative recovery. One of the primary advantages of this procedure is preserving the posterior hairline and avoiding scars behind the ears. This procedure is performed in our office under local anesthesia which is beneficial in preventing side effects of general anesthesia and also contributes to its affordability. We have had tremendous success with this procedure and it is highly preferred by our patients.
Secondly, I will discuss Post-bariatric Plastic Surgery. The number of weight loss clinics and bariatric surgery practices to treat morbid obesity has increased considerably. More and more patients who have experienced massive weight loss are requesting the removal of their problematic, residual stretched skin of the abdomen, arm, back, breast, chest, face, neck, and thigh. The reconstructive and cosmetic procedures to restore these body parts are available with multiple-staged procedures for safety, on an outpatient basis. Additional post-op care is required for better healing and surgical results.
Next, I will discuss the benefits of moderate weight loss before cosmetic surgery. For patients who are moderately overweight and are interested in seeking cosmetic surgery, it is beneficial to achieve a body mass index of less than 32 prior to surgery in order to obtain the best surgical results. This is strongly suggested for patients who are interested in surgeries of the abdomen, such as a tummy tuck or liposuction. My office is offering a weight loss program prior to cosmetic procedures with achieving the goal of losing 10 – 30 pounds. This is a short-term program that consists of behavior modification, healthy balanced nutrition, exercise and use of an appetite suppressant. The “working out” will bring out the more toned muscle with less pain in order to resume regular activity sooner.
Next, I will discuss the use of your own body’s fat tissue as a filler agent to be injected into the lips, facial lines, and scars. Soft tissue fillers currently available on the market include restylane, hylaform, collagen, and silicone, etc…. The proliferation of these dermal fillers in the market continues to be a great source of consumer confusion. All have benefits as well as risks; unfortunately, most are expensive and temporary (only months). Now available is the advanced techniques to obtain and inject your own fat to fill in the lips, facial lines, and scars; the result of which is comparably well to the other fillers. One of the primary advantages of autogenous fat tissue graft used as fillers is that it may remain permanent after a few repeated procedures under local anesthesia.
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the new Skin Care Program with TINA MURPHY, who is a Licensed Esthetician, and a Certified Derma-Technician. She has been working in the Santa Clarita Valley for over six years and her wide array of services are now available in our office.
MICRODERMABRASION is an excellent treatment for many different skin types, and various skin disorders. For patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI, microdermabrasion is an excellent non-aggressive and non-invasive skin-resurfacing procedure for improving the appearance of hypertrophic scars. Serial microdermabrasion in conjunction with prescribed pharmaceuticals can be the cornerstone of the treatment of scars in skin of color. In the microdermabrasion process, streams of finely divided aluminum oxide crystals are propelled through a vacuum-driven, handheld device that is moved slowly across the surface of the skin. The particles bombard the superficial layer of the skin, resulting in “micro-trauma” to the epidermis. Dead cells and debris are then vacuumed away, thereby stripping away the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The resurfaced skin is thicker, more uniformly pigmented, smoother, and more permeable to topical treatments than before.
It is important to seek professional skin care services when you are considering plastic surgery. We offer a wide variety of Glycolic Acid Peels, Enzyme Peels, Pro-peel and deep pore cleansing treatments. These peels are designed to rid the skin of years of built-up congestion, and speed the rate of cell renewal and growth. When the skin is professionally cleared of congestion and exfoliated, regeneration and cellular turnover happen at a much more accelerated rate than normal. If you are considering plastic surgery, we encourage you to look into some professional skin rejuvenation treatments with us. It will make a beautiful overall difference in your skin’s appearance.
My office offers complimentary cosmetic surgery consultations at 253-2211 or at www.sumtranmd.com and for Tina Murphy at 253-0100. I look forward to continually serving the SCV community. On behalf of my staff and I, we wish you and yours a wonderful 2006.