The Surgical Artist's Blog

We recently had a patient who was interested in having fuller, more noticeable lips. She has had fillers, such as Juvederm, in the past. She liked her results with the filler, but it only lasted about a year. She wanted something permanent, something she wouldn't have to come back and have redone down the road. She asked if we had something to accomplish her goal. And guess what......we did.

Dr. Nease recommended lip augmentation with a new, state-of-the-art silicone lip implant. It is a straightforward procedure and can be done using local and light sedation. The implant is made of high grade silicone and is designed to last. Once placed, that's it. No more yearly trips to have your lips reinjected.

The patient had the implant placed. At her one week followup visit she was thrilled with her new look. She still had some minimal swelling, but the overall look was subtle but very nice. ~ Dr. Gardner

Things are progressing for our new Cosmetic Surgery Center in Downtown Chattanooga, and we are weeks away from breaking ground. Just last Thursday, we hosted an Open House at our architect's office, HK architects, for area realtors and anyone interested in knowing more about the project. We had final drawings, artist renderings, display boards, and food and wine on hand for all to enjoy the excitement.

And, just today, the Chattanooga Times Free Press ran the story about me passing my third board exam given last month by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. It's an exciting time at Southern Surgical Arts! I'm looking forward to establishing our new state-of-the-art surgery center in the Southside District of Chattanooga in 10 to 12 months and becoming an active member of the community.

Stay tuned for more updates and announcements of the groundbreaking later this month.

I have exciting news about my practice and Southern Surgical Arts! I have been selected as one of only 20 Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship training programs in the country by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) beginning July 2010. The program is designed to train future Cosmetic Surgeons for a one year period in the field of general cosmetic surgery. Expertise in both facial and body cosmetic surgical procedures is the primary goal, and eligible candidates include ABMS board-certified general surgeons, plastic surgeons and head and neck surgeons. The AACS is a prestigious organization of Cosmetic Surgeons from around the country, established nearly 30 years ago. There are currently about 3,000 members of the AACS and more than 500 board-certified cosmetic surgeons in the USA. I am both an active member of the AACS and diplomat of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, which is a requirement for Directors of Cosmetic Surgery training programs.

I am pleased to announce my new fellow, Vincent Gardner, MD, who is a board-certified general surgeon from Birmingham, AL. He joined me July 1st and has quickly become a part of the team at Southern Surgical Arts. Upon completion of the program in June, 2011, Dr. Gardner will be considered an expert in facial rejuvenation surgery, cosmetic breast surgery including augmentation, lift and reduction, tummy tucks and liposculpture. He has been well received by my current patients, he has excellent surgical skills and I have high expectations that he will successfully complete my program and contribute to the field of Cosmetic Surgery.

Interested surgeons who qualify and wish to apply for my 2011 position will find the application information on the AACS website, www.cosmeticsurgery.org.

Yesterday, the Daily Citizen News told me that I was selected as Best Cosmetic Surgeon in the Northwest Georgia and Dalton area. I am honored to receive the award for the second year in a row, and I appreciate all the people who voted for me.

At Southern Surgical Arts, we always strive to give the best customer service, the best cosmetic surgery results, the best medical spa results, and we pursue the latest laser technology with a passion so that our patients can feel confident in getting the outcomes they expect and deserve. For those in the Chattanooga area, our new surgery center building project is starting soon. Check out our website page for details about our planned state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery center in the historic Southside District.

It seems like this new procedure, the Mommy Makeover, has really become popular in the North Georgia and Chattanooga area. I have been asked numerous times to describe the procedure and have been doing it for about 2 years now with extremely good results and happy patients. Basically this procedure takes a woman from her current post-baby condition with stretch marks, drooping breasts and areas of stubborn, unwanted fat deposits, and takes her back to those confident pre-pregnancy days.

The most common combination of procedures is a tummy tuck with breast augmentation, breast lift and Smartlipo laser body sculpting of the abdomen and flanks (love handles). The breast procedure is done with either saline or silicone implants, and the type of lift done is specific to each individual patient. Sometimes no lift is necessary, which minimizes scarring. I typically perform a lollipop type of lift, which gives a significant lift and "perky" appearance while keeping scars very small. The tummy tuck is nearly always necessary, but my technique again minimizes scarring, keeping it low and as short as possible while getting a very tight and flat stomach.

Down-time is usually only about 10 days. My goal is simply to give you the confidence to wear a Bikini type bathing suit this summer or on your next vacation to the beach. Give us a call to set up your complimentary consultation!

The laser face lift study being conducted at Southern Surgical Arts in the North Georgia and Chattanooga area is nearing completion, as we have enrolled all but 3 patients to date. Our goal of 25 participants is close to being fulfilled, as we are excited to report that results are promising based on early evaluations. Final results will not be available for 6 months, but we have several examples of 6 and 12 week photos on our website. Be sure to check them out under the SmartLipo category and FaceLift category when you are looking for them. Click here for a quick link. We have observed no complications to date and significant improvements in the contours of the neck and jawline and also skin tone and texture. I am looking forward to finishing the study and presenting results at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in Phoenix next January.

Call the office if you are interested in being included in the study. We are looking for patients who desire facial rejuvenation, age 40-55, have never had a facelift and do not smoke. The benefits of the Laser Face Lift are significant results with little downtime and no scarring using the latest laser technology. The procedure can be done with local anesthesia and light sedation.

I am in sunny Miami, FL today attending a superb facial cosmetic surgery meeting with surgeons from all over North and South America, and even a few from Europe. This morning we reviewed some great eyelid and brow rejuvenation techniques that give lasting results and help to keep our patients safe as well as make them happy. Several lectures were given from well-known surgeons around the world, and some have more than 40 years of experience! This is extremely valuable for me as a young cosmetic surgeon, and many of the issues discussed gave me confidence in knowing that my training was excellent and that I am doing both safe and very effective procedures that should consistently produce beautiful results for my patients in Chattanooga and the North Georgia area. A new technique for lower face and neck rejuvenation was discussed that should help make my results more dramatic and also long-lasting. I'm looking forward to a night out for sushi tonight and then more lectures tomorrow, which will focus on rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) and then skin rejuvenation with lasers and chemical peels.

Southern Surgical Arts is celebrating the 1st Anniversary of Latisse! We know our patients are loving their longer, darker and fuller lashes! So now you can receive up to a $100 rebate on your next Botox Cosmetic or Juvederm XC treatment. You will receive a $50 mail in rebate for each treatment scheduled before July 15, 2010.  Please ask about joining our Brilliant Distinctions Program which will reward you with additional savings toward Allergan products (Botox, Latisse & Juvederm XC). Please feel free to call the office at 706-629-8622 or email me at tracie@southernsurgicalarts.com for more information on savings on your favorite products for gorgeous eyes, lips and facial rejuvenation! Tracie

For the past two years, we have been the leader in laser-assisted liposuction technology, or Smartlipo, for the Chattanooga and North Georgia area. We are celebrating our two-year anniversary as the only Cosmetic Surgery practice in this area to bring you the latest technology like Smart lipo, the Laser Face Lift, V-Beam Laser Facial Rejuvenation, Affirm CO2 Laser Resurfacing, Advanced Laser Hair Removal, and the latest approach to Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, skincare, microdermabrasion and more. You want beautiful skin and a beautiful body for summer? Southern Surgical Arts and the team of nurses and aestheticians who work with me can help you achieve your cosmetic surgery and non-surgery goals.

Look at our before and after pictures, then give us a call. We are here to help you.

I am very excited about the advanced training I am going to attend today from Allergan!  I will let you all know what new things I learn about Botox and Juvederm injecting!  Happy Friday! ~ Jennifer, RN, BSN