The Surgical Artist's Blog

I had a patient come in for a follow up this week who had a Tummy Tuck and SmartLipo a few months ago, and I just wanted to share with you her before and after pictures. This patient is a 38 year old who came to me with concerns of excess skin and fat deposits on her abdomen and flanks. The after pictures were taken 8 weeks after surgery. Recovery time is about 2-3 weeks to be back to normal activities and even some light exercise. You can see in this picture that she is going to be wearing her bikini when she heads to the beach for vacation later this month. She is extremely happy with her results, and it makes me feel great to help women like her feel good about themselves and their bodies again. Getting results like this and making people happy is very rewarding, and I love my job!
~ Dr. Nease

Last week I had a great experience operating at Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, TN, about 20 minutes West of Chattanooga. I did an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with Smartlipo (laser lipo) of the flanks and thighs. The OR staff was excellent and the patient had a great experience as well. She was able to stay overnight for observation and went home the next day. She commented that her care was as good as she could hope for, and she felt comfortable with the entire experience. I'm happy to be able to partner with a quality, private hospital in the greater Chattanooga area and provide a safe and comfortable experience for my cosmetic surgery patients. I'll be working at Grandview on most Fridays going forward and will be available to see consults there in the Medical Arts office building next to the hospital. ~ Dr. Nease

I get so excited for my patients! We did a tummy tuck on a mother of four who was tired of being asked if she was pregnant. At her last follow up appointment, she was so happy to have a flat tummy! She was telling me how fun it is to get dressed and not have to worry about hiding her stomach. I have the best job ever! ~ Jennifer, RN, BSN

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!

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 have some exciting news for those of you in the region near Jasper, TN, South Pittsburg and North Alabama! I have partnered with Grandview Medical Center in establishing a Cosmetic Surgery office and will offer cosmetic procedures beginning next month. This is certainly new to the area and we hope to provide high quality cosmetic services to the people in the surrounding communities. Procedures offered will include face lift and neck lift, rhinoplasty, eye and brow lifts, breast augmentation, tummy tucks and Smartlipo laser body sculpting. Medical Spa services will include laser hair removal, chemical peels, Botox, Restylane, microdermabrasion and spa facials. We look forward to seeing you soon and helping you achieve your cosmetic goals!

Hey everyone! We are now offering a special price for Breast Augmentation with either silicone gel or saline implants from March 1st to April 30th, 2010. Get ready for spring break and summer bikini season, and be confident with how you look! Call now for a consultation with Dr. Nease who specializes in quick recovery breast augmentation, minimal scarring and with local anesthesia and sedation. And, get back to work and normal activities in less than a week. Special prices: saline $3995, silicone $4995 including all anesthesia, OR and surgeon fees.

Liposuction has been redefined. Today many cosmetic surgeons are using laser technology for body sculpting, and in 2010 I expect that trend to continue. Traditional liposuction is quickly becoming a thing of the past, as the benefits of laser technology have made the results so much better. At Southern Surgical Arts, I have been using Cynosure's Smartlipo laser for the last 18 months. My experience has shown significant improvements over traditional liposuction, including less pain, less bruising, less swelling, better skin tightening and overall happier patients. The best candidate for Smartlipo laser body sculpting is someone who is generally healthy, near their ideal body weight, and has a small stubborn area of unwanted fat that just won't go away with a good diet and exercise.

Common areas of treatment are the neck, arms, bra line, abdomen, love handles and thighs. The procedure is done with tumescent local anesthesia and IV sedation. Recovery is typically just a few days.

Another new treatment available at Southern Surgical Arts is the Triactive cellulite laser. This low level laser is combined with a mechanical massage for smoothing the skin and reducing the appearance of cellulite. It is not a surgical procedure but is often combined with Smartlipo for really great results, particularly on the backs of the thighs, the flanks and abdomen. Triactive laser treatments are typically done both before and after the Smartlipo laser body sculpting, and there is no pain and no anesthesia required. Based on my extensive experience, I truly believe that laser liposuction is here to stay. And we bring the latest liposuction technology to the Chattanooga and North Georgia area at Southern Surgical Arts.

I have some exciting news for you today!  Beginning tomorrow, November 14th, my good friend from North East GA, Lionel Meadows, MD, will be offering Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation (LVR) and the G-Shot at Magnolia Cosmetic Surgery Center.  Dr. Meadows was trained by the well-known Dr. Matlock in Beverly Hills, as seen on Dr. 90210.  Dr. Meadows is a board certified gynecologic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic gynecology and minimally invasive cosmetic surgery like Smartlipo.  These new procedures are in high demand and are the latest in cosmetic procedures specifically designed for our women patients.  The idea behind LVR is to rejuvenate the vaginal region, inside and out, and take you back to those pre-childbirth days.  The typical candidate for this procedure is a woman who has had children, though some who have not may also be candidates.  It takes only about 45 minutes, is done with local anesthesia and light sedation, is outpatient, and recovery is just a few days.  There is a link on my website to Dr. Meadows site where you can find lots of helpful information.

The G-Shot is a simple cosmetic procedure with the intent to enlarge the G-Spot and amplify the pleasurable sensations during sexual intercourse.  It takes about 5 minutes and there is really no recovery time and no pain.  Hard to argue against this one, and the guys won't be disappointed either.  The product injected is the same thing we use for filling lips and facial lines (Juvederm or Restylane), and it is slowly absorbed over 6-12 months.  So, unfortunately it has to be repeated.  But like the other facial fillers and Botox, it is quite easy and not too expensive, so I expect this to be popular very soon!

Give us a call for more information, or post a comment and I'll respond as soon as I can. I'm interested to know what you all think about our new services.  I am confident that you will love Dr. Meadows...he's very compassionate and a skilled surgeon, and his results speak for themselves.  So far has has over 95% satisfaction with LVR and the G-Shot.  Any questions?