The Surgical Artist's Blog

At Southern Surgical Arts, the question of scarring is common. When you decide that you want cosmetic surgery to enhance your natural beauty, your goal should be to avoid as many scars as possible. Although with most surgical procedures, incision points are inevitable, but experienced surgeons who trained in the latest cosmetic surgery techniques know how to both meet your aesthetic goals but also minimize your scars.

Dr. Deal and Dr. Nease specialize in naturally youthful results, minimal, well-hidden scars and quick recovery. Dr. Nease pioneered the Laser Face Lift and for qualified candidates, the patient will have no incisions and very little scarring! "The Laser Face Lift was designed for the patient who is not ready for a traditional Face Lift but desires a more youthful and rejuvenated look." said Dr. Nease.''

One of our patients recently recorded a testimonial and said that she felt Dr. Nease understood her goals. Having a low tummy tuck scar was very important to her. She even said that he brought it up before she did, which proved to her that the end result is just as important to him as it was to her.



Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal recently had a patient who had a breast reduction and lift from another Plastic Surgeon. She presented herself to Southern Surgical Arts because she primarily hated her scar from the lift. The scar reached around under her armpit. She had to buy swimsuits that covered this very large and ugly scar. This technique for breast reduction and lifting is antiquated and does not meet the goals patients who, in this day and age have higher expectations. Additionally, she wanted a Tummy Tuck but was worried about the scars. "In most cases, our Tummy Tuck scars are very low and do not reach around the hips. We most often can keep the scar between the hip bones," said Dr. Deal. Scarring should be an important topic in your consultation with your Cosmetic Surgeon. Ask the doctor for pictures of the technique he plans on using for your procedure. The doctor should be able to show you his before and after picture gallery of the procedure you want to give you reassurance that he is an experienced surgeon with the latest training in cosmetic surgery. We invite you to review our extensive and diverse before and after gallery. Our surgeons are experienced and have your goals in mind, including minimal scarring.

Call to schedule your complimentary consultation at one of our locations serving both Chattanooga, Tennessee and the North Georgia area.

Chattanooga, Tennessee office, opening July 2011: 423-266-3331
Calhoun or Dalton, Georgia offices, 706-629-8622

We look forward to your visit!

Dr. Carey Nease, a Double Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon congratulates Dr. Chad Deal in passing the 2011 American Board of Cosmetic Surgery certifying exam! Dr. Deal is now Board Certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and The American Board of Surgery.

The mission of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) is to serve the public by promoting the safe and ethical practice of the specialty of cosmetic surgery. Diplomates of the ABCS shall demonstrate the highest standards of training, knowledge, and expertise, as determined by a process of peer review and standardized examination and certification.

The following is a list goals for The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery:
To establish training standards
To achieve and maintain the highest professional standards in cosmetic surgery
To establish a method for the qualification of specialists in cosmetic
surgery and a certification system
To carry out such goals and objectives in full compliance with all laws and regulations relating to equivalent surgical specialists
To establish training standards for Cosmetic Surgery

Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal of Southern Surgical Arts are now the ONLY fellowship trained, Double Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeons in North Georgia and the Chattanooga areas. Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeons are the only doctors trained specifically in Cosmetic Surgery . No other board focuses on cosmetic surgery only. Dr. Deal and Dr. Nease performed over 700 cosmetic procedures in their fellowships alone. This does not include over 3500 procedures performed in their careers! They are committed to providing the very best in cosmetic surgery with the latest technology and in the most comfortable spa-like surroundings.

Dr. Deal and Dr. Nease come together with a shared passion for impacting lives by artfully enriching and renewing natural beauty by being 100% committed and focused on cosmetic surgery and laser technology.

Southern Surgical Arts is attending the 2011 Ladies Night Out hosted by the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Signal Mountain this Thursday, May 12 from 4:00 pm  - 9:00 pm! We invite you to attend and talk to one of our trained staff members about our services, products, Dr. Deal and Dr. Nease. Sign in at our booth and enter to win fabulous prizes:

- One area of Botox or Dysport worth $300

- Two areas of Laser Hair Removal worth $150

- One bottle of Latisse®

We look forward to seeing you there!

In the South, we start getting ready for summer in April. The heat hits, and we're ready to pack up and head to sunny beaches. And lots of weddings. Are you ready? Here are some ways Southern Surgical Arts can help you get looking your best and ready for summer:

Are plastic surgeons the only group of surgeons who can perform cosmetic surgery? According to this recent article by the editor of Plastic Surgery Practice, the answer is no. He does, however, caution consumers about choosing a qualified cosmetic surgeon. The editor said "The challenge, as I started to say, is to deal with those who somehow slip through the credentialing mesh and set up shop with little more than a few weekends of training in injectables, laser-based procedures, and even full surgical procedures. This can be regulated by existing organizations who must adapt to the changes occurring all around them. I want to trust those people to implement the proper training and testing to accommodate any qualified specialist who is intent upon breaking into the aesthetic field."

At Southern Surgical Arts, we could not agree more. Again make sure that you choose a qualified cosmetic surgeon. We recently wrote an article that included what you should expect from your cosmetic surgeon:  http://southernsurgicalarts.com/index.cfm/PageID/6863?p=303

Over the last few months, we have been receiving questions about a procedure called the Smooth Tuck. It gained popularity when The Doctors featured a surgeon who developed a procedure that combined Liposuction and a Tummy Tuck. The surgeon coined the procedure as the Smooth Tuck. Although this surgeon has gained popularity for the procedure, our cosmetic surgeons at Southern Surgical Arts have been performing a Tummy Tuck with Liposuction since they began their practices. "I learned to perform Liposuction in combination with an Abdominoplasty when I was in training in Las Vegas," said Dr. Chad Deal. "The two procedures together often allow you to achieve your goals of a flat stomach and a sculpted waist-line to restore your figure. The end result takes a tummy tuck a step further by giving a woman the shape and figure she wants."



It has recently become acceptable to perform the procedures together in the past five year. Many surgeons who are not trained in the latest techniques will tell you that these two procedures cannot be done at the same time. "Surgeons who were trained before the late 90's were taught not to perform them together because of the theoretical risk of tissue injury and poor wound healing, but after performing over 400 of these procedures and observing the great results with low complication rate, I think it is absolutely the right way to go." said Dr. Carey Nease. "It does not surprise me that a catchy name has been developed to market the procedure."

As we noted in our appearance on the 3 Plus You show in Chattanooga on Friday, April 15, surgeons and practices often develop marketing terms for a procedure. Just because there is a new procedure that seems great, beware of surgeons that try to fit everyone in a box. At Southern Surgical Arts, we are  advocates of advertising and we are not suggesting that the surgeon who developed this procedure is trying to do this. "It is important to know that just because you see a new procedure on TV, does not mean that you are a candidate," said Dr. Nease.

If you are interested in the Smooth Tuck or any procedure you see in the media, please schedule a consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon to see if you are a candidate. Make sure, however, that the surgeon routinely performs the procedure you are interested in having -- with or without the marketed name!

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas - Austin, the answer is YES. Beauty has economic effects, which also effects happiness. Even psychologists weigh in on the study in a USA Today article. Todd Kashdan, an associate professor of psychology at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va says,  "Think about it as a gateway to getting what you want from life -- job interviews, first dates, making those initial impressions, persuading and influencing other people," he says. "Attractiveness gives that slight edge. They're getting the benefit of the doubt at first sight, and unattractive people aren't."

Does that mean you should head to our office for cosmetic Surgery? Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal agree that it should only be used to enhance your own natural beauty. "Cosmetic surgery  is not meant to transform you into a completely different looking person," said Dr. Deal. "At Southern Surgical Arts, we specialize in natural enhancements with minimal downtime and minimal scarring using the latest technology available to either turn back the hands of time or restore your figure."

Physicians from around the world joined Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal at Southern Surgical Arts for an American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) Live Surgery Workshop on Facial Rejuvenation. There are approximately 10 of these workshops offered by the AACS in the U.S. each year. Doctors from Australia and Canada, as well as the United States joined us to learn the Facial Cosmetic Surgery techniques that help our patients discover the art of beauty. Techniques included both non-surgical and surgical techniques such as Face Lift, Liquid Face Lift (in this case, Botox®, Juvederm® and Radiesse®), Laser Resurfacing, Blepharoplasty, Fat Transfer, Facial Implants (chin and cheek) and Lip Augmentation. "I was excited to teach physicians from around the world the latest techniques for Facial Rejuvenation," said Dr. Nease.

Dr. Nease will also discuss his Laser Face Lift technique on a Web Cast hosted by Cynosure on April 6. Southern Surgical Arts, Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal are committed to staying abreast to the latest techniques available in the marketplace. Our goal is to provide our patients natural enhancements with minimal downtime and minimal scarring.