The Surgical Artist's Blog

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 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.

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!

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.

I'm back to work after attending the annual AACS meeting in Orlando and am considering some new techniques to incorporate into my cosmetic surgery practice. The most interesting topic discussed was breast augmentation using fat transfer rather than saline or silicone implants. This technique has been studied for the last few years and is being used in many countries around the world. There are several surgeons in the US doing it now as well, but there is some controversy. The main issue is safety in regard to imaging for breast cancer screening, and most radiologists believe that they WILL be able to accurately interpret the mammograms in patients who have fat transfer for cosmetic or reconstructive reasons. The other problem is that several procedures may be necessary to get the size desired, as one session will likely only increase the breast by one cup size. Benefits include that fact that there is no foreign material used (implant) and the results have a very natural appearance. I think many patients will still prefer implants, but this will likely be an option for women seeking a natural enhancement in the near future. I will continue to keep up with the latest research and when I feel it is safe, I'll be excited to bring this new procedure to the women of North Georgia and the Chattanooga area.

There is a new trend out there in the cosmetic surgery world called a liquid facelift. This is basically an in-office procedure that adds volume to your face and helps relax the muscles that cause the frown lines and crow's feet. We use Botox or Dysport to relax lines on the brow and near the eyes, and then use Restylane, Perlane and sometimes Sculptra for volume replacement of the lips and cheeks, which decreases as you age. The procedure can be done with local anesthesia only, requires no down time and the results are nearly instant. This does not replace a surgical face lift if that is what you need, but for the 30's and 40's crowd, this is a great option. And we often combine the liquid face lift with laser resurfacing (Affirm CO2) and also neck Smartlipo to tighten the neck line and reduce mild jowling.

Now is the time to get ready for summer and Bikini season! We are currently offering breast augmentation with saline implants for $3995 and silicone gel for only $4995. We often combine this with Smartlipo to get rid of those stubborn areas of fat that don't disappear with diet and exercise, like the outer thighs and love handles. This special price expires April 30th, so call soon for a complimentary consultation.

We are in the final planning stages for our new cosmetic surgery center in Chattanooga! We hope to break ground at our Southside downtown location this summer! The detailed plans will be available to check out in my Calhoun and Dalton offices soon. I'll keep you posted on the details and we look forward to serving the community of Chattanooga and East Tennessee.