The Surgical Artist's Blog

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.

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 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!

Have you looked in the mirror lately and wondered what those brown spots or splotchy areas are? These areas are hyperpigmentation. Sun exposure, acne scars, pregnancy or the natural aging process, are some of the causes of this condition. The Pigment Balancing Masque, by SkinCeuticals, is a customizable brightening treatment targeting these damaged areas. By treating these areas with the Pigment Balancing Masque, one can dramatically improve the uneven appearance of photodamaged skin.

The Pigment Balancing Masque combines high-performance brightening, anti-inflammatory agents, and a powerful exfoliant to accelerate cell renewal and diminish hyperpigmentation. The series normally consists of 4-6 treatments.  Come by and see me in the Calhoun, GA office, or visit our Dalton, GA location to learn more about our complete line of skin care products & services, as well as our cosmetic surgery options.  Treatments cost $125 ~ Amy C.

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.

We have been working long hours over the last few months and are very close to completing the design of our new cosmetic surgery center which will be located in downtown Chattanooga between Broad St. and Cowart St. The design is very fitting to the Southside, but will certainly be unique. The exterior surfaces will include slate, copper and stone, with cedar complementing the other natural elements. The 3.5 story building will be multi-use, including a state of the art surgery center, cosmetic office, medical spa and learning center for future training of surgeons from around the country in the art of cosmetic surgery. There will be office and retail space as well for lease, and pre-leasing has already begun. The project will likely achieve LEED certification based on the ECO-friendly design, including water reclamation, glass and surface choices and landscaping. We are very excited about the project and hope to contribute positively to the development of the Southside of Chattanooga! When the artist's rendering is complete, I will post an image for you to see what we have designed. It really is a work of art.

Last weekend, I attended the annual CACS meeting in San Diego and met with some of the most influential cosmetic surgeons in the country, including the current presidents of the CACS and AACS. We discussed several topics, including the latest technology available for body contouring, including laser liposuction and the newest treatment for cellulite called the TriActive laser by Cynosure. I was so impressed with the TriActive laser that I bought one there at the meeting! We are beginning treatment with it next week after some staff training. I plan to use it for not only new patients but to improve the results of Smartlipo laser body contouring as well, particularly on the buttocks and back of the thighs. The improvements in the dimpling of the skin are really remarkable, and I expect it to be in high demand right away.

We also discussed my currently ongoing laser facelift study, and several other surgeons may be including some of their patients in the study to increase the overall number of participants. The combination of the two lasers (the Smartlipo MPX and Affirm CO2 fractionated laser) has been impressive so far, and we have enrolled about 10 patients, with plans for a total of 25 at my office. The key benefits are reduced down time (less than a week) and no scars! Check out the first set of photos in my before and after gallery.

At Southern Surgical Arts, I am currently conducting a study using two new lasers for facial rejuvenation, and I call this the "Artistic Laser Lift." The idea is to use two lasers in combination, one called the Affirm fractionated CO2 laser for skin resurfacing, and the other is the Smartlipo 1064 laser for skin tightening and fat removal from the neck and jowls. This is a one hour outpatient procedure, done with local anesthesia and light sedation, and I expect that the benefits will include skin tightening, a naturally lifted look, smooth skin with improved overall tone and texture, and the removal of surface sun damage and softening of wrinkles. The main point to make is that there are no scars at all, no stitches, and down time is expected to be 5-7 days at the most. I have been using the two lasers independently for about 6 months and have gotten very good results. But I believe that the combination could be even more remarkable!

For those interested, I am including both men and women, ages 40-55, non-smokers, generally good health and you cannot have had a face lift in the past. The first 25 who qualify will be included in the study. The cost of the procedure will be cut by 50% of the normal fee for study participants. Also, there are several other facial cosmetic surgeons from around the country who are participating in the study, so we hope to have about 100 total participants. I am traveling to San Diego next weekend to discuss the study with several surgeons from California. Give my office a call if you are interested and think you may qualify. Thanks and have a great day!