The Surgical Artist's Blog

Are women the same the same size as the women of the 60s? The answer is no. Studies show our lifestyles are different. We exercise less and we live in a super-sized society at every drive through. Yet television and other social factors show small waists and ultra-thin features on our young women that are unrealistic and unattainable in a healthy lifestyle.  This creates a demand for cosmetic surgery to seek a figure that the media elevates as beautiful.

At Southern Surgical Arts, we perform procedures that help women achieve their desired results while considering what is healthy and realistic for their age and body-type. Liposuction is on the rise because of such shows as Mad Men but it is not a weight loss procedure.  "Our practice performs liposuction to the abdominal and flank areas for a more hourglass figure," said Dr. Chad Deal. "We can also perform a Tummy Tuck with Liposuction to achieve a patient's needs if the patient is a candidate."   Dr. Deal said that he occasionally recommends against surgery when the patient has unrealistic expectations or when the surgery is not indicated.

Mommy Makeovers are also more popular at our practice. "After child birth, women want to look the way they did before their children were born," said Dr. Carey Nease. Mommy Makeovers often include breast augmentation or lift, tummy tuck and liposuction. The makeover is custom for each Mom and can also include procedures such as vaginal rejuvenation.   Dr. Nease said the goal of a Mommy Makeover is the restoration of a Mom's body with some enhancements, and to make a woman more confident in her appearance.

Mad Men and television may show us the most beautiful people on earth but Southern Surgical Arts wants to help you achieve results that enhance your own natural beauty. We invite you to visit our extensive Before and After Gallery to see the results our surgeons achieve.

Southern Surgical Arts has been selected as the Reader's Choice for Best Cosmetic Surgery Practice in North Georgia. "We are pleased to be selected as the Reader's Choice for Cosmetic Surgery in North Georgia! Our goal is to provide our patients with artistic cosmetic surgery like FaceLifts, Breast Augmentations, Tummy Tucks and SmartLipo.  We specialize in natural enhancements with minimal downtime and minimal scarring using the latest technology available," said Dr. Carey Nease and Dr. Chad Deal.

We recently came across an article that was titled, Invisible Eyelid Surgery Now a Reality. This technique for eyelid surgery may have a new name; but it has been a surgical option at Southern Surgical Arts for many years. In fact, the CO2 laser is used in a facelifting technique called the Laser Facelift, in which our Triple Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon, Carey Nease pioneered.

In the Laser Face Lift technique, we use the CO2 in conjunction with the Smart Liposuction and often Fat Transfer. However, "The CO2 laser has many benefits for the skin, including tightening the skin around the eyes," said Dr. Nease. "I've used this laser in my practice for many years for more than just eyes but overall facial rejuvenation that helps reduce wrinkles and sun damage."

If you are looking for added benefits to your eye surgery or overall facial rejuvenation, seek out a surgeon who has the most advanced laser technology. At Southern Surgical Arts, we are proud to be the most advanced laser practice in North Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

We recently found a fabulous article titled Botox and the Beauty Premium: Can Taking 10 Years Off Your Face Add 10K to Your Salary? The author (and we recommend you read this blog in full) suggests that although Botox and Fillers can make you look younger, the long-term alternative is surgery  ( face lifts, brow lifts, eye lifts, etc.) for a 15 to 20 year difference.

At Southern Surgical Arts, we carry a full line of injectables and fillers to suit our patient's needs when surgery is not an option. But we do offer longer-lasting surgical techniques such as Laser resurfacing, fat transfer, physician grade chemical peels, and a Laser-assisted  Cosmetic Facelift that will give you a naturally youthful result and avoids the pulled, plastic look that you typically see with the Plastic Surgery facelift. "The face lifting technique that our practice provides uses the latest laser technology and expertise, training and skill to provide you with natural results, so that you will look refreshed, younger but not different," said Dr. Carey Nease.

Summer is certainly here. Today the high is 97! Drink lots of water and wear your sunscreen to protect your beautiful skin! In the meantime, come by our office (in the air conditioning, of course) and take advantage of one of these awesome summer deals! Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal also offer complimentary consultations when you are ready to discuss the Mommy Makeover, SmartLipo or Breast Augmentation, which will help you look fabulous in your swimsuit this summer.

With the economy growing, the demand of cosmetic injectables will also grow. This is part of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery's (ASAPS) 2011 predictions. In just a few minutes, wrinkles and folds can be minimized.

Americans are seeking ways to make their lives easier. This is evident with all the quick and easy dinner recipe books sold each year. At Southern Surgical Arts, this trend rolls over to patients who want fast ways to look rejuvenated and refreshed without traditional surgical techniques. "Non-surgical and quick alternatives to surgery are often preferable to patients who want to look a few years younger and only have a few minutes to give," said Chad Deal, MD.

At Southern Surgical Arts, Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal help patients reduce the appearance of wrinkles daily. Our practice is a leader in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area for ALL injectables and laser treatments and we offer a wide array of injectables, including Botox®, Restylane®, Dysport®, Perlane®, Juvederm® and Radiesse®. Our complimentary consultations offer a way for patients to talk to the surgeon about his/her goals and then allows physician to make recommendations that meets those goals.

Although injectables are growing, so are minimally invasive surgical techniques such as skin resurfacing. Southern Surgical Arts uses the Affirm CO2 and the Sciton Profractional lasers to improve skin texture, stimulate collagen and help eliminate sun damage. Carey Nease, MD pioneered the Laser Face Lift, which combines the Affirm CO2, Smart Liposuction to the neck and jowls and often injectables to give an overall improved results. Dr. Nease said about the Laser Facelift, "It is a quick, one-hour procedure with down time of only 3-5 days and very little pain, both during and after the procedure."

With offices in Chattanooga and Calhoun, Southern Surgical Arts offers the Chattanooga and North Georgia markets two convenient ways to pop in and out of our office with little time needed on the patient's behalf.

Chattanooga office, opening July 2011: 423-266-3331
Calhoun office, 706-629-8622

James Koehler, MD, a Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon from Tulsa Surgical Arts recently wrote and article for Plastic Surgery Practice on Isolated Neck Rejuvenation and Submentoplasty. Dr. Koehler applies many of the latest facial rejuvenation techniques in his practice just as the surgeons at Southern Surgical Arts do. Carey Nease, MD, a Double Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon at Southern Surgical Arts uses laser technology to rejuvenate the neck and jowl area.  "Neck and jowl rejuvenation can be accomplished with laser lipolysis by removing the excess fat pads and heating of the undersurface of the skin.  The addition of the laser, when compared to tumescent liposuction, improves the outcome by generating more heat which results in more skin tightening than liposuction alone."  Dr. Nease also said laser liposuction is a quick, one-hour procedure with down time of only 3-5 days and very little pain, both during and after the procedure.  "Results can be dramatic when the right patient is selected (30's-40's).  This does not replace a full face and neck lift surgery when that is what is needed!"

At Southern Surgical Arts, Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal often combine the CO2 resurfacing laser with all face lift and facial rejuvenation procedures for enhanced results.  The CO2 laser improves skin texture, stimulates collagen and helps eliminate sun damage. The neck and jowl techniques combined with the skin resurfacing is called the Laser Face Lift. Dr. Nease is the pioneer of the Laser Face Lift and presented at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery's 2011 Annual Meeting in Phoenix this past January. If you are in your 30's and 40's and don't feel like you are ready for a traditional face lift, you might be a candidate for this procedure. We invite you to join us at our Chattanooga, Dalton or Calhoun office for a complimentary consultation with any of our surgeons! Call 423-266-3331 or 706-629-8622.

Below is a video testimonial of a patient who had the Lase Face Lift procedure.

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:

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!