The Surgical Artist's Blog

We often hear the question, "Am I too old for cosmetic surgery" or "Am I too young?" The answer is there is no right age for surgery. At Southern Surgical Arts, our recommendations are customized for each patient and based on the patient's medical history. Choosing an experienced and qualified surgeon to perform your procedure is key to ensuring your safety. When you get ready to choose any cosmetic surgeon, always consider the following:

1. Make sure the surgeon is board-certified in cosmetic or plastic surgery.

2. Make sure the surgeon primarily performs cosmetic surgery and performs numerous cosmetic procedures a year.

3. Ask to see before and after pictures! Make sure there are more than 2-3 examples, which is only a representation of the best procedures. You should be able to see numerous examples of consistently good results.

Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal are happy to provide you with a complimentary consultation and discuss if cosmetic surgery is right for you!

Chattanooga, One North Shore: 423-266-3331
Calhoun: 706-629-8622

Question: I've heard from friends that it's best to wear a sports bra 24/7 after any breast surgery, but my info pack said specifically not a sports bra. What type of bra should I be wearing after I heal?

Answer: After your procedure it is extremely important to wear your individually recommended post operative garment, bra, and/or wrap. This WILL affect the final aesthetic outcome of your breast. The single most important factor in post operative bra’s is that they are supportive! This means a bra that lifts the breast and holds it very high! This should be done for 24 hrs a day for 8 weeks (unless instructed otherwise) and then during the day for 4 more months. Bra’s that only push breast together or smash breast in like a sports bra don’t support the breast at all unless they also lift well. In essence your bra strap should be very tight to pull your breast upward. For this reason we also recommend a wide shoulder strap bra as well as a wide strap at the bottom without an underwire. Only if the implants appear not to be dropping after several weeks will we change our instructions for you. We may also recommend a wrap or strap for particular situations so please understand your instructions regarding this very well.

At Southern Surgical Arts, Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal, Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeons, perform surgery in Calhoun, Georgia at our fully-accredited AAAHC surgery center and Physicians Surgery Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a JCAHCO accredited surgery center.

Question: How does the CO2 laser compare to chemical peels?

Answer: The CO2 laser is very different from a chemical peel.  The laser treatment is intended to significantly rejuvenate the facial skin, including removing a majority of the skin's sun damage, pigment changes and fine lines.  It should also be able to tighten the skin and soften deep wrinkles and improve acne scarring.  The down time is usually 3-7 days.  Most chemical peels have the goal of mild to moderate skin exfoliation, improvements in surface texture, resolution of acne breakouts, and an overall "glow."  Down time is typically 1-3 days, if any. A deep chemical peel can have significant rejuvenating effects, but with the more advanced fractional CO2 laser technology available, the deep chemical peel is rarely used in our practice.

Answer provided by Triple Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon, Carey Nease in Chattanooga, Tennessee and North Georgia. Call for your appointment at Southern Surgical Arts: 423-266-3331 or 706-629-8622.

Question: How Do Chemical Peels Affect Rosacea?

Answer: People with Rosacea typically have very sensitive skin and a chemical peel can cause the skin and vessels to react and flare up more. Thus, causing more redness and sensitivity. I would recommend treating the skin with a good at home regimen and possibly treating with an IPL/fotofacial.

Answer provided by our Aesthestician, Leigh Hudgens in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Call for your appointment at Southern Surgical Arts: 423-266-3331

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.

There are always advantages and disadvantages to competing products. Dysport was approved in 2009 to provide temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines. This was the first time Botox had a competing product. And now, there is a study that shows Dysport works better on crow's feet than Botox.

At Southern Surgical Arts, we offer both Botox and Dysport to our patients. With studies like this and better "challenger" marketing, Dysport is making some headway in the marketplace. "More and more of our patients are trying Dysport but many are still loyal to Botox," said Dr. Deal. "Botox has created brand loyalty through its marketing programs and that has been a powerful tool for Botox."

If you'd like to try Dysport in the crow's feet area, we suggest you take advantage of our summer special, which allows you to get one area of Dysport or Botox for $200. Call today for your appointment.

Calhoun: 706-629-8622
Chattanooga: 423-366-3331
Contact us on the web at http://southernsurgicalarts.com/index.cfm/PageID/2646

Southern Surgical Arts has added a new location in Chattanooga at One North Shore and can now also operate at Physicians Surgery Center to better serve our patients in Tennessee, Alabama and North Georgia! The surgery center is located near the Rave Theater and is a fully accredited JCAHO facility to ensure patient safety.

Southern Surgical Arts will continue to operate in our state-of-the-art, AAAHC-accredited facility in Calhoun, Georgia. "We believe the addition of Physicians Surgery Center provides our patients location options that best fit their surgery needs," said Carey Nease, M.D. "It also allows us to better serve North and East Tennessee, as well as North Alabama."

For an appointment, call:
423-266-3331 in Chattanooga at One North Shore
706-529-8622 in Calhoun

You may also contact us at http://southernsurgicalarts.com/index.cfm/PageID/2646

We look forward to serving you and enhancing your natural beauty.