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Archive for September, 2011

COSMETIC MEDICINE AND TECHNOLOGY – WHO SERVES WHO?

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

“I know the next gift we should get Mom and Dad,” I overhear my son say to his sister, “a new microwave!”

“Hey, what’s the matter with my microwave?”  I ask.

“Look at it,” he answers, “it’s old and the new ones aren’t so big.”

“Yes, but it still works just fine,” I say.  And it does – it really does…

I take a long hard look at the glorified bottle-warmer that was a gift from my husband following the birth of our first child, and I have to laugh.  It’s outlasted two dishwashers, two refrigerators and at least one washing machine.  Yet, I still have no intention of getting rid of it.  Don’t get me wrong; I don’t emotionally bond with kitchen appliances!  But, it’s in good shape and inflates a popcorn bag as well as a new one.  I know that its days may be numbered, but it’s been reliable and hasn’t been improved upon for the purposes I need.   Why change something just for the sake of change itself?

The perception that newer is better is a fairly common one.  We receive a lot of calls from people wanting to know if Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, G. D. Castillo, MD offers the latest “this” or “that” generated by frenzied media hype akin to the Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week.”  The focused advertising promises made often exceed the actual peer-reviewed realities – it’s the cart before the horse concept that has been tripping up consumers for years and cosmetic patients are definitely targeted elective medical consumers.

Our patients know that Dr. Castillo’s standards are far too high to succumb to a newer version of existing technology hyped into popularity by mere advertising instead of surviving peer review and producing improved, successful, reliable results.   Eek-gads!  Do you remember Endermologie?

Something enjoying the latest media buzz doesn’t necessarily make it better for our patients and certainly DOES NOT make it more affordable – in fact, when it comes to cost, that may be just the opposite! If it’s not better than what’s already working and it’s not more affordable, how can it be in the best interest of our patients?  Obviously, it’s not – the simple truth is that a cosmetic patient does not benefit from re-inventing the wheel.

Just because something is new doesn’t automatically make it improved.  Example:  tumescent liposuction is still the gold standard in removing excess adipose tissue (fatty deposits) period.  Ultrasound is sometimes used in addition to the tumescent technique, not instead of, to assist the surgeon in obtaining the smooth contour our patients deserve (liposculpture).  This tried and true gold standard gives wonderful results, is peer-proven and has the lowest complication rate with limited downtime.  So, why would a physician interested in giving the best result with the fewest possible complications change until something offers improvement? Wouldn’t you agree that improved results and patient satisfaction should be the driving force for any technological advance?

Don’t get me wrong, Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Skin Rejuvenation and Laser Institute does offer the most scientifically advanced, peer-reviewed and proven technologies that are advantageous to our patients.  The key wording here is peer-reviewed and proven – a must for consistent best end results!

An excellent example is the Micro fractional CO2 laser that offers one treatment (as opposed to 4 or 5), with as little as 4-days downtime and incredible results!  Imagine!  A scaled back form of surgical laser resurfacing with the results you’ve been hoping for with only an extended weekend of downtime – fabulous!  Affordable, you ask?  Hmmm…a full facial treatment at approximately $2,000.00 instead of 4-5 treatments of Fraxel at an average of $1,500.00 each…I’ll let you do the math, but just let me say you could have had the big gun in skin resurfacing…surgical full facial laser C02 by the time you’ve paid for those 4-5 treatments.

Are you aware that G.  D. Castillo, MD investigates the emerging technologies exhaustively, and if proven to be advantageous and cost-effective for his patients, he does add to the existing lineup of beneficial treatments offered at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery.  Micro Fractional CO2 is just one example of this and Dr. Castillo was one of the first twelve in the United States to offer it.  He also helped to set the parameters for this exciting minimally invasive technological improvement.

Lasers are expensive – very expensive, and not every medical practice owns the laser that they are operating.  I, personally, have no desire to be on the front end of the learning curve when it comes to laser anything.  Both familiarity with the medical equipment and procedural experience weigh in heavily when it comes to a good laser result.  There are sound reasons why we at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery neither rent nor transport the laser technologies offered within our facilities.

I’m so fortunate to work for G. D. Castillo, MD.  Obviously, I believe in him as a surgeon (how could I not?) and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Skin Rejuvenation and Laser Institute is a top-notch medical facility.

No, Dr. Castillo doesn’t jump on the media’s bandwagon – he believes that when it comes to his patients, technology should serve their needs, not the other way around.

Patient & Office Coordinator for

G. D. Castillo, MD, FACS

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Skin

Rejuvenation & Laser Institute

Become a Facebook Fan of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Clinic (G. D. Castillo, MD) @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cosmetic-Plastic-Surgery/65943304419

https://www.cosmeticplasticsurgery.com

800-252-7123 (within IL)

217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

Spot Reduction by Liposuction

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

G.D. Castillo, M.D.  has been sculpting bodies into a more proportionate form in his Cosmetic Plastic Surgery practice since 1983, through liposuction or liposculpture.  While maintaining a good diet and a realistic exercise routine is vital to looking good and maintaining a healthy body, there is no such thing as “spot reduction” thru diet or exercise.  This fact often causes an otherwise reasonable active individual to struggle with their body image and their inability to self-correct those problem areas.  Often patient’s maintain abnormally low weight in attempt to reduce their body bulges.  When that doesn’t work, it is often interpreted as a failure and many find it difficult to remain dedicated to their exercise routine and healthy eating habits.

Liposculpture or Liposuction is used to reduce volume and re-contour specific areas of the body by suctioning out the fat that over-collects in certain areas, disrupting the inherent, sensuous flow of the human body.   Through the use of Liposculpture, Dr. Castillo is able create a feminine contour from the hips to the buttock that would boost any women’s confidence. He is able to create a smooth, naturally flowing contour of the body that restores self-pride for both our male and female our patients.

After liposuction, patient’s often become re-invested in making healthy food choices and staying consistent in their exercise program because liposuction has given them the encouragement they needed to continue on a path of healthy living.  After reducing the problem areas, patients can finally see that their hard work truly is paying off every time they look in the mirror.

While liposuction is often used for volume reduction, the best candidates for liposuction are those who are reasonable fit but have some problem areas though it can also be used for volume reduction.  Liposuction can be used to “spot reduce” nearly any area of the body.  It can also be used in conjunction with other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures to enhance the results.  For instance, it can be used during a facelift for a patient who carries extra weight in his or her face, or to reduce a double chin or jowls during a mini-facelift.  In some cases liposuction is used in combination with an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. It can be used to reduce arm fat during a Brachioplasty or arm lift.

Imagine being a woman who feels compelled to wear long skirts or pants in the heat of summer because she is too embarrassed to expose her thighs. Imagine the frustration that comes with realizing that no matter how thin and fit you are your thighs or hips will always be larger or disproportionate to the rest of your body.  Consider how frustrating it must be for a male who eats consciously and exercises but cannot decrease the bulk of his breasts or his love handles through those means. For patients like these, Liposuction or Liposculpture can make a tremendous improvement in their quality of life.

Dr. Castillo is compassionate toward the struggles that individuals go through, and he is passionate about helping them reach their goals. As the Past-President of The American Society of Liposuction Surgery and the Past-President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Castillo continues to be an influential leader in liposuction surgery.   If you would like more information on Liposuction or Liposculpture, call Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Clinic in Savoy (Champaign – Urbana area) at 217-359-7508 or to schedule your consultation with G.D. Castillo, M.D., FACS.

DSC_0574Roxanne Hammond, RMA
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
Become a Facebook Fan of CPS @  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cosmetic-Plastic-Surgery/65943304419
https://www.cosmeticplasticsurgery.com
800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)