Appearance Center looks goodby Cindy AbolePublic Relations Forget the fabled fountain of youth today’s seeker of youth and beauty has turned to knives, needles and lasers in the careful hands of physicians. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery and Plastic Surgery Education Foundation, more than 40 percent of all cosmetic surgery is performed on individuals age 35 to 50 years old. About 30 percent of cosmetic surgery patients have more than one procedure done at the same time. “People are more accepting of cosmetic surgery today than previously,” said Paul Lambert, professor and chairman, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. “Today, their focus is on being healthier. As our population ages, everyone wants to match their appearance with their own feelings and attitudes.” It’s easier for people in the Lowcountry and throughout South Carolina to access a whole range of comprehensive services to enhance one’s appearance and being through MUSC’s Center for Appearance located in Rutledge Tower. “Our own patients want this,” said John C. Maize, M.D., professor and chairman of Dermatology. “Besides meeting the needs of our current patients, we now have a portal to new patients. There’s great potential for people to get the best of care right here.” Maize credits MUSC’s own employees and clinical staffs for driving home the idea. MUSC’s Appearance Center is among an elite list of specialty clinics offering multidis-ciplinary care. Board-certified specialists in dermatology, plastic surgery and otolaryngologic facial surgery confer with each other and an anesthetics staff to evaluate a patient's needs and contribute to a their overall treatment plan. “The program offers a place for patients to come and see specialists from various sub-specialities to contribute to their appearance and health,” said Terry Day, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. “It will provide support for all types of care.” Among the procedures available through the center include: Botox injections for frown lines and wrinkles, browlift surgery, ear reconstruction, rhinoplasty-nose surgery, chemical peels, eyelid surgery, facelift surgery, laser resurfacing of the face, laser surgery for birthmarks and tattoos, collagen injections, microdermabrasion, lip enhancement, liposuction, scar removal and sclerotherapy-vein removal. Specialists today are using more sophisticated techniques in treating both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery patients. Lasers have been used in a variety of procedures including skin resurfacing, hair removal, tattoo removal and vascular lesions for spider veins. Surgeons and technicians are required to be credentialed in the use of specific lasers. Besides traditional and newly developed cosmetic techniques, the center will also provide reconstructive services for congenital deformities. Examples of these procedures include cleft lip and palate, scar revisions, otoplasty-outer ear surgery and laser surgery for birthmarks. Other patients affected by injury, disease and trauma can also benefit from these services. It’s expected that many of the procedures performed at the center will be reconstructive and related to disease processes, said Maize. Being in the Sunbelt, South Carolinians are more prone to sun damage and premature aging of the skin. The American Board of Plastic Surgery lists tumor removal as the most commonly performed reconstructive surgery procedure. For cosmetic surgeries, liposuction still ranks as the most popular. And who pays for these techniques? Most cosmetic surgeries are elective and not covered by insurance companies. Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly. “For an elective surgery, people seem to have more discretionary monies available to do things,” Lambert said. “They’re buying cars, taking vacations and doing things they want to do. Their thinking is: why not do things to enhance our appearance and make us feel better?” Cosmetic and reconstructive patients also seem to be better informed, according to Day. They’ve done their own research regarding cosmetic procedures, costs and treatment. Patients are accessing Internet websites, hearing about procedures from the media and obtaining information from other resources before visiting a specialist. Maize is optimistic about its potential impact on the community and the Medical Center. “It’s looked upon favorably by the administration,” Maize said. “The
services provided by this Center will hopefully bring in new patients to
see what MUSC has to offer in this area and other types of specialized
care.”
Employee aglow about skin techniqueIt was curiosity that brought clinical educator MaryElizabeth Morgan and Anne B. Marie together. “What exactly is an esthetician?” asked Morgan, who works in Ambulatory Care Services, after being introduced to Marie at a recent employee orientation session. Marie works as a skin care expert at the new Center for Appearance. A licensed cosmetologist with over 14 years of experience in New York and South Carolina, Marie uses her training and expertise in treating patients with techniques such as microdermabrasion and laser hair removal. Intrigued, Morgan wanted to learn more about microdermabrasion, an exfoliation technique that virtually refinishes the skin’s top layers. It wasn’t long afterwards that Morgan made an appointment with Marie for a consultation. “About 20 years ago, it was very popular to keep a tan,” said Morgan. “Like most people, you’d never expect to deal with the effects of sun damage and overexposure later in life.” During her first visit, Marie discussed the procedure, which has also been known as the “lunch-time peel.” It uses a vacuum flow system and controlled delivery of aluminum oxide crystals to peel and remove the top layer of skin. The process involves up to eight treatments, which can be performed within an hour’s time. Benefits include the reduction of age spots, facial lines, wrinkles and acne scars. Similar treatments like the chemical peels use caustic chemicals that may leave the skin irritated and red in appearance often requiring patients to schedule time off for recovery. In contrast, the microdermabrasion treatment is painless, requires no downtime from work and leaves the recipient’s skin with a pink, healthy glow. “With the onset of a growing work population that has less time to do things for themselves, an alternative to more invasive techniques was needed,” said Marie. “Microdermabrasion does not go as deeply as laser resurfacing or chemical peels, but depending on the goals of the client, it may give them the result they’re looking for.” “It’s been an enjoyable experience,” Morgan said. “Annie’s taught me a lot about skin care and what things I can do to keep my skin healthy.” Virtually a risk-free procedure, the treatment’s goal is to provide the skin with a smoother, fresher appearance. Candidates for this technique are evaluated on skin type, medical history, as well as their own goals for their skin. Marie focuses on creating an environment that is comfortable for her patients to discuss their skin and its challenges. Because of her advanced training, she is able to offer her clients with rehydrating treatments following the procedure as well as updated information on how they can continue to take care of their skin following their procedure. “This is a boon to people who come to MUSC,” Morgan said. “For me, it’s a very simple and small step I can take to improve my appearance.” For information or to make an appointment, contact MUSC Health Connection
at 792-1414 or access MUSChealth.com at
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