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A woman considering a breast augmentation should expect her surgeon to be well trained, experienced and artistic. Body types vary from person to person and one operation does NOT fit all. Although I refer to the surgeon as male, there is an increasing number of women plastic surgeons and, as with gynecologists, this may be a factor in a woman’s decision.

The most important element is not even a question. It is your gut feeling. How does the surgeon make you feel? Are you comfortable with the way he handles your consultation? Does he spend the time with you that you need or is he rushing you? Is he listening to your concerns and answering your questions or is he just reciting a well-rehearsed list of bullet points that he can put into the medical record for medico-legal purposes?

Your general impression should also take into account what friends and neighbors have to say about him. If you know any medical professionals, nurses or physicians, ask them what they know about the surgeon. Also note how the office staff treats you. The office’s demeanor is dictated from the top down and any worthwhile surgeon insists that his office staff treat patients as he himself would.

The first actual question should be an instant deal breaker if the answer is no. Are you board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? The ABPS is the ONLY recognized Board that prepares and certifies its members to perform breast augmentation. A recent graduate (within two years of finishing his training) of a certified residency may be board eligible and not yet taken his board examination, but that is the only exception to this question. If he has been board eligible for more than two years, ask why he is not yet board certified.

The next question to ask is, “Where will my surgery be performed?” The answer must be that it will be performed in an operating room certified by one of the following three agencies: JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) or AAAASF (American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities). These are the only three organizations that, at present, have rigorous requirements aimed at providing patient safety and plastic surgeons belonging to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons are required sign an attestation that ALL their major surgery is performed at certified facilities. Any surgeon who cares about his patients will be uncompromising about this issue.

After receiving the answers to the above questions, independently verify them. Call the organizations or visit their web sites and confirm that your doctor is indeed board certified and that the operating facility is also certified by the organization he claimed. If you find a discrepancy, call the surgeon’s office and ask for an explanation. If the reasons given are unsatisfactory, report the surgeon to the organization and find another surgeon.

It is important that a surgeon performs the operation you are seeking on a regular basis. Understand that, in smaller communities, surgeons will perform a procedure less often than in a large metropolitan area where more people seek the same procedure. Surgeons in a suburban or rural area will perform a wide variety of procedures whereas surgeons in a larger city will often perform fewer procedures more often. Ask your surgeon how often he performs a breast augmentation and how many he has done over the years. You should expect your surgeon to perform a breast augmentation at least twice a month.

Your surgeon should perform a breast examination in the presence of a female staff member before making any recommendations. If he begins to describe what he plans to do before examining you, be suspicious and ask why. How can he formulate a plan without knowing what your anatomy is like?

After the above matters have been settled, the surgeon should proceed with the consult and provide answers to:

• What anatomical features are unique to my body and how will that affect your surgical plan?
• What kind of implant would be best for me?
• What restrictions will I have after surgery and for how long?
• What are the common complications and how often do they occur?
• In the event of a complication, what charges might I be responsible for?
• What is capsular contracture, how often does it occur in your hands and how do you manage it?
• What are your charges, what do they include and what do they not include?
• What will happen to my medical record in the future if you have retired and an issue arises with my implants?

Understanding the background and training of your potential surgeon is extremely important and necessary to make an educated choice. You should feel confident to proceed with your desired procedure if all of your questions were answered effectively and you have a good overall feeling about the surgeon.

Contact Our Practice

For more information about how to choose a plastic surgeon for your breast augmentation procedure, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Enrique Silberblatt, please contact Aesthetic Surgery of Virginia today.

Roanoke, VA — Thanks to a number of advancements over the past few years in minimally invasive cosmetic enhancement, Dr. Enrique Silberblatt, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Roanoke, says patients have been able to add volume and restore youth to their appearance in as little as thirty minutes. Dr. Silberblatt says as patients try to fit more and more activities into their already hectic lives, providing a quick solution to help boost their confidence and combat the effects of aging is a unique and rewarding opportunity for his practice. He says these “lunch break transformations” can offer patients safe, effective results with little to no recovery time and an affordable price.

According to the latest study from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increased in demand by six percent between 2010 and 2011, with over 12.2 million performed. Of these treatments, statistics show BOTOX® Cosmetic was far and away the most popular, and plastic surgeons performed more than 5.6 million procedures last year. Designed to address fine lines, wrinkles, and crows feet around the eyes and forehead, Dr. Silberblatt says BOTOX® Cosmetic has become an increasingly popular option at his Roanoke plastic surgery practice, although patients have been requesting treatment for years.

“BOTOX® Cosmetic is an injectable that addresses fine lines and wrinkles in crow’s feet around the eyes and is especially popular to treat forehead creases. There is no downtime for this procedure but the results can take up to two weeks to show full effectiveness.”

Dr. Silberblatt says another successful treatment he often performs during patients’ lunch breaks is Juvederm®, a soft tissue filler for restoring volume in the face. He says the procedure works well for improving the appearance of laugh lines and for adding fullness to the lips that has been lost due to age. Results are immediate; however, patients may experience slight bruising on occasion. For patients interested in cleansing their skin and enhancing their complexion, Dr. Silberblatt says MicroPeels and Isolaz® can help exfoliate skin and prevent breakouts. Each procedure takes about 20 minutes, and aside from a slight flushing of the face and soft, tender skin, he says patients can head right back to work and re-apply makeup following treatment.

As with any medical procedure such as a breast augmentation or tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Silberblatt says minimally invasive cosmetic treatments should only be performed by an experienced professional so as to ensure patients receive the safest, most effective results possible. He also says he encourages anyone considering a lunch break transformation to make sure their surgeon is dedicated to personalized, compassionate care before undergoing any procedure.

About Enrique A. Silberblatt, MD, FACS

A graduate of Princeton University and New York Medical College, Dr. Enrique Silberblatt completed his general surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts and his plastic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by two Fellowships in Pediatric Plastic and Orthognathic Surgery and Hand and Microsurgery. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Located at 3505 Brambleton Avenue SW in Roanoke, VA 24018, Dr. Silberblatt’s practice, Aesthetic Surgery of Virginia, can be reached at (540) 994-7408. He and his team can also be contacted online via the websites silberblatt.com or facebook.com/silberblatt.

You are invited to Advanced Medical Skin Care’s Open House. Dr. Silberblatt will be available for BOTOX® and Juvederm injections and any other questions you may have. Gina and Laura, our master estheticians, will be here to give makeup advice. We will also have a Vivite Skin Care representative available for consultations.

There will be a Door Prize Drawing as well as refreshments.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012
3 – 7 PM
3505 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke, VA 24018

Roanoke, VA — According to the most recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), cosmetic enhancements have increased by 5% in the past year to over 13.8 million total procedures performed. Experiencing a second straight year of positive growth, Dr. Enrique Silberblatt, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Roanoke, says aesthetic surgical and nonsurgical treatments are now becoming a popular solution for treating the signs of aging and helping patients experience life without worrying about their appearance. Dr. Silberblatt says he has observed a similar increase in demand for plastic surgery at his practice, particularly breast augmentation in Roanoke, as more and more patients are becoming aware of its benefits thanks to an increase in approval across the country and new developments in the techniques and technology of the field.

At his Roanoke plastic surgery practice, Dr. Silberblatt says breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure he performs. The ASPS study confirms his observations, reporting that there were over 307,000 breast augmentation procedures performed in 2011, up 4% in the past year. Dr. Silberblatt says he attributes much of the swell in demand to the more widespread availability of innovative new lines of breast implants and to more efficient, safe surgical techniques. He says thanks to the significant popularity of silicone gel implants (63% of all breast augmentations used silicone in 2010 according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), manufacturers and surgeons have been able to adapt better to patient preference and create the safest, most natural implants yet.

Other cosmetic surgical and non-invasive procedures such as liposuction and BOTOX® Cosmetic also exhibited an increase according to the ASPS statistics. Dr. Silberblatt says body contouring enhancements like liposuction in Roanoke have become an exceptionally popular treatment as patients prepare for the upcoming warm months and swimsuit season. He says the total increase in plastic surgery procedures may also be indicative of the rise in approval ratings of cosmetic enhancements, which the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports have risen to over half of all Americans.

Whether they are looking for a full-body makeover or a simple facial enhancement, Dr. Silberblatt says all patients will benefit from the rising demand for plastic surgery. He says more interest from patients will help spur plastic surgeons and medical companies to continue pursuing the safest and most effective treatments. He adds that patients will have more options in effectually improving their appearance and self-confidence. However, Dr. Silberblatt also says patients should still be sure to consult with a board-certified and dedicated plastic surgeon before undergoing any procedure to ensure they receive the care and results that are right for them. He urges all patients to thoroughly research their options before settling on a practice or treatment.

About Enrique A. Silberblatt, MD, FACS

A graduate of Princeton University and New York Medical College, Dr. Enrique Silberblatt completed his general surgery internship at the University of Miami, a General Surgical Residency at the University of Massachusetts, and a Plastic Surgery Residency at the University of Pittsburgh. He also completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Plastic and Orthognathic Surgery at Akron Children’s Hospital and a Fellowship in Hand and Microsurgery at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the National Board of Medical Examiners, and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the Medical Society of Virginia. Dr. Silberblatt is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Located at 3505 Brambleton Avenue, SW in Roanoke, VA, Dr. Silberblatt’s practice can be reached at (540) 776-1600. He can also be contacted online via the website silberblatt.com or facebook.com/silberblatt.

Contact:
Rosemont Media
Aaron Hurst
aaron@rosemontmedia.com
(858) 200-0044
www.rosemontmedia.com

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Aesthetic Surgery of Virginia / Advanced Medical Skin Care will present a FREE Seminar on Wednesday, March 12th, 2013. The event will take place at 3505 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke, VA 24018. There will be three seminars held throughout the day starting at 11:00am, 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Topics that will be covered during this seminar include Liposuction, Labiaplasty, Breast Augmentation, Skincare,Hair Removal, Isolaz and Permanent Make-up.

There will be a Door Prize Drawing and we will also be offering 20% off any Skin Care Product for attendees (valid March 12 only). Seating is limited so please call 540-776-1600 to reserve your time. Refreshments will be served.

I often am told by patients that friends of theirs are either considering going elsewhere or have, in fact, traveled many hours for cosmetic procedures that are routinely performed here. Like anything else in life, costs, risks and benefits must be considered. Extensive personal knowledge and confidence in the surgeon you are traveling to see may be compelling reasons to do so. Remember, though, if things do not go as planned or turn out as expected, it will be much more difficult to make the multiple subsequent trips, back and forth, to rectify the situation. Also, if an emergent condition occurs and the travel time to your surgeon would endanger you, who is going to take care of you? The surgeons you passed by when electing to leave town?

My advice is to thoroughly research what you want done and whether that service is reliably available near your home. If not, then travel is justified. Otherwise, it may make more sense to use your local surgeon. I know that confidentiality can also be an issue, particularly if a hospital or outpatient surgery center is used. For this reason I maintain my own fully certified, regularly inspected, private operating room.

- Dr. Enrique Silberblatt

Morning

Vivité Daily facial cleanser – Apply two pumps to moist skin . Wash for 30 seconds and rinse. This cleanser helps to loosen dead skin cells and prepare skin for moisture.

Vivité Vibrance Therapy – Use a couple pumps in the daytime. It delivers glycolic and antioxidants to help protect the skin against premature aging.

Vivité Daily Moisturizer with SPF Sunscreen – Use once daily. This helps to protect the skin against UVA and UVB rays while delivering glycolic acids to make the skin smoother.

Evening

Vivité Daily Cleanser – I cleanse in the evening to remove all traces of oil dirt and makeup. Two pumps on moist skin. Rinse completely.

Vivité Night Cream

I use nightly. Apply a pea-sized amount on cleansed skin. This is an extra rich formula that helps to aid in the repair of the skin. This product is my favorite because it helps with texture and pores. It’s the glycolic going to work!

I love the Vivité products because they work great for my skin. The glycolic and antioxidants in the products help keep my skin clear and bright.

The key to smooth, pretty skin is exfoliation. The micropeel is a great way to keep the skin younger and brighter. This 20 minute procedure has kept my adult acne under control and my skin healthy.

I have also completed about 5 Fraxel treatments. I had acne scars from my young adult years that bothered me. The Fraxel procedures helped to resurface my skin and smoothen out the fine lines and wrinkles. When patients see me at the office, I customize a skincare regime specifically for them.

- Gina Foster Kirk, Master Aesthetician

I get this question at least 3 to 4 times a week. Of course I use only products from our office. I just recently changed up my regime a bit to get ready for the season change. I have a tendency to get a few breakouts (like most patients) during the transition into winter. The following is my morning and evening routine:

Morning

SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel – I apply a very small amount in my hand and mix with water and massage on my entire face. After a minute I splash rinse with warm water and towel dry.

SkinCeuticals LHA Solution – I use a cotton ball or pad and about 6 or 7 drops and apply to the entire face but not directly under the eyes.

SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator – I use this product mostly on the lower area of my cheeks because I tend to have hyperpigmentation there. Just a small amount works and make sure it’s rubbed in completely.

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex – Let me just say, “I love this product!” A very small amount (smidge) is all that is needed under the eyes up to the lash line and extend out to the corner of the eye. Make sure it’s rubbed in completely.

SkinCeuticals Blemish & Age Defense – Yes, I love this one too! I apply about 5 drops for the entire face but not under the eyes.

SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 – No regime would be complete without sunscreen. This product is light and needs to be shaken before used. It has a light tint so even if you’re not into makeup it gives the skin a nice glow. I use a small amount and rub it in until my skin feels like I’m wearing nothing. If you’re into makeup now is the time! I use Jane Iredale Minerals and I can help you with that too.

Evening

SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel – I cleanse the same in the evening as the morning but maybe just a little more cleanser to clear the makeup and this cleanser even takes off eye makeup so it’s a one step process.

SkinCeuticals LHA Solution – Same process 6 or 7 drops on a cotton ball or pad.

SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator – I use this on my entire face in the evening to prevent any additional brown spots from appearing.

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex – Same process again and remember a small amount (smidge) and I make sure it’s smoothed in completely. Did I mention I love this eye cream?

SkinCeuticals Blemish & Age Defense – 5 drops for the entire face but not under the eyes. This is one of the first products that addresses those of us with acne-prone skin and helps with anti-aging. Love it!

Retin-A (Tretinoin) – I use a pea size for my entire face including under my eyes. Retin-A is a prescription and is prescribed by Dr. Silberblatt. During the fall and winter, I use it on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only.

As you can see, I’m using the SkinCeuticals line and have been very impressed with the results so far. I am planning on having a couple of Fraxel Laser treatments within the next month as preventive maintenance. Always remember though what works for one person may not work for you. It’s important to have a regime prescribed for your specific needs. I would like the opportunity to help you individually with your skin care.

- Laura Camper Bumgarner, Master Aesthetician

Plastic Surgeon in Roanoke Performs Breast Augmentation with Smaller Scars

As a board-certified plastic surgeon in Roanoke, VA, Dr. Enrique Silberblatt is able to achieve smaller breast augmentation scars when using the Keller Funnel™. Dr. Silberblatt says the funnel allows him to use a smaller incision for silicone breast implants, which also results in quicker placement of the implant, less bruising, and reduced post-operative pain for his breast augmentation patients.

Enrique Silberblatt, MD, FACS is now able to perform breast augmentation procedures with smaller scars at his Roanoke, VA plastic surgery practice. As the latest technological advancement in breast implant delivery, Dr. Silberblatt says the Keller Funnel™ allows him to use smaller incisions similar to those used with saline breast implants because of a special interior coating [1]. He adds that the funnel not only allows for smaller incisions, but allows for quicker placement of the breast implants, and leads to less bruising and post-operative discomfort.

Scarring can have a significant impact on patient satisfaction with any cosmetic enhancement procedure, especially those patients undergoing breast augmentation in Roanoke, according to Dr. Silberblatt. He says the Keller Funnel™ effectively limits the amount of scarring because the cone-shape and hydrophilic interior coating allow him to propel the implant into place with minimal pressure. The Keller Funnel™ also allows Dr. Silberblatt to avoid skin contact when placing the implant. He says this is an important benefit of the funnel because residual bacteria on the skin or in the breast tissue can increase the risk of capsular contraction.

Ultimately, Dr. Silberblatt says patient safety and satisfaction are his top priorities, adding that the Keller Funnel™ is simply another reason he strives to maintain a constant connection to the cutting-edge of the plastic surgery industry. When he considers the latest statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), which show a majority of Americans now approve of cosmetic enhancement, he says he believes the approval rating will continue to rise as innovative devices such as the Keller Funnel™ lead to a positive experience within the industry.

About Enrique Silberblatt, MD, FACS

Dr. Enrique Silberblatt earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. He completed his general surgery internship at the University of Miami, his general surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts, and his plastic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Silberblatt is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons among others.

Aesthetic Surgery of Virginia is located at 3505 Brambleton Avenue, S. W. Roanoke, VA 24018, and can be reached at (540) 994-7408 or found online at silberblatt.com or facebook.com/silberblatt.

[1] The Keller Funnel, Keller Medical, Inc. Retrieved from kellerfunnel.com on 8/31/2011

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