The Plastic Surgery Center of East Tennessee

New Rebate Offer

coordinator — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Save $50.00 from your Botox and Juvederm treatment with Allergan’s Duet Dividends rebate offer. When performing your Botox and Juvederm treatments together you qualify for a $50.00 rebate. If you are already signed up to the Brilliant Distinctions Reward Program, this rebate will be an instant saving. If not, you can mail in for the rebate. These rebate forms are in limited supply, so schedule your treatment as soon as possible to take advantage of this offer.

The Plastic Surgery Center Celebrates Mother’s Day

coordinator — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:31:08 +0000

“A Mother is the Heart of the Home” - Mother Teresa

“All That I am or Hope to be I Owe to my Angel Mother” – Abraham Lincoln

Tell your mother how much she means to you this mother’s day with a gift certificate to The Plastic Surgery Center or our Mona Lisa Skin and Laser Center. Gift certificates are available for a variety of services.

Dr. Pastrick’s May Blog–Board Re-Certification

ghpastrick — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:02:17 +0000

Having just completed my Plastic Surgery Board re-certification test this past weekend, I am again reminded of the vast amount of knowledge it takes to be a well-qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon and it reiterates in my mind how those who are not Board Certified in Plastic Surgery cannot safely perform these kind of procedures. Plastic Surgery Board re-certification is actually a “maintenance of certification” process that culminates in a “final exam” every 10 years. Every 3 years our Board analyzes ”tracer” procedures, or surgical cases (anonymously, of course), that we submit to them to review. We also must have a certain number of ”continuing medical education” hours, including designated “patient safety” hours. We must continually update the Board on our medical license status and hospital privileges. We must submit peer evaluations and complete a plan for improvement based on our surgical outcomes. They even review our website and any advertising material to ensure it meets ethical standards. In the 10th year of the cycle we submit a case log of every surgery we performed in the previous 6 months, including any complications, in order to be accepted to sit for the “final exam”. The exam is four hour test based the particular area of focus of our practice i.e. cosmetic surgery (in my case), or hand surgery, or craniofacial surgery. I realize most of you don’t really care about the details, but I want to emphasize the extreme amount of oversight necessary to be certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. Do you think the family practitioner or dermatologist performing Smart Lipo in their office or even the OB-Gyn or anesthesiologist giving Restylane or Botox injections have this level of accountability? The answer is absolutely not. They would not even be granted hospital privileges in these procedures because it would be too big of a liability for the hospital. Unfortunately there isn’t anyone out there to stop them from doing it as long as they have an M.D. behind their name. Our Board is the only board that has a designated cosmetic surgery exam like the one I took this past weekend, and I would speculate that any other non-plastic surgery physician would not pass that exam. Just something to think about before you choose your doc for cosmetic procedures.

May Specials

coordinator — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:20:50 +0000

Receive a free Obagi cleanser or sunscreen with your CoolSculpting treatment performed in May.
Have a full set of Xtreme Lash eyelash extensions applied and receive a free refill.
Select a free nostril, ear or upper lip wax with your back, bikini or leg waxing in May.

Rebate Offers

coordinator — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:28:14 +0000

Beginning May 1st, patients treating with Restylane, Perlane or Dysport are eligible for mail in rebates. The rebate offers are as follows:

Patiets receiving Dysport treatments can receive a $50.00 mail in rebate.
Restylane treatments performed using a minimum of 2 syringes are eligible for a $40.00 mail in rebate per syringe used, maximum of 6 syringes.
Patients undergoing treatments with Perlane are eligible for a $50.00 mail in rebate per syringe of Perlane used, minimum of 1 syringe and maximum of 6 syringes.

Dr. Pastrick’s April Blog–Tax time on Cosmetic Surgery?

ghpastrick — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:51:37 +0000

Back in 2004, the state of New Jersey legislators decided that they, like some of the non-plastic surgery doctors, wanted to try to cash in on the popularity of cosmetic surgery. They passed a law that added a six percent tax on all cosmetic surgery procedures. While it added about $11 million dollars to the state coffers each of the past eight years, it fell well short of projected income and increased buearocratic red tape in order to implement and enforce the new law. It also caused a huge backlash from various groups including plastic surgeons and New Jersey women who rightfully saw the tax as discrimatory. Since about 90% of those undergoing plastic surgery were women, it inequitably taxed them compared to men. In fact about 60% of the women undergoing plastic surgery have a household of income of $30,000-$90,000 so it really wasn’t the “luxury” tax they touted it was. Plastic surgeons were seeing women go to neighboring states like New York to avoid the tax which decreased the overall economy in New Jersey and they began to realize that for every dollar the tax generated, New Jersey actually lost about four dollars in state revenue. While the law initially provided a catalyst for other states to introduce bills for cosmetic surgery taxation, the American Society Of Plastic Surgeons, who frankly were caught off guard by the New Jersey tax law, soon began coordinated efforts to successfully combat the passing of similar laws in other states. Due to the backlash, the congressman who originally sponsored the bill, flipped his original position and began to speak out to have it erased. Fortunately, New Jersey governor Chris Christie signed a law this year to repeal the original cosmetc surgery tax law in a graduated fashion so that by July 2013 it will be completely rescinded. Now the Jersey Shore gang really have something to fist pump about.

Dr. Pastrick’s March Blog–Breast Implant Crisis

ghpastrick — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:47:38 +0000

I wouldn’t expect that many of you have heard, but there’s a breast implant crisis occuring regarding silicone breast implants. Fortunately, it’s unlikely to affect many women in the U.S. so don’t be alarmed. It does underscore a very important point about “medical tourism” however. A French manufacturer of silicone breast implants in Europe called Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) was found, as a cost cutting measure, to be using industrial grade silicone, rather than medical grade silicone, for their breast implants which could be harmful to humans. The founder of the company, Jean-Claude Mas, was arrested and charged with causing “involuntary injuries.” It is estimated that half a million women in 65 countries have these implants from PIP, which at one time was the third largest producer of silicone implants. Fortunately, these implants were never used in the United States but there are likely to be some U.S. women who traveled to Europe or other areas to have their breast augmentation where these implants were being used. This is a great example of how trying to save money by traveling outside the U.S. for medical treatments, which is known as medical tourism, can be dangerous. It’s especially noteworthy that this occurred not in a third world country, but in one that many might think has the same standards and controls as the U.S. While some may criticize the FDA here America for being too cautious and retarding the advancement of various treatments, we can be thankful because, as in this case, it usually errs on the side of safety. I have not seen anyone personally who has these implants, but I have treated several patients that have had serious complications (usually infections) resulting from medical tourism. So play it safe and don’t go abroad for your cosmetic surgery, even if the cost is a small percentage of what it costs here. The medical standards are less stringent in other countries which could ultimately result in serious health problems or worse for you.

Introducing the New Elastiderm Eye – Compete Complex Serum

coordinator — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:26:48 +0000

We now offer the new Elastiderm Eye – Complete Complex Serum. This serum uses a soothing, innovative rollerball technology to deliver the proven Elastiderm Eye formulation you love with the added benefits of caffeine. Elastiderm Eye – Complete Complex Serum helps replenish elasticity and supports collagen for tighter, smoother-looking skin, helps to stimulate the production of healthy skin cells for overall skin improvement and improves the appearance of under-eye puffiness for firmer, youthful-looking eyes.

Dr. Pastrick’s February Blog–Sex Makes the Difference

ghpastrick — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:28:39 +0000

With Valentine’s Day approaching, I was thinking about men and women and the differences between them when it comes to cosmetic surgery. I just finished a rhinoplasty on a gentleman who has always been dissatisfied with the appearance of his nose. After years of contemplation, he finally decided to go through with the surgery. I’m confident that when he heals, he’ll be very happy with the result and the balance it brings to his face. I, too, am happy for him and that he finally did it because, as a plastic surgeon, I get great satisfaction from being able to positively impact someone’s life and to make a beneficial change that can last forever. Regarding men and cosmetic surgery, they are definitely in the minority, comprising only about 10% of those who undergo cosmetic surgery. It’s not that men don’t have things they would like to change about themselves, it’s just they have an aversion to commitment (No big surprise to the women!). Men think of all the practicalities in going from point A (the before) to point B (the after) and it can be somewhat daunting in their minds, whereas women visualize themselves at point B and will do anything necessary to get there. By far and away the top cosmetic surgeries for men are rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and liposuction. Breast reduction for gynecomastia and hair transplantation are a distant 4th and 5th in popularity for men. In women, the top 5 surgeries are: breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, liposuction and abdominoplasty. Facelift is not far out of the 5th spot. Despite the differences, as you can see some commonality exists between the sexes with regard to cosmetic surgery. So this month, put aside the differences and enjoy the commonalities with your Valentine.

New Rebate Offers

coordinator — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:35:13 +0000

Mail in rebates are available for Restylane, Perlane and Dysport treatments received between February 1st 2012 and March 31st 2012. Rebate offers are:

Patients treating with Restylane must use a minimum of 2 syringes to be eligible for a rebate of $40.00 per syringe used (maximum of 6 syringes)
Patients treating with Perlane are eligible for a $50.00 rebate per syringe used, minimum 1 syringe, maximum 6 syringes.
Patients treating with Dysport are eligible for a $50.00 mail in rebate. We have a limited supply of Dysport rebate forms available.
There’s also the ongoing “Points Rewards” program available to patients treating with Botox Cosmetic or Juvederm. This is an ongoing rewards system through Allergan’s Brilliant Distinctions Program.