July 6th, 2011
Breast cancer is a terrible disease that not only impacts a woman’s physical health, but also leaves her body severely distorted if a single or double mastectomy is required to treat the cancer. For many women, the loss of one or both breasts can be an emotional blow, on top of having a life-threatening disease. In addition to prosthetic bras, breast reconstruction surgery is an option for women, but there has been debate about when a woman should undergo reconstructive surgery. According to a major announcement by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, women can undergo immediate breast reconstruction with low risk of complications. Results from a ten year study conducted at UCLA were published in the July 2011 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which is a peer reviewed medical journal. Previously, there were concerns that undergoing an immediate reconstructive surgery may result in complications or a delay with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or recovery from the mastectomy. According to physician researchers, immediate breast reconstruction is desirable for several reasons: (1) the outcomes cosmetically are improved; (2) patients have a shorter recovery time; (3) the costs for treatment are decreased; and, (4) improved quality of life that reduces the risk factors for depression. Houston plastic surgeon, Dr. Leo Lapuerta, is a board certified plastic surgeon who has performed numerous breast reconstruction procedures over the last 20 years. Dr. Lapuerta is both a renowned plastic surgeon, but also a compassionate person who takes pride in taking excellent care of his patients. If you are a breast cancer survivor who wishes to discuss the options available for breast reconstruction, contact the office of Dr. Leo Lapuerta. He and his staff service patients in Houston, Katy and Pearland, Texas.
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July 5th, 2011
Juvederm is a non-surgical, minimally invasive technique for the temporary removal of facial lines and wrinkles. Before its approval by the US Food & Drug Administration, Juvederm had been used in Europe with great results for many years. Juvederm is a unique injectable because it is made of a molecule naturally found the human body –hyaluronic acid. Unlike a facelift or mini-facelift, treatment with Juvederm requires very little, if any, downtime. The procedure takes just a few minutes in the office. The immediate, minor side effects may include some bruising or puffiness at the injection site(s), or a feeling of firmness at the injection site(s), but these go away within less than a week. Clinical studies show that Juvederm patients have less bumps, pain and minor bruising than patients who are treated with Restylane or other dermal fillers such as ZYPLAST. Houston physician, Dr. Leo Lapuerta, is a renowned cosmetic and plastic surgeon who can help you decide if Juvederm is right for you. To obtain more information on Dr. Lapuerta’s unique qualifications and medical services, contact his office today.
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July 3rd, 2011
If you’ve noticed that wrinkles and lines are sneaking up on your face, then it’s time to consider a dermal filler like Juvederm to smooth things out. Juvederm is made of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance in the human body. Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge because it holds and stores water, which creates volume in the face. Hyaluronic acid naturally diminishes with the aging process, and that’s why we get facial lines and the nasolabial folds. Juvederm is an injectable gel that restores your body’s hyaluronic acid. Juvederm is administered using very fine needles to inject the gel into the areas of the face requiring treatment. It is important to note that Juvaderm is administered by physicians who have been trained in how to use the product, so you should beware of allowing someone at the spa treat you with Juvederm. After treatment, most patients see immediate results, such as the disappearance of nasolabial folds (“parenthses”), oral commissures (“marionette” lines), perioral lines, and wrinkles around the chin. Most patients can expect the effects of Juvederm to last anywhere from 6-12 months. In Houston and the surrounding areas, Dr. Leo Lapuerta is a well renowned cosmetic and plastic surgeon with over two decades of experience in helping his patients look their best. If you have more questions about Juvederm or other cosmetic procedures (whether surgical or minimally invasive), contact the professionals at Dr. Lapuerta’s office to schedule an appointment. You will be well taken care of!
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July 2nd, 2011
Cher has had lots of plastic surgery over the years, but she isn’t the only one who can turn back time. Houston plastic surgeon, Leo Lapuerta, M.D., can do the same thing with a facelift procedure. Facelift surgery is designed to smooth loose skin on both the face and neck, while tightening facial muscles and eliminating excess fat. Unfortunately a facelift cannot halt the aging process – sadly, no one has figured that out yet – but it can make the patient look years younger. The effects of a facelift usually last about 10 years, but there are certain behaviors that determine the longevity of its effects, such as whether the patient is a smoker, engages in tanning or excess sun exposure, and how well the patient takes care of his/her overall health. Smoking is not healthy, and it is well established that smoking reduces blood flow to the skin in the face. Sun exposure causes premature aging, and can impact the effects of your facelift as well. Dr. Lapuerta is a board certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience performing facelifts on both female and male patients. If you would like to refresh your appearance and look years younger, contact Dr. Lapuerta’s friendly staff, and come to talk about the best treatment options for you, whether that is a facelift, mini-facelift, or a non-surgical procedure.
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July 1st, 2011
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulates breast implants because they are medical devices, and on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, the FDA issued a statement concerning the safety of silicone breast implants. Currently, there are two types of implants approved in the US, and those are saline-filled breast implants and silicone-gel filled breast implants. Silicone breast implants were reintroduced to the market in 2006 after no scientific studies could prove that they were unsafe. Last week’s announcement by the FDA did not report any new safety issues related to silicone-gel breast implants, and essentially stated that silicone-gel filled breast implants are safe, but that the implants may not last forever. Despite the media attention over the announcement, this is is nothing new or astonishing. In many cases the patient’s own natural body parts don’t last forever, such as the knee, and even those implants don’t last forever. Houston plastic surgeon, Dr. Leo Lapuerta, is a board certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience performing breast augmentation surgeries. Dr. Lapuerta prides himself on communicating with his patients about their goals, needs, and what to expect from breast augmentation surgery. If you are considering breast augmentation surgery with either silicone gel-filled or saline-filled implants, schedule a consultation with Dr. Lapuerta to learn more about your options.
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June 30th, 2011
Last month I was running through my morning routine and took one last look in the mirror to make sure I didn’t have anything in my teeth before my 9:00 meeting. What I saw astonished me. When did I start looking so old and why didn’t my husband tell me?! Many of us have had these moments when the ideal image of ourselves as the nubile 22-year-old co-ed is shattered. “I may be 40-ish, but I’m certainly not taking this lying down,” I said. I did my homework and decided to consult with Houston plastic surgeon, Leo Lapuerta, M.D. to find out what I could do to start looking the age I feel. I’d had friends who had gone the route of Botox and dermal fillers, but I wanted something more permanent and long lasting. Dr. Lapuerta advised that a face lift would address my concerns such as loss of tone in the face, the slack jaw-line and the deep set wrinkles. I even decided to add on an eyelid lift for an extra-fresh look. After my surgery, I hid out hoping no one would discover my secret. Of course, I told my best gal pals, but what about colleagues and strangers? Could they tell? Did I have a scarlet F for facelift embroidered on my blouse? When I finally went out of the house, I realized that what did it matter if people knew I had a facelift? It’s my business. But, what I learned was that with good plastic surgery, there is no drastic change; rather, the patient looks like a more rested, younger version of him/herself. That’s exactly what I got with my experience from Dr. Lapuerta, and I’ll be forever grateful. What you tell people about your cosmetic surgery experience is up to you, but this Houston gal is going with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!
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June 29th, 2011
Houston plastic surgeon, Leo Lapuerta, M.D., is a renowned breast surgeon who has performed countless breast augmentation procedures. The before & after photo gallery shows the impeccable results. After breast augmentation surgery, women find that the bras they wore before are no longer a good fit – usually due to increase in cup size. While the patient may have been a 30 C before surgery, she might be a 30D or DD thereafter. Some Houston women report having a difficult time after breast augmentation surgery finding bras that are the right size, comfortable, and show off their new breasts. For example, some women say that it can be difficult to find a 30DD bra, and even if they can, it covers up the sexy new breasts they want to show off. No one who has voluptuous new breasts wants to wear their grandmother’s bra. TV celebrity Jessica Wright recently launched her own lingerie line designed especially for women who have undergone breast enlargement through surgical augmentation. The line of bras and panties is designed to be comfortable, supportive and just as attractive as the woman’s breasts. If you have been considering breast augmentation, consult with board certified plastic surgeon Leo Lapuerta, and let him put his 20+ years of experience to work for the perfect version of your breasts.
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June 28th, 2011
The Baby Boomers are coming of age – becoming senior citizens that is! Just because they can get cheap tickets to movies and discounts at Luby’s, don’t expect them to grow old without a fight! The fact is that Baby Boomers are living longer and remaining active longer, but they’re not looking as young as they feel. Trends show that many are opting for both surgical and non-surgical procedures such as facelifts, neck lifts, injectables like Botox, Restylane, and Juvederm. Houston plastic surgeon, Dr. Leo Lapuerta, routinely sees such patients. Lapuerta advises that a facelift is the most effective method for reducing fine lines and wrinkles because it actually repositions the facial skin and muscles. Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm are very effective and help in reducing the appearance of light wrinkles, but they are not permanent and therefore cannot correct deep set wrinkles in the same way as a facelift. If you’re an active Boomer who wants to look as vibrant as you feel, then contact Dr. Leo Lapuerta. He and his knowledgeable office professionals can help you decide on the best treatment to restore the real you.
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June 27th, 2011
The Internet has changed the way we work, conduct business across the globe, purchase goods, and now apparently, how we shop for cosmetic surgery and all of this can be done from a smart phone. Apple recently approved an iPhone app called BuildMyBod. The purpose of the application is for patients to research and compare pricing for various procedures in their geographic area, and contact participating plastic surgeons to schedule appointments. While this may sound like a good idea, the app only has 48 reviews and 2.5 out of 5.0 stars. Houston plastic surgeon, Dr. Leo Lapuerta, wants his prospective patients and patients to do their homework to become knowledgeable about procedures such as breast augmentation and liposuction. In fact, Dr. Lapuerta appears on local Houston news to help do just that. Though the Internet and consumer technology helps people obtain information about plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures, there is a major component missing – the one-on-one interaction between the patient and physician. Dr. Lapuerta believes that each patient is an individual with his/her own special needs. Neither plastic surgery is a “drive through one-size-fits-all” procedure. If you’re doing some preliminary research for a procedure such as breast augmentation, have fun with the free iPhone apps, but when it comes time to get serious and determine what procedure and technique is best for you as an individual, contact Dr. Leo Lapuerta’s office to schedule an appointment. Dr. Lapuerta has over 20 years experience delivering outstanding results to his patients.
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June 24th, 2011
After you and Dr. Lapuerta have consulted and agree that otoplasty (ear surgery) is right for you or your child, the procedure is generally performed on an outpatient basis at the Plastic Surgery Institute of Southeast Texas. During surgery, a general anesthetic is administered by a physician anesthesiologist, and Dr. Lapuerta is assisted by a licensed surgical technician and/or registered nurse. During surgery, and incision is made in the back of the ear, and this exposes cartilage. The cartilage is either sculpted or removed so that the ears have a more natural looking fold. It’s common for non-removable sutures to be used to hold the new shape of the ear. The recovery is fairly minimal from this procedure. Dr. Lapuerta has performed hundreds of plastic surgery procedures, and the before & after photo gallery demonstrates his success with otoplasty. Contact the Houston office of plastic surgeon, Leo Lapuerta, M.D. to learn more about this procedure.
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