Dr. Rhys Branman's Cosmetic Surgery Blog

Tummy Tucks Require Recovery Time

October 15, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Tummy tuck. The words make the procedure sound cute, don't they? Actually, the procedure is known as an abdominoplasty. Sometimes I think the words are deceptive. Like an surgery, an abdominoplasty requires recovery, but the recovery time will certainly be worth it. Take a look at the Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center before and after gallery to see. Often the results are quite dramatic. The amount of time for that recovery will depend on how much surgery has been done. Abdominoplasty is commonly combined with other procedures such as liposuction or a breast lift to create better body contouring. Often...

The Ultherapy Revolution

October 11, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Did you know Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center is having an open house October 25th? Mark your calendars NOW for our Fall Fabulous Open House, at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center! Thursday, Oct. 25, from 4-8 p.m. An actual demonstration of Ultherapy, the ultrasound skin tightening technique, may be performed. This is an amazing procedure because it is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that can rejuvenate your face before you need a facelift. You might have heard me talk about setting the clock back, holding off that facelift, on Good Morning Arkansas. So let me tell you a little about the...

Smartlift and More

October 9, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

If you are noticing the formation of "jowls," folds and wrinkles in your neck, and fat deposits beneath your chin as you age, you may be a candidate for a face lift. My Smartlift is a lower face lift that addresses these problems. However, many people are not aware that a face lift cannot address the signs of aging in the upper face. When I consult with my patients they often ask me what procedures will remove the bags under their eyes, crow's feet, and furrows above the nose. It is true that the face lift is the cornerstone of...

The Story Of Acne . . . And How Laser Resurfacing Can Help

October 8, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Mild to severe acne affects up to 80% of teenagers and young adults. Often acne causes permanent scarring. I can treat those scars here at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center. For acne scars, the best treatment is laser resurfacing, Little Rock, Arkansas patients have found. Although some topical treatments can work on less serious acne, for treatment of deep scarring laser is required. To understand why laser resurfacing works, you must understand acne. Your skin is composed of two layers: the dermis (composed of collagen and elastin fibers) and the epidermis (very top layer). The epidermis protects the dermis from...

Cultural Issues In Cosmetic Surgery

October 3, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

It is helpful for me, as a cosmetic surgeon in Little Rock, Arkansas to know the trends. Last year, 2011 in the United States, most cosmetic surgery patients were of European descent, a full 69 percent. Following that group 12 percent were Hispanic, 8 percent were African American, and 6 percent were Asian American. In the past, cosmetic surgery has been frowned upon by many ethnic groups and this is a result of a static, Caucasian standard of beauty that has historically been found in the United States, and the fear of losing ethnic identity. In other cases, cosmetic surgery...

I Love Sculptra

October 2, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

The active ingredient in Sculptra, although relatively new on the cosmetic scene, has quite a recent medical history. Poly-L-lactic acid was used in sutures for many years. It was discovered that this ingredient causes the body to stimulate its own collagen growth. The FDA then approved Sculptra for facial wasting in people with HIV. The injections have been in use in Europe since 1999. Slowly, over time, the body reacts to this substance, PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid). This creates volume where fat and collagen have been lost with age. Sculptra improves the appearance of the nasolabial folds and other facial wrinkles,...

A Study Of Breast Beauty

September 24, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

The results of a study recently published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal identified breastfeeding as a factor in keeping the breast beautiful as women age. 161 pairs of identical female twins agreed to participate in the study at the 2009 and 2010 Twinsburg twin festival. The women were interviewed, their medical histories obtained, and their breasts photographed. The researchers sought to study environmental effects on "appearance, aging, and disorders of the breast." The fact that the women who participated were all identical twins controlled for genetic predispositions. After complete analysis the researchers concluded that the effects of aging on the...

Breast Implant Trends

September 20, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

Several current developments have come to the public's attention recently regarding breast implants. The safety of breast implants has again made the news overseas and trends in breast implants here at home in the United states, are two topics that caught my eye. Safety first! The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the United Kingdom's equivalent of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Recently there has been a plethora of press about the MHRA's removal of the PIP breast implant from the market. The French made PIP implant was removed from the market after it was shown...

The Future Is Now

September 19, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

I predict we can look forward to amazing and futuristic new procedures in cosmetic surgery due to the "trickle-down theory" of scientific advancement. Thanks to the military, advances in reconstructive medicine are proliferating among a network of hospitals, universities, and researchers. This is due to the number of veterans who need reconstructive surgery. Thank goodness for this amazing cell science. As a veteran myself I am happy that other vets are getting medical care. As an Arkansas cosmetic surgeon, I look forward to new techniques, far off in the future as they may be. The Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative...

But What Kind of Face Lift Will You Get?

September 17, 2012 - Rhys Branman, MD

We all know that aging is not just skin deep. Gone are the days when only the skin of the face is stretched to achieve a facelift. These "skin only" lifts had no longevity. Merely stretching the skin results in that look of the old time Hollywood stars; that stretched, artificial look no one wants. The poor elasticity of aging skin makes this kind of face lift last no longer than injections of fillers, six to twelve months. Notice how much better Hollywood is looking these days? There is a continuum of procedures for a face lift depending on how...

Click to request your consultation with Dr. Branman