Angelina Jolie put breast reconstruction in the spotlight this week, and there are many breakthroughs in reconstructive options after breast surgery. For women who have undergone lumpectomys or are interested in enhancing their breasts but don’t like the idea of implants, it is now possible for you to enlarge breasts without using implants! Specially prepared fat taken from another part of the body, such as the stomach or hips, is placed under the breast tissue to provide increased breast size without the need for artificial implants. The technique is called autologous fat transfers and autologous simply means “your own.” And who doesn’t have a little fat to spare? The procedure can be performed as an out-patient without the need for general anesthesia.

Many of my patients have achieved wonderful results with this procedure and report long-term satisfaction. I’ve also performed the procedure on patients who have decided to remove their implants, but still want to retain their enhanced size and shape. Along with the difficult decisions medical advances bring, there are also many amazing breakthroughs like natural breast augmentation through fat grafting that provide healthy and positive outcomes.

See before and after pictures of natural breast augmentation.

Crushing cost of surgery

50G insure dilemma

• By TARA PALMERI and JEANE MACINTOSH
• Last Updated: 4:00 AM, May 16, 2013
• Posted: 1:37 AM, May 16, 2013

The preventative double mastectomy that Angelina Jolie underwent may save lives, but the operation is so expensive, many women can’t afford it.

The procedure, which slashed the Oscar-winning actress’ chance of getting cancer from 87 percent to 5 percent, costs more than $50,000 — and health insurance plans often don’t cover it.

“Not all insurance companies at the present time recognize this as a medical necessity,” said Upper East Side surgeon Dr. Michelle Copeland. “When it’s elective in that sense, it’s up for grabs.”

Just the test to determine if a woman has the genes that increase breast-cancer risk costs $4,000. Then there’s hospital fees, surgery and reconstruction costs.

WireImage

SHOCK: Angelina Jolie can afford a preventive double mastectomy, but it can break the bank for many women whose insurance won’t cover it.

“The problem is not only the surgical fee but the hospital fee — we’re talking about an enormous expense,” said Copeland. “It could cost $50,000 and upward.”

The cost can double or triple if there are surgical complications, other physicians said.

Jolie revealed earlier this week that she underwent a preventative double mastectomy earlier this year, after learning she had marker genes that made her chance of getting breast cancer nearly 90 percent. She got tested for the genes because her mom had breast cancer and died of ovarian cancer.

“I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much as I could,” wrote Jolie, who has six kids, including three adopted, with her movie-star partner Brad Pitt.

While the expense wasn’t much for a Hollywood superstar, average women can face financial woes even if they are insured for the costs of the screening and surgery. Women can often get a runaround from insurers over the cost of reconstruction because some carriers don’t tell patients they’re eligible for it, doctors said.

By law, any insurer that covers a mastectomy, preventative or not, must also cover reconstruction.

New provisions of the Affordable Care Act that go into effect next year will require insurers to cover the costs of the genetic test for breast-cancer risk, but they don’t mandate that surgery costs be covered.

Meanwhile yesterday, Jolie’s surgeon, Dr. Kristi Funk, discussed the details of the procedure in a blog post on the Pink Lotus Breast Center’s Web site. She praised Jolie’s upbeat approach.

“On day four after her mastectomies, I was pleased to find her not only in good spirits with bountiful energy, but with two walls in her house covered with freshly assembled storyboards for the next project she is directing,” Funk said.

“All the while she spoke, six drains dangled from her chest, three on each side, fastened to an elastic belt around her waist.”

Pitt, too, marveled at her attitude — noting that Jolie kept commitments to visit the Congo and London just weeks after major surgery.

It was, he told USA Today, “An emotional and beautifully inspiring few months . . . It’s such a wonderful relief to come through this and not have a specter hanging over our heads.”

Angelina Jolie’s announcement that she has undergone breast surgery to reduce her elevated risk for breast cancer due to  the BRCA genetic link highlights the difficult decisions women face regarding treatment options. When a celebrity comes forward with a personal story, it helps to put the spotlight on the issue in a very compelling way.  The BRCA genetic variations account for 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancers and 10 percent to 15 percent of ovarian cancers among white women in the United States. However, women who carry the mutation have an average 65% risk for developing cancer, and BRCA-related cancers are particularly aggressive. For Angelina Jolie, the risk factor was estimated at 87%, and makes her public disclosure and the attention it brings to women’s health an occasion for applause.

More women are using eyelash extensions to enhance their eyes and save time doing their makeup but some say there are downfalls. The quest for a luscious set of lashes is leaving some women’s eyelids bare. Extensions can tear lashes and make it difficult for them to grow back, according to a recent report.

To help patients who would like to improve the appearance of their eyelashes, Dr. Copeland recommends LATISSE®. Latisse is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis (inadequate or not enough lashes) to grow eyelashes longer, fuller, darker.

Cosmetic Eyeliner Tattooing is another way to give your eyes a defined look without the hassle of applying makeup each day. The tattooing process takes about 20 minutes and the results last for about five years.

50 year old woman before and after eyeliner tattooing by Dr. Copeland

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious long-term disability. Although most strokes occur in people aged 65 years or older, strokes can occur at any age. Knowing the symptoms of stroke and calling 9-1-1 immediately if someone appears to be having a stroke are crucial steps in getting prompt emergency medical care for a stroke. New treatments are available that can reduce the damage caused by a stroke for some victims, but these treatments need to be given soon after the symptoms start.

For more information about stroke prevention visit the National Stroke Association and the American Heart Association websites.

Lipstick may brighten your face but may not be good for the rest of you, a study reported by USA Today suggests.

Testing of 32 commonly sold lipsticks and lip glosses found they contain lead, cadmium, chromium, aluminum and five other metals — some at potentially toxic levels, according to researchers at the University of California-Berkeley’s School of Public Health.

It’s important to check ingredients on all cosmetic products. Lip Enhancer and Lip Protector with SPF-15 provide the highest concentration of enriching antioxidants and help keep lips soft and attractive. You can use Dr. Copeland Skin Care products with confidence in knowing they are free of metals and have been tested for efficacy and allergies.

A 58-year-old woman before and after six weeks of using Dr. Copeland’s Basic Regimen—and 15 minutes after using the Lip Enhancer.

Skin cancer affects one in five Americans, and more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Of these cases, more than 65,000 are melanoma, a cancer that claims nearly 11,000 lives each year. Studies have confirmed that sun exposure is responsible for the development of at least two-thirds of all melanomas. To minimize your exposure to damaging rays:

• Avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest;
• Seek shade whenever possible;
• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher;
• Wear sun-protective clothing and accessories, such as wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses; and
• Follow the “Shadow Rule” – if your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun’s damaging rays are at their strongest and you are likely to burn.
• Avoid the harmful UV rays in tanning beds

My SPF-40 Lotion Mist Sun Block contains clear Zinc Oxide and is the only high SPF protection in a spray-lotion form. It’s broad spectrum protects skin against UVA and UVB exposure and helps prevent sun induced damage. It also contains antioxidants to help repair and rejuvenate skin.

The Daily Moisturizer with SPF- 30 is the ultimate daily moisturizer containing lipoic acid, vitamins A & E- powerful antioxidants for softer, more supple skin, all while providing sun protection.

Don’t forget to protect the lips with my Lip Protector with SPF 15 contains a unique blend of powerful antioxidants and moisturizers to prevent cracking and dryness. Repeated use results in soft and moist lips and erases fine lines around the lip line. And, the SPF protection makes it a great product to use year-round.

It’s possible to have a healthy glow without exposing yourself to harmful cancerous UV rays with my Sunless Tanning Bronzer. It is the only sunless tanning product with SPF-15, antioxidants and vitamins to leave your skin smooth and supple. You can achieve radiant skin within an hour that will last approximately one week.

In a poll conducted on behalf of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 31% of women said they would most like to have arms like first lady Michelle Obama. ASPS statistics show that arm lift surgery has risen more than 4,000 percent since 2000.

Fleshy arms can make a woman look heavy, even if she isn’t. Lifts and tightening on this famously wobbly part –known familiarly as “Hi Janes” or “Bingo” arms- are particularly popular. Heavy and even moderately droopy arms can be recontoured effectively with a combination of Smart Lipo using laser beams and traditional liposuction through a tiny incision near each elbow. For a non-invasive option, Thermage® can also tighten the skin with no downtime.  Thermage® can be used not only for sagging facial, neck, and eyelid skin; but also all over the body, including flabby arms, hands, and legs. Feel confident this summer in your tank tops and strapless dresses with toned arms.

Click here to see more about this new trend

As a mom, you devote so much of yourself to your children – but sometimes, in all that you do, your own well being gets a little lost. What if you could take great care of yourself and raise your children too? Now, you have an amazing surgical option to reverse the unwanted effects of childbearing and age – the tummy tuck.

No matter how long it’s been since you delivered, no matter how much you’ve dieted, no matter how hard or long you exercise, if your tummy still won’t completely retract, don’t blame yourself. Once skin and muscle tissues have been stretched from pregnancy, they often will not return to their pre-pregnancy form. The “Mommy Makeover” tummy tuck, an abdominoplasty, is ideal for women with drooping abdomens after pregnancy. In this procedure, the skin from rib cage down to the pelvic area is tightened and the navel is moved up and secured in a new position.

A tummy tuck takes a few hours, and you can generally return to work in about 2 weeks. What if you plan to get pregnant again after a tummy tuck? It is possible to become pregnant and bring a healthy baby to term after undergoing an abdominoplasty, but this is certainly an issue to discuss with your surgeon. Also, non-surgical treatments such as Thermage® and ZERONA® are now available to tighten and lift skin without the need for incisions and stimulate your body to make healthier collagen. Fast and easy, both of these procedures are virtually pain-free and require no downtime from normal activities.

” …The only problem was I now had all this horrible-looking dark skin hanging down from my stomach over my underwear. After a tummy tuck, I instantly felt lighter and more agile. Now I’m training for a marathon and find I can run so much faster and more comfortably without the bulk.”

– Betsy, 32-year-old mother of two

See before and after photos of my abdominoplasty patients.

Step into spring by getting in shape. You can lose inches, without surgery, after only two weeks of treatment! Zerona is an FDA cleared alternative to liposuction, which reduces inches with no pain, no surgery and no downtime. Patients are losing from 3.6 to 5.5 inches and many are seeing even greater results when combined with a sensible diet and exercise program. It’s the perfect way to lose stubborn body fat from: neck, love handles, arms, hips, back/bra-line, thighs, tummy/waistline and knees.

Click here to see more about  Zerona