Archive for September, 2010
Woman Dies after Cosmetic Surgery
Posted by admin in plastic surgery news on September 30, 2010
An Irish woman has died after undergoing cosmetic surgery with a New York plastic surgeon who has made 33 malpractice payments in the past decade. Kay Cregan, 42, from Croom, Co Limerick, went into cardiac arrest after having a nose job and face lift at Dr Michael Sachs’ Manhattan clinic. The mother-of-two, who was on a short trip to the United States to visit her sister, developed complications the day after surgery. She was pronounced brain-dead on arrival at a general hospital and her life support machine was switched off two days later, on St Patrick’s Day, March 17. Ms Cregan’s sister, Agnes Kelly, said she had first learned of Dr Sachs in an Irish newspaper. But the article failed to mention how many malpractice allegations he has faced, listed on New York State’s physician profile website.
Source: breakingnews.ie/story.asp?j=20879338&p=zx879445&n=20879545
According to the doctor’s web site, this doctor has retired from medical practice. There is no indication as to whether or not the New York Medical Board had anything to do with it however. The case underscores the importance of checking your surgeon out before surgery. Thirty-three malpractice payments is a big red flag. In many cases, this information can be found on the internet.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Related:
Dr D’s “Checking Out Your Surgeon”
Originally posted 2005-11-11 10:27:00.
Dr Frank Ryan Patient Theft Allegations
Posted by admin in plastic surgery news on September 30, 2010
One month after Dr. Ryan died on Pacific Coast Highway, many of his patients received emails from the office of Dr. Gary Motykie — explaining that several of Ryan’s staffers have moved to his “team.” The email also includes an invitation to an open house at his office.
But several of Dr. Ryan’s patients are pissed that Motykie was privy to their contact information — and fired back emails saying things like:
– “Dr Ryan would be FURIOUS! Shame on you for trying to steal Dr Ryan’s patients”
Source: tmz.com/2010/09/29/dr-frank-ryan-patients-emails-plastic-surgery-dr-gary-motykie/
Cosmetic patient “theft” between surgeons is rampant in plastic surgery. I have ended associations with office mates over it in the past. I do not condone the behavior but admit that it is frequent. While it probably doesn’t breech patient confidentiality, it is tacky. Going after a dead surgeon’s patients is beyond tacky and just may speak volumes of the character of the surgeon heading an office engaging in such an underhanded activity.
If the doctor knew this was occurring, he is a scumbag. If he didn’t know, he is not even in control of his own office. Do you want him operating on you? Your call.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Greta Van Susteren on Plastic Surgery
Posted by admin in celebrity plastic surgery on September 30, 2010
On a whim Greta made the decision to have cosmetic eye surgery when she had a month off during her jump from CNN to Fox Television. In her wildest dreams she could never have imagined the media hullabaloo it caused. With her fabulous “new” look she was being touted as Fox-y Greta.
Source: dailypress.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=6060
Greta says, “I had eye surgery because I wanted to look better for me.” If anyone told her to do it she would have told them “to go jump in the lake.” A reporter from a major media outlet asked Greta if she thought the surgery would affect her credibility.
Greta’s response was precious: The plastic surgeon had merely fixed her eyes — not removed brain matter or deleted her education or news experience.
I think she had more than just her eyes done, but that is another story. Her reasons for considering surgery are the right ones. Motivation for cosmetic surgery should be internal.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Originally posted 2007-01-04 08:49:00.
Allergan Threatens Physicians to Force Use of Botox Cosmetic TM
Posted by admin in plastic surgery news on September 30, 2010
I put out this press release years ago (2005) when threatened by Allergan. This was the last time I ordered or used Botox TM. I am a Myobloc guy now. 
San Clemente, CA (PRWEB) — Allergan, makers of Botox Cosmetic TM, have started a cutthroat campaign in which their representatives leave threatening messages and their attorneys imply legal action.
Case and Point: “I have offered Botox TM since 1998 before it was FDA-approved for facial wrinkles and re-named Botox Cosmetic TM,” Dr John Di Saia, an Orange County California Plastic surgeon explains. “After FDA-approval and the advertising blitz, the price has increased and competing products have entered the marketplace. I offer Myobloc TM as I once offered Botox TM as an “off-label” product. The price differential and similar results make my patients happy. My orders of Botox Cosmetic TM have fallen off substantially as a result.” Botox TM was FDA-approved a few years ago for use in facial wrinkles. Prior to this, it was used off-label for this purpose for years in millions of applications.
Dr Di Saia’s web site constitutes his only advertising. It states clearly that his practice offers Botox Cosmetic TM as well as Myobloc TM. The price differential and Myobloc’s better stability decreases the price to keep it on hand for patient use. “We offer Myobloc TM at a significantly lower price.” Patients are informed and then they choose. “No one is ever treated with a mystery product. There is no false advertising here.” Allergan must not be happy with the patient’s choice. “If patients wanted Botox Cosmetic TM enough, we would obtain it for them. They just don’t seem to care.”
Allergan’s local representative Lori Lorge started hostilities a few weeks ago at which time she left a business card underneath the Dr Di Saia’s office door stating: “You cannot advertise Botox unless you order and use Botox.” The doctor wrote a letter to the company. He advertises only on his web site and for both products. A reply from Assistant General Counsel Steven A. Johnson threatened a referral to State and Federal enforcement authorities claiming false advertising.
Botox Cosmetic TM is a Botulinium toxin A product made by Allergan pharmaceuticals. Myobloc TM is a Botulinium toxin B product originally made by Elan pharmaceuticals. The product has been recently sold to Solstice Neurosciences. The Botulinium toxin protein has several subunits. We may be seeing more Botulinium toxin options in the marketplace as these are evaluated for clinical use.
“These tactics are not the way to get Botox Cosmetic TM into more frequent use in my practice or that of any other plastic surgeon. Treating physicians like criminals is not good business. Maybe Allergan is losing market share. They are certainly losing mine,” Dr Di Saia commented.
Originally posted 2005-06-14 18:45:00.
Cougar Convention & a Cougar’s Plastic Surgeon
Posted by admin in plastic surgery news on September 30, 2010
I’d bet that a Cougar Convention would be crawling with plastic surgeons. I may need to attend one. Maybe I’d see someone I could pretend not to know. Well if it was close to the OC that is.
lol
Cougars are great clients.
Source: blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2009/08/hello_ladies_fur_flies_at_bay.php?page=1
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Originally posted 2009-09-02 08:00:48.
Reader Question: Pitted Acne Scars – Punch Excision?
Posted by admin in scar surgery on September 30, 2010
Reader Question:
I live in the UK and I am considering punch excision on several pitted acne scars. However, I have read of many people having bad results, such as ending-up with larger scars/holes than before. My main scar is approximately 5mm by 4mm and approx 1.5mm deep. Is is practical to try and improve this size scar with punch excision?
Acne scarring can be improved by various peeling procedures except in areas in which deep pits have developed. For these pitted areas excision and closure is the best treatment. For some reason the term punch excision has become preeminent. A “punch” is a biopsy forceps that removes a core of tissue in the shape of a cylinder. For a small narrow scar this could be used as a removal device, but doesn’t address the bigger issue of closing the wound. It also provides little help for larger pits. Use of a punch for this depressed scar would not be helpful.
By the looks of your image, I would think a small scar revision with a small buried suture would likely work best.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Related:
A Plastic Surgery Picture – What Happened Here?
Posted by admin in Weekly Specimen on September 29, 2010
What happened to the skin of our fine gentleman? The answer is on page 2.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Travis Barker Plastic Surgery
Posted by admin in plastic surgery news on September 28, 2010
Source: drunkenstepfather.com/index.php/2008/10/24/travis-barker-after-the-great-leg-fire-of-the-day/
Travis Barker was injured/burned in a plane crash and required some not-so-glorious plastic surgery (skin grafting) afterward. Here we see a skin grafted area on his leg. He should really be keeping this out of the sun. Many plastic surgeons also recommend pressure garments with silicone inserts to minimize scarring. Skin grafts do not always look so great but work for large wounds where many other techniques don’t.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Originally posted 2008-10-27 07:30:00.
Delays for Breast Cancer Biopsies at Harbor UCLA
Posted by admin in Medicine in the News on September 28, 2010
Demand for county medical services has increased across the board over the last several years, due in great part to people losing jobs and employer-sponsored health insurance. Hospital officials insist that claims of excessive delays for biopsies are exaggerated but acknowledge the number of patients seeking care at the county’s Department of Health Services has surged, as fewer private providers, especially specialists, are willing to treat patients without private insurance.
“More and more people are not doing these things on uninsured patients and that leaves more on our doorstep,” said Carol Meyer, the department’s chief network officer.
Source: latimes.com/news/local/la-me-biopsies-20100926,0,2032819,full.story
This is pretty much an expected consequence of a poor economy. More people are going uninsured and need to use the county system which has never been efficient and will likely never be. The fact that people are complaining about health care they get for free says something as well.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Reader Laura on Tara Palmer Tomkinson’s Nose
Posted by admin in plastic surgery news on September 28, 2010
Reader Laura’s Comment:
“A socialite in England seems to have had a botched (or several botched) nose job. From looking at her pictures do you see any chance for improving her nose or is it as good as it is going to get? The pics from 2006 says that her nose collapsed. Does it look like it has collapsed to you or is something else going on?”
The former It Girl finally conquered a £250-a-day, six-year cocaine habit in 1999 after several spells in rehabilitation clinics. However, it left her nose on the brink of collapse, having destroyed her septum – the wall of cartilage between the nostrils.
Source: dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1310187/Just-happened-Tara-Palmer-Tomkinsons-nose-now.html
This woman is reported to have been a big user of cocaine which can as mentioned have devastating effects on the nose. In this case the collapse we are seeing is saddlenose deformity. It might be workable, but this really depends upon the heath of the nasal tissues and the amount of scar that is present. If she smokes as well, she might be stuck here as that nose is probably a rock of scar tissue. This one doesn’t look like a “bad plastic surgery” story. This woman likely killed her nose herself.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
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