Park Avenue Plastic Surgery Class

With any surgery, it's normal to be concerned about the scars you'll be left with and whether they heal properly. In this episode, Dr. Bass covers the different types of scars and what to do if you find yourself with an unpredictable scar during your recovery.  Two conditions which sometimes occur with scar healing are hypertrophic scars and keloid scars. A hypertrophic scar is red and thick, caus...

To bring us into the future of stem cells in aesthetics, regenerative medicine pioneer Dr. Steve Cohen joins Dr. Bass for a conversation about the future of this innovative area of medicine.  Because stem cells are not fully differentiated, they have the ability to turn into a muscle cell, a skin cell, or a blood vessel lining cell. This versatility allows them to be used in plastic surgery, where...

Once an unknown niche procedure, buccal fat pad removal is now everywhere in the media. Buccal fat pad removal surgery allows us to flatten the cheeks of somebody who has "chipmunk cheeks," reducing the bulge below the cheek mound to be relatively flat or just slightly concave.  Mostly for young adults, this surgery can be a powerful tool for facial shaping when the right amount of fat is removed....

Dr. Bass and guest Dr. Michael Kane explore the latest innovation in the neuromodulator market - Daxxify. With over three decades of experience in the field, Dr. Kane is the author of "The Botox Book" and is an expert in the use of neuromodulators.    In this episode, they discuss the history of neuromodulators and the current playing field that Daxxify is entering and trying to disrupt. As the bi...

Because both plastic surgeons and patients are perfectionists by temperament, it's a good meeting when they get together. But as humans, we have to accept that we're never going to achieve perfection.  If we are too demanding toward ourselves and others, it can be hard to find satisfaction with cosmetic procedures. For some people, cognitive therapy and mindfulness is helpful for setting more real...

In aesthetic medicine, photography is central to the consultation, treatment planning, execution of the treatment, and the assessment of the results. Photography expert Doug Canfield, founder of Canfield Scientific, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Bass about the latest advances in clinical photography including how artificial intelligence is aiding imaging and diagnosis.  Without photograp...

To help you find the best laser or energy treatment for your goals, dermatologist Joel L. Cohen, MD,  joins Dr. Bass for a conversation about the devices which have changed the aesthetics game and how treatments can be modulated to fit your goals. Finding the right device means first consulting with and building a relationship with an expert dermatologist or plastic surgeon, who will help you sele...

Needles are everywhere in medical aesthetics, from injectable treatments to needling treatments that use tiny sterile needles to create tiny punctures and energy based microneedling.  Creating a lot of punctures in the skin is microtrauma that the body recognizes and responds to biologically, creating biostimulatory effects such as neocollagenesis, the formation of new collagen in the skin, and ne...

Once you decide to go forward with facelift surgery, there are a few more important decisions to make. Dr. Bass teams up with facial plastic surgeon, friend, and colleague, Dr. Jason Bloom to guide you through each of these key decisions in the facelift journey.  Many people need other procedures in conjunction with a facelift or necklift, but are unaware of what other procedures may need to be ad...

Dr. Bass shares a preview of the episodes to look forward to in the coming year, including a new series called "Decades of Face" outlining the changes throughout the decades of aging and the treatment plans best suited to each of them.  When something happens in the plastic surgery world, count on Dr. Bass to bring it to you first. This year's guest experts will bring individual perspectives as we...

What's in store for the future of medical aesthetics? Dr. Bass gives an inside look at where we are right now and his expert predictions.  Injectable fillers and neuromodulators began to gain momentum in the 1990's, and the rate of innovation with these technologies has been expanding ever since. These advances in non-surgical treatments will continue to decrease the need for big restorative surge...

Dr. Steve Cohen, an internationally recognized plastic surgeon and the co-author of Regenerative Facial Surgery , joins Dr. Bass to look into the future of regenerative medicine within aesthetics.  Regenerative medicine focuses on enabling tissue regeneration in the body and restoration of normal function in cells, organs, or tissues to help the body regenerate or restore itself when there's an ag...

The goal of plastic surgery is to create balance and proportion as it creates a natural look, not an extreme one. Most people considering plastic surgery aren't interested in looking overdone. Some people are willing to accept that they are going to be walking around with telltales that they've had plastic surgery, but most only want a few close friends or family members to know. They want a plast...

If you have had a cosmetic procedure and wish it could be undone, or if you are considering a cosmetic procedure but afraid you'll regret it, there are options for going back. There are options available if you don't love the outcome after most procedures.  Implants and fillers can be changed, and it is possible to rework other cosmetic procedures. Brazilian butt lifts and other fat grafting shapi...

Since the pandemic started, people have become hyper-aware of their appearance while being overexposed to what they look like on videoconferencing. A tsunami of visits to the plastic surgeon has resulted, with patients asking to change more things about themselves than ever before.  "Zoom Dysmorphia" gives us an unrealistic body image. Sure, stress and taking breaks from aesthetic treatments durin...

Rumors are spreading that patients are "over it" when it comes to injectable fillers, but Dr. Bass says that's far from the truth. The core strategy of facial rejuvenation treatments at most stages of aging includes a program of injectable filler treatments.    Filler is being used in more areas and more creative ways than ever before to combat the general facial volume loss that accompanies aging...

As we celebrate the 1-year anniversary of this podcast, Dr. Bass presents a lighthearted retrospective of all that has been covered so far and what's in store for the future.  Find out which episodes were Dr. Bass' favorites, which were listener favorites, and why he hopes the podcast reaches people interested in hearing the reality rather than fantasy or hype.  Co-host Doreen Wu shares her perspe...

Cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Christopher Zachary joins Dr. Bass to share the miraculous history behind some of today's most popular treatments and discuss the impact of developments and research in medical aesthetics.  With every new treatment and technology to enter the world of aesthetics, the landscape grows more confusing for patients.  Finding the ideal treatment for every concern starts with t...

You know you are not ready for a facelift yet but your face is not looking as youthful as you want. There are many non-surgical options and minimally invasive options that are increasingly important to maintaining appearance if a facelift might be in your future in the next decade. If you are  counting down "T-Minus 10 Years" to a facelift or necklift, listen to Dr. Bass review your options to loo...

If you're avoiding the plastic surgeon's office for fear of being sold something you might not need, know that it is much easier and more affordable to prevent your face from aging now than it will be to fix it later. Dr. Bass outlines how planning for the future and a great relationship with the right aesthetic provider will give you much more success throughout the years.   The first step is fin...

Many people seek nose surgery for aesthetic reasons, to correct a bump or a hump, or change the tip of their nose. But there are also functional reasons for nose surgery, and breathing more easily while sleeping or exercising can be truly life-changing. These positive results are why rhinoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures.  In this episode, Dr. Bass shares the colorful...

In the past, the only way to look younger was to reach the point where you needed surgery to reverse the signs of aging. But new products and advances in technology over the last decade have reversed our philosophy and approach to facial rejuvenation.  Don't make the mistake of waiting until you need a face lift to start thinking about your face. Today the goal is to prevent and maintain so that y...

Aesthetic breast surgery has made many advances to provide plastic surgeons and their patients more control over the results.  Capsular contracture is a classic problem with breast implants where the healing membrane around the implant distorts shape and symmetry and degrades softness.  This was once largely the result of silicone gel that leached out of intact implants.  Modern implants are low-b...

When is it best to do which procedure in plastic surgery?  Are there rules or is it just about preference and lifestyle?  Park Avenue plastic surgeon, Dr. Lawrence Bass explains which principles come into play when selecting a time of year for a given plastic surgery procedure.  He also shares what procedures people are most likely to do in a given season.  Facelift in summer or winter?  Body cont...

Phrases like "50 is the new 30" are popular these days but is there basis in fact?  Dr. Bass discusses how lifestyle changes in the past few decades and the ascendance of non-surgical techniques in plastic surgery –often termed aesthetic medicine –have transformed how we look at a given age.  These changes have also transformed our expectations of how long we will be able to stay looking young.  B...