Talking Plastic Surgery — with the staff at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center

I'm here at the Denver Ritz Carlton with Jessica, our Medical Aesthetician, for the SkinMedica National Seminar.

The seminar is a way for us to learn as much as we can about SkinMedica products to better our communication with our patients.

SkinMedica is only sold in licensed medical facilities, meaning a doctor must be present in order to offer SkinMedica. Our SkinMedica products serve as a great add-on for our facial cosmetic procedures and Jessica and Dr. Emmett encourage pre- and post-procedure skin care to enhance your surgical result.

Jessica and I are excited to take this information back to our office to share with our patients and staff.



-Madeline, Marketing Coordinator

Last week Dr. Slenkovich, two other staff members and myself ventured to Washington D.C. for the annual meeting of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Doctors from all over the world join to attend classes and seminars, listen to industry experts speak and network with other physicians to exchange ideas and advice. The ASAPS is one of the most highly regarded cosmetic surgery societies and its members, including Dr. Slenkovich, are proud to be a part of such a prestigious organization.

Most doctors came to the meeting alone, but Dr. Slenkovich, who is always committed to furthering his staff’s education, brought us with him. Lyndsay, our managing patient coordinator, and Jessica, our aesthetician, also attended the meeting. Lyndsay learned how to be a better patient coordinator, Jessica took classes on building the aesthetics side of a plastic surgery practice and Dr. Slenkovich went to workshops and discussions on Rhinoplasty, Breast Surgeries and alternative Liposuction, to name a few.

In addition to classes, an exhibit hall is set up in the convention center for representatives from various companies to display their products and services to the visiting physicians. This is a great way for businesses to showcase new items and new ideas in plastic surgery. While in the hall, doctors and staffs are bombarded by new concepts, new techniques and new must-have products ranging from surgical tools to implant sizers to scrub caps.

After one of my marketing classes finished I decided to take a peek at the vendors’ booths and as I walked through the massive exhibit hall I kept asking myself, “How do I choose?”  Every booth looked legitimate and enticing, and every booth offered something we could possibly use in our practice. Laser liposuction? Teeth whitening? New lab coats for the staff? But the longer I stayed, the further away I felt from the very reason we were all there in the first place: physician education and information. I left feeling overwhelmed and slightly discouraged by the sea of salespeople.

That night we attended a dinner hosted by Sculptra Aesthetic, a company that makes a collagen-producing injectable. Dr. Slenkovich, Lyndsay and I sat with a surgeon from Boston, Dr. Bill Adams, who has been in practice for more than 30 years. After discussing the meeting with him, Dr. Slenkovich asked if he had any advice for a younger doctor. He replied with, “Be a good surgeon and take care of your patients. Everything else will fall into place.”

No advice on website design or liposuction techniques or the future of laser resurfacing. Just simple advice on patient care.  His words definitely hit home, especially after spending the afternoon surrounded by the next best concept or contraption that claims make a practice the best of the best. He explained that since opening his practice in the late 70's, he has seen the ebb and flow of plastic surgery trends and most of them are just that, a trend. He also said that the vast majority of his patients are purely referrals, which says a lot about the trust and confidence he instills in his patients.

Lyndsay participated in an all-day patient coordinator class taught by one of the most successful plastic surgery practice consultants in the country. She left her class with similar feelings: get back to basic patient care.

We all came home motivated and ready to put what we learned into practice.

Our goal at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center has always been to provide comfort, confidence and caring to everyone who steps through our doors, but it’s easy to get caught up in the “hype” of the industry and buy into ideas that end up adding more stress and confusion and take away from our ultimate goal: providing exceptional patient care. Cosmetic surgery has always been a target for gimmicks and flashy products and equipment, more so than any other medical field, so it is important that we as a staff work hard to keep our focus on our patients’ success.

 Because, really, you all are what matter the most.

Madeline Hyden, Marketing Coordinator

Washington, D.C.

The center of the plastic surgery universe has descended on Washington, DC for the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

In my mind, the ASAPS represents the best of the best in plastic surgery and stands as the premiere professional society within the field of aesthetic plastic surgery.

With a commitment to learning and safety, our annual meeting features American and international leaders in the field.

Colorado Plastic Surgery Center is well represented here with Lyndsay, Madeline, Jessica and myself attending dozens seminars and courses and collaborating with our colleagues and vendors.

Jessica is attending the Society of Plastic Surgery Skin Care Professionals meeting being held here, including an all-day seminar covering lasers and injectables with updates and live treatment demonstrations and a number of break-out sessions on medical and plastic surgery skin care topics.

Lyndsay and Madeline are attending a number of business and practice-oriented meetings including Hot Topics and Emerging Technologies in Plastic Surgery, a full-day Plastic Surgery Patient Coordinator course, and courses on improving patient communication and education through social media and the Internet.

As for myself, it is always hard for me to choose from the many excellent options, and this year is no exception. Yesterday I attended the annual meeting of The Rhinoplasty Society with about 100 of the top minds in the field. Today it’s a half-day safety course and an interactive meeting discussing Optimizing Outcomes in Breast Surgery. And that is just for starters as tomorrow the general meeting sessions begin and the exhibit hall opens.

It is a big investment to bring four of us out to the meeting, but it is well worth it. Our job here is to enjoy this time to focus on education and learning. To focus a skeptical eye on the latest and greatest claims being to learn what really works. And to build our knowledge and skills so that we can best serve our patients. We look forward to bringing you more updates from The Aesthetic Meeting 2010.

Dr. Nick Slenkovich, Practice Director

We have been discussing insurance companies quite a bit lately in hopes of identifying the issues that affect coverage determination, and educating patients on how to submit claims. Only a small percentage of procedures performed by Dr. Slenkovich are covered by insurance, but these present a significant amount of frustration for our staff, as well as for our patients.

Over the last several days I have spoken with a number of men and women who contacted our office to discuss post-weight loss surgery. Each one of these dear people should be commended for taking action to lose weight. By making the decision to have gastric bypass surgery (or other procedures) they have radically changed their lives. Unfortunately, they are almost always left with an unmanageable amount of excess skin that has to literally be “tucked in” under their clothes. They harbor the hope that their insurance company will agree to pay for the surgery needed to remove this skin. It has been my unhappy task to advise them that most insurance providers still consider this type of surgery “cosmetic” and therefore “not a covered benefit”. If they do offer any financial help at all, it is for a very limited “panniculectomy”, a procedure to remove the excess skin across the “pannus”, or lower abdomen. Reducing the skin hanging from the arms, back, thighs, buttocks, etc, is somehow considered a purely cosmetic procedure. We are really hoping to influence a change in the insurance community’s position on this.

Every post-weight loss patient I have spoken with has a story to tell… some of them have broken my heart. One woman called this morning to ask if her insurance policy would cover a procedure to reduce the size of her thighs. She has lost 115 pounds, but the skin and fat remaining on her upper legs has caused blistering and lesions, not to mention the physical strain when she’s worked a 12 hour shift at her hospital job. She says she’s ashamed to go out in public with her grandson, is unable to find pants that fit, can’t wear a skirt and would never consider shorts or a bathing suit. A young man I spoke to yesterday said he’d lost 148 pounds and looks better now than he has in years, but he won’t even think about asking a girl out on a date because he is so embarrassed by the secret that he’s hiding yards of hanging skin under his clothes. These are real people. They work hard, pay their premiums, and expect to have their insurance company fulfill its promises to them. (Think about the sentimental jingles and slogans these same companies use in their advertising. They pay millions to convince us that they care, then refuse to pay for our medical care!)

In an attempt to address these frustrations, we have added language to our patient intake paperwork, and will be incorporating more insurance-related information into our website to assist people as they research these types of surgeries. Do any of you have experience with plastic surgery after weight loss?

Suzanne London Patterson, Surgery Center Coordinator

                                
                               

Dr. Slenkovich performs C02 laser resurfacing on a patient in our state licensed and accredited Surgery Center. Laser resurfacing a great option for those who want to rejuvenate their skin without having surgery. Colorado Plastic Surgery Center offers C02 and IPL laser procedures.

I believe in miracles. In fact, in my lifetime, I think I’ve witnessed quite a few. However, a “push-up” bra – no matter how well-made- does NOT qualify as a miracle to me. It is more like an illusion, a trick. While it suggests – even promises - the allure of youth and beauty, when it comes to fulfillment, it (pardon the pun) falls flat.  Because even the loveliest bra has to be taken off eventually.

Whether that means the “big reveal” is a humiliating first glimpse by an eager new lover, or the predictable gaze of a lifelong partner, virtually every woman knows the embarrassment and possible shame of disrobing and exposing the real thing. When the underwire, the uplift, the padding and the straps are gone, you’re just left with you and all of your insecurities and vulnerability. And although most men genuinely love and accept their too-small, lop-sided, deflated or droopy women, we have a hard time convincing ourselves of that.

Women realize it is silly-even destructive-to feel this way. We remind ourselves that we are more than just objects, that we are deeper than the two-dimensional images and unrealistic messages we’re subjected to every day. And yet, most of us will admit that we wish we had voluptuous bodies with “perfect” breasts. We buy expensive bras and succumb to ridiculous offers for gimmicks that might enhance what nature has given us. Usually, we end up feeling like we are wearing a disguise… and that leaves us feeling ashamed.

I have wrestled with shame most of my life, and so have many of my friends. Shame is something  many women are intensely familiar with. Last year, as I found myself facing “50”, I decided to make a change. Instead of continuing the argument I’d been having with myself for decades, I opted to have breast augmentation surgery and the results were amazing. If I was wrestling  with shame in the past, I can now say I have beaten it.

More than just the obvious physical benefits, I have experienced an inner transformation that is almost miraculous. It was empowering to make my body look the way I wanted it to look. My confidence has soared and I am reminded daily that, although I will never be perfect, I do not have to settle for shame. We have choices, and I’m so happy with the choice I made. My only regret is having waited so long.

Suzanne Patterson, Practice Administrator

Watch this video of Dr. Slenkovich performing silicone breast augmentation on a patient under local anesthesia. This patient was fearful of general anesthesia and opted for local anesthesia instead.


This type of anesthesia, administered via injections along the sides of the torso, allows the patient to be awake and alert during the procedure.

For more information on breast augmentation under local anesthesia, visit our breast website.

As we step into 2010, the staff at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center is making our own New Year’s Resolution: Be Positive! We have seen and heard so many inspiring stories from patients, friends and associates who have “beaten the odds” and pushed through difficult circumstances in 2009 that we have made a commitment to follow their example.

It seems that the secret to successfully navigating tough economic times is attitude: the willingness to look past your immediate circumstances with hope and optimism! Similarly, the key to healthy living has been closely linked to positive thinking, which has been proven to release endorphins which can relieve pain even when medications are ineffective! If simply thinking positive thoughts can affect our overall health and well-being, doesn’t it make sense to make some adjustments in our thinking for 2010? Here are some ideas:

Catch Some Rays: Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have found that UV light can trigger endorphin production, which may be why we have so many “sun worshipers”!  Just remember to use your sunscreen!

Laugh: Laughter also releases endorphins, which has been shown to increase your immune function, making you less susceptible to disease.
 
Exercise: Endorphins are neurotransmitters found in the brain that can create a sense of euphoria during prolonged exercise. The natural “high” that many runners describe is thought to be caused by this surge of endorphins, which are released when we’re out of breath and under pressure.

Be Kind: Performing a “random act of kindness” will not only make you feel better about yourself, it will make another person feel good about you… which, in turn, makes you feel good…and the cycle continues. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself once in a while!

Avoid Stress: Studies by the American Medical Association have shown that stress is the primary factor in over 75% of all illnesses medically treated today. Find a creative outlet like writing in a journal, taking music lessons, something fun and productive to help relieve stress. Even adopting a pet might help!

Living well may require some effort, and often the first step is making a decision to change. Sometimes it means stepping out of your comfort zone (like hiring a male Patient Coordinator in an all-female office!) and trying something new! Make this new year a new start. You may find you’ve made a whole new you!


Suzanne, Practice Administrator

Last week Dr. Slenkovich invited the staff at their families out for a night of curling and pizza at the Ice Ranch, an ice hockey complex next door to our office. We all had a blast mingling outside the office and getting some downtime before the holidays! Check out our photos below:


 
  Dr. Slenkovich perfecting his curling skills. He's wearing a custom-made Colorado  
  Plastic Surgery Center jersey that he had made for his league hockey team, Nip and Puck.




Jarod, our patient coordinator, showing his skills on the rink. Growing up in North Dakota,
 Jarod spent a lot of time on the ice.




Dr. Slenkovich joking with our Medical Assistant, Sally, and our OR nurse, Kathy.

After several months of hard work, Dr. Slenkovich and I are proud to announce our brand new breast website, www.elegantbreast.com! Since breast surgeries are a main focus in our practice and easily the most common procedure Dr. Slenkovich performs, we thought breast procedures deserved more emphasis.

Please check out the website to see articles, content, blogs, photos and videos unique to Elegant Breast. We’re always open to learning and writing about new topics, so please leave comments in the blog entries with questions or feedback!

With help from the rest of the staff, Dr. Slenkovich and myself will contribute to the blog regularly to continue to emphasize communication and patient connection and we hope that Elegant Breast will help convey that as well. We have expanded on topics present on ColoradoPlasticSurgery.com and have added fresh content based on patient need.

We’d also like to thank Erika, Andrew, Jonathan and the rest of the staff at Page1Solutions for working with us to get the website set up, and to the wonderful patients who participated in our video testimonial shoot. We couldn’t have done it without you.

We hope you enjoy the new website and as always, feel free to contact us any time!

- Madeline, Marketing Coordinator

Colorado Plastic Surgery Center has a new family member! Jarod has joined our team as our newest patient coordinator to answer phones, schedule appointments and act as a liaison between the patients and the clinical and surgical staffs.

Jarod has an extremely friendly and laid back demeanor, which immediately makes our patients feel comfortable and at ease in our office.


After graduating from the University of North Dakota in 2006, Jarod moved to Denver to start a new life in a new city. Jarod's has experience working in retail, restaurants and in the insurance industry, all of which have given him skills that apply to his patient coordinator duties, especially working and interacting with people. Not to mention, as an practice consisting of all women, Dr. Slenkovich is thrilled to have some male camaraderie around the office!

Lyndsay is excited to have a partner to share the patient coordinator position with and they already work as a great team. While Jarod is extremely comfortable and confident in his position, some women may feel uncomfortable speaking to him about their procedures. In that case, Lyndsay is always there to help out and answer any questions.

Next time you call make sure to say hi to the new voice on the other end!

Earlier this week the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force published new guidelines in the Annals of Internal Medicine stating that routine mammograms, generally recommended starting at age 40, should only be performed every other year on women ages 50 to 74. The guidelines also encouraged physicians to refrain from teaching their patients to examine their own breasts for signs of cancer because of a lack of beneficial evidence.

The new guidelines have undoubtedly caused an uproar in the medical community, especially for those who could be affected by the new protocol. Dr. Lilly Klancar, a medical oncologist and hematologist at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, has worked extensively with breast cancer patients, most of whom have found their cancer themselves or had their cancer discovered by a routine mammogram.

She completely disagrees with the new guidelines, saying mammograms and self-exams are the absolute best way to catch cancer in its early stages and improve survival rates.

Klancar says about 90 percent of breast cancer patients at Swedish Medical Center have had their breast cancer caught by a mammogram. She currently has at least 15 patients who have found their own breast cancer through a self-exam, particularly a patient in her 30s who was too young to qualify for a mammogram and could have missed her aggressive form of breast cancer had she not performed a self-exam.

Self-exams are free, easy, without side effects and are ideal for women who are too young to have mammograms covered by their health insurance, Klancar says. “It never hurts anyone to know how their breasts feel normally.”

Klancar believes that these guidelines could cause more women to die from breast cancer because women under 50 may not visit their doctor until symptoms arise, generally signifying that the cancer has progressed.
Lora Barke, Medical Director of the Invision Sally Jobe Breast Network, a prominent breast and breast-related imaging center in the Denver area, says that despite the new guidelines, women should still receive mammograms starting at age 40.

She says,”While only 1 in 69 (1.5 percent) women will be diagnosed with breast
cancer in their 40s, we cannot say with any certainty if, or when, a woman will develop breast cancer. But based on evidence we can say that her odds of dying of breast cancer are increased if her cancer is diagnosed after symptoms develop. For this reason, regular mammograms are an important part of women's preventive health care beginning at age 40.”                                                                                                          
       
Dr. Slenkovich always encourages his patients to perform self-exams and requires patients over the age of 30 undergoing and any breast procedure to get a mammogram prior to surgery.

Mammogram image courtesy of the Wall Street Journal.

In addition to his dedication to an experience consisting of comfort, confidence and caring, Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. Slenkovich also strives to use the best technology for his patients, from beginning to end.

Colorado Plastic Surgery Center is a progressive practice that integrates personalized service and relationship-building with technology and the most advanced techniques. Dr. Slenkovich and Colorado Plastic Surgery Center were even featured in an article in CEPro magazine discussing plastic surgeons’ need and desire for technology in their operating rooms.

The design of our building started two years ago. From the beginning, building was laid out to integrate technology and a warm, caring practice. Our photography room is designed with accurate studio lighting to give Dr. Slenkovich the best possible photos to use before, during and after surgical procedures. Dr. Slenkovich utilized his interest in photography to design a photo studio and photo system to collect patient photos that are in the best interest of the patient and the staff. For example, during each Rhinoplasty consultation, each patient has his or her facial photos taken, which Dr. Slenkovich shows on a 47-inch LCD monitor in the consultation room. He uses those photos, along with other facial diagrams, to fully explain the procedure and his expected result of the surgery.

Dr. Slenkovich performs all of his Denver cosmetic surgeries in our state-licensed, Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery center. Our surgery center at our Denver plastic surgery office is fully equipped with digital and multimedia equipment to help Dr. Slenkovich provide the surgical environment with a culture of safety through skilled, well-trained staff members, routine emergency drills and back-up generators.

During surgery the patient’s before photos are displayed on a 47-inch LCD wall-mounted monitor and, via a wireless connection, any photos taken during surgery are immediately loaded to the screen and added to the patient’s photography file on the practice’s main server. The operating room also houses a camera that allows for birds-eye-view, intraoperative photos.

These technologies greatly assist Dr Slenkovich and his staff and further enhance our patients’ experience and safety.

Deciding to have cosmetic surgery is a huge, life-changing decision, both emotionally and financially. While the cost of cosmetic surgery can be overwhelming, Dr. Slenkovich and the staff at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center strive to provide our patients with information, resources and services to make their experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

After your initial consultation, one of our patient coordinators, Lyndsay or Suzanne, will discuss your price quote with you. Every surgery quote at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center includes the following:

Supplemental insurance policy
All surgery patients are enrolled in a temporary supplemental insurance program through CosmetAssure. The policy lasts for 30 days after surgery and covers any emergency hospital visits that may arise because of your procedure. While any complications are rare, oftentimes your main medical health insurance policy will not cover treatment for an elective aesthetic procedure. Colorado Plastic Surgery Center includes this policy into your price quote to avoid any additional financial burden or stress to you as a patient.

Post-operative garment
Post-surgery patients are given a tight-fitting garment, similar to a sports bra or unitard, to wear to reduce swelling and discomfort.

Peri-operative therapy
Every surgical patient receives at least one session of peri-operative therapy with our therapist, Pam, from Soulstice. Peri-operative therapy is light touch massage used in the weeks following surgery to reduce pain, swelling, bruising and to soften scar tissue. Your treatment is designed to expedite the healing process so you may return to work and your everyday activities much sooner. The number of peri-operative treatments needed depends on the surgery performed, but usually ranges from one to five. Breast augmentation patients, for example, generally receive one peri-operative treatment, while body contouring patients may receive five or more.

Medication
All post-operative pain medication and antibiotics are provided during your pre-operative appointment.

Follow-up care
Included in the price quote are all of your follow-up visits. Whether they're regarding a question, concern or a routine check-up, all appointments are included with no additional cost to you.

Operating Room, anesthesia and surgeon’s fees
The cost of the operating room, nursing and anesthesia staffs and Dr. Slenkovich’s surgeon’s fees are all included in the cost of surgery.

At Colorado Plastic Surgery Center we want our patients to feel completely comfortable and confident in our staff and practice, which includes feeling confident in the cost of your procedure.

For those who wish to enhance their breasts without the use of implants, fat grafting and transfer is a great alternative to breast implants. Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Slenkovich has experience performing fat grafting with transfer to other areas, such as the male chest, face, lips, or cheeks, with great success.

During the procedure, Dr. Slenkovich uses liposuction to remove fat from the desired area (usually the abdomen, thighs, back or flanks) and then transfers that fat to the breast tissue. During a consultation with  Dr. Slenkovich he will discuss with you the areas you wish to remove fat from and explain your expected result based on your original breast size, shape and tissue quality.


Here is an actual patient of Dr. Slenkovich. She originally had liposuction done to five different areas, but was so pleased with her result that she came back for a follow-up consultation. She explained her interest in fat grafting to her breasts and Dr. Slenkovich deemed her a great candidate based on her realistic expections and her existing breast shape. 

This patient had liposuction done to her abdomen and hips with the fat transferred to her breasts and is very happy with her result. Her breasts increased one half of a cup size.

To see more before and after photos of Dr. Slenkovich's patients, please view our photo gallery.




Who is a candidate?

Someone who already has a nice breast shape and who is looking for about a half cup size of fullness. Candidates must have a sufficient amount of fat in the areas they wish to transfer fat from. The amount of fat that will successfully transfer depends on how well the fat "takes", which requires adequate blood flow to the area. If enough blood flows to the area where fat is transferred, the fullness and fat grafting result will likely be permanent. For more information and to see whether you are a candidate, contact the staff at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center to schedule a consult or speak with one of our staff members.

Is fat grafting to the breast safe?

Yes.The breast is predominately made up of fat and glandular tissue. By adding fat to the breast we’re adding an element that already exists, which provides for a very natural look and feel. Fat transfer to the breast, like breast implants, does not change a woman's odds for breast cancer. With appropriate consultation and follow up with an experienced surgeon like Dr. Slenkovich, fat transfer to the breast is considered very safe. Fat transfer has also shown to improve skin tone because fat contains stem cells, which are thought to build collagen over time.

To illustrate this effect, here is a set of before and after photos from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This woman had fat transferred from her abdominal region to her face,





   Photos courtesy of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Why would someone choose fat transfer over breast implants?

Fat transfer does not provide a huge increase in breast size and it may take more than one treatment to get the desired result. Fat transfer does not change the shape of the breast, it adds volume to existing breast tissue, giving the breasts a more natural enhancement. Breast implants can provide more fullness to the top of the breasts and can also improve the shape of the breast.

If you would like to schedule a consultation for fat transfer to the breast, or if you have any questions, please contact our office. Please view our photo gallery to see more before and after photos of liposuction and fat grafting.

Dr. Slenkovich focuses his practice on fully educating his patients from the time they make their initial phone call to their final post-operative appointment. When patients are fully informed of every option, benefit, risk and possible outcome of a procedure, whether it’s botox or breast augmentation, a face lift or fat grafting, their overall experience is enhanced. Dr. Slenkovich and his surgical and clinical staffs ensure that every step of the process is fully explained and that nothing is left undisclosed.

The purpose of this blog is to educate our patients and visitors on new findings, industry trends or what's new in our office. We'd love to hear feedback from you, so feel free to comment below with your opinions.

If you have any questions, or if you'd like more information about our practice, please don't hesitate to contact us.