Plastic Surgery Practice

Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens as they talk to ELEVAI Labs Founder and CEO Jordan Plews, PhD, to talk about the company's ELEVAI E-series post-procedure aftercare products featuring a proprietary exosome technology. ELEVAI Labs is a biotechnology company developing regenerative skincare applications. The company is focused on physician-dispensed products that can work to support patient skin health following a range of procedures, from microneedling to laser resurfacing.

Plews, who has a background in biochemical engineering, shares how his work in stem cell research related to regenerative medicine brought him to aesthetics. He developed a proprietary technology centered around exosomes and the role they play in the cellular repair process of the skin. These exosomes are ultra-small, nanoparticle compartments packed with growth factors known to support skin health. The proprietary ELEVAI Exosomes are the key ingredient in the company’s post-treatment aftercare system, the ELEVAI E-series, launched in 2021, which includes ELEVAI empower and ELEVAI infinity. 

In this episode, Plews not only provides a deep dive into how exosomes in skin care work, but also explains how the ELEVAI E-series products can be used for post-treatment aftercare for procedures including microneedling to laser resurfacing. As he says, these products work well where “you’re causing a low level of damage and you want to give the patient something that’s going to really supercharge their recovery.” 

ELEVAI empower is a concentrated serum, designed specifically for single-use in office application post-procedure. ELEVAI enfinity is a daily serum that can then be sent home with the patient to support their skin health post procedure. According to ELEVAI, both products aim to help activate the skin’s natural healing process; reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, skin texture, and laxity; and reduce the appearance of pigmentation and redness. 

This podcast episode sees Plews talk about the ingredients in these post-procedure aftercare products that work with the ELEVAI Exosome technology, and what both plastics surgeons, their staff, and patients can expect with use. He also explains why these products are only available for sale from authorized providers, for instance, physicians and their trained staff, and why it is important for ELEVAI to work with plastic surgeons and staff like this. PSP

Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editor Keri Stephens as she talks to Michael Tantillo, MD, MBA, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Clareo Centers in Massachusetts, about the popular trend of buccal fat removal. The conversation covers what the procedure is, how it works, and its benefits and risks. 

Tantillo explains that buccal fat removal has been around for decades but has gained significant popularity recently, particularly among Gen Z patients who are more open-minded to aesthetic procedures. He notes that the procedure is safe when performed by a properly trained surgeon and has minimal risks and downtime. The surgery involves a partial removal of the buccal fat pad, which lies in the mid-face between the muscles, through an incision inside the mouth. Patients can expect a quick recovery and high satisfaction rate, as the procedure results in a slimmed mid-face with reliable and reproducible results, according to Tantillo.

The episode also discusses the reasons behind the trend of buccal fat removal, which Tantillo attributes to a drive toward slimming down the mid-face and avoiding the “round face” look. The popularity of buccal fat removal has been driven by its virality on social media platforms like TikTok, Tantillo says. Learn more about the procedure in this informative podcast.

Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens as they talk to Los Angeles-based, board-certified plastic surgeon and inventor Gregory Mueller, MD, FACS, about a trending device in aesthetic medicine. A public speaker who educates surgeons about the minimally evasive MyEllevate procedure that he developed, Mueller discusses another technology in this podcast: the Sofwave energy-based device, which he uses in his practice. In December, the U.S. FDA cleared Sofwave to treat the appearance of cellulite, complementing its previous clearances to lift the eyebrow lax submental tissue as well as neck tissue. Here, Mueller reveals how Sofwave is different from other devices on the market, in addition to which patient population Sofwave benefits most. He also shares what the learning curve is like for using Sofwave, along with his advice about the device to his plastic surgeon peers.

Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editor Keri Stephens as she talks to Anna Steve, MD, FRCSC, (or “Dr. Anna,” as her patients call her) about all things breast reconstruction. A breast specialist at the New York City-based Neinstein Plastic Surgery, Dr. Anna endorses an “elegant” approach to breast surgery—although she’s quick to point out that the reconstruction process can present unique challenges. In this podcast, Dr. Anna reveals why breast reconstruction is rarely a one-and-done procedure and why referring to post-mastectomy reconstruction as a “free boob job” is deeply erroneous. She also divulges what excites her most in breast reconstruction right now. (Hint: It involves nipple reconstruction.)

Finally, Dr. Anna shares one important aspect of medicine that surgeons are “not historically great” at—and why that should change.

In this podcast, Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS, joins Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Keri Stephens and Alison Werner to talk about ethics in plastic surgery—a subject Zuriarrian recently wrote about for Plastic Surgery Practice. The three discuss how social media and the way plastic surgeons are using it are raising some ethical questions. Zuriarrian—a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Zuri Plastic Surgery in Miami—talks about how he’s seeing plastic surgeons post altered and airbrushed images on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok and how these posts raise concerns. He talks about how photos showcasing certain procedures are more easy to manipulate and give patients unrealistic expectations. When it comes down to it, Zuriarrian contends that this is one of the reasons patients should search out board-certified plastic surgeons. He points out that the American Board of Plastic Surgery certification process is not just about how good a surgeon’s technique is, but also about ethical behavior—and that includes the ethics around their marketing practices. Zuriarrian specifically points to board guidance on website content and how images are used to illustrate procedures. The fact is social media is a whole new frontier and there are ethical issues that need to be addressed. And while the conversation has started around the responsibilities of board-certified plastic surgeons, it’s going to take time to create guidelines. In the meantime, Zuriarrian reminds listeners of the four guiding principles of medical ethics and talks about why it’s important as a plastic surgeon to look to one’s conscience and always focus on what is in the best interest of the patient. PSP

Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens as they talk to Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS—a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Zuri Plastic Surgery in Miami—about the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) among plastic surgery patients. The podcast, which follows Zuriarrain’s PSP article about the subject, reveals what’s contributing to the surge of BDD and what red flags surgeons should look out for when encountering possible BDD patients. Hint: The mnemonic “SIMON” comes into play.
 
Zuriarrain also divulges the role eating disorders play in BDD and what cosmetic procedures BDD patients commonly request. Finally, he shares how plastic surgeons should respond to patients who exhibit signs of BDD.

Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editor Keri Stephens sits down with New York-based board-certified plastic surgeon and microsurgical breast reconstruction guru Constance Chen, MD, FACS, to discuss the breast implant explantation process. The podcast, which follows Chen’s article about the topic, delves into why patients are increasingly removing their breast implants and what factors affect the appearance of their breasts post-explanation. Pregnancy, she says, is a key determinant. 
 
Chen also shares how explant patients can enhance their appearance via fat grafting, although she calls it far “less predictable” than other methods. Finally, Chen addresses breast reconstruction patients, in particular, and reveals why plastic surgeons need to think beyond breast implants and embrace flap-based procedures. She also highlights the trend of women forgoing reconstruction and staying flat. And, that, Chen contends, is a perfectly viable option as well.

Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens as they talk to Anna Steve, MD, FRCSC, a breast specialist at the famed Neinstein Plastic Surgery in New York City. Known for her “elegant” approach to breast surgery, Dr. Anna, as her patients call her, prioritizes a minimal scar approach to breast augmentation and advocates for limiting patient downtime.

In this podcast, Dr. Anna reveals why it’s important for plastic surgeons to speak openly about breast implant illness with breast augmentation patients and how the “bigger is better” adage seems to be changing—particularly in New York City. She also shares how fashion can affect plastic surgery trends.

Finally, Dr. Anna shares what excites her most about working in a private practice setting post fellowship training.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editor Keri Stephens sits down with breast implant explant therapist Amanda Savage Brown, PhD, LCSW, author of Busting Free: How to Liberate Yourself from the Quest for Better Breasts Before, During, and Long After Explant. A scientist turned psychotherapist, Savage Brown shares her personal explant journey—which occurred after one of her breast implants ruptured—and why the mental health aspect of it is so important. She also discusses how explanting post-mastectomy can be particularly emotional for breast cancer patients.

This podcast also delves into breast implant safety—a topic that has been in the headlines lately due to the U.S. FDA’s recent announcement that breast implants may be linked to additional cancers, such as squamous cell carcinoma—and how such concerns may lead to more women explanting.

To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens sit down with registered nurse and breast cancer survivor Kim Welch. A degreed aesthetic specialist with more than 15 years of experience focused on aesthetic injectables, Welch is one of the most requested national injectable trainers for Galderma.
In this podcast, Welch shares—firsthand—how chemotherapy and radiation can reduce facial volume and how breast cancer survivors can reclaim what was lost through injectables. She also reveals behind-the-scenes information about Galderma’s partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and how Galderma and the NBCF’s resources can benefit survivors looking to embrace post-treatment care.

Finally, Welch provides her fellow injectors with expert tips for working with breast cancer survivors and shares how plastic surgery practices should approach this patient group.