Plastic Surgery Louisville

Louisville in the Top 5 for Dog Attacks

2011-05-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

The Postal Service released statistics this week highlighting the cities where the most dog attacks occur nationwide. Houston tops the list with 62 letter carriers attacked in 2010. Louisville comes in 4^th with 40 letter carriers attacked.

Nationwide last year, 5,669 postal employees were attacked in more than 1,400 cities, yet that pales in comparison to the 4.7 million Americans bitten annually — the majority of whom are children.

These statistics are part of the reason the Postal Service recognizes National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 15-21. The annual event provides dog attack prevention tips and information on responsible pet ownership.

To spread the word that dog attacks are preventable, the Postal Service is working with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Other organizations include the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS), the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), Prevent The Bite and the Insurance Information Institute.

How to Avoid Being Bitten

· Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch you.

· If a dog threatens you, don’t scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.

· Don’t approach a strange dog, especially one that’s tethered or confined.

· People choosing to pet dogs should obtain permission from the owner first and always let a dog see and sniff them before petting the animal.

· If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.

According to the ASPS, 32,961 reconstructive procedures to repair dog bites were performed in 2010, up 8 percent from 2009. The majority of reconstructive surgeries to treat dog bites were performed on children who are frequently bitten on the face, which can result in severe lacerations, infection or scarring.

USA Plastics Surgeons Named Top Surgeons in Louisville Magazine

2010-08-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

USA Plastic Surgeons Drs. Terry McCurry and Bradon Wilhelmi were named Top Surgeons in their field by their peers, according to a Louisville Magazine survey. The results were published in the magazine’s August edition. The Top Surgeons were selected by a survey that was mailed in May 2010 to all physicians who are members of the Greater Louisville Medical Society. In the survey, Louisville Magazine asked the question: “If you or a member of your family needed surgery, who among Louisville-area physicians would you choose or recommend most highly to perform the following procedures?”

Breast Augmentation

Dr. Terry McCurry

Dr. Bradon Wilhelmi

Breast Reconstruction

Dr. Terry McCurry

Dr. Bradon Wilhelmi

Breast Reduction

Dr. Terry McCurry (highest percentage)

Dr. Bradon Wilhelmi

Abdominoplasty

Dr. Bradon Wilhelmi

Facelift

Dr. Bradon Wilhelmi

Liposuction/Lipoplasty

Dr. Terry McCurry

Dr. Bradon Wilhelmi

If doctors recommend them for their loved ones, shouldn’t you? Call today for a free consult. 502.595.6629

Children and Lawn Mowers: A Dangerous Combination

2010-06-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

Summer mornings often are filled with the sounds of lawns being mowed. What they should not be filled with are trips to the emergency room for devastating injuries caused by lawn mowers. Last year 247,000 people were treated for lawn mower-related injuries; 18,000 of them children under age 19.

Lawn mower injuries often include deep cuts, loss of fingers and toes, limb amputations, broken and dislocated bones, burns, and eye injuries. Many lawn mower-related injuries require a team of physicians from various specialties – plastic surgery, microsurgery, maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics, and orthopedics – to properly repair them. Often, patients must endure painful reconstructive operations for months, sometimes years, to restore form and function.

Most are caused by careless use and can be prevented by following a few simple safety tips:

Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.
Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing – not sandals.
Young children should be at a safe distance from the area you are mowing.
Pick up stones, toys and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.
Always wear eye and hearing protection.
Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.
Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary – carefully look for others behind you when you do.

Enjoy your summer and stay safe!

USA Plastics: A SURE BET THIS DERBY!

2010-04-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

USA Plastics: A SURE BET THIS DERBY!

Gorgeous outfit. Flawless hair.

What about your face?

Botox or fillers can help you get rid of wrinkles and make your skin smoother.

Other procedures that rejuvenate the face include chemical peels (such as with OBAGI, phenol, TCA or glycolic acid) and dermabrasion.

Want to learn more? Call University Surgical Associates Plastic Surgery at 502.583.8303 today for a free consult.

Wilhelmi on Insight

2010-03-31T21:27:00.000-07:00

USA Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeon will be on Inside Talk on Plastics on Insight-TV channel 11 and Insight channel 246 beginning Friday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. The show will air again every night at 7:30 p.m. until April 11. TUNE IN!

A Decade Devoted to You

2010-01-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

January 2010 . . . Not only is it the beginning of a new year, it is the dawn of a new decade.

The possibilities are endless – a blank canvas.

We are reenergized. We make resolutions to rid ourselves of bad habits. We set goals and take on new challenges.

We recommit to our cycling classes. We join a meditation group. We approach our boss about taking on new responsibilities. We sign up for our first marathon. We begin saving for the trip of a lifetime.

And for some of us, the dawn of a new decade may be the perfect time to treat ourselves to enhancing our appearance

University Surgical Associates Plastic Surgery offers a variety of services to help you look and feel your best.

These include non-invasive procedures such as fillers and Botox to total transformation such a face lifts, liposuction and breast augmentation.

If 2010 is the year of the New You, then call University Surgical Associates Plastic Surgery at 502.583.8303 today for a free consult.

Treat Yourself to Total Transformation for the Holidays

2009-11-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

The holidays are just around the corner. This means office parties, neighborhood drop-ins, family get-togethers and more.

This year, stand out from the crowd. Make a lasting impression. Look younger. Look rested.

University Surgical Associates Plastic Surgery offers a variety of services to help you look and feel your best as you mingle with colleagues, meet a special someone under the mistletoe, toast the New Year with friends and create memories with loved ones.

From non-invasive procedures such as fillers and Botox to total transformation such a face lifts, liposuction and breast augmentation, our board-certified plastic surgeons can help you treat yourself to something special this holiday season. The results are extraordinary.

Facial Rejuvenation 

There are several different options for patients to rejuvenate the face. Less invasive options to correct wrinkles that result from facial expression and moving the facial muscles include Botox injections to temporarily paralyze the muscles that create these wrinkles. If you have wrinkles at rest this can be improved with fillers using restylane or juvaderm. If you have more extensive wrinkling in the eyes or face, lift procedures can be done where the excess skin is removed through an incision placed in areas that are hidden. Other procedures that we perform to rejuvenate the face include chemical peels, dermabrasion or CO2 laser therapy. We offer a full line of skin care products. We also perform medical tattooing for permanent make-up.

Breast Enhancement

Pregnancy, nursing and the force of gravity can cause a woman’s breasts to lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Breast lift is a surgical procedure to temporarily raise and reshape sagging breasts. Breast implants inserted in conjunction with a lift can increase both their firmness and size. Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast. Surgeons insert an implant behind each breast to increase a woman's bust line by one or more bra cup sizes.

Face Lift 

Slow the aging process with a facelift, which improves the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles and redraping the skin of your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery or nose reshaping.

Liposuction/liposculpture 

Liposuction/liposculpture is a procedure that can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck. Liposuction can help remove stubborn areas of fat that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods.

To learn more or to schedule a free consult, call 502.583.8303.

Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy

2009-09-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Bradon J. Wilhelmi, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Leonard J. Weiner Professor and Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Louisville
Plastic Surgeon, University Surgical Associates PSC

After pregnancy, some women find it difficult to lose unwanted fat, excess skin and stretch marks that resulted from carrying a baby in the womb. Also, the growing womb can stretch out the overlying fascia around the muscles of the abdominal wall. This weakening of the fascia is called a fascial diastasis.

This strong layer of fascia usually maintains the contour of the inner layer of the abdomen. With pregnancy, the fascia, especially in the midline, can be irreversibly stretched out. This fascial diastasis can be corrected with a standard or mini-abdominoplasty.

An abdominoplasty procedure is also known as a tummy tuck. The goal of an abdominoplasty procedure is to remove excess skin, excess fat, lower stretch marks or scars and to tighten the underlying fascial diastasis to improve the contour of the abdomen and midsection. The difference between a mini-abdominoplasty and standard abdominoplasty is the length of the scar required to remove the excess fat and skin.

Patients that are good candidates for a mini-abdominoplasty require only a minimal amount of skin and fat resection. When the fat and skin is removed with a mini-abdominoplasty, the fascial diastasis can be tightened by plication sutures through the lower abdominal opening created by the removal of the fat and skin. Typically, a mini-abdominoplasty requires only removal of 6-10 inches of fat and skin and therefore results in a 6-10 inch wide scar. A standard abdominoplasty is required in women that have more excess skin and fat, which therefore results in a much longer scar, such as from hip bone to hip bone.

Candidates for a tummy tuck include women that have unwanted excess skin and fat in the lower abdomen, lower abdominal stretch marks and scars, and loose fascia after one or several pregnancies. If a woman plans future pregnancies, the gains made with the abdominoplasty can be lost or reversed. The fascia can be stretched out again with the enlarged womb. Therefore, the best candidate for an abdominoplasty is one who plans no future pregnancies.

Liposuction is a procedure performed to remove excess fat with a suction tube connected to a medically specialized vacuum. Liposuction can be considered for women who may plan future pregnancy but would like to remove excess fat between pregnancies. Liposuction alone cannot be expected to tighten excess loose skin of the abdomen.

Women should have lost as much weight as they can or expect to prior to undergoing an abdominoplasty. If the patient looses much more weight after the abdominoplasty, the skin can be excessive again. The abdominoplasty procedure is not a weight-loss operation. It does, however, significantly improve the patient’s contour of the abdomen to a more youthful shape.

An abdominoplasty procedure is performed under general anesthesia and usually warrants an overnight stay in the hospital for pain control. Mini-abdominoplasty procedures may cause less pain and can sometimes be performed as a same-day surgery. The procedure usually takes two to four hours, depending on the severity of the excess skin, fat and fascia. Patients can expect to experience pain, swelling, and numbness after the procedure with a variable recovery of four to 12 weeks.

Most abdominoplasty procedures require postoperative drains to remove fluid that collects in the space under the abdominal skin for about two weeks. Usually, absorbable sutures are used on the abdomen and around the belly button. These don’t have to be removed. Scars can be supported with butterfly tapes for two to six weeks after surgery. Some patients find comfort in using abdominal binders for a while after surgery.

In summary, an abdominoplasty procedure is a very effective way to improve a women’s contour after pregnancy and can be considered after achieving maximum weight loss with diet and exercise. An abdominoplasty directly removes redundant skin, excess fat, lower stretch marks and scars and tightens the contour of the abdominal fascia to immediately provide women with a more youthful abdominal shape.