ENCINITAS — With sunny weather most of the year, it’s not unusual for Encinitans to wear summer clothes well into October. This presents the challenge of being vulnerable to the damaging effects of the sun. It also provides motivation to look and feel your best.
As a world-class healthcare destination, Encinitas offers a wide selection of board-certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons to help you do so.
To address these issues, the first Encinitas Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Panel will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 29 at the Encinitas Library.
The event is sponsored by the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, and will be moderated by Deputy Mayor Maggie Houlihan. Food and drinks will be served.
The evening will begin with a presentation by Dr. Susan Shimomaye, M.D., of the Dermatologist Medical Group of North County. The doctor will talk about preventing cancer and skin damage from the sun. She’ll also be available to answer questions about advances in dermatologic surgery, including Mohs micrographic surgery, which is considered to be the most effective procedure for treating skin cancer today.
Dr. Steve Laverson, M.D., FACS, of Feel Beautiful Plastic Surgery, will follow with a discussion of the risks of plastic surgery and why some people are better candidates than others. He’ll also provide an overview of the benefits of plastic surgery.
Laverson reports that the most popular procedures in his practice are breast augmentations, breast lifts and “Mommy Makeovers.”
“Pregnancy results in big tummies, bulging tummies and sagging breasts,” he said. “Women want to achieve what diet and exercise can’t do. They want to return to their prepregnancy condition.”
The doctor will also discuss how plastic surgery is used to correct problems such as breast abnormalities and symmetry, and sagging arms, which become an issue for women as they get older.
Dr. Mario Yco, M.D., FACS, will be the third presenter. Before becoming a plastic surgeon, Dr. Yco was an otolaryngologist who performed corrective procedures such as rhinoplasty (commonly referred to as a “nose job”) and various cancer surgeries effecting the ear, nose and throat. Consequently, his practice is divided between head and neck surgeries, and cosmetic surgery.
“Women come in to my office most often today for their jowls and necks,” he said. “About 10 to 15 percent of my clients are men. They are working into their 60s and 70s and want to look younger in the workplace.”
Dr. Yco will discuss the differences between a full facelift, the noninvasive mini-lift and the newer midi-facelift, which deals with the triangle between the eyes and the upper lip.
He’ll explain the difference between photo facials, microdermabrasians, full laser peels and mild chemical peels.
The panel will conclude with a presentation by Dr. Brian Reagan, M.D., FACS, who will provide advice on consumer protection and truth in advertising. Specifically, he will educate the audience about how to choose the right procedure and the importance in selecting a physician who is qualified to perform plastic surgery.
“The way it used to work, only plastic surgeons did plastic surgery,” he said. “Today, a lot of noncore physicians are doing plastic surgery.”
Reagan will explain the difference between a board-certified plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon.
“The real litmus test is, ‘Are they performing surgery in a hospital?’” he said. “Look into their credentials, speak with patients, check with hospitals to see if they have privileges. We work very hard to be plastic surgeons. My training was nine years. A family physician can very easily call himself a cosmetic surgeon and you’d never know the difference.”
Reagan also cautions consumers to beware of an increase in procedure branding for popular mini-facelifts that are advertised on television
“They claim to be revolutionary procedures and they are not,” he said. “When you have forces more interested in making money, eventually there will be a conflict and the patients will suffer.”
The Encinitas Library is located at 540 Cornish Drive between D Street and E Street. The event is free.
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