Avoiding Botox Blunders

BOTOX® injection is the most commonly performed aesthetic procedure in the United States with over 5 million anatomical sites injected in 2011 alone. It acts by partially and temporarily paralyzing the facial animation muscles beneath the skin, thereby decreasing the skin wrinkles that are formed due to the action of these muscles.

BOTOX® has many cosmetic uses including:

• Treatment of frown lines between the eyebrows.
• Worry lines across the forehead.
• Crow's Feet at the corners of the eyes.
• Fine lines around the mouth.
• Excessively sweaty armpits, palms, and feet.
• Relief from migraine headaches. 

What are the risks?  

• Bruising & swelling. Quick Fix: Ice area after procedure to treat; avoid aspirin prior to treatment.
• A droopy eyelid, which is the result of an improper injection.
• Overall unacceptable results. This can easily be avoided. 

How To Avoid Botox Blunders and Poor Results:  
After treating over 100,000 injection sites, in my opinion, these are the most common causes of a poor result:

• Improper injection technique: An injector not familiar with the muscular anatomy may execute an improper placement, causing unwanted side effects and a less than optimal result. My Opinion: “Seek treatment from an experienced licensed physician.”
• Not enough material used at the injection site: I use 5 units per injection site and I have found most patients require the treatment of 8 to 14 sites to receive an acceptable result. My Opinion: “50 units per treatment for an even face. Always ask how many units will be used. A common statement we hear is: 'I was treated for half the cost but did not receive the results that I desired.’”

• Use of an outdated BOTOX solution: Injecting a less potent Botox solution can cause poor results. The product has a shelf life of only 48 hours and the potency drops off significantly after that time. My Opinion: “Use the product the same day it was prepared.” 
• “I don’t want to look like Nicole Kidman”: Here we have a prime example of overtreatment.  The forehead muscles were over treated, resulting in a done appearance. My Opinion: “Never overuse a good product." 

All inquiries are welcome: Feel free to contact Barb Bridell (our patient coordinator) 1-800-456-8222 or barb@enza.com. 

First Annual Pink Ribbon Golf Classic for the American Cancer Society

Local Plastic Surgeon Dr. Joseph Rucker raises over $20,000 for the cure for Breast Cancer and the American Cancer Society

RUCKER MD Plastic Surgery Clinic hosts Pink Ribbon Charity Golf Classic on Friday, September 14^th, 2012.

Eau Claire, WI – On Friday, September 14^th RUCKER MD hosted the 1^st Annual Pink Ribbon Charity Golf Classic. The event benefited the American Cancer Society to raise funds for breast cancer research. Guests of the Pink Ribbon Charity Golf Classic played 18-holes of championship golf on a perfectly sunny day and participated in an evening reception with dinner and guest speakers Ann Harris and Lois Joseph from the Breast Cancer Awareness Association in Minnesota.

The event raised over $20,000 through generous sponsorships, and excellent raffle, and golfers alike. Among the day’s events were free chair massages courtesy of The Salon Professional Academy and Da Vinci Therapeutic Massage, and chances to win brand new cars, courtesy of Eau Claire Ford and Eau Claire Auto Group. Many other sponsors such as Larson Allen, RBC, and Dental Health Center were present at their sponsored holes to greet golfers with different giveaways.   

More than 100 guests attended the evening reception which was kicked off with cocktail hour and followed by a gourmet dinner and Pink Ribbon cupcakes from Simply Cakes bakery. The raffle was drawn featuring various items such as a Pelleve® package from the Enza Medispa, color Nook from Charter Media, and gift certificates to local businesses such as Charly’s Market and Houligan’s.

Dr. Rucker expressed his sincere appreciation for the generosity from the guests and sponsors as well as his renewed commitment to find the cure for breast cancer. “We are grateful to our sponsors and our donors for their support for the fight against Breast Cancer. Through this event, we have raised over $20,000. In addition, I am making a commitment to personally donate towards the cure for every Breast Reconstruction procedure I perform.”

Dr. Rucker and staff will present the check for$20,000 to the American Cancer Society on Saturday, October 20^th, 2012 at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Eau Claire.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer. In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed among women.

For more information, please contact Kiana Tom at 715.832.1774 or kiana@enza.com

Is Breast Reduction right for you?

During my 25-year career as a plastic surgeon I have noticed that one of the most misunderstood concepts is the difference between a breast reduction and a breast lift.

The woman who is a candidate for breast reduction will often present with a history of an enlarged breast size since high school. She may have found it difficult to participate in athletic activities, and she will often present with complains of back pain, neck strain, chest wall heaviness, bra-strap grooving and, on occasion, rashes beneath her breasts. She will often have a breast size of D cup or larger. She may have tried conservative methods of easing her symptoms including physical therapy for her back, heat treatments, chiropractic care, muscle relaxers and even pain pills. She may have heard about the breast reduction procedure from a friend or may have been referred to us by her family physician.  

The woman seeking a breast lift presents with essentially no symptoms; her complaints are that her breasts have begun to sag over the years. This sagging may have been accelerated by a large weight loss or following a pregnancy. She often feels that her breasts are now too long, the nipples too low and that she has lost her natural cleavage.

So in essence, we have the breast reduction patient presenting with symptoms because of the sheer weight of her breast, and the breast lift patient because of the shape of her breasts. The breast reduction procedure may well be covered by insurance because it is an attempt to alleviate the potentially harmful symptoms that come with the weight problem. With the breast lift candidate, the aim is to only improve the shape, and it is therefore considered a cosmetic procedure – one not covered by insurance.

It is worth noting that fifty percent of my breast lift patients also opt to undergo a breast augmentation at the same time. They feel that they can better achieve that natural-looking cleavage with breast enlargement.

What to Expect

• The Procedure: The breast reduction and breast lift procedures are very similar. The only major difference is that in a breast reduction, a predetermined portion of both the breast tissue and skin is actually removed. In a breast lift, only a portion of the skin is removed to lift and reshape the breast. Most breast reductions will go from a D cup to a small or medium C cup. Breast lift patients will go from a C cup to a perky C cup. In both procedures the nipple areola complex is left attached so as to preserve sensation and the ability to breast feed. The two-and-one-half-hour breast reduction procedure is done in a hospital setting under a general anesthetic, and there is usually an overnight stay required. The breast lift procedure is done on an outpatient basis and may require a general anesthetic. In some situations it may also be done with a local anesthetic and sedation in our office operative suite.In order to gauge the improvement of symptoms, we conducted a survey. Of approximately 100 breast reduction patients, 95 stated that their symptoms and quality of life had significantly improved following reduction mammoplasty.
• The Risks: There is a potential for complications in any operative procedure. The most common being infection, scarring and sensation changes. During your consultation a detailed discussion of these potential risks will be given to you.
• The Recovery: After performing nearly 1,500 breast reduction procedures and 600 breast lift procedure I have found most patients rate the pain, on a scale from 1 to 10, with ratings between a 2 and 5 for both procedures. The patient may be off work from one week with the breast lift, to two to three weeks with the breast reduction.Light activity is tolerated well in the first week. Most patients are never so incapacitated that they cannot take care of their own basic needs. You will return to see the doctor one week after your procedure. All of your dressings are removed; your postoperative recovery and activity levels are again discussed as well as an anticipated date for your return to work. Light employment is tolerated after two weeks with heavy lifting and regular activity in three to five weeks. You are also given detailed instructions for care of your suture lines so as to help prevent excessive scarring. Your final consultation usually occurs five months after your procedure.
• The Decision: The most common thing that I have heard from my breast reduction patients is, “I should have done this ten years ago!”

My staff at RUCKER MD Plastic Surgery Clinic and I hope that this information will be of help to you if you are considering breast reduction (mammoplasty) surgery. The staff has gained a considerable amount of experience and knowledge in helping nearly 1,500 patients during the preoperative, operative and postoperative periods of reconstructive breast surgeries.

Please feel free to contact Dr. Rucker’s office at 800.456.8222 with any concerns or questions that you might have about undertaking breast reduction surgery.