Dr. Peter Jenkin - Dermatology Associates of Seattle, WA

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With more than 30 years of experience in Dermatology, Dr. Peter Jenkin shares how he got into cosmetic medicine and his approach to staffing and marketing.

Dr. Peter Jenkin - Dermatology Associates of Seattle, WAName: Dr. Peter Jenkin
Clinic: Dermatology Associates of Seattle
Location: Seattle, WA
Website: https://www.daseattle.com

Brief Bio:

Dr. Jenkin completed his dermatology training at McGill University in Montreal in 1980. He was in private practice for 20 years in Canada before moving to Seattle and worked for PacMed and Virginia Mason until he purchased Dermatology Associates in January 2010. Dr. Jenkin is an outdoor enthusiast, loves skiing, hiking and racing cars. When he is not treating patients he can often be found speaking about skin diseases at local seminars or visiting his grandchildren.

How did you first get into cosmetic medicine?

My interest was piqued in cosmetic medicine back in the mid-1980s when I started to use a CO2 laser which was followed in 1987 by the development of the first pulsed dye laser. I was always fascinated by the new advances which extended the range of things we could do to help patients with their cosmetic concerns. That trend has been followed by making those treatments less invasive and safer.

None of these treatments were available when I did my dermatology residency...

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Dr. Sammy Sliwin, New Cosmetic Stem Cell Treatments In Toronto

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Sammy Sliwin, MD, FRCSC Cosmetic Surgeon CanadaDr. Sammy Sliwin practices at the Forest Hill Institute of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Toronto, Canada, and is working with new stem cell therapies.

With the growing interest in stem cell treatments, we thought we'd see what Dr. Sliwin thought. We got together with Dr Silwin to discuss his plastic surgery clinic, his practice, and talk about his work with adipose derived stem cell therapies.

Name: Sammy Sliwin, MD, FRCSC
Location: Toronto, Canada
Website: sliwinplasticsurgery.com

That's interesting: Dr. Sliwin is the Founder and Medical Director of AdiSave – The Canadian Adipose Derived Stem Cell Bank.

Can you tell us more about the cosmetic Stem Cell therapies and clinical research you're involved with?

First we are doing research to optimize the harvesting of fat by liposuction to maximize the number and quality of the stem cells that we separate. We are as well doing research to optimize the separation process as well as a method of cryopreserving the stem cells in a completely autologous method (not using any animal or other human products). Once completed we will open up the stem cell bank utilizing these methods that we found. We will then apply to Health Canada to begin clinical trials for homologous uses which include cosmetic filling of facial areas, scars as well as deformities on the body. Once safety is proven we will apply to Health Canada to begin clinical trials for non homologous uses such as regenerative medicine and autoimmune therapies. In the future I believe that stem cell therapy will change the treatment of many degenerative and autoimmune diseases.

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Dr. John Di Saia: Plastic Surgeon & Blogger In Orange County California

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Dr. John Di Saia is a board certified plastic surgeon and physician blogger practicing in the OC, CA.

We've been following Dr. Di Saia's blog for years and we finally had a chance to get together an pick his brains about his practice.

John Di Saia MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, California

Name:  John Di Saia, MD
Location: San Clemente, CA
Website: OCBody.com

That's interesting: His first degree was in Neurobiology with High Honors from UC Berkeley (1986). He completed medical school at UC Irvine in 1990 and started a General Surgery residency that year at UC Irvine. He completed General and Plastic Surgery Residencies at UC Irvine in 1995 and 1997 respectively.

The doctor's post-graduate activities have included several publications in the medical journals, a regular series of articles in local newspapers and expert reviewer status for the California Medical Board since 2003. As an honest blogging plastic surgeon the doctor is frequently quoted in the Orange County Register and has appeared on a few television interviews as a voice of reason.

How did you start your journey to plastic surgery?

Cosmetic surgery is part of a plastic surgery residency. My beginning was in the cosmetic surgery clinic of the university in the mid-nineties. It is no secret that cosmetic surgery is the financial subsidy upon which a plastic surgery practice operates.

Can you tell us more about your clinic? 

We run a very small shop for patients interested in a more intimate experience...

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Interview: Lila Bratani MD, Plastic Surgeon In Germany

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AA look at plastic surgery in Germany with Dr. Lila Bratani.

Physician:  Dr. Lila Bratani
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
Website: www.drbratani.com, http://www.estheticon.de/chirurgen/dr-lila-bratani

That's interesting: Dr. Lila Bratani is recognized as a member of Stanford's Who's Who for having demonstrated outstanding leadership and achievement in her field.

How did your cosmetic medicine training kick off?

Back when I was a teenager, I was attracted to aesthetic medicine and of course beauty and anti-aging. My first step in Plastic Surgery was when I got a good training by my teacher, Prof. Muehlbauer, one of the leading aesthetic surgeons in Germany and recognized worldwide. I also completed a fellowship in advanced aesthetic medicine and got trained in cadaver courses in Brazil (Sao Paulo and in Brasilia). I was working with great colleagues and I am still learning a lot of new techniques in the aesthetic medicine field. The art of this profession gives the ultimate satisfaction.

Can you tell us more about your surgical clinic and how it's organized?

I’m the chief of the Plastic and Aesthetic Department in a private clinic. The owners are dermatologists and it works perfectly. We offer plastic surgery, hand surgery as well as non invasive treatments such as laser. We also have 3 cosmeticians in our skin cosmetic center. The clinic consists of: 1 plastic surgeon (me), 6 dermatologists, 3 cosmeticians, 1 practice manager, 1 PR and clinic manager, 1 OR nurse, 3 frontdesk assistants and 8 physician assistants. We serve to a mix of private and state health care patients.

The requirements for hiring staff in our plastic and aesthetic surgery clinic are very high. PA’s and nurses have to understand that they need to have this extra “service” for extraordinary plastic surgery patients. We like them to have a corporate identity that represents our clinic well and of course a fabulous attitude and behavior.

We use commission on the cosmetic sales.

What laser technologies are you using? What are your thoughts about the technologies you’re using now?

We don’t use IPL, but we are using Alexandrite, Ruby, NdYag laser and Fraxel, CO2-Laser. I like most of the Fraxel  and new devices of Radiofrequency (Thermage and BodyTite). I have a lot of experience on the smooth liposuction with radiofrequency using the BodyTite device and so far, I'm seeing great results with skin tightening.

Where do you spend money on advertising? What works best for your practice?

We have websites, social media as Facebook, publications on newspapers and  journals such as Vogue. We also distribute e-newsletters for existing patients via email. In the waiting rooms, we showcase programs with different techniques of aesthetic procedures. This kind of advertising works much better than handing out external flyers or ads. 

(Sponsored: See Frontdesk waiting room videos for plastic surgeons and dermatologists.)

What are the in demand treatments in your clinic? Are you planning to add something new?

All kind of aesthetic surgery procedures like breast augmentation, facelifts, liposuction and face skin rejuvenation with radiofrequency as well the small procedures as fillers such as Botulinum toxin therapy.  I will be adding more fat grafting and liposculpturing techniques soon.

What have you learned about practicing cosmetic medicine? What stories can you tell?

I have learned to offer what I think is good for the patients and not to please the unrealistic demands of someone. Sometimes patients bring their own drawings of unrealistic body parts. I’m aware of dysmorphophobic patients and refuse to do anything on those. 

What advice would you give to other physicians based upon your experiences?

Working hand in hand with other colleagues is a benefit for starting into aesthetic medicine. You may share the cosmetic lasers and IPLs (which are very expensive) when starting your own clinic. Never underestimate the non-invasive procedures, even we plastic surgeons love it than being in the operating room with the scalpel in the hand.  Set your own “branding” so that patients will be pleased with your work and aura and will bring you more patients via word of mouth, which is also a great marketing tool.

About: Dr. Lila Bratani completed her Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery fellowship in Nova Southeastern University. With over 10 years of experience in Plastic, Aesthetic, Reconstructive, Laser and Hand Surgery, she is a university lecturer, medical manager and an esteemed health care consultant in New York,USA. She specializes in burn surgery and tissue engineering. Other than that, she is an active member of the Society of Plastic Surgeons of Germany DGPRAEC, WOSAAM (World Society of Anti Aging Medicine), IPRAS (International Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) and DGBT (German Society for Aesthetic Botulinum Toxin Therapy.

This interview is part of a series of interviews of physicians running medical spas, laser clinics and cosmetic surgery centers. If you'd like to be interviewed, just contact us.