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Recently, a fellow surgeon and I had an interesting discussion about consent for surgery, which was relevant because I had just seen several patients who had visited other surgeons and had procedures done without their consent.
For instance one patient went in for a lower eyelid lift and ended up with extensive scars across her temples.  [...]

Hi Dr. Hess,
I’m considering a tummy tuck and wondering if I should work out my stomach muscles beforehand, or wait until the surgery is complete.  Should I wait?
J.A.
Well, it depends on whether abdominal workouts are part of your normal routine.  If the surgery is in the near term, say under 4 weeks, then I would [...]

Breast implants are not designed to fail. In fact their durability is quite impressive, as the picture depicts.  They must be able to withstand years of everyday life and the occasional mammogram.  Yet they can fail. A recent study of Mentor’s breast implants placed the rupture rate for primary augmentation at 1.1%.
The leading theories for [...]

Are marketing restrictions for off label Botox hindering the physician’s ability to provide safe treatment?  Pharmaceutical company Allergan has argued as such, and filed a suit against the FDA to loosen the restrictions.
While Botox is typically used – and FDA approved – for treating wrinkles on the face and forehead, a wide range of other [...]