18 MAY 2023 · In this podcast, Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens interview James Beckman, MD, founder and CEO of Therapon Skin Health. They talk about the company’s Theraderm Clinical Skin Care line, its proprietary peptides, and how Theraderm grew out of Beckman’s works to develop a product to improve the skin of burn victims with skin-grafted hands. They also talk to him about where skin care is headed. Beckman, who spent 20 years in private practice as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and has a degree in biochemistry, shares his journey to creating a commercial product with active peptides for skin showing the signs of aging. The product grew out of his work with patients who had suffered burns or lost skin that resulted in skin grafts to close the wound and with patients who were just experiencing extremely dry skin as a result of their working conditions. Working with a local pharmacist, he created his first product: Beckman’s Dry Skin Therapy. The product caught on with fellow plastic surgeons and he soon had his first company. From there, he sought to develop a product that restored elasticity and collagen of aging skin. Today, the Theraderm Clinical Skin Care line has three product systems—an anti-aging, a skin renewal, and a revision clear skin system. As Beckman puts it, “Those three systems developed out of one system, and that one system developed out of one product that restored the oil depletion in dry hands.” When looking to the future for the skin care company and its products lines, Beckman shares his philosophy on product development overall—and it centers on helping the consumer actually solve a problem. “I think the key for skin care product manufacturers is to—with any product—go out and see what the consumers are suffering with and try to find an answer that solves that problem rather than an advertising campaign that sells more of your product.” In this interview, Beckman takes the listener through his career journey as a plastic surgeon in rural Arkansas and shares how word-of-mouth marketing is so much more valuable than having a huge advertising budget. After all, that’s how he found success with Beckman’s Dry Skin Therapy, and that pattern continues today with Theraderm's skin care product lines. PSP

11 MAY 2023 · Join PSP co-chief editor Keri Stephens as she sits down with Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Miami-based Zuri Plastic Surgery, to delve into all things rhinoplasty. The conversation kicks off with the impact of the so-called “Zoom Boom” on the popularity of rhinoplasty. As people spend more time on video calls, they find themselves scrutinizing their own appearances, leading to a surge in interest for nasal corrections. Zuriarrain explains how the advent of remote work has contributed to this phenomenon, with individuals seeking rhinoplasty to address nasal deformities and enhance their facial features. Zuriarrain then discusses the evolution of rhinoplasty techniques and outcomes over the past few decades. From traditional methods involving chisels and hammers to modern innovations like ultrasonic rhinoplasty, the field has seen remarkable advancements, Zuriarrain explains. The use of sophisticated technologies, such as 3D imaging and computer-assisted surgery, has also made a significant impact. However, Zuriarrain cautions against relying solely on 3D imaging due to potential discrepancies between the generated images and the actual surgical results. The podcast moves on to discuss patient selection, emphasizing the importance of identifying individuals who are genuinely good candidates for rhinoplasty. Zuriarrain shares his selective approach, highlighting specific patient populations, such as those exhibiting body dysmorphia or unrealistic expectations, who may not be suitable candidates. He further emphasizes the importance of ethnic considerations, as different geographic backgrounds have unique nasal anatomies that require specialized approaches. Complications associated with rhinoplasty are also addressed in the podcast. Zuriarrain explains that swelling is a common concern, with patients often underestimating the recovery time needed for optimal results. He discusses potential complications, including “whistleblower” deformities, collapse of the tip, and issues with the nostril base, highlighting the need for skilled surgical techniques and patient education to minimize risks. The episode concludes with a discussion on how surgeons balance patient desires for specific nose shapes with overall facial features and aesthetic goals.

27 MAR 2023 · Medical tourism has been on the rise in recent years as people seek cheaper cosmetic surgery options in foreign countries. However, this trend has been associated with a range of risks and complications, as discussed by Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Miami-based https://www.zuriplasticsurgery.com/, in this podcast with PSP co-chief editor Keri Stephens. According to Zuriarrain, patients seeking affordable cosmetic surgeries often consider traveling to the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia, or Mexico, where the costs are significantly lower than in the United States. However, there are a number of concerns associated with medical tourism, including the potential for patient exploitation, the risk of complications arising from long flights, and the difficulty of diagnosing and treating complications without in-person consultations. One of the major worries associated with medical tourism is the potential for patient exploitation. Patients who seek cosmetic surgery in foreign countries may be unaware of the quality of care they will receive or may not have access to adequate post-operative care. This can lead to a range of complications, including infections, necrosis, and blood clots, which can be difficult to diagnose and treat remotely. Another risk of medical tourism is the financial cost associated with undergoing cosmetic surgery abroad. Patients may believe that they are getting a better deal by traveling to a foreign country for surgery, but they may not consider the additional costs associated with follow-up care and complications. These costs can quickly add up, making the overall cost of surgery much higher than expected. Overall, Zuriarrain advises patients to mull the risks and benefits of medical tourism before deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery abroad. Patients should be aware of the potential for patient exploitation, the risks associated with long flights, and the difficulty of diagnosing and treating complications remotely. Instead, patients should consider seeking surgery from U.S.-based board-certified plastic surgeons, who can provide them with high-quality care and adequate follow-up care at a reasonable cost.

20 MAR 2023 · Plastic surgeons today face a unique set of challenges, from changing patient demographics to increased competition in the marketplace. In this podcast episode, Plastic Surgery Practice Editors Keri Stephens and Alison Werner talk to Nicole Chiaramonte, CEO of Advanced MedAesthetic Partners (AMP). Chiaramonte joins them to discuss how AMP can help plastic surgeons overcome these challenges and grow their practices. What’s more, she explains why AMP is an alternative to the private equity consolidation model sweeping the industry. AMP works as a management service organization, coming in, as Chiaramonte describes it, as a consulting firm of sorts to take care of the business side of running a medical practices—specifically those aspects doctors often don’t want to deal with or don’t feel they have the knowledge to handle effectively and efficiently. According to Chiaramonte, AMP takes care of HR, IT, marketing, and overall day-to-day management, including inventory systems and data management for its partner practices. As she explains, AMP allows “physicians to do what they love without the headache of the business side of medicine.” In this episode, Chiaramonte talks about how private equity is changing the playing field, and how she wanted to create a model that protects private plastic surgery practices. As she explains it, Advanced MedAesthetic Partners partner practices retain their public-facing identity. AMP’s goal is optimize the business side, investing heavily in marketing and training, while allowing the plastic surgeon to focus in on what he/she knows best: clinical treatment. As Chiaramonte explains it in this podcast, for plastic surgery practices looking to partner with Advanced MedAesthetic Partners, the key characteristics include a commitment to patient satisfaction, a willingness to adapt to changing market conditions, and a desire to grow and scale their business over the long term. She also explains how this model can be just as attractive to mid-career plastic surgeons as those at the beginning and end of their careers. From there, Chiaramonte shares how AMP has helped partner practices scale up their business. That has included adding additional surgeons to fully book out the practice to building out a practice’s non-surgical recurring revenue opportunities. Chiaramonte also shares how AMP can help practices struggling with staffing—a problem affecting all of healthcare. To close out the episode, Chiaramonte and PSP’s editors talk about trends and how the industry is evolving. And Chiaramonte explains the role she sees Advanced MedAesthetic Partners playing in the future.

9 MAR 2023 · Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens as they talk to https://elevaiskincare.com/ Founder and CEO Jordan Plews, PhD, to talk about the company's ELEVAI E-series post-procedure aftercare products featuring a proprietary exosome technology. ELEVAI Labs is a biotechnology company developing regenerative skincare applications. The company is focused on physician-dispensed products that can work to support patient skin health following a range of procedures, from microneedling to laser resurfacing. Plews, who has a background in biochemical engineering, shares how his work in stem cell research related to regenerative medicine brought him to aesthetics. He developed a proprietary technology centered around exosomes and the role they play in the cellular repair process of the skin. These exosomes are ultra-small, nanoparticle compartments packed with growth factors known to support skin health. The proprietary ELEVAI Exosomes are the key ingredient in the company’s post-treatment aftercare system, the ELEVAI E-series, https://plasticsurgerypractice.com/treatment-solutions/cosmetics-skin-care/elevai-labs-inc-launches-e-series-product-line-to-support-skin-recovery-following-aesthetic-procedures/, which includes ELEVAI empower and ELEVAI infinity. In this episode, Plews not only provides a deep dive into how exosomes in skin care work, but also explains how the ELEVAI E-series products can be used for post-treatment aftercare for procedures including microneedling to laser resurfacing. As he says, these products work well where “you’re causing a low level of damage and you want to give the patient something that’s going to really supercharge their recovery.” ELEVAI empower is a concentrated serum, designed specifically for single-use in office application post-procedure. ELEVAI enfinity is a daily serum that can then be sent home with the patient to support their skin health post procedure. According to ELEVAI, both products aim to help activate the skin’s natural healing process; reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, skin texture, and laxity; and reduce the appearance of pigmentation and redness. This podcast episode sees Plews talk about the ingredients in these post-procedure aftercare products that work with the ELEVAI Exosome technology, and what both plastics surgeons, their staff, and patients can expect with use. He also explains why these products are only available for sale from authorized providers, for instance, physicians and their trained staff, and why it is important for ELEVAI to work with plastic surgeons and staff like this. PSP

2 MAR 2023 · Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editor Keri Stephens as she talks to Michael Tantillo, MD, MBA, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Clareo Centers in Massachusetts, about the popular trend of buccal fat removal. The conversation covers what the procedure is, how it works, and its benefits and risks. Tantillo explains that buccal fat removal has been around for decades but has gained significant popularity recently, particularly among Gen Z patients who are more open-minded to aesthetic procedures. He notes that the procedure is safe when performed by a properly trained surgeon and has minimal risks and downtime. The surgery involves a partial removal of the buccal fat pad, which lies in the mid-face between the muscles, through an incision inside the mouth. Patients can expect a quick recovery and high satisfaction rate, as the procedure results in a slimmed mid-face with reliable and reproducible results, according to Tantillo. The episode also discusses the reasons behind the trend of buccal fat removal, which Tantillo attributes to a drive toward slimming down the mid-face and avoiding the “round face” look. The popularity of buccal fat removal has been driven by its virality on social media platforms like TikTok, Tantillo says. Learn more about the procedure in this informative podcast.

23 FEB 2023 · Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens as they talk to Los Angeles-based, board-certified plastic surgeon and inventor Gregory Mueller, MD, FACS, about a trending device in aesthetic medicine. A public speaker who educates surgeons about the minimally evasive MyEllevate procedure that he developed, Mueller discusses another technology in this podcast: the Sofwave energy-based device, which he uses in his practice. In December, the U.S. FDA cleared Sofwave to treat the appearance of cellulite, complementing its previous clearances to lift the eyebrow lax submental tissue as well as neck tissue. Here, Mueller reveals how Sofwave is different from other devices on the market, in addition to which patient population Sofwave benefits most. He also shares what the learning curve is like for using Sofwave, along with his advice about the device to his plastic surgeon peers.

16 FEB 2023 · Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editor Keri Stephens as she talks to Anna Steve, MD, FRCSC, (or “Dr. Anna,” as her patients call her) about all things breast reconstruction. A breast specialist at the New York City-based https://neinsteinplasticsurgery.com/, Dr. Anna endorses an “elegant” approach to breast surgery—although she’s quick to point out that the reconstruction process can present unique challenges. In this podcast, Dr. Anna reveals why breast reconstruction is rarely a one-and-done procedure and why referring to post-mastectomy reconstruction as a “free boob job” is deeply erroneous. She also divulges what excites her most in breast reconstruction right now. (Hint: It involves nipple reconstruction.) Finally, Dr. Anna shares one important aspect of medicine that surgeons are “not historically great” at—and why that should change.

9 FEB 2023 · In this podcast, Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS, joins Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Keri Stephens and Alison Werner to talk about ethics in plastic surgery—a subject Zuriarrian https://plasticsurgerypractice.com/practice-management/patient-relations/ethics-plastic-surgery/ about for Plastic Surgery Practice. The three discuss how social media and the way plastic surgeons are using it are raising some ethical questions. Zuriarrian—a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of https://www.zuriplasticsurgery.com/ in Miami—talks about how he’s seeing plastic surgeons post altered and airbrushed images on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok and how these posts raise concerns. He talks about how photos showcasing certain procedures are more easy to manipulate and give patients unrealistic expectations. When it comes down to it, Zuriarrian contends that this is one of the reasons patients should search out board-certified plastic surgeons. He points out that the American Board of Plastic Surgery certification process is not just about how good a surgeon’s technique is, but also about ethical behavior—and that includes the ethics around their marketing practices. Zuriarrian specifically points to board guidance on website content and how images are used to illustrate procedures. The fact is social media is a whole new frontier and there are ethical issues that need to be addressed. And while the conversation has started around the responsibilities of board-certified plastic surgeons, it’s going to take time to create guidelines. In the meantime, Zuriarrian reminds listeners of the four guiding principles of medical ethics and talks about why it’s important as a plastic surgeon to look to one’s conscience and always focus on what is in the best interest of the patient. PSP

14 DEC 2022 · Join Plastic Surgery Practice Co-Chief Editors Alison Werner and Keri Stephens as they talk to Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS—a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Zuri Plastic Surgery in Miami—about the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) among plastic surgery patients. The podcast, which follows Zuriarrain’s PSP article about the subject, reveals what’s contributing to the surge of BDD and what red flags surgeons should look out for when encountering possible BDD patients. Hint: The mnemonic “SIMON” comes into play. Zuriarrain also divulges the role eating disorders play in BDD and what cosmetic procedures BDD patients commonly request. Finally, he shares how plastic surgeons should respond to patients who exhibit signs of BDD.