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QWO - A Brand New Treatment for Cellulite
Dr. Mackenzie and Pacific Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara is thrilled to announce that we are among the first practices to offer Qwo for treatment of cellulite. This easy office treatment is a game changer for women with cellulite dimples.
Mar 19th, 2021

Intense Pulsed Light Treatment Season
IPL works by heating sections of skin with light energy. The energy targets damaged or pigmented skin cells, as well as oxyhemoglobin that is found in the small red vessels that can appear within the surface of the skin.
Jan 25th, 2021

Go Easy on the Tylenol
Acetaminophen, commonly known by the brand name Tylenol is helpful as a non-narcotic pain reliever and fever reducer. But too much can be toxic. And fever is a good thing.
Jan 6th, 2021

Five Reasons Why You Need to Monitor Your Breast Implants
Breast implants don't last forever. Know the issues, get surveillance imaging for silicone gel breast implants, and keep up with evolving discussions regarding Breast Implant Illness and Breast Implant Associated - Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.
Jan 15th, 2020

Even in COVID world, you can get skin cancer
SPRING is HERE! Lets grab our towels, a cold beverage, and head to the beach..six feet apart! Many beach outings end with a sunburn, but this year I am sharing how I got skin cancer at 21 and asking people to protect their skin before they go outside.
May 8th, 2020

SkinCeuticals Custom DOSE
Have you ever imagined having a a skincare product that was formulated just for YOUR skin? Well, we have it for you at Pacific Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara. The Custom DOSE by SkinCeuticals.
Oct 28th, 2019

Allergan Breast Implant Recall and Update
On July 24, 2019 the FDA recommended Allergan recall their BIOCELL textured breast implants. On July 30th Allergan announced a replacement offer for these textured breast implants.
Aug 2nd, 2019

How Many Sessions to Get Rid of a Tattoo?
A recurring question in the tattoo removal world is, “How many sessions do I need to get rid of my tattoo?” Albeit a simple question, it comes with a much more complicated answer.
Jul 18th, 2019

FDA Review: Breast Implant Risks and Benefits
Last month the FDA held a two day Public Advisory Committee meeting to discuss risks and benefits of breast implants for breast augmentation and reconstruction.  I've outlined some of the highlights and recommendations, and what we can expect in the future
Apr 27th, 2019

BIA-ALCL
Maybe you’ve heard of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. It’s getting more attention, and was even on the front page of the New York Times in May.
Nov 9th, 2017

I Just Can’t Get Rid of This
This plays out in my office all the time when I evaluate patients for body contouring procedures (I left out the beginning of the quote)… Here is the complete quote: “I go to the gym all the time and I just can’t get rid of this!”.
Aug 6th, 2017

The Other Breast Enhancements
Breast “enhancement” is a vague term that plastic surgeons use, but you see it everywhere when researching breast surgery. It usually refers to augmentation, mastopexy (breast lift), or both.
Apr 13th, 2017

Ditch Your Double Chin With Kybella
Recently, you may have heard quite a bit about Kybella, which is the first FDA-approved non-surgical injectable treatment that reduces submental fat, AKA “the double chin”.
Oct 5th, 2015

Botox Myths Busted
There are quite a few myths, misconceptions and scary stories floating around about BOTOX™ and I felt that it was time to clear some of that up. Is it dangerous? Will it give me Botulism?
Jul 20th, 2015

What is a Mommy Makeover?
Motherhood brings an unimaginable amount of joy, the experience of unconditional love and is by far one of the most rewarding experiences a woman can have.
May 19th, 2015

Intraceuticals Oxygen Facials
We are excited to announce that we will now be offering oxygen facials along with the exclusive Intraceutical product line which will help maximize the results of these treatments.
Apr 9th, 2015

Treat BOTH Types of Facial Aging
There are many ways to classify the effects of aging, particularly on the face, but in practice it helps to divide the effects of aging into two types: the type helped by surgical methods, and the type helped by non-surgical methods.
Feb 7th, 2015

Replace Your 2nd Generation Breast Implants!
Stop putting it off, make it your New Year’s resolution… If you (or someones you know) have breast implants from the early 90’s, 80’s, or (yikes!) the 70’s, you need to get them replaced.
Dec 13th, 2014

Lumps and Bumps: Lipomas
Lipomas are very common benign growths of fat. They usually present as a palpable lump just below the skin, and are somewhat soft or rubbery to the touch.
Dec 7th, 2014

Renee Zellweger’s plastic surgery
A lot of people have asked me about Renee Zellweger and her recent unrecognizable “transformation”.  Did she have plastic surgery?  Yes.
Oct 23rd, 2014

The Side Effects of Tummy Tuck Surgery
When you visit our Santa Barbara office for a tummy tuck, you can expect aesthetically superior results that greatly complement your body’s curves and proportions.
Sep 4th, 2014

Treating Hyperhidrosis, i.e. Sweaty Armpits
I don’t have MiraDry, but from what I’ve seen and heard it works quite well and has good Internet reviews.  Botox has good Internet reviews as well, and I can tell you it works great.
Aug 1st, 2014

The Endotine Midface Lift Technique
Loose skin and sagging cheeks are common signs of aging, creating a gaunt or tired expression over time. These changes are natural, but they can also occur well before someone is prepared for them.
May 18th, 2014

Scar Tension: Problem and Solutions
Wound healing is a complex process that takes time. A surgical scar is the visible part of the scar tissue that results after the skin incision (wound) heals.
Apr 14th, 2014

Scars and Scar Revision After Plastic Surgery
For many plastic surgery procedures, it helps if the patient can get an idea of what they will look like after the procedure, as opposed to looking at photos of what other people look like after a similar procedure.
Mar 6th, 2014

Tummy Tuck Recovery Timeline
Before undergoing tummy tuck surgery, it is important to understand what to expect after treatment, including the timeline for recovery.
Mar 5th, 2014

The Risk of Skin Irregularities from Liposuction
Excess body fat is a common complaint among our Santa Barbara patients. After all, many people could name at least one part of their body that seems resistant to diet or exercise, making plastic surgery an attractive option for better contours
Feb 24th, 2014

Breast Reduction and Insurance Coverage
Though breast reduction can be done for cosmetic reasons, in most cases women seek breast reductions for relief from health issues caused by excessively large breasts, such as shoulder and back pain.
Jan 31st, 2014

About Endoscopic Browlift Surgery
There are many different ways that you can enhance your overall appearance and look years and years younger in the process. One of the sure ways is turning to plastic surgery.
Jan 7th, 2014

MACS Facelift
As much as we’d like to turn back the clock at times, age invariably catches up with us. Those who are middle-aged or older may begin to notice more apparent signs of aging, such as wrinkles or creases in the face.
Dec 6th, 2013

Mini Tummy Tuck
Do you look in the mirror and see a toned figure everywhere besides your belly? The abdomen can be one of the most stubborn areas of the body to define.
Oct 29th, 2013

Breast Reduction Surgery to Relieve and Health Problems
Almost everyone who has a passing familiarity with plastic surgery knows about breast augmentation. It’s one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the world, and it can enhance a woman’s bustline and the overall curves of her body.
Oct 28th, 2013

What Is an Extended Tummy Tuck?
Not all bodies are created equally, and surgical treatments should reflect that. There is no “one size fits all” method for plastic surgery, as all patients must be treated according to their physical needs and goals.
Oct 14th, 2013

A Guide to Earlobe Repair Surgery
The earlobes tend to take a lot of abuse – the fleshy underside of the ear is frequently subject to piercings, heavy earrings, stretching and gauging. But even the earlobe has its breaking point.
Sep 22nd, 2013

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait…
I am often asked, “What can you do to make me look years younger, less tired, less droopy, and less stressed?” “Oh… and make sure it looks totally natural and subtle so that no one knows I did ANYTHING!”
Sep 11th, 2013

Does Hillary Clinton Need Plastic Surgery?
With more and more speculation about a Hillary Clinton bid for the White House in 2016, the churn of Hillary stories coming out of the media is only going to accelerate. “Should Hillary Clinton Get Plastic Surgery?” is one of the trendy stories now.
Aug 15th, 2013

Breast Augmentation Incision Methods
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures performed because it can enhance a woman’s bust line to produce a more feminine physique,, boost self-confidence, and improve the fit of many popular styles of clothing.
Jun 24th, 2013

Dermal Filler Overview: Radiesse, Juvederm, and Restylane
While facial plastic surgery can greatly enhance your looks, there is another option out there that is extremely effective and involves no incisions whatsoever. That option is the use of cosmetic injections, which can really make a world of difference.
May 20th, 2013

Angelina Jolie’s Breast Surgery
Since Angelina Jolie’s disclosure of her bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction this week in the New York Times, I’ve been asked a lot of questions about it.
May 16th, 2013

Cellulaze FAQS
We get a lot of questions about Cellulaze and I thought that answering some frequently asked questions might be helpful.
May 6th, 2013

Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
Making the commitment to lose weight after becoming very obese sometimes involves only diet and exercise, but more often requires bariatric surgery to lose the weight which can often be a hundred pounds or more.
Jan 8th, 2013

Skin Tightening Surgery After Weight Loss
Losing weight can be quite difficult, especially for those suffering from obesity. The hard earned accomplishment of losing a substantial amount of weight should not be overshadowed by the loose, hanging skin that often results.
Dec 20th, 2012

Sentra Breast Implants and My Capsular Contracture Guarantee
I just returned from New Orleans where the American Society of Plastic Surgeons held their annual meeting. It was unseasonably cold but at least we didn’t have to worry about the hurricane like many of my East Coast colleagues did.
Oct 31st, 2012

Popular Mommy Makeover Procedures
Pregnancy takes a toll on a woman’s body and causes a lot of changes to take place. The changes that result from pregnancy and breast feeding cannot always be corrected through diet and exercise alone.
Oct 20th, 2012

Lip Enhancement: More Is Not Always Better!
Cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures to improve the lips are quite common. The nonsurgical procedures include filler injections with Juvederm or Restylane, and superficial procedures like dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.
Sep 24th, 2012

Tapered Fingers – A 19th Century Aesthetic Ideal
What constitutes beauty in the human form changes over time and between cultures. A recent article in the Journal of Hand Surgery described belief that tapered fingertips on a woman was an aesthetic ideal.
Sep 7th, 2012

Avoiding and Correcting the Over-Operated Facelift
The most predictable comment I get from patients inquiring about facial rejuvenation surgery is one that expresses their fear of looking over-operated, weird, or like any number of celebrities that have had either bad surgery or just too much of it
Aug 13th, 2012

CHEEK ENHANCEMENT
Sometimes patients are surprised how a slight adjustment to one facial feature can really bring out the beauty of the rest of their face. That’s certainly true when it comes to the cheekbones.
Mar 20th, 2012

Rhinoplasty – Surgical vs. Nonsurgical
Let’s face it, surgery always some degree of pain, swelling, restriction of activities, and delay before seeing the final result. Not to mention the cost, and the anxiety of having to undergo anesthesia.
Feb 7th, 2012

Do You Have PIP Implants?
Do you have PIP Implants? Probably not, as PIP breast implants were only widely available outside the US. However if you do have, or suspect you might have, PIP breast implants, you will want to remove these implants.
Jan 14th, 2012

Breast Implant Exchange – Part 2
In Part 1, I discussed how breast implants aren’t forever, and it’s best to be proactive about exchanging implants. But what if there is an unanticipated problem such as a capsular contracture that requires surgery?
Oct 2nd, 2011

Breast Implant Exchange – Part 1
What ultimately happens to the breast implants that we implant? Some patients don’t really consider that question, or think that once the implants are put in, they are there for life. Not so.
Sep 3rd, 2011

Rhinoplasty Recovery
All surgeries carry a certain degree of risk. This goes for medically necessary ones as well as surgeries that are elective or cosmetic in nature.
Jul 15th, 2011

Surgical Drains After Plastic Surgery
Many surgeries include the placement of surgical drains. Why? Why do some procedures need drains and others don’t? Let’s look at what drains are designed to do, and just as importantly, what they are not designed to do.
Jun 28th, 2011

Ten Things You Can Do To Get Ready For Summer – Number 8
The recovery after Body Jet Water Assisted Liposuction is easier than with most liposuction techniques. Transferring some of this fat to the buttocks doesn’t really prolong the recovery, and can really help enhance your “assets”.
Jun 1st, 2011

Liposuction Body Jet Liposuction Liposculpture
Liposuction takes some time to recover from, so if that’s what you need to get ready for this summer, you had better get on it! In this post, Lisa discusses Body Jet Liposuction, the technique I prefer…
Apr 26th, 2011

Home Remedies for Wrinkles
We all know that certain wrinkles will confer a little bit of character and distinction. Some may even make you appear sophisticated and worldly.
Jan 17th, 2011

Plastic Surgery and the Extreme Athlete
The upcoming Santa Barbara Triathlon this weekend has prompted me to blog on the topic of performing plastic surgery, specifically aesthetic plastic surgery, on athletes that push their bodies a lot further than most.
Aug 25th, 2010

Who Needs a Lift?
One of the most commonly misunderstood topics of breast enhancement surgery is the issue of sag, and the assumption that breast implants help the problem.
Jun 2nd, 2010

Lady Gaga’s Nose
Yesterday I was contacted by E! News as one of their writers thought Lady Gaga looked different at the Grammy Awards, and thought that maybe she had had a nose job (rhinoplasty) recently. 
Feb 2nd, 2010

Pop Star Lyrics and Plastic Surgery
Another pop culture comment…What’s up with Lady Gaga’s “Dance in the Dark” and the intro line of “Silicon, saline, poison inject me…”?
Dec 24th, 2009