Plastic Surgery Blog & Learning Center

Celebrating a Milestone: Dr. Basil Schaheen's Journey to Board Certification

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 18:43:04 GMT

The team at Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Center of Gainesville is proud to announce Dr. Basil Schaheen 's latest professional milestone: achieving board certification in plastic surgery . This prestigious recognition is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the highest standards in patient care and surgical proficiency.

Board certification for a plastic surgeon signifies a commitment to excellence. It involves a stringent process of education, training, exams, and peer evaluations by a recognized medical board. This ensures that a surgeon is not only proficient in their field but also adheres to the highest standards of safety and ethical practices.

Dr. Schaheen's journey to this achievement reflects a deep-rooted dedication to his craft. Alongside his wife Dr. Emily Schaheen , also a distinguished orthopaedic upper extremity surgeon , they form a skilled plastic surgery and aesthetic team for our Braselton plastic surgery office . Their combined expertise offers a unique approach to plastic surgery, tailoring each procedure to the individual needs of their patients.

The Braselton office provides a welcoming and comfortable environment for patients. Under Dr. Schaheen's care, every procedure is performed with precision and attention to detail, ensuring optimal results and patient satisfaction.

Dr. Schaheen's board certification is more than a professional accolade; it's a reassurance to patients of his exceptional skills and commitment to the art and science of plastic surgery. The Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Center of Gainesville invites everyone to celebrate this remarkable accomplishment.

Medical Tourism

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:30:31 GMT

Medical Tourism with Dr. Abell

Hello, my name's Edward Abell with Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery. I'm a board certified plastic surgeon who's been in private practice here for 18 years. Today we're going to be talking about medical tourism, some of the problems with that, some of the benefits and some of the real alternatives and why we are concerned about this growing trend.

Medical tourism has been increasing over the past several years, and what we mean by medical tourism is patients who travel long distances to seek surgical treatment for various cosmetic procedures. There are people who travel for various clinical procedures for known illnesses. That is not going to be addressed today.

Today we're going to focus on traveling for cosmetic procedures. Our concern is that we are frequently seeing patients who have traveled to outside places, including places outside of our country. They undergo various cosmetic procedures from the very simple to the very complex, and they return here oftentimes having problems that need to be addressed. This can be very difficult as a clinician and it can be extremely expensive for the patients, and it can result in some relatively poor outcomes.

When you live in a community that has plastic surgeons available to you or in your nearby region, this should be your first resource. Oftentimes, patients will see a plastic surgeon and not be comfortable with seeing that plastic surgeon or want to consider alternatives. The best resource is that plastic surgeon. We often see patients who want second opinions about various procedures. We're more than happy to refer them to physicians within our practice or physicians outside of our practice in nearby communities. This usually results in a much happier patient. The majority of those patients actually return to us for their final procedure. They simply want to hear some of the alternatives, price differences, and just get a second opinion to feel safe about what they've decided to do to make sure that it is relatively standard.

Where we become concerned is when people fly long distances outside of the country or to communities that are extremely far away to seek treatment. Most people who do this do this in order to save money. First of all, this oftentimes does not save much money because of the expense of travel. Once you arrive at the outside practitioner's office or surgical facility, there's usually a reason that their procedures are so much less expensive than the procedures in your community. Providing safe surgery is expensive, providing low quality surgery can be relatively cost-effective . However, the outcomes can be disastrous.

We often have patients who go to these places and have surgery, and some of them do quite well. However, when they have a problem, this is extremely difficult. They will oftentimes show up in our offices looking for help. It's very difficult to provide them that help because we don't know exactly what was done, particularly when these procedures are done overseas.

The other big problem is fixing these problems can be extremely expensive. If a patient has a problem or complication who is under my care, touch ups, revisions, and handling of complications typically happens no charge. As a matter of fact, all of our patients receive insurance when they sign up for and pay for cosmetic procedures in our practice . Meaning if something were to happen that required additional medical treatment, hospitalization, or other expenses, you have insurance for this beyond your own personal healthcare insurance. If you've traveled to an outside place, we cannot provide this. And oftentimes these complications result in expensive hospitalizations, expensive surgeries. This is compounded upon the money that they've already spent, which makes it extremely difficult for the patients.

From a clinician's standpoint, patients sometimes show up wanting to be seen in follow-up. We have to charge for those, and that could be very expensive. If you're a patient who is within our practice, follow-ups are typically free. If the procedures need to be corrected, revisionary surgery is quite complicated, can be lengthy, and oftentimes require multiple procedures to correct any problems that happen. These would typically be covered if you had been seen in our practice. If you are seen in an outside practice, there will obviously be extensive charges for these.

If you feel like you do need to travel to an outside facility to be treated the best way possible, it would be wise to communicate with your local plastic surgeon first so that you can make certain that you have appropriate follow-up and that you can be seen in a timely fashion without having to travel. The last thing anybody wants to do after having surgery and having a complication is to have to jump onto a plane and travel to some far off place to be seen about a problem with no place to stay and the additional expense.

So before traveling for a cosmetic procedure, we strongly suggest you see your local board certified plastic surgeon and discuss that in detail with them. Don't be afraid to bring up the idea of traveling for surgery so that you can discuss that with them extensively. Remember, we work for you.

Is CoolSculpting Right For You?

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:22:47 GMT

Summer is fast approaching! Are you feeling beach ready?

Soon, we’ll all be lounging on the beach during our, far too brief, vacation, and wearing our very favorite bikinis. But most of us probably don’t feel ready for the beach and those bikinis after the long cold months and the holiday foods! Fortunately, even if your beach body isn’t quite ready, we can help you get your body where you want it before bathing suit season goes into full swing.

Thanks to amazing advancements in medical procedures, there’s no longer a need to choose between dealing with unwanted fat and surgical fat removal. CoolSculpting is an easy, affordable, non-invasive way to help shed those last few pounds and define your muscles so you can look the best in your bikini.

What is CoolSculpting?

You might have heard of CoolSculpting before, but do you know what it is and what it can do for you?

Cutting-edge CoolSculpting is a fat cell minimizing procedure created to sculpt and shape the body by freezing difficult fat without having to undergo surgery. The procedure employs the application of monitored cooling, also known as cryolipolysis, to freeze fat cells so that they may be organically and naturally removed from your body to create a smaller silhouette.

Try as we might, there are always places we can’t quite manage to take care of with diet and exercise, and CoolSculpting makes it possible to target those stubborn problem areas in a matter of hours while you relax and let the machine do the hard work for you. A great thing about CoolSculpting is that it carries fewer health risks than other fat reduction methods so you can book your appointment, stress-free knowing you’re going to take care of those problem areas in a non-invasive way.

At the Aesthetic Center of Gainesville, we are proud to be one of the few offices all over Georgia that offer dual CoolSculpting! Dual CoolSculpting means we have not one, but two machines that can work at the same time to make your treatment more time efficient, working on more than one body part simultaneously. There's a reason we are North Georgia's #1 CoolSculpting Experts! We get real results for our clients.

Who is a good CoolSculpting candidate?

You might be wondering who the ideal candidate for this procedure is, whether you’re an ideal candidate for CoolSculpting, and that answer depends on a few different factors. The CoolSculpting treatment has been proven to be beneficial to both men and women of all age groups, but as with all procedures, there are some that will benefit more from CoolSculpting than others.

Those who will benefit the most from CoolSculpting procedures:

… Maintain a healthy body weight
CoolSculpting is not a solution for those who are chronically overweight. Because this procedure is designed for targeted and minimal adjustments, the best results come from those who already maintain a healthy body weight and do not need to seek further weight loss measures. Our consultants can help you determine if your weight loss desires are ideal for CoolSculpting or if another of our fantastic treatment options might be better for you.
… Are looking to deal with difficult areas of fat that won’t respond to diet and exercise
Everyone has those troubling areas they just can’t seem to lose weight in no matter what sort of diet changes and adjustments to their daily exercise they attempt. If you’ve tried diet and exercise changes to achieve those results and aren’t having any success, CoolSculpting might be a great solution for you!
… Are active and maintain a healthy lifestyle
A healthy and active lifestyle is important for so many reasons. It makes you feel the best, helps you to live longer, and boosts your confidence. But in terms of the CoolSculpting treatment, it is the only way to ensure that the results of CoolSculpting will continue to show long after the procedure.
… Are not ideal candidates for surgery, or do not want to undergo surgery
Surgery can be intimidating, and it isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re medically incapable of undergoing surgery or are just concerned about it, CoolSculpting is a great solution that just might be the right choice for you.
… Have a sensible outlook for the results of their procedure
It’s important to understand what the results of your CoolSculpting procedure will be and to have a practical understanding of what you can expect to see afterwards. Your CoolSculpting consultant will discuss those potential results with you so you have a good understanding of what to expect.

What the CoolSculpting procedure is like

You might be wondering what the procedure itself will be like. It’s a pretty simple process and should be minimally uncomfortable.

At your appointment, the area will first be cleaned and sanitized, then a specialized gel pad and the CoolSculpting handpiece is placed on the area you want to target and cryolipolysis will be initiated (see How CoolSculpting Works). The cooling technology, which is delivered through the handpiece, will target and freeze the fat in your problem area.

It is not uncommon to experience a cold sensation during the procedure, but this should not create pain. Because the handpiece uses suction to move the targeted fat cells toward the area to be treated, you will likely experience a minor pulling or stinging, but these sensations are normal and not a cause for concern. Treatment time will vary depending on the areas you’re targeting.

Who is a good CoolSculpting candidate?

Those who will benefit the most from CoolSculpting procedures:

… Maintain a healthy body weight
CoolSculpting is not a solution for those who are chronically overweight. Because this procedure is designed for targeted and minimal adjustments, the best results come from those who already maintain a healthy body weight and do not need to seek further weight loss measures. Our consultants can help you determine if your weight loss desires are ideal for CoolSculpting or if another of our fantastic treatment options might be better for you.
… Are looking to deal with difficult areas of fat that won’t respond to diet and exercise
Everyone has those troubling areas they just can’t seem to lose weight in no matter what sort of diet changes and adjustments to their daily exercise they attempt. If you’ve tried diet and exercise changes to achieve those results and aren’t having any success, CoolSculpting might be a great solution for you!
… Are active and maintain a healthy lifestyle
A healthy and active lifestyle is important for so many reasons. It makes you feel the best, helps you to live longer, and boosts your confidence. But in terms of the CoolSculpting treatment, it is the only way to ensure that the results of CoolSculpting will continue to show long after the procedure.
… Are not ideal candidates for surgery, or do not want to undergo surgery
Surgery can be intimidating, and it isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re medically incapable of undergoing surgery or are just concerned about it, CoolSculpting is a great solution that just might be the right choice for you.
… Have a sensible outlook for the results of their procedure
It’s important to understand what the results of your CoolSculpting procedure will be and to have a practical understanding of what you can expect to see afterwards. Your CoolSculpting consultant will discuss those potential results with you so you have a good understanding of what to expect.

How to prepare for the CoolSculpting procedure

One of the best parts about the CoolSculpting treatment is that it doesn’t require much preparation at all!

You’ll want to ensure you’re taking all the proper steps to ensure you’re as healthy as possible before your procedure. Ideal candidates enjoy good overall health.
Though the symptoms are minimal and not everyone experiences bruising, it’s always a good idea to stop anti-inflammatories like aspirin and ibuprofen before the procedure as they increase blow flow which increases your bruising.
Understand the costs. Before you sign up for CoolSculpting treatment, it’s always a good idea to understand how much it might cost. You can speak with one of our CoolSculpting experts for an in-depth understanding of the cost of your procedure.

What to expect after the CoolSculpting procedure

Because CoolSculpting is a noninvasive procedure, you can resume daily activities immediately after the procedure. You may experience a few symptoms after the treatment and those can include bruising, stinging, redness, swelling, and general soreness in the treatment area. These symptoms are short-lived and typically fade in the hours following your procedure. The best part about CoolSculpting is that you can expect to enjoy your results almost immediately after your procedure! The most impressive results tend to appear 1-3 months following your CoolSculpting session. Many patients are happy with their results from a single treatment, but multiple treatments may be necessary to achieve the optimal outcome you’re looking for.

If you’re ready to take the first step in your CoolSculpting journey, contact our office in Gainesville or Braselton to schedule a consultation. We can help you to determine if CoolSculpting or one of our other terrific procedures are right for you. One of our CoolSculpting experts will walk you through the procedure, answer all your questions, and help you to book your CoolSculpting appointment!

New Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery Braselton Office Brings New Doctors and a New Division to Serve a Growing Community

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 13:48:33 GMT

Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery is bringing quality, safe plastic surgery to the Braselton area with the opening of our new office in Medical Plaza One. The new location allows our high-skilled team of surgeons and aestheticians to better serve patients in the rapidly growing area, including scheduling appointments sooner and closer to home, while still delivering the same quality of care.

Medical Plaza 1 at NGMC Braselton

Dr. Basil Schaheen

Our choice of location, close to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton, was driven by our dedication to safety, which remains the most important goal for all of our employees.

Dr. Basil Schaheen , the most recent plastic surgeon to join the practice, is now seeing patients in Braselton. Dr. Schaheen, who has been recognized numerous times for his bedside manner and excellence in plastic surgery education, is highly trained in all aspects of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery Braselton,

Home to Northeast Georgia Hand

In addition to serving patients seeking aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, body and breasts , the Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery Braselton office is also home to the new Northeast Georgia Hand – the area’s only medical office dedicated entirely to hand surgery.

Northeast Georgia Hand is led by Dr. Emily Schaheen . The hand division focuses on restoring function to

hands, fingers, and wrists and treating all forms of arthritis, trauma, and sports-related conditions including hand surgery and more.

As a board-certified orthopaedic hand and upper extremity surgeon, Dr. Emily Schaheen treats all conditions affecting the hands, wrists and elbows. This includes fractures, arthritis, tendon injuries/conditions, and nerve disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Dr. Emily Schaheen

5 Signs You Might Be Ready For A Mommy Makeover

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:28:52 GMT

For many women, the blessings of pregnancy and motherhood are accompanied by undesired physical changes that can’t be reversed with diet and exercise. The breasts change dramatically during pregnancy and breastfeeding, often growing and shrinking, which can lead to sagging. The growth of the belly and the weight gain that accompanies pregnancy can result in loose abdominal skin and muscles, and pockets of fat. For many mothers, these changes lead to frustration and low self-esteem, especially in intimate situations.

Super Charge Your Confidence with a Mommy Makeover

If you find yourself in this situation, a mommy makeover can help you reclaim your confidence.

What is a mommy makeover? The phrase, which has gained popularity in recent years, refers to a combination of cosmetic procedures designed to address the problem areas caused by pregnancy. While it will be customized to each woman’s needs, a mommy makeover can include these popular procedures:

Breast Augmentation
Breast Lift
Liposuction
Tummy Tuck
Labiaplasty
BodyTite
Morpheus 8 – great for pregnancy stretch marks!
CoolSculpting

Who is a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

If you’re thinking about revitalizing your body after pregnancy but are unsure if it’s right for you, consider these 5 criteria of good mommy makeover candidates.

Your body has fully healed from pregnancy, your child is weaned and you’re done having children

Pregnancy and childbirth are incredibly taxing on a woman’s body. By most estimates, it takes 6 months or more for your body to return to normal. In addition to the physical changes that occur during pregnancy, your body gets depleted from nursing.

A woman’s hormones during breastfeeding can also cause more physical changes, so it’s recommended to not schedule a mommy maker until your child has been weaned for at least six months.

If you have reached this point, your body is likely ready for a mommy makeover. Of course, another pregnancy could impact or even undo the results of these procedures, so it’s important to wait until you’re sure you’re done having children to proceed. This could mean your youngest child is potty training or already in college.

Your baby was delivered via C-section

A C-section can leave some women with a long scar that remain noticeable for some time.

One part of a mommy makeover, a tummy tuck , can help tighten the abdominal muscles and skin while also improving the scarring.

You’re close to your ideal weight

It’s important to be realistic about the results of a mommy makeover; the closer you are to your goal weight the better your results will be. While a tummy tuck and liposuction can slim your body, these procedures are not intended to remove all excess weight.

You are a good candidate for a mommy makeover if you are close to your ideal weight and feel like it’s a weight you can maintain after surgery. If you have reached your goal weight but still struggle with fat deposits that seem immune to diet and exercise alone, liposuction could be an important part of your makeover.

Plus, Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive technique that is great for pregnancy stretch marks.

You have a support system in place

The demands of childcare are intense; no one knows that better than moms. Following surgery, several weeks rest will be necessary so a support system is vital. Not only do cosmetic procedures require post-surgical care and time for healing, many women experience an emotional rollercoaster following surgery.

Good mommy makeover candidates have a partner, family member or friend to help with physical and emotional care.

Your self-image has declined and it’s time to do something special for you

If you look at yourself and can’t see anything but sagging breasts and a flabby tummy, the procedures in a mommy makeover could help restore your confidence and boost your self-worth.

If your declining self-image has impacted your intimate relationship, it can also work to help restore that spark.

Given the difficulties of the past year and all the selfless acts you’ve done as a mother to help your children through a global pandemic, perhaps it’s time to do something focused solely on you.

How to Prepare for a Mommy Makeover

Once you’ve decided that a mommy makeover is right for you, preparation is key.

Take steps to ensure you are physically and mentally healthy enough for surgery. In preparation for your surgery, take stock of your physical and emotional health to ensure you are prepared. Ideal candidates enjoy good overall health, do not smoke and have no risk factors. It’s important to share your complete medical history with your doctor including depression, heart disease, diabetes and other serious issues.
Share your list of medications and supplements, and prepare to stop taking certain ones. Even if a supplement or daily aspirin seems harmless, be sure to share a full list of the medications you take prior to surgery. Some can interfere with anesthesia or complicate techniques, while others, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and NSAIDs, can increase blood flow which increases bleeding.
Stop smoking. Smoking restricts blood flow and can increase the chances of stroke and heart complications during surgery. Smoking is also related to poor wound healing. The sooner you can stop, the better. We advise our patients to avoid all nicotine products including vaping, gums, patches, chewing tobacco and second hand smoke for at least four weeks prior to surgery and four weeks following surgery.
Visit the pharmacy before surgery. Your surgeon will prescribe medication to manage your pain following surgery. Fill these prescriptions ahead of time to limit stress.
Understand the costs. When first researching a mommy makeover, a common question is how much will it cost. The cost will depend on the number and type of procedures in your plan. This will be defined through an in-depth consultation with your doctor. Once a plan has been created, your costs can be defined. The cost of a mommy makeover can range from $3,500-$15,000 with average cost around $8,800.

How long will it take to recover from a mommy makeover?

Recover time will vary based on what procedures you have done. For some of the more invasive procedures, recovering from a mommy makeover often takes a few weeks. During this time, your activities should be restricted in order to aid healing. For example, bending over, lifting children or performing many household chores should be avoided. Recovering takes a lot of energy, so it’s best to have a comfortable space in your home to which you can retreat when you need to rest.

There are also a number of non-invasive techniques that can provide desired results for the right patient, such as Coolsculpting , Morpheus8 , and BodyTite that reduce recovery time and enable a faster return to normal daily activities. Many of these techniques, along with localized liposuction, labiaplasty, and a mini tummy tuck, do not require general anesthesia and can be performed with local sedation and laughing gas (nitrous oxide).

Procedures that do require general anesthesia are done as outpatient at our accredited surgical center and are managed by a board-certified anesthesiologist with Northeast Georgia Medical Center admission capabilities. While rarely needed, it’s another level of confidence we bring to patients.

If you are a good candidate for a mommy makeover and are ready to take the first step, contact our office in Gainesville (and coming soon Braselton) to schedule a consultation. One of our plastic surgeons will walk you through the options, answer all your questions and help you decide on the best path forward.

Retirement Celebration for Dr. Sam Richwine, Jr.

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 13:04:10 GMT

The doctors and staff of Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery recently gathered to celebrate the career and retirement of Dr. Sam Richwine, Jr.

A native of north Georgia, Dr. Richwine started his career at Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery in Gainesville in January 1985 and has spent his entire career with the practice. Dr. Richwine has been board certified in plastic surgery since 1985. Throughout his career he has amassed multiple recognitions and awards, as well as becoming an Associate Clinical Professor at the Medical College of Georgia in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Dr. Richwine has a very good sense of humor and bedside manner and is adored by his patients and staff. He is very caring and compassionate to his patients and has a wealth of experience from over 20 years of practice in plastic surgery.

We will miss our dear friend and coworker, and wish him all the best in a well-deserved retirement.