The Truth about Artificial Sweeteners

For decades dieters and diabetics have used artificial sweeteners to reduce sugar intake in an attempt to lose weight or control their diabetes. Multiple studies have shown that this does not work. One study split a number of people with metabolic syndrome (prediabetes) who drank sodas into 3 groups. One stayed on the regular sodas, one switched to diet sodas (with artificial sweetener), and the third switched to Perrier or other drinks without sugar or artificial sweetener. By switching to diet soda, the prediabetes did not change. However, stopping all sodas did markedly reduce the problem.

This and other studies only showed that switching to artificial sweeteners did not change anyone’s diabetes, prediabetes or weight. One study 4 years ago did show that artificial sweeteners have an effect in causing diabetes. Another study a year ago showed that drinks with artificial sweeteners could increase a person’s risk of dementia or stroke. A new studyfrom the Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University links artificial sweeteners to obesity and diabetes, claiming sweeteners change how the body processes fat and uses energy.

We at the Center for Plastic Surgery have preached for years that the way to control weight and diabetes is reduction of sugar through dietary management, not substitution for it. All these studies continue to add evidence of the significant harm that artificial sweeteners do and the necessity of proper dietary management rather than substituting something for sugar or fat.

We at the Center for Plastic Surgery have been teaching lifestyle modification for years to improve general health and reduce the risks of many diseases. A new study has added further credence our teachings. The study of Swedish men reports that four out of five “heart attacks in men are actually preventable when a person makes changes to lifestyle that include maintaining a healthy weight and diet, adopting a regular exercise program, avoiding cigarettes and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum,” according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers arrived at this conclusion after conducting “a retrospective analysis of more than a decade’s worth of data on the health and lifestyle habits of 20,000 Swedish men, aged 45 to 79.” Specifically the study found  that “not smoking lowered the risk of heart attack” by 36 percent. Exercise also helped. The “men who walked or cycled for at least 40 minutes per day and did other exercise at least one hour per week had a 3 percent lower risk.” Additionally, men with “a waist circumference below 37 inches had a 12 percent lower risk,” the study also found. It also reports that moderate drinking and “a diet of fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, reduced-fat dairy products, fish and whole grains” also helped reduce the risk of a heart attack. Men whose behaviors included all of these measures “had an 86% lower risk of heart attack than those with high-risk behaviors.” However, just “1% of men in the study – and about the same amount of the US population – keeps this kind of heart-healthy regime.”

These findings were repeated by CBS News (9/23) and NBC News (9/23 Fox) on their websites and by Time (9/23 Sifferlin) and repeated by the AMA Morning Rounds (9/23) .

HealthDay (9/23, Dotinga) reports that when it comes to heart attacks in women, “healthy living” appears to have a “similar effect,” as seen in previous studies.

MedPage Today (9/22, Raeburn) reports that an accompanying editorial “cited earlier research attesting to the risk reduction power of simple lifestyle factors, and went so far as to call for change,” writing, “It is time to prioritize these most basic and fundamental behaviors.”

It looks like doing a combination of nose and chin augmentation is actually good for you. A recent study by Italian researchers revealed the efficacy of combining rhinoplasty and genioplasty. Dr. Robert Buchanan performs both North Carolina nose lift and chin augmentation to help you save money and recovery time. Why not hit two birds with one stone at the Center for Plastic Surgery in Highlands, North Carolina?

“Improved Facial Profile with Stable Results”

The study covered 90 patients who simultaneously had both cosmetic procedures between 2002 and 2004. The researchers followed up on the patients for the next 3 years.

Lead researcher Dr. Dario Bertossi, associate professor at the University of Verona Department of Surgery said, “”We can for sure improve facial profile with stable results with rhinoplasty alone, but the association with genioplasty is fundamental and necessary to achieve the best aesthetic result.”

Furthermore, the researchers pointed out that a “nose-chin-neck relationship strongly determines an aesthetically-proportionate face.” This will help explain why individuals with a successful nose job could still end up with a face with not-so-pleasing proportions.

The results of the study were as follows:

“Over three years of follow-up, the researchers found that almost half (45.6 percent) of those who had their chin reduced had no subsequent changes in the new chin.

For those who had chin extensions, 52 percent had a “stable” profile three years later, meaning no more than a millimeter of change, the researchers noted.”

We invite you to explore your cosmetic options such as combining rhinoplasty and chin augmentation with us! We are located at 209 Hospital Drive, Suite 202, Highlands, NC.  Call us at 828-526-3783 or fill out this contact form to schedule an initial consultation. We look forward to your visit!

Men and women who undergo plastic surgery have increased in number over the years. As stated in a press report released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were approximately 14.6 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures done for 2012. The report further revealed that there was an increase of up to 5 percent, both in surgical and minimally-invasive procedures, on the same year since 2011. In North Carolina,  Dr. Robert Buchanan performs both surgical and nonsurgical procedures such as North Carolina breast enlargement, Botox, and lip enhancement.

Plastic Surgery Makes People Happier

So how could plastic surgery make people happier? A long-term study’s results recently revealed that patients who underwent plastic surgery “demonstrated more enjoyment of life, satisfaction and self-esteem after their physical appearance had been surgically altered.” The study, with results published in the Clinical Psychological Science, investigated the psychological effects of cosmetic surgery on roughly 550 patients.

The researchers, based at the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy department of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, in cooperation with their co-researchers from the University of Basel, followed on the postoperative mood experience of 544 patients who just underwent cosmetic surgery and compared it with two groups: 246 people who considered surgery but decided against it in the end and 1,000 people who never considered plastic surgery. All 3 groups did not have significant differences in terms of life satisfaction, bouts of depression, and overall mental health.

Using the “Goal Attainment Scaling” instrument, the  results revealed (as stated in the press release):

The psychologists tested the patients before surgery, as well as three, six and twelve months afterwards. On average, the participants claimed to have achieved their desired goal, and to be satisfied with the results in the long-term. Compared to those who had chosen not to have plastic surgery, the patients felt healthier, were less anxious, had developed more self-esteem and found the operated body feature in particular, but also their body as a whole, more attractive. No adverse effects were observed. Thus, the researchers were able to establish a high level for the average treatment success of the cosmetic surgery, also in terms of psychological characteristics.

The Center for Plastic Surgery in Highlands, North Carolina

We invite you to explore your cosmetic options with us! We perfectly understand that cosmetic surgery is not just about improving the physical aspect but making you feel better about yourself, too.

Dr. Buchanan has hospital privileges at both Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva.  The procedures are performed either in his office or at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.  We are located at 209 Hospital Drive, Suite 202, Highlands, NC.  Call us at 828-526-3783 or fill out this contact form to schedule an initial consultation. We look forward to your visit!

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently released its annual multi-specialty procedural statistics. The figures revealed that there were approximately 10 million cosmetic procedures done by U.S. board-certified plastic surgeons in 2012. Breast augmentation and Botox topped the surgical and non-surgical categories, respectively. In the Highlands-Cashiers area, Dr. Robert Buchanan is a top-notch North Carolina plastic surgeon concerned with not only the results but patient care and recovery at the same time.

Top Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in 2012
With approximately 1.7 million procedures performed, cosmetic surgical procedures rose to 3 percent than that of last year. As lifted from the report, the top cosmetic procedures in 2012 include:

1. Breast Augmentation: 330,631
2. Liposuction: 313,011
3. Abdominoplasty: 156,508
4. Eyelid surgery: 153,171
5. Rhinoplasty: 143,801

Leo R. McCafferty, MD, President of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery attributed the increase of breast augmentation demand  to the increasing popularity of silicone implants. Recently in February, the Natrelle 410 implant ( a type of silicone implant) by Allergan received FDA approval.

“According to the Society’s statistics in 2006, 383,886 breast augmentation procedures were performed and of those 81% were saline implants and 19% were silicone.  In 2012, 330,631 breast augmentation procedures were performed and of those only 28% were saline implants and 72% were silicone.”

Top Nonsurgical Cosmetic Procedures in 2012
On the other hand, minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures rose to 10 percent than the figures in 2011. Of the 8.5 million nonsurgical procedures performed, the top 5 procedures were:

1. Botulinum Toxin Type A
2. Hyaluronic Acid
3. Laser Hair Removal
4. Microdermabrasion
5. Chemical Peel

“For the past 16 years, the interest in and demand for cosmetic plastic surgery has risen exponentially, a 250% increase in surgical and nonsurgical procedures, and our comprehensive statistics continue to show that,” Dr. McCafferty, MD added.

The Center for Plastic Surgery in Highlands, North Carolina
We invite you to explore your cosmetic options with us! We perfectly understand that cosmetic surgery is not just about improving the physical aspect but making you feel better about yourself, too.

Dr. Buchanan has hospital privileges at both Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva.  The procedures are performed either in his office or at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.  We are located at 209 Hospital Drive, Suite 202, Highlands, NC.  Call us at 828-526-3783 or fill out this contact form to schedule an initial consultation. We look forward to your visit!

Dr. Robert Buchanan of the Center for Plastic Surgery was featured in the latest issue of Western North Carolina Happening digital magazine. Go to the Article.

A story of an Afghan child who was shot in the face after her parents were killed by the Taliban who remains happy and hopeful and will be reconstructed in Long Island and the stories from nearby Newtown, CT show the similarity of youth around the world and how man everywhere can be both savagely cruel and exceptionally compassionate and caring. Knowing that the latter predominates is what allows us to survive the former. Not only in this season, but throughout the year, we hope to see more stories of selfless giving to others. Spread the kindness and have a wonderful Christmas season.

Below is the text of an article appearing in the Highlands Newspaper and the Highlander the week before Labor Day.

Everyone wants to stop aging or at least, prevent the visible signs of aging. Although there are no miracle creams or magic drugs that will stop the body’s internal aging process, living a healthy “optimal” lifestyle can limit or slow the inevitable,” said Highlands-Cashiers Hospital’s Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Robert Buchanan.

Earlier this month, Dr. Buchanan presented “Turning Back the Clock – Anti-Aging Secrets” to nearly 50 community residents, providing education and tools to live a healthy and long life.

“Proper medical care and body modification are proven strategies that can improve and extend our life, improve our looks or both,” said Dr. Buchanan. “Most importantly, diet, regular exercise, stress control and the avoidance of negative influences can reduce and sometimes eliminate the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. Eating a moderate calorie balanced diet of no more than 40% carbohydrates and the rest lean protein with good fat and minimal salt can maintain healthy blood pressure and prevent insulin spikes, allowing the body to burn already stored fat, reducing the waistline.”

Dr. Buchanan stressed that healthy eating plays a large role in anti-aging as does the commitment to live a healthy life style. “We all have to change our “taste,” change our mindset, train our brain and body to crave natural healthy foods and avoid sugar, salts, and bad fats. Sugar substitutes can do as much damage as the real thing and also prolong the body’s dependence on sweets and sugary foods. Modifying your lifestyle should be a gradual process in which diet and negative lifestyle habits are slowly changed over the course of weeks or several months. Your body and brain will accept the new routine and the willingness to continue will grow. Dieting with sudden change in habits is the cause of “yo-yo” weight loss and regain.” Dr. Buchanan offered helpful eating tips listing “things to have in your frig” which included: 1% or 2% milk, fresh fruit, fresh herbs for flavor instead of sugar or salt, organic eggs with yolk, greens, and water. A list of “things to have in your pantry” included: nuts, dark chocolate, legumes, seeds such as flax, steel cut oatmeal/barley, dried herbs and peanut butter. And a list of “things to have in your medi- cine cabinet” included: baby aspirin (recommended 2 per day), omega 3, vitamin D, multivitamins, and calcium. He noted to avoid vitamin E, which can cause increased bleeding, and most over the counter supplements.

Dr. Buchanan also advised the audience on the importance of exercise and how daily/weekly schedules of both aerobic and anaerobic activities can promote health, disease prevention and longevity. “Exercise is crucial; studies show that walking just one mile per day can help you lose 10 lbs. per year and walking 2 miles per day can reduce your chance of death from all diseases by an incredible 50%. Three hours a week can reduce a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer by 30%, and just one additional hour can reduce her chances of breast cancer by 60%.”
“Along with a healthy diet and exercise, sun screen with UVA and UVB protection should be applied each and every day to reduce skin damage. Limiting one’s alcohol intake to one glass per day or less, avoiding smoking and others who smoke will boost one’s optimal health.”

Dr. Buchanan ended the lecture by explaining how cosmetic procedures performed these days have age defying, long lasting results. Minimally invasive treatment such as a rejuvenative skin care routine prompts new skin cell growth and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), an in office procedure, can remove brown age spots as well as red discolorations/blotches on the skin’s surface. The Zerona^® laser can melt fat without pain, incision or downtime.

“We are using better injectables such as Botox, which reduces muscle function and, thus, wrinkles and others that fill in soft tissue including Juvéderm^®, Radiesse^® that offer immediate results, reducing lines, wrinkles or contour deformities,” said Dr. Buchanan. “And these are now administered with less discomfort.”

As for surgical procedures, Dr. Buchanan explained how various “lifts” can markedly reverse the outward effects of aging. “Today’s Facelift”, the facelift technique performed by Dr. Buchanan, maintains facial fat and achieves a more natural result. The technique, unlike older facelifts, prevents the pulled or “windswept” look leaving the neck and face looking refreshed, rested, and healthy.

6/7/12
I am at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery 2012. This is a multidisciplinary meeting focusing on facial rejuvenation. Although the temperature is almost double that in Highlands, I am finding it well worth the “sacrifice,” since the information being presented is good. They are covering not only the newest ways of facial rejuvenation, both surgical and non-surgical, but also methods of patient satisfaction. Among other things, one of the studies done confirms the superiority of Today’s Facelift methodology in providing a natural rejuvenation with minimal surgery.
R. Buchanan, MD