Plastic surgery has dated as far back as 3000 to 2500 BC from findings of treatments to mend a broken nose in the Edwin Smith Papyrus, which is a transcription of an Ancient Egyptian medical text.  Needless to say, advancements in plastic surgery have come a long way since then, let alone the past decade.  
            Although there are reports of plastic surgery being mentioned in various texts prior, Gaspare Tagliacozzi wrote the first verifiable textbook on plastic surgery, focusing mainly on nasal reconstruction, in the late 16th century.  In 1910, Dr. Vilray Blair published novel methods about skin grafting.  He’s credited for starting a number of university and military training facilities devoted to plastic surgery prior to and post WWI. 
The very first reported breast augmentation was carried out in 1895.  The procedure consisted of transferring tissue from the back of the breast in order to repair breast asymmetry.  Beginning in 1899, paraffin, beeswax and vegetable oil were utilized as injectable substances for breast implants.  We’ve come a long way since then considering silicon and saline implants are used in modern day procedures.  In fact, the silicone breast implant was first established in 1962.      
Dr. John Davis established the original formal training program and fellowship in plastic surgery in 1924 at John Hopkins.  Davis was also the very first professor of plastic surgery in the US.
Joseph Murray, an American Society of Plastic Surgeons Member Surgeon, performed the first organ transplant, a kidney, in 1954.  The first successful hand transplant was then performed by Warren Breidenbach, an American Society of Plastic Surgeons Member Surgeon, in 1999. 
Liposuction was first introduced to the United States from France in 1982.  Since then, body contouring has been in place since 2000 in order to tighten and remove excess skin after a major weight loss. 
Since the initial stages of plastic surgery, there has been a magnitude of growth and innovations.  Dr. Shaw utilizes the most cutting edge techniques and equipment for all of his procedures.  If you’re interested in a consultation or would like to schedule an appointment, contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767- 1900.     
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            It’s no secret that the holidays tend to be the season of socializing and eating, which can lead to weight gain.  Although it can be tough to say no to a second serving or walk past the dessert display, prevent the excess pounds by utilizing some of our tips and tricks to get you through the holiday season and come out on top.
            Everyone knows that portion control is key in your daily diet and the holidays are no different.  Although decadent desserts and bread rolls at parties and Thanksgiving dinner will most likely taunt you, don’t completely deprive yourself.  If you know that you’ll be aiming for a piece of pie after dinner or a bread roll with your meal, ensure that the majority of your dinner consists of vegetables to make up for it.  If you load up on vegetables during dinner, you’ll probably be pretty full and eat less for dessert as well.
            If you have friends or family that are visiting whom you haven’t seen in a while, use alternative methods to catch up opposed to going to lunch or dinner together.  Opt for a hike or some type of exercise, possibly a walk to a neighborhood coffee spot that’s near you.  Speaking of remaining active, we understand that the holidays can be a busy time of year that leaves little time in your day for a work out.  Even if you have 20-30 minutes for a quick activity, push yourself during your work out to make it worth your while. 
            Your holidays will more often than not be centered around cocktails, which can add excessive calories on top of food consumption.  If your favorite drink is high in calories, indulge in one and then swap out high caloric mixers with something slimmer such as club soda or tonic water.  It’s not a bad idea to drink a glass of water in between each cocktail in order to remain hydrated and avoid cravings.
            Between gift giving and hosting friends and families, the holidays can be a stressful time.  Make sure to set time aside for yourself for some pampering such as a bubble bath, personal face mask, painting your nails or all the above.  This will help keep your stress levels down and you can opt for “me” time over baking or snacking on things.     
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            Kids often have a mind of their own and explaining a plastic surgery procedure to them may be difficult or uncomfortable.  Everyone has a different approach to parenting and some would like to explain their procedure to their kids while others would like to keep it a secret.  If you choose to share, here are some ways to approach the conversation.
            As many women begin to age, especially those who’ve had children, their body just isn’t what it once was even with diet and exercise.  The majority of moms who opt for a plastic surgery procedure are merely trying to restore what they once had.  Once you decide to have a procedure, the next thought many women have is what they will tell their children.  If you decide to discuss your procedure with your kid(s), one of the essential elements is to keep the conversation age appropriate.  If your child is very young, they may not fully understand all of the elements.  However, since plastic surgery has become drastically popular they may have already been exposed to the subject through the Internet or television depending on their age.  After all, moms know best so determine if an open conversation with more details is best for your child.
            Incorporating inner beauty into the conversation with your child is encouraged.  Touch on the fact that you’re having a procedure to restore self-confidence and to enhance your inner beauty.  It’s also a good idea to explain to them that they’re exemplary just the way they are and since you’re having a procedure that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with them.  If you’re having a procedure that relates to pregnancy, explain to them that you don’t have any regrets having children and it was your choice to have children in the first place.  “I think the right approach is to plainly explain that there was something you were unhappy with and you decided to fix it,” said Dan Ariely, a three-time New York Times bestselling author and Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. 
            If your children are aware of your procedure and approach you down the road about having plastic surgery themselves and you’re opposed to the idea, you can explain to them that you decided to have your procedure once you fully matured and knew it was the proper decision for you.
            Undergoing a procedure is a personal choice and the person undergoing the procedure knows his or her family better than anyone.  Our tips are purely suggestions, so decide what the best approach to the topic would be for you and your family!    
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Fitness bands have been hot on the market with designers like Tory Burch and Rebecca Minkoff jumping on the fit wagon.  Since they’ve become so popular there are many out there to choose from with various tracking abilities.  We’ve weighed the pros and cons of some of the most sought-after bands to find the best one for you.
Basis B1 Band: First off, the stainless steel band on this tracker gives it an edge that doesn’t make it look like a standard band.  Aside from its sleek look, this band features a built-in heart rate monitor.  The app accompanying this device motivates you to enhance yourself through “Habits,” and slowly increases your goals as you meet each one.  Although this band collects and demonstrates an array of data, automatically keeps track of your sleep and measures your heart rate, some users complain that it’s a tad bulky and its shortfall is that it doesn’t feature an alarm clock.   
Fitbit Flex: This relatively slim band tracks your steps, distance and calories burned throughout the day and records your sleep quality at night.  The band also wakes you up in the morning.  You can check the lights on the band throughout the day to see where you’re at in relation to your personal goal.  The major plus for this band is that Tory Burch collaborated with them to design a stylish pendant, a metal hinged bracelet and silicone printed bracelets.  Users report that some downsides include that it doesn’t track stationary exercise such as biking.     
Jawbone Up: This band is pretty slim in comparison to the majority, which makes it comfortable to wear at night in order to track your sleep.  The corresponding app demonstrates your sleep patterns as well as what time you were in heavy and light sleep and features an alarm that lightly vibrates when you’re in light sleep to wake you up.  The app also allows you to track your food and shows your amount of steps per day as well as when you were the most active. If you purchase the Bluetooth band, it will sync wirelessly.  The only cons people report are that it’s one of the priciest of all the bands, only works with iOS and there is no display on the physical band.
Moov: This is one of the more innovative bands and is rated as one of the best trackers for exercise.  Its 3D motion sensors and Siri-type voice train and mentor you through activities such as running, walking, and boxing workouts ensuring that you’re performing the exercise properly to reap the benefits.  This band can be placed almost anywhere on your body and the accompanying app allows you to save your workout information to reflect back on.  Although this band is easy to use, users report that there aren’t enough apps to track various exercises and it can only be used with iOS.
Nike+ FuelBand SE: The latest Nike+ FuelBand features enhanced battery life, allowing users to charge it about every 8 days.  Nike+ is the app that syncs with the band and has features such as the ability to group your friends in different categories, connects to your Facebook friends list, and reminders to help you remain active throughout the day.  This is another band that only works with iOS and users remark that the sleep-monitoring feature is useless.
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            More than one million Botox treatments are now being carried out each year for the first time, according to www.dailymail.co.uk.com.  Although the number of people beginning to receive Botox is skyrocketing, there are still a lot of myths about the popular injection out there.  We’re here to set the bar straight and bust the myths so you know what to expect for your first time or the next time around.
            First off, many believe that Botox and fillers are the same thing.  Muscle movement forms wrinkles, which makes Botox the ideal tool to relax the muscle and level out skin.  Fillers are utilized to fill in the skin around the wrinkle.    
            A “frozen” face is a common correlation with Botox, however this isn’t always the case.  Your results depend on where you decide to go to receive the treatment. Having Botox done from a reputable, board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist will ensure a reliable, secure and aesthetically pleasing procedure. 
            Some may believe that the results of Botox are immediate and last a while.  This all depends on the person but a patient should expect to see full results within about five days.  You can anticipate your results to last approximately 3 to 4 months.    
            Wrinkles are not the only use for Botox although it’s the most common.  The intention for Botox is to paralyze a certain muscle.  Botox has been endorsed by the FDA for frequent health-related cases to tackle overactive bladders, migraines, and muscle spasms aside from wrinkles.  People automatically presume that Botox is an uncomfortable procedure since needles are involved, however the majority of patients report that the treatment is bearable.  If you’re wary of needles, a local anesthetic cream can be applied to your face an hour before the procedure in order to numb your skin. 
            Want to save on Botox?  Join us for Botox Days at the SHAW Center Spa on Wednesday, November 12 from 9 AM – 5 PM.  Spin our wheel for savings: 10%, 15%, 20%, 50% off, $100 off, or win FREE Botox!  Space is limited for the event, please call us at (480) 767-1900 to schedule an appointment.  While you’re at it, enjoy 10% off ALL skin care product purchases the day of the event as well. 

           
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            Minor bruising is a typical expectation for several treatments such as Botox and fillers performed at The SHAW Center.  Fortunately, there are several precautions to take prior to a procedure in order to reduce bruising.  We also have some tips on things to do post procedure to aid in decreasing bruising as well.
            If you are one to bruise easily, avoid taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, St. John’s Wort or high doses of vitamin E supplements for at least two weeks before your procedure.  These medications can potentially enhance bruising and bleeding at the injection site because they act as a blood thinner.
            Vitamin C is one of the most powerful vitamins out there that boosts immunity and healing.  We recommend taking 1,000 milligrams every day for three days prior to your procedure and then seven days following.  Bromelain is also an excellent homeopathic medication created to decrease facial bruising.  Take 1,000 miligrams of Bromelain supplements for five days after your procedure.  Pineapples are also an amazing source of bromelain.  Consuming pineapple helps digestion and minimizes inflammation.
            Arnica Montana pills also help avoid bruising prior to a procedure.  Take four pills under your tongue, twice a day for four days before your treatment.   
            Specific foods can contribute to blood becoming thicker and reduces the chance to leak from blood vessels.  Consume foods rich in Vitamin K like cabbage, spinach and kale.  On the other hand, certain liquids like red wine and green tea may result in thinner blood vessels and bruising.  Avoid consuming these before your procedure. 
           
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            Some procedures that we offer in the SHAW Center Spa require multiple treatments in order to receive optimum results, such as CoolSculpting and CoolSmooth.  Both of these procedures freeze fat in order to reduce flab and create an enhanced body contour. They’re a great non-surgical alternative to liposuction.  CoolSculpting is utilized on the waist, upper/lower abdomen and inner thighs.  CoolSmooth on the other hand tackles “non-pinchable,” stubborn fat on the thighs and upper abdomen.
            Since CoolSmooth and CoolSculpting freeze fat on areas such as love handles and thighs, that means the machine has to work on one side then the other, creating a longer procedure- until now.  DualSculpting is an innovative solution that allows you to freeze your fat in half the time.  This process allows two CoolSculpting machines to work their magic on you concurrently, resulting in areas such as love handles to be treated in one hour opposed to two. 
            Excellent candidates for CoolSculpting are those that have pinchable fat, healthy skin, unwanted fat that withstands diet and exercise among others.  The SHAW Center is the only Certified CoolSculpting Center in North Scottsdale and one of only two centers backed by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
            If you’re considering CoolSculpting or CoolSmooth, contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767-1900 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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            About 1 in 8 U.S. women (approximately 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, according to www.breastcancer.org.  Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, it’s not only essential to become more conscious about it but to also educate yourself.  There are numerous myths out there about breast cancer and we’re here to help set some of the popular ones straight!    
A Double Mastectomy Will Save My Life If I Have Cancer in One Breast: Research has proven that double mastectomies don’t boost survival rates.  In fact, the chance of cancer spreading to the other breast is extremely low, approximately 1 percent or less.  A double mastectomy is a longer, vigorous procedure and holds higher risk than breast-sparing techniques.
Deodorant Can Cause Breast Cancer: This one is entirely false and there is no evidence to support it.  One reason why people may believe this is thanks to email blasts over ten years ago that alerted women that certain chemicals used in deodorant imitate estrogen, which then increases a woman’s breast cancer risk.
Wearing an Underwire Bra Causes Cancer: Some believe that underwire bras squeeze the lymphatic system in the breast, which then creates toxins to gather and eventually lead to breast cancer.  This is theory is simply not scientific.  The tightness and type of bra you wear doesn’t have any effect on your risk of breast cancer. 
All Breast Lumps Are Cancerous: When you discover a lump in your breast, you should immediately contact your doctor, however don’t panic and automatically assume it’s cancer.  “Roughly 80% of lumps in women’s breasts are caused by benign (noncancerous) changes, cysts, or other conditions,” according to www.health.com.  Although not all lumps are cancerous, discovering breast cancer early is advantageous. 
Cancer Will Spread When Exposed to Air: Research demonstrates that surgery doesn’t cause or spread breast cancer.  One result from surgery is that your doctor can discover that the cancer has spread more than they previously thought. 
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            Dermapen is an innovative skin needling therapy to treat aged and sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, stretch marks and much more.  The device utilizes multiple needles that vertically pierce the skin with Automatic Occilating Vertical Nedling (AOVN) technology.  Natural collagen production is stimulated when Dermapen is moved across the skin. 
            The advanced skin needling in Dermapen results in scar-less healing as well as increased production of normal collagen.  This outcome is similar to fractional laser treatments minus the side effects and downtime.  Dermapen is also believed to be more powerful and more advantageous than the majority of chemical peels and microdermabrasion.   Dermapen’s technique causes less trauma and has minimal skin damage opposed to standard skin needling rollers.  This also results in reduced pain and discomfort, which makes it a safer, more effective treatment.
            Overall, Dermapen is recommended to treat aged and sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, vertical lip lines, skin tightening and rejuvenation, enlarged pores, stretch marks, scars (acne, surgical, and burns), and Alopecia.  Since Dermapen has a variety of uses, the recommended amount of treatments varies.  If you’re seeking rejuvenation, it’s recommended to have 4-6 treatments that are 4 weeks apart.  Six treatments are recommended for acne scarring that is spaced 6 weeks apart.  Depending on your stretch marks, it’s recommended to have 4-8 treatments that are 4-6 weeks apart.
            Patients can expect to see results as soon as the first treatment- more significant results will appear the more treatments you have.  Once you have completed all of your treatments, your skin will continue to progress over the next 6-12 months.  Contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767-1900 for a complimentary skin consultation to see if Dermapen is right for you!
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            Not everyone’s body type is the same so why should your workouts be?  It’s necessary for certain body types to target different muscles in order to receive the best results for your body.  In honor of National Women’s Health and Fitness Day on September 24, we’ve broken down the best workouts for different body types.
Pear Shaped: Those of you that have a wider bottom than top can reap the benefits of this workout by toning your arms and shoulders as well as strengthening the rest of your body.  Try out the “Hundred on the Ball” from Women’s Health.  Lie on your back and place your arms by your sides.  Bend your knees at 90 degrees and place your calves on top of a fitness ball.  Lift your head and shoulders off the ground but ensure that your head, neck and shoulders are relaxed.  Breathe in and out 5 times and then rest your head.  Repeat 10 times for 1 rep.  While your head is off the ground, pulse your arms up and down with your palms facing down.  Repeat this for 10 reps with 100 breaths per rep.    
Athletic: If you have broad shoulders and a slender waist, try this alternative take to squats in order to strengthen your tummy and enhance your booty and thighs.  Start with your feet hip-width apart and place your arms in front of you.  Bend your knees so your body sits at a 45 to 90 degree angle ensuring that your knees are not over your toes.  As you return to a standing position, rotate your torso to the right along with your arms.  Bring your arms to the center for another squat and as you come up rotate to the left.  This is considered one rep; it’s recommended to do 10 to 12.  If you are seeking more of a challenge, do the same exercise while holding a medicine ball. 
Curvy: Women with a bust and hips that are larger than their waist are considered curvy and tend to lack overall muscle tone.  Utilize this workout to build muscle and tone arms and legs.  Begin in a side plank on your right side with your elbow on the floor right under your shoulder.  Place your right foot in front of your left.  Extend your left arm above your head so your bicep is directly above your ear with your palm facing the floor.  Point your arm towards the floor while simultaneously raising your hips.  Repeat this movement on your right side for 8 to 10 reps and then switch and repeat on your left side. 
Straight or Boyish Shaped: If you lack any sort of curves, help build a shape to your waist and sculpt your glutes with this workout.  Start with your feet hip-width apart.  Hold a set of dumbbells at your shoulders, bending your elbows out to the sides with your palms facing forward.  Take a large step forward with your right foot into a squatting position so your knees reach a 90-degree angle, make sure your knees don’t over extend and are aligned with your ankle.  Straighten your right leg and come to a stand and then bring your left knee forward in front of your hips so you are just standing on your right leg while holding the weights up to the ceiling.  Repeat this on your other leg and do 10 to 12 reps per leg.       
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