School is In Session

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As next week approaches, school is set to begin.  Parents are rejoicing, and children are crying as another semester gets underway. For me, it is usually a quieter time of year, the end of August and beginning of September, as parents are getting done with summer trips and getting the kids ready for the start of school.

I like to use the brief moments I can take from my practice to learn and implement new ideas and technology.  I look in depth at everything we do, see what patient demands have not been met, and try to fill the gaps.  This has led to our Laser Hair Removal, Skin Tightening, Cellulite Reduction, Dark Spot Treatments, Silk Peels, and Spider Vein services.  All have been great successes, as I must vet every service before offering it to our patients.

Our Non Surgical Facial Rejuvenation has boomed with the addition of Nurse Injectors who truly invest in the art of what they do with seminars and classes to stay abreast of all new options.  The cheek fillers with Voluma have been amazing.

I have started investigating the use of Electromyostimulation with Tummy Tucks to enhance results, and will have my protocol ready for September.  Although I have done over 2000 abdominoplasties already, I always look for ways to achieve even more.

I hope to bring you all useful and worthwhile treatments that truly work, and will continue to make Yager Esthetics THE Plastic Surgery practice for the Latin community.

Scars and Plastic Surgery

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While Plastic Surgeons are specially trained in wound healing and hiding and improving scars, the bottom line is that every time you cut deep enough into the skin, a scar results.  Sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts.

I have been in private practice for over 18 years now, and have done over 2000 Tummy Tucks, and every scar is different.  Same surgeon, same sutures, same technique and instructions.  What is the difference?  The patient!

There are 2 patient factors that are important- genetics and compliance.  By genetics, I mean that each person heals differently. Some skin makes keloids, some hypertrophic scars, and there is really no test you can do beforehand to know for sure.  This is just your parents’ fault. Don’t blame them, though- they couldn’t help it.

Compliance is very important.  I spend a lot of time discussing the pre and post op routine.  Things as simple as positioning when sleeping and walking, to staying away from people who smoke, and what sort of products you use on the incision line after are all quite important.  Missing follow up appointments means missing the opportunity to be evaluated for scar therapy in a timely fashion.  What might work at 3 weeks might be too late at 3 months.

Every year, I make over a thousand scars.  Experience helps me hide them and improve them.  Anyone who says cutting the skin through the dermis leaves no scar is either misinformed or misinforming you.

What I Learned From Jim McMahon

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Today is the 3rd Annual Jim McMahon Golf Outing at New York Country Club.  It is to honor the memory of my good friend Jim who died unexpectedly in March of 2013.  As painful as it is to lose a close friend, it happened to me the week after my only brother died.

Jim McMahon was a golf pro.  He came over from his native Ireland in the late 1980’s to work in the Financial District just before the crash.  With no job, he scrambled to find work as a tile contractor, and eventually began teaching golf.  That is how I met him.

Jim taught me more about life than golf.  The way he could walk into a room full of strangers and in 5 minutes make everyone else feel comfortable.  The way he took care to notice the cleaning crew or normally invisible folks in a business and made them feel important.  His desire to learn about anything and everything.

I visited Laragh in County Cavan in Ireland last year for the wedding of his brother.  I met his mother and his 14 brothers and sisters.  I visited his gravesite beside his father.  I understand where he came from and what life was like.

Jim loved everything life had to offer.  He was curious and interested in the world, and embraced it with open arms.  That is why I help to organize this event, and enjoy sharing stories with the hundreds of other people he effected.

Rest in peace, my friend.  You are not forgotten.

Ms RDUS 2015

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I can’t believe it is pageant time again!  I have been a sponsor of the Ms Dominican Republic US Pageant for the last 4 years, and have been so proud of how it has grown into a terrific event.  I feel we are close to getting our first Miss Universe contestant.  But why is a Plastic Surgeon sponsoring a Beauty Pageant?  To me, how could I not!

First, having been in Washington Heights since 1988, I feel a part of the Dominican community.  Having had Yager Esthetics since 1997, my business is Latin beauty.  To see these wonderful young women who are so proud of their heritage is inspiring.

I also enjoy having the opportunity to meet with the contestants and lecture them on skin care and maintaining youth and beauty- essentially how to avoid Plastic Surgery.  Education is so important, and the winner has a great platform to enlighten others.

I look forward to this year’s Concurso in September, and hope you all will come and cheer for these amazing women.  Maybe one will replace me someday as the plastic surgeon of the Latinos!