St Patricks Day 2019?

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What in the world could St. Patrick’s Day have in common with Plastic Surgery? I am referring to the legend of St. Patrick driving out the snakes from Ireland. Plastic Surgery certainly has some snakes that deserve to be driven out.

First, it would be nice if doctors who perform cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were required to have actual training in Plastic Surgery. While it is perfectly legal for anyone with an MD degree and license to do whatever surgery or treatment they can convince a patient to do, many unsuspecting people assume they are Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. These providers at the least do not volunteer that they are not Plastic Surgeons, and some even outright lie.

The point is not that they necessarily do a bad job, it is that the public is not fully informed before consenting to a procedure. Just because I call my practice ABC Plastic Surgery does not mean I am a Plastic Surgeon by training. There are even doctors who got together and created a Cosmetic Surgery Organization to certify each other and try to claim equivalency with the American Board of Plastic Surgery, but the AACS (American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery) was recently denied that right in court. The members still claim Board Certified.

The solution, barring new legislation, is to be a smart consumer. Go to www.plasticsurgery.org and enter your doctor’s name. If He/she is not there, they are not certified by ABPS. You can also simpl ask the doctor directly if they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The only answer that assures that is yes. If they mention another board, it is not the same.

Christmas Eve 2018

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Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Heights,

Not a fat cell was bulging, not even through tights.

The fajas were off, on the floor in a pile

Looking in mirrors, all patients did smile

For their surgeon had reshaped them with skill and with care,

In the hopes that bikinis and spandex they’d wear.

They needed no bras or scarves on their necks,

No filters were needed when photos they’d text.

With confidence and self esteem they were filled,

And all of their partners were certainly thrilled.

As he left the OR with the last patient done,

Dr. Yager’s battle against aging was won.

As he left in his car and drove out of sight,

He said “Happy Christmas to all, and to all skin stay tight!”

Holiday Spirit 2018

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As we approach the holiday season, I wanted to talk about Holiday Spirit and how it can make everyone’s life better.  I am always amazed that a time of year can make people behave differently towards each other.

December brings a joy and festivity to most people.  Holidays of gift giving, parties and gatherings, as well as a nostalgic look back at one’s youth can put you in an especially charitable mood.  We see more acts of kindness, volunteering, and a more forgiving attitude to friends, family, and neighbors.  It is a warm spot in the cold weather.

What if we carried this spirit forward throughout the year? What if all twelve months of 2019 were December?  Would the good spirit live on, or do we really only have a limited ability to be pleasant and kind?

It is my belief that any departure from your normal behavior requires effort, but if this effort is sustained for a long enough period of time, it becomes routine.  Therefore, if we try to keep our holiday spirit beyond the season, it will become easier and easier as time goes on.

Let us try to make Holiday Spirit everyday routine!

Cyber Monday 2018

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Today is Cyber Monday, and all of my patients are on their favorite web enabled devices seeking out the latest and greatest deals available.  Cars, phones, tv’s and clothes at limited time pricing seems to motivate people, especially with the holidays and New Year right around the corner.

I am sure that some plastic surgeons will be getting in on the action, offering discounts or sale prices on surgeries, injectables, or skin care.  I would not waste your time looking for Yager Esthetics specials that day.

While I like to think of myself as progressive, innovative and young thinking, I am truly old school when it comes to the professionalism of the practice of medicine.  I am friendly, my office is decorated with style and color, I play current music and have young staff.  When it comes down to the actual patient care, I will not be trying to sell you anything.  If you come in to discuss a particular concern, that is what we will talk about.  I will not take the opportunity to upsell procedures or services.

In my opinion, plastic surgeons are not salespeople.  We are physicians, and should always put our patients’ best interests ahead of anything else.  Our duty is to serve and assist, and that is what I do.  I never talk money with patients, and I honestly do not know or want to know the cost of many of the things we do.  It keeps me focused on patient care.

So enjoy Cyber Monday, seek out those amazing “shopportunities”, and if plastic surgery is in your future, I hope you will come by and get nothing but an honest assessment of what you might need and a more than fair price to do it.

Thanksgiving 2018

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Another Thanksgiving at Yager Esthetics- this is our 22nd! Each year, we have a gathering for staff and family to show our thanks and appreciation for being together as a workplace family. We cook, eat, and relax in the space we normally work to make it feel more like home.

Being thankful is a powerful theme, and I am so thankful on many levels. I would like to use this blog to give a little recognition to those who mean so much to my practice.

Thank you, Anesthesia! Your attention to detail and patient safety and comfort makes what I do a great experience for each patient. I spend a lot of time making sure that surgery goes well, and no matter how perfectly I perform, if the anesthesia is not good the experience is ruined.

Thank you, clinical staff! You make sure I have what I need, and that each patient is well taken care of. You are my eyes and ears and I rely on your good judgment to help care for our patients.

Thank you, office staff! If you do not answer the phones professionally and have the knowledge to make sure that the proper appointments are made, I have no patients to see. Your warm greetings and interactions make each patient feel at home.

Lastly, my patients! You are the reason I work so hard. My mission since 1997 has been to provide a safe and excellent choice for cosmetic plastic surgery for the Hispanic community in Washington Heights and I have never deviated from that goal. It is you who sends me most of my new patients and extends my care through so many generations of so many families. I appreciate each of you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Veterans Day 2018

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On Veterans Day, we honor those who have served in our military.  The sacrifices and dedication of our service people cannot be ignored.  It is fitting that we take a day to recognize those willing to fight to preserve our way of life, and to never take it for granted.

Interestingly, the field of plastic surgery really had its beginnings during the World Wars, where advanced techniques were needed to reconstruct the horrific injuries that modern weaponry inflicted upon our troops.

The innovations of the founders of plastic surgery in the modern era started the ever expanding role of our specialty to include virtually the entire body.  This extensive and comprehensive training in surgery and anatomy and physiology makes us the specialty with the most variations in surgical sites, and has lead to so many breakthroughs in other medical specialties.  The reconstructions that plastic surgeons can offer lets cancer surgeons be more complete in removing tumors and allowing function afterwards.

Cosmetic plastic surgery is a byproduct of all of the wonderful reconstructive procedures developed by our specialty, and I am grateful for all of the efforts of those who came before, as well as for the training I received to be the surgeon that I am today.

To our military veterans as well as the plastic surgery pioneers who saved their lives, I thank you for your service.

The Blog Before Christmas

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Hard to believe, but this will be my last blog before Christmas. I hope all of you have done your shopping, and are ready to have a wonderful family holiday. I had a great time with my Yager Esthetics family last week at out annual holiday party. We rented a local restaurant, Mamajuanas, and had a fantastic time with great food and drinks.

I am still busy in the operating room, as holidays mean time off from work and school, which translates into time to recover from plastic surgery with family around to help out. A nice way to end the year, but a busier time for me.

I usually will steal long weekends in January, before it gets super crazy, so that I have a little family time and relaxation time. Unfortunately, I am not the kind of person who likes to sit on a beach doing nothing. Vacation for me is all about seeing, doing, and learning. It is often more tiring than work! Have to think about that as a New Year’s resolution. Speaking of resolutions, it’s around this time I begin thinking of what I want to improve about myself for the new year. I haven’t been that good with them in the past – this year I was meant to write a book but the only way that’s going to be finished is if I find a ghostwriter! I’m thinking of keeping it creative again this year but more realistic. Maybe I’ll just try to write more, rather than making a whole book.

I have received so many lovely gifts from patients this year. I tell them that my gift is their happiness, but sometimes they give more. Not necessary, but greatly appreciated. My hope is that each patient feels that I did my best and exceeded their expectations.

This week will be a lot of yspa and injectables like Botox, Xeomin, Radiesse, Voluma and Juvederm, as the office parties and family gatherings bring out the competitive nature of people. I like to theink the Yager Esthetics advantage always gets the edge!

Happy holidays, and thank you for supporting me supporting the Hispanic community.

A December to Remember

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It is already the last month of 2016- where did the year go? The older I get, the faster time seems to speed by. Yager Esthetics is charging ahead in our 20th year as the Latina beauty experts. With all of the imitators popping up, we are certainly flattered, but be sure to be safe and do your homework.

December is a funny month, in that we tend to hold a few extra surgery days aside for the “last minute shoppers” of our practice. All of a sudden, people start realizing the holidays are coming, and there is time off from school and work. Gift money comes in, and all of a sudden they want to finally have that cosmetic plastic surgery procedure they have been thinking of.

If that is you, realize that surgery should not be rushed. Testing needs to be done beforehand to insure you are healthy and safe. Implants, girdles, and special order items need to be secured ahead of time, and all of the preop and postop visits need to be coordinated. You need to think about child care, who will pick you up from surgery and care for you, and who will cover you at work.

Of course we offer nonsurgical treatments and injections, such as Botox, fillers, skin tightening, laser hair removal, Silk Peel and skin care, for those who can’t quite get a surgery together. The results are amazing and can get you ready for a holiday party, family gathering, or New Year’s Eve celebration.

If you want this to be your December to remember, be efficient, make an appointment with your general medical doctor for right after your visit with me so testing will not be delayed. Patients aren’t the only ones who take off time around the holidays, doctors do as well. Except for me- I am here to serve you.

Thanksgiving 2016

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I can’t believe Thanksgiving has passed already! It is my most favorite holiday, as all Americans can celebrate together. It is a wonderful reminder to all of us as to how lucky we are to live in this great country.

One tradition I have in my life is to have a Thanksgiving dinner for all of my staff, where we can enjoy food from everyone’s traditions and share a moment without working. It is important to realize that we are all people, and have personalities and lives outside of work. Getting to know each other in a more personal context is fantastic.

At my home, I make it a point to insure that everyone we know has a place to go for dinner. Even if it is a new neighbor, classmate of a child, friend of a friend, we try to open our house to at least one new person a year to make it a welcoming holiday. It is about sharing and caring.

I would also like to thank my Hispanic community for welcoming my practice for 20 years. It has been my pleasure serving, and I hope for at least 20 years more.

Labor Day 2016

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It is Labor Day! Enjoy your day of rest and relaxation. This means that tomorrow, all the kids go back to school, and my teachers have to return to work after a summer of vacation.  The rush of plastic surgeries for the teachers is over, and now they start coming to book for Thanksgiving and Winter Break.

The first weeks of September are usually quieter for most people in my field, and an excellent time for vacation for me. I usually work hardest when most people are on vacation.  Although I am a professional and highly educated, I am a servant to the needs of the public, and therefore must make myself available at their convenience.

The side benefit of this strategy is that when I take vacation, most people are working.  This means the vacation spots are less crowded, and sometimes even less expensive.  You have to look on the bright side of things, as every seeming negative usually has a positive hiding somewhere.

The year has been quite rewarding for the first 2/3. I have a solid and stable staff, we just refreshed the entire Surgery Center OR and Recovery areas, and are getting ready to launch our new website design.  Our transition to electronic medical records continues, and we hope to be paperless by the end of the year.

Please keep reading weekly, as some exciting news will be revealed over the next months.  I will share details as they become finalized.  Enjoy the last day of Summer (unofficial), and get ready for an end of year to remember.