The reason for the choice? Gastric-band surgery is often the least invasive and requires the least amount of down time. Director at the Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery tells Time: Health and Family “Gastric band is usually a day surgery — they go in in the morning and a few hours they later they can be back answering e-mails and taking phone calls.”

Photo courtesy of Politicker

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Ella Magers is a personal consulting and wellness professional based in Miami Beach who has worked with professional athletes like Alex Rodriguez. She started her practice of Muay Thai 10 years ago when she worked under a world champion and now teaches Muay Thai Boot Camps at SobeKick Miami.

“The work out is so great because you work everything.  You work the lower body, and you and have the kicks and elbows, so it’s the science of the 8 limbs,” says Ella of her practice of Muay Thai.

Magers isn’t just incredibly buff, she is also vegan, so in addition to personal training, Ella is also promoting her new website Sexyfitvegan.com.  The website promotes a vegan lifestyle because “it is not only healthy, but a compassionate way to live.”  Ella also does in-person consulting in Miami in order to help people transition seamlessly into a vegan lifestyle and drop pounds.

“I work with them on nutrition.  I take people from where they are and look at schedules and families.  Everybody has things going on in their lives and they need somebody to look and fit in the exercise and how to eat right, even if they’re traveling,” said Ella.  “All of those components are really important.”

Ella was also the Fame Fitness World Champion in 2007 and knows a thing or two about getting results. Following her strategies and workouts, she says clients “start to feel a difference and start to feel their clothes fitting loosely” in no time at all.

But what if you want to hit the chocolate fountain at Dylan’s?

“As long as you find a balance in which you are eating healthy, and doing mostly the rights things, you got to go and have fun too,” says Ella.  “I don’t want to be unrealistic, I want people to have fun.”

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Photo courtesy of the New York Times

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The bike share organization is funded privately by Citibank and Mastercard and will do a world of good for the city. Encouraging healthy lifestyles with a workout that fits into a busy schedule also takes more cars off the road, encouraging a greener take on public transportation.

Bikes can be rented for 24 hours for $10, a week for $25 and so on.

Photo courtesy of Citi Bike

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The problem with starting an aesthetic practice today, especially in Miami and in the present day economy, is that you are competing with the discount factory-style cosmetic centers. In many places for cosmetic surgery today, the field has become more of a business than a devotion to good medical care. Most of these “discount” centers are not physician run and owned, and therefore commonly the patient’s business rather than their care is their primary concern. At these “surgical factories” in order to reduce the bottom line price, something is likely missing, whether it be the patients personal treatment or worse, their safety. My main objective in starting my practice was to establish strong, long standing, physician-patient relationships and a practice that was dedicated to the highest standards of care offering patients the caring, respectful interaction they deserve. Above all, as the practice grows, we are still committed to the principles on which I started my practice, and those are outstanding patient care, unparalleled service and attention, and dedication to the highest standards of care in a safe and comfortable environment within our office and surgical facility. Most of all, its about tailoring each patient’s individual needs and providing the best techniques to meet their cosmetic goals while serving the patient every step of the way without compromising their safety and results in trying to compete with these discount centers to make a greater profit.

What are the most important contributions you have made to your practice, field, and community?

No doubt we all find the work and things we do on mission trips to be rewarding on a personal level. As a physician, it makes you feel that you have achieved the most for your community. Having written articles involving the advancements in the field of plastic surgery is certainly rewarding at an academic level in having the opportunity to contribute your knowledge base and experience to the progress of the field. However, I still believe our greatest contributions are those we make for the patients in our day-to-day interactions and even post-surgically. For me, providing patients with a safe, comfortable, state of the art facility and promoting optimal care is the most significant contribution I can make for the community. Informing the patients about their surgical options as well as tailoring an individual plan for each and providing them the safe, professional, and pleasant environment to do it in is the most important contribution I can make to my practice for the field and the community. It’s about changing the lives of people; that’s what plastic surgery is all about. Its about exploring options, providing unprecedented results and offering the same care and discretion you would offer your family.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge in healthcare today?

As I expressed before, in today’s economy and market, most people are looking for the bottom dollar price. All too often, they are compromising safety and results to save some extra money. Its much too common for me to hear stories about patients going in for botox and getting something else, or even getting a breast augmentation by a dentist who likely knows nothing about the anatomy of the breast. In plastic surgery today, the saying “you get what you pay for,” has never been more real. Very commonly we see “discount” cosmetic centers advertising prices that are extremely low and you have to ask yourself as an informed patient, “What are they skimming on to offer those prices?”

Plastic surgery is a life long decision; its not like buying a purse or a pair of shoes. Thorough time and research must be done to insure that your safety and results are not being compromised. I believe at least in our profession, these centers pose the greatest challenge for physicians and the healthcare industry alike. We are limited to the kind of service and care we can offer if we are to compete with these centers and make a profit. However, at my practice, we know that patient satisfaction is of utmost importance and their happiness is reflected in our success. I think future patients will start to avoid these avenues and go with trusted physicians that can deliver safe surgery and unparalleled results despite the price comparison.

To learn more about Dr. Christopher Craft, check out his Haute MD Profile.

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The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a report revealing upper arm lift surgeries as a huge trend. While over 15,000 of these surgeries were performed in 2012, compare that to 300 performed in 2000. Not a small increase. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, that totals an increase of roughly 4,473 percent.

There’s another reason for the popular trend apart from the lovely Michelle Obama and other sculpted ladies in the public eye. Patients are undergoing significant weight loss, whether through surgery or other methods. Those who lose the weight frequently have a lot of unsightly excess skin and seek the surgery soon after. These candidates are often advised against the surgery due to a lasting (and large) scar left by the removal.

Our advice? Be sure before committing to plastic surgery. There are things you can do to build muscle that will lessen the appearance of extra skin.

Photo courtesy of Fans Share

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Tracy Anderson’s Breakfast Shake:

Blend the following: 3/4 cup kale, 1 cup milk, 1 cup water, 1/2 banana, 2 scoops Tracy’s Wellness Shake and 2 dates

Bob Harper’s Greek Yogurt with Berries and Nuts:

Mix 2% Greek yogurt, berries, and a small handful of cashews.

Ramona Braganza’s Scrambled Eggs and Turkey Bacon:

Braganza tells Huff Post: “I normally have scrambled eggs with spinach, or egg whites sometimes, with a few strips of turkey bacon and wheat toast with a little strawberry jam. I love oranges. And I have coffee, too.”

Photos courtesy of Huffington Post

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Dr. Chiu tells The Wall Street Journal, “We are excited to add fat derived stem cell banking as a part of our full-service, concierge-oriented plastic surgery practice. Just like fetal cord banking, it may one day be the solution to severe diseases and cancer. This is one cosmetic ‘luxury’ that patients cannot afford to be without.”

The post Haute MD’s Dr. Gabriel Chiu Offers Stem Cell Harvest During Procedures appeared first on Hautemd.com.

Carrots: Carrots function as a natural cleanser, containing Vitamin A that encourages healthy tooth enamel.

Cheese: Rich in protein and calcium, cheese can help assist in the remineralization of teeth.

Basil: Basil is a natural antibiotic and helps to reduce bacteria in our mouths.

Salmon: It provides Vitamin D and calcium that contributes to strong bones (and teeth).

Broccoli: Broccoli contains lots of iron, helping to create an acid-resistant film on teeth.

Photo courtesy of Chicago Smile

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I really wanted to give people viable alternatives to cosmetic surgery, and I was able to achieve that goal. I helped to create viable non-surgical options that have now become commonplace.

What about your field motivates you the most, and why did you choose to specialize in that field? 

I had two motivators. The first was the creativity inherent to the field…the kind of procedures I do have a truly artistic element to them. I also love dreaming up new and better procedures that produce great aesthetic results.

What are the most important contributions you have made to your practice, field, and community?

I popularized the non surgical Rhinoplasty procedure, which was the first of its kind. Before this was developed and adopted as a common solution, the only option for nose-related issues was surgery.

What is the number one concern your clients express to you, and how do you put them at ease?

This is it: “But wait…are you injecting poison in my face!?” With tons of information available on the Internet (much of which is misleading), clients sometimes have trouble demining fact from fiction. It’s my job to communicate the facts to my client and give them access to real information.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge in healthcare today?

I teach medical students at UCLA, and we talk about our healthcare system regularly. We need to come to a consensus on a rational and cost-effective solution for healthcare in the US. People need to be able to access it…I’ll go on record saying that I would happily pay more for that in taxes!

To learn more about Dr. Alexander Rivkin, visit his Haute MD Profile.

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