A Letter from Dr Hodgkinson

What can I do about my ' floppy' arms?

Dr John Doyle, Dermatologist, responds to your queries on skin care and treatment. Here he gives you the real story on creams and how to get rid of those wrinkles...

It was this combination of negative comments and personal dissatisfaction that made Jamie seek the help of Dr Hodgkinson, who he was told by friends specialises in nose surgery revision. It took quite a lot of nerve for Jamie to make the first move and even think about having surgery again.

After coming for a consultation at the Cosmetic and Restorative Surgery Clinic and meeting with Dr Hodgkinson and his supportive staff, he felt more at ease about having further surgery.

Recovery “was a breeze”

The surgery took place at the Double Bay Day Surgery and Jamie was home within a few hours. Recovery “was a breeze”, to use Jamie’s words. He is exceptionally happy with his new nose and far more confident.

Jamie Kelly Before and After

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Secondary Surgery

A high percentage of patients who come to our clinic have had some previous surgery elsewhere to improve their appearance.

While some of these patients come to us to have additional work, there are many who are dissatisfied with their previous surgeons' results or are seeking further improvement or refinement of the former outcome.

The range of secondary surgery is as broad as the range of surgical possibilities itself; however, some are more prevalent than others.

Of particular interest is rhinoplastic surgery. Approximately 50% of the patients who consult me about rhinoplasty have had previous surgery elsewhere.

The patients' results may be unsatisfactory due to a variety of reasons such as a lack of communication, healing difficulties or technical problems with the surgery.

Secondary rhinoplastic surgery is performed by me at the Double Bay Day Surgery and often requires the grafting of tissues such as cartilage or bone in order to reconstruct the nose and improve the functional aspects.

“While cosmetic surgery can ‘set back the hands of time’, it cannot stop the clock ticking”

Secondary facelifts are not uncommon because the result of a facelift cannot be expected to last much more than ten years, even with good skin care, as the ageing process marches on.

However, secondary facelifts in the first few years are rarely performed, even on unsatisfactory, technically poor facelifts. This is because the previous surgery which has resulted in the tight, abnormal appearance is usually characterised by the excessive removal of skin; a situation which is sadly irreversible.

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Q: Is there any cream that will help?

A: The greatest amount of scientific research has been carried out on Retin A cream. There is evidence both scientific and clinical that it can improve fine surface wrinkling on facial skin. Most dermatologists and plastic surgeons accept that glycolic products can also improve and freshen the appearance of the skin, but they will not help deep folds and wrinkles. The evidence for most other products is less convincing.

Q: Does this mean that I would have to undergo plastic surgery to get rid of my wrinkles and lines?

A: The staff at CRSC believe that the best approach is to combine the experience of dermatologists, plastic surgeons and aestheticians rather than relying on one single treatment for a particular patient. Quite pleasing results can be obtained with a combination of glycolic acid, chemical peels, Retin A cream, non-permanent injectibles and anti-wrinkle injections.

Q: What does the future hold?

A: At the Clinic we are critically reviewing new equipment such as "non-invasive" laser therapy which will provide optimal results with minimal down time. There are many exciting possibilities.

Dr John A. Doyle
MB, BS, FRACP, FACD,
DIP American Board Dermatology

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Non-permanent injectable fillers naturally integrate into tissue to enhance volume and shape.They are a natural non-animal product and do not require pretesting since the incidence of allergy reaction is extremely low. These fillers can be used to enhance the shape of a lip by placing them along the lip’s edge or border. They can also reduce folds and wrinkles in the face and forehead.

Because they integrate into tissue they afford free passage of imported nutritive elements. Once placed there is a natural feel to the skin and the lips. Since the body gradually breaks down the product the process can be repeated once the effect has reduced if the patient desires.

There are 3 thicknesses of non-permanent injectibles:

• Fine lines non-permanent injectible is less concentrated and can be used for fine wrinkles or lines, particularly around the eyes and forehead.
• Regular or medium level non-permanent injectible is used for the face, particularly lips and folds.
• Perlane, the thickest form of non-permanent injectible, can be used in folds, and in lips to increase their volume.

To find out more about non-permanent injectible, call Dr Campion at the Clinic on 93627405.

To discuss the various options available to rejuvenate your skin under clinical conditions at the Cosmetic and Restorative Surgery Clinic, please contact Gail Farrugia on (02) 9362 7404 or Dr Margot Campion on (02) 9362 7405 for an assessment.

Our new Skin Care Clinic offers “gain without pain”, using only the most advanced and proven therapies and prospectively making patients much happier.

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Did You Know That...

Double Bay Day Surgery welcomes people back again and again!

48% of patients admitted to the Double Bay Day Surgery are satisfied past patients returning for further cosmetic surgery procedures.

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Operation Restore Hope 2001 Mission a success

170 child patients healed by 29 doctors and nurses

Dr Hodgkinson and some members of the Operation Restore Hope team outside the
nicely described “mother and baby friendly” community hospital in Paranaque, Manila.

Operation Restore Hope has successfully carried out its 2001 mission.

29 doctors and nurses from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States and Germany completed the missions in Paranaque, a district within Metro-Manila of approximately 800,000 people, and in Mactan at Lapu Lapu Hospital in Cebu City, a community of approximately 300,000 on the island of Cebu. 170 patients were operated on successfully and the majority of the procedures involved , cleft lip, cleft palate and complex burn reconstructions.

$175,000 worth of equipment

The team has raised over the years enough finances to fully equip Lapu Lapu Hospital in Cebu with over $100,000 worth of equipment so that these operations could be performed. In Paranaque approximately $75,000 worth of equipment has been donated or money has been raised to buy equipment, so that the procedures can be performed to an optimal level.

Time donated charitably

This year five plastic surgeons, three otolaryngologists, two oral surgeons, one dental surgeon, seven anaesthetists, one nurse anaesthetist, nine nurses and one hospital administrator were involved in donating time charitably without any financial reward to perform these vital procedures for these poor patients.

There are 250,000 children in the Philippines still in need of this cleft lip and palate surgery. They are suffering from social rejection and inability to speak because they were unfortunate enough to be born with a facial deformity which can be successfully repaired by skilled surgeons. And it doesn’t take much money to pay for these operations.

All funds go to performing the surgical procedures

Please review the progress of Operation Restore Hope and check out the successful results of the children’s operations on our website www.operationrestorehope.org.

Any donations are greatly appreciated and all funds go directly to performing the procedures. No funds are utilised in the administration of the Operation Restore Hope missions.

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