HealthLeadersMedia.com - Plastic Surgery Practice Advisor

Concierge service offers patients the VIP treatment

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:06:00 GMT

Plastic surgeons are always looking for ways to keep their patients feeling satisfied and boost the image of their surgical practice. One surgeon is finding that it pays to pull out all the stops and offer luxury benefits to her patients. Based on the notion that, after surgery, most patients want to be treated like they would at any five-star hotel, Nicolette Picerno, MD, a facial plastic surgeon practicing in Denver and Lone Tree, CO, has created a unique menu of carefully crafted packages for her VIP clients.

How to get word-of-mouth referrals to boost your practice

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Word-of-mouth referrals must be encouraged and sought after using creative, subtle methods, says Catherine Maley, MBA, president of Cosmetic Image Marketing in San Francisco. "Sure, you will automatically get some of them from your core group of cheerleaders in your practice. Every practice has that group of patients who just love you and tell anyone who will listen how great you are," Maley says. "However, you also want referrals from the majority of your patients, not just the chosen few."

Creating rapport from the outset will pay off in the end

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:03:00 GMT

Every plastic surgeon knows that the success of a practice can depend on good referrals from satisfied patients, and you know it is important to assess patients carefully in the first interaction. But have you ever thought about how the two goals are related? A good patient consultation can be the first step in an effort to obtain patient referrals, says Catherine Maley, MBA, president of Cosmetic Image Marketing in San Francisco.

New Johnson & Johnson filler promises many benefits

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Plastic surgeons now have a new dermal filler to offer patients-and those familiar with the new product, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in Morris Plains, NJ, say it could bring in more patients and create more business opportunities. The filler, Evolence, isn't a perfect solution for any patient, but it does offer some benefits compared to other currently available treatments for facial wrinkles, experts say.

Plastic Surgery Practice Advisor, September 2008

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:57:00 GMT

Inside: New Johnson & Johnson filler promises many benefits; Surgeons will find new product easy to administer; Ten steps to the perfect patient consultation; Creating rapport from the outset will pay off in the end; How to get word-of-mouth referrals to boost your practice; Some states pushing for stricter plastic surgery regulations; Concierge service offers patients the VIP treatment?

Plastic surgeons use barter to boost sales, bring in new patients

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:52:00 GMT

Some plastic surgeons are finding that barter can be a good way to build their practices and fill their schedules. Barter systems are relatively simple to use and can be a good option, particularly for surgeons who are just building their practices and still have time to fill most days, they say. The barter system is not what some people assume, says Don Mardak, CEO of International Monetary Systems (IMS), one of the country's leading barter organizations. (More information is available at www.imsbarter.com.) We're not talking about trading your plastic surgery services for something tangible like a bushel of corn. In the barter system, you provide plastic surgery to a fellow barter member for a set fee, usually the same amount that you would charge anyone else. The difference is that you are paid in barter dollars instead of real money.

Added value can boost your practice in a down economy

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:51:00 GMT

Editor's note: This is the last article in a two-part series focusing on how plastic surgeons can help their practices grow, not just survive, even when the economy is in a down cycle. July's article showed how aggressive marketing and other strategies can grow your practice. This month's article addresses value-added ideas that can bring in more patients. During a recession, people naturally want more value for their money. It's true at the grocery store, the hardware store, and yes, your plastic surgery practice. Find ways to give your patients more than they expect-and more than they can get from your competitor across town-and you could see your practice grow even as the economy slows, some surgeons say.

Allergan's eyelash drug may expand options for some patients

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:49:00 GMT

The recent announcement by Allergan that its new eyelash-enhancing drug is moving toward approval has plastic surgeons looking forward to a cosmetic enhancement that some say will be quite popular with patients and could provide a nice boost to plastic surgery practices. Allergan, based in Irvine, CA, recently announced that it intends to file a new drug application by the end of the third quarter of this year with the FDA for bimatoprost, a synthetic prostaglandin analog, as a treatment to stimulate eyelash growth. Allergan has completed its clinical trial program demonstrating that its patented formulation of bimatoprost, when applied directly to the base of the eyelashes, results in -significant eyelash growth, says Scott Whitcup, MD, executive vice president of research and development at Allergan.

$20.5 million verdict shows need for caution with surgery centers, young patients

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:48:00 GMT

Plastic surgeons across the country took notice in May when a Pennsylvania jury awarded $20.5 million to the family of an 18-year-old woman who died after a liposuction procedure, but the big question is whether there was any lesson in the case. Can you take something away from the bad experience of the surgeon who performed the procedure, or was the huge verdict just a fluke in a standard medical malpractice case? Malpractice attorneys and plastic surgeons say there are indeed lessons to be learned from the case of Amy Fledderman, from Newtown Square, PA, an honors student at Penn State University who died seven years ago after liposuction performed by plastic surgeon Richard Glunk, MD, of King of Prussia, PA. The case can serve as a reminder about the importance of proper surgery center certification and the added malpractice risks that come from working with young adults.

Plastic Surgery Practice Advisor, August 2008

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:45:00 GMT

Inside: $20.5 million verdict shows need for caution with surgery centers, young patients; Med mal case shows risks of treating young patients; Allergan's eyelash drug may expand options for some patients; Added value can boost your practice in a down economy; Plastic surgeons use barter to boost sales, bring in new patients

Avoid the most common liposuction mistakes

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:42:00 GMT

Liposuction is one of the most popular treatments offered by plastic surgeons, but patients aren't always thrilled with the results. Keeping in mind some of the most common errors made with liposuction can increase your ratio of happy, slimmer patients, say experienced surgeons. Liposuction has one of the highest revision rates of all cosmetic surgeries, about 25%, notes David Amron, MD, a liposuction specialist and dermatologic surgeon in Beverly Hills, CA. He says patients nationwide most commonly complain about these problems after liposuction

Revision surgery candidates need more scrutiny than most to avoid more problems for patient and surgeon

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:38:00 GMT

Most plastic surgeons treat revision surgery patients on a regular basis, but any experienced surgeon knows they are not just like any other patient. When patients come to you after what they perceive as a bad outcome from another surgeon, you would be well-advised to handle this patient with extra care. If not, say experienced surgeons, you run the risk of making an already unhappy patient even more disgruntled, and this time you will be the target.

Some call Botox breast lift dangerous gimmick, urge avoiding it

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:35:00 GMT

The Botox breast lift is receiving more attention in the media, and plastic surgeons should be ready when patients come in asking about what, at first glance, seems an intriguing idea-a nonsurgical breast lift with the toxin that is so popular with patients already. But should you give this new procedure a try? The answer depends on who you talk to, but it is safe to say there is considerable skepticism in the plastic surgery community about it. Many plastic surgeons are against the procedure, saying it offers little improvement to the woman and can pose unacceptable risks. But there are others who say the Botox breast lift is a good procedure for some patients.

Five strategies that can help practices grow, even if patients fret about economy

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:33:00 GMT

Catherine Maley, MBA, president of Cosmetic Image Marketing in San Francisco, offers Plastic Surgery Practice Advisor readers the following five strategies that can help you grow your practice in a slow economy: Encourage your staff members to be rock stars. No matter how highly you regard your staff members right now, they might do more with the proper motivation. People usually work harder when there is a reward.

Your practice can thrive in down economy if you get creative, respond to patient concerns

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:29:00 GMT

Like many professionals whose business depends on people spending discretionary income, plastic surgeons are focused on how to maintain their practices in a struggling economy. But are you setting your sights too low? Some surgeons and marketing experts say there is no reason to settle for merely maintaining the status quo in the current economy, adding that creative marketing strategies and practice management might help you to grow your practice, even as the rest of the economy lags.

Plastic Surgery Practice Advisor, July 2008

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:26:00 GMT

Inside: Your practice can thrive in down economy if you get creative, respond to patient concerns; Five strategies that can help practices grow, even if patients fret about economy; Some call Botox breast lift dangerous gimmick, urge avoiding it; Twelve reasons to avoid the Botox breast lift; Revision surgery candidates need more scrutiny than most to avoid more problems for patient and surgeon; Revision patients may have valid concerns or be unreasonable; Expect revision patients to take more time, need more TLCv Avoid the most common liposuction mistakes

Benefits of CO2 fractional lasers gaining more attention

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:51:00 GMT

Plastic surgeons are reporting good experiences with the new class of CO2 fractional lasers, saying this recent technology offers all the benefits that surgeons know from years of working with CO2 lasers but with essentially none of the drawbacks of the older devices. Fractional CO2 lasers, which have been on the market for about two years now, address many of the problems found with the CO2 lasers first used about 15 years ago, says David J. Goldberg, MD, JD, a clinical professor of dermatology and director of laser research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and adjunct professor of law at Fordham Law School, both in New York City.

MRSA a growing concern for plastic surgery patients

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:42:00 GMT

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a significant health issue in plastic surgery practices throughout the United States, with research showing that in recent years, MRSA has become the leading contributing pathogen in postop skin and soft tissue infections. The evidence is clear that MRSA infections are a growing problem and that plastic surgery is not exempt.

Front office staff can make or break your practice

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:37:00 GMT

Is your front office staff helping you grow your plastic surgery practice, or are you losing patients because prospective customers get a bad impression of your practice? Some surgeons and customer service experts caution that you might not realize how much damage is being done out front while you're working hard in the back. In particular, front office staff may be unfamiliar with your practice's Web site and not directing prospective patients to the site for more information.

Plastic Surgery Practice Advisor, June 2008

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Inside: Front office staff can make or break your practice; Seven steps to improve front office customer service; MRSA a growing concern for plastic surgery patients; Steps to prevent MRSA infections in your practice; Benefits of CO2 fractional lasers gaining more attention; Not just CO2: Fractional erbium lasers also gaining favor; Routinely screening for breast cancer improves results; plastic surgeons in unique position to help