When Dr. John Bradford Fisher was Chief of Plastic Surgery at the United States Navy National Medical Center, he was required to reconstruct facial injuries, correct facial disfigurement and serve the needs of those who interacted with the President at that time, Ronald Reagan.
“President Ronald Reagan came from an acting background where “good looks” were important,” said Dr. Fisher. “I had the dual responsibility of correcting both the ravages of war and keeping high-ranking naval personnel looking “fit for duty.”
Fisher, then Lt. Commander Fisher, developed the first use of facial implants that he carved from blocks of silicone. The results provided dramatic enhancement of the facial foundation. Close to that time Implantech, a leading implant manufacturer, began working on facial implant design and succeeded in designing anatomical shapes for the mid-face and chin, gaining FDA clearance to market these with the 3D Accuscan product in 1992. Today Dr. Fisher, of Body By Fisher® uses this experience to give patients a “Presidential” preview of what can be achieved with facial implants.
“Today’s patients want to look younger. To look as they did in their early to mid-twenties,” said Dr. Fisher. “Many of them have bone loss and need more definition in their face. Simply tightening skin is often not enough.”
But how does a doctor demonstrate how a patient will look with more definition? How can one show a patient how they will look with facial implants? While various 3-D programs are available, Dr. Fisher says nothing is more real, or more convincing, than actually proving it. He regularly uses a saline injection test he developed to simulate a chin implant, cheek implants, mandibular implant and to demonstrate midface projection.
“My patients love it,” said Dr. Fisher. “They want to look younger, correct diminished features or simply obtain a “brighter” look. This injection technique helps them test the result before surgery.”
According to national statistics facial implant procedures are on the rise. The news media has reported that the Social Media and Skype trend has contributed to this growth because people are now seeing how they look on camera and they are not happy with what they see. Dr. Fisher says that many doctors agree that the key to the “fountain of youth” begins with replacement of lost facial volume. “Three dimensional surgery is here to stay and I help patients see it first.”
For more information on Facial Implants visit www.implantech.com.