Helping Young Children Understand Your Surgery and Recovery

As a surgeon and a parent, I often meet patients who are both preparing for surgery and caring for young children. This combination can feel overwhelming. Parents naturally want to stay involved with their kids, especially when they’re between 2 and 4 years old—a time when little ones still need lots of help, cuddles, and … Read more

How Music Can Calm Anxiety Before Surgery

Feeling anxious before surgery is something many people experience. For some, it starts a few days before their procedure. For others, it peaks right before heading into the operating room. It’s a deeply human reaction — and one that I’ve felt personally. When I Became the Patient As a plastic surgeon at Oregon Cosmetic and … Read more

Quilting Sutures: A Modern Approach to Seroma Prevention

A seroma is a pocket of clear fluid that sometimes develops after surgery. Think of when you scrape your knee — the raw area oozes fluid as it heals. After surgery, especially when skin flaps are lifted or moved, the body reacts in a similar way. The space left behind under the skin can collect … Read more

Zones of Adhesion: The Hidden Anchors Shaping Your Body

In plastic surgery, small details often make the biggest difference. One of those details is something most people have never heard of — zones of adhesion. These are natural “anchor lines” where your skin connects tightly to the tissue underneath. Understanding where they are and how they work is key to creating smooth, natural results … Read more

Can Nutritional Supplements Help Wound Healing?

Healing after surgery or injury depends on many factors, including blood flow, nutrition, and overall health. For most healthy patients, the body naturally heals well with proper care. But what about people with harder-to-heal wounds, like those caused by diabetes or poor nutrition? This is where oral nutritional supplementation—especially products like Juven—comes into the picture. … Read more

Why Nicotine Is So Bad for Healing After Plastic Surgery

  When it comes to plastic surgery recovery, nicotine is one of the biggest threats to healing. Whether from cigarettes, vaping, or even nicotine patches, this chemical makes it harder for your body to repair itself after surgery. How Nicotine Damages Healing Nicotine shrinks your blood vessels. Smaller vessels mean less blood flow, and less … Read more

What Is the Capsule Around a Breast Implant?

When a breast implant is placed, the body naturally forms a thin layer of scar tissue around it. This layer is called a capsule. The capsule is the body’s normal way of protecting itself from any foreign object, like medical devices or implants. When the Capsule Helps With HealingIn most women, the capsule stays thin … Read more

Journavx: A New Way to Manage Pain After Plastic Surgery

Managing pain after surgery has always been one of the biggest challenges for patients. Until recently, narcotic medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone were the most common choice. While they can help, they also bring many side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, and the risk of addiction. In March of 2025, a new option became available: … Read more

Langer’s Lines: Nature’s Guide to Better Scars

When it comes to plastic surgery, scar healing is always a top concern. Patients often ask, “How can I make my scars less visible?” One key concept surgeons use is something called Langer’s lines. What Are Langer’s Lines? Langer’s lines are natural patterns in your skin. They show where the skin is under more or … Read more