According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “As of April 12, 2024, a total of 19 people from 9 states have reported harmful reactions after receiving botulinum toxin injections from unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-healthcare settings, such as homes and spas. States reporting these reactions include Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Washington.” The investigation remains open, and the source of the Counterfeit Botox has yet to be determined. This is what the authentic Allergan BOTOX Cosmetic box and vial l ..read more

I have been fortunate to practice Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 years. Like most plastic surgeons, the majority of my patients are women; however, I perform a variety of surgical procedures on men every week. Today’s post addresses Gynecomastia Reduction with some photos of actual patients who sought treatment in my Walnut Creek, CA, plastic surgery clinic. According to The Aesthetic Society, in 2022 the most common procedures for men in the US were: Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction) – 21,358 Liposuction – 19,593 Blepharoplasty (Eyelid) – 11,277 Rhinopl ..read more

Breast Reduction for Women remains one of the most requested plastic surgery procedures in the US. It is third in line after Breast Augmentation and Breast Lifts. But there is more to Breast Reduction than meets the eye. What Can Breast Reduction Do For You? Breast Reduction lifts, tightens and lightens the load when breasts are disproportionately large. (Click on picture to remove censoring.) Breast Reduction not only improves breast proportions, it makes many women feel better. Women with Macromastia, the medical term for large breasts, often experience back pain, neck pain and rashes unde ..read more

The first kidney transplant was performed in 1954. It was the first human organ to be successfully transplanted. The achievement ushered in an era of hope for all those with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the possibility of other organ transplants. Richard Slayman of Weymouth, MA, is the first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney. Photo credit – Mass General Hospital The Nobel Prize Goes to a Plastic Surgeon Dr. Joseph E. Murray won the Noble prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1990 for the first successful kidney transplantation between identical twins, between non-identical t ..read more

Otoplasty is a category of Cosmetic Ear Surgery that includes Ear Pinning for Prominent Ears and the correction of other ear shapes like Cupped Ears, Lop Ears, Stahls’ Ears and Spock Ears. Otoplasty also includes procedures for reconstructing ears in cases of birth defects like microtia, tumor removal or traumatic injury. Ear Pinning The most common Otoplasty by far is Ear Pinning for the correction of Prominent Ears. Otoplasty can correct prominent ears, even in a case like this, when one ear is more prominent than the other. Otoplasty is a short outpatient surgical procedure. It is an Ear ..read more

The Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. Abdominoplasty literally means abdomen changing, and changing the abdominal wall is exactly what it does. What is the Goal of a Tummy Tuck? Tummy Tucks tighten the belly and are one half the Mommy Makeover results seen in the above before and after photos. The primary goal of Abdominoplasty is to reverse the damage caused by pregnancy or weight gain. During pregnancy and weight gain, the contents of the abdomen expand causing stretching of the abdominal wall. After childbirth and wei ..read more

For its dedication to providing excellent patient service, Joseph A. Mele, MD, FACS – Plastic Surgery of Walnut Creek, California, has won The Talk Award for customer satisfaction thirteen years in a row. It is quite an honor, and not something I take lightly as patient service is job one. Joseph A. Mele, MD, FACS is the 2024 Talk Awards Winner for Excellent Patient Service. About the Talk Awards The Talk Awards congratulate those companies that are committed to making their patients experience the best it can be. Customer reviews, surveys, blogs, social networks, business-rating services, a ..read more

The 2024 Aesthetic Everything Awards are out. Thank you to everyone who voted over the last month, and your votes have been counted. I am happy to announce I am the 2024 winner in three categories: Top Aesthetic Doctors in America – Joseph A. Mele, III, MD, FACS Top Plastic Surgeon West – Joseph A. Mele, III, MD, FACS Top Breast Surgeon – Joseph A. Mele, III, MD, FACS 2024 AE Award Winning Plastic Surgeon Dr. Joseph Mele It is an honor to receive three 2024 Aesthetic Everything Awards again this year, and I am humbled by the recognition, and you kind notes. As a Board Certified Plastic Sur ..read more

It is awards season, and Excellence in Plastic Surgery is also recognized. I am happy to report receiving the NAOPS’s Top 10 Plastic Surgeon award for 2024. Dr. Joseph Mele received the 2024 Top 10 Plastic Surgeon award from the National Academy of Plastic Surgeons. Plastic Surgery Awards Season It’s been a good month. Last week, I received the 2024 Ten Best Award for Patient Satisfaction by The American Institute of Plastic Surgeons (AIOPS). This week the National Academy of Plastic Surgeons awarded me their Top 10 Plastic Surgeon award for 2024. Later this week Aes ..read more

I am humbled to be awarded the 2024 Ten Best Award for Patient Satisfaction by The American Institute of Plastic Surgeons (AIOPS) again this year. Founded in 2015, the AIOPS began with the idea that Plastic Surgeons should be recognized for excellence in their field and that potential patients can benefit from this knowledge. American Institute is an impartial third-party rating organization comprised of eight separate divisions. The American Institute of Plastic Surgeons recognizes excellence of practitioners in the field and compiles an exclusive list of the Ten Best Plastic Surgeons for ea ..read more