In 2013, following 33 years in practice as a board certified otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat) and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Harrison C. Putman III, M.D. looked to expand the services of The Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery Center. He wanted to offer his patients solutions to their medical and cosmetic needs that went beyond the face and neck. He partnered with Khurram Rashid, M.D. a board certified plastic surgeon already established in Peoria. Together, they created Central Illinois Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa.
With the support of a highly trained and skilled staff, including licensed aestheticians Kari Jones and Ashley Hadsall, they are able to offer a complete range of cosmetic, medical, and reconstructive solutions for improvement of the face and body for both women and men.
Services include face and neck lifts, eyelid & brow lifts, otoplasty (external ear surgery), rhinoplasty, breast augmentation and reduction, liposuction, tummy tucks, laser resurfacing and radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening, injectable fillers, Botox® and Dysport®, and complete vein treatment options. The MedSpa offers IPL photo facials, microdermabrasion, medical grade peels, facials, laser hair reduction, full body waxing, laser tattoo removal, mineral makeup, massage therapy, and many other Spa services.
Varicose Veins
Blood should flow in only one direction in veins which carry blood back to the heart. Varicose veins are commonly caused by improperly working valves that allow blood to flow in both directions. Venous reflux disease is a sometimes painful medical condition that can lead to swelling of the ankles, skin changes, the inability to stand still, and eventually, ulcers. “When these valves fail, blood pools in the veins, causing them to become enlarged, painful, and twisted,” Dr. Rashid explains.
“While both men and women can suffer from varicose veins, two-thirds of my patients are women,” Dr. Rashid continues. Both men and women can often be genetically predisposed to this condition, but women have additional risk factors such as hormonal changes, premenstruation or menopause, and pregnancy itself. “Taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills can also play a part,”
Dr. Rashid states.
There can be other contributing factors to this disease such as prolonged standing or sitting and excessive weight. Symptoms include visibly enlarged veins, severe discomfort or pain, itching, heaviness in the legs, and the inability to stand still for 5-10 minutes.
Treatment
Varicose veins are a medical condition that most insurance companies, including Medicare, cover the cost of treatment.
“Ten years ago, the only option was to undergo a very painful procedure called vein stripping under general anesthesia, which required a recovery period in the hospital for up to three days,” Dr. Rashid explains. Because of this, a lot of patients postponed treatment, often to the point of open ulcers forming at the ankle or on the calf.
Today, Endovenous Laser Ablation Treatment (EVLT) is a highly successful, state-of-the-art treatment. “EVLT is a minimally invasive procedure with a 98% success rate,” Dr. Rashid explains. “Patients receive treatment in the comfort of our AAAHC-accredited in-office surgery suite, with a local numbing medication and can most often return to work the next day.”
Spider Veins
Not all vein issues are as serious as varicose veins. Spider veins are very small, fine, red or blue veins close to the surface of the skin. Reticular veins, known as feeder veins, are blue and green veins under the skin’s surface that become enlarged due to increased pressure in the vein.
Both are considered cosmetic and can be caused by heredity, age, gender, pregnancy, obesity, or prolonged standing or sitting. They can be treated with sclerotherapy, a minimally invasive procedure that involves the injection of a prescription medicine into the affected veins or with cutaneous laser ablation.
While spider veins may be considered cosmetic, they can cause discomfort and itching and are certainly unattractive. They can be an “off-shoot” of varicose veins, Dr. Rashid explains. “I see many patients in my practice because they don’t like the look of the spider veins on their legs. In a lot of these cases, after listening to the patient’s symptoms and conducting an exam, we decide it is beneficial to order an ultrasound. Many times the ultrasound indicates underlying venous disease, so we begin by treating the medical condition first and then address the cosmetic spider veins.”
Other times it is just a cosmetic concern. But, when there is underlying disease, it must be taken care of first.
Breast Augmentation/Reduction
Another growing portion of the practice involves breast augmentation and reduction. Dr. Rashid notes that when it comes to augmentation, young women wanting enhancement and women who have completed childbearing and want to return their breasts to their former fullness, generally want to achieve a natural look. “They want more fullness, but this is not L.A. They want to look natural”
Central Illinois Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa offers many options in implants: saline, silicone or shaped contour implants. “The newest advancement in breast augmentation is contoured implants, as they are closer to a natural teardrop shape,” Dr. Rashid explains. Made of silicone, they hold their shape and present the most natural profile.
While breast augmentation gives women more confidence, Dr. Rashid says, he believes some of his happiest and most appreciative patients are those who get a breast reduction. Women who suffer from pain and discomfort caused by large, heavy breasts are pleased to get relief from back, neck and shoulder pain by having a reduction.
Dr. Rashid has also treated a number of men for a condition called gynecomastia, swelling of the breast tissue in men. In fact, gynecomastia surgery is one of the most common cosmetic procedures for men.
Full-Service MedSpa
Today there are many choices for spa services. However, a Day Spa can offer only over the-counter-products that cannot, by law, produce significant changes in the skin. Central Illinois Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa is staffed by highly trained, licensed aestheticians under the direct supervision of Drs. Putman and Rashid.
“Our aestheticians provide both follow-up care for our patients following surgery and all the services found at a day spa, such as facials, massage therapy, and waxing,” Rashid says. “But because this is a medical office, they are also trained to provide professional skin treatments, laser hair and tattoo removal, RF skin tightening and many more options not available at a day spa.”
Central Illinois Cosmetic Surgery Center & MedSpa, a division of The Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery Center is located at 7301 N Knoxville Ave, Peoria, IL. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 309-589-3223 or visit www.specialface.com.