We’re celebrating our team member Giana Miller, who recently received her R.N. degree! Giana has been with the practice for over 12 years; you may have seen her smiling face in the front office, or enjoyed a chemical peel with her as she is also a certified Aesthetician.

To book an appointment with Giana, or a consultation with Dr. Buchanan or Dr. Schooler, please contact our office today!

Our very own Dr. Wesley Schooler recently traveled with three orthopedic surgeons and two other plastic surgeons in Tanzania, Africa. He provided complex soft-tissue coverage for severe orthopedic injuries, and a broad spectrum of reconstructive surgeries for people in need. Dr. Schooler also gave a series of lectures to Tanzanian doctors and nurses on techniques and procedures.

At Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center, approximately 30 percent of our breast surgery patients undergo a breast lift. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure designed to correct sagging or drooping breasts, restoring them to a more youthful and firmer look and feel. If you are considering breast lift surgery, one of the choices you and your surgeon will discuss is the type of incision performed during your procedure.

Our plastic surgeon, Wesley G. Schooler, MD, says the type of incision will often depend on level of lift required. The three commonly used breast lift incisions include:

• “Benelli” or “donut” lift – a circular incision around the areola only
• Vertical pattern incision – a complete circular incision around the areola and vertical incision straight down the breast, making a “lollipop” shape.
• Wide-pattern or “anchor” incision – includes the same incisions in the vertical lift but with an additional horizontal incision at the crease of the breast.

Because the vertical pattern incision is most suitable for women with a moderate degree of sagging, which is what the majority of patients experience, Dr. Schooler says it is the technique he most commonly employs. “In most people I do the vertical-type, short scar pattern incision,” he says. “It’s a somewhat newer technique, or a variation of a newer technique that I use on almost all my patients.”

As each patient’s breasts are unique, Dr. Schooler says it’s very important for the surgeon to match the technique based on the patient’s needs, as well as her goals and expectations – all of which are thoroughly reviewed during the consultation.

Contact Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center

If you would like to learn more about whether a breast lift may be the right option for you, or to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, please contact us today.

Dr. Buchanan salutes his long-time patient, shown here with her grandson, for her limitless energy, healthy fitness regimen, positive outlook on life and her “Joie de Vivre”!

Office staff, nurses and aids were friendly, polite, helpful, professional, well informed and kind. Dr Buchanan was professional, had a good sense of humor and was very conscious of patients wants and needs. I am very happy with my experience and results. -JC

Office staff, nurses and aids were friendly, polite, helpful, professional, well informed and kind. Dr Buchanan was professional, had a good sense of humor and was very conscious of patients wants and needs. I am very happy with my experience and results. -JC