Dr. H. Steve Byrd was recently honored by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

"...the ASPS Council ratified the award of Honorary membership of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. This award acknowledges (his) contribution to the continuing professional development of the Plastic Surgery fraternity of Australasia and particularly for (his) participation at the Plastic Surgery Conference 2008, Gold Coast, Queensland Australia."

Dr. Byrd was the keynote speaker at the 2008 Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons meeting. As "Mentor Travelling Fellow" he was selected as "A true giant of world plastic surgery. An innovative thinker who has been able to translate these thoughts into masterful results." During the multi-week meeting, Dr. Byrd was a member and leader on several panels and his lectures included:

"Cleft Lip and Palate from Infancy to Adult"
"Endoscopic Brow/Midface Lift"
"The Eyelids & Lower Face: Safe Lower and Mid-face Surgery"

Dr. Byrd is a nationally and internationally known plastic surgeon, surgical procedure innovator and developer, UTSW Medical School Professor and speaker. In 2010 he will speak in:

Seoul, Korea
Dallas, Texas
Guadalajara, Mexico

A busy office and surgery schedule limit the amount of time Dr. Byrd has for the numerous speaking invitations that he receives each, but he attempts to balance the many facets of his career and family obligations. Each segment adds something to his considerable talent and experience.

Botox. Walk down the street on most any block in America and you're going to run into people who have had Botox injections. Many patients use Botox and its ability to smooth out wrinkles so that they look younger. Done properly, Botox injections, and other types of fillers can become part of a fairly conservative skin care regimen. So why is a mother in the UK buying Botox online and injecting it into her 16-year-old daughter? It gets even worse. This teenager started having Botox injections at the age of 15.

As a parent and a plastic surgeon, I hope that a parent would have better judgment than to allow their 15-year-old daughter to get Botox injections. In this case the mother had already spent about $750,000 on plastic surgery for herself. With that in mind, it becomes clear why her daughter's self-image would be skewed. The daughter's reasoning for using Botox is that she doesn't want to look "old and ugly" when she's 25. 25?? Really??

I have two plastic surgery practices in Dallas. My Children's office deals primarily with children with craniofacial deformities. These children often go through a series of surgeries over the course of their childhood to undo some of the damage done by cleft lip and/or palate deformities. My North Park office is for adults wanting plastic/cosmetic surgery. Occasionally the patients and the practices overlap and we'll see an older child at the adult's office. Rhinoplasty surgeries, surgeries to correct tuberous breast deformities, and scar tissue removals are often considered for these patients. Fortunately we haven't had any parents request Botox injections for their teenagers - so far.

A 14-year-old girl wrote in from one of our websites asking about breast reduction. She developed breast tissue very early and ever since then her life changed. Young men and boys began to pay unwanted attention to her every move. She was a young girl trapped in a woman's body. She had grooves on her shoulders from bra straps which were digging into her flesh due to the weight of her breasts. Her back and neck ache on a daily basis due to the weight of her breasts.

While this patient could definitely benefit from immediate breast reduction surgery, at 14 she still has several more years of growth and that growth will include her breasts. At 18, her body still isn't completely finished growing but the majority of her growth potential will be reached and it's believed to be generally safe to proceed with the breast reduction procedure.

There are many different reasons for having plastic/cosmetic surgery;

Correct birth defects
Repairing injuries
Beauty

Patients come from all walks of life, and in all shapes and sizes. Some are young, and some are older. The question is, how young IS too young? When a young person comes in to see me, almost always parents are at the consultation, but not always. No surgery is planned until the parents are involved. This small group - surgeon, patient, parents - discuss the options, the risks, and the potential outcomes. Once we're all agreed, we can move forward with the planned surgery. Surgeons clearly have a responsibility to guide teenagers and sometimes their parents toward a safe, healthy decision. Selecting a surgeon that you trust is key to a successful outcome regardless of the patient's age.

Immediately following a rhinoplasty, many of my Fort Worth or Dallas patients worry that they will never breathe normally again. Patients may initially feel congested or "stuffy" after surgery because of normal postoperative swelling inside and outside the nose. However, this congestion generally fades in well under a month. Crusting inside the nose, also normal, can interfere with regular breathing, but will subside soon after surgery.

If you're bothered by congestion following your nose surgery, here are a few things you can do to improve your breathing:

• Keep your head elevated, even while sleeping, and avoid bending over or lifting anything heavy.


• Strictly follow your surgeon's aftercare instructions, which may include taking prescription medications for swelling, using a humidifier, or irrigating with a saline nasal spray.


• Avoid salty foods, alcohol, and hot showers, which can increase swelling.


• If you have nasal allergies, avoid your triggers—such as dust, pollen, or animal fur.

I've developed a regimen of vitamins, supplements, and other post-op medications that can be very effective in limiting and controlling breathing difficulties, so ask your surgeon for his or her recommendations. Once everything heals normally and swelling subsides, you should be able to breathe as well or better than before. If you cannot, notify your surgeon, who will determine the appropriate course of action to correct the problem.

If you've decided to have a rhinoplasty (nose job) in Dallas, you might be wondering what time of year would be best for your surgery. Each season has distinct benefits and there are some important things you can do for each season to ensure success.

Spring

Because spring weather can still be unpredictable, you will probably find it easy to spend time indoors and avoid activity that raises your blood pressure or increases blood flow.

Tips for success: avoid sun exposure and, if you have allergies, try to avoid blowing your nose.

Summer or Early Fall

If you are a student or have accumulated vacation time, summer or early fall would be an ideal time to schedule your rhinoplasty. If you're fortunate, a parent or spouse will be able to provide immediate post-operative care.

Tips for success: avoid sun exposure and fight the urge to play summer sports before your surgeon has given you the "green light."

Late Fall or Winter

Because you will need to rest and avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks, you can curl up on your couch and get comfortable. You will have to avoid direct sun for 8 weeks because of potential damage from UV rays, so recuperating during the stormy months makes sense. Finally, because of the holidays, some people can receive immediate post-operative care from a spouse or parent.

Tip for success: plan your surgery carefully. This season tends to be busy with holiday parties, so planning enough time to recover from your rhinoplasty without missing the events that really matter is of the utmost importance.

So what is the best season to schedule your rhinoplasty? As you can see, much depends on your personality, so remember to discuss these pros and cons with your plastic surgeon before you schedule your surgery.