A Letter from Dr Hodgkinson

What information is available to help me decide whether or not nose
surgery is for me?

Dr John Doyle, Dermatologist, responds to your queries on skin care and treatment, from pigment spots to freckles and more...

If Australia follows the lead set by America, we will soon see a staggering rise in the number of outpatient surgical procedures. But with the rise of day surgery procedures come risks and the need for stringent controls.

Day surgical facilities administering general anaesthetic should be licensed by the State Board of Health, according to Sydney-based anaesthetist Dr Howard Roby.

“This should take into account the location of the surgery and ambulance access, resuscitation equipment kept on site and the continued education of the staff.”

The Double Bay Day Surgery at the Cosmetic and Restorative Surgery Clinic is one of only a handful fully licensed for general and local anaesthetic procedures. Day surgery centres go through a rigorous accreditation process before they can become licensed.

“These guidelines allow the patient to have the security that they are in the best circumstances to minimise the risk of a complication,” says Dr Hodgkinson. “There’s really no other way to give patients the security as there are no office surgery standards in Australia”.

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As part of a day surgery’s licensing procedures a Medical Advisory Committee, consisting of at least five medical practitioners, oversees the clinical responsibilities and practices at the centre.

The Double Bay Day Surgery is fully licensed by the NSW Board of Health

“Each and every procedure at a licensed day surgery is only to be performed by an accredited medical practitioner,” said Kim Castrey, Director of Nursing at the Double Bay Day Surgery, “and in general anaesthetic and similar cases the patient must be attended by a second accredited practitioner”.

Dr Hodgkinson summed up by saying that to ensure their safety, patients should ask if the day surgical facility has gained any accreditation or licensing.

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Accreditation:
Safety is the issue

You may recently have become aware of the amount of media attention directed towards the complications that can occur in elective surgery. The hospital rate of infections has risen to an alarmingly high level, and any complications such as an infection occurring in cosmetic surgery can lead to a disaster.

By the year 2005, 80% of surgery is expected to be performed on an outpatient basis. I have been performing outpatient plastic and cosmetic surgery for over 20 years, always in accredited and licensed facilities.

The Double Bay Day Surgery was built to conform with the strictest criteria designated by the NSW Board of Health, and has been a fully licensed facility for over four years.

As we celebrate over 2,000 operations performed at Double Bay, exclusively by myself and my staff, I am convinced by our ongoing quality assurance program, as well as a recent review by the State Board of Health, that the Double Bay Day Surgery offers the highest safety standards for our patients’ protection.

Safety is the issue. Our anaesthetists and in-house general practitioner review all patients prior to surgery along with their extensive laboratory

Unfortunately, the laser is not a very effective treatment for facial pigmentation resulting from hormonal changes of the pill or pregnancy. We have found glycolic acid peels in conjunction with the use of sunscreens, hydroquinone, retinoic acid and kojic acid preparations more effective.

A combination of sunscreen, customised make-up, chemical peels, depigmenting cream and cryosurgery can improve freckling after multiple therapies.

Q: My teeenage daughter is a redhead and has had a number of severe sunburns as a teenager. She is now 20. Can we do anything for her freckles?

A: Pigment cells are the most sensitive cells in the skin and in people with fair skin they are particularly delicate. Freckling in very light skinned individuals is difficult to lighten significantly. A combination of sunscreen, customised make-up, chemical peels, depigmenting cream and cryosurgery can improve freckling after multiple therapies.

For further information concerning the KTP laser contact the staff at the Double Bay Day Surgery

Dr John A. Doyle MB, BS, FRACP, FACD, DIP American Board Dermatology

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KTP Laser for spider veins

We are utilising chemical peels, microdermabrasion, injectables, vascular lasers and hair removal lasers in order to redefine the skin. Patients coming to the Clinic can come to the Skin Rejuvenation Centre without knowing that there is a wide range of non-surgical options available.

non-permanent injectibles injectables

To discuss the various options available to rejuvenate your skin under clinical conditions at the Cosmetic and Restorative Surgery Clinic, please contact Gail Farrugia on (02) 9362 7404 or Dr Margot Campion on (02) 9362 7405 for an assessment.

Our new Skin Care Clinic offers “gain without pain”, using only the most advanced and proven therapies and prospectively making patients much happier.

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Clarifyl Care Cream is an oil-free, light textured care cream that prevents clogging caused by the effect of glycolic acid and selected non-comedogenic ingredients. Dead cells, impurities and toxicity build-up will be eliminated gently on a day-to-day basis preventing hyper-keritonisation. Not only is this cream oil-free and hydrating, it tends to control acne "break-outs" and is recommended for problematic skin. This cream prevents epidermal thickening and is desensitising and soothing.

Clarifyl Spot Treatment is a true acne fighter containing a high concentration of powerful ingredients, efficaciously stopping bacterial work, reducing infection and inflammation. It de-clogs pores keeping them clear and preventing hyper-keritonisation. This treatment tends to be quick healing with pure, smooth skin, and is recommended for acne and problematic skin or any type of break-out. It can be applied on chests and backs and is an excellent salve for folliculitis, razor-bumps and overly sensitive skin, soothing inflamed acne and promoting fast healing.

Clarifyl Purifying Mask is a specific mask with the highest concentration of active ingredients. It has naturally effective ingredients that produce quick, visible results and is tightening, healing, soothing. and purifying. An antiseptic with antibacterial properties, it is recommended for acne-prone skin with impurities and particularly recommended for men.

Want to know more? Please contact Gail Farrugia on (02) 9362 7404 at the Clinic for advice regarding these products, your skin type, or to schedule you free skin care consultation, or any other question about your complexion.

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More funds for Operation Restore Hope

Pearl Ventura and Tess Oliva, representatives of the Filipino community of St Therese’s Parish Church, Mascot, present Dr Darryl Hodgkinson and Mrs Hodgkinson with the proceeds of their fundraiser for Operation Restore Hope.

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