May 2013 Newsletter

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Portland Plastic Surgeons Offer A Full Spectrum Of Cosmetic Treatments and Procedures

By offering a wide range of surgical and nonsurgical procedures, Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien are able to help their patients more effectively achieve their cosmetic goals.

Portland, OR – Board-certified plastic surgeons Drs. Kathleen Waldorf and Shannon O’Brien strive to provide the most comprehensive cosmetic plastic surgical care and spa services in the Northwest. At The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery, their Portland plastic surgery practice, Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien believe offering a full spectrum of surgical and nonsurgical procedures is essential to their mission of developing long-term relationships with their patients while helping them fully achieve their aesthetic goals. Their cosmetic treatments and procedures range from breast augmentation and tummy tuck surgery, to nonsurgical CoolSculpting® and chemical peels.

Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien say their patients are always looking for more options to look better and feel younger. They feel that a plastic surgeon is the most qualified specialist to review a patient’s cosmetic options and tailor a program for patients that will meet their expectations. Because The Waldorf Center offers a comprehensive range of treatments and procedures, Dr. Waldorf says there is never any pressure on the part of the surgeons to “sell” the patient on one procedure over another. Instead, she notes that the goal is to find the procedure that is right for individual patients – one that will yield the desired aesthetic outcome and also work within their budgets:

“If we have all options available, if we offer the gamut from non-surgical to surgical, the patient can choose. The incentive is to do what is right for the patient. It’s all about honesty and achieving realistic expectations.”

When helping patients decide between surgical and nonsurgical procedures such as a traditional facelift versus Ultherapy®, Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien take into account factors such as the patient’s desires, timeline, and budget. By gathering information about the patient’s expectations, the Portland plastic surgeons can educate their patients on the expected outcome, associated downtime, and cost of each of their options. Their aim is to make sure each patient’s unique concerns are addressed in a manner that suits the patient’s individual circumstances – and the full spectrum of services offered at The Waldorf Center helps enable Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien to fulfill this aim.

About Kathleen Waldorf, MD

Dr. Kathleen Waldorf is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine. She is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In addition to her work at The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery, Dr. Waldorf works with the Cleft Palate Team at the Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.

About Shannon O’Brien, MD

Dr. Shannon O'Brien is a graduate of Texas A&M University and earned her medical degree at the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio. She served as Chief Resident at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2008, where she completed a 6-year integrated residency program in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and General Surgery. Dr. O’Brien is also board-certified and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons as well as an Associate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien are available for interview upon request.


Portland Plastic Surgeons Offer New FDA-Approved Breast Implants

Drs. Kathleen Waldorf and Shannon O’Brien expand The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery’s silicone gel implant options to include Natrelle® 410, the newest anatomically-shaped breast implant approved by the FDA.

Portland, OR – Drs. Kathleen Waldorf and Shannon O’Brien, each a board-certified Portland plastic surgeon, are excited to offer a new anatomically-shaped, silicone gel-filled implant option for their practice’s breast enhancement patients. In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Natrelle® 410 breast implant, which can be used in a variety of breast procedures including breast augmentation and breast reconstruction.

Manufactured by Allergan, Inc., Natrelle® 410 silicone breast implants are engineered to complement a woman’s natural curves with an anatomically shaped silhouette. Natrelle® 410 silicone implants are already the #1 surgeon-selected implant in Europe and Canada and have been used successfully in those regions for 20 years. Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien say they are excited for the opportunity to offer these innovative implants at The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery, their Portland private practice.

As a result of a recent advancement in silicone gel technology, Natrelle® 410 implants contain more cross-linking (the bonds that link silicone chains together) compared to the silicone gel used in Allergan’s previously approved Natrelle® implant. The result is a firmer implant that has a reduced rate of rupture and is better able to hold a natural-looking form over a longer period of time.

According to Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien, the Natrelle® 410 silicone implants are form-stable and will enable the plastic surgeons to better treat some of their breast augmentation and breast reconstruction patients. These implants will provide a more consistent shape—especially in the upper pole of the breast—while reducing the problem of rippling or wrinkling. Over a seven-year trial period, these implants also displayed zero gel migrations in ruptured implants.

Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien highlight the importance of any prospective Portland plastic surgery patient considering breast implants to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon. During the consultation process, qualified plastic surgeons can help patients determine the procedure and implant that will best suit the patients’ individual cosmetic goals with the highest degree of safety.

About Kathleen Waldorf, MD

Dr. Kathleen Waldorf earned her medical degree at Georgetown University where she also received her general surgery training. She went on to complete her residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Waldorf is a board-certified member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. She is available for interview upon request.

About Shannon O’Brien, MD

Dr. Shannon O'Brien earned her medical degree from the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio. She is a board-certified member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and joined The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery in 2008 after serving as the Chief Resident at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. O’Brien is available for interview upon request.


Portland Plastic Surgeons “Pay It Forward” with Reconstructive Surgery Mission

An international trip to perform reconstructive surgeries in Sierra Leone helps plastic surgeon in Portland “pay it forward.”

Portland, OR – For Dr. Kathleen Waldorf, a board-certified Portland plastic surgeon, philanthropy is an integral aspect of her life and her work. Dr. Waldorf and Dr. Shannon O’Brien of The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery subscribe to a “pay it forward” philosophy in which the practice donates time, money, and service to give back not only to Oregon, but internationally as well.

In keeping with the practice’s philosophy, Dr. Waldorf recently returned from her second medical mission to Sierra Leone in West Africa. According to the Portland plastic surgeon, Sierra Leone does not have any plastic surgeons, and the country’s average citizen earns only $200 a year. For these reasons, Dr. Waldorf traveled to use her expertise in cleft palate surgery and other reconstructive procedures in order to assist those who would not otherwise have the opportunity. While there, she and fellow doctors were able to attend to 103 patients and complete 86 procedures over five days.

When asked what effect this trip had on her as a plastic surgeon as well as a human being, Dr. Waldorf replied: “Working in a third world country helps one realize how fortunate we are in the U.S. with resources and expertise readily available. It is a privilege to provide care for patients, and it is rewarding to feel like you are making a positive impact on their lives.”

Dr. Waldorf traveled with a charitable organization known as Women for World Health. The organization seeks to address the health care needs of developing nations through volunteer support. Its vision takes a holistic approach that focuses on providing medical care while seeking to educate impoverished people worldwide. This vision coincides with Dr. Waldorf’s goals as a surgeon, regardless of whether she is performing reconstructive procedures, or cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation or liposuction.

Dr. Waldorf’s recent travel to Sierra Leone was her third international medical mission. In 2010, she worked in Sierra Leone where she and her fellow surgeons with Women for World Health completed 84 reconstructive surgeries. In 2011, she traveled to Ecuador to help children suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate where she and her team members completed 79 reconstructive surgeries.

As practitioners of plastic surgery in Portland, Dr. Waldorf and Dr. O’Brien also give locally. The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery donates to the Oregon Food Bank and the Humane Society. As the practice strives to “pay it forward,” communities both near and far benefit from this philanthropic work ethic.

About Kathleen Waldorf, MD

Dr. Kathleen Waldorf is a dual board-certified member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. A graduate of Georgetown University’s medical school, she completed her residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Waldorf works with the Cleft Palate Team at the Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel to surgically correct cleft lip and cleft palate. Through her affiliations with the ASPS and ASAPS, she is able to continue her commitment to medical education and stay current with the latest developments in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

About Shannon O’Brien, MD

Dr. Shannon O'Brien is a board-certified member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. A graduate of Texas A&M University, she completed her medical degree at the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio. During her time there, she was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Dr. O’Brien later served as Chief Resident at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2008, completing a 6-year integrated residency program in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and General Surgery.

Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien are available for interview upon request.


July 2012 Monthly News

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June 2012 Monthly News

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Don’t Let the Sun Be a Frienemy

May is designated Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and with this beautiful Spring, we thought it would be beneficial to provide our readers with some safe sun tips to protect your skin.

One of our aestheticians here at The Waldorf Center, Shannin Lowe, refers to sunshine as the “Kiss of Death” because the sun’s UV rays cause at least 90% of all skin changes associated with aging in an average person. We are lucky to have Shannin on our staff to ask about safe sun practices. Other excellent resources for information are the AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation.Read more


Smoking and Surgery Do Not Mix

The adverse health effects of smoking for women and men are well known. Smoking increases ones risk for cancer, heart attacks, strokes, early death, cataracts, and wrinkles. If you smoke, these facts are likely not new to you, and you may have even had conversations with your physician and/or family members about the cons of smoking.

So what impact does smoking have on you if you are undergoing surgery? Unlike the list of long-term health risks above, smoking has an immediate adverse impact on your body both in the operating room and in recovery.Read more


May 2012 Monthly News

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April 2012 Monthly News

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