Dr. Keith Berman's Publications

• An Overview of St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital by Dr. Keith Berman, Dr. Keith Berman's Blog on Bigsight February, 2011 Dr. Keith Berman completed residency training in general surgery at St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital and currently serves on the facility’s staff. Affiliated with the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital is a comprehensive medical center with two physical locations in New York City. The organization was formed in 1979, when St. Luke’s Hospital and Roosevelt Hospital combined to create a teaching hospital for the students of Columbia University. Still operating from their original locations, St. Luke’s Hospital is positioned at 113th and Amsterdam while Roosevelt is situated on 59th and 10th. St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital offers more than 40 accredited training programs with more than 480 fellows residents between them. With 1,076 beds, the hospital serves 44,000 inpatients and 300,000 outpatients every year. St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital remains dedicated to serving its community, and many of its outreach efforts, such as community health centers and clinics in local high schools, focus on providing care to people with economic and social challenges. Specializing in trauma and emergency procedures, St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital maintains teams around the clock to treat strokes and other acute conditions. St. Luke’s Hospital is classified as a Level I Trauma Center, and Roosevelt Hospital as a Level II center. Level I Centers are the highest, most comprehensive clinics and work in conjunction with Level II facilities. St. Luke’s Emergency Department employs 40 board-certified physicians and 42 residents. The emergency medicine residency program encompasses three years of training, which prepares future doctors to face the full spectrum of emergency scenarios.

• An Overview of Cosmetic Surgery February, 2011 by Dr. Keith Berman Within the last decade, the field of cosmetic surgery has witnessed universal growth as a greater and safer number of techniques emerge. The need for cosmetic enhancements reaches almost globally, with the United States leading the way with roughly $10 billion a year business. In 2010, U.S. doctors and surgeons performed approximately 13 million procedures, the most popular treatments including breast augmentation, liposuction, and nasal surgery. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany follow close behind as part of the world’s second largest market for cosmetic surgery, Europe, where the industry reaches $2.2 billion annually. In the last 10 years in the United States, several important events paved the way for growth in the cosmetic surgery field, the most recent of which included the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to allow silicon implants for general patient use in 2006. The landmark approval ended the agency’s 14-year moratorium on silicon breast implants, following a comprehensive study of the products. During this time, however, saline implants retained FDA compliance and remained on the market, largely because of higher satisfaction reviews. Americans’ public perceptions of cosmetic surgeries changed drastically within the last 10 to 15 years as well. Organizations like the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons established outreach campaigns to encourage consumers to use certified practitioners from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Meanwhile, the ABC television network launched its Extreme Makeover reality series, which showed ordinary men and women receiving cosmetic enhancements. The program resulted in a whole new genre of reality shows, which today includes Bridalplasty and The Dr. Oz Show. New technologies also revolutionized the cosmetic surgery industry in the 21st century, such as the application of lasers and ultrasound in liposuction and the creation of pain pumps to replace medications in pain relief. Other recently developed tools and techniques include lasers for leg vein removal and fractional laser resurfacing for faster skin healing.

• Examinations of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Keith Berman's Blog on Bigsight April, 2011 In addition to his work as a successful physician in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Keith Berman belongs to the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Founded in 1937 by representatives from several different surgical groups, the American Board of Plastic Surgery became an official subsidiary of the American Board of Surgery one year later. One of the 24 boards that compose the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Board of Plastic Surgery works closely with its fellow board members to establish common standards through which applying surgeons can achieve board certification. To accomplish this goal, the American Board of Plastic Surgery administers a series of examinations designed to test applicants’ knowledge of the field and other relevant information. Before beginning the first examination, applicants must submit valid proof of training and participation in an accredited residency program. This first section of the process involves a written examination, conducted on a computer at a pre-scheduled time with the organization. The American Board of Plastic Surgery allots 6 hours and 40 minutes for the test, which includes 400 multiple-choice questions divided into four 100-question segments. Subjects covered on the written exam include a gross and functional anatomy and embryology, pathology, wound healing, microsurgery, transplantation, and treatment of trauma. In addition to general surgical topics such as preoperative and postoperative care, complications, and clinical pharmacology, the exam also tests applicants’ mastery of cosmetic surgery-related areas such as breast surgery, peripheral nerves, maxillofacial and craniofacial surgery, and congenital anomalies. The second part of the examination process for certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery includes an oral exam. Before commencing preparation for the oral examination, applicants must satisfy an extensive case listing and prove their active engagement in the practice of plastic surgery. During the examination, candidates must demonstrate a sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge pertaining to a wide range of clinical problems and ethical situations. Examiners conduct their evaluations based on the criteria of diagnosis and planning, management and treatment, complications and outcome, and clinical judgment and limitations. To learn more about the examinations administered by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or to find out how to sign up, visit the website at abplsurg.org.

• Rejuvenating the Face Through Eyelid Lifts, Dr. Keith Berman April, 2011 by Keith Berman As a New York City plastic surgeon for over a decade, I offer patients a full range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, including nose reshaping, liposuction, and blepharoplasty. Also known as an eyelid lift, blepharoplasty is a common cosmetic procedure undertaken by over 100,000 men and women in America each year. The eyes are a central element to facial aesthetics, creating an important first impression. Unfortunately, they are also among the first parts of the face to show the effects of age. Eyelid lift surgery involves the careful removal of excess skin, eyelid fat, and muscle through small incisions. Often performed in coordination with other facial rejuvenation procedures, blepharoplasty effectively corrects droopy and sagging eyelids and the bags around the eyes. These symptoms occur with age, as fat comes to the forefront of the eyelid muscles. The result is often an appearance of continuous sadness or exhaustion. Blepharoplasty procedures involve the removal of excess skin, muscle, and eyelid fat through carefully placed incisions. Upper eyelid incisions are hidden within the horizontal eyelid fold, easily blending in with natural lines and creases. Lower eyelid incisions are placed just below the lashes, making them virtually undetectable. More complex blepharoplasty procedures involve reshaping eyes, often creating the eyelid fold lacking in many individuals of Asian descent. Blepharoplasty is performed as an outpatient procedure and may be done under local or general anesthesia. The effects of most eyelid surgeries are long term, with many patients never requiring a second procedure. Gradual sagging and looseness of the skin can take its toll, though, and some patients may eventually want a second eyelid lift. This usually occurs no sooner than 7 to 10 years from the original procedure. Blepharoplasty procedures generally take under an hour to complete, with icepacks and a light temporary bandage applied to the eyelids post-operation. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous eye activities for about a week, as this can result in blurry vision, and commonly find they can return to work within 7 to 10 days. Learn more about the full range of cosmetic surgery options offered at my Manhattan and Staten Island facilities by visiting www.DrKBerman.com.

• Overcoming Weight Loss Challenges, Part 1 August, 2011 by Dr. Keith Berman Dr. Keith Berman runs an innovative cosmetic surgery practice with locations in Staten Island and New York City. He combines the latest advances in surgical and non-invasive procedures with the best in weight loss science to help individuals achieve their ideal figure. Should I focus more on diet or on exercise? If you had to choose between one and the other, you would choose diet over exercise, although true weight loss usually involves both and sometimes requires further measures. In simplest terms, weight loss or gain is a balancing act between calories consumed and calories expended. Consider that a medium-sized apple, a relatively innocuous food item and a good snack choice, contains about 100 calories. It will take most people 20 to 30 minutes of medium-intensity cardiovascular exercise to burn off those calories. Therefore, although exercise plays an important role in maintaining your weight and general good health, exercise alone is not the ideal path to weight loss. You should instead aim to reduce your caloric intake below the number of calories you use. What kind of diet should I choose? With the preponderance of fad diets, it can be difficult to know which regimens are based on fact and which are simply gimmicks. Studies show that virtually every diet can be successful for some people. This is why our clinic emphasizes personalized diet plans under the supervision of a medical professional. The key to finding a diet that works is to design a diet that fits in with your lifestyle and eating preferences, so that you can keep it up over the long term. Successful dieting is about lifestyle change, not about short-term modifications to the foods you eat. Some key factors to consider in developing your diet include how many times per day you like to eat, whether or not you like to eat out or dine in, what kind of exercise you can realistically fit into your life, and how much moral support you need to stick to your diet. Once these questions are answered, you can develop a healthy, long-term diet based around any basic model, whether low fat, low carbohydrate, high protein, or any combination thereof. Read FAQ’s about Dr. Keith Berman

Dr. Keith Berman's Links