Lasers in Skin Disorders

How is laser used to treat skin disorders?

• Laser is a very pure and intense light source.
• When the laser light shines onto the skin, a certain target in the skin absorbs the laser light.
• Different targets in the skin will absorb laser light of different characteristics. After absorption of the laser light, the target may be physically altered or destroyed.
• Therefore, laser is used to selectively destroy unwanted targets in the skin. For example, unwanted pigments and blood vessels. Specific laser system is needed to treat specific skin condition.

What are the skin disorders that can be treated by lasers?

• Unwanted skin growths

1. Carbon dioxide laser is selectively absorbed by water content within the cells of these growths, resulting in excessive heat generation within the growths and subsequent destruction of the growth.
2. Some of the skin growths that can be treated with laser include viral warts, seborrhoeic warts, sebaceous hyperplasia and syringomas.

• Unwanted wrinkles and scars

1. Carbon dioxide laser can be used to remove the superficial layers of skin to allow re-growth of healthier, firmer and better looking skin.

• Pigmentary disorders

1. Pigment laser light is selectively absorbed by the pigment target within the skin and results in selective destruction of the pigment target.
2. Some of the pigmented disorders that can be treated with the pigment lasers include unwanted tattoos, solar lentigines (sunspots, liver spots) and black birth marks.
3. Often multiple laser treatment are required.

• Blood vessel disorders

1. Vascular laser light is selectively absorbed by red blood cells within the blood vessels, resulting in heating within the vessels and subsequent sealing up of the vessels.
2. Vascular lasers can be used to treat blood vessel birthmarks (such as hemangiomas and port-wine stains) and broken veins (such as those on the nose and legs).
3. However, it is important to note that not all skin lesions, whether they are growths, pigmentation or blood vessel disorders can be treated with lasers. Your doctors will be able to advise you on the most appropriate treatment.

What do patients have to do before the laser skin treatment?

• The pre-operative treatment will differ depending on the type of laser surgery.
• In general, patients should avoid sun exposure and have good routine skin care.
• For patients undergoing laser treatment for wrinkles and scars, pre-operative creams and medications may be prescribed by your doctor.

What is involved in laser skin surgery?

• Laser skin surgery is carried out as an outpatient procedure.
• Local anesthetic creams or injections are given before the treatment to minimise pain.
• The appropriate laser system is then used to treat the specific skin disorders.
• The procedure is generally painless, although patients may experience some discomfort.
• The procedure will last from about 5 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on the type of procedure and extend of treatment.

What do patients have to do after the laser skin treatment?

• Good skin care is necessary to ensure optimal healing of the skin after laser surgery:

1. The treated area should be kept clean with skin cleanser and ointment.
2. Oral antibiotic antiviral and painkiller may be necessary after laser treatment for wrinkles and scars.

What are the risks involved in laser skin surgery?

• Laser treatment is generally safe. Some procedures, such as laser treatment for scars and wrinkles carry higher risk for side effects compared to other laser treatments. Some of the potential side effects include:

1. Redness of skin after treatment: This is usually transient and resolves within months.
2. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darkening of skin): This can be minimised by sun avoidance both pre-operative and post-operatively. It can also be treated with sunscreens bleaching agents. It usually fades with time.
3. Hypopigmentation (lightening of skin): This is less common but will improve with time as well.
4. Scarring: This is extremely rare if all the necessary precautions are taken. It usually occurs secondary to wound infection during the healing phase after laser surgery. Good wound care after laser surgery can help to reduce the risk of scarring.

Contributors

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Dr Husain Ali Mahdi Juma  (دكتورحسين علي جمعه) – dermatologist. Manama, Bahrain

National Skin Centre. Singapore

Call 954.585.3800 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Don't have time to visit us at the office? We offer Skype meetings with our Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. 

Good Reconstruction Outcomes after Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy

Nipple-sparing procedures are an increasingly popular alternative for women undergoing mastectomy. Using this technique, the surgeon preserves the nipple and surrounding tissues for use in immediate breast reconstruction. In patients being treated for breast cancer, nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed only if the nipple and surrounding tissues are completely free of cancer.

Between 2007 and 2012, Dr. Colwell and colleagues performed a total of 500 nipple-sparing mastectomies in 285 women, average age 46 years.  Fifty-four percent of the women underwent "risk-reducing" mastectomy because of high genetic risk of breast cancer.

Nearly all of the women underwent immediate breast reconstruction, usually with implants. In about 60 percent of patients, breast reconstruction with implants was completed at the same time as mastectomy.  Most of the remaining women underwent two-stage reconstruction, including tissue expansion to increase the amount of skin available for implant-based reconstruction.

The overall complication rate was about 12 percent.  The most common complications were tissue death (necrosis) of part of the nipple or skin used for reconstruction. Cancer involving the nipple area was discovered in another four percent of women. Even including these cases, the natural nipple was retained in the final reconstruction in more than 90 percent of cases.

Smoking, Radiation and Incision Type Affect Complication Rate

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The study identified several important risk factors for complications. The complication rate was more than three times higher for women who smoked. Women who had received radiation therapy were also at increased risk.

Complications were also more common when the incision was placed around the nipple (periareolar incision).  In contrast, the more commonly used incision under the breast fold (inframammary incision) was associated with a lower complication rate.  

Nipple-sparing mastectomy has been "gaining traction as a preferred surgical option" for breast cancer treatment and for preventive mastectomy in women at high risk of breast cancer. It offers effective control of breast cancer risk while preserving the patient's natural tissues for breast reconstruction. The new study is one of the first to detail the outcomes of breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy.

With current techniques, the risk of complications appears lower than in initial reports of nipple-sparing mastectomy. At Massachusetts General Hospital, cancer surgeons and plastic surgeons follow a team approach to effectively control breast cancer risk while maximizing reconstruction outcomes.

"We are performing an increasing number of nipple-sparing mastectomy procedures as more breast oncology surgeons become comfortable with the procedure and with expansion of our indications for nipple-sparing surgery," Dr. Colwell and coauthors write. They increasingly use the inframammary incision based on patient preference, as well as the lower complication rate. The researchers add that they now perform single-stage reconstruction in more than two-thirds of women undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Call 954.585.3800 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Don't have time to visit us at the office? We offer Skype meetings with our Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. 

Free Dysport at Take Shape Plastic Surgery

Take Shape Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, is proud to announce that we will be offering 3 FREE Area's of Botox to anyone who purchases 2 vials of Sculptra.

This is just another way Take Shape wants to give back to our patients this Holiday Season.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

10 Bodily Functions That Change With Age

Like it or not, some inevitable signs of aging are hearing loss (what?), memory lapses (who?), and increased Acid Reflux, thanks to the valve at the lower end of the esophagus that begins to relax on the job, allowing stomach acid to reflux, or flow backwards. Ouch. Inconvenient? Yes. But completely normal. Here are 10 bodily functions that change with age.

1. Eyes. "Can I have a light with that menu?" Once you reach age 40, you'll notice it's more difficult to focus on objects up close because of presbyopia -- a hardening of the lens inside your eye. When you first notice presbyopia you may be able to compensate by holding your reading material farther away or holding a light to it. Eventually you will need reading glasses, multifocal contact lenses, or multifocal eyeglasses.

2. Ears. "Say what?" Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is the slow loss of hearing that occurs as people get older. Tiny hairs inside your ear help you hear and hearing loss occurs when the tiny hairs inside the ear are damaged or die. About half of all people over age 75 have some amount of age-related hearing loss.

3. Sclera. The whites, well the "off whites" of your eyes. The color of the sclera changes with age from bluish (in babies) to yellowish. This is likely because of accumulation of fat in the scleral tissue.

4. Skin, especially on the neck. Wrinkles on the neck show your age, no matter how many creams you've slathered on; the neck contains thinner skin, which is more sensitive to sun damage. The muscles and skin tissue supporting the neck area are also weaker, making neck skin more vulnerable to gravity over time.

5. Knees and Hips. Degenerative joint disease affects up to 80 percent of the elderly and can be debilitating. The only good news here is that some people who have knee and hip arthritis won't have any symptoms. Oh, and there is also the option of knee and hip replacement.

6. Talk to the thumb. Arthritis of the thumb occurs at the joint found at the base of the thumb, where the thumb meets the wrist. This joint, the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint, is important when trying to grip or pinch. Thumb arthritis is more common in women than men, and increases in frequency over the age of 40 years. Anti-inflammatories, splints and cortisone injections may help, and surgery only as a last resort.

7. Memory. "What was his name again?" Normal age-related memory loss doesn't prevent you from living a full and productive life. You might misplace your glasses or find that you need to make lists more often than in the past in order to remember appointments or tasks. That, my friends, is "normal" with aging.

8. The breasts. In your 50s and 60s, hormonal changes will cause the amount of fat in your breasts to decline, which will shrink your breasts. As women go through menopause, fat will replace most of the breast tissue and cause the breast to lose elasticity.

9. The valve at the end of your esophagus. "Why can't I eat Thai food anymore?" Reflux disease (GERD) is more common once you reach middle age and causes heartburn with spicy foods. As mentioned, the valve designed to keep acid in the stomach lets it flow backward, causing the pain and burning sensation you feel as the acid comes into contact with the delicate lining of the esophagus.

10. The pelvic floor. Ladies, do your Kegels. The pelvic floor is the muscles and ligaments that support the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum, and it starts to fail as we get older. Symptoms include problems with urinary incontinence, and prolapse of the bladder or uterus. Counter these symptoms with Kegels.

Prevent Aging with Simple Steps

Want to have skin that looks young and healthy well into middle age? Then you need to consider more than just the moisturizer you use and the SPF rating of your sunscreen - you also need to think about what's on your plate. It seems that every day, a new study comes out that profiles a food linked to anti-aging. It can be hard to keep up, but the Huffington Post recently compiled a list of some of the foods that have been linked to promoting health and beauty.

Have a drink

It's not just the foods we eat that can help us keep young, but also what we drink. According to the news source, pomegranates have recently been shown to slow down the oxidation of DNA - in case you're wondering, oxidation essentially means "wear and tear." Eating pomegranates can be messy and frustrating (all those little seeds!), but you can easily get your fill of the fruit by having a glass of pomegranate juice.

This may sound a bit hippie-dippy, but drinking green tea is also a good way to slow down the aging process. The drink is full of antioxidants, and on top of that, the nutrients it carries can help reduce chronic inflammation, which plays a part in diabetes and other illnesses. Drink up!

Know your colors

If you're standing in the produce aisle feeling confused about what foods you should pick up, keep an eye out for orange veggies. Carrots, pumpkin, squash and sweet potatoes all fall into this category, and their color is no coincidence. Alpha-carotene is what gives these vegetables their hue, and it's also good for the body.

Don't forget about orange and other brightly colored fruits, as well. According to the news source, vitamin C has been proven to slow cell aging, which could help keep you young.

Is it too late?

These anti-aging food news items can be frustrating for those of us who have already begun to see signs of aging. Even if you stock up on green tea, carrots and pomegranates, you won't be able to eliminate wrinkles and other age-related skin blemishes without a bit of outside help. Fortunately, the world of aesthetic medicine has advanced to the point where it is now possible to turn back the hands of time and get rid of these unwanted attributes. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, dermal fillers, for example, can get rid of deep facial lines, while chemical peels and skin resurfacing can eliminate pigmentation problems, sun spots, minor facial scars and other skin woes.

Call 954.585.3800 for a FREE CONSULTATION

WWW.TAKESHAPE.INFO

Male Pec Implants - Plastic Surgery For Men

Women aren't the only ones enjoying the benefits of body implants, men are also joining the club. One of the most popular implants are implants for the pectoral muscles.

Men have become increasingly interested in male chest enhancement. Some men are unable to achieve a defined chest area through exercise. Some men may have underdeveloped chest muscles due to a growth defect or injury. Therefore, they may decide to receive male pec implants as a way to achieve a defined contour.

Not only do male pec implants result in a defined shape, but they also result in increased self-esteem and confidence for men who may have, at one time, been embarrassed by their appearance.

During the initial consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss your expectations and desired outcome. Your surgeon may also take photographs and give you specific instructions for the day of the surgery. He or she may also show you the different shapes and sizes of the implants. Your surgeon will help you pick out a shape and size that will fit naturally with your body shape. It is important for you to make your doctor aware of any past surgeries or procedures you've had or any current medical conditions you have. Your doctor will also want a list of current medications you are taking as he or she may alter or discontinue these before surgery. Your surgeon may also require you to stop smoking if you are a smoker since smoking can cause complications during and after surgery.

The surgery involves making an incision in the armpit. Through this incision, your surgeon will place the implant under the pectoral muscle. The incision is the closed. The implants are held in place by the chest muscles or by sutures that are visible through the skin. The surgery takes one to two hours to complete and is performed under general anesthesia. The surgery can take place in a hospital or outpatient surgery center and will depend on your doctor's personal preference.

Your doctor may prescribe pain medication to reduce discomfort after surgery. You will need to wear an elastic bandage to reduce swelling after surgery. You should expect to experience soreness and bruising which will subside within a week. While results of surgery are immediately visible, it can take up to six weeks to see full results as it can take this long for the swelling and bruising to completely disappear. You will need to avoid strenuous activity the first few weeks after surgery. You should be able to resume normal activity after a month.

Hidden Dangers of Injectables

THE dangers of getting injectables from the wrong doctor

Choosing your doctor is the most important decision you will make about injectable beauty treatments of any kind. While, there are many doctor's offices and Medispa's that offer this service a board certified plastic surgeon or a plastic surgeon trained Physicians Assistant is a patients best bet. Take Shape Plastic Surgery is your best bet when it comes to injectables. At Take Shape Dr. Christopher Low, Dr. George Dreszer, and Dr. Russell Sassani can help any patient get the results they want. 

Your prescribing doctor should hold one of these qualifications:

Plastic Surgeon

Your plastic surgeon would be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and/or the Canadian Society of Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery.

Facial Plastic Surgeon

Your facial plastic surgeon would be certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and be a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and may also be a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeon

Your ophthalmic plastic surgeon would be certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Dermatologist

Your dermatologist would be certified by the American Board of Dermatology or the American Osteopathic Board of dermatology and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and may also be a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

All Physicians

Nurse Injectors and Physician's Assistants
A licensed Registered Nurse (RN) or a licensed Physician's Assistant (PA) can be an appropriate provider of injectables depending on your state's regulations. The following conditions should be met:

• The nurse or PA is under the supervision of a qualified doctor who has prescribed the injectable treatment appropriate for you.
• The nurse or PA can demonstrate appropriate medical education and training specific to the delivery of injectable beauty treatments.
• The nurse or PA follows all of the appropriate steps in performing your injections, including informed consent about the risks and benefits of the injection process.
• You have the option to request the doctor perform your injections.

A RN or PA injector should also have recent continuing medical education (CME) to be abreast of the latest injectable techniques, and should inject patients just like you on a regular basis (several patients weekly).

Your doctor should also have recent continuing medical education (CME) to be abreast of the latest injectable techniques, and should inject patients just like you on a regular basis (several patients weekly).

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) holds that only physicians should administer injectable dermal fillers and neurotoxins.

Visit www.takeshape.info for more information! 

954.585.3800 to book a FREE CONSULTATION. 

If Something Seems Too Good to be True....

The truth is that if something is too good to be true then it usually is. Don't be fooled by cheap plastic surgery " Centers." Here are 5 reasons to stay away from these bargain basement cneters.

1. In a private practive, like Take Shape Plastic Surgery all decisions are made by Dr. Russell Sassani, Dr. Christopher Low, or Dr. George Dreszer. At the typical center decisions are made by business professionals who only care for the bottom line. Who would you trust with you health?

2. Centers often employ inexperienced surgeons who want the opportunity to 'practice' on patients in order to build up their required quota of surgical cases that they need to become board certified. These surgeons will perform surgery at barely any cost just to get the experience. Do you really want to be someone's guinea pig with your body?

3. Centers are infamous for retail-like hours of operation. Unfortunately  emergencies don't only occur between 9 am to 5 pm. That is why  Dr. Russell Sassani, Dr. Christopher Low, and Dr. George Dreszer are always available to their patients.

4. Many centers sell you their cheap surgery only for you find out on the day of srugery that you will have to undergo the procedure AWAKE! This REALLY happens. There are horror stories of patients screaming so loudly in pain that everyone in the building can hear including their loved ones. Isn't anesthesia worth the cost?

5. Centers usually pump out anywhere from 6-10 surgical cases a day, somewhat like a factory. Quality over quantity is the rule at Take Shape Plastic Surgery, PA!

Call us and we will make sure you are taken care of from beginning to end. As always we over a FREE CONSULTATION.   954.585.3800

Take Shape Plastic Surgery, PA offering support to the Transsexual Community

At Take Shape Plastic Surgery we are proud to offer Sex Reassignment Surgeries (SRS) thereby joining the other providers that perform hundreds of these surgeries every year in the United States. Sex Reassignment Surgery alters the physical appearance of an individual to more closely resemble that of the other sex. Take Shape offers free consultation for patients interested in Male to Female Surgery (MTF), Female to Male Surgery (FTM), and Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS).

Patients seeking surgical procedures to match their bodies to the identifying sex must first meet a series of psychological and medical qualifications. They must be healthy enough to endure the physical and psychological stress of surgery, usually have undergone at least 1 year of Hormone Replacement Treatment, and have had a Real Life Experience (RLE) for at least one year during which they live their lives as a member of their desired sex. It is also important for patients to have realistic goals and expectations of the final result and to have a complete understanding of the surgical process; its risks and complications and possible alternative options.

For patients seeking MTF surgery, we focus on Breast Augmentation and Buttock Enhancement (also called Brazilian Butt Lift) to create a more feminine contour. In addition to breast and buttock surgery, facial feminization surgery (FFS) procedures include Hairline Correction, Forehead Recontouring, Brow Lift, Rhinoplasty, Cheek Implants, Lip Lifts and Filling, Chin and Jaw Recontouring, and Thyroid Cartilage Reduction to create more feminine facial features. For patients seeking FTM surgery, Take Shape follows patients currently on Hormone Replacement Therapy (which adds hair and muscle mass) and offers them a Mastectomy to masculinize the chest and Buttock Reduction or Enhancement to create a more masculine body shape. Genital Reconstruction such as Vaginoplasty and Phalloplasty are not currently offered by Take Shape.

Highlighted Procedure: The Brazilian Butt Lift

Take Shape Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale will now be offering gluteal augmentation for patients looking to improve the contour and aesthetic appeal of their buttocks. Plastic Surgeons, Christopher Low MD MS, George Dreszer MD and Russell Sassani MD are now offering free consultations for patients interested in gluteal augmentation, otherwise known as the “Brazilian Butt Lift”.

The procedure was first performed in the late 1960’s using breast implants to enhance the buttocks, the results were suboptimal and complication rates were high which led most US plastic surgeons to abandon the procedure. During the next several decades, plastic surgeons in Mexico, Brazil, and other South American countries continued in the search for better procedures and improved implants for gluteal augmentation.
Currently, there are two primary techniques in buttock augmentation, gluteal implants and autologous fat grafting. Creating a more aesthetic female torso requires augmentation of the buttocks and more importantly a reduction of the waist and lower back. Only autologous fat grafting can accomplish these goals. Gluteal implants cannot. During autologous fat grafting, sculpting of the waist and lower back requires aggressive liposuction of the presacral area in order to create the feminine inward sweep of the lower back. This liposuction is routinely done at the time of the autologous fat grafting but should not be routinely done at the same time as the gluteal implants.

Autologous gluteal augmentation is performed on patients desiring a more defined waist and fuller, rounder buttocks. This procedure is done at Take Shape Surgery Center, LLC, and is performed with minimal scars and healing time. The first step in gluteal augmentation is the aggressive liposuction of the hips, lateral thighs, lower back, and abdomen. The liposuction performed in these target areas will improve the shape of the buttock, making it appear rounder and proportionally larger. The harvested fat removed during liposuction is then processed in order to obtain the maximum amount of fat stem cells. Through tiny incisions, the harvested fat cells are then transferred into the upper and lateral buttocks in order to create the greater volume and improved definition.

Sculptra Injectable

What is Sculptra Aesthetic?

Sculptra is an injectable liquid used to add volume to areas of the face to create a soft, natural, more youthful recontouring of the face. It builds your own collagen while it gradually disappears. When done well, it doesn't have that "over stuffed" look that is all too common when too much Juvederm, Restylane or Radiesse are used in the cheeks. It is best for adding volume to: 

• hollow cheeks
• softening boney cheekbones
• nasolabial and melolabial folds (nose to mouth/mouth to chin)
• hollow chin area
• defining the jawline
• hollow temples
• some body sites  

What is Sculptra made of?

Sculptra (generic name is "poly-L-lactic acid" or PLLA) is a synthetic of lactic acid.  Lactic acid is made in our muscles after exercise.  Polylactic acid is lactic acid molecules stuck together in strings (a polymer).  It is made in a laboratory and contains no animal products and no human DNA.  It very gradually disappears by the action of your own cell enzymes.

Is Sculptra FDA approved?

In 2009 Sculptra got its full FDA approval for cosmetic use in the United States. It has had partial FDA approval here for over five years. It has been used extensively in Europe for over ten years and is approved in Canada, Europe, and over 20 other countries.

How is Sculptra different than Juvederm/Restylane (HAs)?

Sculptra adds volume to the face and fills grooves and hollows. This can give some lift and help with wrinkles because many wrinkles are created by loss of volume (think of a deflating balloon). Juvederm and Restylane (HAs), in general, fill specific wrinkles and lines. In the past few years longer lasting HAs have been added like Juvederm Ultra Plus and Perlane. These can also be used for cheek contouring and a "lift" effect. The choice between the HA fillers and Sculptra often comes down to the amount of volume replacement desired, your age, and maintenance issues.

How Many Women Get Breast Implants Each Year?

If you're a woman looking into getting a breast augmentation, one of your reservations about the procedure may be the idea that relatively few women go for it these days. An admirably cautious notion that happens to be far from the truth.  

Have you ever wondered exactly how many women get breast implants each year in the United States? After all, it seems like a lot of Hollywood celebrities have perfect breasts and the woman in your yoga class is just too flawlessly shapely to be natural, right? Well, the answer is a lot more women than people think are undergoing breast augmentation each year.

Breast augmentation was the #1 procedure in the country in 2011 with 307,000 women getting implants. This is a 4 percent increase from the previous year and a 45 percent increase from 2000.  These statistics show that breast augmentation is one of the fastest growing procedures in the industry because women want to feel confident about their bodies and their breasts. You have the right to feel beautiful, and if that means enhancing your breasts so you can feel comfortable in a top or bathing suit, that's okay.

The dramatic increase in breast implant surgery does not necessarily reflect a similarly dramatic increase in the number of women with breast implants, however. Many women who undergo surgery are replacing old implants that have broken or caused problems; some women report as many as ten or more surgeries as their implants are replaced over the years.

The important thing to remember is that breast enhancement is for yourself. It's not about what a man thinks or even what your friend thinks, it's about doing what can help you feel beautiful. More and more women are realizing this and that's why thousands of breast augmentations are performed in the United States each year.

There's no reason to feel insecure about your body now, or even your decision to get implants. It's time to focus on what will make you a more comfortable and empowered woman. If that's getting a breast augmentation, schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon today. You have the right to look and feel your absolute best!