Meet Dr. Michael Gray "I think people should be happy. Life is too short to-be unhappy. I believe helping people fulfill their dreams. — Michael Gray, 1).0., Michigan LaserGraft Center 5/1 1998 148 It was Florida's, New York's and Illinois' loss and Michigan's gain when Dr. Michael Gray decided to call the metro Detroit area home. Following sev- eral years of schooling, internships, fellowships and positions in various educational institutes and hospitals throughout the country, Gray most recently landed at the Michigan LaserGraft Center in Southgate. A cosmetic surgeon, he specializes in total body aesthetic surgery and today is a leading sur- geon in the Endoscopic Breast Augmentation procedure. He also has had extensive training in bariatrics (weight loss) surgery and has removed as much as 100 pounds of fat from an over- weight patient. Gray's most recent position before coming to the LaserGraft Center was in Ann Arbor at the Bariatrics Treatment Centers. "But I was looking to start my own practice or go in with someone else," says Gray. "I kept hearing about Dr. Castleman and how he's involved with bariatrics medicine so I thought I could com- plement his practice." The rest is history. Gray, 35, always has been interested in medicine and as a teen, he worked for a veterinarian. A 1984 graduate of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, Gray received a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Southeastern University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, in North Miami Beach, Florida. He also completed an internship in Brooklyn, New York, and a residency in general surgery/trauma/critical care at Midwestern University-Chicago Osteopathic Medical Centers in 1993. He completed his fellowship in total body aesthetic surgery in 1994. These days, he's most excited about Endoscopic Breast Augmentation. "Rather than mak- ing one of the three standard inci- sions in the nipple or below the breast or armpit, this procedure cre- ates an incision in the belly button and works from there," says Gray. The operation takes about 30 min- utes and involves less cutting and scarring than the traditional surgical procedures. "The field of cosmetic sur- gery is remarkable and the various procedures have improved drasti- cally in the last . decade," Gray says. "And regarding the issue of need- ing or wanting these procedures, I believe that you don't need any- thing. It's what you want — what makes you feel better." Gray lives in West Bloomfield with his wife, Rena, and their daughter, Ariana. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 1-800-403-0060 NEWSY AND NOTABLE Word is out and medical reporters and news teams throughout the metropoli tan area have covered and filmed the breakthrough Endoscopic Breast Augmentation procedure. Channel 50- 1JPN, WDIV-TV4, FOX-2 and chan- nel 12 in Flint each have produced special reports to enlighten audiences in southeast Michigan. Here are some excerpts from newspapers regarding; the Endoscopic Breast Augmentation procedure that is performed at the Michigan LaserGraft Center. BEFORE-AFTER Breast Augmentation adds shape to this patient who is shown before and after the 90-minute procedure. "I was thrilled following the proce dure," says 38-year-old Linda Phillips. Her abdomen was just a bit sore afterward. "I bought a cute little two-piece swim suit for the summer." cle on. Dr. Michael Gray, The Press, March 14, 1998 This patient in her late '30s was tired wsWorrien who decide they want breast implants can now opt for a starless itcedure that offers less discomfort icker recovery." of having sagging breasts and opted for Breast Augmentation. As shown on the right, she now looks forward to bikini season and replacing her baggy sweatshirts with form-fitting, fashionable shirts and blouses. BEFORE PROCEDURE A. This drawing typifies a patient who wants to add shape to her breasts and become more proportionate. B. The endoscope, a small metal tube with a tiny camera, is insert- ed in the navel. The doctor passes it through the fat, between the skin and muscle toward the breast. B. A folded implant is pushed through the tun- nel, unfolded and inflat- ed with saline (salt water) beneath the breast tissue. C. The tube used to inflate the implant has been removed and the implant seals itself. The doctor closes the incision in the navel with a few stitches.