Laser Removal of Age Spots

October 28th, 2010 Posted in Skin Rejuvenation
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Age spots are simple discolorations in the face, hands, and other tender skin areas that occur after prolonged exposure to the sun and through the aging process. Age spots are simply spots of pigmentation that have ‘settled’ in that area of your body.

Age spots are often treated with over the counter lotions, and many clients find that they are not happy with the results.  The fading that occurs is uneven, does not last a long period of time, and may cause a burning sensation or redness to appear.

An alternative to lotions to treat age spots is laser treatments.  There are several different types of laser technologies that can help remove red and brown spots from your skin, as well as help smooth fine lines, and increase collagen production to the area.  All of these things together will give your skin a younger, healthier appearance.

Laser treatments can also treat spider veins, decrease pore size, and treat rosacea.  Laser treatments are performed in the office of your facial plastic surgeon.  You can generally return to work that same day, and there is minimal to no discomfort.  When you receive the laser treatment, you will be asked to wear dark protective glasses during the treatment to protect your eyes.  For best results, laser treatments are usually performed as a series, with treatments being spaced about 2-4 weeks apart.

Laser treatments are a great way to help rejuvenate your skin in a cost effective manner.  To see if your skin would benefit from a laser rejuvenation, contact your local facial plastic surgeon today!

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Facial Paralysis

October 28th, 2010 Posted in Facial Paralysis
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There are many different reasons that you may have facial paralysis.  Facial paralysis generally occurs after damage to the facial nerve.  When this nerve is damaged, your face may appear ‘uneven’ and you may not be able to express yourself in the ways that you want.  You may find that this makes you sad or angry, and is causing you to be depressed.  This is a very normal reaction to facial paralysis.

There are procedures to help correct this.  Depending on the cause of your facial paralysis, either dynamic or static facial reconstruction can be done.  Sometimes, a combination of both may be performed.

Dynamic procedures will help you become ‘reanimated’.  This means that you will have an even smile, or an even eyebrow lift when you are surprised.  Static procedures help keep your face even when you are at rest.  One of the most important considerations with facial paralysis is your eyes, eyesight, and eyelid.  Sometimes consultation with an eye surgeon is also necessary to help correct your facial paralysis.

It may take a long time after facial paralysis surgery to see results, and may require several different procedures.  Muscles may need to be moved from one part of the body to the face, to help achieve appropriate muscle movement.  Specialized exercises may be prescribed after the surgery to help aid in the healing, and you may need to wear a specially designed facial mask or eye shield, depending on the type of surgery.  Long term results are often very successful, and clients are happy with their overall results.  Many times, insurance companies will help cover a portion of facial paralysis corrective surgeries.

To see if you are a candidate for facial paralysis corrective surgery, contact your local facial plastic surgeon today.

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Mini Face Lift

October 28th, 2010 Posted in Facelifts
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A minimal incision line face lift is often referred to as a ‘mini’ face lift, and is an excellent choice for certain people.  Minimal incision line face lifts correct and enhance the lower portions of your face, helping to tighten skin that has begun to sag below the level of the eyes.

The minimal incision line face lift has shorter ‘down time’ and a faster recovery rate than a traditional face lift.  Clients can generally return to work in less than a week, with minimal swelling or bruising. 

Clients who benefit the most from minimal incision line face lifts are those that have excess sagging in skin in the cheeks and jaw line, around the nose, or have cheek pads that appear to be ‘loose’ or ‘slipping’.  Drooping in the corners of the mouth generally cannot be treated with a minimal incision line face lift, and other procedures are better indicated in these cases.

The advantages of a minimal incision line face lift are huge:  less tissue is disturbed, so there is less bruising, swelling and edema.  Because the incision lines are smaller, healing time is faster, and there is less of a risk for infection.  Return to work can generally be done in one week.  Repeated touch ups are not a problem, and are easy to perform, and the ability to provide a full face lift in later years is still a viable option.  A mini face lift in conjunction with aggressive skin care such as wrinkle minimizations, laser resurfacing, and some lotions can provide many years of satisfaction.  Finally, anesthesia needs are much lower with a minimal incision line face lift.

If you are interested in seeing if a minimal incision line face lift is the best option for you, consult your facial cosmetic surgeon today for a consultation.  The choice is in your hands!

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V to Y Lip Augmentation

October 25th, 2010 Posted in Lip Enhancement
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If you have tried lip fillers and lip plumping and are not satisfied with the look, you may want to consider a V to Y lip lift.  This common lip enhancement procedure will help ‘fill out’ your lips permanently, and does not require any follow up injections or augmentation fills in the future.

A V to Y lip lift is a procedure that starts with two small incision lines.  These incisions are then the place that allows for the plumping to occur.  With a V to Y lip lift, part of your inner lip is actually ‘pulled’ out allowing the visible portion of the lip to look larger and fuller.  No fillers are used.  The result is a pouty, French smile, much like that of Angelina Jolie!

V to Y lip procedures are ideal for individuals who have smaller lips, or thin lips.  Also, as we all age, our lips lose their natural ‘plumpness’ and seem to fade into the background.  A V to Y lip procedure results in a great lip line, and terrific, kissable lips!

V to Y lip procedures take about two to three weeks to fully recover from, but once the initial mild bruising and swelling have receded, you will be left with permanently attractive lips!  At your initial consultation, the physician will review with you anticipated recovery time.  Other lip enhancement topics will also be covered, to make sure you are left with the best lips possible!

A great smile begins with great lips.  If you would like to increase your lip fullness, consult your local facial cosmetic surgeon.

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Juvederm

October 25th, 2010 Posted in Facial Fillers
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Wrinkles happen to all of us.  Whether it is from sun exposure, aging, smoking, or simply smiling, as our skin gets older, it begins to lose some elasticity and moisture, and wrinkles appear. 

One of the ways to help restore this elasticity and moisture is through a series of tiny injections with facial fillers.  Juvederm is one type of facial filler that is commonly used to treat smile lines (those annoying parenthesis around your mouth!), marionette lines, and vertical lip lines. 

Juvederm is inserted into the folds of your skin with a small needle.  It is pre-mixed with a local anesthetic to help reduce any discomfort.  Juvederm works by restoring hylauronic acid to the area and is FDA approved to last for up to one year!  In fact, Juvederm is the only facial filler that does last for this long.

Juvederm is safe and effective, lasts longer than other facial fillers, and is safe to use in different color skin types without damage being done.  Juvederm is also available in different strengths, depending on the severity of your wrinkles, and is effective in diminishing the appearance of moderate to severe facial lines.

Juvederm is a simple, quick procedure.  After a Juvederm injection series, you should avoid drinking alcohol for 24 hours, limit exposure to the sun or tanning beds for 24 hours, and avoid strenuous exercise that day.  Although uncommon, you may have some swelling.  If this occurs, you may use an icepack for comfort.  Best of all, though, you will see immediate results!

Your physician will provide you with more specific instructions prior to the procedure.  To find out if facial filling with Juvederm is right for you, contact your local facial cosmetic surgeon today!

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Eye Lid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

October 25th, 2010 Posted in Blepharoplasty, Eyelid Lift
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Tired of looking tired?  Your eyes help shape your face, and give an overall impression of you.  As we age, our eyes are the first place that shows the aging process.  Skin can begin to sag a bit in the eye area, and bags can begin to form under the eyes.  These things together make your face look older than you are, and give an overall impression of you being sad, angry or tired all the time.

One of the ways to correct this is by having an eyelid lift.  The surgical name of an eyelid lift is Blepharoplasty.  Blepharoplasty is one of the top five cosmetic surgical procedures.  Correcting eye sag and lid droop alone can allow a person to look ten years younger!  Belpharoplasty also removes the extra skin from around your eyes, improving overall vision.

Prior to having an eyelid lift and rejuvenation, you will be seen by a professional cosmetic surgeon that specializes in facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.  This consultation will last about an hour.  Make sure to discuss with the physician any medications you take (including herbals or supplements) during this time.  Blepharoplasty is generally done with a local anesthetic as an out-patient procedure, and takes less than two hours to complete.  If you and your physician prefer, blepharoplasty can be performed in a surgical center with sedation and full anesthesia.  In either case, recovery takes less than a week, and you can plan on returning to work in three to five days.

If you are interested in correcting the chronic tired look of your eyes, contact your local professional cosmetic surgeon today.  Consultation with a cosmetic surgeon that specializes in facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is ideal, as these surgeons have advanced training and credentials in facial surgery.

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Eliminate Wrinkes With Botox

October 25th, 2010 Posted in Botox
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You may have wondered if Botox really works to help diminish fine lines and wrinkles.  Or, you may have wondered if you will look ‘fake’ or ‘false’ if you have Botox done.  This article will help describe how Botox works, and who benefits from this procedure.

Botox works by temporarily ‘paralyzing’ the muscles that cause wrinkles to appear.  Botox works well against all types of wrinkles, and can be used for moderate to severe wrinkles.  Botox is especially helpful in eliminating crow’s feet, worry lines, mouth lines, and furrows between eyebrows.

No anesthetic is needed.  Botox is a simple, small injection given to patients.  The whole procedure lasts about 10 minutes.  Results are seen within three days. 

Botox is temporary.  Results will last about three to four months.  If you decide not to have repeated Botox treatments, the lines and wrinkles that were there before will return.

The best results of Botox are seen when early intervention is started.  Botox is not for everyone, and before having or receiving a Botox treatment, make sure that you share with your physician any medications (including herbals and supplements) you are on, if you have ever had problems breathing, or if you have any other types of chronic disorders.  Together, you and your physician can make the best decision on your anti-aging regimen. 

To see if you are a candidate for Botox, consult your local facial plastic surgeon today.  Start the anti-aging process today with Botox to help reduce and diminish lines, wrinkles and the ‘11’ that may have appeared between your eyebrows!

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Laser Skin Rejuvenation

October 22nd, 2010 Posted in Skin Rejuvenation
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The word laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.   A laser is a single wavelength source of high-energy light that can be accurately focused to transmit that light on to a very small area.  The use of lasers in skin rejuvenation has given patients many options for softening the signs of aging without “going under the knife” or undergoing facelift procedures.  Lasers can also be used to improve imperfections in the skin due to other medical factors besides aging.

There are basically two different types of lasers:  ablative and non-ablative.  Ablative lasers vaporize the top layers of damaged skin.  Ablative laser procedures generally produce significant effects with just one treatment.  Because the top layer of skin is destroyed, down time is necessary for ablative laser procedures.  Non-ablative lasers work deeper in the skin without removing or otherwise damaging the top layers of the skin.  They also stimulate new collagen growth.  The lack of down time required for non-ablative laser procedures offers significant benefits to patients.  However, non-ablative laser procedures usually require multiple treatments to have significant effects.

The use of lasers in facial cosmetic procedures has revolutionized skin rejuvenation.  It has also greatly increased the options for patients who desire to look younger or to improve their appearance but are not willing to undergo plastic surgery.  Lasers are currently used for the following cosmetic treatments:

•  Fine lines and wrinkles
•  Skin tightening
•  Pigmented lesions (sun spots, age spots, melasma and other forms of
    hyperpigmentation)
•  Removal of precancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses
•  Vascular lesions (broken blood vessels on the face, veins on the legs, spider nevi,
    hemangiomas and birth marks such as port wine stains)
•  Tattoo removal
•  Acne and acne scar removal
•  Hair removal

Different types of lasers are better suited for treating different types of conditions.  The Fraxel or other fractionated lasers may be the best for treating wrinkles around the eyes.  The CO2 or Er:YAG are well-suited for treating acne scars.  IPL may be the best to treat vascular lesions and to improve the skin’s texture and color.  The good news is that so many different types of treatments are available.  If you are interested in laser skin rejuvenation procedures, consult a licensed, experienced dermatologist or plastic surgeon in your area.

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