So Your Teenager Wants Plastic Surgery

Certain cosmetic surgery procedures such as rhinoplasty in Los Angeles are very popular with teens. But, how should you react if your teenager is interested in cosmetic enhancement?

When your teenager approaches you about a potential procedure, I recommend taking 2 steps:

• Develop a system of open communication. It’s important to understand why your child wants plastic surgery. It might be difficult for him or her to open up about the true reason, so take time to listen.
• Find a board-qualified plastic surgeon. If you and your child decide that he or she is ready for a cosmetic procedure, take time to search for board-certified surgeons in your area. I suggest finding someone who is a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or American Society of Plastic Surgeons. A consultation provides the perfect environment for you to determine if a potential doctor has the training and experience to help you. This is also a great opportunity to learn more about potential risks and complications.

Regardless of the reason for wanting to have a procedure, it’s important that your child feels comfortable talking with you about plastic surgery.

Tags: rhinoplasty los angeles
Posted in Rhinoplasty (nose surgery),Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Nagged by Neck Fat? Discover a Surprising Solution

At my Los Angeles plastic surgery practice, men and women concerned with fat around the neck, cheeks and chin often ask for my advice about how to contour those areas. They’ve usually tried dieting to no avail, and some worry that it will take a full facelift and neck lift to achieve their goals. What they’re delighted to discover is that, in many cases, I can use facial liposuction to gently remove fat deposits. The result is a beautifully sculpted face and neck.

Using liposuction for facial contouring rather than body contouring requires special skills. I make an extremely tiny incision in an inconspicuous area on the face or neck. Through the incision, I insert a slim tube called a cannula. Then, I extract fat cells from the targeted areas by using a suction pump or syringe.

Because it permanently removes fat cells, the benefits of facial liposuction are long-lasting. Your face and neck will look youthfully firm, and those unattractive bulges and sags from excess fat will be gone. Particularly if your skin has good elasticity, this procedure alone may succeed in meeting your cosmetic goals.

Tags: los angeles plastic surgery
Posted in Facial Cosmetic Surgery,General Plastic Surgery

Choosing Between Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation & Facelift

With the development of treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and quality skin care products in Los Angeles, patients have a wide range of choices to help with facial rejuvenation. Although these treatments can provide temporary improvement, many patients have a difficult time choosing between nonsurgical facial rejuvenation and a facelift.

A consultation provides the perfect opportunity to discuss a patient’s cosmetic goals and examine the extent of aging on the person’s face. If you notice early signs of aging on your face, such as fine lines and minor wrinkles around the eyebrows, I would typically recommend some combination of BOTOX Cosmetic and dermal fillers. Although temporary, these treatments can create more youthful looking skin and postpone surgery.

Patients with severe wrinkles, or those who have already tried nonsurgical treatments, typically become candidates for a facelift in Los Angeles. The procedure can be easily customized to attain natural looking results. I also offer varying degrees of surgery for women and men who might not need an extensive facelift or other cosmetic surgery procedures.

Many facelift patients return to my practice for follow-up care with nonsurgical treatments. This can enhance the results of a facelift and help maintain smooth skin for a natural and youthful complexion.

Tags: skin care los angeles, facelift los angeles
Posted in Facelift,Skin Care

5 Facts about Nose Reshaping

A number of women and men come to my practice with misconceptions and misinformation about Los Angeles rhinoplasty procedures. Here are five facts all people interested in this procedure should be aware of:

• Rhinoplasty can help a person to not only improve the appearance of her or his nose, but often also restores breathing after damage caused by an injury. Surgery used to correct functional problems, such as a deviated septum, is often covered by health insurance.
• Depending on the desired results, surgeons can hide incisions inside a person’s nose. Known as a closed procedure, this method is a great way to hide any indications of facial cosmetic surgery.
• It’s important to wait until at least 15 years of age to ensure your facial growth is complete. This will aid a surgeon in make the necessary alterations to suit your facial appearance, and help you see your adult-sized nose before deciding on surgery.
• Recovery times vary from one person to another, but people can often return to work within 7 days of surgery. Most people can resume exercise and other activities within a month.
• As long as a person does not incur a major injury or damage the nose after surgery, people can expect permanent results. The normal aging process will help to blend the results with the surrounding facial skin for a natural appearance.

Tags: los angeles rhinoplasty
Posted in Rhinoplasty (nose surgery)

What Part of the Face Does a Face Lift Address?

People turn to face lift procedures in Los Angeles to achieve the beautiful skin that we often see in glamorous Hollywood films. What many people don’t know is what exactly a face lift procedure can correct, and what it should not be used for.

Face lift procedures are extremely effective in reducing wrinkles and sagging skin along the neck, jawline, and cheeks. This may be surprising for women and men who believed that a face lift tightened the skin around the entire face, but this procedure primarily targets the lower two-thirds of the face.

A traditional face lift procedure will begin with an incision from the temples to the lower scalp. Fat and tissues may be repositioned, and facial muscles tightened. Once a person recovers, the result is tighter and more youthful looking skin along the lower portion of the face.

Face lifts cannot change your general appearance, but there are a number of complementary procedures that can help you achieve your cosmetic goals. Many people will opt for a brow lift to minimize the deep lines that form along the forehead as a person ages, and to complement a face lift procedure.

Tags: face lift los angeles
Posted in Facelift

More Men Seek Cosmetic Surgery

With the economy recovering, more men are expressing an interest in surgical procedures. An increasing number of my Los Angeles face lift patients are men, who want to look younger to improve their lives both professionally and personally. Additionally, more men are considering cosmetic surgery given the decreased downtime due to new innovations in plastic surgery which provide a shorter recovery time.

In addition to cosmetic surgical procedures, men are also turning to minimally-invasive procedures such as injectable fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic. These treatments are quick and require little to no downtime, making them a practical option for busy individuals.

As plastic surgery and minimally-invasive cosmetic treatments continue to rise in popularity, it will be interesting to see the amount of men who receive these treatments over the next few years, and if it will continue to be a trend.

Tags: los angeles face lift
Posted in Facelift

Facelift Techniques

Throughout the years, plastic surgery has progressed, and new techniques have developed. Depending on the patient, I may use one of several techniques when performing a facelift in Los Angeles.

One technique that I recommend for deep lifting is the SMAS facelift, which stands for superficial musculo-aponeurotic system. This technique concentrates on the thin, underlying connective tissue layer below the skin. By lifting both the muscle and skin, I am able to create a very natural appearance and avoid the “pulled” or windblown look that was associated with facelifts decades ago.

I also perform “mini” facelifts, which are meant for less extreme lifting than the SMAS technique due to the smaller incisions required. With less scarring, less bleeding and a shorter recovery, mini facelifts are a particularly good choice for younger patients.

No matter what technique you are considering, remember an important point: this is your one and only face. Choose wisely when selecting a surgeon and do your homework so that you can be satisfied with your results.

Tags: facelift los angeles
Posted in Facelift,Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Pros and Cons of Fat Transfer

Fat transfer procedures have been gaining popularity throughout the years, and have received increased attention over the past year as improved science and technology has led to improved outcomes. Fat transfer can be used to augment several different areas of the body, including the face, breasts and buttocks. But fat grafting procedures aren’t right for everyone.

Pros:

• Typically a shorter recovery time than with implants
• Allergy-free, since it is your own tissue
• Can be injected almost anywhere
• Can fill out hollow areas with long-lasting results

Cons:

• May need multiple procedures for the desired result
• Variable results, depending on the patient and surgeon
• Tissue in the treated area may clump or become lumpy

In some instances, I recommend fat transfer to my Los Angeles face lift patients. Talking to your doctor will help determine if you are a candidate for a fat transfer procedure.

What are your thoughts about fat grafting? Feel free to leave your comments below.

Tags: los angeles face lift
Posted in Facelift

Healing from Rhinoplasty

When considering a rhinoplasty procedure, my Los Angeles patients typically ask about recovery. When discussing this subject, I often hear misconceptions about recovering from nose surgery, such as the length of time it takes to fully heal, or how long bandages or splints need to be worn. In actuality, healing from a rhinoplasty procedure is not as intense as some believe.

After Surgery

Rhinoplasty is typically performed in 1 to 3 hours, and patients can typically go home a few hours after their procedure. Most often, a split will be taped to the nose to help support its new shape, and should be worn for about a week after surgery. While there may be some bruising or swelling after this initial period, it will reduce significantly as tissues adjust to the new shape of the nose.

Misconceptions

There are several misconceptions that a bandage or splint needs to be worn for up to a year after the procedure to keep the nose in its proper position, and this could not be more false. While it is true that it may take up to a year for a patient’s nose to fully adjust to its new size or shape, a bandage or splint is unnecessary after the initial period after surgery. The best way to heal fast from a rhinoplasty is to follow the surgeon’s instructions carefully and religiously.

Tags: rhinoplasty los angeles
Posted in Rhinoplasty (nose surgery),Facial Cosmetic Surgery

The Features of a Facelift

Women and men who wish to combat the signs of aging often consider procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, dermal fillers, or facial plastic surgery. In Los Angeles, I see many patients who are unsure about their options. One procedure that gets a lot of attention – and that offers several variations – is the facelift. Here is an overview of the facelift techniques commonly used by surgeons today.

• SMAS Facelift: The SMAS (superficial musculo-aponeurotic system) facelift is designed to lift the deep tissues of the face. This can be performed by using either the lateral SMASectomy (my personal favorite), or a more traditional SMAS surgery. The SMAS technique is so often used because it provides more mid-face and nasolabial correction. It also allows the cheeks to become more accentuated.
• Short Scar Facelift: This method derives its name from the nature of the procedure. The incision can be made either in front or behind the ear. Having the incision made behind the ear will provide more of a lift to the neck, and having the incision in front of the ear will lift the face more. A short scar facelift may provide optimal results for patients who do not need a major lift of the neck and who do not have a significant amount of excess facial skin. Because this technique uses smaller incisions than other facelift methods, patients often experience minimal scarring.

While these are not the only facelift techniques that are performed, they are the most “mainstream” techniques out there. To find out which method will give you optimal results, be sure to talk with your surgeon.

Tags: facial plastic surgery los angeles
Posted in Facial Cosmetic Surgery