What Makes People Look Older?

August 8th, 2011 by Staff Writer

what makes people look olderIt’s true that as we age, the years we’ve lived become obvious on our faces in the form of lines, wrinkles and general sagginess. The cause of these signs of aging can be quite varied and time can have different effects for different people. So, the question remains, what makes people look older?

A recent New York Times article delved into this question and distilled how people of differing skin types and colors show age in different ways.

For plastic surgeons, what makes people look older can be grouped into a “holy trinity” of changes. These include wrinkles and age spots, a general loss of volume and an overall sagginess of the skin.

Generally speaking, those with darker skin tones aged more slowly. As dark skin has more pigment in it, it is better protected against the aging effects of the sun. Dark skin also tends to be oilier and thicker, making it more resistant to the signs of aging. Additionally, round faces, as many people with dark skin may have, show the signs of aging more slowly that those with thinner faces as more youthful volume is preserved.

Another cause of what makes people look older is how, over time, the skin has lost volume and begins to droop. This leads to bagginess around the eyes and the appearance of jowls, among other issues. To correct loose skin around the eyes, eyelid surgery can be performed, while a facelift can diminish jowls in the lower face. If the skin has begun to slide down from the cheeks, facial contouring or augmentation can restore it.

Excessive frowning and other extreme facial expressions can add to what makes people look older, as well. These actions can cause lines to form in areas of the face like the brows and nasolabial folds, but both can be easily corrected. For forehead lines, Botox limits the movement of the muscle, causing the wrinkle to smooth out. In the case of laugh lines, injectable fillers can diminish their appearance, restoring a more youthful smoothness.

To learn more about combating the common signs of aging, we encourage you to contact Minnesota plastic surgeon Dr. Smith.

Tags:
Posted in Cosmetic Injections, Facial Surgery | Comments Off

Study Asks, How Long Does Fat Grafting Last?

August 1st, 2011 by Staff Writer

how long does fat grafting lastUsing fat from the patient’s own body, in a procedure called fat grafting, can have long lasting benefits on the undereye area.

A recently published study published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery asked, “How long does fat grafting last?” when injected near the eyes. The results were largely positive for many patients.

The effects of the treatment are generally known to last longer than injectable fillers, which are cheaper, but must be redone yearly. Fat grafting involves using liposuction to remove fat from a donor site, like the thighs, purifying the fat and reinjecting it into depressions in the face.

So, How Long Does Fat Grafting Last?

According to the results of the study, the majority of patients who received fat grafting in the lower eyelids saw the results lasting up to three years. Over the course of four years, the study tracked nearly one hundred patients aged 35 to 71 who had chosen the treatment. Comparing photos taken every few months, the team rated the improvement seen in the photos as the patients aged.

Though the results were about in line with with the study team says they expected, they did not compare the fat grafting results with those of injectable fillers like Restylane. Still, as a more long term option for filling facial depressions and wrinkles, fat grafting is common and growing in popularity.

Patients who are elderly, who smoke, or those who exercise heavily may not see the effects of fat grafting quite a long as others. Additionally, for any inconsistencies in the appearance of the injected fat, some patients may choose to undergo touch-up procedures to fine-tune the effect or to make it last longer.

Tags:
Posted in Body Surgery, Facial Surgery | Comments Off

Key Ways to Reduce Neck Wrinkles Caused by Cell Phone Use

July 25th, 2011 by Staff Writer

reduce neck wrinklesLines and creases may develop if you spend an excessive amount of time texting and checking your email on your smartphone, according to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

The constant downward gaze caused by smartphone use may be causing some individuals to experience more lines and creases on their neck than would appear naturally. Even if your face maintains its youthful volume, signs of aging on the neck can give you away.

Unfortunately, there’s not an app for that, but facial and neck treatments may help curb the effects of too much texting. One aesthetician in Manhattan developed the “Blackberry facial,” which included cleansing, peels, hydration treatments and additional light, oxygen and lymphatic components to reduce neck wrinkles.

While you may not need to undergo such an intense, multi-step facial to correct signs of aging in your neck, whether from texting or age, many non-surgical options are available.

As a one step process, chemical peels can be applied to the face and neck to reduce neck wrinkles. These treatments work to remove dull, aged surface skin cells, allowing fresh, clean skin to be revealed. Chemical peels can also clear up uneven skin tone and other superficial skin issues.

Laser skin resurfacing treatments work in a way similar to chemical peels in that they allow new skin cells to surface. This light-based treatment removes surface skin cells, layer by layer, revealing smoother, more beautiful skin below. This can reduce neck wrinkles and smooth the appearance of your lower face.

For continued benefits of your non-surgical treatment for aging on the neck, a reliable at-home skin care regimen is important. Your plastic surgeon offers professional-grade skin care options, which work not only to repair skin damage and keep your skin looking supple, but can also protect your skin daily.

Tags:
Posted in Skin Care | Comments Off

Fat Transfer Procedure Achieves “Less Is More” Result

July 18th, 2011 by Staff Writer

fat transfer procedureAs patients usually desire a natural appearance when they undergo a procedure, plastic surgeons tend to employ a “less is more” tactic when performing a surgery or treatment.

Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Neal Reisman wrote in Culture Map that when it comes to plastic surgery, the “goal is not to appear different than we did when we were younger, but look as we did at an earlier time.” What causes these changes to the face is the loss of volume experienced over time and as an effect of sun exposure.

To remedy this looseness in the skin that results in lines and wrinkles, Dr. Reisman often recommends fat transfer procedures. By using the patient’s own excess tissue from a donor site (like the abdomen or thighs), your plastic surgeon is able to restore lost facial volume.

As an added plus to this fat transfer procedure, “stem cells and other nutrient cells combined with such transfers actually improve the circulation to local tissue.” While this will not replace a good skin care routine, it may help your skin maintain its healthy appearance for a longer period of time.

But what of those patients who lack sufficient fatty stores to undergo fat transfer procedures? Long-lasting facial fillers like Restylane are FDA-approved and can restore lost volume and vibrancy to the face. Dr. Reisman urges patients to be aware that while these treatments can have long-lasting effects, they are not permanent. Any filler that is not FDA-approved should be avoided to ensure your safety and an aesthetically-pleasing result.

For patients whose skin laxity is too poor to be corrected by a non-surgical treatments like an injection, the “less is more” rule still applies. For sagging jowls or the like, a full facelift may not always be necessary to achieve the desired result, Dr. Reisman says. A smaller operation, like a targeted “mini-lift” can leave the patient with beautiful results for seven to 10 years. These types of procedures can be completed with minimal anesthesia and recovery times.

We encourage you to contact us to learn more about diminishing the effects of aging with a cosmetic surgery or non-surgical treatment that focuses on your individual needs and aesthetic goals.

Tags:
Posted in Cosmetic Injections, Facial Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Skin Care | Comments Off

New Technique in Fat Transfer Augments Breasts

July 11th, 2011 by Staff Writer

breast augmentation pasco countyMore and more often, plastic surgeons are using a patient’s own fat as part of a breast augmentation, according to a recent study in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The procedure, which builds upon previous successes and innovations in fat transfer for breast augmentation, involves several weeks of pre-expansion treatment with a bra-like device that uses gentle vacuum pressure to stretch the breast tissue. This allows for more room when the surgeon grafts the fat, which is extracted from another part of the body, such as the thigh.

Fat grafting has a number of advantages, since it doesn’t use a foreign implant but the patient’s own tissue. But one of the greatest disadvantages of the procedure has been that it cannot typically enhance a patient’s breast more than one cup size. This has limited its use among women who desire larger results.

“Pre-expansion to the breast allows for mega-volume (over 300 cc) grafting with reproducible, long lasting results that can be achieved in less than two hours,” according to study authors Drs. Daniel Alexander Del Vecchio and Louis Paul Bucky.

The study examined the results of pre-expansion and autologous fat transfers in 46 breasts of 25 women. While some were having first-time procedures to augment their breast size, others were having implants replaced or having breast deformities corrected. The average amount of fat transplanted was 300cc.

The patients had their procedures evaluated after six months, and the doctors found:

  • significant improvements in size
  • soft and natural appearance
  • no cysts or other abnormalities under MRI

The surgeons found that with some practice they could perform the breast fat transfer procedure within less than two hours. None of the patients experienced any significant complications.

While the long-term implications and possible safety issues associated with the pre-expansion and fat transfer technique have yet to be researched, Del Vecchio and Bucky’s contribution to the field of fat transplantation offers new hope to women who want full, natural breast enhancement.

Read more on plasticsurgery.org

Tags: ,
Posted in Breast Surgery | Comments Off

Breast Lift and Augmentation Combinations Produce Beautiful Results

July 4th, 2011 by Staff Writer

breast lift minneapolisFor whatever reason a woman may experience a loss of breast volume and a droop, combining breast procedures like a lift and augmentation can beautifully correct the issue.

Changes to the breasts can be caused by a variety of factors, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, and weight changes. Some women with smaller breasts may experience ptosis (sagging breasts) and want to get the entire package when they consult their surgeon. Larger or medium-sized breasts can dwindle over time, and this is often accompanied by a drooping of the nipples.

There are many obvious benefits to a procedure that could offer women the chance to combine their breast augmentation and mastopexy during a single surgery:

  • final results in a single session
  • less time spent in the operating room and hospital
  • no need to operate on scarred tissues

But is this sort of procedure safe? Some physicians have argued that combining breast augmentation and mastopexy creates added risks, such as scarring, death of breast tissue, and poor positioning of the implants. Surgeons have argued that the operation is complicated and unnecessarily risky.

However, in a recent study published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ariel Tessone and her colleagues were able to employ a safe, simple mastopexy-augmentation technique that involves resectioning the breast after the implant has been inserted. The study examines 60 patients who underwent this procedure. It reports a high satisfaction rate and a low (10 percent) reoperation rate.

While there are various considerations outlined in the study that would limit the use of this procedure, it seems that augmentation-mastopexy surgery may be a viable option for patients who want to correct both breast sagging and loss of breast volume.

Tags: ,
Posted in Breast Surgery, Plastic Surgeon | Comments Off

FDA Shares Silicone Implant Safety Findings

June 27th, 2011 by Staff Writer

silicone implant safetyA recent study by the FDA has discovered positive findings in the realm of silicone implant safety.

After conducting an in-depth study of silicone implant safety, the FDA has confirmed that silicone gel implants “have a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness when used as labeled.” For consumers, this means silicone gel implant augmentations performed by a board certified plastic surgeon, and maintained as instructed, should present no extreme health issues for the patient.

The FDA’s silicone implant safety study also debunked a rumor that silicone breast implants share an association with “connective tissue disease, breast cancer, or reproductive problems.” Based on current data, the FDA said there is no detected connection.

Long-Term Silicone Implant Safety Tips

Women who are considering silicone breast implants should note that though breast implants are long-lasting, no such implant will last a lifetime. Over the course of her life, a woman who has gotten breast implants will likely need to have them replaced.

Patients will need to monitor their silicone gel implants over time and note any signs of complication to their surgeon. Some women may experience a hardening of tissue around the breast, called capsular contracture, or may have a revision or removal surgery.

Silicone implant safety monitoring also extends to visiting your doctor for screenings. Periodic MRIs can detect a “silent rupture” of the implant, which the patient may not be aware of. As an added precaution for women both with and without silicone gel implants, it is important to continue regular mammograms, as directed by your doctor.

Silicone gel implants are used not only for breast augmentation, but often as a part of breast lift surgeries, as well.

Tags:
Posted in Breast Surgery, Plastic Surgeon | Comments Off

Plastic Surgery: Debbie Harry Says Research Is Key

June 21st, 2011 by Staff Writer

debbie harry plastic surgeryFor lead singer of 80s band Blondie, Debbie Harry, plastic surgery in the 90s in the form of a facelift, has yielded many benefits, she told Showbiz Spy.

Plastic Surgery: Debbie Harry Speaks About the Importance of Research

While Harry says some people might rush into a decision to have plastic surgery and go to a plastic surgeon without doing some “homework,” she knows its importance.

When considering plastic surgery, you want to make sure you choose a board certified plastic surgeon. This plastic surgeon will show you examples of their patient work and walk you through the procedure, making sure you feel comfortable.

Your plastic surgeon will also discuss your options with you during your consultation. Your board certified plastic surgeon has the aesthetic eye and experience to suggest appropriate procedures and treatments to help you reach your aesthetic goals.

Harry says she met with several plastic surgeons even after doing research. This careful process helped her choose a plastic surgeon who was right for her individual needs.

Debbie Harry: Plastic Surgery Considerations “Important”

Harry says that as a woman, she feels its important to think about the aging process and what she can do to stop it. Harry adds that women have a more “rigorous time physically than men.”

Even if she wasn’t a well-known person, Harry says she would have still had the facelift, which she feels helped bring her out of a depression. Even nearly two decades after her facelift, Harry says it has held up well.

While a facelift surgery like Harry underwent can remove sagging skin and jowls on the lower face, it is important to maintain a skin care regimen, as well, especially as your skin continues to age.

When you visit board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Smith for a consultation regarding a facelift or other facial rejuvenation procedure, make sure to ask about skin care products to protect and repair your skin to maintain its youthful glow.

Tags:
Posted in Facial Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Skin Care | Comments Off

Products by Obagi for Dark Skin Can Target Pigmentation Issues

June 17th, 2011 by Staff Writer

obagi dark skinA poll released by leading skincare maker Obagi, shows that women with darker skin tones struggle with finding an ideal skin care routine.

The poll, which was completed by 1,000 women of varying ethnicities, from African American to Middle Eastern, Asian and Hispanic, found that nearly half of the women shared one concern: pigmentation. This may include issues with hyperpigmentation, dark spots or a generally uneven skin tone.

More startling yet, is the finding that nearly a majority of the women polled said they have difficulty finding skincare products that meet their expectations. Almost half of the women polled said their current skin care routine does not fill their needs.

In some cases, that issue may be linked to finding matching colors for makeup items like foundation or cover-up. Nude, a common color found in the drugstore aisle, will often match the skin tone of women with a more fair complexion. This issue of what constitutes a “nude” shade is a hot topic for the fashion industry, as well, as discussed by the Associated Press.

One clear positive coming out of the poll was the fact that most women asked said they wore a daily sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, which may be component in products made by Obagi for dark skin. This is good news for the women as it will help ward off sun damage and early signs of aging.

Obagi for Dark Skin and Other Treatments

If you already struggle with photodamaged skin, however, all hope is not lost. In fact, on top of products by Obagi for dark skin, treatments in your plastic surgeon’s office can reverse these issues and an improved skin care regimen can protect it from further damage.

A common way to reduce pigmentation issues is with non-surgical treatments. A chemical peel comes in varying strengths and removes the damaged surface skin cells, smoothing out your skin’s appearance. Dermabrasion or microdermabrasion work in a similar way and may be done with a course of treatments.

Laser skin resurfacing or IPL treatments specifically target the pigment issues in your skin. When the laser’s beam is focused on the treatment site, the pigment is ablated and the issue is cleared.

Tags:
Posted in Skin Care | Comments Off

Best Age for a Facelift May Even Be Over 65, Study Finds

June 6th, 2011 by Staff Writer

best age for a facelift minneapolisBoth patients young and mature may be at the best age for a facelift, given no complications are present, according to HealthDay News.

In a recent study of more than 200 women over the course of three years, Cleveland Clinic found that female facelift patients over 65 who were first properly screened did not present a high risk for complications. This is compared to women of a younger age, provided they too, did not present complications in a screening.

Any patient who is at the best age for a facelift will exhibit a more toned lower face and reduced lines and wrinkles following surgery.

To come to these findings, the creators of the study compared how women over the age of 65, and a group of women under 65, fared both during and following a facelift surgery. Given that no possible complications were found prior to surgery, the patients were found by the study to have similar rates of complication—proving the best age for a facelift may be any age, as long as other factors are considered.

The creators of the study did stress, however, that proper screening of patients is key and not every patient over the age of 65 (or even under it) may be an ideal candidate. The study also did not determine a maximum best age for facelift surgery.

Aside from facelifts, seniors often elect to undergo several other facial procedures to reduce some advanced signs of aging. This includes a brow lift, which opens the eyes and corrects a sagging brow. Eyelid surgery can also take years off one’s apparent age by reducing bags and sagging skin above and under the eyes.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Facial Surgery, Plastic Surgeon | Comments Off

« Older Entries