Archive for the ‘Facial Surgery’ Category

« Older Entries

What Makes People Look Older?

Monday, 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 | No Comments »

Study Asks, How Long Does Fat Grafting Last?

Monday, 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 | No Comments »

Fat Transfer Procedure Achieves “Less Is More” Result

Monday, 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 | No Comments »

Plastic Surgery: Debbie Harry Says Research Is Key

Tuesday, 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 | No Comments »

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

Monday, 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 | No Comments »

Palin’s Jaw Surgery Creates Interest in Chin Augmentation

Monday, May 23rd, 2011 by Staff Writer

minneapolis chin surgeryFor Bristol Palin, what she called “corrective jaw surgery” actually gave her aesthetic improvements, as well, according to Us Weekly.

Though Palin said she underwent the procedure to help align her jaw and teeth, her appearance is now more streamlined. Palin said because of the surgery she looks more mature and has less of a “chubby little baby face.”

Women, as well as men, who wish to improve the projection of their chins actually have several cosmetic options. Though Palin said she chose surgery for medical reasons, the aesthetic improvements that can be made include permanent chin implants as well as more temporary options like fillers.

By augmenting the shape and projection of the chin, your facial features can be streamlined and harmony between your chin and other prominent facial features can be improved.

Chin augmentation with an implant can add projection to an underdeveloped chin. In this procedure, an alloplastic implant is placed in front of the jaw through an incision under the chin or inside the mouth.

For patients whose chin is only slightly underdeveloped, a dermal filler may be used to fill out its shape, though this is only a temporary solution.

In addition to these procedures to augment the chin, your other facial features can be modified surgically to improve facial harmony. These procedures may include other facial implants (like the cheeks or jaw), lip augmentation or rhinoplasty, to reshape the nose. Additionally, neck liposuction may create a more refined jawline and chin.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Cosmetic Injections, Facial Surgery, Plastic Surgeon | No Comments »

Breast Cancer Survivor Finds Help in Fat Grafting

Monday, May 16th, 2011 by Staff Writer

Fat grafting is often recognized as a means to correct more superficial issues like wrinkles, but can be used successfully in reconstructive surgery, as well, according to WWLTV in New Orleans.

Two months after she underwent a type of mommy makeover, which included breast augmentation and a tummy tuck, Tina, a 46-year-old mother of three learned she had breast cancer, unrelated to the surgeries.

After chemotherapy and radiation, part of her breast tissue was removed. In its place, a tissue expander was placed to keep the shape of the breast. As tissue expansion is only a step along the way to reconstructive procedures, it soon had to be replaced.

Tina’s plastic surgeon elected to use Tina’s own fat, which was removed from her lower body through liposuction to support the breast. In this process, the fat that was liposuctioned from Tina’s lower body was placed around the breast implant to cushion it and provide a natural appearance.

As she recovers and sees the benefits of her surgery, Tina says she now looks forward to an anniversary trip with her husband. They plan to renew their wedding vows in Hawaii.

In addition to this sort of life-altering use, the cosmetic applications of fat grafting are many. Most commonly, fat grafting is used on the face. Placement of this fat may fill depressions in the face like deep lines and wrinkles or scars and may be used to augment lips. It may also be used for some body procedures, like a buttocks lift.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Body Surgery, Breast Surgery, Facial Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstructive Surgery | No Comments »

Eyelid Surgery, Among Other Procedures, Highly Popular in China

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 by Staff Writer

minneapolis botox eyelid surgery rhinoplasty nose surgerySince the industry began to grow exponentially a decade ago, more and more Chinese are choosing to spend extra income on plastic surgery, according to The New York Times. Only houses, cars and travel are ranked above plastic surgery as ways those in China choose to spend discretionary income.

The number of operations performed in China doubles every year and in 2009, China was ranked third in the number of procedures performed with more than two million. Ranked numbers one and two were the US and Brazil, respectively.

While plastic surgeries may often be thought of as an age-fighting measure, in China, the most popular procedure is actually eyelid surgery to increase the apparent size of the patient’s eyes. This surgery involves adding a crease in the eyelid to create what is called a double eyelid.

One such patient, 25-year-old Chen Xiaomeng, pictured, underwent the procedure and was pleased with the result and is now considering nose surgery. It may have been easier for her to undergo plastic surgery than it may have been in generations past since, “Cosmetic surgery is now accepted in practically every household,” Xiaomeng said.

Other popular procedures in China include rhinoplasty to build up the bridge of the nose, jaw surgery to lengthen and narrow its appearance, as well as facelifts and non-surgical wrinkle treatments like Botox.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Cosmetic Injections, Facial Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Skin Care | No Comments »

Plastic Surgery Favored Among More Americans

Monday, April 11th, 2011 by Staff Writer

edina minneapolis botox breast augmentationA new study published by the ASAPS shows that now, more than ever, Americans approve of cosmetic plastic surgery. The study, which was released this month, found that 51% of Americans regardless of income hold a favorable view of plastic surgery.

While the approval numbers vary somewhat between income levels—56% with an income above $75,000 approve while just 45% with an income between $50,000 to $75,000 approve—there is an overall 3% increase in approval from 2009.

ASAPS President Felmont F. Eaves III, MD credits society’s growing dedication to maintaining a good physical appearance and adds that, “As both traditional surgical procedures have been improved and refined, and new nonsurgical options have become available, aesthetic plastic surgeons have more to offer our patients.”

These popular surgical procedures include breast augmentations for women, eyelid surgery to reduce wrinkles around the eyes and rhinoplasty. Non-surgical treatments like Botox, injectable fillers and chemical peels, which all work to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face, are also highly sought after.

The survey also found that 67% of Americans would not be embarrassed if their friends learned they had undergone a cosmetic surgery, while men and women 18 to 24 were the most likely to consider a cosmetic procedure for themselves.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Breast Surgery, Cosmetic Injections, Facial Surgery, Skin Care | No Comments »

Plastic Surgeon Explores Varying Beauty Ideals

Monday, March 28th, 2011 by Staff Writer

minneapolis facelift tummy tuckWhile the old adage is “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” a New York plastic surgeon suggests it is rather the perception of beauty that matters. In an article for The Huffington Post, Dr. Robert Tornambe points out that each of us consider varying aspects of the human form to be beautiful. In a similar manner, plastic surgery procedures are customized with aesthetic sensitivity in mind, as no two people’s faces or bodies are exactly alike.

Take, for example, a facelift. This procedure, which tones sagginess in the lower parts of the face, could not successfully be performed in an identical manner on a man and a woman. For the man, the ideal result might be a strong, toned jaw line and the woman may desire a softer look, if applying conventional beauty standards.

It is with these conventions that Dr. Tornambe also takes issue. Rather than use a checklist for what is beautiful, he suggests that each woman has a Beauty Quotient. This is made up of three components: Physical Health, Psychological Health and Personal Appearance. He asserts that the combination of these three elements, which can be improved greatly with even minor tweaks or changes, make up a woman’s individual beauty.

When you go in for a cosmetic appointment, like a facelift, rhinoplasty or even a body procedure, such as a tummy tuck to tone hanging midsection skin, your plastic surgeon will keep this aesthetic sensitivity at the forefront of their mind. The goal of any good plastic surgeon is not to mold you into someone else’s idea of beauty, but rather to highlight your own beautiful features.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Body Surgery, Facial Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Skin Care | No Comments »

« Older Entries