Cosmetic Surgery For You

Choosing to undergo cosmetic surgery is an important decision. Using the philosophy of the “Four R'sRelax, Restore, Resurface and Redrape”, you and your physician can determine the best option for you to achieve your goal of a youthful appearance.

Relax. The various muscle groups in the face need to relax to give a softer, more youthful look. This can be accomplished with either Botox or Dysport injections, a non-surgical procedure. Both Botox and Dysport are proteins used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in areas including crow's feet, forehead, between the eyes, at the corners of the mouth, a strongly muscular chin, and neck bands. Results occur in 1-4 days and last 4-6 months.

Restore. As the face ages, it loses volume in critical areas, such as the cheeks, under the eyes and the lips. Restoring volume to the face is vital in creating a more attractive and elegant look and can be accomplished non-surgically with the many fillers available. Two classes of fillers stand out, the hyaluronic acid fillers and the calcium hydroxyapatite fillers.

Hyaluronic acid fillers. Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm are organic gels made from hyaluronic acid, a natural sugar that binds water and creates fullness. They last 6-12 months and are ideal to create fuller, sexy lips, reduce the appearance of smile lines and fill under the eyes.

Calcium hydroxyapatite filler. Radiesse, a viscous filler, is made from tiny calcium particles in a solution. This can last 1-2 years, and may also stimulate long-lasting collagen that restores volume. Radiesse is the filler of choice for non-surgical procedures including rhinoplasties and chin and cheek augmentations.

Another aspect of non-surgical restoration is permanent make-up including eyebrows, upper and lower eyeliners, permanent lip liners or lip makeup and Latisse, the new FDA approved eyelash growing solution for thicker, longer and darker eyelashes.

Resurface. Resurfacing the facial skin non-surgically can be done in different ways. For oily skin, more significant blemishes, or uneven skin tone, acid peels or microdermabrasion can be very beneficial. Intense pulse light laser (IPL) can offer a non-ablative way to give a photo facial look, treat rosacea, acne or melasma.

Fractional CO2 laser and erbium fractional laser treatments give immediate improvement by erasing or diminishing wrinkles, sun damage or long standing acne and chickenpox scarring.

For a quick fix, lasers, fillers and relaxants can be used in combination on the face and hands to diminish age spots, sun damage and wrinkles.

Redrape. Surgery is best for more dramatic results. A forehead lift, upper/lower eyelid lifts, a facelift or neck lift can offer a long-term rejuvenation solution.

More surgical procedures are now being done in an office setting. LaserTight is an FDA approved laser liposuction for removal of unwanted fat in the lower eyelids, neck, and abdomen.

Neck lifts and eyelid lifts under local anesthesia are now feasible for patients who want quick results with minimal downtime.

With so many options available, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to formulate a plan that will make you look as young and vibrant as you feel.