Category Archives: LiftNeck
Acupuncture: For wrinkles?
More and more people are to turning to natural, healing remedies – like acupuncture – to
treat illness, ease aches and pains, and achieve an overall sense of wellbeing. But were you aware that cosmetic acupuncture is becoming the newest trend in natural health care?
Originating from China, acupuncture consists of the use of very thin needles which are inserted into the surface layer of a patient’s skin. Varying from issue to issue, the needles are placed in strategic positions on the body to stimulate the flow of Qi (life energy). With scientific research increasingly backing up the healing claims of acupuncture, it is becoming more popular in Western societies.
Using the same theory, cosmetic acupuncture is said to stimulate collagen and elastin,
helping to produce a more youthful appearance in many patients. Practitioners believe that by freeing up the Qi in the face and neck, the needles help to smooth out
laugh lines, crow’s feet, and wrinkles by helping the skin to become more delicate.
However, some dermatologists are not as convinced. Rhoda Narins, MD, president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, shares her thoughts, “acupuncture
doesn’t stop the muscle movement that creates lines, Botox does. Nor can acupuncture tighten or “fill” the skin as surgery or injectable fillers such as Restylane can.”
No matter which side of the fence you’re on, both parties would agree that the results of either acupuncture or Botox, depends on what you’ve started with. Many cosmetic
acupuncture practitioners encourage women to start receiving treatments in
their thirties.
The cost varies from approximately $50 + per session and usually requires several visits over an extended period of time to notice results.
A Vampire Facelift?
So here’s something you may be just beginning to hear about. Vampire facelifts are currently all anyone’s talking about at cosmetic surgery luncheons. Turns out this new and revolutionary procedure is creating quite a storm with its claims at rejuvenating a woman’s skin by using, yep you guessed it, her own blood!
How does this work? Well, in essence, the patient’s own blood carries certain growth factors, bio stimulants and modulators that help create volume to the face without any risk of infection due to foreign body particles. But is it bloody messy, and more important, how bloody effective is a vampire facelift? Let’s take a look.
The procedure is quite simple. Your cosmetic surgeon will draw blood from your arm and then the red blood cells are separated and discarded. This leaves the plasma and platelets cells, which form a golden liquid that’s injected into your facial tissues.
The idea behind a vampire facelift is that the use of your own PRP (platelets rich plasma) stimulates the growth of facial collagen, thus rejuvenating the skin and leaving it refreshed and glowing. This procedure has been used for years now in treating bone growth, as well as aiding the healing process post surgery.
The vampire facelift is easy and effective, and it’s also quick—usually a speedy hour at the clinic, with a mild recovery period. It can help with wrinkles, lines and baggage under the eyes. Mild swelling and bruising will persist for just up to 4 days, however patients will need to wait about a month or so before they can see the final results. Best of all… no cutting!
But here’s the catch, and yes there’s always a catch: the vampire facelift is a fairly new procedure and plastic surgeons are still discovering how to exactly administer it. In other words, the amount of injections needed is still being determined. However, surgeons are finding that most patients will require 2-5 treatments over a six-month period for best results. Results than can last a whole bloody year!
What You Need To Know About Dermabrasion
Since you now know everything you need to about microdermabrasion, why don’t we spend a bit of time on discussing its predecessor, dermabrasion.
First of all, dermabrasion is one of the most popular and successful non-surgical procedures in cosmetic surgery. The best candidate for a dermabrasion treatment is someone whose skin suffers from acne, sun-damage and wrinkles around the mouth. The goal of dermabrasion is to remove any scars, tattoos and wrinkles, and to leave the skin smooth and rejuvenated.
The procedure can last anywhere from a just a few minutes to about an hour and a half, however, multiple sessions are needed. Dermabrasion is a bit more invasive than other non-surgical procedures, meaning that some down time from work will be necessary. Plastic surgeons recommend you take at least a week off for recovery.
So how does it work? Firstly, your face will be frozen with local anesthesia. After that, a surgeon will use a specialized instrument to “sand” the skin. This is called surgical skin planning. After the skin heals a new smoother layer forms overtop the damaged and dried skin.
Dermabrasion can be used to treat the following:
- acne and acne scars
- pox marks
- scars resulting from accidents
- scars resulting from disease
- tattoo scars
- age and liver spots
- wrinkles
- skin lesions
However, moles, birthmarks, burn marks and congenital skin defects are not treatable by this procedure.
During the consultation with the dermatologic surgeon prior to the procedure, you will discuss all things relating to your expectations and desired outcomes. Any possible risks will be detailed and photographs will be taken to begin tracking progress.
For a few days following the procedure your skin might feel a slight burn to it. If the feeling is a bit intense then your surgeon will prescribe you any necessary medication. Your skin will be a bit pinkish at first, but will return to its normal color within two months. In these cases camouflage makeup is recommended as a means to hide the appearance. Patients are advised to stay away from direct sunlight, or to take proper necessary means such as sunscreen to avoid any further skin irritations.
Speak with your surgeon about any recommendations they may have to help with the recovery process. Within two weeks you will be able to resume normal activities. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, dermabrasion was the number 15 non-surgical procedure in the year 2011, with over 25,000 treatments performed.
Cosmetic Fillers: Are they right for you?
Judging from recent appearances, many people could not help but notice that there was something different about Lindsay Lohan. The actress has claimed that she has
given up her hard partying ways and is looking to move forward and make a
comeback to her once successful acting career. In preparation for this, many
plastic surgeons suspect that the star has had cosmetic fillers injected into
her face.
What is a cosmetic filler?
Commonly used for correcting soft tissue contour defects, The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) describes them as soft tissue fillers approved as medical
devices by the FDA. These devices are injected into the skin to help fill in
facial wrinkles, restoring a smoother appearance.
The cosmetic fillers, also called derma fillers, are generally made of collagen,
hyaluronic acid gel, calcium hydroxylapatite and polymethylmethacrylate beads.
How long will the effect last?
Depending on various factors such as: the health of the skin, skill of the doctor and the type of filler used, the results usually last for about six months. After which
time, the filler is absorbed into the body – the common materials used are
either naturally occurring in the body or have been approved as biocompatible
and biodegradable.
Why would I want a cosmetic filler?
If you are looking to restore youthfulness in your face, cosmetic fillers can add volume
and fill in unsightly lines. Additionally, the procedure is very effective at
smoothing out deep wrinkles. If you are struggling with sunken areas or scars,
the procedure is also highly recommended.
One of the best parts about cosmetic fillers is that you will see the results immediately. Many side effects will cease within seven days.
Surviving Your Facelift — 5 Easy Tips
Let’s assume you are just days away from your facelift plastic surgery. You may be feeling a bit of nervousness and anxiety towards the procedure, and especially towards your recovery period afterwards. Truth of the matter is that facial surgery can have quite an extensive postoperative period and certain lifestyle restrictions will be in place to ensure you heal properly.
facelift recovery items
But that doesn’t calm you down now, right? Well, in essence, now is a great time to prepare for your postoperative period! Lets use those nerves positively and focus your attention on how to have the smoothest possible recovery!
Let’s get started. Here are a few things you may not have thought about:
- As your face heals it will first swell and bruise. In other words, it will look worse before it looks better. But don’t worry about that. Once the bandages come off and you see your results you will be fine. However, certain things, such as camouflage makeup tend to go a long way. This is very popular amongst facelift patients—so much so that your plastic surgeon can probably recommend a specific line of makeup to help you even out skin discolorations due to reduced swelling and bruising. Healing takes time but you can disguise it and make it look more natural.
- Accessorize! A good idea now is to go shopping for some big, wide and dark sunglasses to protect your eyes and skin from the sun. This also protects scars and stitches from light. In addition, you will also need a large cushioned hat, one that comes equipped with wrap-around ties.
- Keep your head elevated. This is quite important to plastic surgery patients who have had procedures on their neck and up. Keeping your head in the upright position 24/7 may be your biggest task, so be well prepared for this. Make sure you have enough pillows secured around you when you watch TV and sleep.
- Ice, ice and more ice. Or at least as per your plastic surgeon’s recommendations. Even if your face is bandaged, there is still a good chance that you may need to ice the treated area periodically. Be sure to add plenty of ice packs to your pre-surgery shopping list.
- The best way to keep your head up is to take frequent walks. Since you won’t be able to exercise for a while this is also the best way to prevent blood from clotting up. Go for walks with friends or the family pet. Just remember to protect your face from the elements.
O.C. Housewife Chooses Rhinoplasty
Prior to season seven of the Real Housewives of Orange County airing, cast member, Alexis Bellino, underwent rhinoplasty primarily for her reoccurring sinus problems, but also for corrective purposes.
Bellino admits that she has spent years suffering from sinus infections and since rhinoplasty is performed by a plastic surgeon, she decided to take advantage of being under the knife and correct a bump on her nose that was a result from when she broke her nose as a child.
Dr. Michael Niccole, who performed the cosmetic surgery on the housewife, was thrilled with both the corrective as well as the esthetic result. He admitted that Alexis was an easy patient to work with.
Along with other reconstructive or corrective purposes, rhinoplasty is recommended for patients with recurring sinus infections, which can be both painful and debilitating. Patients may opt for the procedure if they are unresponsive to medication or other forms of treatment. Recovery time does vary from patient to patient, but most of the initial swelling is relieved within only two weeks.
Although she admitted that she was terrified at the thought of the cosmetic surgery, Alexis is very happy with the new look of her nose and the health benefits that have resulted since the surgery. The Orange County housewife has previously had botox, lip injections, and was named by RadarOnline as one of the 10 women in Hollywood with the best breasts money can buy. This was the first facial plastic surgery operation for the reality TV celebrity.
Microdermabrasion – What You Need to Know
In March of this year, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery released its 15th annual statistics. This report stated that 9.2 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in the year 2011. Of those, 82% were non-surgical cosmetic procedures. In total, 794,357 microdermabrasion treatments were performed, making it the 4th most popular non-surgical and minimally invasive procedure of the year.
In addition, of the $10 billion spent in America on cosmetic procedures, $1.6 billion alone was spent on skin rejuvenation procedures such as microdermabrasion. Other popular skin rejuvenation procedures included chemical peels, fraxel, IPL laser treatment, laser skin resurfacing, noninvasive tightening and dermabrasion. Now, let’s take a closer look at microdermabrasion.
First of all let’s start by acknowledging that your skin is the body’s biggest organ and made up of the epidermis and the
dermis, its two main layers. The layer on the surface is the stratum corneum protecting the epidermis from the outside world. The epidermis, basically, is made from dead skin cells resting on top of a deeper layer of cells that are nearing maturity—the dermis.
So here’s the deal. The stratum corneum is the layer that has to deal with all of our little imperfections, such as cuts, wrinkles and blemishes. This is where microdermabrasion is put to use. In essence, the procedure aims to reduce fine lines, “crow’s feet”, age spots and acne scars by stimulating the growth of collagen and skin cells. This is done by putting stress on the stratum corneaum, fooling the body into thinking your skin has been injured and thus rushing the production of new and healthy skin cells.
The popular procedure, done usually at a salon or clinic, is normally applied to the face, neck, shoulder and arms, and results in a smoother and softer skin surface. Here’s how it works:
- The technique utilizes a specialized tool that, with its vacuum action, shoots the skin with a stream of tiny crystals. These can be aluminum oxide, sodium bicarbonate, or sodium chloride.
- The tool works at small sections at a time, pulling and raising the skin, creating mild swelling and bringing impurities to the surface.
- The tool then collects the dead skin cells and used crystals leftover from the technique.
Microdermabrasion is often regarded to as a “lunch hour” procedure by surgeons due to its non-surgical, safe and effective and quick procedure. Each treatment takes about 30 to 60 minutes. There is no need for anesthesia and the patient can resume normal activities immediately.
However, for best and most effective results, at least 5 treatments are recommended. In some cases as many as 12 treatments are necessary. Each treatment averages in the $100-$150 area. The procedure has very minor side effects. These include mild swelling and redness that can last anywhere from one hour to two days.
Facelift Basics. What You Should Expect From Your Facelift
When it comes to plastic surgery and all things associated with the face, you can rest assured that there is a procedure that can be performed to help fix or re-create anything that you could possibly desire.
You want to get rid of those frown lines? Done. Do you find yourself horrified by those dark circles and bags under your eyes? That’s an easy fix. Are you bothered by the formation of low-hanging jowls, or do you find that you just don’t look as youthful and energetic as you feel within? Consulting with a highly skilled and board-certified plastic surgeon may open up an entire new world to you.
Here are some examples of just what types of surgical facial procedures you can have ‘done’:
- Autologous Fat Transfer – for lips, frown lines and facial re-contouring. This process removes fat from other parts of your body and uses it as filler. Average time of procedure: 1- 4 hours. Back to work: 1-14 days (depending on extent of work). National average surgeon’s fee: $1781
- Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) – tackles excess fat and wrinkled, drooping skin of upper eyelids, as well as puffiness under the eye. Average time of procedure: 1-3 hours. Back to work: 10 days. National average surgeon’s fee: $2630
- Chin Augmentation – used to restore a receding chin with the use of implants or filler. Average time of procedure: 60 minutes. Back to work: 1-2 weeks. National average surgeon’s fee: $2259
- Facelift – tightens loose skin, smoothes deep lines, wrinkles and jowls. Average time of procedure: 2-3 hours. Back to work: 2 weeks. National average surgeon’s fee: $6408
- Forehead/Brow Lift – aims to improve sagging and/or low eyebrows, forehead creases and frown lines. Average time of procedure: 1-2 hours. Back to work: 10 days. National average surgeon’s fee: $3099
- Lip Augmentation – to enhance thin lips. Average time of procedure: 60 minutes. Back to work: 1 week. National average surgeon’s fee: $1827
- Otoplasty – corrects protruding or disproportionate ears. Average time of procedure: 2-3 hours. Back to work/school: 5-14 days. National average surgeon’s fee: $3048
- Rhinoplasty – constructs a more facially balanced nose. Average time of procedure: 1-2 hours. Back to work: 10 days. National average surgeon’s fee: $4246
Please note, all statistics are from the most current report issued by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and remember, a lot of times women will combine their facial procedures. For instance, a facelift with blepharoplasty and brow lift. Having one or more surgeries performed at once will give optimal results, and it will also help you save money on surgeon’s fees.
Celebrity Profile: Betty White Plastic Surgery
This golden girl has been everywhere lately. Betty White, who just recently turned 90, does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. In the past few years she’s been everywhere as her career has seen resurgence incomparable to any other. A record-breaking stint on Saturday Night Life, a hit primetime Television show, followed with a new NBC prank themed show entitled, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers. That’s right, the Hot in Cleveland star has been everywhere lately.
And yes, that even includes the plastic surgeon’s office.
Did you know Betty White has had work done? It’s true, in fact, Betty White herself has even publicly admit it. However, she just finally revealed her cosmetic surgery secrets recently, about 35 years after the surgery itself!
You know how celebrities are always rumored to have work done yet constantly deny it? Well, you can count Betty White as one of those actresses who has always denied going under the knife, saying as recent as two years ago that she has always been glad she avoided plastic surgery, even going as far as to add that she wishes her friends would follow suit and grow old gracefully.
Right…
That’s until her memoir “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t)” hit the stands in 2011, in which she finally admits to having a blepharoplasty procedure performed in the mid 70s to help tighten some loose skin around the eyes. This would put her career at just before The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s last season began production.
In the book she writes, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature! But in 1976 I had my eyelids done. I scolded myself forever, but now I’m glad I did it.”
And there you have it. Ms. White did not face much scrutiny with her revelation—maybe it didn’t really come as a big shock to anyone, or maybe Americans generally don’t disapprove of facelifts today the way they once did. However, some plastic surgeons did take a little exception.
Dr. John Di Sala, for instance, blogged that, “In the big picture, her friends are following in her footsteps. They are telling the press they haven’t and won’t have plastic surgery. Then later they are having it.”
Well, people are, after all, allowed to change their minds, right? And who knows if the eyelid surgery is the only work Betty White has undergone in her long, envious career. Maybe she’s saving the real dish for her next memoir.
The Brow Lift Procedure
Here’s something to consider. Most brow lift patients are between the ages of 40 and 70, and seek this treatment to reduce or eliminate the unwanted wrinkles, creases and deep forehead lines that, due to aging, situate themselves on the forehead.
This procedure is gaining popularity each year and is often combined with facelift, blepharoplasty and
brow lift for youthful appearance
chin surgeries for a more youthful and healthy appearance. In addition to that, brow lifts can also be combined with hair transplants in the occurrence of receding hairlines as well as fat transfer to create volume.
But that’s not all. Younger people who suffer from drooping eyebrow and other premature aging indications are also helping the rise of this particular procedure.
So what’s involved in a brow lift? Well, in essence the forehead lift will take up to two hours and is usually performed under local, as opposed to general, anesthesia. There are two, fairly basic, techniques that you can decide on:
Conventional Forehead Lift
- To begin, the patient’s hair is trimmed and pulled away from the incision area.
- The incision is made at the least visible area: along the hairline, within the scalp, or along the natural bone structure.
- One long incision is made, from ear to ear and across the forehead.
- The skin of the forehead is lifted and excess tissue is removed. After this step, the muscles are then repositioned or removed, followed by the lifting of eyebrows.
- If there is any extra skin it will also be trimmed, and the incision is then stitched and the forhead bandaged.
Endoscopic Forehead Lift
- In this case, instead of one incision across the forehead, several small incisions are made, all within the scalp.
- An endoscopic instrument is then inserted and produces a visual map of the inner workings of the forehead and eyebrows.
- Excess fat, muscle or skin is then removed with the use of a second instrument inserted into the other incisions.
- The forehead is stitched, clipped and bandaged.
The preference of the two techniques will depend on the scale of surgery, as well as your surgeon’s expertise. If you find yourself favoring one above the other but are in disagreement with your surgeon, then perhaps a consultation with another surgeon is necessary before you commit to your brow lift.
And here’s a bonus to think about: in a recent study which involved 75 subject who all suffered from migraines and underwent a traditional brow loft, 57% of people said they were cured of their headaches. One year later, 80% of the subjects reported that the migraines still had not returned, or were significantly reduced in occurrence, leaving the researchers with a 92% success rate.
Now that’s something worth raising your eyebrows over!
