The thread lift has been touted as a minimal down-time facelift substitute. It’s a procedure where permanent plastic suture cables are placed beneath the facial skin. These sutures have little barbs on them, which are designed to grab on to facial tissue and pull it upward.
Even if the procedure lasted a long time I would have a problem with permanent sutures being left stringing across the face for years. However, in addition to this at a recent American Society of Plastic Surgery meeting I saw 3 world experts in the thread lift admit (to varying degrees) that this procedure lasts from 18-24 months at best. I suppose if that makes sense to some patients then they might be good candidates, but I find that all of my patients are looking for a true ‘rolling back’ of the clock, with a final result that lasts for years to come.
Radiesse (formerly called Radiance) is a filler that provides instant results like Restylane and Juvéderm, but is made of a different material called hydroxyapatite. This is a calcium-based compound that is very similar to the natural material that makes up our bones (but of course it is in an injectable form). Because of its different ingredients, Radiesse lasts longer than hyaluranic acid dermal fillers, usually up to 12-18 months. It can’t be used for the lips, but Radiesse is excellent for the nasolabial and mental folds.
Therefore, Radiesse is an excellent balance between instant results and a longer duration of filling. For patients who would like a durable filling of the nasolabial folds of the face, Radiesse is one of the very best options available.
Despite the similarity in terms, there is a significant difference between the cosmetic facial treatment called microdermabrasion and the surgical procedure called dermabrasion.
Microdermabrasion is a non-surgical procedure which does not require anesthesia. It involves the use of a special instrument that disperses abrasive crystals, usually aluminum oxide, baking soda or other crystals, against the top layer of skin. A vacuum attachment removes the crystals and dead skin cells. The procedure refreshes the skin’s surface, cleans the pores, and stimulates collagen production.
Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure which permanently alters the derma, or lower layer of the skin. The surgeon uses a surgical cutting wheel to sand away layers of skin down into the derma layer, actually changing the surface and removing discolorations and blemishes. The surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia but a general anesthesia is sometimes used. Recovery takes 7-10 days.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural complex sugar found the connective tissue matrix of the dermis (the dense, inner layer of skin just beneath the epidermis or outer layer of skin) in humans and all other mammals. Hyaluronic acid is the major component of this matrix which is also made of two connective fibers called collagen and elastin.
HA has the ability to absorb and hold water up to a thousand times it weight, hydrating the skin and giving it density and volume. HA also helps transport essential nutrients to the skin’s viable cells.
As you age and your skin is exposed to sun rays and pollutants your cells gradually lose the ability to produce HA and the result is dehydration. The collagen and elastin fibers also lose their structure and the combined result is loss of skin volume and the formation of the facial wrinkles and folds we associate with aging.
Such injectable fillers, usually in gel form, must be expertly injected into the mid or deep dermis to restore lost HA, thus restoring skin volume and firmness.The effect is not permanent, but can last up to a year or longer.
Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue, making up about one quarter of the whole-body protein in humans and other mammals. Collagen fibers in the tissue matrix of the dermis (the layer underneath the outer epidermis) support tissue and give strength and elasticity to the skin’s surface. Collagen acts together with hyaluronic acid and elastin in this matrix layer to maintain a smooth surface. Collagen also strengthens ligaments, bones, tendons and teeth and is found throughout the body in many forms.Collagen can be thought of as the ‘glue’ that holds your body together.
With age or illness the production of collagen slows down which results in a partial collapse of the tissue matrix in the derma, and a loss of tissue volume and firmness. Together with the slowing of hyaluronic acid production and reduced elastin, skin folds and wrinkles appear on the skin’s surface.
Though most collagen formulations have given way to more advanced injectable materials, there are still some types of collagen on the market. With so many options for replacing facial volume, it’s always best to seek the help of a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to help you sift through the options.
You may be like many people who would like to improve their skin or body contour but automatically assume that you probably couldn’t afford the expense of a procedure.
With modern advances in cosmetic surgery and a new generation of ‘miracle’ anti-aging products available, there are many options which are much less expensive than you might expect. In addition, many procedures which once required a hospital stay and full anesthesia – and the expense that creates – can now be performed in a medical clinic by a board-certified plastic surgeon using local anesthesia
Some of the new dermal fillers such as Sculptra, Radiesse, or ArteFill, can accomplish a fresh youthful look for much less than you may think. The only way to get started is with a consultation, where all of the financial (and other) questions will be answered.
In the Northern California / San Francisco Bay area, people prioritize living in balance, and in many cases having a connection with the natural environment. A surgery that might be appropriate for a patient in another area of the country, could easily be considered “overdone” in this region.
Therefore, communication about a patient’s plastic surgery goals is all the more important in the San Francisco region. Natural beauty and bodily balance are crucial factors in obtaining the best result possible, and fortunately that is exactly the type of plastic surgery I enjoy performing the most.
Many people suffer in silence from excessive sweating of the palms, armpits, forehead and chest areas. This is a distressing problem that can be socially paralyzing in public settings or where first impressions are key. However, this simple problem can be solved with Botox.As you probably know, Botox is used to relax facial lines and can last 3-4 months for this treatment.Botox for sweating will actually last twice that long, 6 months or longer before another treatment becomes necessary. Nicely, the reduction in sweating is dramatic – usually there is almost no sweating at all until the 6 month period has elapsed.
Liposuction actually has a long history with techniques that date back over 100 years. However, most of the important developments in modern liposuction have occurred in the past 3 decades. Tumescent liposuction made liposuction a mainstream procedure by reducing the blood loss associated with surgery, while ultrasound liposuction represented a major advancement for efficient removal of fat. However, ultrasound brought with it a higher rate of complication because of the heat produced by the equipment.
Finally, the Vaser company was able to utilize the best features of tumescent and ultrasound liposuction with an improved technology that produces minimal heat and therefore minimal complications. I would say that I am now using Vaser Liposelection for about 90% of my liposuction cases.
I’m hearing more and more about the Mommy Makeover procedure. In fact, this is really a collection of procedures that are individualized to each patient to help her recover the body, breast and facial features that she enjoyed before becoming pregnant.
During a consultation for a Mommy Makeover we will discuss the procedures that might apply to each patient, from minimally invasive facial procedures like Botox & fillers to restoration of body and breast contours. Possible procedures that might be discussed are breast lift or breast augmentation, as well as tummy tuck or liposuction procedures. Each ‘mommy’ is an individual, and therefore the plan will be as unique as each of my patients is.
