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If you are considering a non-surgical treatment in Southern California including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Long Beach from a Board Certified Female Plastic Surgeon continue reading ...

LASER PEEL AND OTHER FACIAL PROCEDURES

Who is a candidate?

• If you have fine or coarse wrinkles of the skin - usually on the face.
• If you have an uneven skin surface as a result of scarring, acne, or small skin growths.
• If you have areas of hyperpigmentation (age spots).

Intended Result

• Smoother, youthful-appearing skin of more uniform color.

Procedure Description

• The superficial layers of the skin are removed by the pulse laser. The advantage of the laser is that the depth of treatment is controlled and predictable
• The laser treatment also tightens the skin, but it is not a substitute for a face

Recuperation and Healing

• You will be sent home with specific written instructions. The treated areas are covered with a tape-like covering or with ointment.
• The treatment postoperatively will prevent formation of a crust or scab. Healing will be complete in 7-10 days.
• Redness will usually last 7-10 days. Pink color continues to resolve but may last up to three or more months, depending on the skin type.
• Make-up can be worn once healing is complete (7-10 days).

Other Options

• Other facial procedures such as blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), face-lift, rhinoplasty, cheek implants, etc., can be performed at the same time.

Note

The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare.

LIP ENHANCEMENT, WRINKLE SOFTENING, AND OTHER FACIAL PROCEDURES

Thin and aging lips are common concerns of our patients. Collagen injections are the most commonly known treatment for these problems. There are actually many different options to improve the appearance of your lips and smile. The most common treatments involve the use of fillers, like collagen or fat. Other treatments include softening wrinkles with laser peels, dermabrasion, or chemical peels. Still another method to improve your appearance is surgery, to lift, shorten, or thicken lips more permanently. Finally, the ultimate beautiful smile can be achieved with the addition of cosmetic dentistry and oral surgery to improve the appearance of your teeth. Whitening solutions or the use of new lasers can provide dramatic results. Dental implants, tooth bonding, and veneers are just a few of the newer methods available to obtain your best possible smile. As plastic surgeons, we do not provide these dental services, but we do work closely with dentists and oral surgeons who are experienced and skilled with these techniques

Below is a brief outline of most methods and materials available to achieve the best possible result. Further information is available on each specific technique. Let us give you something to smile about!!!

Fillers: These are materials which can selectively fill various parts of your lips creating more ”pouting” or “Paris Lips” which enhances the white roll or outer edge of the lips.

Collagen, made from bovine (cow) protein, is temporary lasting 2-4 months. It is simple and quick to use with excellent results for many patients. Collagen requires one and sometimes two skin tests 30 days prior to treatment to test for sensitivity or an allergic response.

Cosmoplast, can be used to treat facial wrinkles on the forehead, crow's feet, oral commissures, scars, and soft tissue defects.

Cosmoderm, can be used to treat facial wrinkles on the forehead, crow's feet, oral commissures, scars, and soft tissue defects.

Restylane, is an effective tissue filler for lip enhancement and treatment of wrinkles. Made of Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring component of the skin.

Hylaform, is an effective tissue filler for lip enhancement and treatment of wrinkles. Made of Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring component of the skin.

Fat may be more permanent than collagen. It can give excellent results in most parts of the face but seems to be the least reliable in the lips. As with most “fillers,” more than one treatment is usually required.

Alloderm is cadaver dermis that is medically prepared for insertion as a filler. It is placed under the skin much like Gore-Tex or Softform but is not synthetic, and it is replaced by the body’s own collagen over time.

Cymetra is injectable micronized Alloderm. It requires several treatments for best results, especially in the nasolabial folds.

SURGERY can create permanent improvements in the appearance of your lips. These procedures are usually brief with quick recovery, although some swelling may persist for several weeks. The overall cost may be less than repeated collagen or fat injections. As with all surgery, some scars may be visible depending on the technique and placement of incisions.

Lip lifts use a small incision at the lip line, raising the lip to show more red. This can create a fuller red upper lip.

Lip shortening employs small incisions placed at the base of the nose under the nostrils. This shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip and may also allow the lip to “roll out” creating a more pouty look.

Lip Augmentation (with Alloderm), can be created with small incisions placed inside the lip and Alloderm is then rolled and inserted into the lip to create a fuller and more youthful looking mouth.

Lip thickening can be created with small incisions placed inside of the lip to roll out the lip. This thickens the lip and also creates more pouting. Healing may take a number of weeks, and sometimes the sensation of the lips is altered, although the changes are temporary for most patients.

may occur around the upper lip and sometimes around the chin (the perioral area). Smoking, sun damage, and aging can contribute to these changes. These areas do not respond to face lifts and need one of the treatments listed below to achieve an improvement.

Micro-dermabrasion (“lunchtime peel”) is the latest technique for gentle but definitive “sanding” down lines, irregular skin texture, or pigmentation. For the best results, a series of six sessions is required along with adjuvant skin care. However, there is no recovery time necessary. You can go back to the office or out for the evening the same day!

Chemical Peels have also been used commonly for years to peel off the outer layers of skin. The peels can be superficial or deeper. Aggressive peeling has been associated with permanent color changes of the skin; however, many patients have been satisfied with the improved smoothness of their skin.

Laser Peels may currently provide the safest, most consistent results in achieving smooth skin. Prolonged redness has been a problem for some patients in the past; however, new lasers and post treatment skin care are also providing quicker, better results. Lasers have largely replaced the other methods of smoothing skin and reducing fine wrinkles.

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Facts about Fat Grafting (Fat Transfer)

• ABSORPTION OR DISAPPEARANCE OF FAT: Fat transfer from one part of the body to another is "safe," but the effect may disappear within 3-6 months. Experience shows that second or third fat transfers tend to last longer. Verified scientific reports cite occasional fat transfers that have lasted for several years without repeated injections, but patients should NOT count on that happening to them!
• LUMPINESS: After fat transfer, lumpiness under the skin may be noticeable to the touch or even, rarely, may be visible. Dr. Powers will make every effort to avoid this problem at the time of transfer. If it is an initial problem, massage and time will help.
• CHANGE IN CONTOUR OF THE DONOR SITE: The fat to be transferred must be harvested from the "donor area." The areas most commonly used are the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen. If a significant amount of fat is taken, the donor site CAN look a little flatter than the opposite side. Taking the fat from a wider area (or the central abdomen) can minimize any potential problem. If one hip, buttock, or thigh is slightly larger than the other, this is the perfect opportunity to improve symmetry!
• INFECTION, BLEEDING, AND SENSORY CHANGE: These are very uncommon problems, and they would be dealt with in the same way as in any surgical procedure.

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