Lisa Rinna has had a very successful Hollywood career which she credits, in part, to her large, Augmented Lips. When it comes to a beautiful face, the lips are second only to the eyes. Subconsciously, we associate fuller lips with youth and fertility. Larger lips are a big contributor to the “glow” of a pregnant woman’s face. As we age, so do our lips, and gradually they become thinner and thinner. Lip augmentation can be an integral part of facial rejuvenation.
Lisa Rinna is putting her lip troubles behind her.
Lip Augmentation with Silicone Injections
Lisa Rinna had been very forthcoming with the fact that her lips were enhanced with injectable silicone. Liquid silicone injections are problematic, and her honesty has helped other young women avoid the same fate. Right after silicone injections everything looks great, but with time, the body creates scar tissue around the globs of silicone. The result is palpable, and often visual, lumps and lip distortions. Lisa does not regret her decision, but 20 years after the Silicone Injections, her lips were a lumpy mess. She underwent surgery to remove as much of the silicone and scar as possible. Here is the story in her own words:
“Here’s the story: 25 years ago, I had my lips injected with silicone. Stupid thing to do at 24. I saw ‘Beaches.’ Remember that movie ‘Beaches’? I did it with my best girlfriend, so she and I go and we get our lips done. Fine. I have it like that for my whole career, right? So then cut to a couple of years ago, I have a doctor remove as much as they possibly can because it got to the point where they were yucky. You know, they get hard. It’s gross. They are now whatever that was after they took out as much of the silicone as they could.”
Surgical Correction after Silicone Injections to the Lips
Lucky for Lisa, her lips still look fine. Twenty-five years ago, the risks of silicone injections were not as clear cut, and the only approved injectable was Collagen, which was hard and completely gone in a month or two. Today, we have much better alternatives. Lip Augmentation can be performed with injectable HA’s like Restylane and Juvederm in a few minutes in the office. The results do need to be maintained; however, the results are full and soft, something that has not been possible previously without surgery. How long the results last is variable. Average results are 4-6 months and if you decide you not longer need it, after the plateau phase, the lips gradually return to their original size.
Permanent Lip Augmentation
Since lips thin as we age, there are no Permanent Lip Fillers. Even the perfectly sized lips will need a little maintenance to counteract the normal aging process. Inserting permanent fillers, like silicone, promotes the formation of chronic scars and foreign body reactions like granulomas. HA fillers are made from Hyaluronic Acid (HA), a normal component of skin and joints. Unlike free silicone injections, our bodies recognize HA as a normal component of the skin, and we have natural hyaluronidase, an enzyme that can clean up HA.
Lip Augmentation Before and After Pictures
Lip Augmentation Before and After Photos: Lip enhancement performed with HA filler.
Lip Enhancement Consultations
If you are considering Lip Augmentation, especially if it is your first time, consider a brand name HA filler like Restylane or Juvederm. They can give a soft natural result, which is easy to maintain. Swelling is minimal, and with ice and elevation, the appearance is normal in 24-48 hours. Longer lasting alternatives are available, but they require a longer recovery, and are best when the goal size is well known.
Other Lip Enlargement Resources
Other articles on lip augmentation are available on the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog and my main web site. Here are the links:
If you’ve been considering smoothing the lines around the mouth, or enhancing the size of your lips, now is the time to do it. Right now, our Walnut Creek Plastic Surgery office is accepting Gilt City vouchers for Restylane and Perlane. If you are already familiar with facial wrinkle fillers, you can take advantage of this offer too. Here’s how it works…
Restylane and Perlane Discount Coupons
Go to Gilt City before August 16, 2012, and purchase a voucher good for $100 dollars off any 1 ml Restylane treatment for only $49. If you need more volume, $300 coupons, used for any 2 ml Restylane treatment, can be purchased for only $149. Vouchers are valid 24 hours after purchase, and must be used by September 30, 2012. Vouchers are transferable, and can be combined. Some restrictions apply, see Gilt City Restylane voucher’s web page for full details.
How to Redeem Your Restylane Vouchers
Your Restylane voucher will arrive via e-mail in 24 hours. Print your coupon, you will need to bring it with you to your appointment. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Mele by calling (925) 943-6353. You can use the voucher toward treatment on the day of your consultation.
What if I’ve never had Restylane, Perlane or other HA fillers (Juvederm)?
If you never had correction of facial rhytids or lip augmentation with an HA filler, you will need to be evaluated prior to your first treatment. An in-person consultation is required to determine if treatment is right for you. If you are eligible, treatment can be administered that day. Although uncommon, in the event that you are not eligible for treatment with Restylane or Perlane, Gilt City will provide a refund.
Over 13.8 million cosmetic procedures where performed last year, and we are counting down the top five cosmetic plastic surgery procedures as reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Top 5 Plastic Surgery Videos
Today’s Top 5 Plastic Surgery Video is from a recent Body Beautiful appearance on the Bay Area’s News Station KRON4. This video reveals the procedures tied for fifth place. The top four procedures will be revealed in the coming weeks.
If you have general questions about the Facelift or Tummy Tuck procedures please call (925) 943-6353. You can also schedule an in person private consultation appointment for specific recommendations to achieve your goals. The (415) number shown in this video was only for the live show, for viewers to call in with questions.
Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
12.2 million are non-surgical procedures for Wrinkle Reduction, accounting for 89% of all cosmetic procedures. Treatments with neuromodulators (Botox and Dysport), wrinkle fillers (Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse) and chemical peels lead the way. Laser hair removal and microdermabrasion are also included in the top 5, non-surgical numbers.
Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
1.6 million cosmetic plastic surgeries were performed in the United States last year. With the top 6 procedures accounting for 75% of total cosmetic surgeries performed, a percentage I can confirm at my San Francisco Bay Area plastic surgery practice in Walnut Creek, CA.
Facelifts (Rhytidectomy) and Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) – It’s a Tie
With 120,000 surgeries performed for each last year, the Facelift and the Tummy Tuck are tied for fifth place in our countdown of the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.
To learn more about the cosmetic procedures listed above, please feel free to search the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog or follow the links under Categories. For specific questions, use the contact form or give us a call at (925) 943-6353. The office is open weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Live on KRON channel 4 next Monday, March 12, 2012, at 11:00 AM, I will be discussing the top 5 (or 6) cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. The show is live, so you can call in with any questions you might have.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2011 Cosmetic Plastic Procedure Statistics are Released.
Every year the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) publish their Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Statistics. The 2011 statistics show a gradual increase in the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.
Cosmetic Procedures on the Rise
Overall Americans had 13.8 million cosmetic procedures in 2011. The majority of these were minimally invasive procedures with the neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport) and dermal fillers (Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse) accounting for the majority of treatments.
The Top 5 Minimally Invasive Procedure
Top 5 Minimaly Invasive Cosmetic Procedures
12.2 million minimally invasive procedures were performed in 2011. Here is how the top 5 minimally invasive procedures rank:
1.6 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in 2011. Breast Augmentation remains the number one choice, while the Facelift and Tummy Tuck are essentially tied for fifth place. Here are the numbers:
To schedule a consultation appointment, please call my office at (925) 943-6353. You can click on names of any of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures listed above to visit the main website, or use may use the contact form in the side bar to send your questions to me. Thanks for visiting the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog.
Seven million minimally invasive wrinkle reduction procedures were performed in 2011. Neuromodulators like BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport and Xeomin enjoyed a 5% increase in number of treatments compared to the 2010 statistics, while dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse experienced a 10% increase from a year ago.
Facial Wrinkle Reduction
Prevention is the best medicine, so sun protection and moisturizers are always recommended, but once the damage is done, how can it be corrected? Facial wrinkle reduction can be actively corrected with cosmetic plastic surgery like:
As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I offer the full spectrum of facial wrinkle correction. From surgical procedures that offer more effective and longer lasting results, to injectables that offer fast results and minimal downtime. The video below focusses on minimally invasive correction, but information on the cosmetic plastic surgery procedures is available on my main web site by clicking on the links above.
Facial Wrinkle Correction Video
Today’s video is the final segment about how to use minimally invasive procedures to achieve maximum results. It is part 4 of a recent television appearance on San Francisco’s KRON‘s Body Beautiful. The (415) number in this video was for viewers to call during the live broadcast only; however, if you have questions about dermal fillers, botox or other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, please a call us at (925) 943-6353.
The offers in this video expired in 2011; however, special discounts are available from time to time. Be certain to call the office to find out what offers are available now.
Facial Wrinkle Correction Video Contents
This Facial Wrinkle Correction Video includes:
Liquid Facelifts and Facial Wrinkle Reduction
What are the risks associated with non-surgical wrinkle treatments?
How often do bruises occur after non-surgical wrinkle treatments?
How long do bruises last after non-surgical wrinkle treatments?
What are stretch marks?
Are there reliable treatments for stretch marks?
Who Am I?
I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Walnut Creek, California, for 15 years. My practice includes a wide range of plastic surgery, with specialization in cosmetic plastic surgery. To learn more about my practice visit the Meet Dr. Mele page.
Why see a Plastic Surgeon for Non-Surgical Wrinkle Correction?
While I specialize in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, the development of injectable therapies has revolutionized the way I approach facial rejuvenation. Dermal Fillers and Wrinkle Relaxers are no substitute for real plastic surgery; however, they do allow for real improvement in the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, in ways that were just not possible before. The advantage of seeing a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for your non-surgical wrinkle correction is two-fold. You get the immediate advantage of a trained plastic surgeon’s advanced knowledge of facial anatomy, and the future advantage having a trusted relationship with that plastic surgeon should longer lasting, surgical correction be desired.
More Wrinkle Correction Information
Information on facial wrinkle reduction is available in English and Español. Please follow the links below:
In the not so distant past, wrinkles were treated with creams or plastic surgery. Now, all that has changed. The new millennium has brought a wide range of treatments that fit nicely between creams and plastic surgery. They offer better, stronger, faster correction than creams, with quicker recovery and lower cost than the gold standard — plastic surgery.
Wrinkle Fillers
Products like Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse allow for quick correction of moderate wrinkles with minimal downtime. They are all dermal fillers, and as the name implies, they are used to fill in unwanted wrinkles and folds. The correction can be increased with increased volume, and the downtime is about 24 hours of mild redness and sometimes longer for resolution of the occasional bruise. The improvement is immediate, and continues to improve for the first month. They can be used anywhere on the face. Since fillers do not inhibit muscle motion, they excel in the correction of lines around the mouth and in the lower face.
Neuromodulators
Products like BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport and Xeomin are neuromodulators. They relax the muscles that cause wrinkles, like the frown lines found between the eyebrows. These take a few days to relax the muscle, and gradual improvement is seen as the skin is no longer folding from the muscle motion. Since neuromodulators reduce, or even stop, muscle motion, they are used mostly in the upper face. Use around the mouth needs to minimal and requires advanced techniques and good judgement.
Facial Wrinkle Correction Video
Today’s video is about how to use minimally invasive procedures to achieve maximum results. It is from a recent appearance on KRON‘s Body Beautiful. The (415) number in this video was for viewers to call during the live broadcast. If you have questions about dermal fillers or botox, please a call us at (925) 943-6353.
Facial Wrinkle Correction Video Contents
This Facial Wrinkle Correction Video includes:
Liquid Facelifts and Facial Wrinkle Reduction
Why have a Plastic Surgeon do your non-surgical wrinkle treatments?
Is Wrinkle Reduction Art or Science?
What happened to Collagen?
What are the problems with dermal fillers?
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
How does Hyaluronic Acid improve wrinkles?
Can you get Botulism from Botox?
Viewer Question – How can a scar beneath the eye be improved?
What can be done at home to improve scars?
Does massage or using topical silicone improve scars?
Who Am I?
I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Walnut Creek, California, for 15 years. My practice includes a wide range of plastic surgery, with specialization in cosmetic plastic surgery. To learn more about my practice visit the Meet Dr. Mele page.
Why see a Plastic Surgeon for Non-Surgical Wrinkle Correction?
While I specialize in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, the development of injectable therapies has revolutionized the way I approach facial rejuvenation. Dermal Fillers and Wrinkle Relaxers are no substitute for real plastic surgery; however, they do allow for real improvement in the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, in ways that were just not possible before. The advantage of seeing a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for your non-surgical wrinkle correction is two-fold. You get the immediate advantage of a trained plastic surgeon’s advanced knowledge of facial anatomy, and the future advantage having a trusted relationship with that plastic surgeon should longer lasting, surgical correction be desired.
More Wrinkle Correction Information
Information on facial wrinkle reduction is available in English and Español. Please follow the links below:
Like most Plastic Surgeons, I like to operate. Plastic Surgery is a versatile tool. It can restore function after injury or disease, and it can improve form for even the normal body. But just because I have a hammer, I don’t think the whole world is a nail.
Plastic surgery is extremely personal, and I depend on you to help me know what the best course of treatment will be. Sometimes plastic surgery is the best answer, and sometimes less is more appropriate.
Many plastic surgeons use Botox and Restylane in their practices. While non-surgical, these products are complementary to what we Plastic Surgeons do. For example:
Forehead Wrinkles and Frown Lines
Relaxing the frown lines and forehead wrinkles has always been a part of the Brow Lift procedure. If you have droopy eyebrows that are pushing skin onto your upper eyelids, deep wrinkles running across your forehead, or vertical lines between the eyebrows that make you look angry (frown lines), a brown lift might be for you. On the other hand, if you have the frown lines the forehead wrinkles, but the eyebrows and eyelids are fine, Botox, Dysport and Xeomin, may provide you with an equally attractive result.
Lower Face Wrinkles
Lower facial wrinkles include the Naso-Labial Folds (NLF’s), Marionette Lines (ML’s), lip lines and other wrinkles found on the lower face. These areas can be treated with a Facelift, when coexisting with lower facial skin laxity, but when found in isolation, a face lift is more than what is needed. Dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse can pinpoint the treatment to exactly where it is needed, without the downtime associated with surgery.
Naso-Labial Folds (NLF’s)
The Naso-Labial Folds are the lines that extend from the sides of the nose down to the lips. They are the result of muscle attachments to the skin, and are deepened when we smile. The more firmly the muscle is attached, the deeper the resulting fold. Filling the NLF’s with Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane or Radiesse can reduce the appearance of folds without affecting the ability to smile. Unlike botox, dermal fillers do not inhibit motion.
Marionette Lines (ML’s)
The Marionette Lines are a continuation of the NLF’s, extending from the corners of the mouth down to the jaw line. These too are reinforced when we talk and smile broadly. Like the Naso-Labial Folds, the Marionette Lines respond well to fillers. The ML’s often require more volume than the NLF’s for what would seem to be wrinkles of similar depth.
Lip Lines
Lip lines are the fine lines that radiate out from the lips. Often referred to as Smoker’s Lines, the lines are formed when we pucker our lips. Lip lines allow lipstick to bleed, and can make maintaining a clean line at the edge of the lip difficult. By carefully filling in the edge of the lip, a smoothed contour can be formed, and less lipstick bleed occurs. This can be done with or without Lip Augmentation, or purposefully adding volume to the lips.
Facial Wrinkle Correction Before and After Photos
This segment focusses on dermal fillers, and shows numerous before and after pictures illustrating the areas more commonly treated with fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse. Wrinkle relaxers, like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin can complement results in facial wrinkle reduction, but were not used for the areas shown in these before and after pictures.
Facial Wrinkle Correction Video
Today’s video is from a recent appearance on KRON‘s Body Beautiful during which I discuss how to use minimally invasive procedures to achieve maximum results. The (415) number in this video was for viewers to call during the live broadcast. If you have questions about dermal fillers or botox, give us a call at (925) 943-6353.
Facial Wrinkle Correction Video Contents
This Facial Wrinkle Correction Video includes:
Liquid Facelifts or Facial Wrinkle Reduction
The effects of gravity and aging on the face.
Who is a good candidate for wrinkle reduction treatments?
Before and After Pictures of Dermal filler treatments
Before and After Pictures of Howdy Doody Line treatment
Before and After Pictures of Naso-Labial Fold treatment
Before and After Pictures of Facial Wrinkle treatment
Before and After Pictures of Acne Scar treatment
Before and After Pictures of Lip Augmentation
Before and After Pictures of Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
Dermal fillers used include
Restylane
Juvederm
Perlane
Radiesse
Neuromodulators can also enhance the results of fillers. For example:
BOTOX Cosmetic
Dyport
Xeomin
The best areas to treat with fillers
Temporary vs. “Permanent” Correction
Who Am I?
I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Walnut Creek, California, for 15 years. The development of injectable therapies has revolutionized the way facial rejuvenation is approached. While no substitute for real plastic surgery, they do allow for real improvement in appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, in ways that were just not possible before.
More Wrinkle Correction Information
Information on facial wrinkle reduction is available in English and Español. Please follow the links below:
Wrinkle correction used to mean either small improvements with creams or major improvements with surgery. The ground betwen is now covered with the introduction of wrinkle fillers, like Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse, and wrinkle relaxers, like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin.
San Francisco Bay Area – Leaders in Wrinkle Reduction
San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery patients have always been at the forefront of facial wrinkle correction with fillers. It began in the 70′s with the local development of Collagen, and carries on today with its replacement, hyaluronic acid or HA.
Like collagen, HA is a normal component of the skin, and is also found in our joints. HA dermal fillers are sold under many brands names, with the most popular being Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane. These clear gels allow for the correction of moderate to deep facial rhytids (lines) with minimal down time and quick improvement.
Wrinkle Relaxers – Botox, Dysport & Xeomin
Botulinum toxins have been used for years for the treatment of blepharospasm, a disabling chronic spasm of the muscles around the eyes causing functional blindness. For many years it was the plastic surgeons “secret” weapon, and used off-label, but a few years ago Allergan received approval for a new indication – the cosmetic treatment of frown lines. BOTOX Cosmetic was born. Others have followed with similar approval and results including Dysport and Xeomin.
Facial Wrinkle Correction Video
Today’s video is from a recent appearance on KRON‘s Body Beautiful during which I discuss how to use minimally invasive procedures to achieve maximum results. The discussion includes the use of fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse, and wrinkle relaxers, like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. The (415) number in this video was for viewers to call during the live broadcast. If you have questions about dermal fillers or botox, give us a call at (925) 943-6353.
This Facial Wrinkle Correction Video includes:
Liquid Facelifts
Freshening up for special occasions
Dermal fillers
Restylane
Juvederm
Perlane
Radiesse
Neuromodulators
BOTOX Cosmetic
Dyport
Xeomin
The best areas to treat with fillers
The best areas to treat with neuromodulators
Who is a good candidate for wrinkle reduction treatments?
As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Walnut Creek, California, for 15 years, the development of injectable therapies has revolutionized the way facial rejuvenation is approached. While no substitute for real plastic surgery, they allow for real improvement in appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, in ways that were just not possible before.
More Wrinkle Correction Information
Information on facial wrinkle reduction is available in English and Español. Please follow the links below:
The Liquid Facelift - Wrinkle Fillers: Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Radiesse; and Neuromodulators: BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport and Xeomin.
The Liquid Facelift is a quick way to reduce the signs of facial aging. Technically not a facelift, the term liquid facelift refers to use of volume restoring injectables like Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm and Radiesse. These products can fill unwanted wrinkles and enhance facial features that are desired.
Filling Unwanted Wrinkles
Dermal Fillers are a class of pharmaceuticals designed to plump sagging skin. Unwanted facial wrinkles, like those found around the mouth, can be carefully filled to significantly reduce their appearance. The treatments are performed right in the office, and the downtime is minimal.
Dermal Fillers are administered with a fine needle, and come complete with local anesthetic inside. The most common unwanted side-effects are temporary and include swelling and bruising. Icing after treatments can help reduce both. A few days prior to your treatment, it is important to avoid medication that thins the blood like: aspirin, ibuprofen, naprosyn, vitamin E, fish oil and many natural supplements. This will reduce your risk of bruising. If you are planning to do some wrinkle reduction for a special occasion, do not delay. Ideally you should have the treatment done several weeks in advance. If you bruise, you will have plenty of time to recover, but your results will last for months.
Enhance Facial Features
Sometimes the goal is not to disguise, but to augment. Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm and Radiesse can be used to increase the size of some of the face’s most desirable features. Hyaluronic based fillers like Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, can be used to enhance the lips. While Radiesse can be used to enhance the cheek bones and chin. If you are considering facial augmentation with cheek or chin implants, dermal fillers can provide a way to try it out on a temporary basis.
Maintaining the Result You Want
If you want to maintain the results, it is necessary to touch up the areas from time to time. For most patients, touch-ups require less volume than the initial treatment. This is because we are adding volume before the previous correction has completely resorbed, and because these product promote your face to produce collagen in the areas of injection. Even after treatment, the face continues to age. Dermal fillers cannot provide permanent results. The amount of wrinkle reduction, and the time it will last for you, may vary.
2011 Holiday Discounts on Selected Dermal Fillers and Neuromodulators
For the month of December several promotional specials are being offered in our San Francisco Bay Area, Walnut Creek plastic surgery office:
Any HA filler, buy two get one free includes: Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane. All product must be administered by December 31, 2011.
Up to $65 rebate with each syringe purchased. (May be combined with above!)
Perlane – $65 rebate on each 1.0 cc syringe (maximum of 6 cc’s)
Restylane – $50 rebate on each 1.0 cc syringe (minimum of 2 cc’s & maximum of 6 cc’s)
$50 rebate on BOTOX Cosmetic and Dysport treatments of $200 or more.
Liquid Facelift Appointments
If you are interested in learning more about the liquid facelift and facial wrinkle fillers, or you want to know more about neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin, please give our San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery office a call at (925) 943-6353, and schedule a personal consultation appointment. More information is also available on our web site under face: facial wrinkles (minimally invasive) or on DrMele.com under skin.
Dermal Filler to Treat Facial Wrinkles - Immediately after Perlane injections to Facial Wrinkles in the Naso-Labial folds with typical post-injection redness and swelling. The redness lasts about 24 hours, and can often be concealed with makeup.
Time flies when you are having fun, and I really enjoy being a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. Clear sunny skies the weekend before Thanksgiving, and the rich diversity of the Bay Area’s culture remind me daily that it’s a great place to live, and to practice plastic surgery.
Experienced Hands
I am a board certified surgeon, who after completing my general surgery chief residency, spent three years as a fellow, specializing in plastic surgery right here in San Francisco. As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, my practice incorporates a wide variety of plastic and reconstructive surgery, but the majority of my time is spent performing cosmetic plastic surgery in Walnut Creek, San Ramon and Concord, California.
More Than 10,000 Procedures Performed
Time really does fly when you are having fun. A few years ago I performed my 10,000th procedure in private practice. Whether I am performing immediate breast reconstruction in the hospital, complex body shaping procedures after massive weight loss at an accredited surgery center, or a straight forward scar revision in my Walnut Creek plastic surgery office , the goals remain the same: maximum results, minimum recovery and happy patients.
“The noblest art is that of making others happy” – P.T. Barnum
Minimally Invasive Treatments
Sometimes less is all that is needed. A facelift is more than is necessary to correct moderate nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth). As shown in the picture above, we have effective minimally invasive options in the form of dermal fillers like:
Restylane
Juvederm
Perlane
Radiesse
These provide a quick fix with minimal down time. They are called liquid facelifts, but they are not meant to be a substitute for facial plastic surgery. These dermal fillers reduce facial wrinkles in three ways:
Physically filling the wrinkle
Reducing skin folding by thickening the skin
Coercing the body to build collagen
Correction – Right Where You Need It
The beauty of facial fillers is the simplicity with which they work. They do not require an extensive medical work up, and treatments are well tolerated. Brand-name fillers are supplied in pre-filled, single-use syringes that provide a sterile, consistent product. Since Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane are HAs, a normal component of your skin and joints, the risk of allergy is extremely low. They are great products to work with, and they work well, right where I put them.
Experience Counts
Now matter how great the product, the most important factor in having your wrinkles treated, is the person doing the injections. Precise correction is imperative. Enough filler must be used to maximize improvement. Too much will give unnatural results; too little leads to under-corection and minimal results. It is also important to place the dermal fillers smoothly to avoid lumps and bumps.
Injectables, by their very natural, are fluid. Care must be taken in the initial placement, and caution used in the hours after injecting to avoid displacement. Forceful squeezing of Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane of Radiesse can mold the result, for better or for worse. After a few hours, the gel is set, and displacement is unlikely.
Recovery After Injectables
Another attractive feature of injectable fillers is the relatively short recovery period. There may be some initial swelling and redness over the area injected, but this tends to resolve in a day or two. Bruising occurs in 10-15% of injections, and this can take several days to resolve.
Ice and elevation help speed the return to normal activities. It is important to inform your doctor if you are taking any blood thinners, and this includes over the counter pain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), Aleve, as well as, vitamin and herbal preparations like Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Ginsing, Ginko and many others. It is best to let your doctor know before you show up for your injection to avoid a delay in treatment.
Timing of Treatments
Dermal Fillers (Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Radiesse) and Muscle Relaxers (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) last for months. If you are planning your wrinkle treatments around a specific date, do not procrastinate. Since swelling and bruising can last several days, it is ideal to have the treatments three weeks before your goal date. This provides time for correct, recovery and touch-ups in the event that it is necessary.
Dermal Filler Treatments
Dermal filler treatments are offered and performed every day in my office. For new patients, the procedure can be performed at the time of consultation, as long as there are no contraindications. If you are interested in finding out more about dermal fillers, give us a call at (925) 943-6353 or use the contact form on the left.
Also ask about Botox and Dysport. Since the Botox and Dysport not packaged for individual use, treatments are grouped around the first and third Wednesday of each month, or by special arrangement.
