Category Archives: Non-Surgical

plastic surgery donts

5 Things and Procedures We Wouldn’t Do as a Plastic Surgeon

Non-Surgical, Plastic Surgery

As the plastic surgery industry continues to grow and as technology and procedures advance, a lot of times we get asked the question, “Are there any things or procedures that you wouldn’t do as a plastic surgeon?” And as you grow as a surgeon and gain more experience, you start to realize which procedures have the best outcomes, which produce the best results for our patients, and which ones are most cost effective and produce the best results.

Every surgeon out there, as they gain experience, will tell you that there are certain procedures that they just will not do anymore. This can be for several reasons, whether it’s that they don’t see the results that they like, most patients aren’t happy with the outcomes, or it could just boil down to the fact that the surgeons just don’t like performing them. If you find a plastic surgeon out there that will just do anything that the patient asks, you might want to take a step back and reconsider your surgeon and/or seek out a second opinion.

Plastic surgery is an extensive practice with procedures that span all spectrums of the surgical field, but if you really want to get the best-of-the-best when it comes to plastic surgery, which you should be looking for, seek out a surgeon who specializes in what you’re looking to have done.

Now of course this might not pertain to all plastic surgeries, including non-surgical enhancements, but for complex surgeries like breast augmentation, butt lifts, tummy tucks, and more, it’s important that you find a surgeon that you are comfortable with and understands the intricacies of the procedure that you’re looking to have done.  

You probably don’t want to go to a hand surgeon specialist who just so happens to also offer breast lifts, if that’s the procedure you’re seeking out.

Knowing that, let’s look at 5 things and procedures that Dr. Adams and Dr. Rohrich wouldn’t do anymore as seasoned veterans in the plastic surgery world.

Plastic Surgery Procedures We Will No Longer Perform

Thread Lifts

Thread lifts have come and gone over the years, and many plastic surgery offices still offer this procedure to this day. A thread lift is a non-surgical facelift procedure that uses threads under the skin to help pull the skin into place and help to produce collagen.

This is supposed to help reduce wrinkles and help your face look tighter and more youthful, but in our opinion they don’t work very well, they don’t last very long, and can be prone to infection. Not to mention they are quite expensive for what you’re getting.

Foxy Eye Procedure

Have you noticed these days that a lot of celebrities and media personalities have that “cat eye” or “foxy eye” look? You know the one, where the outside corners of the eyes almost appear to be pulled back into more of an exaggerated point than looks natural? In some cases people are getting surgical procedures to permanently have that look.

Don’t do it. You can get a similar look from using make-up and you won’t be stuck with the foxy eye look once the fad goes out of style. This is one of those procedures that does not look natural, and it changes the whole look of your face, and it’s permanent.

Overdone Fillers

This has been an issue for a while now and the patients that have received too much filler stick out in a crowd. There’s nothing wrong with a little botox or fillers to remove aging lines, wrinkles, or to plump up your thin lips or cheek bones, but there’s a way to make it look more natural and a lot of people go too far overboard.

Some of these fillers do not dissolve as easily as others, and this can cause all sorts of problems down the road and make it much harder to return to your original look if you choose to. Fillers should be used in a way that presents the patient with the most natural look possible without reaching the point of no return.

Permanent Fillers

Most fillers used during non-surgical procedures are technically considered temporary. Some of them dissolve on their own over time and some of them can be dissolved using an injectable agent, but there are some fillers out there that are considered permanent.

While there is only one approved permanent filler in the United States, we do not like to use permanent fillers in our patients for a couple reasons. For one, people go overboard, as we mentioned above. They want this plumped lip look or high cheek bones, that just don’t appear natural on them and if we do that, there’s no going back. Secondly, the face is always changing. No matter what procedures you do, surgical or non-surgical, your face is going to continue to age with you and just because your face looked good with permanent fillers at age 40, doesn’t mean that your face will look good with them at age 50 or 60.

Overdone Plastic Surgery

We pride ourselves in the work that we do as plastic surgeons, so we refuse to overdo plastic surgical procedures on anyone, even if they are begging for it. Plastic surgery should be used in a way that creates a natural look that the patient can be happy with for years to come.

We’ve all seen videos and pictures of plastic surgery horror stories from people that get addicted and can’t stop having procedures done, and they look extremely unnatural. Extremely large breast implants don’t look good, especially if you have a smaller, more petite frame. Overdone facial procedures can have you looking completely unnatural and can take a huge toll on your self-esteem as well as your body over time.

There are also many other health complications that can come from overdoing plastic surgery. Tissue can stretch out to the point where it’s no longer fixable, having multiple surgical procedures can take a huge toll on your body and your overall health, and not to mention it can slowly become a true addiction that can be hard to break.

Having a doctor that can help you understand what will look good and what won’t is extremely important in selecting a surgeon. If you’re talking a surgeon who is consistently telling you that they can do whatever you want, then you may want to seek out a new doctor, one that actually has your best interest in mind instead of their own bank account.

Plastic surgery is an art form. It requires precision, skill, and a great understanding of what will look good for certain people and what won’t. It also requires the ability to withdraw yourself from a situation, or communicate with your patient, when you don’t feel that a certain procedure is the right one for them.

Not everyone is going to like hearing no, but in the long run you’ll be a better surgeon and you’ll get more positive feedback from patients that will outweigh all the people you may have to turn away.

removing lip filler injections

Is removing Fillers a New Trend?

Non-Surgical

Over the past few years, many celebrities and social media stars have gotten fillers to increase both the volume and size of their lips as well as to enhance their cheek bones and remove wrinkles. This new trend has caused fillers to become one of the top non-surgical facial treatments for women, and it has been growing for men as well.

Kylie Jenner has admitted to removing the fillers that were inside her lips, while other celebrities like Blac Chyna have gone through the process of dissolving the fillers in her cheeks and jawline.

Very few women are lucky enough to be born with full, pouty lips and perfect cheek bones. The vast majority have to rely upon getting fillers such as Juvéderm or Restylane injected at a plastic surgeon’s office.

These fillers can help plump the lips as well as reshape the jawline and cheek bones to help give a more desired look, but what happens when that look goes out of a style or you want to go back to your more natural look?

[VIDEO – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y433KMmBNr0]

Why Would Someone Want to Remove Their Fillers?

One of the main reasons women would want to get facial fillers removed is due to buyer’s remorse. They most likely went to a “Groupon beauty clinic” who performed the procedure at a discount and ended up with results they were not happy with.

This is not always the case though when it comes to having your fillers removed. As the times change the look of “beauty” in the media changes as well. If you look back to the 90’s, everyone was always trying to be super thin while today most women are looking for a fuller more athletic look.

As these trends change over time, the way you view your body may change as well. We like to compare this to getting a tattoo while in college. Yes, that butterfly on your lower back was the thing to do when you were 19, but now that you’re 35 it might not fit with your current lifestyle.

The same thing happens with plastic surgery and non-surgical procedures, especially fillers.

That big lipped, high cheek bone, wide jawline-look that was popular 5 years ago may not be the look you want to live with anymore, so you may opt to have your fillers removed or dissolved depending on what type of fillers you have.

Is it Possible to Remove or Dissolve Facial Fillers?

Whatever the reason for wanting to get lip fillers removed, thankfully there are a few ways to go about having these fillers removed or dissolved.

Stop Maintaining the Fillers

Not all facial fillers are permanent or need to be removed though, some fillers will be absorbed by the body naturally overtime. One of the easiest ways to remove the plump lip look is to stop getting maintenance injections when they are due. This will cause the lips to lose volume to some extent – but won’t cause it to go away completely. In most cases, only 85% of the volume will disappear.

The same goes for wrinkle fillers. Over time, these fillers will be absorbed by your body and the wrinkles will begin to appear again. Wrinkle fillers typically aren’t removed and are the most maintained by women trying to keep that youthful look, but when it comes to lips and cheeks, those may require doctor intervention to completely remove.

Have a Doctor Dissolve the Fillers

If the fillers used in your lips or cheeks are made from hyaluronic acids, then these can be dissolved by your doctor by injecting Hyaluronidase into the fillers. This will cause the original fillers to slowly dissolve and be absorbed back into the body leaving you with your more natural look.

It should be noted that Hyaluronidase will not reverse such brand name fillers as: Bellafill, Radiesse, and Sculptra. In situations like this the patient will have to wait for their body to absorb the fillers or get a steroid injection. A consultation with a plastic surgeon before deciding what to do will produce optimal results.

Possible Side Effects of Filler Removal

It should be noted that getting rid of fillers is not as straight-forward as it seems. There are a few caveats that most people don’t take into consideration when they opt for the initial injections in the first place:

Not All Fillers are Dissolvable

Depending on what type and kind of filler was used, it’s possible that the procedure is not reversible. Unless the doctor used Teosyla, Juvéderm, or Restylane, there’s a good chance that the process cannot be reversed, or it will take a long time for it to go away.

The above three mentioned injectables can be reversed via a hyaluronidase injection, which almost immediately begins to go to work in just a few hours.

Permanent Changes Can Occur 

Even after the hyaluronidase injection has been given and the lip volume starts to go down, most people only see an 80% – 85% reduction in the volume. You may not always see your lips or other areas of your face completely return back to normal especially if you’ve had many maintenance fillers injected over the years.

The lips and cheeks may retain some of the filler and you may not be able to fully dissolve everything, but in most cases dissolving the filler will leave you close to your more natural look than with the fillers in.

Why Do People Get Fillers?

The purpose of a filler is to improve the shape, structure, and volume of the lips, cheek bones, or jawline. Fillers can also be used to hide wrinkles and aging lines to make the skin appear more youthful.  The overall effects will last for around six months, after which maintenance injections will need to be administered to keep up the appearance.

Most women who get fillers get an injection of Hyaluronic acid (HA) into their lips or face. HA is a natural component of human skin and is broken down and naturally absorbed by the body. While the stated average lifespan of a lip filler injection is around six months, although many people have reported that the lip injections will last for a few months longer.

How are Fillers Injected?

Lip filler injections and other fillers, are a medical procedure and should only be administered by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Knowing how much filler to use and exactly where in the face to inject it is critical to retaining a natural look. Otherwise, areas of your face will come out bumpy and uneven if performed by an inexperienced spa technician or other non-medical professional.

Before getting the injections, a numbing agent will be applied to the injection site to ease any discomfort you might feel when the needle is inserted. After the procedure is done, you can return to your normal life as there is no downtime required.

You may notice some bruising or swelling for 24 to 48 hours afterward, and this can be managed by applying ice to the area. Lipstick and other cosmetic beauty products are advised against being used for a short period until the swelling goes away.

Should I Have My Fillers Removed?

If you’re happy with your fillers and love the way you look, then by all means you should keep them and continue to receive maintenance injections. The only person that should make the decision to have your fillers removed or dissolved should be you.

As we mentioned above, beauty trends come and go as the times change, but you don’t always have to do what everyone else is doing. If you’re unhappy with the way your fillers look, or you’re now at a different point in your life where you don’t feel the fillers are necessary, then there is no reason you should not have them removed if it will make you happy.

At the heart of it, all plastic surgery and non-surgical procedures are designed to help you feel better about yourself in your own skin. Do what makes you happy and if that means having your fillers removed at this point in your life, go for it!

 

liquid facelift

What is a Liquid Facelift? Will it Work For You?

Non-Surgical

If given the choice between a facelift that involved surgery or a liquid facelift, most people would probably opt for the liquid facelift. However, without an understanding of what a liquid facelift is and what it does, most of those people would probably be disappointed in the results.

This isn’t because a liquid facelift doesn’t work, because it can provide great results to those that would benefit from it, it’s because most people seeking out a facelift need more help than the liquid facelift can give.

A liquid facelift is a great way to help fix minor problem areas in people that wouldn’t necessarily require a full surgical facelift yet. It’s for younger people looking make minor adjustments to fat loss and small amounts of loose skin in the face and neck area. It’s not going to be the solution to fix major jawline issues or extreme sagging skin, but it can present a more youthful look overall.

What is a Liquid Facelift?

A liquid facelift technically is neither liquid nor a facelift. It is a minimally invasive procedure that uses injectables under the skin in the face and neck area, to help plump up certain problem areas. It can also help smooth out wrinkles around the eyes and in the folds between the nose and mouth.

A liquid facelift relies on injectable fillers like Radiesse, Restylane, Juvederm, and Sculptra to help fill in problem areas without having to undergo surgery. These fillers are injected under the skin to help replace fat and collagen that has been lost due to the aging process. It helps reduce that aging look that some people get as their skin begins to sag over time.

While this procedure is non-invasive, it still requires a needle to inject the fillers under the skin. Similar to the way that Botox is injected. In fact, when used in combination with Botox, patients tend to see better results.

But who will see the biggest benefit from a liquid facelift?

Patients in their 30s and 40s tend to respond best to the liquid facelift procedures as their skin still maintains a higher level of elasticity and the sagging and appearance of their face isn’t as drastic as someone in their 50s or 60s.

Now that’s not to say that a liquid facelift can’t be performed on older patients, it just means that the results may not be as good as a person may be expecting. Once the skin loses its elasticity and they lose more and more fat and collagen under the skin, adding fillers to the areas can cause the face to look bloated, puffy, and unnatural.

In these cases, a traditional surgical facelift is most likely the best option if you want to get the best results. But as with any surgical or non-surgical procedure, talk with your doctor before making any decisions on which method is right for you.

Benefits of a Liquid Facelift

The main benefit of a liquid facelift is that it is not a surgical procedure. Since the doctor will be using injectables as opposed to actually removing excess skin and tissue, the procedure is quicker, less uncomfortable, requires less recovery time, and is more cost effective.

However, because of those benefits you lose out on the longevity of the procedure. A liquid facelift will not last forever, whereas a traditional surgical facelift is more permanent and will last many years before you start to notice the effects of aging catching up with you.

The downside of the liquid facelift is that you’ll never be able to receive the results that you would get from a traditional surgical facelift, it’s not just possible.

How Long Does a Liquid Facelift Last?

As with most injectable procedures, the effects of a liquid facelift are only temporary. As time marches on, your body will slowly break down the fillers that have been injected into your body and you’ll start to lose the effect.

This process generally takes anywhere between 6 and 24 months, and depends on the type of filler used, where the filler was injected, and the amount of filler that was used. If you wish to maintain the look acquired after a liquid facelift, it would be best to setup a treatment plan with your doctor for regular visits.

How Much Does a Liquid Facelift Cost?

On average a liquid facelift can cost between $2000 – $7000 depending on how much work needs to be done, your geographical location, and other extraneous factors. But in most cases, you can expect to pay roughly somewhere between these amounts.

A traditional facelift can range between $7500 – $15000 depending on the location of the surgeon, the surgeon themselves, and how much work is required to achieve the desired results.

As you can see, a traditional facelift comes at a much steeper cost as well as a longer recovery period.

Liquid Facelift vs. Traditional Surgical Facelift

Both procedures have their pros and cons, but the important thing to remember is to listen to your doctor or surgeon. They have been performing these procedures for a long time and have firsthand experience with the results.

They will be able to give you a better understanding of whether or not you would even see the benefits of a liquid facelift, or if a surgical facelift would give you the results you’re looking for. There’s nothing worse than going through a non-surgical procedure expecting the results to look one way, and then being disappointed with how they actually turned out.

Liquid facelifts are not going to bring your face and neck back to what they were when you were in your 20’s, but if you’re looking for minor improvements as you reach your 30’s and 40’s, this procedure is a great way to bring back some of that youthfulness you may have lost over the years.

cooltone

What is CoolTone and How Does it Work?

Non-Surgical

Toning up the muscles on your body used to take months of hard work, and there was no real guarantee of success. Now there is a revolutionary new technology that can give your body a sculpted, toned look in just a few minutes and without any downtime!

This non-invasive procedure is called CoolTone and was recently given approval by the FDA as a medical device that can help people gain muscle tone. It’s manufactured by Allergen, the same company that introduced Botox and Coolsculpting to the world.

We’re going to look at what CoolTone is, how it works, and what you can expect from a treatment session.

What is CoolTone?

Despite the word “cool” in its name, CoolTone doesn’t freeze the fat like Coolsculpting does. Instead, it’s intended to help tone and strengthen the muscles in your body. The procedure is performed in the privacy and safety of a plastic surgery office in an outpatient setting.

The device itself looks like a box on four wheels. On top is a computer screen that allows the surgeon or highly trained technician to monitor and control the procedure. Attached to the box is a wand which is slowly moved along the target area of the body where the patient is trying to achieve more muscle definition.

How Does CoolTone Treatment Work? Does it Hurt?

CoolTone treatment works by a process called magnetic muscle stimulation (MMS). It sends electromagnetic energy into the muscles in your body, which then cause involuntary contractions. It feels like a light, but non-painful, muscle spasm.

The body then starts to strengthen the muscles underneath the treatment area. Over time, the muscles will become firmer, stronger, and more toned. CoolTone is primarily intended for the improvement and strengthening of the abdominal muscles as well as toning of the thighs and buttocks.

What Areas of the Body Work Best with CoolTone Treatments?

Based on the way that CoolTone works, by stimulating your muscles, it would make sense that it is best used on muscular areas of the body.

The areas of your body that are going to best respond to CoolTone treatment are areas like your abs, butt, arms, and thighs.

Sagging buttocks, loose muscle on the thighs and under arms, and even loose ab muscles are all great reasons to try CoolTone.

Remember, CoolTone is not designed to build or increase your muscles, it’s designed to help tighten and tone your existing muscles. So this will not have the ability to build muscle that doesn’t already exist.  

If you’re looking to tighten up areas of your body, then CoolTone is a great way to stimulate and work those muscles without having to exercise. It can give you more toned legs and abs, while also providing results similar to a butt lift, but in a non-surgical way.

How Long Does CoolTone Last? Is It Permanent?

Since CoolTone treatments are non-surgical procedures the results are not permanent. You can expect the results to last about six months before you may need to go in for another session, but keep in mind that everyone is different.

Everyone’s body will respond differently to the treatment and your results may vary from that of someone else. Six months is the general length for which you should expect to experience the results, but it could be less, and it could be more.

The results will be most obvious shortly after having the treatment and the effects will wear off the longer removed you are from the last session. If the muscles that were stimulated using CoolTone are not maintained, then they will begin to revert back to their original state over time.

If you love your new look and want to prolong the effects of the treatment, then light exercise and muscle toning workouts are a great way to keep your muscles looking and feeling great.

How Many Sessions Do I Need?

It is recommended that you have at least 4 sessions within a 2-week period to help get the results you are looking for. Each session lasts about 30 minutes, and you can go back to your normal routine after the session is completed.

If you would like to maintain the results from your initial sessions, then coming back for another treatment session of 3-6 months is recommended.

CoolTone vs. Emsculpt

Emsculpt is a competing device and was released in 2018. It was one of the very first muscle-building devices on the market. While it works similarly to CoolTone, the difference is that the latter has 50 percent more magnetic intensity (1.35 T versus 0.9 T) at the point of contact. It should also be noted that the clinical significance of the extra magnetic intensity has not yet established.

CoolTone is also manufactured by Allergen, the same company that owns Botox. Allergen is a well-known medical company and spends a lot of money on research and development of their products.

While there is very little difference between the two products, many surgeons and their patients tend to prefer CoolTone over Emsculpt because of their familiarity and reputation of the Allergen brand and family of products. That’s not to say that Emsculpt is inferior, but rather just a personal preference amongst those who have had the procedure performed.

Cooltone vs. Coolsculpting – Difference between Coolsculpting and CoolTone?

Coolsculpting is another FDA-approved medical device that has been proven to help reduce fat in problem areas and is one of the most effective non-surgical fat loss treatments on the market.

It uses extreme cold to freeze—and kill—fat cells. The human body will then naturally absorb and remove the fat cells. CoolTone, on the other hand, uses electromagnetic energy to stimulate the muscles, which encourages them to strengthen and tone up.

It’s entirely possible to schedule CoolTone and CoolSculpting in the same session. The abdomen is a very popular area to have both of these procedures performed, which can help reduce fat and build muscle without any incisions or recovery time!

What is the Cost of CoolTone?

The total cost of an entire CoolTone treatment depends on how many sessions the plastic surgeon thinks you’ll need to achieve the desired results. The best way to find out what it will cost is to make an appointment.

Generally speaking, most patients will need to undergo four treatments in two weeks. Many people who have gotten the CoolTone procedure performed have stated that they already can start to feel their core strength improved after just one session.

CoolTone Side Effects? Is it Safe?

There are some medical conditions where CoolTone isn’t recommended. This is why it’s highly advisable to speak with a plastic surgeon to learn if CoolTone is right for you. Some of the more common side effects can include temporary muscle spasms, muscular pain, localized skin redness, and temporary joint or tendon pain.

In most cases there are no serious side effects from the use of CoolTone. When performed by a properly trained specialist it is an extremely safe procedure.

CoolTone is performed in an outpatient setting, and most procedures last around 30-minutes. There is no downtime after a treatment session, and the patient can leave the plastic surgery office and return to their regular daily routine.

CoolTone for Muscle Toning

If you’re looking for a great way to tighten and tone those muscles in your arms, thighs, abs, or buttocks, then CoolTone is a great non-surgical option.

These non-surgical treatments are never going to be as good as an actual surgical procedure, but for areas that maybe don’t have a good surgical option, or for people that would rather not go under the knife, these non-surgical procedures have come a long way over the years and will only continue to get better.

loose skin

How to Deal with Massive Weight Loss and Loose Skin

Non-Surgical, Plastic Surgery

The goal of plastic surgery is to be able to help yourself look and feel your best, but plastic surgery isn’t the only option. Eating healthy and exercise are both great ways to help shed unwanted pounds and get your body back into shape.

When you start eating healthier and working out the pounds will start to fall off if you stick with it. Your body will start to feel better, you’ll have more energy, and you won’t feel as worn down as you might have in the past.

But depending on how much weight you plan on dropping, you could run into an issue that a lot of people face, loose skin.

Why Does Loose Skin Happen?

Loose skin is something that happens when you gain a lot of weight and then lose it. When you’re gaining weight, your skin stretches out to accommodate the added layers of fat that your body is developing, which in turn causes the skin to lose its elasticity.

After gaining the weight and then working to lose the weight, a lot of people notice that the skin that expanded while they were gaining weight, did not tighten up and go back to how it was after losing the weight.

Because the skin has lost its elasticity through the weight gain process, it is impossible for it to regain the strength it needs to be tight against the body again once you lose the weight. Because of this plastic surgery is often required to remove the excess skin that has formed.

Treating Loose Skin

There are non-surgical ways to help treat loose skin, but in the case of major weight loss, surgery is going to give you the best results.

Minor skin tightening can be achieved through procedures like CoolSculpting and SkinTyte, but these cannot help with large areas of loose skin.

Loose skin in the stomach, face, legs, and arms are best treated with skin removal surgery. This procedure will physically remove the loose skin from your body while helping you achieve the tight, fit, look you are striving for. It can also help remove stretch marks that may have developed due to the stretching of the skin.

There are a few downsides to having loose skin corrected via plastic surgery though.

Loose Skin Surgery Downsides

The biggest downside to having loose skin repaired is that oftentimes when you lose a significant amount of weight, you end up having loose skin in multiple places across your body. You’ll most likely end up with large amounts of loose skin around your mid-section, breasts, under arms and even your legs.

Because this loose skin is spread out across your body, it will require multiple surgical procedures in order to fix everything. This can be time consuming and painful to go through, but in the long run it will help boost your self esteem and help you feel better about the new body you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

The other downside of having your loose skin removed is that while the loose skin will no longer be on your body, the existing skin will still not have the same elasticity that it did previously.

Think of it like a rubber band. The more you stretch out a rubber band the less elastic the rubber band becomes. And no matter what you do to the rubber band after that, there’s no good way to return it to its original form. This is how our skin reacts to stretching as well.

Your doctor will be able to help explain what you should expect from the surgery based on your specific case. Every person is different in how they react to large amounts of weight loss. Some people develop loose skin in their face some in their mid-section, and some in your breasts. This is why it’s important to discuss all your options with your doctor to help manage expectations and get you the best results possible.