Blogs
Isn’t Botox Dangerous?
I am still stunned to get this question after all of these years and the tremendous safety record that Botox Cosmetic has achieved. A month does not go by where someone asks me this question of, "isn't Botox dangerous?" Here are a few things to keep in mind: Botox is probably the safest thing that I do. It has almost no downtime, very easy for the patient, and even most serious complication (which is extremely rare) is completely treatable. There has never been reported a serious adverse...
Five things you should ask before getting a brow lift
1. How long will a brow lift last? A brow lift is a plastic surgery designed to lift the brows to a more aesthetic position, soften forehead and frown lines, and rejuvenate the eyes and upper third of the face. While patients will appreciate the benefits of this procedure for the rest of their life, with aging the brows may return to their original position within 5-10 years. How long this takes depends greatly on genetics, age the procedure was done, and how one takes care of their selves...
Hamilton Facial Plastic Surgery Now Offering Juvederm Volbella®
For the subtle reshaping and redefining of lips and facial contours Juvederm Volbella® is the first FDA approved filler to provide correction of lip wrinkles and provide lip enhancement that lasts up to a year. Like other Juvederm fillers, it is made from hyaluronic acid (HA) providing a smooth long lasting correction with a product that is natural to your body. Volbella® utilizes a lower concentration of HAs allowing it to provide a better correction of difficult to treat fine lines as well...
Real Brows®
We have many patients concerned about thinning, fading brows, but want a natural looking improvement. Michelle Gillen, our director of aesthetics, recently traveled to New York to be trained in Real Brows®. The results have been impressive. Real Brows® is a new method of recreating and highlighting the brows with innovative 3D hair strokes directly on the skin’s surface with a proprietary device along with all natural pigments. Real Brows® can fill in sparse brows or create an entire brow. The...
Am I Too Old For Cosmetic Surgery?
This is one of the most common questions I get. While this is an understandable concern in someone in their late 80s or 90s, I am surprised how often I get this from patients in their 60s. The truth is, patients at any age are candidates for elective surgery if they meet certain criteria. Recent studies have demonstrated that patients older than 65 (and even over 80) who have cosmetic procedures done have no higher risks of complications than patients who are in their late 30s. This despite...
How To Minimize Bruising
One of the most common questions I get is how to minimize bruising with injections, especially the dermal fillers. While it is almost impossible to completely prevent bruising, there are a few things that can be done. Avoiding anything that might thin the blood beforehand is probably most important. This includes obvious things like aspirin and NSAID containing products such as ibuprofen, Advil® and Aleve®. Even more concerning are Coumadin® and Plavix. In addition, many supplements such as...
Juvederm® Volbella® XC Receives FDA approval
Allergan announced last week that their newest Juvederm® product, Volbella® XC, received FDA approval. This product is the first and only product able to provide lip enhancement as well as correct lip lines for up to one year. In clinical trials, JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA® XC was found to effectively increase lip fullness and soften the appearance of lines around the mouth in a majority of subjects through one year. Like the other Juvederm® products, Volbella® is derived from naturally occurring...
Does Arnica really work??
For years I have heard different opinions from my patients regarding Arnica Montana. This herbal supplement has been touted to help minimize bruising and swelling. It can be used in topical or oral forms in a variety of manners. A new systematic review article (or study of all previous studies) in Dermatologic Surgery looks at the supposed benefits of arnica. They reviewed studies from a variety of field including facial plastic surgery. Then, they combined the results to see if there was any...
Botox and Juvederm- Part of a Good Skin Care Regimen?
Botox® and Juvederm® have long been recognized for their ability to soften lines and wrinkles and restore volume, but do they have any role in improving the look of our skin? Two new studies seem to say yes. A recent article in the highly respected Journal of Dermatologic Surgery analyzed the effect of hyaluronic acid injections on the skin. As expected, patients were noted to have an improvement in facial rhytids and volume. More surprising, patients also noted an improved appearance of their...
How long will my facelift last?
This is probably my most common question. A facelift is a major decision for many patients and they want to be reassured that the time, expense and yes risks will be worth it. So here is my answer. It really depends on the patient. Someone in their 50s with excellent skin and good bone structure is going to get a much longer lasting result than an 80 year old with extensive sun damage. In addition, it depends on how someone takes care of themselves after the procedure- a patient who treats her...