Skin Rejuvenation in Palo Alto

Information on skin rejuvenation in Palo Alto. Read about facial fillers, dermal fillers, injectables, wrinkle removers, Juvederm, Restylane and more.

Fillers in cosmetic facial enhancement are called fillers because that is what they do. They fill areas where tissue has been lost or are possibly congenitally deficient.

I like to consider aging as a three major event process:

Wrinkles and skin surface blemishes (brown spots, sunspots, pre- skin cancerous areas and melasma). These phenomena are caused by repetitive muscle action (frown), daily wear and tear our skin takes from the sun, wind and all the elements. Botox®, chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser, intense pulsed light, surgery and light fillers may help. Gravity causes our tissues to sag toward our feet. If we stood on our heads and walked on our hands that might reverse some of this, but we will obviously not do that. Lifting is the answer. Surgical facelifts (mini to extensive) all work. Then there are eyelid lifts, forehead lifts, cheek lifts, midface lifts, neck lifts, earlobe lifts and even nose lifts. All of these are surgical and fight gravity. Non surgical radio frequency wave skin tightening machines may help a tiny bit, but I am unimpressed. Those procedures are expensive and not very productive or lasting. Then there is tissue loss. Fat is lost (atrophies), muscles thin and skin thins. Fat loss causes a sunken look around the eyes and a hollow gaunt cheek cavity. Lip lines are a result largely of fat loss, thinning skin and muscle thinning. Smoking causes skin to look older.

The most common areas are:

• Sunken eyes (thus it's critical to almost never surgically remove lower eyelid fat)
• Lined lips
• Wrinkled chin (orange peel)
• Sunken oral area
• Hollow cheeks
• Hollow deep frown
• (Other body areas of atrophic fat loss include the aging hands that show veins and tendons.)

In filling deficits, I like to choose the best substance for each patient. The hollow areas under the eyes are treated with Juvederm® or Restylane®. The area about the mouth is well treated and beautifully enhanced by either. All can be done nearly pain free. Frown areas often are also improved and are the other deficient zones of the face. It is, in fact, possible to build up cheek bones and enhance a weak chin with Juvederm® or Restylane®. Fat transplants do work, but we must double the anticipated need, because only 50% of the harvested fat cells survive. Fat is fragile and some cells simply don't survive, but the good news is that some do. Fat is your own tissue. It is your inexpensive gift to yourself. Fat obviously has not a purchase cost (it's yours) however, there are costs associated with harvesting the fat. For this reason it is often ideally done during fat removal (liposuction) and placed where desired (face, hands, buttocks, calves, etc.). More than one procedure may be needed, but at least some does survive. In the case of other fillers, all last about a year. Fat works and is a fine consideration for some areas. When large volumes are needed, fat is the only logical consideration. Fillers vary in cost. Call my office and costs will be very openly discussed with you. I make every effort to keep my fees very fair and with high quality and safety.

I have injected all the various fillers on the market at one time or another. I am not going to elaborate on the products I no longer use, but will rather discuss what I feel works best. Juvederm Ultra Plus is the best and Restylane is also fine. There are many, many more. Stay with Juvederm Ultra Plus and you will be happy

What is filler injection day and recovery like? I have discussed how easy Botox® is. The fillers are more complex but I make it very comfortable for you with the use of Emla cream and a little dental block plus ice and vibration. Bruising is quite minimal.. The placement of injectable fillers should not be uncomfortable. . A block is a gentle injection to numb the appropriate nerves in the area to be treated, similar to what a dentist does. Remember the numb lips? The block takes 5 minutes and lasts approximately 1 hour. After the block, no pain is felt and the Juvederm can be more meticulously and precisely placed. I discharge the patient with a light ice pack. Tiny 30 gauge needles are used to prevent bruising. Occasionally tiny vessels that cannot be seen are touched and a small bruise occurs. Both doctor and patients dislike bruising, but we cannot guarantee they will not occur. If anyone guarantees that there will be no bruising, get it in writing. For 36 to 48 hrs. there is some swelling. I generally have very little bruising and swelling.

In many cases, surgery is more durable, but fillers offer a quick fix and an opportunity to see if you like the effect. From the early days of fillers, there has been fantastic progress. Plastic surgeons and patients are indeed fortunate to have such wonderful products as Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus and of course fat. I am certain even more and better products will be developed in the future.

Information on skin rejuvenation in Palo Alto. Read about facial fillers, dermal fillers, injectables, wrinkle removers, Juvederm, Restylane and more.