Eliminate Old-Lady Hands: Hand Rejuvenation Procedures

Pop singer Madonna recently made headlines but not for her singing. Instead she was called out for the signs of aging in her hands. According to a story in London's The Daily Mail, hand rejuvenation procedures increased by 18 percent in one clinic because women want to hide their aging. Exposure to bitter cold temperatures, sun, and wind age the hands faster than many parts of the body, and women are seeking professional treatments to help restore a youthful look to their hands.

When it comes to hiding the signs of aging, there are a number of options. This makes it easy to receive a treatment that fits into your life and doesn't keep you from your usual routine for long.

Fat Transfers and Injections

Injectables involve shots of collagen, hyaluronic acid, or poly-L-lactic acid. These injections boost the volume in the hands, reducing wrinkles and making veins and bones less visible. Generally, these fillers only last for a few months, and that's why some women prefer Radiesse. Radiesse is a semi-permanent filler designed to improve the appearance of moderate to severe wrinkles. Some doctors find that improvements with Radiesse last up to two years. With certain injectables, allergy tests are necessary prior to injection to make sure there is no adverse reaction.

Chemical Peels, Lasers, and Microdermabrasion Treatments

Chemical peels involve the application of a chemical solution to the skin. This causes age spots to fade and older, damaged skin to peel away. There may be a burning sensation, depending on the chemical solution, but it's managed with pain relievers.

Laser treatments help correct issues with age spots and veins. During these treatments, laser energy is directed at the problem area. Generally, you'll feel a warmth on the skin. After the procedure, your skin may feel like you've had a sunburn. As the old skin peels away, newer, younger-looking skin appears.

With microdermabrasion, the top layers of skin are blasted away through air pressure and fine crystals that act a little like sand. There is no pain. Think of it as being similar to an intense exfoliating scrub.

With these procedures, you're usually back to your normal routine in a matter of days or weeks depending on the procedure. You may want to use ice to keep swelling to a minimum. If you do need pain relief, your cosmetic surgeon can prescribe a medication that doesn't counteract the healing process. Regular use of sunscreen on the hands helps keep the hands looking younger after hand rejuvenation treatments.

Learn more about skin rejuvenation by reading the American Society of Plastic Surgeon's Beauty for Life. Once you understand your options, seek the expertise of Dr. Robert Kessler, a Newport Beach plastic surgeon and hand rejuvenation specialist. Choose from a range of procedures that include fillers, laser resurfacing, and microdermabrasion. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kessler, call (949) 644-6544.

Look Younger: Facial Cosmetic Surgery Lowers Your Perceived Age

According to a new study, undergoing facial cosmetic surgery to look more attractive doesn't work. It does, however, take a few years off your appearance. If your reasoning for a cosmetic procedure is to look more beautiful for others, you may want to reconsider your plans. If you want to look refreshed and reduce some of the signs of aging for yourself, cosmetic surgery is an excellent choice.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, dozens of men and women were shown the before and after pictures of 49 patients who underwent aesthetic facial surgery. Few of the people viewing the photos found the patients to be more attractive after surgery. When it came to guessing each patient’s actual age, however, the group's responses came to an average answer of 3 years younger. The list of responses ranged from four years older to more than nine years younger, so it stands to reason that the right surgeon will shave several years off your appearance.

When it comes to erasing the signs of aging, there are many procedures available. The facelift is one of the most popular. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, more than 119,000 men and women underwent facelift surgery in 2012. That number put facelifts in third place in terms of the most popular facial cosmetic surgery.

What a Facelift Entails

Years of exposure to environmental factors and the aging process itself can negatively impact your facial skin. Collagen levels shrink, hollows appear, and creases, fine lines, and wrinkles form. A facelift corrects some of these signs of aging. The results depend on the technique you choose. The following are a few of the available techniques in facelifting:

• Mini Facelift. With a mini facelift (Quicklift or S Lift), an S-shaped incision is made in front of the ear and then loose skin and fatty deposits on the jawline are corrected.
• Lower Facelift. A lower facelift corrects issues in the lower face, along the jawline, under the chin, and on the neck. For the lower facelift, the incision is made from the temple to below the ear.
• MACS Lift. The MACS lift is a short scar facelift where the incision is limited to just in front of the ear and under the chin. Through these incisions, the skin and tissue are tightened on the jawline and neck.
• Deep Plane Facelift. The Deep Plane facelift goes below the muscle. The tissue and skin on the lower face is then shifted and sutured into the new location. It's more complex, but doctors and patients feel this provides the most natural looking results.

These procedures may be paired with a brow lift or eyelid surgery to reduce sagging skin, creases and wrinkles on the forehead and lower and upper eyelids, too. Fillers or fat transfer are useful in restoring volume to sunken areas of the face.

Before making an appointment for a facelift, study your surgeon’s before and after pictures. For the best results without the obvious signs of surgery, you need a skilled surgeon. Read “Telltale Signs of a Facelift” to learn what to look for when viewing patient photos. Dr. Robert Kessler is a Newport Beach plastic surgeon. To discuss facelift surgery with the doctor, call (949) 644-6544.

The Realities of the Lower Body Lift

The lower body lift is not intended to be a substitute for losing weight. It was actually created as a procedure to tighten loose skin following significant weight loss. As obese patients lose 100 or more pounds through diet and exercise or weight loss surgeries, a lower body lift becomes an important procedure. It removes the excess skin and tissue that do not tighten on their own following dramatic weight loss. If there is still unwanted fatty tissue in place, liposuction is used to remove it before the lower body lift.

Ideal Candidates for a Lower Body Lift

When evaluating a patient for a lower body lift, the doctor wants to see people who have loose skin on the abdomen, buttocks, hips, and thighs. Weight loss should have already taken place, and fat stores should be minimal. Gaining weight after a lower body lift stretches the skin and starts to reverse improvements made during the surgery.

A lower body lift leaves scars, so the doctor needs to know that you're okay with having scars traveling around your waist. Finally, the doctor wants to ensure that you have realistic expectations and understand the risks.

Variations of the Lower Body Lift

Your doctor discusses the ideal technique for your lower body lift during consultation. Belt lipectomy is the technique which corrects the contours of the abdomen, buttocks, and flanks. It's ideal for a patient with weight gain in the midsection, but whose legs are still trim. However, the lower body lift can also incorporate thigh lift techniques to address loose skin and fat in the outer thighs. For those who have already had a tummy tuck or whose abdomen is not a concern, techniques can be used to lift the inner thighs, outer thighs, and buttocks.  The procedure can be tailored to each patient to address their individual concerns.

What to Expect During and After the Surgery

After you're given anesthesia, the doctor makes incisions that travel from the back to the hips and then to the front of the thighs. Loose skin and tissue are removed. If a tummy tuck is also needed, that's performed at the same time. Once the tissue and skin are removed, the skin is pulled into place and the incision is sutured using a layered technique.

A lower body lift takes anywhere from six to eight hours. Following the surgery, you stay overnight in a surgical center or hospital. Your doctor may recommend having a registered nurse care for you on the day following the surgery.

You must wear compression garments after surgery. There are also drains and collection tubes used to help the body drain excess fluid as you heal. These drains stay in place for an average of two weeks. Expect to return to the doctor weekly for follow-up appointments.

Pain and swelling are common. Your doctor gives you pain medications through injections or an IV for the first day and then oral pills for the remainder of your healing process. You should be up and walking slowly on the day after the surgery. Strenuous activity must be avoided while you heal. Generally, it takes four or more weeks before you are fully healed.

It's important to do your research before undergoing this cosmetic procedure. While a body lift is a great way to restore your natural curves and remove loose, sagging skin and tissue on your lower body, it's not right for everyone. Find answers to your frequently asked questions about body lifts at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. When you're ready to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kessler, a specialist in Newport Beach lower body lifts, call (949) 644-6544.