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.

Breast Augmentation: 13 Celebrities Who Underwent the Procedure

Breast augmentations involve the surgical insertion of silicone or saline breast implants above or under the pectoral muscle. These implants improve the fullness, shape or symmetry of a woman's breasts.

Celebrities are no strangers to breast augmentation surgery. Many actresses undergo breast augmentation to look better on and off the screen. Here are 13 actresses who have undergone breast augmentation surgery, and their take on whether the surgery was worthwhile.

1. Pamela Anderson, an actress who appeared on Baywatch and Home Improvement, had a breast augmentation and in 1999 opted to have them removed. She states the reason for the removal was to “return to a more natural state.”

2. Adrianne Curry from America's Next Top Model and My Fair Brady disliked that one breast was larger than the other. She opted to have a breast augmentation performed to make her breasts symmetrical. She's completely happy with the results.

3. Carmen Electra, former Playboy model and singer/actress, underwent a breast augmentation that turned her B cups into DD cups. The actress admitted to Metro News in 2010 that she's not sure she made the right choice, but she does love no longer having to wear push-up bras.

4. Jenni “JWoww” Farley of Jersey Shore told Harper's Bazaar that she is not ashamed of her breast augmentation. She was so happy with the results that she said she'd have a breast augmentation every year if she could.

5. Angelina Jolie underwent a preventative double mastectomy in 2013. Her next step was to have breast implants to restore the full appearance of her breasts.

6. Jenny McCarthy, actress and activist for children with autism, underwent a breast augmentation after she and friends found a very affordable doctor in their teens. She woke up in the middle of the breast surgery to discover the doctor didn't use anesthesia. She ended up having to go through a second surgery to repair the botched job.

7. Mary McDonough, an actress known for her role of Erin on The Waltons, opted for breast implants in her early-20s thinking it would land her more roles. She chose to have them removed years later.

8. Heidi Montag of MTV's The Hills made the news after undergoing 10 plastic surgeries in one day. One of those surgeries was a second breast augmentation that increased her once A-cup breasts to DDD cups. She's not sure she made the right decision having so many procedures done at one time.

9. Heather Morris of Glee underwent breast implants when she was younger. Shortly after having them implanted, she asked to have them removed. As an active dancer, the actress found that large breasts were not a good match for energetic choreography.

10. Dolly Parton is probably one of the best known celebrities when it comes to breast augmentation. The formerly flat-chested actress and singer has DD cups now thanks to a California plastic surgeon.

11. Tara Reid (American Pie) underwent both liposuction and breast augmentation. Her first breast augmentation was meant to fix her asymmetrical breasts. The doctor gave her Cs instead of the big Bs she'd requested. When her dress slipped during a party and pictures of her botched breast augmentation emerged, she underwent a second surgery to have the implants removed.

12. Denise Richards played one of James Bond's love interests in The World is Not Enough. Her first two plastic surgeries didn't go as well as hoped. Her first surgery, at age 19, ended up with the doctor using larger implants than she wanted. She opted for a second breast augmentation and again the doctor put in even larger implants. She had a third breast implant surgery and loves them. She does wish she'd known to ask lots of questions prior to the breast augmentation surgery.

13. Tori Spelling, the actress who appeared on Beverly Hills 90210, received breast implants in her early 20s. She was unaware at the time that the surgery could affect the ability to breastfeed her future children. She regrets the implants for that reason.

If a breast augmentation appeals to you, talk to an expert. Thorough research is the best defense against a breast augmentation that doesn't go as planned. Check breast augmentation before and after pictures, talk to the surgeon's former patients, and check your doctor's certifications and experience. Before and after the surgery, make sure you know exactly what you must do to avoid complications while healing. Most importantly, ask lots of questions!

Dr. Robert Kessler offers breast augmentation in Newport Beach, California. Dr. Kessler is on the Public Education Committee for the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and is a Council Member for the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kessler by calling (949) 644-6544.

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The Daddy Makeover

 

 

Over the past few years, a new term has arisen in the world of plastic surgery - the Mommy Makeover. This phrase refers to a group of plastic surgeries - typically involving breast augmentation, skin procedures like Botox or a facelift and liposuction - used to help new mothers who are struggling to get their pre-pregnancy look back. With Father's Day just passing, let's consider another aspect of cosmetic surgery - the Daddy Makeover.

Why?
Men's bodies may not go through the stress of actually carrying a child, but that's not to say that having children doesn't have an adverse effect on fathers' health. Even the most well-behaved children can cause stress, which in turn can lead to premature wrinkles. On top of that, raising kids leaves men with less time to hit the gym, and they'll likely be eating less-than-healthy foods as they try to keep up with their new, busy schedule. All of this can lead to a decline in men's appearances, which can cause fathers to have self-esteem issues.

What?
Just like Mommy Makeovers, the procedures that would make up a Daddy Makeover would depend largely on the issue men wanted to target. For guys who are worried about facial lines, dermal fillers or Botox injections could help. Those who are looking for a more permanent solution may opt instead for a facelift. If wrinkles are not the issue, men can consider chemical peels or dermabrasion to address other skin woes.
Men who are suffering from a decreased metabolism may want to ask their plastic surgeon about liposuction. This procedure can treat pockets of stubborn fat around the stomach, waist, buttocks and thighs. It's also often used to treat an issue known as gynecomastia, which is the appearance of fatty tissue around the chest area.

How?
The first step toward a Daddy Makeover is booking a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. During this time, men can discuss what issues they'd like to address and learn more about the procedures that could be helpful to them.
Some men may be hesitant to go under the knife, but often, having a companion by your side during the recovery time can be comforting. For this reason, some men may want to schedule their Daddy Makeovers to coincide with their wife's Mommy Makeover.