The results thus far with Fraxel repair treatments have been excellent. Patient satisfaction has been extremely high in 100% of my patients. The tightening in the eyelid area, jaw line, and jowl/neck areas has been impressive. This is an incredible technology that can be adjusted and customized to individual patient needs. It is truly a "Wow" experience for patients, their friends, and families. It is a very powerful laser. I am fortunate to have had extensive experience with the previous traditional CO2 lasers over the past 20 years. I believe that my “surgeon” background is also very helpful in the meticulous treatment around the eyelids and face, as well as with post-treatment wound care. We are now including pre-treatment Botox of the glabella and crow' feet area, post-treatment hyperbaric oxygen therapy, as well as specific skin care products with the treatment.

I am excited to be spending this upcoming weekend in Las Vegas at The Aesthetic Show. There will be three days of conferences, exhibits, and candid conversations between cosmetic providers. I find that the personal exchanges outside of the formal lectures and conferences are the most informative aspect of attending these conferences. In an informal setting, experts can exchange new ideas as well as confirming what really works and what doesn’t. I look forward to returning to Los Angeles next week and sharing with my patients and bloggers, "What happened in Vegas". Be well.

There is no recipe for an excellent rhinoplasty. Everyone is different. A beautiful nose gets out of the way of the eyes and mouth. The nose then "fits" the face. Choose your surgeon most carefully. They should have experience, they should be Board Certified in plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, or otolaryngology (ENT), but most importantly they must have an artist's aesthetic sense.

Fraxel Re: pair laser, manufactured by Reliant, is at the cutting edge of the future of facial plastic surgery. It is a pre-emptive strike against a facelift, and in those patients who begin their treatment at the early signs of aging in the face and neck (jowling and lax skin with wrinkles), a facelift may never be necessary. Addtionally, ttreatment of the upper and lower eyelids results in youthful eyes. It is safe, effective, and quick with a very short social downtime period. The results are a natural younger version of you, without the "pulled” look of too many unfortunate surgical facelifts. There is no cutting, operating room fees, or anesthesiologist involved. This is truly where the future of facial plastic rejuvenation surgery is heading.

The FDA has approved a new hyaluronic acid facial filler Prevelle Silk. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is the filler material in Restylane, Perlane, and Juviderm. Preville Silk is the first hyaluronic acid product to contain lidocaine, a local anesthetic. In a controlled study, patients reported significantly less pain during injection with Preville Silk as compared to the other HA products that do not contain lidocaine. The new product is manufactured by Mentor Corp. of Santa Barbara, CA. It is still to be seen how long the product will last compared to the other currently available facial soft tissue fillers. I will keep you posted, if you have any questions contact me.

Sagging facial skin results from the loss of volume from the face, and the aging of the superficial skin. Traditionally surgeons correcting the problem pulled the sagging tissue and cut away the excess. You can tell who those patients are when you see them walking down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Park Ave in Manhattan, and Collins Drive in Miami. Natural results can be obtained today by restoring volume to the face, and then by treating the face and neck with Fraxel repair. In the great majority of my patients, this will restore an amazing youthful, rested appearance to the face. This will not leave a patient as "tight" as they might be after a surgical facelift. In some cases of excessive skin "sag", traditional surgery may still be needed.

Recently a woman under went extensive body plastic surgery. It was the policy of her surgeons to send flowers and a get well card to their post operative patients. They received a phone call from the puzzled woman who asked the doctors why they send her the flowers and a get well card. After investigation, it was discovered that the patient had stolen the woman's identity, and had paid for the surgeries with ATM and credit cards. She was surprised at her post operative appointment when after having her stitches removed; police hand cuffed her and took her off to jail. Just another reason why we like to have a copy of our new patient’s driver's license.

Fraxel Re: pair laser, manufactured by Reliant, is at the cutting edge of the future of facial plastic surgery. It is a pre-emptive strike against a facelift, and in those patients who begin their treatment at the early signs of aging in the face and neck (jowling and lax skin with wrinkles), a facelift may never be necessary. Addtionally, ttreatment of the upper and lower eyelids results in youthful eyes. It is safe, effective, and quick with a very short social downtime period. The results are a natural younger version of you, without the "pulled” look of too many unfortunate surgical facelifts. There is no cutting, operating room fees, or anesthesiologist involved. This is truly where the future of facial plastic rejuvenation surgery is heading.

There are three characteristics that are common to beautiful faces. They are in no particular order: 1. The Nose. The nose should get out of the way of the other facial features. A natural nose that does not attract attention; and allows attention to be focused elsewhere on the face (the eyes and mouth). 2. Volume. A beautiful face maintains its volume, especially in the midface (cheek) area. As aging progresses, the volume of the face decreases, giving a deflated appearance. 3. Jaw line. The jaw line should be relatively straight without one of the earliest signs of aging, the dreaded jowl. By filling the pre-jowl sulcus with volume, beauty is restored to the jaw line. 4. Skin. Healthy, vibrant skin without the signs of sun damage (brown spots, wrinkles). Use of sun blocks, and when indicated Fraxel repair laser will restore youth to the skin. These four secrets" of beauty are a simple guide to restoring youth and beauty to an aging face.