beauty Archives - Dr. Persky

There is a new kid on the “wrinkle fighting” block, it’s named Daxxify. Daxxify (Revance Corp, Nashville TN) is the newest FDA approved neuromodulator, joining Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin. Michael A. Persky MD (Encino, CA) is a board certified facial plastic surgeon who’s practice is dedicated to non-surgical facial rejuvenation with natural results. Daxxify has been proven to last twice as long as patients previous neuromodulator treatments. In other words, if your Botox or Dysport has typically lasted for 3 to 4 months, then we expect that your Daxxify treatment will last for 6 to 8 months. There is about a 50% additional premium paid for the longer lasting Daxxify treatment, though you will not need to visit the office as frequently. As with other neuromodulators, Daxxify is used to treat the glabellar lines between the brows (“11 lines”), the eye smile lines (“crow’s feet’), forehead wrinkles, and all of the other areas that Botox may be used. Dr. Persky recently spoke at the Los Angeles Multi-speciality Cosmetic Meeting 2023 at The Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills on an expert neuromodulator panel. Please feel free to contact our office regarding any questions that you may have regarding Daxxify or any facial cosmetic procedure. We look forward to the privilege of helping you achieve and maintain your facial aesthetic goals for many years to come.

Daxxify vial

Billy Crystal’s Saturday Night Live character Fernando said things like, “When you look marvelous, you feel marvelous” and “Remember, it’s better to look good than feel good!” Well he may not have been too far off.

Recent studies have studied the effect of the neuromodulators Botox®, Dysport®, and Xeomin® on depression. The studies have shown that Botox® may be as effective for the treatment of depression as anti-depressants. The reason for this is thought to be the synaptic axon connections between facial muscles and part of the brain that senses expressions on the face caused by these muscles. Our brains can sense the expression on our face. When we look sad, tense, or angry, the facial muscles are contracted, the brain senses this and we feel sad, tense, or angry. There is a feedback loop that reinforces mood. The brain can also sense when the face looks relaxed, calm, and happy. Botox® relaxes the muscles that create angry, stressed faces, therefore the patient cannot make the angry unhappy face, quite the opposite results, a rested, calm, happy face. The majority of Botox® patients report “feeling really good” a few days after their Botox® injections. Many facial plastic surgeons believe that we may be treating depression with Botox® within the next 5 years.

There has been a large increase in the number of millennials who are requesting facial aesthetic treatments. The rapid rise of “Selfies” and the effect of the Kardashians have led to a rise in patients 30 years old and younger seeking facial aesthetic treatment. The most popular millennial requests are for lips, cheek and facial volume enhancement, fine line treatment and prevention, and skin care.

INJECTABLE COMBO The treatment of young patients demands a most conservative and natural approach. Patients wish to look like themselves only better. All patients should be extremely careful in choosing their aesthetic physician based on their skill, experience, care, and most importantly natural artistic vision!

Minimal amounts of Restylane Silk® and Juvéderm Ultra Plus® are used to create soft, full, natural, sexy lips in younger patients. A little more can always be added if needed, but lips that are too large, out of proportion, or shaped like a Lip Aug duck’s bill are to be avoided at all cost.

Faces begin to lose bone volume from age 25 on resulting in early facial sagging. Hollows under the eyes, diagonal cheek valleys, nasolabial folds all immediately improve with properly placed Juvederm Voluma® and/or Sculptra®.
Dr. Michael Persky is on the advisory board and a clinical injector trainer for Sculptra®, and has injected more Voluma® than any other practice in The Valley.

Botox® used in miniscule doses on younger faces gives a more rested look, tightening the forehead, and diminishing lines around the eyes. Some believe that early Botox® treatment minimizes facial rhytids (lines) later in life.

Millennials love Clear + Brilliant™ to brighten their skin. Our licensed esthetician, Samantha Potter, customizes each patient skin care regimen recommending the most effective scientifically proven skin care products selected and tested by our physicians. We offer oxygen infusion facials, peels, micro-needling with or without platelet rich plasma, micro-dermabrasion as well as advice on healthy living.

Dr. Persky and Dr. Sunder love to answer questions about all aspects of facial plastic surgery. Please feel free to contact us at your convenience. As Fernando says, “Remember, when you look marvelous you feel marvelous.” Be well.

Call the office at 818-501-FACE to schedule your complimentary facial analysis.
Bookings@DrPersky.com

As stated by Dr. Michael Persky, MD, Persky Sunder Facial Plastic Surgery, Encino:

Points from the Video:

00: 05- Our patients come to us for evaluation, recommendation of their facial beauty;

01:20- I think, one of the biggest crimes we can do against our patients is creating that overly done look with big lips and big cheeks in a young woman;

01:40- And you get that homogenization of the look and there is nothing worse than someone taking who is young and beautiful and making them look plastic;

Our patients come to us for evaluation, recommendation of their facial beauty; we must use our artistic vision to give them a realistic analysis of what we think is going on their face. One of the things I enjoy the most about coming to work is being able to evaluate people, and in doing that, there are some patients who come and request fillers to treatments that they really don’t need, and I have said before that in our console room, we have lyrics to Bruno Mars ‘You’re beautiful just the way you are’ and often times, in those types of patients who are young and may not need something but feel that they do, I just pull out those lyrics and hand it to them, and say come back in a few years. And I warn them that if they go to other practices or other physicians, they are going to find somebody, who for some money, will do something to them, and unfortunately, I think, one of the biggest crimes we can do against our patients is creating that overly done look with big lips and big cheeks in a young woman, who now looks like she is a 40 or 50 year old woman who has had those procedures done and is trying to look younger. And you get that homogenization of the look and there is nothing worse than someone taking who is young and beautiful and making them look plastic; and certainly we don’t do that to any of our patients but unfortunately, there are those out there that are creating some very unnatural looking appearances.

Dr. Michael Persky and Dr. Sarmela Sunder are located in Encino, California and Beverly Hills, California but service all of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Including, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, La Canada, Pasadena, and more. Please subscribe to our blog by clicking the link above, right, and “Like” us on Facebook. Thank you! + Michael Persky

persky birdhelmet At a 6 week post rhinoplasty (nose job) office visit, the patient’s mother was concerned about a slight bump on the top of her daughter’s nose (where a much larger hump had recently been removed.) Our patient was extremely happy and pleased with her “new” nose, no longer bothered by the large hump and plunging, bulbous tip. “It looks great in selfies!!!”

The patient’s mom asked, “Why is there a little bump coming back, why is it that it takes the nose so long to heal, other areas of the body heal within weeks, why do they say that it takes 12 months or longer to see the final result of a nose job?” It’s because a nose job is a sculpted piece of art, sculpted from the most precious of all materials in history, human flesh, bone, and cartilage.

The goal of rhinoplasty is to create a beautiful nose that is in harmony with the face. The nose should be pleasant to the eye of both patient and to others. Our philosophy is to sculpt the nose to fit the patient, as Michaelango said, “I saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” With rhinoplasty it is essential to use our artistic vision to create a visually pleasing nose, a piece of art!” Happy healthy New Year!

Add: Speaking of art, “The Goldfinch” by Donna Taart is an excellent novel about a piece of art with great quotes about beauty. I recently commented on our Facebook page about the beauty and art of the novel. The “snow finch” that perched on my ski helmet during our recent trip to Britsh Columbia (in the above photo) must be following us on Facebook, or was it just “Tweeting” back to me?

In marriage we all know the saying, “Happy Wife, Happy Life” (wonder who first coined that?)

It seems that everyone is talking about being HAPPY lately. There is the current Top 40 song, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, the movie/documentary, “Happy” which takes us on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy, and then there are numerous books about happiness including “The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama.

One of our goals at Persky Sunder Facial Plastic Surgery is to help our patients be happy with their appearance. This involves analyzing each patient on an individual basis, discuss what bothers them, what their goals are over time, creating an unique treatment plan for the patients needs, and lastly using our creative artistic vision along with our technical skills to help them reach and maintain their aesthetic goals.

It’s been said that “Happiness= Reality-Expectations”. Realistic expectations are essential to happiness after aesthetic treatments. We will tell you if we think that your expectations are not realistic, or beyond the scope of facial cosmetic treatments. Sometimes the best treatment for you is no treatment at all. We will not create unnatural puffed faces, cheeks and lips on a stick, or appearances that cry out, “Bad Plastic Surgery!”

Finally, we have found that our patients who trust our experience, skills, and artistic vision are happier, more relaxed, and not worried. As Bobby McFerrin says, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Couldn’t help but be distracted by TV on in gym this morning with “Housewives of Miami”. I had to watch to examine what made the characters on the screen appear so unnatural. Whoever is doing this work would be well advised to stop giving facial aesthetics a bad name. Seeing these women reinforces 3 things that excellent aesthetic physicians live by: 1) If it is obvious that something has been done to a patient, then we as aesthetic physicians have failed our patient. 2) Less is more! 3) Without artistic vision one can have technical success with cosmetic treatments, yet aesthetic failure! Choose your aesthetic physician most carefully! Be well!

Val Lambros, MD has used photos of patients and their parents to show what happens as humans age. Dr. Lambros studies concluded that the face deflates with aging. Using his findings, an evolution of thought about volume replacement in the face has occurred. Film director, Anthony Cerniello captured the imperceptible passing of time in his video, “Danielle“, that illustrates the aging process. Mr. Cerniello is a friend of Danielle, and accompanied her to her family’s Thanksgiving dinner. By taking photos of multiple family members and using computer programs to blend the photos, Mr. Cerniello has created a 5 minute film that is instructive on the aging process.

Here’s the video:

Our observations of note follow:
0:00 Note Danielle’s oval, heart shaped face of youth.
1:30 The earliest signs of again appear, early nasolabial folds and a hint of hollowness in the marionette
area (chin under the corners of the mouth).
1:38 Changes in skin texture, pores
2:21 Decreased volume in left cheek
2:40 Hollowness under eyes
2:45 Wrinkles right corner of mouth
2:58 Moderate wrinkles on face, sub mental neck bands (under the chin)
3:01 Crow’s feet
3:11 Jowls
3:28 Deepening of nasolabial folds and marionettes
3:41 Heaviness of upper eyelids
3:55 Increase of neck wrinkles, laxity
4:00 Sun damaged skin (Age spots)
4:09 Rectangular shaped face of aging

At the end of her life, the woman looks happier and more comfortable with herself. He points out that Danielle looks more worried and stressed out during her 20s and 30s. “As she gets older, she gets a little more comfortable with herself and her eyes are softer,” Cerniello said.

Be well.

The Huffington Post article today, “Why Sex Can Make You Look Younger…and Even Hotter” lists 4 reasons why sex helps your skin. Dr. Persky believes that a fifth reason is that we carry ourselves in a happier mood that helps our skin glow. Whether or not you believe that sex improves your skin, it must be said that it is worth a try, and if there are any other research studies on the subject, Dr. Persky would be happy to volunteer.

Here is the complete article:

“When we complain to our dermatologists about having dull complexions or suffering from adult acne, the last thing we expect them to prescribe is sex. But it turns out getting “busy” has benefits beyond the bedroom (or wherever you choose to get it in).

Dr. David Weeks, a British consultant clinical psychologist and former head of old age psychology at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, made us blush with his research that claims regular sex can make you look younger. In a new study, Dr. Weeks found that older men and women with an active sex life appeared five to seven years younger than their actual age.

Curious as to whether Dr. Weeks has truly uncovered “the fountain of youth,” we asked a few experts to explain exactly how having more sex is good for our skin.

1. It releases anti-inflammatory molecules.
Dr. Amy Wechsler, who takes a whole-body approach to dermatology, credits sex for its skin-healing abilities. “We’re constantly damaging and repairing our skin, and you want to tip the scale more towards repair,” said Dr. Wechsler.

She explained, “When you have sex, you’re bathing the skin in anti-inflammatory molecules such as oxytocin and beta endorphins. As we get older, we don’t heal as often as we repair. But having sex can turn the clock back on that.”

2. It makes your skin physically glow.
Sexual intercourse also boosts our immune system, prevents stagnation, allows us to feel more alive and sweat out toxins from our pores, according to Amy Levine, sex coach and founder of Ignite Your Pleasure.

“This translates to our skin’s radiance and being more at ease with facial expression (as we use our facial muscles to express ourselves during a sexual encounter). Ultimately, giving a post-sex glow and possibly helping to ward off wrinkles,” said Levine.

Sweating is sure to impart a dewy glow, however Dr. Wechsler said that it is an increase in circulation that triggers the flush. Besides sex, there is only one other activity that releases the anti-aging hormone oxytocin, and that is childbirth.

3. It prevents dry skin.
Another beauty benefit of having regular sex is that it increases estrogen levels, which stave off dryness and improve skin elasticity. But Dr. Wechsler still believes strongly in using a good daily moisturizer.

4. It clears an acne breakout.
Individuals who have more sex have even been proven to sleep better, and we all know how a good night’s rest is connected to skincare. “Breakouts occur more when people are stressed or sleep deprived,” said Dr. Wechsler. “And I think when you boost those anti-inflammatory molecules by having sex, it is certainly helps treat acne.”

As a sex coach, Levine believes “the more, the better.” But you don’t need to “follow a prescription to figure out what’s best for you,” she said.

Sexologist Dr. Jill McDevitt echoes this belief, saying “I think people should be having as much sex as they like, but not because it will make them looking young, specifically. When people make a decision to have sex, they don’t say, ‘I really want to boost my immune system and increase my immunoglobulin A antibodies’ or ‘I want to increase the elasticity of the skin on my face, so let’s have sex.’ People have sex because it feels good, they enjoy it, they like feeling close to someone, they’re bored and lonely.”

Two to three times a week is the number of times Dr. Wechsler suggests having sex to stay looking young, as doing it every day may not be realistic. She also recommends masturbation because let’s face it, not everyone is in a relationship or hooking up. This sexually stimulating act may not release as many endorphins in comparison to doing the “do,” but it’s helpful.

Will you ditch your anti-aging creams and serums for more sex?” Personally, I will stick with both! Be well!

Actress Courteney Cox, 49 years old, appears more beautiful now that she did ten years ago. What is her secret to looking amazingly youthful and beautiful. In a recent NEW YOU Magazine article interview, Ms. Cox was very candid in sharing her beauty treatments.

At the recently completed Vegas Cosmetic Surgery 2013 meeting, the consensus was that beauty is about having a “natural”, unoperated upon look. Chicago facial plastic surgeon and colleague Steven Dayan, MD in his New York Times Best Seller List book, “Subliminally Exposed” emphasizes that by correcting subtle signs of aging, patients can look naturally more beautiful, creating more self-esteem.

Ms. Cox is the “poster girl” for how those millimeters of change make years of difference in appearance. She is also one of the few Hollywood stars who is willing to admit that she has Botox treatments. To the question, “What else have you tried?”, she answered, “I am a big laser believer. I really think they are the wave of the future. I just did Ulthera (not a laser but an ultrasound treatment that Dr. Persky lectured on in Vegas this week), which is supposed to produce collagen. And I’m about to do Fraxel (Dr. Persky and Dr. Sunder are Fraxel experts), which will get rid of all these brown spots on my arms, chest, and face.”

Thank you, Courteney Cox. You look great!

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