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Can You Look Great Without Surgery?
Plastic surgery procedures offer promising results. The common procedures that adults consider over time, such as liposuction, blepharoplasty, brow lift, and facelift surgery, have been around for decades. This means we know how they work; we know their risks and side effects, their downtime and expected length of results. Even with the vast amount of data showing the effectiveness and safety of plastic surgery procedures performed by appropriately certified plastic surgeons, many people who want to look better want to first explore their nonsurgical options. We’ve got them, and we will discuss some of them here.
Refresh the Eyes with AccuTite
Sagging eyelid skin is a prominent concern reported by adults whose skin has begun showing the signs of collagen loss. When the is no longer supplied with hefty amounts of collagen and elastin, tissue weakens and thins. It doesn’t resist gravity as well as it once did, and we end up with puffy under eye bags or heavy, drooping upper eyelids. Many people think of injectables to treat the eye area. There’s new technology that is worth considering. AccuTite is a treatment we are proud to offer. The device, made by InMode, a leader in radiofrequency technology, deposits skin-tightening, fat-melting radiofrequency waves where it can do its best work, beneath the skin. AccuTite is performed using a mild sedative and anesthetics that improve comfort. To refresh the target area, the doctor makes tiny punctures in the skin through which an internal probe is inserted. Parallel to that is an external electrode that also emits RF energy. This design sandwiches the thermal energy to rapidly heat the dermis for extraordinary results.
Slim and Contour the Body Without Surgery
Body contours are not easy to get and maintain at their ideal state. Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle and very biology can work against us. For areas of stubborn fat, many people consider liposuction. For nonsurgical but still powerful effects, our patients might consider CoolSculpting or BodyTite. Both are clinically proven to achieve outstanding results but each works using patented technology. You may know CoolSculpting as the completely non-invasive fat-freezing treatment. Results appear over many weeks and usually 2 to 3 sessions. BodyTite works in similar fashion to AccuTite. This device applicator delivers radiofrequency energy to melt fat cells. However, it then inserts a cannula through the same tiny incision to gently suction out the melted substance.
Can you look great without surgery? Absolutely! We have several options you can consider and can discuss those after hearing your concerns and objectives. To schedule a visit with Dr. Fante, call (303) 839-1616.
What You Can Realistically Expect from a Facelift
Some signs of aging are more easily accepted than others. When structural changes in the face start to get more of your attention than the beauty that is there, too, it may be time to consider the benefits of a facelift. This common plastic surgery procedure restores a more youthful appearance. Not just a little, but in a profound way. Not excessively, but conservatively to reveal the beauty that has always been there. At our Denver practice, facial plastic surgeons Dr. Robert Fante prioritize patient’s desired outcomes. At the same time, they encourage realistic expectations. Here, we discuss what this procedure can and cannot do.
What a Facelift Can’t Do
We’ve all seen the celebrities who look thirty or more years younger than their known age. However, when we look closely at the nuances of their facial structure, these celebs simply look like they’ve had good plastic surgery. It is unrealistic to expect a facelift to make you look half your age. Even if you have your procedure in your forties, we wouldn’t anticipate you looking like your twenty-year-old self again. The purpose of the facelift procedure is to refresh the face in a way that looks natural. Lines and creases are softened. Some may be eliminated altogether. Still, expect to look about 10 years younger, not 20 or 30.
Facelift surgery focuses on the lower two-thirds of the face. This procedure, then, does not make the eyes look younger. If your eyelids have become heavy, hooded, puffy, or droopy with age, they will not look better after a facelift. If you’ve got a furrowed or descended brow or forehead wrinkles, a facelift will not make them look better. These concerns are addressed with specific eyelid or forehead surgery; procedures that can be combined with a facelift for more dramatic results.
What a Facelift Can Do
Dr. Fante tailor facelift surgery to each patient. Generally, this procedure is designed to rejuvenate the face by:
- Tightening facial muscles. During a facelift, the surgeon focuses on the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS). This deep layer of tissue weakens and sags with age. Rearranging it reduces tension on the skin and supports long-lasting rejuvenation.
- Addressing loose skin. Once the SMAS layer of tissue is repositioned higher and tighter on the facial skeletal structure, the skin can be gently lifted, tightened, and trimmed. Great care is taken in this step to avoid an overly-tight, windblown appearance.
- Improving facial contours. Part of the problem with facial aging is that the mid-face flattens out. As this happens, the lower face seems to widen and sag with jowls. The facelift restores fullness to the mid-face, removing it from the jawline. In cases of excessive fleshiness, liposuction may be performed on the upper neck and chin.
Facelift surgery is still popular today even with the various nonsurgical modalities that have been developed. To learn more about why, schedule a consultation at our Denver office.
Morpheus8 is the Advanced Technology Your Skin Needs
Aging. It’s going to happen to all of us regardless of what we do. Knowing that we will develop various tissue changes as we grow older, our best bet is to prepare for them and manage them the best we can. That best used to be surgery. Over the past few decades, though, researchers in product development have made some pretty impressive discoveries. These have led to an ever-increasing selection of non-surgical treatments for facial rejuvenation. We are proud to offer proven modalities to patients of our Denver office. Morpheus8 is one that we will discuss here.
What is Morpheus8?
Just the name sounds technologically sophisticated: Morpheus8. This device is the culmination of careful development. It combines two proven strategies for collagen remodeling, microneedling and radiofrequency. Each of these strategies has been used independently to stimulate a healing response in which the skin is flooded with healthy new collagen and elastin. Morpheus8 has brought them together. The device handpiece has a needle-clad applicator that stamps the skin. Each time the tiny needles come into contact with the skin, they create microchannels that trick the body into thinking there is an injury to repair. More than that, though, the microneedles also deliver controlled radiofrequency to the dermis, where collagen is produced. The combination enhances the healing response without requiring more time for healing.
What Morpheus8 Can Do
One of the reasons patients and providers like Morpheus8 is that this technology stimulates natural tissue regeneration. Don’t get us wrong, we still believe in the power of plastic surgery for the correction of moderate to severe aging. However, radiofrequency microneedling can do things that surgery cannot. Because Morpheus8 causes collagen remodeling, this treatment can:
- Tighten jowls at the sides of the jawline
- Diminish the appearance of large pores
- Stimulate tissue repair to fade acne scars and other types of scarring
- Stimulate subdermal adipose remodeling for firmer, more defined facial contours
- Improve the skin’s general tone and texture
- Correct the signs of sun damage
We can’t stop aging, but we have ways to slow its progress. To see what Morpheus8 can do for you, call our Denver office at (303) 839-1616 and schedule a consultation.
Think you Know What a Facelift Will Do?
We’ll fess up here a little bit and say that the power of injectables and other non-surgical treatments is only one reason why men and women may be shying away from facelift surgery. Another very prominent reason is that we have all seen the downside to poorly performed lifts. There’s no need to point out high-profile celebrities whose facelifts went wrong. What we do want to point out is that it isn’t the procedure that’s to blame.
There are steps that facial plastic surgeons now take to reinstate youthfulness without distracting from natural beauty. Gone are the days of obvious, over-tightened faces. Today, facelift surgery aims to recreate the structure that was present years prior. Lifting is only a small fraction of what brings about the desired result.
Facelift Surgery Results
- Lifting is less dramatic. Over time, it has become apparent that tightening tissue over the skeletal structure of the face could backfire. Yes, there is a need to reposition tissue to a higher position. The difference with today’s surgeries is that this repositioning is more conservative.
- The volume takes center stage. Tissue laxity is only one of the changes that age the face. Lifting tissues provide some benefit while adding volume to pivotal areas is the icing on top. One of the best ways to complete the facelift process is to add fat cells to the cheeks or another area of depression, such as the temples. Fat injections last much longer than dermal fillers, and ultimately look and feel the most natural – because it’s your fat!
- We see you. When people are considering facelift surgery, they are often encouraged to look at or show their surgeon a picture of themselves from about 10 years ago. The point of a surgical lift is to reinstate that appearance, not to create something new altogether.
Are you interested in the long-term results of a facelift? Learn more about how this procedure is performed and what it can do for you when you visit our Denver office or call (303) 839-1616.
What Can I Expect After Eyelid Surgery?
Blepharoplasty is the medical term for what we know commonly as “eyelid surgery,” which is typically an elective surgery that men and women choose to have to improve the appearance of their eyelids. However, eyelid surgery in Denver is also performed to help improve people’s sight. If you have drooping eyelids, bags under your eyes, or an excess of skin and wrinkles, blepharoplasty may be recommended. At the Fante Eye & Face Centre, you can have eyelid surgery in Denver performed by a knowledgeable, experienced cosmetic surgeon who really cares about his patients.
If you are considering eyelid surgery, Dr. Robert G. Fante is a highly respected cosmetic surgeon who has been performing eyelid and other surgeries on people from Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and other states for many years now. If you have already scheduled a surgery or are contemplating making an appointment at the Fante Eye & Face Centre, there are some things you want to learn about first. For instance, you may be wondering how long it will take you to recover, what recovery will be like and how long it will be before you can go back to work. These are all very important topics that Dr. Fante and his team will cover prior to scheduling your surgery date.
What to Expect After Eyelid Surgery
Once you get home after surgery, you may be a bit alarmed at the amount of swelling and bruising around your eyes, but don’t worry. This is completely normal, and over time, the swelling and bruising will be completely gone. Like any surgery, recovery time varies from patient to patient, and how well you follow post-op instructions definitely plays a role in how well the recovery process goes. Most patients can see well enough to return to work in a few days, and will find that the vast majority of the swelling and bruising are gone in approximately one-two weeks. Your incisions and bruising may still be visible, but most patients feel ready to return to work or social activities right around the one to two week mark.
Here are some tips to speed up your eyelid surgery recovery. Most importantly, follow our post-op instructions to the letter. You can treat your incisions with ointment, put cold compresses over your eyes, get plenty of rest and elevate your head throughout your recovery will help you heal faster. Also, for the first couple of weeks, avoid activities that will dry out your eyes; watching TV, reading, or using the computer for long periods of time all put strain on your eyes which is not conducive to the healing process.
During your recovery from eyelid surgery in Denver, you may wake up in the mornings and think the recovery is slower than you’d like, but don’t worry because mornings are the worst part of the day for eyelid surgery patients. You will improve as the day goes on and gravity takes over.
While the pain associated with eyelid surgery is fairly minimal, every patient is prescribed some sort of prescribed pain medication for a few days. Many people report that they didn’t need prescription pain pills and that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is enough. In any case, Dr. Fante will only prescribe the medications that he feels will work best for you. Finally, please avoid taking anything with aspirin as these drugs may thin your blood and cause bleeding. For those who were on baby aspirin prior to their eyelid surgery, you can resume the baby aspirin two weeks after surgery.
If you’d like to learn more about eyelid surgery in Denver, please contact the experienced, compassionate and knowledgeable cosmetic surgery team at the Fante Eye & Face Centre today. We will get you scheduled for your initial consultation as soon as possible.
Facts About Asian Eyelid Surgery
Double eyelid surgery is commonly referred to as “Asian eyelid surgery” due to the fact that most people who choose to have this surgery performed are Asian. Approximately 50% of the entire Asian population has a crease and fold in the area right above their eyelashes, and Asian eyelid surgery creates a crease and fold in the eyelid for those who don’t have one or for whom it is asymmetric or indistinct. Once it is healed, the patient will have a fold that runs parallel to the origin of the eyelashes.
Dr. Robert G. Fante at the Fante Eye & Face Centre has performed Asian eyelid surgery on hundreds of patients over the years, and he is one of the most highly respected cosmetic surgeons in the area. If you’re considering having blepharoplasty, you want to have it done by someone with Dr. Fante’s knowledge and experience. Our cosmetic surgery team is kind, compassionate and patient, so any questions you may have will be answered prior to the day of surgery. Should any questions arise after the surgery, we’ll be right here for you to help your recovery be as comfortable and short-lived as possible.
Caucasian vs. Asian Eyelids
When comparing Caucasian and Asian eyelids, the eyelid fold position is one of the main differences you’ll find. Asians who do not have the crease present above their eyes will not have a fold and will have a different appearance than Caucasians. As the crease progresses away from the nose, it becomes slightly higher until the pupil’s midpoint, and this is where the fold will run parallel to the eyelash origins. Asians overall usually have a lower eyelid crease than Caucasians, and usually have a more prominent epicanthus, the name for the vertical fold near the nose.
Caucasian eyelids are different in size and shape, although the differences are not dramatic. Typically, the eyelid will taper closer to the eyelashes near the nose, and the fold will be flat, or even drop laterally,—hence, it is not always parallel to the eyelashes. The space for makeup will be about 20% larger than the Asian eyelid since the crease and fold are typically higher. The main goal of Asian eyelid surgery is to create a natural-looking Asian crease, and that is exactly what Dr. Fante will do should you choose to have this surgery performed.
There are a variety of surgical techniques for Asian eyelid surgery, so a thorough medical history and physical examination are the first steps necessary to plan the best course of treatment for your eyelid concerns. Dr. Fante and his team will explain the options to you, discuss the most favorable operative technique for your particular case and answer all of your questions.
To learn more about Asian eyelid surgery, stay tuned to the Fante Eye & Face Centre’s blog to find out what to expect as you recover from eyelid surgery (medically known as blepharoplasty). Please contact our office to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Fante. We’ll get you in as soon as possible, and we’ll let you know if Asian eyelid surgery would achieve the goals you have in mind.
How To Know If You’re Allergic to Skin Care Products
Do you feel like your skin has become more sensitive with time? Are there certain products that cause itching and a rash when you use them? Frustrated with buying new products and not knowing if your skin will tolerate them? Well, patch testing, a procedure available at our dermatology practice in Denver, can help determine if a product may be right for your skin or not.
Common forms of skin allergic reactions to products
Dermatitis, or eczema, is a common skin condition that many patients experience – manifested by a red, scaly, sometimes itchy rash on the skin. There are many types of eczema. One of the more common types is irritant dermatitis – where certain products, mainly personal care products and cosmetics, cause burning or stinging with application. There is also a form of eczema called allergic contact dermatitis – where one develops an allergic reaction to a product. This can be to a new product or one that has been used for years. The most common causes of these allergic reactions are preservatives, fragrances, and sunscreen agents found in products.
Are natural products the solution?
As our society becomes increasingly aware of allergic reactions and favor natural products, many more botanicals are being used in skin care products. People often feel that because a product is natural it is good for the skin. The problem is that many of these natural products contain botanicals, which people can become allergic to as well, leading to a rash with use.
Consider patch testing: knowledge is power
It can be frustrating for patients to ignore whether a product will cause their skin to react. Through the use of a special procedure, called patch testing, patients can learn which ingredients they are allergic to and start avoiding products that contain them. Patch testing allows your dermatologist to recommend specific products that are right for your skin and will not cause a reaction. Knowing what to avoid is a powerful tool for allergy-prone shoppers who are trying to decide between the myriad of skin care products available on the market today.
Patch testing involves three visits to the office. On the first visit small patches containing the most common allergens are applied to your back. 48 hours later you return to have these patches removed and a grid is drawn on the skin. The final visit is one week after the first and at this visit you will find out which ingredients you may be allergic to and are educated on how to avoid them. A list of products that are safe for your skin will also be provided at this visit.
Tired of guessing if you will develop or not an allergic reaction to a skin care product? Wait no more. Schedule an appointment with one of SkinCare Physicians’ dermatologists in Denver to get your patch testing.
Psoriasis Treatment Breakthroughs
Chances are that you or someone you know has psoriasis. It is an incurable, non-contagious autoimmune skin disease that affects 3 out of every 100 Americans. Thankfully, remarkable progress in the treatment of psoriasis has recently occurred and dermatologists at SkinCare Physicians can now select from a multitude of therapies.
Living with psoriasis is often physically and emotionally disabling. Sufferers deal with intense itching, cracking, bleeding and flaking of their skin that can interfere with sleep, relationships, work and daily functioning. Unfortunately, the psoriasis condition commonly leads to feelings of despair, hopelessness and depression.
The good news is that the science of psoriasis therapies is evolving quickly. The wide variety of treatments available today enables our psoriasis specialists in Denver to personalize the care for each patient suffering from the disease, regardless of type and severity. New topical lotions, foams and sprays have replaced the messy ointments of the past. Phototherapy is more precise, and laser treatments are now a reality. However, the greatest advance is the development and approval of biologic therapies to treat those with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Medications such as Enbrel, Humira, Remicade and Stelara directly address the excessive inflammation that is core to the problem underlying psoriasis. These agents offer hope for dramatic skin improvement as shown in the photos below, and potentially a long-term solution for this chronic disease.
Even better therapies are on their way. Dermatologists at SkinCare Physicians, who have led the way with clinical research on existing biologics, are now focused on the next generation of novel psoriasis treatments including other self-injectable medications and oral pills. It is an evolving and exciting time, and our Psoriasis Treatment Center in Denver has never been more equipped to help patients manage this disease.