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Now that the fun — and stress — of the holidays are over, it’s a good time to renew yourself so you can look as young and energetic as you feel.
Announcing a New Year’s resolution can be the impetus for change, but there are other moments in time that prompt people to seek aesthetic plastic surgery as the best choice for enhancing their appearance. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, common “watershed moments” include someone mistaking you as being much older; entering the competitive job market, where wrinkles are frowned upon; and post-pregnancy blues, when many new moms struggle with excess fat and sagging skin. Your defining moment might be the holiday photos posted on social media, when you realized your image isn’t as attractive as you’d like.
Once you’ve made the decision to rejuvenate, you’ll find many surgical and nonsurgical options including new techniques and classic, tried-and-true solutions. Breast augmentation is the most-requested cosmetic surgical procedure; with the new, highly cohesive “gummy bear” implants, women now have more choices.
Got cankles? A very fine liposuction technique eliminates fat deposits on heavy ankles and calves, and gives straight legs a shapely look. Today’s noninvasive body-contouring technologies are more comfortable and offer quicker results for those who want to melt inches of fat, reduce cellulite, and tighten skin.
Choosing an “age-defying” cosmetic procedure starts with a consultation, so you can learn which options are best for your concerns and needs. Revitalizing your appearance may be the pivotal moment in time, where everything changes for you.
Birmingham Plastic Surgery
Q: What can be done to eliminate my cankles and make my legs look more shapely?
A: For many women with heavy, thick lower legs, the calves blend straight into the ankles without tapering, creating what’s known as cankles. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ahmet Karaca is one of the few surgeons in the country who performs circumferential liposuction of the calves and ankles to remove fat deposits and sculpt the lower legs.
“It’s a very fine and technically challenging liposuction technique that requires an artistic eye to follow the natural curves of the legs. The advantage of circumferential liposuction is that it removes fat all the way around, for the optimum results. It allows for greater skin shrinkage and a tighter, smoother appearance,” explains Dr. Karaca, who performs the technique through small incisions.
“Circumferential liposuction corrects physical imperfections and greatly improves the individual’s body image. Clothes fit better, shapely legs appear under a new skirt, and a whole new attitude emerges. The effect on one’s confidence and self-esteem is profound.”
Birmingham Plastic Surgery
Chau Plastic Surgery
Q: The FDA has approved a new generation of silicone implants; are they really better than the current gel implants?
A: Unlike silicone gel implants that leak if ruptured, the new highly cohesive silicone gel implants — dubbed “gummy bear” implants — have a solid form and hold their shape.
“If you cut a gummy bear candy open, the inside is solid and spongy. Likewise, the new silicone gel implants are soft and spongy, and have no liquid inside,” says board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Chau.
“Another advantage is that these form-stable implants are contoured to look like a natural breast, with more fullness at the bottom. For women who want full-sized implants, the new gel implants are more natural-looking,” he says.
One disadvantage of the gummy bear implant is the possibility of rotation; that’s why the surface of the implant is textured, to help maintain its position. Because the new implants are not as easily compressible, surgery requires a slightly longer incision, Dr. Chau points out.
“You can’t squish them through the belly button, the armpit, or the nipple. You need to put them in underneath the breasts,” he says. “The operation takes longer because it’s a bit more challenging and requires more adjustments.”
Highly cohesive gel implants are typically a good choice for women who undergo breast reconstruction, as the new implants offer more of a projection than the traditional gel implants.
“There are many different sizes and shapes. It takes precise measurements to find the best implant for the patient,” Dr. Chau says. “Not everyone is a good candidate for gummy bear implants. Today, women have more choices, and the new highly cohesive gel implant is another option.”
Bruce Chau, D.O. FACOS, Barak Tanzman, D.O.
Mune Gowda, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Q: What is the modern approach to eyelid surgery?
A: The key to achieving more youthful-looking eyes is a fat transfer using the patient’s own fat to add volume, in combination with eyelid surgery, says aesthetic plastic surgeon Dr. Mune Gowda.
“With aging, we lose soft and hard tissue. The eyeball can look sunken, with a hollow circle underneath the lower lid. By transferring fat close to the bone and rearranging the fat around the eye, you can create a more youthful eye,” he explains. But, he cautions, “Removing too much fat and skin can also lead to a sunken-eye appearance. I take out some skin, as well as fat that is sagging where it should not be. Volume may be added under the brow, or in the cheek and the hollows under the lower lids, to create a very smooth transition from the eye to the cheek.”
Dr. Gowda recommends that patients with droopy eyebrows should also have a brow-lift when they’re considering eyelid surgery. The combination of both surgeries produces exceptional results.
Mune Gowda, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wayne State University Physician Group
Q: What is “classic” facial rejuvenation?
A: Classic treatment of the aging face involves tried-and-true procedures with known and predictable outcomes. Customized for our patients, these surgeries have a long and proven history of success and will give you the optimal long-lasting results.
To rejuvenate the forehead and brow area, we elevate and reposition the eyebrows and the forehead to a more youthful and natural anatomic position. This can be done in a minimally invasive manner through the use of scopes and small incisions in the hairline.
With blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, we gently trim the excess skin and either remove or reposition any displaced fat of the upper and lower lids. This will refresh those areas and give patients a less tired, less angry, and less worried look.
Aging and sun exposure may cause the area of the midface, the cheeks, and the jawline to descend and become more wrinkled. This leaves the patient looking worn, tired, or older than they feel. The traditional face-lift procedure is a time-proven method of rejuvenation of the midface, the cheeks, and the jawline into a more youthful, refreshed, and relaxed position.
Lastly, the area below the chin and the neck may show signs of aging as far as jowling and wrinkling of tissues. This can be addressed nicely with a formal neck-lift, which also can improve the appearance of the jawline and the patient’s profile.
Dr. Michael Carron is board-certified by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Wayne State University Physician Group Otolaryngology
Dr. Myra Danish
Q: How can I achieve a natural, harmonious, more youthful look?
A: Sometimes people think that one procedure will answer all of the issues that come with aging. In reality, aging is a multidimensional, multifactorial process, says facial plastic surgeon Dr. Myra Danish, M.D., F.A.C.S.
“I recommend, first of all, that you take care of issues that have to do with gravity and skin laxity. If you have droopy eyelids, bags under your eyes, jowls or a lot of loose skin in your neck, the answer is a surgical procedure.
“As each year goes by we lose volume in terms of fat and collagen, so your face becomes flat and you develop laugh lines and marionette lines. Having surgery does not replace the need for injectables, which are generally recommended for volume loss,” Dr. Danish adds. “The last factor is skin care. You should consider using good skin products and having procedures such as facials, glycolic peels, or laser facials.
“The answer to having a natural, harmonious look is considering surgery when it’s appropriate, considering fillers or injections when they’re appropriate, and taking good care of your skin.”
Dr. Danish recommends a facial analysis and consultation to determine the treatment options that will give you the very best, most natural-looking results.
Myra Danish, M.D., F.A.C.S.
West Maple Plastic Surgery
Q: Is winter a good time of year to have plastic surgery?
A: “Winter is a great time for people to ‘restart’ themselves after the holidays,” says board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Sherbert, who notes that many people follow through on a New Year’s resolution to improve their appearance by having breast augmentation, a tummy tuck, eyelid surgery, or a face-lift.
“Winter is also a time when we’re bundled up from the cold and we’re not as social. It’s the perfect time to have surgery, so when spring and summer come around you’re in shape and you have the look you want, so you can get out and enjoy the warm weather,” Dr. Sherbert says.
West Maple Plastic Surgery
FACE Skincare ~ Medical ~ Wellness
Q: What are the latest and greatest nonsurgical body makeovers?
A: FACE is one of the first facilities in the country to offer the revolutionary body sculpting treatment called Vanquish. This noninvasive, no-downtime breakthrough technology offers the closest results to surgical liposuction without the cost and risks. Unlike fat-freezing methods, where it takes up to three months to lose one inch, Vanquish takes two to four inches off in just weeks, with four weekly half-hour sessions. Vanquish treats large areas at one time (stomach and flanks), is completely painless during and after the procedure, and is the fastest nonsurgical option for permanent fat loss.
FACE is also proud to be the first establishment in Michigan to present Venus Legacy, the fastest, largest, and most powerful noninvasive treatment for body-tightening and sculpting, cellulite reduction, and circumferential reduction. A significant upgrade from Venus Freeze, Legacy offers safe, comfortable, and deeper skin penetration for quicker and more effective long-term results. You’ll have a smoother, firmer, and slimmer figure in eight weekly sessions.
For a complimentary consultation on shaping your perfect body, call FACE, the experts in noninvasive procedures.
FACE Skincare~Medical~Wellness
Crittenton Hospital Medical Center
Crittenton Hospital Medical Center
Gina Randhawa, M.D.
Q: How can I lose the weight I gained over the holidays?
A: There’s no better time to get back to your baseline weight and to start eating a healthy diet than in January and February, says Dr. Gina Randhawa, a bariatric/internal medicine physician who offers personalized medical weight loss plans that focus on diet, nutrition, exercise, and simple lifestyle changes.
“One of the biggest factors in losing weight is to be involved in the decision-making in terms of eating — for instance, choosing lower-calorie options, following portion control, and making simple recipes that are easy to follow. It also helps if you’re losing weight and getting in shape under supervision, where there’s some accountability involved,” she says.
“The bottom line is this: Healthy bodies are made in healthy kitchens. Even if you can’t work out, you can lose weight. Exercise can help keep the weight off, but it will not help you to lose weight unless you’re watching your diet and your eating habits,” Dr. Randhawa says.
Gina Randhawa, MD, PC
Comfort Dental Spa
Q: What should you never have to worry about when considering cosmetic or plastic surgery?
A: Your smile, of course! Making a commitment to cosmetic or plastic surgery is a big step. To ensure that the entire investment pays off, don’t forget about your smile. Dr. Aziza Askari and the team at Comfort Dental Spa are dedicated to helping every patient be the best they can be. They provide every aspect of cosmetic dentistry, including implants, veneers, and Zoom tooth-whitening. Comfort Dental Spa specializes in preventive and restorative dentistry, including endodontics (root canals), periodontal (gum diseases), orthodontics (teeth-straightening and braces), and oral surgery. They also offer sedation dentistry and the revolutionary CEREC – Dentistry in a Day. All of these procedures are performed in a comfortable, spa-like atmosphere. Are you ready to make the commitment to and investment in cosmetic surgery? Make sure you start with your smile!
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