Avoiding a Facial Nerve Injury from a Facelift
You feel you could benefit from facial improvement. You’ve done some research. You believe that a facelift with a top cosmetic surgeon may be the answer that will help you most. But you’ve also heard that possible facelift complications include facial nerve injury, so how should you proceed? The best thing you can do is find an experienced and specialized surgeon in whom you feel confident. Your cosmetic surgeon who makes facelifts a major focus of his or her practice while emphasizing customized procedures that are specifically tailored for natural results can help you find the safest treatment option for your best personal results.
How can I avoid facelift side effects?
Most people who get facelifts are very happy with their results, especially those who seek a facelift from one of the top facelift surgeons like Dr. Steinsapir. It’s important to understand that there’s always some risk with undergoing surgery, but the good news is that facelifts arer very safe and certain choices increase that safety without compromising your aesthetic outcome.
That said, there are many different kinds of facelifts, and the safest facelift is one individually tailored to meet your needs. The tend is more smaller incision facelifts and cosmetic facial treatment that affords many benefits: natural-looking results, faster healing time, and fewer complications. Dr. Steinsapir recommends that you seek a customized treatment from a top surgeon who understands how to minimize your already-low risk of facial nerve damage. For many patients this generally means that the deep plane facelift is not the right choice.
What is the deep plane facelift?
The deep plane facelift works on both the skin layer and the deeper muscle and fascia layer of your tissue. Both these layers are lifted and tightened, but the problem is that this technique is associated with facial nerve injuries. The risk amounts to only a very small percentage of individuals who receive this treatment experiencing this complication, but there is just no reason to risk this nerve damage when we compare this method to other kinds of facelifts, which work just as well. In fact, there is essentially no cosmetic benefit to the deep plane facelift, so why expose these nerves to the elevated risk? At the end of the day, your facelift can’t be great if nerve damage inhibits your face’s natural movement.
Cookie Cutter Facelifts
You may be aware of heavily marketed facelifts and wondered if these surgeries are right for you. Generally this procedures are small incision facelifts with a proprietary names. It is important to understand that one type of surgery is used to meet the needs of every patient, the result is a surgery that may not be right for everyone. A skilled facelift surgeon will adapt surgical techniques to obtain a result that is best for your face. When this type of customization is not performed, the result can be a disappointing compromise.
Finding the Right Facelift Surgeon
Rather than telling potential cosmetic surgeons how you want your facelift to be performed, try to find a respected expert in facelift surgery who makes sense to you, and ask him or her what they feel the best individual approach is in your situation. Perhaps you’ll be surprised to learn that a procedure like the midface lift, forehead lift, or lower face/neck liposuction makes more sense for you. Or perhaps you are correct in guessing that a facelift is the right choice; in this case, ask your doctor about their treatment philosophy and how he or she can design a facelift that yields the results you need.
Consider how Dr. Steinsapir can help you with his prestigious background at UCLA, The University of Chicago, multiple fellowships, research publications, leadership positions, and esteemed practice serving Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. Dr. Steinsapir is a board-certified surgeon with multi-fellowship training who makes customized facelift surgery a focus of his practice. Please contact us today to learn more about how Dr. Steinsapir can help you attain your aesthetic goals and improve your confidence.
Traveling to Have Surgery with Dr. Steinsapir
It’s a given that for the best cosmetic surgery results, you’ll want to choose the best cosmetic surgeon. This is why many people travel from across the United States as well as internationally to have surgery with Dr. Steinsapir. Dr. Steinsapir is world-renowned for his leadership in facial cosmetic surgery, including the facelift, forehead lift, and specialized eyelid surgeries that provide natural results and a fast healing time. If you are considering traveling to have surgery or other cosmetic treatment with Dr. Steinsapir, here are some important considerations that will help you have the best experience possible.
Consult First
We have found that many people who travel for cosmetic treatment feel they should be able to have surgery at the time of their initial consultation. They want to take care of everything in just one trip, so they may fly or take a long drive to Los Angeles, have their consultation and have surgery on the same trip. This is an alluring idea because then you only have to book a flight and pack your suitcase once, and you’ll probably save a little money—but please reconsider this approach.
At Dr. Steinsapir’s practice, we don’t believe performing an initial consultion and surgery at the same time. Even if you save a few dollars in airfare, in the end this amounts to hasty and high-pressure decisions. Your choice to move forward in having surgery with the right doctor is important, and it’s not a good idea to cut corners here. In particular, Dr. Steinsapir has noticed that many people seeking revisional eyelid surgery and help for fixing other cosmetic treatment concerns initially got into their predicament because they were pressured into having surgery in the first place.
This is not our philosophy. Cosmetic surgery and revisional cosmetic surgery should be something you and your surgeon approach calmly, thoughtfully, and with confidence. Instead of too much pressure, we strongly advise and encourage you to take the time to make sure you have found the right doctor and right treatment approach. We want you to have time to think about the options and be completely comfortable with the proposed surgical plan.
Take Time to Reflect
Consulting now and having surgery later is a sound approach for anyone seeking the right cosmetic treatment with any doctor. Although admittedly not convenient, slowing down, thinking about your choices and being fully comfortable ensures that you can make a fully informed choice without the pressure of time. However, you are much more likely to make a choice that is right for you. This philosophy means that when you consult with Dr. Steinsapir, we do not pressure you into committing to surgery. It is better for everyone if you have the opportunity to meet with the surgeon, then have time to think about the issues discussed well before having cosmetic surgery or revisional cosmetic surgery.
Make Thoughtful Decisions
For these reason, even for those who travel very far, we don’t believe in doing surgery at the time of the initial consultation. In fact, we don’t believe in cutting any corners with cosmetic treatment. The best surgery is always performed with the utmost of care, consideration, research, and planning. We want you to go into surgery comfortable that you have made the right decision and confident in your cosmetic surgeon’s qualifications and ability to meet you treatment needs.
We invite you, near or far, to visit Dr. Steinsapir in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills for your initial consultation. Find out about his treatment philosophy, skilled experience, top educational and training background, the best individualized treatment for you, and simply whether your personalities mesh well. We think you’ll find that Dr. Steinsapir’s friendly, caring, and honest approach demonstrates the highest ethical standards and thoughtful planning for best results. Please contact us today to learn more about how taking the time now can give you the best outcome later.
What happens to my facial fat grafts when I gain weight?
Overview
Facial filler treatments and fat grafting can be excellent ways to soften the facial features by correcting imbalances and deficiencies in facial fat distribution. Your decision to pursue fat grafting treatment is one you should carefully consider with your doctor, as there are multiple options for achieving your desired look, and the solution that’s best for you will depend on variables like your medical history, present condition, and treatment goals. Like other treatment options available today, fat grafting is particularly suited for some individual’s needs, while for others there may be other more suitable options.
Fat Grafts and Changes in Weight
If your weight changes just a little, you probably won’t notice much difference in your treatment results. If you have significant changes in weight, though, you could see some differences in the form of increased facial volume. This is important to consider before opting for fat grafts. While you probably aren’t planning on gaining weight, you and your doctor should take into account the likelihood of weight fluctuations given your medical history and current lifestyle.
So what can you expect with changes in weight? This depends on the individual, but with small changes in weight there is generally little change in the fat graft volume. However, with an increased weight and body fat, the grafts also increase in volume like the fat compartment from which they were removed. For example, when the body fat increases 10% or more, the grafted fat also significantly increases in volume.
While the effects of most facial cosmetic surgery eventually diminish over time, it’s important to recognize that fat grafting does yield long-term results. This is a great benefit for those who seek long-term change, but there are also times when the nature of this treatment can result in an unsatisfactory result even years after the original fat grafting procedure.
Achieving the Best Long-Term Results
In an ideal world we will all of course adopt a healthy, active lifestyle that includes good nutrition and keeps your weight at a stable place where your body works best. But the reality is that most Americans gain about one pound of weight per year. While most qualified cosmetic surgeons can comfortably adjust and even reverse treatments with Restylane and other hyaluronic acid fillers, correcting the facial contour after fat grafting is not so simple or straightforward.
These tendencies lead many cosmetic surgeons to favor the new facial fillers—like undereye Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm—for most patients. These fillers do not last as long as fat grafts, but they are very popular and effective because they are safe, provide benefit without the necessity of surgery, can be adjusted with the enzyme hyaluronidase, and have science-based, proven results.
Does this mean that fat grafting is wrong for you? Not necessarily—fat grafting is an excellent option for certain situations on a person-to-person basis, just as facial fillers and other procedures like the facelift work well for many individuals. You will need to consult with an experienced cosmetic surgeon before making a final decision that is right for you.
Experience Counts; Consult with the Best
Dr. Steinsapir is a leader in cosmetic facial fillers and other cosmetic facial treatments and surgeries. In fact, he has served as a physician consultant to Medicis, Inc. (Perlane’s and Restylane’s distributor). He has developed Deepfill Restylane, the world-renowned method of treating dark circles under the eyes. His practice emphasizes minimally invasive treatment methods that are customized for the individual’s unique situational needs, with the aim of fast healing time and natural results. For more information on how Dr. Steinsapir can help you determine your best treatment options, contact us today.
What Is the Best Facelift?
Are you ready for your facelift? Consider how a facelift in Los Angeles with one of the top cosmetic surgeons in California can help you improve your appearance. As the single most powerful facial cosmetic surgery today, a facelift is a beneficial treatment for those with neck cords, deep facial lines, fatty deposits, and sagging features. With so many providers and procedures today, it can be a challenge to decide what facelift and what surgeon is right for you. As you research your options, you will probably find yourself asking, “What is the best facelift?”
Facelift Before and After Photo
We’d like to modify this question slightly. What you should be asking is, “What is the best facelift for me?” What many people do not realize when they see pictures of someone else’s fantastic facelift results is that the name of the specific surgery type is less important than the skill and customization that was put into it. The best facelift is always one that has been planned specifically for your features. This means that for ideal results your doctor cannot simply pull out a blueprint in order to give you natural facelift results. Rather, your facial cosmetic surgeon will need to individualize the most suitable options to your unique features and goals.
Finding the Right Facelift for You
You may be surprised to hear that a top surgeon with specialization in facelifts and the needed education and skill set can create impressive results with just about any facelift method. Types of facelifts include the deep plane lift, the endoscopic facelift, the MACS lift, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) facelift, the S-lift, the short scar facelift, and more. If your surgeon is reputable and specializes in facial cosmetic procedures that emphasize balanced features and natural results, he or she can customize most any of these surgeries on a case-by-case basis.
Your cosmetic surgeon will consider which options best meet your needs and then tailor the facelift for your features and goals. He or she will discuss with you the possibilities and also consider which methods are safest. For example, the deep plane facelift can create excellent results, but the risk of facelift complications are slightly elevated with this procedure. Although overall it is still safe, in most cases there is a safe facelift approach that can improve your facial appearance just as well. Something you should avoid are the so-called facelift creams and home remedies. The naming of these products is misleading because they do not employ facelift techniques at all, and chances are you are being quacked. Feel free to test however many expensive creams you like, but don’t be too disappointed if you find their claims are exaggerated.
Finding the Right Surgeon for You
Your cosmetic surgeon can help you determine whether you are a candidate for the facelift or a different cosmetic procedure like BOTOX, and he or she can help you achieve your desired look by designing a facelift that is unique for you. This will yield the most natural results. Make sure that you seek a reputable facial cosmetic surgeon who specializes in facelifts. Rather than opting for the “blue plate special” and seeking many cosmetic surgeries at once, choose a doctor who emphasizes facial balance and who can understand the best way your facial features can compliment each other.
Please consider a no-risk consultation with Dr. Kenneth D. Steinsapir, M.D., a facelift surgeon based in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area. Dr. Steinsapir’s practice focuses on cosmetic facial procedures that help you achieve a natural, balanced appearance for your personal features. In fact, he has been a leader in minimally invasive and small-incision facelifts for more than 20 years. When you need experience and results you can count on, consider how Dr. Steinsapir’s prestigious educational background, forward-thinking and science-based practice, and trustworthy character can help. Contact us today to learn more about the best facelift for you.
I Want to Improve my Looks Before Reentering the Workplace…
I Want to Improve my Looks Before Reentering the Workplace… What does Dr. Steinsapir suggest?
Congratulations on your decision to go back to work! You have a lot to contribute. But let’s face it, it is a competitive, youth-obsessed world out there. They need your skills but there is such a premium on youth that more experienced executives can be passed over. There is no question that cosmetic treatments and surgeries can enhance your appearance and enhance your competitive advantage in the workplace. These improvements will boost your self-confidence and allow you to project energy and authority. So let’s consider a few ways you can make your transition back into the work world as smooth as possible.
We cannot prescribe a set of procedures or lifestyle changes that everyone returning to work should follow. You won’t find a “blue plate special” here with a prescription for all readers to get a Beverly Hills facelift with the works. Minimally invasive services like BOTOX, Restylane, and facial liposuction can make a world of difference with little or no surgery. What may be right for someone else is not necessarily ideal or even desirable for you. Regardless of your career path, your treatment needs will depend on your unique circumstances, physical features, medical history, and personal goals. What we can suggest are some good ways to decide what to do next.
Determine Your Goals
Think about your goals as you return to work. You want to improve your looks, and this can take many forms. Ask yourself what specifically you want to improve about your looks and how you want this to impact your professional life. For example, you may want to look healthy and vibrant; improving your diet, work out routine, and making changes like finally quitting smoking can help you look trim and improve your health. You may want to convey personal style that can fit into a serious corporate environment; in this case you could change your wardrobe by adding some new suits that flatter you and command respect. You may wish to look energetic and youthful; correcting wrinkles and restoring your face’s youthful beauty through cosmetic treatment may help you to feel confident and help others recognize that you have a lot to offer. You don’t want to look as if you are unhealthy, cannot dress the part, or are about to fall asleep from fatigue or stress.
There are many effective ways to improve your looks, and you’ll likely want to pick a combination of image-enhancing changes. This could mean that you need to hit the gym and switch to a makeup that better matches your complexion. It may mean that you need to lose ten pounds, have your teeth professionally bleached, throw out the slacks that no longer convey your personal message, and correct the dark circles under your eyes with Restylane. Think about what you need to improve, and start there.
Cosmetic procedures are an important option for many who seek a more professional appearance and increased confidence. Many find that others view them as more capable because they don’t look exhausted, aged, or upset from the toll that age, gravity, stress, and sun damage take over time. Depending on your situation, a facelift may balance your features, BOTOX may erase worry lines, a chemical peel may rejuvenate your skin, or an eyelid surgery may correct ptosis. The only way to know for sure is to consult with one of the best cosmetic surgeons.
Transitioning to Your Professional Face
Many people find that, as they return to work, looking forward to the upcoming changes gives them the motivation and drive they need in order to meet their appearance-oriented goals. You might discover new motivation to make healthy changes in your eating habits, find a fantastic outfit for interviews, and begin a cosmetic treatment plan soon so you are ready to make a great first impression. Whatever the best options are for you, we advise you to apply your motivation and enthusiasm into both your job preparations and your professional look. Make taking care of your appearance and your health a regular part of your new lifestyle.
There are many cosmetic treatment options that require little-to-no downtime, and you can often return to work the next day or take a long weekend. This depends on the procedure, your healing, and your treatment plan. Dr. Steinsapir focuses on minimally invasive procedures that give you the most benefit for the least downtime. He aims to have you in social situations as quickly as possible, with a swift recovery time and natural results. For example, many who choose facial liposuction with Dr. Steinsapir have it on a Thursday and return to the office on Monday, and nobody is even aware that they had surgery; they just assume that their colleague is losing weight and feeling brighter. On the other hand, if you are seeking a facelift – perhaps the single most powerful facial surgery for improving one’s appearance – you may need to allow adequate recovery time, depending on the procedure, your job, and your facelift recovery. In these cases, it is wise to consider seeking treatment today so you can be ready to go back to work at the end of your healing period.
Consult with the Best
Dr. Steinsapir practices medicine at both UCLA and in West Los Angeles, where he specializes in facial cosmetic surgery and oculofacial plastic surgery. Because of his specialization in minimally invasive facial procedures that emphasize fast recovery and natural results, Dr. Steinsapir has an exceptional understanding of the complex ways each part of the face influences and interacts with the other parts, enabling him to customize each treatment for the individual. He has extensive experience in treatment and research, as well as a prestigious educational background at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, The University of Chicago, Jules Stein Eye Institute, and other fellowship training. Dr. Steinsapir is a forward-thinking leader in facial cosmetic treatments who has developed Deepfill Restylane and the patent-pending Microdroplet BOTOX procedures. If you want to add more confidence to your career decisions, contact us today to see how a consultation with one of the best professional cosmetic surgeons can help you attain your best professional appearance.
Can I have a facelift if I smoke?
A staggering 20% of Americans smoke, and since smoking speeds up the aging process, we hear a lot of variations of this question from people who could benefit from a facelift. Many smokers who pursue a facelift in Los Angeles have heard that very few surgeons will perform a facelift on a smoker, so they may ask questions like, What if I am a light smoker? What if I don’t smoke for a couple of weeks before my facelift surgery? What if I haven’t been smoking very long? I know I shouldn’t smoke, but what does that have to do with facial cosmetic surgery?
Facelift Before and After
Smoking and aging skin go hand in hand, so one of the best ways to improve your appearance is to kick the habit. No, it’s not easy, but smoking causes all kinds of medical problems beyond the age showing up in your face and the dwindling quality of your skin. Most people know that smoking can kill at worst, and at best have many negative health consequences, but they put off quitting because it’s difficult. Since smoking shows up in your face, you may wonder if a facelift will help, but this does not address your core problem, nor is it safe.
Smoking and Facelift Recovery
When your facial cosmetic surgeon says you must quit smoking before your facelift, he or she isn’t simply trying to motivate you by suggesting you reward yourself when you’ve quit. Electing to have an optional cosmetic surgery as a smoker is actually dangerous, because your tissue’s ability to heal is compromised by smoking. After your facelift, you’ll need a healthy supply of blood and oxygen to the site of surgery to ensure smooth healing, but the nicotine and carbon monoxide inhaled by smokers can cause scarring, infections, and even necrosis – skin death, which turns your skin black.
Any qualified doctor will advise you to quit smoking for your health, wellbeing, and beauty. Because of these additional problems with healing and complications induced by smoking, a respectable cosmetic surgeon will say that you need to quit smoking before your facelift or midface lift.
When and how long do I have to stop?
If you have smoked for more than 5 years, we recommend that you wait a full two years before having a full facelift. It may be possible to have certain types of modified facelift procedures if you have not smoked for at least 6 months. Why are such long time frames recommended? First, this time allows for a degree of vascular recovery. Additionally, it takes time for the lungs to recover after quitting smoking. You actually need to quit smoking a full eight to twelve weeks before surgery for the lungs to being to improve and recover from the insult of smoking. If you do it in less time than that, the problem that arises is an awakening of lung cilia, and you’ll bring up a lot of mucus from the lungs. This happens about three weeks after you quit, and you need your lungs to quiet down before you go under anesthesia for cosmetic surgery. With any luck, motivation to have cosmetic surgery will be the reason you give up smoking forever. That is certainly a lot better than deciding in the intensive care unit after a heart attack to stop smoking. We certainly won’t recommend that you pick up smoking again as soon as you have healed from your surgery. After all, if you’ve gone through the hardest part of quitting, why would you pick it up again?
Resources for Quitting
You probably already know why so many people persist in smoking despite how devastating it is to their health: smoking is incredibly addicting. That’s why, to quit, you’re going to need to push your limits and use your resources. There are a number of websites as well as doctors and therapists who can help you find a way to quit successfully. To help you realistically attain your goal, set a date by when you want to quit, and remember that it’s okay to feel awful for about three weeks. You may be irritable, stressed out, and even have physical symptoms like headaches, but these will get better in time, your health will improve, and in the end you and those who care about you will be relieved that you did this for yourself. Perhaps you can celebrate with the money you used to spend on cigarettes – you’ll have earned it! And when it is safe, you can think about further improving your life with a facelift.
When You Are Ready, Consult with an Expert
You may find a cosmetic surgeon willing to do your facelift while you still smoke, but this should be a red flag that the doctor does not have the highest possible standards. Yes, there are other procedures that can be safely done if you are a smoker, and Dr. Steinsapir can discuss these options with you during your consultation. Dr. Steinsapir specializes in facelifts, the midface lift, and other facial and oculofacial surgery, bringing you the experience and expertise you need for superior results. Contact us today to learn more about how a facelift after smoking cessation can revitalize your appearance.
