When it comes to choosing the best facelift for you, there is no right answer as to which method is the most effective, natural looking, or successful.  A customized treatment plan, established by you and your doctor and based on your features and desires will significantly influence the outcome of your procedure.   A facelift will always be a procedure of intelligent choices.

Where is surgery commonly performed and what type of anesthesia?

Typically facelift surgery is an outpatient procedure, but overnight stays may be recommended after deep sedation or general anesthesia.  For certain individuals, your doctor can perform your facelift in the office, while you are awake and under local anesthesia.  But for most, general anesthesia or deep sedation is the best choice.  For cases requiring deep sedation and general anesthesia, Dr. Steinsapir performs surgery at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center and usually recommends an overnight stay at the surgery center.

Recovery and physical restrictions

A facelift takes approximately four hours. Usually there is minimal discomfort afterward; managed with either over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.  You may experience moderate swelling around the eyelids and other areas of the face, but this is normal and is not cause for concern.  Most find taking 7-10 days off from work about right.   This time frame can depend on the precise nature of you work.

Common complications after surgery

Facelift surgeries performed by a skilled and experienced surgeon rarely have complications.  The deep plane facelift mobilizes the tissue under the facial muscles and can injure these motor nerves causing facial weakness. The incidence is small but not zero.  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 other methods of facelifts are available.  In fact, there is essentially no cosmetic benefit to the deep plane facelift compared to other lifting methods. Other complications can include significant bruising and very rarely infection.

The time frame before full recovery

Recovery periods for facelift procedures vary greatly depending on the type of facelift surgery your physician and you decide on.  Typically however, you can expect to return to work after 6 to 10 days.  After 2-3 weeks, others are unlikely to detect that you just had surgery.  Facelifts are not considered fully healed until about 6 months after.  Once you have recovered fully, the results of surgery are very long term.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is on active staff at the UCLA Hospital and Medical Center at the David Geffen School of Medicine as an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmology in the Division of Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery. UCLA is consistently rated the best hospital in the West and ranked at the top with a handful of medical centers in the United States. Many surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis at the Surgery Center at the UCLA Medical Center.  Dr. Steinsapir addresses a broad array of oculofacial reconstructive concerns.  Contact us today to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Steinsapir.

Undergo a consultation

Before taking any action to correct your midface lift complications, carefully weigh your confidence in your current surgeon.  There is no substitute for an in-depth personal consultation because discussing your problem with your doctor over the phone doesn’t allow him or her to see and fully understand the physical issues.  Occasionally, the description of what is going on and the actual physical complications are not the same.

If you are not 100 percent confident in your surgeon and are casting about for opinions from strangers, listen to your feelings.  Do not blindly follow the recommendations your original surgeon or any surgeon if their recommendations do not make sense to you.  While you may not like your appearance and may be experiencing profound disappointment, these issues are seldom a medical emergency.  Don’t commit to a second surgery unless you have a clear understanding of the following:

• what is going on and why these complications are occurring,
• what type of surgery your doctor has planned,
• why a surgical solution is necessary at this time,
• the risks of a second surgery, and
• the probability of success or failure.

The risks of midface and lower eyelid surgery and corrective surgery

Lower eyelid surgery and midface surgery have significant risks associated with them.  Your surgeon may not fully understand these risks.  If you’re experiencing complications it does not mean that your surgeon did anything below the standard of care.  However, how your surgeon addresses the problem can make a profound difference and he or she should not rush the process.

The anatomy described in some of the most important and most recent papers in the field of lower eyelid and midface surgery done through a skin incision under the lower eyelashes (infracillary incision) is inaccurate.  Dr. Steinsapir recently reviewed the literature on this subject and presented it before the Fall 2010 American Society for Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Scientific Symposium.  Some of the core papers describe anatomic hypotheses rather than proven anatomic fact.  For example, the soft tissue of the cheek is mobile (i.e. it slides when we smile), and the lower cheek is also mobile over the lower half of the face. In this location, the nerves responsible for facial expressions around the mouth travel in such a way that it is possible to safely dissect this plane in the lateral half of the lower face; this is a key aspect to the so-called deep plane facelift.

Similarly, surgeons dissect under the skin and lower eyelid muscle to perform midface lifts.  Published papers appear to support the hypothesis that this midface lift technique can be performed without injuring the nerves that feed the eyelids.  Unfortunately, a hypothesis is a scientific guess, it does not make an established anatomic fact. There is also clear evidence in published papers suggesting that the nerves that supply the lower eyelid orbicularis oculi muscle travel in this so-called glide plane, which is actually just somewhat mobile fat and loose connective tissue between the cheek bone and the orbicularis oculi muscle.

So why do doctor’s still perform this kind of surgery despite the risks?  Despite the inaccurate papers, it is possible to dissect in this plane without significantly altering the nerve supply to the orbicularis oculi muscle in some individuals.  Yet others may not do well.  This may have to do with how aggressive the surgeon is and the exact nature of the distribution of these motor nerves, which do vary somewhat from person to person.  Additionally, when this dissection is carried out laterally into the crowsfeet area, it is also possible to do significant damage to the nerves that provide innervation to the orbicularis oculi muscle in the upper eyelid as well.  This is significant because the elements of the orbicularis oculi muscle near the lower eyelid margin are responsible for blinking the eye closed.  Without this critical blink function, tears are not moved across the corneal surface properly resulting in dry eye and tearing issues.  When the lower eyelid slumps, it does not properly cover the lower portion of the eye and there is increased corneal drying.

The remedy for midface and lower eyelid surgery complications

To address eyelid complications from a midface lift or lower lid surgery, the best answer is to avoid further eyelid tightening and allow the tissues to heal.  In six months or more come back and address the situation with your surgeon if problems persist.  By preserving as much of the lower eyelid and not cutting out tissue―as would be the case if your doctor were to try to fix the problems immediately following your initial surgery using a technique called canthoplasty―there are many more options and increased likelihood of an improved outcome if you allow the tissue to heal.  While in the healing process, keep lines of communication open with your surgeon or look for oculoplastic surgeons for consultation who have as a focus of their practice the repair of unsatisfactory cosmetic eyelid surgery.  Be skeptical of solutions that must be done “urgently” or don’t make sense.  While very few of these complications mend themselves, with time it may improve so that less work may be needed than first thought.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir trained alongside the inventor of BOTOX and has performed thousands of BOTOX treatments in Los Angeles since 1988 and recently patented his Microdroplet BOTOX technique. He is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Southern California where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology.   Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.

Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.

The Truth About Microcurrents

Quacks have been touting the value of electrical current for healing for about as long as man has controlled electricity.  Obviously, high voltage, high amperage devices are dangerous.  What we are talking about here is very low levels of electrical current.   Remember the adage that every good lie begins with a grain of truth.  It is easy to understand that if you lift weights consistently enough, the muscles become toned.  Proponents of microcurrent devices make the argument that the electricity of these devices will stimulate and tone the facial muscles and this will tone and improve the face, getting rid of wrinkles at the same time.  Sounds great.  The only problem is that there is not a single scientific study that supports this idea.   We call this “phony science.”  Microcurrents cannot, and will not lift and reposition the facial tissues.  Even the claims of mild improvement are unproven.  The harm here is that you are wasting your time and money and being deceived in the process.

Why all the Hype?

The hype surrounding microcurrent facial sculpting machines with unrealistic before and after pictures are equally misleading.  Typically these before and after pictures show a loose neck and jowls next to a youthful and sculpted jawline and neck.  These pictures could show the same person, but it is unlikely the differences were the result of microcurrent facial sculpting.  The smooth, wrinkle-free neck is most likely the result of a little Photoshop magic and lighting, not microcurrent.  These treatments offer empty promises.   The treatment does not compare to a facelift or nonsurgical facial fillers.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.

Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.

The Real Benefits of fat grafting

The reality is, there is no evidence to suggest that stem cells present in adult fat placed in the face have any impact or role in the effects of volumizing the face with grafted fat.  Fat grafting procedures work because about 60 to 70 percent of the transferred fat survives, creating long-lasting volume and this helps improve the appearance of the face because loss of volume over time is an important factor in making one look older as we age.

Fat grafting is a biologically safe procedure because the fat transferred is from your body.  It is precisely delivered through a tiny poke in the skin that heals without scarring and the procedure can be done under local anesthesia. The fat transfer in a “stem cell facelift” may be combined with other procedures like a traditional facelift or midface lift.  It is more accurate to refer to a “stem cell facelift” as “facial volumizing with grafted fat.”

Fact and fiction

It is true that the stem cells in your body fat can be separated from the fat and, in a test tube at a research lab, be stimulated to develop into other cell types. There is a lot of impressive research being done in this area so we can learn more about important potential medical uses of stem cells. But there is no evidence to support the idea that the stem cells in the grafted fat are stimulated this way when transplanted from one part of your body to another

Finding a doctor who relies on science

The biggest concern with the “stem cell facelift” is not that it’s a bad or unsafe procedure, but rather that the term “stem cell” is a deceptive name that promises something that it does not deliver.  When seeking treatment, make sure that your potential cosmetic surgeon relies on science, experience, and skill rather than catchy marketing phrases. Your doctor should be a specialist in facial cosmetic procedures and completely honest about what a treatment does and does not do.  Relying on the honest application of skills, proven methods, and experience will help you achieve your goals. Deceptive marketing practices violate the principles that make a good working relationship between the surgeon and the patients, which must be based on well-placed trust and honesty.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is an expert cosmetic plastic surgeon who has skillfully handled face lift and fat grafting procedures in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills for over 20 years.  He is a board certified ophthalmologist surgeon and fellowship trained in oculofacial surgery and cosmetic surgery in Southern California where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology.  Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert cosmetic surgery provider.

Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success.  Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.

The Risks of Deep Plane Facelifts

The deep plane facelift carries with it a risk of facial nerve injury even in the best of hands.  This is because the nerves are exposed during the process of dissection.  It is not possible to have a great facelift result if part of your face does not move correctly after surgery due to a facial nerve injury.  This small risk might be justifiable if the deep plane facelift led to a much better result or a more long lasting procedure.  The reality is, after six months it is impossible for experts to tell what technique was used in a particular facelift.  So it makes no sense to perform high-risk maneuvers under the facial flaps.

Most any type of facelift can procure excellent results if customized by an experienced facial cosmetic surgeon.  The deep plane facelift can be as effective as other methods, but it’s a riskier procedure and the benefits usually aren’t worth the risk when there are other options available.  With the deep plane facelift, there is an increased chance of injury to a facial nerve that can even happen in the best of hands.  The chance of these facelift complications are small but if it happens to you, the damages could be irreparable; some of your facial muscles will cease to work properly.  Since properly functioning facial muscles are essential to your appearance, your results will not be good.  Since there is no clear advantage to the deep plane facelift, why take the risk, even if it’s small?  If you are set on receiving this method, you will probably find someone who will perform it for you if you knock on enough doors and have enough money, but may end up regretting your inflexibility.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) and fellowship trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology.  Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of  Medicine at UCLA.  Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert provider of BOTOX, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan

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.

Dr. Steinsapir offers advanced, personalized cosmetic surgery for Beverly Hills and also performs care at UCLA’s prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute, where he works as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology.  Only a few surgeons in the world are able to perform your facelift or other cosmetic procedures at UCLA, where you can be confident that you are receiving treatment from in one of the best medical facilities in the world.  The UCLA Medical Center prides itself on being patient-focused and compassionate, while offering the best in medical technology and skilled physicians and surgeons.

The new Ronald Reagan Medical Center at UCLA was designed by the world-renowned, forward-thinking architects I.M. Pei and his son, C.C. Pei.  This Medical Center was built to bring you the best in healing, technology, medical care, and comfortable and efficient building design.  With much natural light, gardens, artwork, play areas for children, and private patient rooms with windows, the Ronald Reagan Medical Center can put you at ease.  Cutting-edge medical equipment and high-tech capabilities combined with the Center’s status as one of the first California hospitals to meet the new state seismic standards makes it one of the safest places to receive care.

Dr. Steinsapir’s Expert Care at UCLA

Dr. Steinsapir helps many individuals achieve the results they desire.  At UCLA he plans many specialized treatments for those who need individualized care, including those who need reconstructive eyelid surgery such as a Moh’s Surgery or to perform reconstructive eyelid surgery after an unsatisfactory prior eyelid surgery performed elsewhere.  He is an expert in customizing the best, scientifically proven facial cosmetic treatments and surgeries.

Dr. Steinsapir is honored to have been chosen to teach and practice at the UCLA Medical Surgery Center where the most advanced technology and qualified professionals optimize each patient’s experience.  If you are looking for the best in cosmetic treatment at one of the safest facilities available, consider making Dr. Steinsapir and UCLA part of your treatment experience.  Whether you are seeking a facelift, eyelid surgery, or another of Dr. Steinsapir’s areas of expertise, you can be confident that you are receiving world-class care.  Call us today to find out how Dr. Steinsapir can help you at UCLA.

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.

Marketing Based on a Grain of Truth

It is said that most good lies are based on a grain of truth. After all, mingling fact with fabrication is an effective, if not questionable, method of convincing an audience. If part of something is true then how is a non-specialist to discern where the truth ends and the exaggerations begin?

Here is what’s true: The “stem cell facelift” being marketed today is the same process that goes by the medically accepted names of fat grafting, fat injections, and fat transfers. This is a process in which fat is harvested from another area of the body such as the thighs or tummy, often improving that area’s shape, and then grafted into a deficient area like a hollow cheek to provide a natural filler. This is a biologically safe procedure because the fat transferred is your 100% match, and it is precisely delivered through a tiny poke in the skin that heals without scarring. The fat transfer in a “stem cell facelift” may be combined with other procedures like a traditional facelift or midface lift, in which case we’d rather be straight forward and say “facelift with fat grafting.” This is a more direct description.

This is also true: The stem cells in our body fat can be separated from the fat and, in a test tube at a research lab, be stimulated to develop into other cell types. There is a lot of impressive research being done in this area so we can learn more about important potential medical uses of stem cells. But do they really play any role in a facelift?

The Real Benefits of Fat Grafting

So, yes, when we transfer fat to the face we do transfer some stem cells with it. However, there just isn’t evidence to suggest that stem cells are what make fat grafting and “stem cell facelifts” work. The reason they work is because much of the transferred fat – about 60-70% – survives, creating long-lasting benefits.

The overall distribution of fat over the body is very important. Too little or too much does not look good. The most common problems with fat distribution is too much in areas like the hips and too little in parts of the face. This means that we may look bottom-heavy while haggard in the face. Fat harvesting can improve an area that is too full, and the harvested fat can then be grafted into tissue-deficient regions. When carefully placed, the added facial volume creates a naturally soft appearance associated with youth, correcting the volume loss many of us experience as we age.

Honest Medicine for Best Results

Our concern with the “stem cell facelift” is not that it’s a bad procedure, but rather that this is not the most accurate description. Some professionals even feel that calling fat grafting a “stem cell facelift” is misleading. When seeking treatment, make sure that your potential cosmetic surgeon relies on science, experience, and skill rather than catchy marketing phrases. Your doctor should be a specialist in facial cosmetic procedures and completely honest about what a treatment does and does not do.

Dr. Steinsapir is among the top cosmetic surgeons in California. He is multi-fellowship-trained in both cosmetic and oculofacial surgery with special emphasis in natural results and fast recovery time. Dr. Steinsapir is straightforward, helping you understand the benefits of treatments you’re considering without any frills or exaggerations. You’ll also find that Dr. Steinsapir is friendly and caring. Because he individualizes each treatment plan based on your personal needs and unique circumstances, you can achieve results that are right for your features. Contact us today to learn more about how fat grafting, a facelift, or another treatment can improve your facial contour.

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.