Dear Editor:

I read Robert Johnson’s article “A Nip and a Tuck” about cosmetic surgery for the 65-plus crowd that appeared in the October 31, 2011 WSJ.  The article only mentions a single specialty that offers cosmetic surgery: general plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Either general plastic surgeons are very good at public relations (they are), or the author was unmotivated to provide readers with a balanced perspective.  General plastic surgeons are not the only board certified surgeons who offer safe, high quality cosmetic surgery.

For years general plastic surgeons failed to train their residents for cosmetic surgery. General plastic surgery residency instead focused on broad training in reconstructive general plastic surgery.  Despite claims to the contrary, treating a burn is not the same as performing liposuction, a facelift, or an eyelid surgery.  This lack of leadership has resulted in a less than ideal standard of care for these elective cosmetic surgeries.

Over the past 40 years, otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists and dermatologists have built excellent fellowship training programs in facial plastic surgery, oculofacial plastic surgery, and dermatologic surgery that provide in-depth training in cosmetic surgery to allow these surgeons to offer cosmetic surgery to the American public that is arguably safer and of better quality than that offered by general plastic surgeons.   The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, a non-ACGME board, accredits high quality cosmetic surgery fellowships that are open to a number of surgical specialties including general surgeons, gynecologists, oral maxillofacial surgeons, as well as general plastic surgeons. These highly trained specialists provide a quality alternative to board certified general plastic surgeons who lack formal training in cosmetic surgery.  It is now well accepted that fellowship trained dermatologists practicing liposuction are much less likely to be sued for liposuction malpractice than general plastic surgeons to cite just one example.

It is not controversial to state that general plastic surgery residencies do not provide adequate training in cosmetic surgery.   Fortunately the field of general plastic surgery has recognized this and now offers a growing number of fellowships in aesthetic surgery for board eligible general plastic surgeons.  However, compared to fellowship trained specialists in facial plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery, dermatologic surgery, and cosmetic surgery; general plastic surgeons still have a ways to go before the public trust in this specialty is truly deserved. Unfortunately readers of Mr. Johnson’s article were left unenlightened about these issues.

Sincerely,

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, M.D., Los Angeles, Ca.

Associate Clinical Professor

Division of Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery

Jules Stein Eye Institute

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

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.

Many people travel from across the United States as well as internationally to have surgery with Dr. Steinsapir.  He is world-renowned for his leadership in facial cosmetic surgery.  If you are considering traveling to have reconstructive surgery or other cosmetic treatment with Dr. Steinsapir, here are some important considerations that will help you have the best experience possible.

Consult First

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 make a long drive to Los Angeles, have their consultation, and have surgery all during the same trip.  This idea may seem appealing because you only have to book a flight and pack your suitcase once, and you may even save a little money—but please reconsider this approach.  Dr. Steinsapir doesn’t believe in performing an initial consultation 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.

Reconstructive surgery should be something you and your surgeon approach calmly, thoughtfully, and with confidence.  Instead of too much pressure, Dr. Steinsapir strongly advises and encourages you to take the time to make sure you have found the right doctor and right treatment approach.  He wants 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.  When you consult with Dr. Steinsapir, he won’t 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 undergoing reconstructive surgery.

Make Thoughtful Decisions

Even if you’re traveling from very far, Dr. Steinsapir will not perform surgery at the time of your initial consultation.  The best surgery is always performed with the utmost of care, consideration, research, and planning.  You should go into surgery comfortable and confident that you have made the right decision.

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 third among all medical centers in the United States. Many surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis at the Surgery Center at the UCLA Medical Center. Larger procedures may also be performed on an inpatient basis at the Jules Stein Eye Institute. Dr. Steinsapir addresses a broad array of oculofacial reconstructive concerns.  Contact us today to schedule a consultation, followed by a brief consideration of the more common reconstructive issues that bring people to see 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.

Consider the impact of surgery

While television programs are full of stories about how plastic surgery transformed the lives of the patients, these grand results are much less common than the TV might lead you to believe. An improved upper eyelid won’t suddenly transform your life by helping you to get a better job, end conflict with your spouse, or make you an instant celebrity.  A realistic goal is that you will be pleased with the improvement and happy that you had surgery.  However, it is unrealistic to expect the surgery will help you land that promotion and help you pay off the cost of surgery. Don’t opt for surgery if it is a choice between basic necessities and having surgery.  Paying rent and health insurance is more important than elective cosmetic surgery.  These are personal choices, but cosmetic surgery is a luxury and not a necessity.  Make sure you aren’t over committing yourself financially in deciding to have surgery.

Consider your motivations

Before deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery, ask yourself “why.”  The first step to understanding if you are ready for surgery is to understand your motivations.  Do you want surgery to please yourself, or to please someone else?  There is no right answer, but if you want surgery to please someone else, ask yourself if the surgical outcomes are something you also want.  Do you find yourself preoccupied with thoughts of a particular surgery?  Do you avoid social situations because you are concerned that people are staring or whispering about you?  Do you spend hours every day repeatedly thinking about an issue that your friends have trouble seeing?  These may be signs of a condition called body dysmorphic disorder.  Body dysmorphic disorder is an obsessive thought pattern characterized by focusing on a slight or nonexistant flaw. Unfortunately, it is difficult to fix subtle or nonexistent issues surgically.  Occasionally this leads to a flat out misunderstanding between surgeon and patient, and even more trouble after surgery.  Dr. Steinsapir find that it is best to air these issues openly and if necessary involve a psychotherapist to help the individual better understand their motivation to have surgery.

Consider your support system

One last series of questions you should ask yourself is about support from family and friends.  Are others around you supportive of you having cosmetic surgery?  Keep in mind that a negative environment can be harmful to your healing process following surgery.  It is so important to make sure those you love are supportive of your decision before you undergo cosmetic surgery.  Don’t try to hide the fact that you are undergoing cosmetic surgery; be open about your plans and find support from those around you.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified ophthalmologist 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 cosmetic surgery.

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

So what is micro needling?  In this treatment you use numbing cream and a roller to puncture hundreds of tiny holes in your skin.  Some claim that this can cure everything from wrinkles to scars to hair loss to unwanted fat.  These claims remain unproven.  Given the different causes of problems as diverse as too much cellulite and too little hair, it seems strange that one procedure says it can address all this and more.  With medicine doctors typically approach the cause of a problem to effectively address it, which is why Dr. Steinsapir only provides evidence-based treatments.  “Cure-alls” may be cleverly marketed, but most often we find that they don’t make sense, aren’t supported by evidence, may rely on dishonest marketing techniques like camera tricks, and are often expensive without delivering on their promises.

Seeking Proven Treatments for Reliable Results

For reliable results and the most return on your financial and emotional investment, we advise you to find an experienced cosmetic surgeon who can help educate you on scientifically grounded treatment options and customize the best individual treatment plan for your unique situation.  Dr. Steinsapir is highly experienced in providing and perfecting established cosmetic treatments like BOTOX and surgeries like the facelift, while also taking leadership in improving cosmetic treatment options, as demonstrated by his work with carved ePTFE orbital rim implants in the midface lift, chemical peel advances, Restylane for dark circles, and Microdroplet BOTOX.  You cannot know which treatment option is best for you until you consult with a doctor specializing in facial cosmetic procedures.  Whichever treatment route you and your cosmetic surgeon ultimately feel is best for you, it should be custom-designed and based on evidence backed by research.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is board certified in Ophthalmology and has completed numerous fellowships, including three years of Orbit and Eyelid fellowships at the prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a separate two year cosmetic surgery fellowship under the auspices of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.  He is widely respected for his work and has published over thirty scientific papers and eight book chapters.   He is a true innovator, having developed Microdroplet™ BOTOX®, a unique patented method for injecting BOTOX®, Deepfill™ under-eye Restylane® treatment to address the dark circle and under-eye hollow for up to a year without the need for retreatment.  Dr. Steinsapir is one of the foremost eyelid surgeons in the world.  He is on staff at the UCLA Hospital and Medical Center where he is an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute.  He is also on staff at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center where he serves as an attending surgeon.  He is in practice in West Los Angeles and is in high demand by discerning individuals from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Southern California.  Many of his patients also come to see him from around the country and the world. Very few doctors offer the level of skill and expertise he brings to cosmetic surgery and aesthetic restorative surgery to address prior unsatisfactory eyelid surgery.  Please contact us today to learn more about evidence-based treatment options with Dr. Steinsapir for proven results.

It’s appealing to believe that we can resolve all of our concerns through exercise, and while research shows that exercise does benefit our health in many ways, it also shows that further medical treatment is required for many conditions.  Just as someone with presbyopia cannot exercise to regain the ability to focus for reading vision, it’s not likely that you’ll be able to reverse the effects of age, time, gravity, and stress by wiggling your face or by having electrical currents stimulate your facial muscle to contract.

There are many types of facial cosmetic surgery and other treatment that can help you obtain the result you need if your doctor determines that you are a suitable candidate.  These range from minimally invasive treatments with little-to-no downtime like BOTOX and undereye Restylane to surgeries like the facelift and plastic eyelid surgery including eyelid reconstruction, which give dramatic yet natural results to individuals with far-reaching concerns.  While it is impossible to know which treatment, if any, is most suitable for you before a private consultation with the best facial cosmetic surgeon for you, you can be confident that there are a wide range of treatments that an expert can custom-tailor to meet your needs.

As a specialist in facial cosmetic treatments, Dr. Steinsapir has treated many individuals who first explored a variety of “natural solutions” for their aesthetic facial concerns.  Frustrated when they saw no results, they eventually consulted with Dr. Steinsapir and opted for proven treatment methods that provide dramatic yet natural results.  This human tendency to pursue unproven treatments is not a fault; it is normal to want to independently resolve a problem using the least invasive and most economical method possible.

Dr. Steinsapir is focused on your personal goals and comfort level.  Dr. Steinsapir always asks you questions about your specific goals, individual situation, and preferences so that he can plan a solution that is aligned what you want, so you can feel comfortable knowing that you are ultimately in control of your treatment plan.  Dr. Steinsapir very much believes in using the least invasive method for accomplishing a particular goal; for example, he does not recommend a forehead lift when a BOTOX treatment for wrinkles will will meet your goals – and he is a leader in his field of minimally invasive solutions.

If you are seeking a proven treatment with an experienced facial plastic surgeon with extensive training in oculofacial plastic surgery, we invite you to a personal consultation with Dr. Steinsapir today.  Dr. Steinsapir is honest, friendly, and can talk to you about customized treatments that give you the results you seek by addressing your specific needs and unique facial features.  Please call us today to schedule a time when you can speak with Dr. Steinsapir.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified cosmetic surgeon and oculoplastic surgeon 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 patients at UCLA, where he is an assistant
clinical professor. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert provider of facial cosmetic surgery and eyelid reconstruction, 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.