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If you’ve spent any time at the shore this summer, you were probably at least a little distracted by your cellulite.

You’re far from alone. Cellulite affects nine out of 10 women, according to some estimates. And it’s the thing that most of them would most like to change about their bodies.

Cellulite is caused by a shortening of fibrous tissue cords in the skin, not as a side effect of weight gain, as is so often thought. The tightening pushes fatty tissue up to the skin’s surface, creating the notorious dimpling effect. It becomes more common with age, but it can appear as early as right after puberty in some women.

If you, like so many others, have fantasized about getting rid of your cellulite, allow me to introduce you to BodyTite, a state-of-the-art treatment that tightens skin and reduces fat in targeted areas of the body.

Less fat and tighter skin

So, what is BodyTite, exactly? It’s a minimally-invasive body contouring procedure that delivers the sort of results that previously were only possible through more invasive surgical procedures. Using radio frequency energy, BodyTite tightens skin, stimulates collagen production, and improves the contours of the body.

It’s being used to tighten and sculpt the abdomen, arms, breasts, thighs, love handles, and knees. It’s also an effective means of getting rid of cellulite.

A local anesthetic is administered to the treatment area. The plastic surgeon then inserts a small cannula that delivers the radio frequency energy through a tiny incision. The energy liquefies fat and makes the surrounding tissue and skin contract. The fat is then suctioned out through the cannula.

Long-lasting results

Aside from the virtually undetectable scars and total lack of stitches, BodyTite is considered to be an upgrade from liposuction because, while the latter effectively removes fat, a lift to remove the excess skin is also needed in many cases. BodyTite, by contrast, firms skin from 10% to 40%, which is enough to help skin bounce back if you’ve had 10 to 20 pounds removed.

It’s also an effective way to treat skin laxity resulting from childbirth or aging.

Because of the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, BodyTite patients also experience less bruising, too. You may feel a little sore around the treated area immediately after, but you should be back to normal within a few days, if not sooner.

It’s a relatively minimal investment considering the results can last for years. Envision all those summer days ahead, poolside or on the beach, and you’re enjoying yourself, not worrying whether your cellulite is showing.

Allergan, the global pharmaceutical company, just issued a breast implant recall. Dr. Davis addresses the breast implant recall, ALCL and the Allergan textured breast implants.

Please contact Dr. Steven L. Davis, Cherry Hill Board Certified Plastic Surgeon at https://daviscps.com/breast-implant-recall with any questions.

[Official Allergan Press Release: Allergan Voluntarily Recalls BIOCELL® Textured Breast Implants and Tissue Expanders]
[FDA Article regarding Breast Implant Recall]

At Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, we’ve been getting a lot of phone calls and a lot of emails about patients that have breast implants. And this is because yesterday Allergan (7/24/19) which makes breast implants worldwide decided to pull off the market, any of the implants that have a textured surface to them. We wanted to make sure that we’re making a video and telling everyone out there that if you have any question as to what type of implant you may have, either I placed them or someone else that you may have gone to have implants placed for you, you should check to see what kind you have.

It’s a very rare disease. It is a lymphoma. It’s not breast cancer. It’s lymphoma. But the textured surface shell of the implant has been shown to possibly cause this lymphoma in a very small amount of patients, but it’s something to check. So this is a smooth texture. This a smooth implant is the texture surface implant. Most of the implants that I’ve placed in almost 30 years have all been smooth implants. However, some of them that may have been shaped like this may have needed a textured surface to them. The company that I used for this is not elegant for its textured surface. So for my my implants that I’ve placed, I would say patients still call so we can check your chart and make sure everything’s fine. But I getting more and more patients calling me that may have been located elsewhere20 years ago when they had their breast implants.

So just recently, as of yesterday, we had two patients that came in that had their implants placed one in California, and one in Denver, and we asked them to call their plastic surgeons see what implants they had placed. And then we would definitely take a look and make sure everything was okay. There are certain ultrasound tests that we can write for you to get that will also help see if there are any other concerns. But again, if you’re having no problems, just check with whomever put your breast implants in to make sure you know exactly what kind of implant you have.

Please feel free to contact our office at Davis cosmetic plastic surgery by using the below form if you have any questions about this breast implant recall or any other procedure.

[Listen to Dr. Davis discuss the Allergan Breast Impant recall on KYW Newsradio]

Contact Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

We’re constantly snapping photos and sharing them on social media, many of them of ourselves or, at least, including us. In the process, we’re giving ourselves a lot of material to scrutinize. And increasingly, many of us perceive ourselves through the lens of our own social media accounts.

There’s both good and bad to that. On one hand, it’s very reassuring to have a library of positive memories just a tap and a swipe away at any given moment. But it’s also compelling us to hold a microscope up to our own images and be more self-critical than ever before—even as we shape a sort of alternate reality in which they exist.

Because here’s the thing: Very rarely are we posting those photos without first applying a filter in Instagram or Snapchat or manipulating it in an editing app like FaceTune. Over the last few years, as it’s become commonplace, it’s also become clear that social media is shaping beauty trends and the way we see ourselves.

Another tool in the beauty arsenal

Coinciding with the rise of social media and our so-called “selfie culture” has been the growing acceptance of cosmetic surgery, particularly facial plastic surgery. Today, a growing majority of people in their twenties on up through middle age have come to perceive it as just another tool in their beauty arsenal.

Minimally-invasive treatments designed to help patients enhance their natural appearance have been at the forefront of that movement. They’ve grown 228% since 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

A few, in particular, driven largely by our relentless pursuit of the ideal selfie, have become especially popular, including the non-surgical nose job, which is also commonly referred to as “liquid rhinoplasty.” A hyaluronic acid filler is injected into the nose to camouflage imperfections or improve its contour—all in a matter of 15 minutes. Depending on the filler used, results can last for one to two years.

Eyelid procedures designed to make you look less tired are another. In one such case, a hyaluronic acid filler is injected below the under-eye fat pocket, which makes the under-eye circles less prominent.

And platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, injections are being used for everything from “vampire facials” to helping with hair loss. The treatments have been around for a while, but the research supporting their effectiveness has been mounting over the last few years. The theory is that plasma, enriched with growth factors, can be used to rejuvenate and regenerate soft tissue.

A window into the patient’s mind

I know there’s a lot out there about how this obsession with selfies is signaling the beginning of the end, and I am concerned that “selfie culture” leading to unrealistic standards. But I’ve also found them helpful as a reference during consultations with my patients.

Based on what they tell me they like or don’t like about what they see in a given photo of themselves, it becomes easier for me to understand what they’re thinking and what they’re striving for. And that’s only going to improve the result.

Technology and medical advances have driven cosmetic surgery (and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments) in countless, uncharted directions. The menu of procedures, as a result, looks very different today from what it did only several years ago.

But science alone isn’t responsible for that evolution. Patients have played a vital role, too. As plastic surgeons became better positioned to be more responsive to their particular needs, patients became more interested in tweaks than exaggerated cosmetic procedures. The standard today is subtle enhancements to one’s inherent appearance, not dramatic transformations.

With the changing face of cosmetic surgery, procedures have become more refined. The facelift is a prime example.

Rather than a single, relatively one-size-fits-all surgery, there’s now a full spectrum of procedures, including injectables, that fall under the facelift umbrella.

Injectables, in fact, appear to be spurring this era of minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. (Minimally-invasive procedures have grown by 228% since 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Their cost is less than surgery, their effects are immediately visible, and the recovery time is minimal, all of which has contributed to their accessibility and inclusivity.

The ability to squeeze in a treatment over lunchtime and slip right back into their routine afterward without breaking stride has snared the attention of those who are reluctant to admit they had a procedure or don’t want to deal with the downtime.

Breast augmentation will continue to be popular—it was the top cosmetic surgical procedure performed in 2018 by a wide margin, according to the ASPS. But small, hyper-specific procedures, like “liquid rhinoplasty,” that help patients feel a little more confident but aren’t completely obvious are quickly gaining in popularity.

Body contouring treatments can be counted among that category as well. CoolSculpting can treat just about any unwanted bulge, but it’s FDA-approved for the abdomen, love handles, thighs, upper arms, “bra fat,” back fat, “banana roll” underneath your butt, and double chin. Those who undergo it can expect up to a 25% reduction of fat in the treated area. Just as impressively, though, they can walk out of a treatment and step right back into their normal lives.

While a segment of cosmetic surgery has always been dedicated to prevention, it’s never been as prominent as it is today. Much of that, again, can be attributed to the new mainstream acceptance of cosmetic surgery. For much of my career, cosmetic surgery was mostly associated with women of a certain age. But a growing number of my patients—men and women—are undergoing treatments in their twenties and thirties as a means to try to prevent more invasive procedures later in their lives. It’s a trend that seems to be unfolding nationwide, according to any number of surveys.

The changing face of cosmetic surgery has arrived.  And all these advances are bringing us closer to who we are.

Rhinoplasty, commonly referred to as a nose job or, more recently, nose reshaping, is an introduction to cosmetic surgery for a lot of people. Nearly 67,000 procedures were performed on patients in their twenties in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which ranks it behind only breast augmentation.

The goal of nose reshaping is pretty straightforward: to sculpt the shape of the nose on the outside for a more aesthetically-pleasing result and inside to improve breathing. And while noses are kind of like snowflakes, the procedure’s basically one-size-fits-all—until recently.

A rapid evolution has unfolded over the last few years. Today, plastic surgeons are able to employ a number of new techniques, dependent upon the patient’s needs and expectations, that help ensure the resulting nose is natural-looking and that it perfectly balances the patient’s face.

What you should know about liquid rhinoplasty

Among the newest of those techniques is a treatment called “liquid rhinoplasty.” You may also have heard it referred to as the “nonsurgical nose job.” Hyaluronic acid filler is injected into the nose to temporarily change its shape. If you’ve come across before-and-after photos online, you know the results can look as transformative as those of an actual rhinoplasty.

But as quick and easy as it may seem in someone’s Instagram Stories, it’s a procedure that should be taken seriously. As with any kind of plastic surgery, seek out a surgeon who’s very experienced with rhinoplasty—and liquid rhinoplasty, ideally. It’s not a procedure that any board-certified plastic surgeon would describe as high-risk, but it’s also not without potential complications.

Those complications are becoming more common as the procedure gains popularity and it’s performed by people who lack the appropriate credentials. By contrast, a reputable plastic surgeon who’s experienced in rhinoplasty will know and respect the anatomy. After all, a proper nose reshaping will improve the entire face.

What to look for in a plastic surgeon

For all the advances, the biggest risk of rhinoplasty remains a disappointing cosmetic outcome—which is why it has the highest revision rate of any plastic surgery procedure. To ensure a smooth procedure and happy result, find the most qualified plastic surgeon to do it.

Precisely restructuring and manipulating the nose while improving breathing issues requires a particular skillset and expertise that takes years to develop.

When you meet with a plastic surgeon for the first time, you’ll inevitably be shown before-and-after photos. But make sure to ask to be shown photos for noses that are similar to your own size and shape. They’ll not only speak to the surgeon’s ability, but they’ll also help guide your own discussion and set your expectations.

In the right hands, nose reshaping can give you the nose you’ve always wanted and enhance your whole face in so many other, unexpected ways.

When you hear the word facelift, your mind probably registers a pretty specific image: An older man or woman whose face and neck skin seems disproportionately tight compared to the skin on their arms or legs.

We have Madonna to thank for that. And Kathy Griffin. And Cher.

But we’ve come a long way since the days of the one-size-fits-all procedure that yielded those sorts of results. The facelift, up until only a few years ago, was a pretty straightforward procedure. A flap of skin on each side of the face was pulled back, the tissue below the skin was altered, and the excess skin was removed.

Clinically, it was a sound remedy for the loss of skin elasticity and decrease in fat deposits that inevitably accompany aging at a certain point. But very few plastic surgeons were capable of many deviations. Skip ahead to today: The traditional facelift is now merely one of many ways to achieve a more youthful-looking face. What’s changed? Read on.

Less is more

For starters, we’re living in what’s been described as the age of the “tweak-ment.” Gone are the days of the exaggerated breast enhancements, overfilled lips, and unrealistic facelifts. Patients, more and more, want to keep their family traits and look like themselves—but with a few refined tweaks.

Ten years ago, a patient was likely to come in for their consultation clutching a magazine cover featuring their favorite supermodel. That’s who they wanted to look like. Now, more are interested in looking like themselves, but the version of themselves that appears through their preferred Instagram filter.

That interest has given rise to more precise variations of a number of cosmetic procedures, including the facelift. There’s the mini-facelift, which targets the earliest signs of aging, and the mid-facelift, which focuses on the cheeks, among other types of facelifts.

Injectables, lasers, and skin resurfacing are also more accessible than they’ve ever been. They can be quick, lunchtime procedures that yield immediate but subtle effects with limited downtime, qualities that contribute to their convenience as well as their confidentiality.

There’s more to it than technique

For all the scientific advances, the expertise of the plastic surgeon remains the greatest factor in producing a result that aligns with what the patient has in mind. Yes, it’s a matter of technique and tools, but to an even greater extent, it’s also about the surgeon’s artistry.

Difficult as a plastic surgeon’s training is, it’s at least something that can be honed with practice. The same can’t really be said for his creativity. If he discovered an ability to express himself through one medium or another early on, he’s as likely to nurture it as anyone. But if he didn’t, he’s just as inclined to abandon it.

A technically-proficient surgeon can correct the concern. But only an artful one will truly enhance the face’s inherent structure and traits.

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot outside. Like, get-me-to-the-nearest-body-of-water hot.

Understandably, this can be a difficult time of year if you’re even the slightest bit insecure about exposing your midsection. There are a number of ways to address that concern through modern cosmetic surgery, liposuction and a tummy tuck being two of the most popular.

But the summer’s here now, and while each may yield dramatic results, it could take a month or two for the swelling to fully subside in either case. And it may take even longer before you’re basking in the full effect of your treatment.

Is there something, then, that can have you looking better in a bikini or swim trunks with some summer left to spare? Yes: CoolSculpting.

A smaller midsection in a couple of weeks

How, exactly, is a CoolSculpting treatment different from lipo and a tummy tuck? For starters, it’s a noninvasive treatment, meaning there’s no scarring whatsoever to be concerned with. It can treat unwanted fat just about anywhere on the body, but it’s FDA-approved for the midsection, thighs, upper arms, bra fat, back fat, the “banana roll” underneath your butt, and double chin.

Here’s how it works: An applicator that looks like a big vacuum hose applies suction to the area you want to target. (Key to the process is having enough fat for the applicator to adhere to. If you can pinch your bulge, you’re a candidate.) It then applies carefully regulated cooling plates to bring fat cells down to a temperature at which they’re irreversibly damaged.

The frozen fat cells then die and are gradually eliminated by the body. It could take three months for the final effects to become apparent, but you should start noticing a difference in as little as a couple of weeks.

Virtually no discomfort or downtime

A CoolSculpting treatment generally takes between a half-hour and an hour. And it’s relatively gentle. You may feel some initial discomfort as the cooling begins, but it dissipates pretty quickly. Which leaves you free to check email, scroll through Instagram, or even sit back, close your eyes, and appreciate the solitude.

If that sounds too good to be true, I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet: There’s no downtime with a CoolSculpting treatment, so you can head into the office when your treatment’s done, run some errands, or hit the gym.

There’s really no downside here—especially when you consider that CoolSculpting may finally help you achieve that beach body that diet and exercise alone couldn’t deliver. And before the end of the summer, no less.

Over the weeks following your treatment, you can expect up to a 25 percent reduction of fat in the treated area. And those results are permanent. Once fat cells are frozen and eliminated, they’re gone for good.

Hello, bikini. So long, unflattering one-piece. And guys, you can leave those oversize T-shirts in your closet. They were never fooling anyone anyway.

We’ve come a long way in a few short years, men. It wasn’t so long ago that those of us who knew how to dress and take proper care of ourselves were in the minority. “But,” as GQ recently noted, “over the past decade-plus, somehow, gloriously, it has become imperative for the modern man to care more than ever. About the way he looks, about the way he feels, about the way he behaves toward himself, for starters—and toward the rest of the world from there.”

For those of you with a wedding on the horizon this summer (your own or someone else’s), allow me to suggest a couple of treatments that’ll serve as the proverbial cherry on top of that beautifully-tailored new suit and all those grooming habits that already have you turning heads and commanding respect everywhere you go.

As you’re probably already aware, our faces are the first and deepest impressions we make. Microdermabrasion and microneedling are a means to put your best face forward. Intimidating as the names may sound, they’re noninvasive. Even better, there’s little to no downtime and you’ll see the results immediately. Seems almost too good to be true, right? It’s not. Read on.

Is microdermabrasion right for you?

Microdermabrasion is done as an in-office procedure without anesthesia or a numbing agent. In all, it usually only takes about an hour. If you’ve ever exfoliated, it’s basically a more effective version of that.

There are a few different ways the procedure can be done, depending on the device that’s used, but, basically, microscopic crystals remove the superficial outer layer of dry, dead skin cells.

After your treatment, you’ll want to keep your skin moisturized and stay out of the sun—your face can be more sensitive to it for a few weeks after the treatment—but you can head right back to the office, if you want. This is definitely something you can have done over the week before your wedding, without any concern about irritation or swelling. Think of it just like a haircut—if a haircut could shave a few years off your appearance.

Is microneedling as terrifying as it sounds?

If you’ve got a bit more time on your hands, consider microneedling, because it tends to be most effective with multiple treatments. Though there’s still no downtime.

Needles?! Ahhh! I know. The name doesn’t do it any favors. Nor will this description: Microneedling creates hundreds of tiny punctures in your skin. There, that out of the way, let me say that it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds. In fact, it’s not painful at all. Those punctures are more like pinpricks.

What they’re doing is encouraging your body’s healing process to kick into action, to make more collagen, essentially. Collagen gives our skin its elasticity, which allows it to stay tight and smooth. It’s natural, however, for skin to lose collagen as we age. The idea with the pinpricks is to slightly injure the skin, which will cause it to make new collagen-rich tissue. In the process, there may be more collagen to help make the skin firmer, too.

A treatment typically lasts a couple of hours. Though, as I mentioned, multiple treatments generally yield the best results. So, if it’s something you’re considering, try to give yourself as much time before your wedding as you can.

Whether the star, a supporting-cast member, or merely a spectator, show up looking and feeling your best and seize the day.