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Breast augmentation and liposuction were the top two cosmetic surgical procedures performed last year, just as they were in 2018 and for several years prior to that. For all that consistency, plastic surgery is also a field that’s constantly evolving. There’s the innovation, which is occurring at a breakneck speed, spurring new products and treatments and honing existing techniques. There’s also the ever-shifting interests of our patients. 

These days, trends catch fire in a matter of hours, not days, and plastic surgery is no exception. Women and men are entering consultations with their plastic surgeons informed and with very specific ideas about what they want. These are a couple of the most popular requests from recent weeks.

Skin tightening

The proliferation of Zoom calls has been a wake-up call for many of us. Blame it on the bad lighting or the unflattering camera angle. But even with those allowances, we’re spending more time than we ever have before staring at our imperfections. The most common complaint to emerge: sagging skin.

Plastic surgeons are responding with a combination of treatments, entirely under local anesthesia, that address multiple layers of aging. Most commonly, the combination includes AccuTite of the brow, eyes, nasolabial folds, jowls, and chin, which tightens the deeper facial tissue; along with Morpheus8, to tighten the superficial tissue of the whole face; and then ActiveFX of the eyes, face, and neck, to address tone, texture, pigmentation, pore reduction, and fine lines.

It’s a powerful treatment that tightens and lifts, particularly around the eyes and middle of the face.

Hip augmentation

Three years removed from Kylie Jenner’s hourglass figure transformation and it still resonates with women of all ages who feel like they’re lacking feminine hip curves, as well as transfeminine people whose hips remain straight in spite of the estrogen they’re taking. Hip augmentation, in a growing number of instances, is proving to be the solution.

There are two options. With a fat transfer, the plastic surgeon extracts fat from another part of the body through liposuction. The fat is then injected into the hip area. Hip implants, however, are considered the more effective treatment. The implants are made of a semi-solid silicone that’s crafted to look and feel similar to natural muscle tissue. The relatively small implants are inserted through small incisions in the underwear line and positioned under the skin, fat, and tough fascia layers.

The effects of a fat-transfer hip augmentation generally last about four months, while the implants are permanent.

If you want to discuss your options and how the Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery team can help, please feel free to contact us to schedule your virtual consult.

When I ask a prospective patient what she wants to get out of her breast augmentation, she may tell me she wants larger breasts or perkier breasts. It’s a modest goal because she may believe that the success of her procedure comes down to the size and shape of her implant, when in reality, there are lots of different approaches that I can use to truly customize her results.

Similarly, prospective patients often arrive in my office distraught over their abdomens (or the chronic back pain that may stem from their weakened core muscles), yet hoping for only a small improvement. Their lack of mobility and the unflattering image they see in their reflection have taken over their lives, and they just want to get back to a state that feels closer to normal for them, never considering that I could do much better than that.

As a plastic surgeon, I appreciate the body as a collection of intricate networks. In other words, where a patient may be focused on a particular area she’s deemed to be a problem, my eye takes in a broader sample. If, for example, I was to remove a bit of fat from a patient’s abdomen, as she’s asked me to do, what effect will that have on the skin around her midsection? Even a slight adjustment will have a ripple effect. So I try to think several steps ahead, always focused on the patient’s goals, but also conscious of a host of other issues they’re probably not aware of that could affect the result.

More than meets the eye

The abdomen is a prime example. My patients are usually most self-conscious about any fat they may have accumulated in the area, often as a result of a pregnancy (or pregnancies). And there is certainly no shortage of techniques or technologies to address that. But that alone is not going to produce the result she wants because the skin around her abdomen may also have weakened—stretch marks are a telltale sign—which means it’ll likely sag once the fat’s removed.

And her biggest issue may be the one she can’t see and might not even be aware of, which is the abdominal muscle separation that occurs nearly universally with pregnancy. The front of the core is left weak, as a result, and the back winds up overcompensating. By realigning those abdominal muscles and suturing them together corset-style, strength and stability return to the abdomen and pelvic region.

You shape the treatment

While each issue is interconnected, that doesn’t mean everything needs to be addressed at once. Here, I’ll defer to my patient. If she’s most concerned about removing the fat, there are a number of ways I can about that, from liposuction to a number of minimally-invasive methods, including CoolSculpting, which freezes pockets of fat, and Kybella injections, which dissolves them instantly.

There are as many options available for skin-tightening and minimizing the appearance of stretch marks, including non-invasive radiofrequency devices.

Let us make sure the treatment is tailored to your specific needs, goals, and schedule. If you’ve been busy outlining all the reasons why you can’t come in to meet with me—it’s time to put them to rest and find out what’s possible.

Contact Davis Plastic Surgery in Cherry Hill with any questions or to schedule a virtual consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.

The tummy tuck is one of the most transformative procedures in plastic surgery. Scanning before-and-after images, it’s easy to be swept up by the dramatic changes in appearance. But in doing so, you may miss the subtler nuances, like the proportions of the navel and the discreet contours of the abdomen, that signal next-level outcomes.

Like so many avenues of cosmetic plastic surgery, the tummy tuck has evolved considerably in recent years. Dr. Davis has refined his techniques and learned how to safely enhance their results. When choosing surgical providers it usually comes down to small differences in those results. To help with your decision, here are three details you want to make sure to note while reviewing galleries.

A low-profile scar

Ideally, a tummy tuck scar heals as a fine line just above or slightly within the pubic hair. The goal, of course, is for it to be completely concealed when you pull on a standard bikini bottom. Mind you, that’s a big ask, considering the average tummy tuck incision runs from hip bone to hip bone. And because most people’s hips and backs aren’t perfectly straight to begin with.

That said, the scar, while remaining out of sight, should actually accentuate the overall result. The tummy tuck involves tugging, contouring, and a bit of geometry. By creating a low-sitting scar, the surgeon’s able to change the way the sides look and the way the abdomen itself looks. So, also look for a scar that’s balanced and symmetric.

A contoured midsection

Appealing as a tight-looking abdomen might sound, it doesn’t look natural. The current standard (which does) is softer and shapelier, with subtle curves and depressions. To achieve those contours, liposuction is usually incorporated into the tummy tuck.

In addition to removing fat from the hips, flanks, and back during the surgery, meticulous surgeons will carefully sculpt the area above the belly button, which creates a barely-perceptible little groove that’s inherent in a youthful abdomen. Details like that may be very subtle, but they all contribute to the overall result.

Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is here to assist you to get the goals you want. Please contact us and we are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right procedure and answer your questions via a virtual consult.

When it comes to improving dull skin, rough texture, hyperpigmentation, and acne, chemical peels and lasers remain the gold standard. Both help to reduce the appearance of pores and soften fine lines. Both entail relatively minimal downtime (a few days of redness, swelling, and peeling). And both can be exceptionally effective—in the right situations. Here, I’ll help you pin down which treatment is right for you.

How do they work?

First, let’s take a closer look at each treatment. A chemical peel uses various acids, such as lactic, salicylic, or trichloroacetic (TCA), to resurface the skin and remove surface pigmentation.

Which treatment is right for me?

Regardless of your skin type or the issue you want to address, both peels and lasers will require multiple treatments in order to achieve the best results. The total number can be as few as two, but it’s generally between three and six. 

With that in mind, if given a choice, a chemical peel is the better option if you’re on a budget. Its price depends on the strength and concentration of the peel, but the range is typically less than that of a fractionated laser treatment.

Both types of treatments can provide you with more radiant skin, though, if you have dark skin and you opt for a lower-energy fractionated laser, like Clear + Brilliant, you’ll want to make sure the treatment is done by someone who has a lot of experience using this laser on dark skin types. It’s considered safer than a stronger laser resurfacing procedure, but the results can vary in under-experienced hands.

For the most part, however, a chemical peel is the safer means to resurface and tighten dark skin. The heat of a fractionated laser can contribute to hyperpigmentation. (For everyone else, a laser is the clear choice for skin-tightening. The heat will spur the production of natural collagen and elastin, the basic building blocks of firmer skin.)

Some plastic surgeons will start with a peel and move to a laser if the results aren’t meeting their expectations. In those instances, they’ll use a lower-energy fractionated laser at low strength over a few treatments in order to avoid post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

A similar approach is often used when aiming to erase persistent patches of acne. A series of salicylic acid peels exfoliate the skin and penetrate the pores to unclog them. At which point, a long-pulse laser can shut down overactive sebaceous glands. It’s safe for dark skin because it won’t burn the upper layers.

If you want to learn more about our med-spa services and chemical peels. please contact us at info@daviscps.com and our team will be happy to help you and schedule a virtual consultation.

Here at Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery we do not lump Injectables into one big pile, even though their qualities and uses can vary significantly. One in particular that stands out for us is Sculptra because it’s made of poly-L-lactic acid (rather than hyaluronic acid) and it works with your body to regrow collagen, which is unique among wrinkle treatments.

Sculptra is approved by the FDA for filling wrinkles and reducing hollow, sunken cheeks and temples. Because it tasks your body with making collagen, it can take longer to see results than it does with hyaluronic acid fillers, but the effects will last much longer. Which also means that, as a side benefit, Sculptra tends to be less expensive overall than hyaluronic fillers for patients who need a lot of volume replenished.

“When applied correctly, Sculptra looks positively natural,” says Dr. Steven Davis. This is why it’s imperceptible. “Since it is slowly and steadily building support for your skin, no one would ever be able to tell you’ve had it injected.”

What’s the treatment like?

Sculptra injections are similar to just about every other kind of filler injection. There may be some mild discomfort, which can be mitigated with a topical numbing agent. After the injections are completed, your plastic surgeon will massage your face for a few minutes, to ensure the Sculptra is distributed evenly among the targeted areas.

Following the procedure, some mild swelling, bruising, and soreness around the injection sites is normal. But all of that should clear up fairly quickly. In the meantime, it shouldn’t be anything significant enough to keep you from your regular activities.

When will I see the results?

Most patients of DCPS tend to look great right after injections. But, gradually, those effects will wear off. And after a couple of days, you should look much like you did before the treatment. That doesn’t mean the treatment didn’t take. All the while, your skin is using the poly-L-lactic acid to produce new, natural collagen.

You should begin to notice a difference within a week or two of your treatment. Usually, it’ll take between four to eight weeks to see the full effects of your injections. And while that may sound like an eternity, consider the bigger picture: Those results will last for two to three years. 

If you’re on the fence about a facelift, Sculptra may prove to be the perfect bridge. Please consult the team at Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery for a consultation, or if you have any questions.

Facial rejuvenation procedures continue to be the fastest-growing segment of cosmetic plastic surgery, and botulinum toxin type A injections are one of the biggest reasons why. Last year, close to 7.7 million of them were done in the United States, which set a new annual high, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

(Dermal fillers were second on the list of most-performed cosmetic procedures last year, at 2.7 million.)

You’re probably more familiar with the different brand names of botulinum toxin type A: Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, and, of course, Botox. While there are subtle differences between them, they all work the same way, essentially. 

In order for any muscle to contract, the nerves release a chemical messenger called acetylcholine at the point where nerve endings meet muscle cells. Acetylcholine attaches to receptors on the muscle cells and causes the cells to contract, or shorten.

Botulinum toxin type A injections prevent the release of acetylcholine, which stops the muscle cells from contracting. Basically, they temporarily put the muscles to rest, which helps the muscle become less stiff. In the process, they also temporarily minimize or eliminate altogether creases and fine lines that stem from the constant contraction of those muscles, like forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and the dreaded “11” between the eyebrows.

Which one is right for you?

Without getting too technical, a board-certified plastic surgeon distinguishes between the brands based on subtle but significant differences, like how much it will spread after it’s injected. 

First, they’ll want to hear all about your expectations for the procedure. They’ll then be able to select the botulinum toxin type A that’s best suited for that particular area of the face and the desired outcome.

Much of the outcome, however, will come down to the injector. For example, the pressure that’s used to inject the botulinum toxin type A can have a big impact on the results. Also key is the injector’s knowledge of the muscles in the targeted area. It may seem fairly straightforward—rest the muscle, the lines disappear—but the human body is a series of intricate, interconnected networks.

In other words, for every action, expect a reaction.

Case in point: In order to lift the forehead, botulinum toxin type A should be injected into the depressor muscles around the brow, because they’re the ones working to pull the brow (and forehead) down. But simply injecting those muscles isn’t enough. The injections need to be precise because if they land in the wrong parts of the depressor muscles, the botulinum toxin could seep into the frontalis muscle, which lifts the forehead. 

The result in that scenario is an even heavier-looking brow than what the patient started with. And it’s surprisingly common.

Expertise matters most

I have extensive experience with doing botulinum toxin type A injections. Even more, I train plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and nurses across the country on behalf of all of the aforementioned brands in how to use them appropriately and accurately.

I’m convinced of their value in creating a younger, more vibrant appearance. But I also know that those results depend more on who’s doing the injecting than which brand is being injected.

If you would like to discuss your options, my team at Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is available to answer questions and schedule your virtual consultation.

Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery finds facelifts to be quite nuanced. The countless buzzwords used to reference them do not add any clarity to the subtle differences between the procedures. Though, DCPS noticed one in particular seems to be drawing most of the attention this summer: the so-called “ponytail facelift.”

The name stems from the lift’s effects, which are meant to mimic that of pulling one’s hair back into a tight, high ponytail, drawing the skin of the scalp and, in turn, the forehead, cheeks, and brows upward in order to create a more youthful appearance.

Because all of that is accomplished without the traditional scars of a facelift, the name is also apparently a nod to the fact that the patient can wear their hair in a high ponytail without fear of exposing obvious scars.

What is it the Ponytail Facelift?

The name, obviously, is a generic-household term, not a medical one. But the ponytail facelift is not a textbook technique that all plastic surgeons learn about in residency. Nor is it new. Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery has been using “ponytail” as a descriptor for less-invasive facelifts for decades.

Much like the mommy makeover, there’s no one tried-and-true approach to the ponytail facelift. The nuances of the procedure is dictated by the needs and anatomy of the patient. That said, the overall aesthetic goal is basically the same in every case: elevate the midface and cheeks and, in turn, the partial jawline along the outer jowls for a more elevated look, without any visible scarring.

Keep in mind, plastic surgeons use different names for the various kinds of facelifts all the time, though the intended outcome and the methods used may be similar or almost identical. Also, determining which lift would suit a patient best is a highly-individualized process. 

Generally, however, a ponytail facelift refers to a limited endoscopic lift.

Who is a good candidate?

The procedure tends to be most appropriate for younger patients displaying early signs of aging, such as mild volume loss and fallen cheeks, but not sagging skin and drooping jowls. That’s because the ponytail facelift doesn’t correct a sagging neck and jawline to the same extent than an SMAS or deep-place facelift does.

And endoscopic incisions, while small in size and easily hidden, they don’t allow for skin excision.

The takeaway: Focus more on your goals for the outcome than the name of the procedure. And then once you find your surgeon, trust they’ll use their training and experience to make them a reality. 

If you want to see if this procedure is good for you, please contact the team at DCPS to schedule a consultation.

As we embrace the current reality of the world, it’s almost starting to feel normal to don a mask before entering the grocery store and to have our temperature taken ahead of a haircut. Still, you may be hesitating, understandably, about scheduling your next appointment for filler or neuromodulator. Beyond the natural intimacy of these procedures, there are a number of practical considerations in play—a big one being the handling of the facial assessment that generally precedes such injections.

Every board-certified plastic surgeon across the country reopened their practice this spring with an overabundance of caution. While there was some guidance, the simple fact of the matter is that there was so much about this virus we didn’t know. Virtually every day, we’ve learned something new about it. And with the proper safety procedures we at Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery put in place, we’ve come to understand how we can live with it—to a certain extent.

Injectables were one of the last aspects of cosmetic plastic surgery to return. Initially, we scheduled only returning patients because it afforded them some expediency. As everyone grew more comfortable, we made the decision to make appointments available to new patients, too—as long as the patient agreed to a video consult beforehand. By using virtual consultations we are able to minimize our in-person non-procedural interaction.

Where are we now?

Where are we now, nearly six months into the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States? By most estimates, as a plastic surgeon in South Jersey, where infection rates have remained relatively low through the summer, we are back to administering injectables at or near the frequency they were prior to the pandemic. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s business as usual.

We require our patients to wear a mask throughout their treatment, unless it’s necessary for it to be removed. Early on, there was some debate that doing it this way, treating the upper face alone while temporarily ignoring the lower two-thirds could create a lopsided look. And while there’s no doubt that it is a challenge, there’s also value in addressing the face one area at a time.

It’s quite common to stagger treatments and address different areas at different times—the upper face in one visit, the chin and jaw in another, and the midface in a third—to achieve a seamless look in the end.

What can you expect?

Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery’s offices have adopted its own protocol to ensure patient and staff safety, but some practices have become universal. We’re finding a way through this by prioritizing safety at every turn to make sure you get your desired treatment, and staying safe.

Please feel free to contact Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery with any questions about our safety protocols or to schedule a virtual consult.