Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

Advances in cosmetic surgery are coming at breakneck speed, and they have been for quite a while now. We only need to look at the growth of minimally-invasive procedures for evidence of that. There were almost 16 million of them performed in the United States in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That’s a 228 percent increase from 2000.

One of the more interesting segments of that innovation has been the various ways in which our own bodies are being used to enhance existing cosmetic procedures. A prime example is the fat injection, which is used to restore fullness and youthful contours to the face in the wake of aging’s natural hollowing effect.

Fat injections are a bit more extensive than dermal-filler injections, but their results are usually much longer-lasting. Think in terms of several years for the former as opposed to several months for the latter. They’re also a means of resolving two concerns with a single procedure.

Liposuction is used to extract the fat from a “donor site,” usually some place where it’s unwanted, like the abdomen or buttocks. The suctioned fat is then transferred to the face, as a graft. Not all of the fat will survive—it needs to redevelop a blood supply in the new spot—but the fat that does will last forever.

For added benefit, that fat may also contain stem cells that produce growth factors, which will only improve the health of the surrounding tissue.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy for recovery

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a term you may already be familiar with. It entered the mainstream consciousness several years ago when Kobe Bryant flew to Germany to have an ailing knee treated with it. A slew of star athletes have since followed suit.

It’s shown tremendous promise in its capacity to heal, both from injury and from surgery, including cosmetic procedures. A recent analysis said that it “‘jump starts’ the cascade of regenerative effects,” and that it comes with “very little risk” because it’s simply accelerating the natural healing process.

Here’s how it works: Blood is drawn and spun through a process called centrifugation, which concentrates the blood’s platelets. Platelets are cells within the blood that contain growth and healing factors. The concentration is then reintroduced to the drawn blood and injected into the site of the injury or surgery.

PRP therapy for hair loss

PRP therapy is also being used as a minimally-invasive treatment for hair loss.

Hair follicles survive—or die—based on the amount of nutrition they get from the body’s blood supply. So the thinking with the PRP therapy goes, it will decrease inflammation around the follicles, increase circulation to them, and stimulate new growth. That concentration of platelets is also going to attract even more stem cells, which will ensure the hair keeps growing.

PRP therapy has been shown to thicken thinning hair and hair transplants, all without any downtime or side effects.

If you’re looking for a natural way to rejuvenate your appearance or speed up your recovery from a procedure, talk to a plastic surgeon about these groundbreaking options and others on the horizon.

When I say facelift, your mind probably goes to the traditional facelift. (Or, if you’ve been reading along, maybe the nonsurgical facelift.) But facelifts actually come in a variety of forms. They comprise a very popular segment of cosmetic surgery that’s referred to as facial rejuvenation.

Generally, facelifts differ by the type of incision that’s used, the number of tissue layers that are treated, the part of the face that’s targeted, and the degree of their invasiveness. On that spectrum, the nonsurgical facelift is the least invasive and the traditional facelift is the most, though it also produces the most dramatic and longest-lasting results.

There are a number that fall somewhere in between. To help you find the one that’s right for you, here’s a selection of some of the most popular kinds of facelifts.

Jawline rejuvenation

Liposuction removes excess fat from the neck, sculpting a more defined jawline in the process. That fat can then be used to plump the cheeks. Since no skin is removed during the procedure, the jawline rejuvenation is best suited for those with minimal skin laxity.

Mid-facelift

Small incisions are made in the hairline just above the ears and inside the mouth, allowing the surgeon to reposition the fat pads over the cheekbones and also tighten the skin across the cheeks, which reduces or even eliminates deep creases. It’s best suited for those who don’t have jowls or sagging skin around their neck.

S-lift

An S-shaped incision at the temple or in front of the ear separates the skin from the underlying tissue. The skin is then lifted so that the tissue and muscle can be tightened. The neck and jowls show the most improvement as a result. Despite how it may sound, the S-lift is less invasive than a traditional facelift. The recovery time is also less.

Mini-facelift

Small incisions are made along the hairline so that excess tissue can be removed and the skin, tightened. The results aren’t nearly as dramatic as they are with a traditional facelift—they’re ideal for those showing early signs of aging—but the recovery is minimal. You could have the procedure on a Friday and be back in the office Monday morning.

Radiofrequency

Radiofrequency energy is used to stimulate collagen, as well as tighten loose skin in different areas of the face. It can also be used on other parts of the body.  It’s a procedure that helps slow the signs of aging as the body produces more collagen, showing a refreshed, younger looking face, décolleté, and jaw line.

Deep plane facelift

Considered the gold standard for those with severe facial sagging and laxity, the results, especially around the middle of the face, tend to be dramatic and long-lasting. (Think 10 to 15 years.) It involves repositioning the layer underneath the skin that surrounds the facial expression muscles. Excess and loose skin is then removed, and the edges are sutured or stapled into place.

Each of these procedures can also be performed in combination with others, such as an eyelid lift or a nose job, which can further enhance the results.