Volumizing the Brow with Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

The following is excerpted from the Press Release Center of the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery.

How do you judge a good nose job?  A good plastic surgery procedure is one that provides not only an improved appearance but one in which the rest of the world wouldn’t be able to tell that anything had been done. The surgeon that can provide this has to be a good artistic plastic surgeon and not merely a plastic technician. It upsets me when I walk through a grocery aisle and see the tabloid magazines pointing out how this celebrity or that celebrity had a bad cosmetic procedure- as if all plastic surgical procedures turn out badly. The way I respond to my patients is that the vast majority of procedures turn out fine, that they would be surprised how many of their neighbors have had procedures, but they might never know it because they turned out well.

A good example of what I am talking about is Ashlee Simpson. Simpson reportedly had a nose job in April 2006. When asked about it in an interview in May, Simpson neither confirmed nor denied it. In the May 2007 issue of Harper’s Bazaar, she said that she was not insecure about her appearance and had not been beforehand. She later stated that “as long as people have two eyes” they could determine for themselves whether she had a nose job.

Ashlee Simpson- Before and After

See My Before and After Pictures at :  http://fairfaxplasticsurgeon.com/rhinoplasty.htm

Here is a celebrity starlet who underwent the procedure for her own reasons… probably because she didn’t like the appearance of her nose. And regardless of the reasons for her procedure, some people needed to speculate whether she had the procedure at all. And finally, there is no doubt that the appearance of her “new” nose is attractive, natural, and improves her overall appearance. Kudos to her plastic surgeon.
Rhinoplasty procedures can be one of the most satisfying and life-changing procedures in cosmetic surgery. I have patients that range from 17 years old to 70 years old who come in with complaints about the appearance of the nose. The nose is after all, the central feature of your face.  Rhinoplasty procedures are becoming one of the most common procedures performed by plastic surgeons.  Typical complaints include:

• my nose is too large
• my nose is too small
• my nose has a bump
• my nose has a drooping tip
• my nose has a big tip
• my nose is too large
• my nose is crooked

What most people don’t realize without coming in for a consultation is that not all of these procedures require a surgical nose job.  Some of these issues can be addressed non-surgically.  I was one of the first plastic surgeons according to one of my filler representatives to use cosmetic fillers such as Radiesse, Juvederm, and Restylane to address the cosmetic appearance of the nose.  To some degree, all the complaints can be addressed with one of these fillers, without surgery, and no need for recovery.  Radiesse lasts between 1 and 2 years.  Juvederm and Restylane can last up to 1 year.

 At least half of my patients benefit more from a Surgical Nose Job.  The goals, of course are to provide an improvement that appears natural.   If you look at my before and after pictures on my web site ( www.GoToBeauty.com or www.fairfaxplasticsurgeon.com ), you will see that I attempt to provide my patients with an attractive appearance and an appearance of never having had a rhinoplasty.  I spend a lot of time performing revision rhinoplasties on patients from other offices where the results are not as natural.

 The first step is an initial consultation which is complementary.  During your consultation, we will discuss your image with some digital imaging software.  We will discuss your complaints and desires come up with a plan that fits your desired image and lifestyle.  Sometimes this means a non-surgical option, and sometimes it means a surgical rhinoplasty.

Blog by Dr. Phillip Chang, M.D. :  Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with Offices in Loudoun and Fairfax, Virginia.

Attached is an article excerpted from the American Society of Plastic Surgery. The finding point out that the use of nonsurgical methods of cosmetic improvement such as the use of Botox and facial fillers has become mainstream.

NEW YORK, NY (June 1, 2009) — Despite what some may think, people aren’t hiding their use of BOTOX® Cosmetic and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. In fact, according to survey statistics released today by The Aesthetic Surgery Education & Research Foundation (ASERF), the research arm of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), nearly nine out of 10 respondents (87 percent) openly discuss their BOTOX® Cosmetic and hyaluronic acid dermal filler treatments with others, with seven out of ten (70 percent) receiving support from the people they told.

“In a similar survey issued four years ago, we dispelled the myth that Hollywood and corporate wives were the typical BOTOX® Cosmetic patient,” says ASERF President Laurie Casas, MD, a plastic surgeon practicing in suburban Chicago. “Now, demographic and perception data trends show us that aesthetic injectable treatments have continued to evolve into mainstream and accepted options for the everyday woman.”

• 90 percent of patients who get botox openly discuss it
• Typical recipient is a working mother 41-55 years old of modest incomes
• Younger patients are beginning to have treatments with botox to mantain their appearances of youth
• Patients are treating their “angry lines” and “worry lines” with botox and their “parenthesis lines” around their mouths

Survey results found that the typical aesthetic injectable patient is a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000. The survey also found that women receiving aesthetic injectable treatments are health-conscious and philanthropy minded, with the majority incorporating exercise (95 percent) and healthy eating habits (78 percent) into their lives, and many volunteering with charitable organizations that matter to them (32 percent). In addition, nearly seven out of 10 respondents believe that BOTOX® Cosmetic (72 percent) and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers (65 percent) are important parts of their aesthetic routine.

“Interestingly, among BOTOX® Cosmetic patients, nearly seven out of 10 respondents also received treatment with hyaluronic acid fillers,” says Dr. Casas. “Most people have great success with BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers; however, we need to make patients aware that even though injectables are not ‘surgery,’ their administration is a medical procedure with risks that depend on the training and experience of the clinician, the clinical setting and the technique used.”

Additional findings of the survey found that 72 percent of respondents received BOTOX® Cosmetic injections to treat their glabellar lines – also referred to the “11” – the frown lines in between the brows, while 63 percent of those surveyed received hyaluronic acid dermal filler injections to treat their nasolabial folds – also known as the “parentheses” – the lines around the nose and mouth. A few of the most frequently cited reasons to receive treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic was “to look more relaxed, less stressed” while patients reported choosing treatment with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to “look more rejuvenated.”

Based on its annual survey of U.S. physicians performing cosmetic procedures, ASAPS recently reported that BOTOX® Cosmetic injections have remained the most frequently performed procedure since FDA approval of the product in 2002. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers ranked as the third most popular procedure performed last year. ASERF conducted this follow-up survey to quantify the characteristics and opinions of the patients who receive the treatment to help its members and the public obtain a better understanding of these important modalities.

Blog by Phillip Chang MD ( Aesthetica Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center )  serving Loudoun and Fairfax in Northern Virginia

According to a new survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, attitudes about self-image and the desire to improve self image through cosmetic surgery change depending on your age and stage in life. Visitors were asked “What aspect of physical beauty do you find most appealing in another person?”

Interestingly, most younger patients ( 20s through 40s ) valued the appearance of their bodies over the appearance of their face. As they got older ( 50s through 60s ), the feelings of body image evolved. These patients came to value the appearance of their faces more than their bodies.

· Respondants in their 20s through 40s responded that they valued a fit well proportioned body the most

· Respondants in their 50s and 60s responded that they valued youthful skin the most

These finding reflect what happens in my practice.  I have offices in Loudoun, Winchester, and Fairfax, Virginia.  This is one reason why my “Mommy Makeover” procedure has become so popular. Women in their 20s through their 40s value the appearance of their bodies in when they are in their 20s as they search for potential partners. These same patients, however, once they have a partner and begin to have children struggle with their body image because of how having children change the appearance of their bodies. The mommy makeover procedure usually addresses the changes to their breast ( through an augmentation and/or a lift ) and their belly ( through a tummy tuck and/or liposuction ).

As a woman approaches their 40s and 50s, these patients begin to focus more on their face and skin. This makes sense as our facial features begin to change around this time. The skin loses elasticity, and years of sun damage begin to take its toll on skin quality. These are the patients make up a large part of my practice. In general, these patients come in for:

· Mini Facelift to address laxity in the skin and jowls

· Facial fillers ( Juvederm, Radiesse, or Restylane ) to improve the appearance of deep facial lines such as the “ parenthesis “ line around the mouth and to fill in the loss of facial volume in the lips and cheeks

· IPL ( Photofacial ) to treat sun damage and dark spots

· Botox to treat the lines of the forehead, glabella, and crows feet.

Finally the respondants were asked why they would have cosmetic surgery? The most common answer was to boost self-confidance. To boost self-confidence was the top choice for all decades. The second place answers depended on the patient’s age.

1. 20s- To attract potential partners

2. 30s- Increase professional opportunities

3. 40s- Increase professional opportunities

4. 50-60s To help make friends

It is always important to understand what our patients are most concerned about at different stages of their lives. We want to be equipped to help our patients make the right decisions to maintain their beauty at every age—no matter which type of cosmetic medical procedure they are interested in.

Another question asked members to contemplate “The most important factor in maintaining beauty.” While adherence to a healthy diet, regular exercise and skin care were popular choices, approximately one in five members felt that a cosmetic medical procedure was most important in the 50s and 60s.

Blog by Phillip Chang MD:  Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with Offices in Loudoun, Winchester, and Fairfax Virginia