cosmetic procedures

A common complaint I hear from people is their annoyance with late-running doctor appointments. I’m very sensitive to this issue. When I went to medical school, my goal was to be efficient and see my patients right on time. I didn’t understand what “on time” meant until I became a practicing physician.

Sharing a smile is a gift itself, especially for your Valentine. But there are people all over the world who cannot share their gift because of a cleft lip or palate. This is a major problem in developing countries. Many of those affected cannot speak or eat properly, and many cannot attend school or work because of their abnormal facial appearance.

Q:  I have never had a chemical peel and would like to try one, but I am afraid of the thought of acid on my face. Should I be worried?

A: Chemical peels can improve and smooth the texture of facial skin by removing damaged outer layers and can be helpful in treating dull facial texture and color, fine wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, uneven pigmentation (solar lentigines, or “sun spots”), melasma, mild acne, and even precancerous lesions (ie, actinic keratoses).  

The development of new laser technologies is encouraging, especially the introduction of gentler tools that provide excellent results with less damage and downtime than original ablative lasers. While safe and effective, ablative lasers are harsh and indiscriminately remove layers of skin. The resulting wounds were at greater risk of infection and required a couple weeks of healing followed by months of redness. While these lasers generated good results for wrinkles, I searched for alternatives, as I would feel hesitant to undergo these types of procedures myself.

Many of my patients come to me for Botox® Cosmetic, a revolutionary enzyme that makes wrinkles virtually disappear. At very high doses, it is considered a toxin, but to treat wrinkles, a dilution 3 million times less than the toxic level is used. The Botox enzyme has been used safely and successfully since the 1980s for a number of conditions, including muscular disorders. Side effects do not occur frequently but could be potentially serious, including:

Instead of 11 pipers piping or 5 golden rings, look at what Skinsight brings. Whether or not you think you need cosmetic surgery, make sure you make an informed decision.

Santa Claus has a full beard that young children like to tug upon to prove he is real. What if Mrs. Claus had a full beard as well? Excessive hair affects 15% of women in the US.

Q: Where should I go to have laser procedures performed?

A: Patients who want to look younger have a confusing array of options, including where to go for cosmetic procedures. I talk about this topic at greater length here, but, essentially, this is what I recommend evaluating prior to undergoing a cosmetic laser procedure.

Considering cosmetic dermatology? Take your time in learning about and evaluating procedures, especially those that make permanent changes. For example, I see many people who get permanent eyeliner-type tattoos and want to know how to get them removed 3 or 4 years later. Although some are delighted with permanent cosmetic procedures, ideally you should consider something that lasts at most 2 years. Most treatments that we offer last 6–12 months.

Because skin is the largest, most visible indicator of aging, patients increasingly turn to dermatologists for advice and information about keeping skin looking healthy, supple, and firm as they age. Even as recently as 10 years ago, that meant plastic surgery – expensive, deeply invasive procedures with extensive risk and recovery time, and sometimes rather unnatural results. But now, more people first consider nonsurgical, noninvasive methods that help skin more naturally retain moisture, elasticity, and firmness – a younger appearance without going under the knife.