The classic “double chin” usually relates to some fatty fullness and/or skin laxity under the chin and into the upper neck. Sometimes this also includes the dreaded “jowls.”

In my office under just local anesthesia, a new technique combines liposuction with Thermage to remove the fatty tissue and tighten the skin. I feel Thermage is the gold standard for non-surgical skin tightening and when combined with liposuction can give amazing results with only social downtime. Call the office now for this Special through August.

Paying lip service means insincerely expressing agreement, allegiance or respect. Don’t confuse this with lip augmentation, as we sincerely believe it can treat your thin or flat lips.

Injectable fillers are the most common option for lip augmentation. The best fillers for lips include Juvederm and Restylane, in addition to fat transfer using your own tissue. If you want a lip enhancement with immediate results and no downtime, fillers are probably right for you.

Injectable fillers plump up the lips and give you a full and youthful look, which is an excellent enhancement for women whose lips have gotten thinner with age. We inject the filler into the lips, taking extra care to maintain their natural lines and borders. By using a numbing cream, dental block, or filler that contains lidocaine, we can make the procedure very tolerable. The results typically last 6-12 months.

Lip Implants, made with Goretex and other materials, are an alternative option that can provide more permanent results. They are placed within the lips through a small surgical incision inside the mouth.

Before and After Lip Augmentation

Lip enhancement shapes and restores volume to the cupid’s bow, inner lip, and outer mouth, while correcting pesky lipstick lines. Contact us for more details!

When it comes to a patient’s desired results from plastic surgery, sometimes, it’s not a one-procedure-fixes-all type of situation.

As we’ve discussed on this blog before, it’s not uncommon for plastic surgeons to recommend two or more procedures simultaneously. Combining procedures can save you money as well as time in recovery, and most importantly, can pay dividends when it comes to the aesthetic results of your time in the OR.

A study from the University of Verona in Italy has demonstrated the efficacy of combining rhinoplasty (a nose job) with genioplasty (chin augmentation). Researchers followed 90 patients who had both surgeries simultaneously between 2002 and 2004, and followed up with each of them over the next three years.

The results showed that 45.6 per cent of those who had chin reduction surgery had no subsequent changes in the new chin, and 52 per cent of those with chin implants showed a stable profile in the following years.

The reason researchers believe these two surgeries go well together is because the proportions of the nose, chin, and neck are all tied together; if you correct your nose, but don’t adjust your other features in conjunction, your face may look out of proportion.

Furthermore, while rhinoplasty is a more delicate surgery, chin augmentation is relatively simple, especially if we’re talking about chin implants. So in order to maximize the desired aesthetic results, and minimize the number of surgeries and the number of days in recovery, it’s beneficial to get both procedures done at once.

If you’re curious about a nose/chin combo, or a combination of any other cosmetic procedure, be sure to ask your surgeon about it during your next consultation at Aesthetic Plastic Surgery of Eugene.

We all care about how we look, to some degree or another, and dissatisfaction with a part of one’s body can be a source of lowered self-esteem and heightened anxiety for some, among other unpleasant feelings and insecurities. Some people choose to deal with these unwanted aspects of their body by turning to plastic surgery to remove, reshape, or minimize the offending blemish. But undergoing plastic surgery couldn’t clear up all these deeper issues and actually make you happier…could it?

Turns out, it actually can, according to a new study. It may seem like common sense when you look at it, but clinically speaking, surgically dealing with a part of the body that causes anxiety and insecurities can actually help to deal with those very same negative feelings.

Researchers at the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy department of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum followed the post-operative experience of 544 individuals who underwent a cosmetic surgery, and compared them to 246 people who had considered surgery but opted against it in the end, and about 1000 people who had never considered surgery.

The 544 participants who underwent surgery were not statistically any more depressed or mentally healthy compared to their non-operative counterparts. Using what’s called “Goal Attainment Scaling,” the researchers gauged the goals of all the participants using some open-ended questions, alongside ten standard goals. Only 12% specified unrealistic goals, such as “all my problems will be solved!” Most participants voiced realistic goals, such as “feeling better,” and “gaining self confidence.”

Checking in upwards to a year after their surgeries, the researchers found that, on average, those who had undergone surgery were significantly and statistically happier and felt better about themselves than their non-operative counterparts.

Having realistic goals when it comes to plastic surgery has a lot to do with overall satisfaction, as this study suggests. If you go in thinking that plastic surgery will fix all your problems and make everything better, well, you’re bound to wind up disappointed. But if you’re realistic about your goals, and a shot of Botox or taking off a few problem pounds with liposuction can help you feel better about yourself and how you look, it could be worth looking into. If you’re interested in any kind of plastic surgery, your first job is to contact your plastic surgeon for a consultation.

As we get older, our skin becomes more and more susceptible to various blemishes and imperfections, but no other blemish is so closely associated with old age than those dark splotches we call Liver spots.

“Liver spot” is a bit of a misnomer. They were once thought to be caused by liver problems, but that hypothesis has proven to be incorrect. They’re actually caused by a combination of exposure to ultraviolet light, which speeds up the production of Melanin, and the decreased ability of skin to repair itself after sun damage, hence alternative names such as “age spot” and “senile freckle.”

Genetics and plain, old aging are factors, too, and those of light-coloured skin tones are more likely to get them. But, is there anything you can do to reduce the risk of developing them?

The big thing is to avoid excess sun exposure. That’s not to say you should start avoiding the sun altogether – you’re not a vampire! But during the times of day when the sun is strongest (usually between 10:00am and 4:00pm), avoid the sun as much as possible, and wear long sleeves and hats if you must be outside during that time. Sunscreen is also highly recommended.

There are ways to combat age spots once they’ve appeared, as well. Age spots can be difficult to completely erase, but in most cases, their effects can be minimized. Treatments range from Obagi skin care products to laser treatments. For more information regarding the options available to you, contact your plastic surgeon and book a consultation.

• Photo Credit: Hand by diongillard, on Flickr

According to the 2012 plastic surgery statistics released this month, facial procedures are the new breast augmentation. More people than ever are seeking out face rejuvenating treatments, ranging from Botox, Juvederm, and face lifts. Face lifts offer more long-lasting results than its non-surgical kin, but one study suggests more people are opting for seconds when it comes to rhytidectomy.

A face lift is certainly going to last much longer than a dose of Botulinum when it comes to giving your visage a more youthful appearance, but the results can’t last forever. Eventually, you’re going to age further, genetics and gravity will take their toll, and you’ll start to see fine lines returning to that face you see in the mirror looking back at you. But according to a study by Dr. Rod J. Rohrich and colleagues at the University of Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, people who get a second facelift later in life can expect to enjoy similarly lasting results, with a low risk of complications.

The study followed 60 of Dr. Rohrich’s 800 facelift patients, those who received a second facelift, between 1990 and 2010. These patients enjoyed an average of nine years after their first facelift before returning for a second one. Of those 60 patients, ten returned for a third facelift, an average of seven and a half years between their second and third facelifts. These results suggest that patients who undergo a second facelift can realistically expect similarly-lasting results to that of their first facelift.

There was also no increased risk of complications following a secondary surgery compared to the complication rate of those who undergo their first facelift. There was likewise no notable risk of facial nerve injury following a secondary facelift, contrary to the findings of some reports.

The study concludes that secondary and even tertiary facelifts have been on the rise along with the rise of the Baby Boomer market. “With an ever-growing middle-aged population and an overall interest in facial rejuvenation at an earlier age, there has been a substantial increase in patients undergoing secondary rhytidectomy,” according to Dr. Rohrich and colleagues.

Remember – it doesn’t matter if it’s your first facelift, second, or even tenth! If you’re interested in a facelift, or any surgical procedure, your first step every time is to contact Dr. Daniel’s office for a consultation.

Also, we’d love it if you could vote for Dr. Lee Daniel as Eugene’s favorite Cosmetic Surgeon! You can vote on The Register-Guard’s website. Thank you for your continued support!

Plastic surgery, especially the minimally-invasive procedures, aren’t nearly as taboo as they were back in the early days of the field. Between the rise in popularity of minimally-invasive procedures such as Botox, high-profile celebrities flaunting fabulous results, and a general change in attitudes, it’s never been more socially acceptable to get some work done.

That said, some people may still want to keep their surgeries to themselves, be it because they’re shy, or because they worry how some people might react. The question is; should you hide your cosmetic surgery from others?

If you’re not interested in telling the whole world about your procedures, and consider plastic surgery a more private affair, there’s certainly no harm in not broadcasting it – you’re entitled to your privacy. Your coworkers and casual acquaintances generally don’t need to be privy to how you maintain your body, surgery or no. Especially if it’s a procedure they’re not likely to see the results of anyway, such as a tummy tuck. Furthermore, some surgeons specialize in more natural-looking results for the more visual procedures like a face lift. If your procedure yields highly visible results, such as a breast augmentation that adds generously to your bust size, be ready to field some questions. Otherwise, it’s really none of their business.

However, when it comes to very close friends, family, and loved ones, it’s highly recommended that you keep them in the loop, no matter how worried you may be that they’ll disapprove. The decision to undergo any procedure is a big one, and going through it unbeknownst to your support circle is only going to hurt you in the long run. Most procedures require at least some recovery time, and a spouse, friend or family member can be instrumental in helping you through that period.

If you’re concerned that a spouse or a loved one is going to be unsupportive of your choice, the most you can do is try to reassure them that you’re doing it for all the right reasons. It can also be reassuring to have them sit in on your consultation with your plastic surgeon. As an industry professional, your surgeon may be able to dispel your loved ones’ anxieties about your pending procedure.

If you peruse social media sites such as Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook in all the right places, you may come across fan pages that celebrate “the elusive gap,” also known as the thigh gap – a sliver of empty space between the upper thighs when standing upright. You’ve probably seen such a gap sported by runway models, Victoria’s Secret ads, and on countless magazine covers. There are some that are worried about an obsession over this gap among young girls has become a worrying trend.

But is there a trend? Surgically speaking, anyway? Some news outlets, such as the UK’s Daily Mail, are reporting a rise in thigh-related procedures, but ASPS president-elect Dr. Robert Murphy doesn’t see such a trend.

Dr. Murphy says that women’s interest in thighs and slimming them down, “has always been an area on concern…now it’s just getting reinvented under a new title.” Furthermore, with the 2012 statistics fresh off the press, surgical procedures often employed to contour the thighs have actually decreased in popularity. Last year saw a one per cent decrease in the number of liposuction procedures. Instead, non-invasive procedures – Botox and injectable fillers – were the types of procedures to show significant growth.

Dr. Murphy doesn’t discount the power media has over plastic surgery trends, though. “Media visibility puts something forward in a person’s mind,” said Dr. Murphy. The kind of curves and contours the most popular supermodels sport today may in fact influence what kind of surgery a patient may have on their mind when they come into a plastic surgeon’s office tomorrow. If there is to be a rise in thigh surgeries to come, only time will tell.

If you’re interested in any sort of plastic surgery, be it for your thighs, or anything else, be sure to consult your plastic surgeon to find out if that procedure’s right for you.

Also, we’d love it if you could vote for Dr. Lee Daniel as Eugene’s favorite Cosmetic Surgeon! You can vote on The Register-Guard’s website. Thank you for your continued support!

Botox is a pretty universally popular cosmetic treatment, even among those who want to try plastic surgery, yet never have. As versatile as it is, though, it’s not a cure-all for facial flaws. Some people might want fuller lips, for example, and assume Botox is good for that. Not so. Those people are confusing Botox with something else – facial fillers, such as Juvederm. These different treatments are designed to treat facial imperfections differently. Allow us to break it down for you.

Botox

Botox is a neuromuscular toxin called Botulinum that temporarily paralyzes muscles in small doses, which causes facial muscles to relax and makes wrinkles less visible. While Botox is the most recognized brand, there exist other brands of Botulinum on the market, such as Dysport and Xeomin. These medications are meant to be used on “active” facial lines, which basically means recently-formed muscles, whereas…

Fillers

Fillers are meant to tackle the deeper soft tissue, aka “firmly established wrinkles.” They’re also good for adding volume to certain facial areas, such as the lips. There are lots of different kinds of soft tissue fillers out there, so ask your surgeon about which one would be best for your desired outcome.

Consulting a plastic surgeon such as Dr. Lee Daniel really is pivotal when deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery of any kind. Try not to go in with preconceived notions about what procedure you want, and instead try and keep in mind the effect you’re after. Instead of getting what’s popular, a skilled practitioner will know what’s best for your desired outcome.