Pearl Fusion: The Latest in Lasers

Posted on March 19, 2010 under Face

We all want flawless, youthful skin.  Unfortunately, fine lines, sunspots, and uneven skin tone plague many of us over (and under!) the age of thirty.  While many have tried lotions, potions and lasers to get their glow on, the results are often underwhelming.  In addition, the downtime that some procedures require can be too much to justify when measured against our busy lives.

At the Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we’re always on the lookout for the next best thing, but we proceed with caution when we find a “miracle cure”. After all, every beauty maven knows that if it seems to good to be true, it usually is. The latest skin saver, however, may just be that magic wand we’ve been looking for. The Pearl Fusion treatment by Cutera combines two lasers for an unrivaled result that requires very little downtime while delivering significant improvement in the texture, quality, and pigmentation of the skin.

Pearl Fusion is a marriage of two proven skincare technologies. The traditional Pearl laser addresses upper skin layer problems such as brown spots, uneven skin texture and fine wrinkles. It’s more powerful cousin, the Pearl Fractional laser, penetrates the deeper skin layers to improve more challenging conditions such as creases around the mouth and eyes. Over the long term, patients will notice continued structural improvements in their skin.

Yet the beauty of Pearl Fusion goes far beyond the peaches and cream skin that you’re left with. Think customized treatments that go only as deep as needed, minimal redness and discoloration compared to more traditional lasers, and results in less than a week. What’s more, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery is the only Plastic Surgery practice in Colorado to offer this groundbreaking treatment.

Unlike its predecessors, Pearl Fusion provides a solution for both the superficial epidermal skin layers and the deep dermal layers.  The one-of-a-kind laser treats wrinkles of different complexities, while visibly improving skin texture, pore size and brown pigment. Translation? The skin’s surface appears not only healthier and clearer, the structure of the skin actually improves for six months as the growth of new collagen occurs.  The best part? It is usually a single office visit procedure and healing takes place over 5-7 days.

Comment »

Can cosmetic surgery be too acceptable??

Posted on February 3, 2010 under Face Lift, General Plastic Surgery

So I saw an attractive 25-year-old woman yesterday who consulted me because she was convinced she wanted a facelift.  A Mini-facelift, yes, but still a facelift.  On exam, this woman had a lovely facial shape and a well-defined neck.  No massive weight loss, no skin disorders resulting in abnormal facial laxity, no turkey gobbler passed on from her father.  She just thought a small facelift would make her feel prettier.  What’s more, another plastic surgeon in Denver had already agreed to perform a facelift on her.  She was getting a second opinion from me because she liked my before and after photos online.

I explained to her that, in my opinion, she is simply not a reasonable candidate for this type of surgery.  She’s too young and too pretty, and no matter how aggressively I lifted her face, she would see results for maybe a few years.  After that, all she would have is the scars and the lost money she’d spent.  ”Couldn’t I just do it again at that time?”, she asked.  At that rate, she’d be having her fifth facelift by the time she was forty.  That’s insane.

Now I don’t think this woman has body dysmorphia, a condition I am acutely aware of during my consult days.  She has simply bought into the media’s fascination with plastic surgery, and it’s minimization of risk and recovery.  Like many people, she doesn’t appreciate that these are real operations with real risks, recovery, and side-effects.  Heidi Montag had ten procedures at once in an effort to completely change her appearance, and was being touted as a “hero” by her plastic surgeon for her bravery.  In comparison, a small facelift on a 25-year-old seems positively conservative!

I told this young woman that all elective surgery is a fine balance between the potential benefits and the predictable and potential downsides.  In her case, there was no way I could justify the procedure, and told her so.  And you know what?  She left happier than she came in.

Dr. Wolfe

Comment »

Not everything great is new, and not everything new is great-

Posted on January 25, 2010 under Body, Breast Augmentation, Face Lift, General Plastic Surgery

As I peruse the day-to-day goings on in the Plastic Surgery media world, I am constantly reminded that what makes for a “news” story is often hugely removed from my day-to-day practice.  I don’t see alot of perfection-obsessed reality TV stars.  I do see alot of 42-year-old mothers of three who want to get some semblance of attractiveness back for their abdomens, lots of women who are B cups and want to be a full C, and lots of 55-year-olds who want to look refreshed and less tired.

The procedures I perform frequently are not necessarily new, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable.  Tummy tucks, breast augmentations, facelifts large and small — these are the operations that make up the bulk of my day.  They’ve been around in various forms for a long time.  Their continued improvement is much more evolution than revolution,  and has resulted in predictable, effective operations.  Because of this, I have predictably happy patients.

And what of the latest, greatest  procedure that you saw on Oprah?  If it works, I’ll add it to my surgical armamentarium.  If it doesn’t, I won’t.  Simple, huh?

Dr. Wolfe

Comment »

New PermaLip Implant

Posted on January 15, 2010 under Face

I recently changed to using a new lip implant to fill out lips. It’s called the PermaLip made by Surgisil and the results have been fantastic. Lip augmentation surgery is not a new procedure to me or Dr. Wolfe. But we have been less than satisified with previous permanent lip augmentation options including the commonly used GoreTex implants. Until this new PermaLip implant, I was commonly recommending fillers such as Juvederm to achieve lip enhancement. Although a nice improvement can be achieved with fillers, these treatments are temporary. Over time, the cost can quickly add up, easily surpassing that of surgery for permanent lip implants. I’m excited about this new option. This week, I saw a patient of mine the day after having a mini-facelift and PermaLip implant placement and she had no lip pain, no bruising, and mild swelling. Most importantly, she had a nice increase in size, the implants are soft, don’t distort the shape of the lips, and look incredibly natural. Unlike the main lip implant option of the past, Goretex, I am thrilled to be able to offer the PermaLip implant to my patients who desire permanent lip enhancement.

Dr. Vath

Comment »

Neck Rejuvenation

Posted on December 16, 2009 under Face, Face Lift

This article is from the December issue of our Cosmetic Surgery Newsletter.

No Turkey Neck This Holiday Season

Did you know that everybody’s neck ages a bit differently? Depending on your weight fluctuation, your genes and your habits (smoking, alcohol, sun exposure, etc), you may age faster or slower than someone else the same age. Women’s skin tends to show age a bit sooner than do men’s simply because a man’s skin is a bit thicker—compare a man of 50 to a woman of 50 and you’ll see what we mean.

Some individuals are born with more laxity in the neck and jaw line areas, while others seem to age very well, with little sagging until they reach their 70’s. Some of this is due to the bones under the jaw. If you have a very well developed jaw line, such as Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, you can look good for quite some time. If you have a softer jaw line, you may notice sagging in the jaw and in the neck more than someone else with a stronger jaw. Beauty isn’t really skin deep—it’s actually bone deep. The underlying structures can make quite a difference in your aging pattern.

If you have a sagging neckline, you’ll be happy to know that dramatic results can be obtained through neck lift surgery and/or liposuction.

The benefits of the neck lift procedure

  • Removing loose sagging skin from under the chin (the dreaded turkey-neck)
  • Correcting the visible bands on the front of the neck
  • Eliminating fat from under the chin (double chin) and from the neck
  • Restoring a smooth, youthful neckline

How is a neck lift performed?

A neck lift, also called a cervical tuck, can create a dramatic change in your appearance. It’s similar to a mini-facelift, in that a neck lift involves little discomfort, requires a fairly short surgical time and is a fast recovery.

During the procedure, excess skin and fat are removed and the neck muscles are tightened. The incisions for a neck lift are placed between the face and ears and at the hairline; therefore, they will be barely visible once healed.

Our patients are delighted with their new, defined jaw line after a neck lift. When skillfully performed by experienced plastic surgeons like Dr. Vath and Dr. Wolfe, you can rest assured knowing you’ll feel and look younger! Click this link to see examples of patients who have had their face and neck rejuvenated with face and neck lift surgery by Dr. Wolfe and Dr. Vath.

Comment »