Posted on August 3, 2010 in Body, Face, Fat Injections, Latest News, Liposuction
Many people lose their youthful appearance due to a natural aging process called deflation, which is the loss of fat and volume in the face. It robs many people of their youthful appearance. But there is a safe and natural way to reverse deflation: by transferring fat from one part of the body, and injecting it into another part.
Fat transfer is a safe and natural approach among cosmetic procedures and body sculpting treatments that provides dramatic results for improving the effects of deflation—such as sunken temples, hollow cheeks, deep frown and smile lines, thinner lips, and a smaller chin—using fat removed from your own body. The procedure is also referred to as micro-lipoinjection, fat injection, or facial fat rejuvenation.
It is a relatively simple, safe, in-office procedure in which fat is removed from the patient’s buttocks, abdomen, or thighs and is injected into the face or hands. Skin depressions, such as acne or trauma scars, can also be improved.
The Fat Transfer procedure requires only a local anesthesia, which is applied to both the donor and the recipient sites. Fat is extracted from your body using a small sterile syringe and light suction to avoid damage to the fat cell membrane. The Fat Transfer is complete when the body fat is re-injected under your skin to fill or plump the desired areas. No stitches are required.
The Fat Transfer injection procedure takes about one hour to one and a half hours to remove the fat, purify it, and safely inject the fat into the desired area. Sometimes a second or third fat injection is needed, depending on each person. Patients can usually return to work the next day.
Posted on June 24, 2010 in Face, Latest News, Skin Care
For all of you who have noticed that more women than men seem to be plagued by wrinkles around the mouth, we finally know why. And at the Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery we’d like to share the information.
A recent study published in the November/December 2009 issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal reports that gender-specific differences in the skin that surrounds the mouth account for more and deeper skin wrinkling in females than males. The aim of the study, according to its lead author, was to obtain new insight into the observation that women wrinkle earlier and more severely than men. Understanding the reasons for these differences might lead to better ways to treat this common sign of aging in women.
The study found several factors contributing to this phenomenon: women’s perioral skin contains fewer sweat glands and fewer sebaceous glands (microscopic glands in the skin that secrete sebum, a substance that lubricates the skin) which could influence the natural filling of the skin. Women’s perioral skin also contains fewer blood vessels then men’s, which could accelerate the formation of wrinkles. And finally, in women, the closer attachment of the muscular fibers surrounding the orifice of the mouth to the skin may cause an inward traction promoting deeper wrinkles.
At Paramus, New Jersey’s Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, we’re continually investigating new treatments to combat the signs of aging, not only in women, but in men as well. Only when these treatments have a proven track record of efficacy will we introduce them into our northern New Jersey practice. Our current non-invasive procedures for these types of wrinkles include Botox ®, injectable facial fillers such as Restylane®, Radiesse®, Juvéderm™, as well as procedures such as dermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser skin resurfacing.
Posted on June 9, 2010 in Botox, Face, Latest News, Non Surgical Procedures
Many teens undergo treatment with Botox to prevent wrinkles down the road. One widely quoted teen who had her first Botox injection at age 15, said she did it because she didn’t want to look “haggard and ugly” by the time she was 25. It’s definitely time for a reality check: Botox is not a preventative treatment but a corrective one. Both parents and teens need to recognize this.
In addition to the fact that most of these teens are getting Botox injections with misguided expectations, there’s a big problem with their obsession for looking better than everyone else, and peer pressure. As more teens undergo these treatments, they think it’s the cool thing to do, and they feel they have to do it in order to fit in. These teens don’t have wrinkle issues – they have low self esteem – and Botox is not going to solve their problem in the long run.”
There is a place for plastic surgery for young people in certain circumstances. Botox injections for wrinkles in most young people is unwarranted and potentially dangerous.
Posted on May 24, 2010 in Face, Latisse, Skin Care
All our procedures, services and products at the
Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, carry a “safety first” philosophy. We counsel
Latisse patients that they should not use it if they have been diagnosed with or are taking medication for eye pressure problems, or have glaucoma risk factors. If they are taking prescription eye pressure lowering products or have a history of such problems, they can still use Latisse, in some instances, but only under close monitoring by a doctor. We instruct patients on how to properly use Latisse. Once you stop using Latisse your eyelashes will revert to their former appearance over a period of several weeks to months.
I can’t stress how important it is to obtain your Latisse by prescription from a recognized center for cosmetic enhancement such as ours. According to a recent New York Times article, web sites are now selling Latisse as well as some salons with few or no questions asked of purchasers. As with any of our procedures and products, we fully discuss possible risks, complications, and cautions with our patients prior to them moving forward. Should any problems or concerns arise, we are always here to help.
For further information about how you can benefit from Latisse, please contact our Practice Manager, Ann Carbone.
Posted on May 5, 2010 in Botox, Face, Non Surgical Procedures, Rhinoplasty
Injectables have become quite the rage lately – and not just for getting rid of wrinkles. A growing number of my patients are asking about injectables to fix their imperfect noses. They have their plusses, but are only appropriate for certain flaws.
Non-surgical nose jobs use a number of different types of injectables, including Botox and Restylane, to help reduce minimal irregularities in the nose. Some of the injectables have only a temporary effect, while others will last longer. That’s good in case the patient doesn’t like the outcome. The downside is that injectables have to be repeated to maintain the desired effect. In some cases, they will last for only a few months, and that can be costly and inconvenient. (more)
Injectables are great to “test drive” a new look. They can help fix a low wide bridge, or an over-prominent tip of the nose; they can also help smooth out bumps in some patients. But Injectables will not straighten out a crooked nose, nor will they lift a droopy tip, and most important for some patients, they will not resolve any breathing or snoring problems.
Rhinoplasties – or nose jobs — will remain the gold standard of fixing many noses until researches come up with injectables that are more permanent. In our offices, we have made many advances in rhinoplasties, and can often correct some flaws by simply adding or removing just a little bit of cartilage. We don’t always recommend a full rhinoplasty anymore. We look at the problem, and do what we can to create a nose that makes the whole face look better.
Posted on February 11, 2010 in Face, Facelift
General Information about Facelifts (Rhytidectomy)
Everyone ages at a different rate and has different feelings about the aging process. Although a facelift doesn’t stop the aging process, it may help a woman whose face looks prematurely old. In our youth-centered culture, it may also be important to slow down the aging process as much as possible for professional or personal reasons. Since all surgeries have inherent risks, however, it is important that you choose to have a facelift because you believe it will improve the quality of your life. You should never undergo the risks of surgery to satisfy someone else’s image of who you ought to be.
Having Realistic Expectations
If you are thinking of getting a facelift, consider the following questions: Are you healthy? Do you smoke? (If yes, you need to stop smoking first.) Are you generally a happy person with a positive, upbeat viewpoint? Would non-surgical rejuvenation techniques postpone or eliminate the need for actual surgery? How would you be able to deal with it if more surgeries became necessary? Since a facelift is temporary, are you at peace with that?
Facelift Types
The official name for a facelift is a rhytidectomy. The goal of a facelift is to help you look younger by removing fat and wrinkles from your face and neck. Sometimes a facelift is done in conjunction with a brow lift and eyelid surgery as well.
During a traditional facelift, the surgeon makes incisions on the edges of both sides of your face, starting at the temple and ending below and behind the ear. The surgeon works under the skin to tighten muscles and sculpt or remove fat. The surgeon removes extra skin, repositions the remaining skin, and closes the incisions with sutures or glue.
During a limited incision facelift, the incisions are shorter and start a little lower on the face. The surgeon might make additional incisions at the lower eyelids and below the upper lip.
During a neck lift, the surgeon begins the cut in front of the ear lobe and ends the cut behind the ear. This allows the surgeon to get to the fat and loose skin under the chin and on the neck.
Posted on February 10, 2010 in Face, Facelift
There is no question that there has been great progress in minimally invasive and non-surgical procedures to help you look younger. But if you’ve developed jowls and a double chin, and your face is lined with deep creases, the time may be right for a full facelift.
Non-surgical rejuvenation treatments certainly have an important role: they may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate. They may also complement the results of surgery at some point. But these treatments cannot achieve the same results as a facelift.
First: a caveat. A facelift is NOT right for everyone. The first and perhaps most important criteria is a realistic attitude. A facelift will not change your fundamental appearance, nor will it stop aging altogether, although techniques we’ve perfected may last more than a decade.
The ideal candidate for a facelift has good facial skin elasticity, is in good physical health, is psychologically stable and a non-smoker.
At the Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, a facelift is a highly individualized procedure. Essentially, it consists of lifting skin away from the fat and muscle underneath it. Excess fat is removed, and the tissue and skin is re-secured. For some people, a facelift may also involve a combination of procedures to help erase that double chin, for example, or eliminate the bags under your eyes. Every person is different, and we work with them – and computer programs — to make sure that they know what to expect once they are fully healed.
We also take the time to help ensure that the facelift you are considering is being done for the right reason: for yourself – not to make a partner appreciate you more or to fit an idealized vision of what you should look like.
Getting a facelift will smooth out wrinkles, remove fine lines around your eyes, correct that saggy chin – results you will see in the mirror each day. If your facial features don’t reflect the energy and spirit you feel, a facelift may be the right move to turn back the hands of time and feel better about yourself.
Posted on December 6, 2009 in Face, Facelift
You may be among the scores of plastic surgery patients accustomed to compliments about your “ageless” countenance. If the acclaims have stopped and you’ve noticed facial sagging and a flabbier neck, maybe it’s time for a redo.
With improved surgical techniques, a properly performed facelift can last longer than a decade. At the Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Paramus, NJ, we routinely perform primary and secondary facelifts.
Reasons for a do-over are as diverse as the personalities of the patients who request them. But at our Paramus, NJ Center, many of our patients cite two reasons most often. The first is obvious. Time marches on, and after years of enjoyment, age has caught up with the initial benefits of the procedure. The other reason is that the patient was never happy with the original results.
Some plastic surgeons perform the same procedure in the same manner on every patient, not taking into account the physical uniqueness of each face. Others may not properly evaluate the underlying musculature, working with it to provide a longer lasting result. And still others may simply tighten the face and thin the neck to give a less natural, “wind swept” look. With over 20 years of experience in plastic surgery and general surgery (we are board certified in both), we’ve developed an artistic eye that allows us to customize each patient’s facelift.
At the Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, we counsel patients that undergoing a facelift is not the final step in their facial rejuvenation. That’s why we include post-surgical lymphatic drainage massages in the procedure’s cost. Our skincare department can develop a home care program thoughtfully built around medical grade skincare products that will hasten your recovery and keep the compliments coming for years to come.
Posted on November 23, 2009 in Brow Lift, Face
Brow lifts are becoming extremely popular procedures – especially among patients between the ages of 40 and 70. After all, those unwanted furrows and deep creases are among the first signs of aging – and for most people, erasing them can be a fairly simple procedure. Now – there may be a double benefit.
A new study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), found that these procedures don’t only have a cosmetic purpose: they may also help cure migraine headaches, permanently.
The study was based on the concept that migraines are caused when a person’s trigeminal nerve branches are irritated. When the muscles around these branches are incapacitated, the headaches stop, which is why some patients find relief from the “freezing” effect of Botox treatments, and could find permanent relief in an endoscopic forehead lift.
At our practice, brow lifts are performed while the patient is sedated with the help of local anesthesia.
The ultimate result is a dramatically more youthful, energized appearance. Brow lifts can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures like a facelift or eyelid surgery to provide total face rejuvenation.
Although most patients electing to have brow lift procedures are over 40, candidates may also include younger people who suffer form aging signs, such as drooping eyebrows. Typically, bandages from a conventional forehead lift may be removed within two days of surgery. Full recovery can be in as little as two weeks.
Is a brow lift right for you? Schedule a consultation by contacting Anne Carbone at the Robert Zubowski, M.D. Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 201-261-7550.
Posted on July 3, 2009 in Face, Rhinoplasty
Whether you chose to change something about your eyes, your breasts or your tummy, any plastic surgery can help you gain confidence and improve self esteem. But there’s one procedure above all the others, says Dr. Zubowski, that can truly have life-altering affects—and that’s rhinoplasty.
“The nose is the central part of the face,” explains the Cleveland Clinic-trained doctor who is also board certified in both plastic and general surgery. “If there are any deformities to it, people can become very self-conscious and that definitely impacts one’s life. I see it all the time in our ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures. The ‘before’ picture oftentimes looks like a mug shot or a driver’s license photo. But in the ‘after’ photo, I usually see someone smiling and self confident. In that one photo, you can really see the change in self esteem. It’s a surgery that can very significantly influence one’s life.
“I take a lot of time with my patients discussing with them their expectations and showing them what the surgery will do,” continues Dr. Zubowski. “The nose can be a particularly tricky area to work on. Although a patient may be unhappy with it, it’s something that gives her an identity, so she doesn’t want it changed too drastically. In the past, I found that people would tear a picture out of a magazine and say they wanted this or that celebrity’s nose. But now my patients want their nose, only better. That’s the kind of medical success I strive to give all the people I operate on—artistic results that correct problems yet still look natural.”
For more information on Paramus New Jersey Rhinoplasty please contact us at The Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Paramus, New Jersey at 201-261-7550.
