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The Art of Facelift Surgery: Why Your Plastic Surgeon Matters

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Nonsurgical wrinkle treatmentsHealthcare is a field in which choosing the right provider for you is critical. If you settle for a mediocre tailor, the stakes aren’t very high, but any service that impacts your health needs to be taken seriously. Facelift surgery is no exception. In fact, as you start looking for a facelift surgeon, you’ll notice that there are widespread differences among plastic surgeons. It’s not only a question of how good they are – it’s a question of their artistic abilities too.

As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who has specialized in facelifts for 25 years, I know the world of facelift surgery intimately. To help you on your journey to finding the perfect facelift surgeon for your needs, I’m digging further into the question of what to look for in a plastic surgeon and why you need to consider medical capability and artistic strength in your search.

What Sets Plastic Surgery and Facelifts Apart from Other Surgeries

Most surgeries have a rather straightforward goal: to repair a specific part of your body internally. As long as the surgeon successfully removes your appendix or repairs your hernia, for example, the appearance of your incisions and your surgical site are generally a minor consideration.

For plastic surgeries like facelifts, on the other hand, your aesthetic is the ultimate goal for the procedure. Not only does the surgeon need to carefully reposition your underlying facial tissue to create the appearance you want, but when the surgery is finished, the incisions and other areas of your face need to look wonderful too.

Why Facelift Surgeons are Both Doctors and Artists

As you search for a facelift surgeon, it’s important to recognize that you are looking for someone who is both a physician and an artist – and this is very different from choosing another type of doctor like a general practitioner. In most specialties within the medical field, the doctor either gets it right or doesn’t. In plastic surgery, though, the outcomes are not just “correct” or “incorrect.” Your surgeon needs to understand how you want to look and be able to sculpt each contour of your face to match that vision.

This is particularly tricky because, during surgery, your surgeon isn’t able to fully see how your face will look after it has healed due to swelling. Your surgeon must be able to know how to correctly reposition your facial tissue so that it will later look natural but within your expectations. This is a skill that only comes from years of specialized training and extensive experience.

What to Look for in a Facelift Surgeon

If you are considering a facelift, it may seem overwhelming trying to find a surgeon who has strong medical skills as well as an artistic sense that matches the results you want. As you explore the facelift surgeons in your area, be sure to look for these criteria:

  • Specialized experience: You want a surgeon who specializes in facelifts so you can be sure they are a true expert in shaping the facial contours within the confines of your facial structure.
  • Board certification: Be sure to choose a surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, because this indicates that they have years of training specifically in plastic surgery and that their skills have been assessed and deemed to be satisfactory. It’s important to note that any doctor can market themselves as a cosmetic surgeon whether or not they have any training in cosmetic procedures.
  • Before and after photos you love: Remember that facelift surgery is partially an art form, and you need to make sure this artist has a similar aesthetic taste to yours.

Finding the Right Facelift Surgeon for You

Getting a facelift is a very personal journey because it is a path toward restoring your confidence in yourself. That journey starts with finding a surgeon who has the skills and experience to give you outstanding results and, just as importantly, a surgeon who makes you feel comfortable with them. To find out if I may be the right fit for your facelift, schedule a facelift consultation at my Atlanta office today. Follow me as well on Facebook for more plastic surgery updates and tips.

Nonsurgical Wrinkle Treatments or a Mini Facelift: Which One is Best for You?

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Nonsurgical wrinkle treatmentsEveryone has their own ideas of beauty, and plastic surgery is all about helping patients tweak their appearance so it better aligns with their idea of beauty. For most people, part of their beauty standard is to look as youthful and energized as they feel. It’s no surprise, then, that so many patients come to my office to find out the best way to rejuvenate their appearance.

If you want to look younger, there are many potential ways to reach that goal. Two popular paths are to use nonsurgical wrinkle treatments or to have a mini facelift like my Band Aid Mini Facelift. How do you know which one of these is the right choice for you? As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation, I’m relaying my insights about these two options and tips about how to determine which one is best for you.

Benefits of Nonsurgical Wrinkle Treatments

There are actually several types of nonsurgical treatments designed to reduce wrinkles and help you look younger. The three I offer are neuromodulator injections like Botox® and Dysport®, facial filler injections like Restylane® and Juvederm®, and laser treatments like my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing.

Each of these procedures has its own unique purposes. Botox® and Dysport® specifically target wrinkles in the upper face caused by repeated facial expressions, like crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead creases. Facial fillers are better for wrinkles that come from a loss in skin volume as you age, like smile lines (also called nasolabial folds), vertical lines above the upper lip, and others. Finally, Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing addresses fine lines and wrinkles while also reducing sun damage such as age spots, improving skin texture, rebuilding collagen, and offering mild skin tightening.

Benefits of a Band Aid Mini Facelift

A mini facelift like my Band Aid Mini Facelift is a less invasive version of the traditional facelift. Using advanced techniques, I’m able to remove excess sagging skin and reposition facial tissue in a more youthful yet natural-looking way, all using gentle numbing in my medical office. You’re awake and comfortable for the entire procedure, avoiding the added recovery time that comes from general anesthesia.

A Band Aid Mini Facelift offers the precise and artful facial rejuvenation that can only come from a surgery by a skilled board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation. At the same time, it keeps your post-surgical downtime to a minimum, so most patients can go back to work in half the time it would take to recover from a traditional facelift.

How Do You Know if You’re a Fit for Nonsurgical Wrinkle Treatments or a Mini Facelift?

If you aren’t sure whether nonsurgical wrinkle treatments or a Band Aid Mini Facelift is the best way to rejuvenate your look, the short answer is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. I’ll be able to discuss your goals, examine your facial aging, and recommend the best option to make your vision a reality. However, there are a few tips that can help you anticipate which path may be best for you:

  • If your primary concern is sagging skin, a mini facelift is probably the best fit. Non-surgical treatments are designed for wrinkles and age spots instead. Note that both of these treatments can be used at shorter intervals to maintain a youthful look, rather than having larger procedures decades apart.
  • A mini facelift focuses more on your facial structure, such as the shape and positioning of your skin and the underlying fat. Nonsurgical treatments focus more on surface-level signs of aging, like age spots and wrinkles.
  • If you are in the earlier stages of aging, you are more likely to be a better fit for non-surgical treatments because you have likely not aged enough to have significant sagging skin.

No matter where you are in your aging process or what your cosmetic goals may be, I’m here to help. Schedule a facial rejuvenation consultation with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy, to discuss the best way to get the results you want. Be sure to also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for more cosmetic tips.

 

Five Ways to Improve Your Band Aid Mini Facelift Results

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Combining Facial Liposuction with a Facelift

After your Band Aid Mini Facelift procedure, the way you spend your recovery period can greatly impact the quality of your final results. It’s tempting to relax your care routine and healthy habits as soon as your procedure is over, but following post-procedure instructions is essential for a healthy and effective plastic surgery healing process. To help keep you informed, I have laid out five common guidelines you should follow in order to enjoy the best results and smoothest recovery after your surgery.

#1: Drink Clear Liquids

In the 24 hours after surgery, it is important that you only drink clear liquids excluding clear alcohols and clear sodas. Staying hydrated will help aid your body in the recovery process. Even after the 24 hours are up, it is still highly recommended that you stick to drinking water and avoid beverages that could dehydrate you such as coffee, alcohol or soda.

#2: Limit Sun Exposure

Sun exposure can hinder your results and potentially harm your skin while you are recovering. It is best to stay indoors for your entire recovery period. However, if you have to go outside, you should keep your time outdoors brief and wear protective coverings such as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect yourself.

#3: Adjust Your Sleeping Position

The position you sleep in every night can greatly affect your healing process. Because your angle can impact your incisions and swelling, I recommend that you keep your head above your heart at all times and sleep at a 30- to 45-degree angle every night. To help you maintain your position, you can try sleeping in a comfortable reclining chair or buying a wedge pillow to use in bed.

#4: Avoid Vigorous Exercise

During your Band Aid Mini Facelift recovery period, you should aim to do as little physical activity as possible other than gently walking around every few hours to maintain healthy circulation. Constant movement or strain can cause an increase in swelling and lead to possible complications. It is best to avoid strenuous exercise altogether and slowly begin to ease yourself back into your workout routine based on your plastic surgeon’s recommendations.

#5: Avoid Wearing Makeup

Applying makeup during the recovery period is highly discouraged because it can interfere with your face’s healing process. These products can irritate the skin and possibly infect your incisions. You should wait a minimum of 10 days before using any type of makeup product.

You should always aim to follow post-procedure instructions and take your recovery process seriously. To learn more about the facelift recovery process or my wide range of Band Aid procedures, schedule a consultation with me, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John L. LeRoy in Atlanta today. Additionally, make sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for more plastic and cosmetic surgery insights.

Is Liposuction or Non-Surgical Fat Reduction Better for the Neck and Chin?

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If you are unsatisfied with the appearance of your neck and chin and are interested in removing the excess fat in that area, you might be considering either liposuction or non-surgical fat reduction as possible solutions. While these procedures are similar to each other, there are a number of differences that can help you determine which one is right for you. I, Dr. John L. LeRoy, have extensive experience with fat reduction and removal and want to share my recommendations with those considering treatment.

Since liposuction involves physically removing fat, I can treat whatever I can see. That means I can effectively remove the majority of the fat tissue in one session, which eliminates the need for multiple treatments. This procedure also isn’t as invasive as you might think. With my signature Band Aid Liposuction treatment, I can perform the procedure in-office using gentle numbing. After treatment, patients are typically able to recover quickly and can even drive themselves home if they choose not to have conscious sedation.

Non-surgical fat reduction is a bit different because it either warms or cools fat cells in order to remove them. That means that only about 30% of fat is removed per session. Additionally, this fat loss occurs overtime as the body naturally eliminates fat cells. This requires patients to return to the office for multiple treatments and also results in them waiting longer to notice their results.

Check out the video below to learn more about the ways liposuction and non-surgical fat reduction differ from one another.

Because the success of fat removal depends on the elasticity of your skin, I highly recommend scheduling a consultation to discuss the best course of action for your individual concerns. To schedule an appointment, contact me, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John L. LeRoy in Atlanta today. Also, follow me on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for more insights about my plastic and cosmetic surgical procedures.

How Much Younger Will I Look After My Band Aid Mini Facelift?

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The main purpose of my signature Band Aid Mini Facelift is to minimize the appearance of aging and to give the face a more youthful look. Because of this, one of the most frequent questions I hear from patients is just how much younger should they expect to look. My short answer is that they will look between eight to ten years younger, however, my long answer is a bit more detailed.

It’s important to note that the Band Aid Mini Facelift is a cosmetic procedure and not a reconstructive, plastic surgery. Because of this, patients should expect that the signs of aging will be reduced, but the overall way that the patient looks will stay the same. In other words, you should expect to look like a younger version of yourself.

Check out the video below to learn in more detail about how much younger the Band Aid Mini Facelift can help you look.

To learn more about what my Band Aid Mini Facelift procedure can do for your appearance, contact me, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John L. LeRoy in Atlanta today. Also, give me a follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for more insights about my plastic and cosmetic surgical procedures.

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