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facial fillers Atlanta GA

Nonsurgical Skin Tightening vs. Facial Filler Injections

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Our world today is flooded with ways to look younger. It’s no surprise, considering that nearly all of us have times when we look in the mirror and feel disappointed by the wrinkles we see. But these many options can feel like a burden when you’re trying to find the right one for you. To help you navigate your choices, I’ve used my experience as a double board-certified plastic surgeon to create a series of helpful blogs. You’ll find them all (and more) on my John L. LeRoy, MD Facebook page, but this latest addition helps you understand the difference between two popular treatments: nonsurgical skin tightening and facial filler injections.

 

Nonsurgical Skin Tightening vs. Facial Filler InjectionsNonsurgical Skin Tightening

Sagging and thinning skin is just a natural part of the aging process, but fortunately, there is a solution that uses a very natural process. Collagen is the main component of skin that is responsible for keeping the skin firm. Our skin has less and less collagen as we age, but we can tell the body to produce more by initiating the healing process. Nonsurgical skin tightening (specifically my Band Aid Skin Tightening) does this with radio frequency (RF) energy. We use a handpiece that glides across your skin, and it sends targeted warmth into the deep layers of the skin while keeping your surface skin cool and comfortable. When the RF energy heats the deep layers of the skin, it triggers the healing process so your body begins to produce more collagen in the treated area. After a series of five quick sessions, your body continues to build more collagen for several months, with results continuing to improve for three to six months.

Facial Fillers

Also called dermal fillers, facial fillers are injectable materials that add volume to the face. They can be used to fill in specific wrinkles, like the nasolabial folds, laugh lines, and marionette lines. Or, fillers can be used to restore youthful volume to areas that have become hollowed with aging, like the cheeks. In a very quick and convenient procedure, I’ll use a syringe to inject the Restylane®, Juvéderm®, or other filler depending on your needs. Facial fillers allow me the precision to build the evened, youthful contours of your face. The results begin to appear immediately, although the final results won’t be apparent until all the swelling and bruising has resolved (this usually happens within a week, but up to two weeks is possible). These side effects generally don’t affect your ability to go to work or do your other daily activities.

How to Choose Between Nonsurgical Skin Tightening and Facial Fillers

Both of these procedures have some of the same advantages: they’re both nonsurgical, they both help you look younger and more rested, and they both require little or no recovery time. Here are a few tips to help you choose your facial rejuvenation treatment:

  • If your primary concern is sagging skin around the jowls, you’re probably a better candidate for nonsurgical skin tightening.
  • If you want to target specific wrinkles rather than the amount of skin you have, facial fillers are likely your best option.
  • If you’re a candidate for either procedure, but you want a more immediate result, facial fillers do show results more quickly. Nonsurgical skin tightening, on the other hand, generally offers longer-lasting results.
  • These treatments aren’t mutually exclusive – they actually complement each other very well, so a combination of the two can offer great results.
  • The only way to truly know which procedure is best for you is to have an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Getting the facial rejuvenation results you want starts with two choices: finding the right procedure and finding the right provider. If you’re ready to get started toward becoming your most confident, beautiful self, schedule a facial rejuvenation consultation with me today. I would be honored to guide you along your aesthetic journey.

Ask Dr. LeRoy I Get Plenty of Sleep but My Eyes Still Look Tired. What Can I Do

Ask Dr. LeRoy: I Get Plenty of Sleep but My Eyes Still Look Tired. What Can I Do?

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When people hear the term “facial rejuvenation,” they tend to think of procedures that make patients look younger, but that isn’t all it encompasses. The category of facial rejuvenation also includes treatments that help people look more refreshed and well-rested. In fact, I often see patients who say that even when they get plenty of sleep, they always look tired. They want their appearance to reflect energy and positivity, so they’ve come to me for help, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

Ask Dr. LeRoy I Get Plenty of Sleep but My Eyes Still Look Tired. What Can I Do

Lower eyelid surgery for “puffiness” or “bags” under the eyes

Sometimes puffiness under the eyes can be temporary, caused by fluid retention, allergies, or irritation. If yours is more of a permanent fixture, however, it’s most likely caused by a shifting of the natural fat pads under your eyes. It’s common for these fat pads to move forward or lower as we age, and this can lead to some unwanted volume and “bags under the eyes,” especially when the skin has become thinner and more lax with time.

The only way to achieve a long-term and effective relief from puffiness or bags under the eyes is with lower eyelid surgery, also called lower blepharoplasty. It’s actually a rather minimally invasive procedure (especially if you’re a candidate for my in-office Band Aid Lower Blepharoplasty). Through small incisions near or within the lower lash line, the excess fat is removed and, if necessary, excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is given a lift.

Upper eyelid surgery for drooping upper eyelids

When people feel that they have droopy eyelids, the problem is not always the eyelids themselves but the skin above them and below the eyebrows. Some people naturally have extra skin in this area, but developing excess sagging skin is also a common sign of aging, so it’s amplified even more for people with naturally “hooded” eyelids. Ultimately, this extra skin can droop over the upper eyelids and make the eyes look less open (and therefore less awake and less cheerful).

Similar to lower blepharoplasty, I often perform upper eyelid surgery with my in-office minimally invasive version called Band Aid Eyelid Surgery, which uses gentle numbing rather than general anesthesia for a much shorter recovery period. During the procedure, the excess sagging skin is removed and the eyelids are given a more rested, youthful look while still remaining natural.

Facial fillers and/or Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing for dark circles under the eyes

There are a few different potential causes for dark circles under the eyes. The problem that affects people of all ages is shadowing. If your facial structure involves deep-set eyes, a protruding brow, and/or hollows under your eyes, it can shadow the area under your eyes to look darkened. For many patients, the solution to this is using facial fillers (like Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and others) to fill in the hollow area under the eyes. It’s a quick and simple procedure for an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, and the results can last anywhere from 6 months to a year depending on which filler is used.

In other patients, dark circles under the eyes can be caused by thinning skin – a common part of the aging process. In these cases, my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing uses the advanced DOT™ fractionated laser to stimulate collagen production and restore the skin to a thicker, firmer, brighter look.

No one wants to hear, “You look so tired,” or “Are you sick?” especially when they’re not. Certain natural features and signs of aging have a way of making anyone look sleep-deprived, but I’m happy to help you get back to the confident and well-rested appearance you once had. Remember, every patient is unique, so an in-person consultation is always needed to find out the best cosmetic options for your needs. To take that first step, schedule a plastic surgery or nonsurgical consultation with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy. Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, too, for more helpful cosmetic surgery tips.

How a Facelift and Non-Surgical Treatments Work Together

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There are several different levels of facial rejuvenation procedures. The mildest tend to be injectables (like Botox®, Dysport®, Restylane®, Juvéderm®, etc.), then other non-surgical treatments (such as Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing and Band Aid Skin Tightening), followed by minimally invasive surgery (including my Band Aid Mini Facelift and Band Aid Micro Mini Facelift, both of which are performed in-office with gentle numbing), and finally traditional cosmetic surgery like face lifts, eyelid surgery, and neck lifts. This allows every patient to choose a procedure or combination of procedures that best fits their unique needs.

But it’s important to recognize that this isn’t a step-by-step process. In other words, patients don’t generally start with fillers, then abandon fillers in favor of laser treatments, then stop laser treatments to get a Band Aid Mini Facelift, and so on. Instead, each cosmetic procedure has its own focus and purpose, so getting your ideal results at every stage of the aging process typically involves a combination of a few different options to treat your individual concerns. For instance, you may get consistent filler injections in your 30s and 40s, but when you begin to develop sagging skin, you might choose a Band Aid Facelift to restore a firmer, younger-looking facial structure, then simply use Botox® and/or facial fillers to treat the few remaining fine lines, wrinkles, and lost volume that will appear over the coming years.

To find out more about how multiple types of facial rejuvenation can work together, check out my video below:

As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation, my ultimate goal is to help every patient be their most confident and beautiful self, whether that involves injections, non-surgical treatments, plastic surgery, or a combination of each. To discuss your cosmetic concerns and receive a treatment recommendation, schedule a consultation with me today. Or, for more plastic surgery tips, helpful videos, and more, follow me, Dr. John L. LeRoy on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

What You Need to Know about Facial Fillers

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As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in helping my patients look as young as they feel, I certainly know the emotional value of seeing a better reflection in the mirror. But I also know that plastic surgery is not always the right choice. In fact, it takes a certain degree of aging for a person to be a candidate for even a Band Aid Mini Facelift, and many patients (understandably) want to stay looking their best throughout the entire aging process. Non-surgical facial fillers can be a quick, easy, low-cost, and low-risk way to do this at nearly any age. Check out the infographic below for everything you need to know about facial fillers.

What You Need to Know about Facial Fillers

There are many levels of facial rejuvenation treatments: injectables, non-surgical skin tightening, laser treatments, minimally invasive cosmetic surgery, and more comprehensive cosmetic surgery. The key is keeping an open mind, taking it one step at a time, and seeking the help of a board-certified plastic surgeon who truly has your best interests at heart and can guide you through your options. To get started on the road toward your most confident and beautiful self, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy. Or, for more anti-aging tips, plastic surgery information, and even savings opportunities, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.