When do you need a secondary facelift? How long does a facelift last? What is a tuliplift?

Facelifts are a very popular form of plastic surgery for men and women. Facelifts involve the cutting of the skin around the ears, and utilizing these incision points to tighten and reduce skin and fat in the face. Although facelifts can make dramatic improvements in a persons appearance – and make that person look years younger – facelifts do not last forever. Prior to getting a first or secondary facelift surgery, a person should understand what is involved in these procedures.

Most people who decide to get a facelift are between the age of 40 and 70 years old. Patients must be in good health and it is recommended that they do not smoke for timeframe before and after surgery. Non-smokers are ideal. There are varying types of facelifts, some of which are designed to do small difference; others are designed to create a large difference throughout the face. The basic idea of a facelift is not to make a first look like a different person; rather it is designed to make a person look younger. The effect of large-scale facelifts can be dramatic.

In addition to the actual facelift, many people get other procedures done at the same time. Some of these procedures, such as laser resurfacing, are designed to improve the appearance of the skin. Others, such as eyelid lifts and neck lifts, are also designed to help reduce wrinkles and make a person look younger.

What to Expect With a Facelift

There are several things a person should expect when getting a face lift. A facelift is a major surgery that will require recovery time and can be very painful and uncomfortable. When a patient goes to get the facelift he or she will either receive local anesthetic and a sedative or general anesthetic. A patient will not be able to do much for a couple of days after the surgery so it is a good idea to have someone available to help.

After the surgery full recovery can take months, although most people are able to return to work in 1 to 4 weeks. Most patients feel significantly better after a few days. Many doctors ask (and may even require) that the patient not smoke for a time period before and after the surgery. This is because smoking can actually impede the healing process to a frightening degree. smoking can also cause excess scarring, which is very bad for recovery from a facelift surgery.

What are the Risks Involved with a Secondary Facelift Surgery?

Because the effect of the facelift conceived in five to 10 years, many individuals who have had facelifts in the past are considering getting a secondary facelift surgery. The risks involved with the secondary facelift surgery are not significantly greater than those involved with a first facelift.

Nine out of ten women would boost bust size with ‘boob jabs’

resource:  STV Living

Bust boost: Many women would like to ehance their breasts.

A survey has found that a massive 89 per cent of women would opt to have a ‘boob jab’ injection in a bid to increase their bra size.

The non-surgical procedure helps women to enhance their busts without having to go under the knife, and can sometimes give a more natural look than breast implants.

The interesting figures were released before the launch of the cosmetic surgery TV chat show, MyFaceMyBody,  based on a survey of 523 people in Manchester and London during February this year.
And results showed women aren’t the only ones keen on boosting bra sizes, with nearly a quarter of men admitting they actually prefer real breasts to ‘fake' enhanced ones. A third of women also admitted that their partner or spouse would be happy to stump up the cash to get bigger breasts for them.

But it seems that many are worried about the repercussions of actually going under the knife, with 63 per cent of women saying their main concern of having a boob job is that their breasts would look fake, making the boob jab a more favorable option for many - despite well-publicized concerns about injections in the breast area. Almost half of the women surveyed also believed, incorrectly, that implants can burst at high altitudes.

Face Lift – The Liquid Face Lift is a Hot Trend in Plastic Surgery

 Facial Plastic Surgery


When you think of a face lift, you probably think of scalpels and incisions. But, what if you had a less invasive option that did not require surgery? If that is the sticking point between you and a more youthful lifted countenance, then the solution just might be the revolutionary liquid face lift which is a quite popular alternative to the traditional surgical method.

The solution is a poly-L-lactic acid that is offering similar results for men and women who have lost volume therefore have sagging skin, deep lines and wrinkles and sunken hollowed eyes.

Here’s the low-down on this innovative filler and how it works to put off surgery:

First of all, this solution to facial rejuvenation is low risk. The poly-L-lactic acid is biocompatible so there is no risk of allergic reaction and it is safely reabsorbed into the body over time. And, because it is not a surgical procedure, all the risks that go along with, plastic surgery facial, surgery are eliminated. You can go in on a long lunch hour and have this procedure and be ready to go immediately.

The liquid face lift works because the solution is a dense gel. It is injected into the areas where aging or sickness has caused a loss of volume in the face and fills out the area. It can also be injected into the lines, wrinkles to plump the up and smooth them out.

One of the great benefits of this treatment is that your results will continue to improve over the next few months following the injections. This is because the liquid lift not only adds immediate volume, but it also stimulates the production of collagen which is responsible for the tone and tightness of your skin.

There are other fillers that can be used to improve facial volume, but the poly-L-lactic acid treatment lasts for up to two years whereas other treatments require more frequent maintenance. It can also be combined with other injectable treatments to obtain optimal results.

Of course, if your situation is so severe that you truly need skin removed, the traditional surgical lift may be the best option. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your face and tell you what the best option is for the results you want.

If you are interested in pursuing this no-invasive method of tightening and plumping, be sure to find the right professional to give you the treatment. A plastic surgeon is the only person who should be using injectables and you should make sure he is board certified and trained in this particular treatment.
While it is a safe procedure, you could still get bad results like over-fill or asymmetry if an inexperienced person does it. You can have a youthful and fresh face without surgery, so what are you waiting for!

Beauty Innovations Stop Grays with a Pill Melt Fat with a Laser Oprah.com

Ten years ago, we were just starting to hear buzz about Botox. Lasers seemed totally sci-fi. And you probably didn't think you'd soon be using clear plastic strips to bleach your teeth at home. So what innovations will the next decade bring? Will you be tightening your skin with a wand? Not quite. But you may be erasing lines with a topical gel, or slimming your love handles in one afternoon, without a single incision. We canvassed dermatologists, plastic surgeons, dentists, and chemists about what's ahead, and found that the future is looking bright—and very beautiful.

More Effective Sun Protection

The sun does a number on your skin: dark spots, wrinkles...not to mention potential cancers. The best protection against all of this damage is sunscreen. And it will soon be more powerful. In the next several years, the FDA will likely approve a proposal requiring sunscreen bottles to carry an SPF value (which denotes protection only from UVB rays) and a designation of its UVA protection level. "The new rules will ensure that sunscreen manufacturers are providing adequate protection from UVA rays," says Steven Wang, MD, director of dermatologic surgery and dermatology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Once the proposed guidelines go into effect, the FDA will also likely green-light Tinosorb, a sunscreen ingredient that absorbs a wide spectrum of UVA and UVB rays and is currently approved in Europe and South America.

A Slimmer Waistline, Trimmer Hips—No Surgery Necessary

It sounds too good to be true, but it may soon be a reality: Many dermatologists and plastic surgeons are confident that in the coming years they'll be able to eliminate unwanted fat painlessly, without the invasiveness and risks of liposuction. One new technology uses high-intensity focused ultrasound waves to penetrate the skin and break up the fat cells that lie about three-quarters of an inch beneath the surface. Once these cells are destroyed, they are eliminated from the body (some are metabolized as calories and the rest are processed through the liver as waste, along with normal dietary fats). A machine that has harnessed this technology, UltraShape, is currently cleared for use in 57 countries, and its manufacturer is pursuing FDA approval. The UltraShape treatments are said to be relatively painless—"just a slight tingly sensation," says Canadian dermatologist Mark Lupin, MD. Three treatments, spaced two weeks apart, are usually required, with noticeable results seen within a month after each. "On average, patients ultimately see about a two-inch reduction in circumference in the treated area," Lupin says. "And we've seen as much as three inches."

Another new body-contouring option is Zeltiq, a machine that uses intense cold to destroy fat cells (which are more vulnerable to freezing temperatures than surrounding tissue). Like the ultrasound treatment, Zeltiq requires no needles, incisions, anesthesia, or recovery time. It's already FDA approved to cool the skin during other dermatologic procedures, and some doctors are starting to use it off-label to reduce fat. "These technologies are still in the early stages, but they will be perfected over the next decade and we will finally have the ability to eliminate fat without surgery," says Sadick. Big caveat: UltraShape and Zeltiq are not designed to remove large volumes of fat; doctors stress that the machines are most effective on areas of "localized fat," like love handles or back bulges.

Prettier Skin, Without a Doctor's Visit

The past year has given us some effective at-home laser hair-removal options (we've seen impressive results from the Silk'n SensEpil, $499, and the Tria Laser Hair Removal System, $595)—but hair-free legs are just the beginning. "In the not too distant future, lasers and intense pulsed light machines that remove pigment, soften lines, and treat acne will be sitting on bathroom counters next to our toothbrushes," says Tina Alster, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. First up: An at-home skin-resurfacing laser will be available for purchase in doctors' offices next year. The device pinpoints small areas of skin with every treatment to gradually improve discoloration and fine lines.

Fuller, Firmer Skin

In 2020 dermatologists probably won't be plumping up fine lines with the injectable hyaluronic acid gels they use today. A few doctors are already using a patient's own blood to create a protein-rich solution that is injected into the skin to fill wrinkles and stimulate collagen production. It's just a hint of what's to come: "In a few years, we'll actually be able to use a patient's own skin tissue as the basis for a custom-tailored filler that will ideally last longer—with no possibility of allergy or rejection," says Ranella Hirsch, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Boston University School of Medicine.

Fewer Grays, No Dye

Researchers are in hot pursuit of a "cure" for gray hair—and they're getting closer. A study published last year showed that gray is caused by hydrogen peroxide and other cell-damaging molecules that build up as we age, bleaching color from the hair. The absence of an enzyme called catalase allows these molecules to accumulate, but EXT Life Sciences, a Michigan-based biotechnology company, believes it has found a chemical compound that can restore catalase and thus return hair to its original color. The company is working to incorporate the ingredient into leave-in conditioners and serums, says cofounder Stanley Terlecky, PhD, professor of pharmacology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. And across the Atlantic, L'Oréal's Paris-based hair biology research group recently identified a pair of genes that may determine the longevity of the cells that give hair its color. L'Oréal scientists are hard at work developing a treatment (either a pill or a topical formula) to block the progressive decline in these color-giving cells and stop—or at least slow—the graying process, says group director Bruno Bernard, PhD.

The Beauty of Stem Cells

A stem cell is an exquisitely blank slate—it has the potential to become a nerve, a muscle, a retina. Or...breast tissue, a hair follicle, elastin. Now that researchers are beginning to tap into these cells' programmable potential—to treat cancer, paralysis, cardiac disease (see page 152 for more on the cells' promise in rebuilding damaged hearts)—the science will inevitably make its way into the cosmetics industry. (Remember, Botox was first developed to treat muscle spasms of the eye, and the hyaluronic acid in facial fillers was used for lubricating joints.) Stem cells could potentially create new collagen, grow new hair, and restore skin color in people with pigmentation disorders, says David Goldberg, MD, director of laser research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Stunning prospects, aren't they?

Thicker Hair

There are currently several over-the-counter handheld lasers marketed for hair growth (one, the HairMax, is FDA approved). But scientists are working on more powerful ways to thicken hair with light. "Soon you may be able to go to the dermatologist and sit under a hood of red-light-emitting diodes that boost hair growth," says Neil Sadick, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Cornell Medical Center. "The lights increase blood flow to stimulate the follicles."

Hair transplants will also evolve. Today's versions require surgically removing hair from an area of the scalp where growth is dense and transferring it to thinning patches—a technique that's often not feasible for women, who usually experience allover thinning. In the next decade, however, doctors hope to be able to take just one hair follicle and use it to grow your hair in a lab. That hair could then be used to fill out thinning areas—without compromising thickness elsewhere.

A Smoother Brow—Minus the Needles

Doctors will soon be able to rub out fine lines—literally. A new gel that contains botulinum toxin type A penetrates the skin topically to smooth wrinkles. The gel is applied, left on for 30 minutes, then wiped off. "As with injectable Botox, you'll notice lines smoothing after a few days; results last at least three months," says Fredric Brandt, MD, who has conducted early studies on the product. Revance Therapeutics, the biopharmaceutical company behind the drug, hopes it will be FDA approved for use on crow's-feet (it could then be applied "off-label" to other areas of the face) and available in doctors' offices by early 2013.

A Brighter Smile, Faster

"In ten years, I think in-office teeth-whitening will take five to ten minutes, not 45," says Jeff Golub-Evans, DDS. Peroxide will remain the active ingredient in the process, but chemical systems now in development will help it penetrate more quickly. This advance should make at-home teeth-whitening faster, too. And if your teeth are crooked, gapped, or badly stained, getting veneers should be a far simpler process within the next five years, say Marc Lowenberg, DDS. Using camera imaging, dentists will be able to make porcelain veneers right in their offices—and they'll be so thin, they'll require hardly any filing of the natural tooth. Plus, since the veneers will be produced by machine—not by hand as they are now—they'll cost about half as much ($500 to $1,250 per tooth).

resource:  http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Beauty-Innovations-That-Will-Happen-in-the-Next-Decade/4

7 New Trends in Cosmetic Surgery

COSMEDICA'S BLOG

The wizards of beauty are working their magic, whipping up longer-lasting wrinkle fillers, fine-tuning Botox and liposuction treatments — even debuting silicone butt implants. ‘Sculptors’ Fine-Tune Botox, Fillers, Fat-Suctioning Devices

The wizards of beauty are working their magic, whipping up longer-lasting wrinkle fillers, fine-tuning Botox and liposuction treatments — even debuting silicone butt implants. That’s right, butt implants. “The public seems to want this,” James Wells, MD, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, tells WebMD. He is on the clinical faculty of the University of California at Irvine and a private practice plastic surgeon in Long Beach.
Butt Implants. It’s a cultural phenomenon that’s moving northward. “Buttock implants are very popular in South America, where Brazilian women want to have very round, curvaceous buttocks,” Wells tells WebMD. “Breasts are big here, but in Brazil, it’s buttocks.” The implants have a more “solid” covering than breast implants because they must sustain weight, he says. “There’s been an increasing interest from the public, so surgeons want to know more about them.”

Breasts Deliver Drugs. Who knew? Silicone breast implants, because they are covered by permeable membranes, can be drug carriers — in fact, they can act as timed-release drug carriers. Researchers are looking to include a drug in the implant that can reduce the scar that occurs around the implanted breast. “There’s an early suggestion that the drug might help,” Wells says.

Believe in Botox. Male or female, almost everyone wants a younger-looking face. “There are job retention issues,” says Wells. “We see men in their 40s and 50s knowing they need to compete with others in their 20s,and 30s. You and I both hear stories of people with equal talents, but the person who looks better gets the nod. Appearance is a big issue.”

“Botox has probably been the greatest product in the last 20 years,” says Seth A. Yellin, MD, chief of facial plastic surgery at Emory Healthcare. “It has an incredible safety profile — still in my opinion the single thing I would take on a desert island to make people look better.”

First used to treat crow’s feet and eyebrow creases, Botox is making inroads all over the face of America. One popular use: Injecting Botox to soften lines around the mouth — “the ones that make you look angry, even when you’re not. [But] it takes an experienced plastic surgeon to get it right,” he says.

Aesthetic surgeons are perfecting their technique, sharing secrets. If not done right, there’s “risk of losing oral function — you don’t want to do that,” Yellin adds.

Better Than Collagen. A product called Restylane (or Perlane) — very popular around the world as a filler for both wrinkles and lines — acts much like collagen, yet is longer-lasting. However, it is not yet FDA-approved, says Wells.

“We’re interested in facilitating its introduction into the American market,” he tells WebMD. “It seems to be easier to use than collagen and has longer staying power. Most tissue fillers, even the person’s own fat, have an uncertain lifespan. The information we have on [Restylane] looks very exciting. We can’t wait to get it through the FDA and use it in this country.”

Restylane is made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the skin — one that draws water to itself and allows the skin to remain hydrated, explains Yellin. Though created in the laboratory, the injectable form is longer lasting than any other wrinkle fillers — perhaps lasting up to one year. There also are virtually no allergic reactions to Restylane.
“The FDA should be approving it in the second quarter of next year,” he tells WebMD.

Combo Package. Whereas Botox can smooth the wrinkled lines in your face, it often takes fillers to completely get rid of them. “If you have a well-formed crease, Botox will soften it, but it won’t make the well-formed crease disappear,” says Yellin. “Fillers complement Botox. Laser resurfacing can also complement Botox.”

Other wrinkle fillers are in the works, he says. One company is working on a product made from human foreskin. Yellin is developing one made from the placenta, which is normally discarded after delivery.
His theory: Cells extracted from the placenta can be injected into the skin, where they might stimulate cells to grow their own collagen. Normally, human collagen — when injected — does not live long because it does not have a blood supply. “This will have its own blood supply, so it will live,” he tells WebMD. It’s only in the laboratory phase, though, so don’t get too excited.

Speedy Healers. After a face-lift, fibrin glues and tissue sealants help seal wounds quicker, control bleeding and bruising, and reduce swelling — which hasten healing, Wells tells WebMD.

Fibrin glue is another product that mimics nature: “Your body makes a tissue glue in response to an injury,” Wells explains. “When you fall down and scrape your knee, the weeping that creates the scab is fibrin glue. When you have a facelift — or wherever we introduce injury — the body’s process is to leak this material out.”

“I use fibrin glue as a routine part of facial aesthetic procedures, have been doing so for over a year,” says Yellin. The product can be squirted into an area or sprayed — like spray paint, he says. “It’s supposed to seal up any little capillaries, reduce bruising. But it won’t reduce significant bruises.”

Souped-Up Liposuction. New, high-powered suction devices are especially good for the fibrous areas of the male breast, the flank, the love-handle area — or for people who are having their second procedure. Because the device has more power, there is less bruising, says Wells. The machine also allows the surgeon to shape or contour the area more easily.

Liposuction devices that are ultrasound-guided are a bit riskier and less effective, “because they don’t go around curves and bends very easily,” Wells adds. “Also, heat [from the device] can cause some injury to tissue.”

Three-dimensional imaging is a new technology that’s enhancing all plastic surgery procedures, says Wells. “It increases the depth perception of everything we do. Anytime we can use technology to get a sense of thickness or depth, it allows us to make better judgments.”

The Peels. These treatments for sun-damaged skin are practically old news, they’re so popular. Microdermabrasian involves removing the superficial layers in a nonsurgical way to let the undamaged layers come up. These skin layers look healthier; it’s the difference between a younger person and an older person — the thickness of the skin, the turnover rate of the cells, and they’re better hydrated. It’s a series and process of treatments rather than one.

Chemical peels accomplish the same thing, but are a bit more “aggressive” treatment, says Wells.

Just Say No. Not that peels, fillers, and endless suctioning are always the answer, he adds.

Today’s plastic surgeons are taking a more holistic approach to patient care, he tells WebMD. “We can approach a patient’s problems as a surgical exercise, or take a broader perspective regarding the patient’s overall health — dietary habits, smoking, heart disease. Physicians have to think of themselves as physicians first and plastic surgeons second.”

“The plastic surgeon has a responsibility to apply judgment, to tell a patient when it’s not a good idea to have surgery, to suggest alternatives if their unhealthy lifestyle puts them at risk,” he tells WebMD.