When to Have a Facelift?
July 10th, 2014
When should I have a Facelift? I get this question all the time and my answer is generally the same. Patients should consider having elective cosmetic surgery when they are particularly bothered by something. There is no magic age to have a facelift. For some women, the time is sooner than others and genetics certainly plays a role in how we age. Other factors, such as smoking and sun damage contribute to an aged appearance. All things being equal, most women consider anti-aging surgery from 45-65. Older women presenting with laxity or lots of sagging in the skin can expect the surgical correction to last a shorter length of time. The skin has less “desire” to stay in place and stretches again, much like a balloon that has been inflated over and over again.
My wife, Lindsay decided she was ready for a Facelift shortly after her 60th birthday. I felt that she was already beautiful to me, but she asked me to do the surgery. As the editor of our Nipntuck Blog, she knew all the ins and outs of having surgery and decided to share her unique perspective with Twin Cities Live. They filmed her surgery, interviewed both of us and followed her recovery. The Twin Cities Live appearance is quite a good example of why and when patients chose to have a Facelift. Lindsay was decidedly candid when talking about the reasons she was no longer happy with how her face had aged. As her surgeon/husband, her reaction to the before and after images was especially touching for me to witness. You can be the judge. The segment aired last month and in case you missed it, just click here to watch.
Photo: 4th of July 2012
Office Notes: Botox ®
June 30th, 2014
Botox ® is FDA approved for frown lines and now for crow’s feet. During injection clinics in our office, the comments I hear from new patients are, “My last Botox ® did not last as long as I would like. The Botox ® did not work as well as I had hoped.” Patients with these complaints have usually had their last injections elsewhere. Often times, the injectionist is a non-physician and sometimes an individual with little or no medical training. Only physicians administer Botox ® in our office.
Botox ® is packaged in 100 unit bottles. This “unit” measurement is determined through a physiologic assay. The Botox ® package insert recommends 20 units for the frown lines. When the full 20 units is used in this one area, the results are consistent and should last for the full 3 to 6 months. It has become common practice in salons or med-spas to inject less than 20 units of Botox ® into the frown lines. Injecting less saves money. Reducing the dosage leads to decreased effectiveness and decreased longevity, so patients must often return for “touch up” injections to get the result they desire. My advice for the increased likelihood of a obtaining a professional and lasting result, is to consider having the full dosage recommended by the manufacturer (20 units for the frown lines) and to consider having your Botox ® done by a physician.
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