Fat Grafting: Rejuvenation
May 31st, 2012
Photo: Here I am with Dr. Cohen and his original artwork. I recently attended a small workshop with Dr. Steven Cohen to discuss the beneficial effects of fat grafting. The meeting was held at Dr. Cohen’s La Jolla office, where he shared results of fat grafting based on personal experience with his patients. It is now well-established that fat injections placed beneath skin can lead to dramatic improvement. Skin damaged by radiation therapy is particularly responsive to this treatment. Careful injection of autologous (your own) liposuctioned fat beneath the radiated skin can lead to dramatic healing and improvement in skin quality. Dr. Sydney Coleman of New York was the first to notice that facial skin overlying fat injected areas resulted in a more youthful appearance. This is likely as a result of the presence of large numbers of undifferentiated cells, which are naturally found in fat.
I believe that this technique promises to make substantial changes in the area of anti-aging procedures and the treatment of damaged skin. The use of fat grafting, as a soft-tissue filler, shows promising regenerative effects on both aged and damaged skin. The injected fat stimulates tissue repair and recreates a more youthful and supple appearance to the skin. As a matter of fact, I am doing a fat injection procedure this morning that is specifically designed for facial rejuvenation. Injection rejuvenation and other applications for similar procedures presents innovation for the cosmetic surgery wave of the future.
Fixing Pesky Lip Winkles
May 23rd, 2012
Lip wrinkles or sometimes referred to as “smokers lines,†are the lines that radiate out from the lip margin. They can be the result of aging, sun exposure, smoking, and /or genetics. They often may make a person look older. Women generally dislike them because their lipstick runs into the wrinkles, giving a pronounced pursed look. Skin resurfacing may reduce these wrinkles, but this procedure frequently carries a possible downside. Invariably there is bleaching of the skin, which more often than not requires make-up to conceal.
Fortunately there are other choices to reduce lip lines. Injectable materials have made a dramatic contribution in the area of treating these wrinkles. Filler materials are currently the first line of defense. Products like Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane are a few of the ever-increasing number of dermal filler type materials on the market today. They are injected under the skin and actually fill in the lines. These newer products are based on a hyaluronic acid formulation, a natural component of your normal skin. Interestingly, when lip lines become apparent, there is frequently a loss of lip size or fullness at the same time. Not only can the lines be corrected, but the lips can be restored to more youthful size and shape, as well.
It is important to seek qualified professional advice when considering these procedures. Most cosmetic surgeons do not charge for patient consultations. Here are some links for locations near you. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and Dermatology Clinic Directory.
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