Monthly Archives: November 2011


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IS IT THIS ONE…OR IS IT THAT ONE?

A quite frequent problem involved in the removal of small lesions such as moles, nevi and other lesions is…correct identification.  Correct identification and confirmation of the exact site for these small lesions is paramount.  But often, this is a problem when a patient is referred from a dermatologist and presents in our office.

Identification and Clinical Notes The most common way of locating and identifying the correct site is by asking the patient to identify the site in conjunction with clinic notes.  This method is used to help maximize accuracy in the ID process.  Problem is…this can backfire.

I’ve actually had a patient blow up at me when I asked them to confirm which mole the dermatologist wanted biopsied.  But there is an easy solution to this problem.

Smart Phone’s High Pixel Camera! The Smart Phone’s high pixel camera does not require additional lighting, so you can take a photo in the dermatologist’s office without hassle.  Here are the steps I recommend:

  1. Take a photo (or have someone on staff do it)…of the marked lesion.
  2. Include a frame of reference – e.g. the nose, right ear, left ear, belly button – something discernible.
  3. If the lesion is hard to find, include a ruler located by the lesion so we can measure from the landmark.
  4. This prevents hours of anguish caused from having to revisit the dermatologist and from incorrect lesion biopsy mistakes.

Be thankful for modern technology…quite amazing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Steven Davison

Should I use Fillers or…have Surgery?

I’ve been blogging about facial aging and what to do now, no matter what decade of aging you are experiencing.  Facelifts, Necklifts, Eyelid lift, Blepharoplasty, Cheek Augmentation and more have been offered as safe, effective age defying options.  But, I’m frequently asked: “Dr. Davison, should I use injectables or should I have surgery?”

Injectable fillers and Botox or Dysport have their specific benefits as does surgery.  The key to knowing which to use at a given time is knowing how they work, how effectively they’re working and when to switch from one to the other.  There are some simple guidelines as follows:

WHEN TO USE FILLERS Fillers are excellent to correct initial gauntness in the face, especially cheeks that are starting to lose volume and become hollow.  The right filler restores volume and definition while smoothing out early lines and wrinkles.  Fillers work well as long as there is no loose skin.

WHEN TO CHOOSE SURGERY Fillers can offer long lasting results, but as with all good things, the time comes when skin loses its elasticity, muscles slip and fillers can’t deal with these things.  Surgery then is the correct option to deal with loose, sagging skin and relaxed muscles.

Nothing replaces good genes which dictate how we age, however, the right surgery performed by a qualified, skilled surgeon can dramatically improve how you age.  Times have changed from women arriving at a certain age and undergoing plastic surgery.  Now, the new trend in anti aging is men and women are having facial procedures done sooner…at an earlier age to allow for more graceful, aging…naturally.

I help men and women keep their best face forward.

Let’s talk about your best face.

Dr. Davison

Your 50’s and 60’s Age Defying…Anti-Aging Plan

This decade ushers in droopy brows, volume loss in the lower facial third and deep neck bands from loose, baggy skin. These changes will be much less drastic if you started doing anti aging procedures in your 30’s or 40’s.  But, it’s never too late to start.

The goal is balance.  Each part of the face ages at a different pace. If you can address these changes, as they occur in each area…you can maintain a natural balanced look, which allows the face to continue aging as a whole.  For example:  if you focus only on the eyes and do not include the brows or upper cheeks, you will age with a disjointed look between one facial feature and another.

ANTI AGING OPTIONs – Traditional Facelift Having a facelift in your 50’s and 60’s slows facial aging so you’ll always look at least 10 years younger than you really are.  There are several facelift variations (see previous blog) but the goal is: to restore natural curvatures to your facial features while maintaining the right amount of volume in the right places.  Men and women in this season of their lives opt for facelifts when injectables and other noninvasive treatments fail to work as effectively as they once did. A facelift done at this age lasts for years and may only require minor touch ups such as excess skin removal later in the 70’s.

Blepharoplasty – Corrects hollows, under eye bags and volume loss around the under eye area and sagging, bags and deep grooves of the upper eye area as well as volume replacement.

Browlift is the option of choice when injectables fail to give the needed lift.  Browlift restores the brows back to a more elevated and natural looking, more youthful position.

Necklift removes loose skin and fat, which is always a dead giveaway to your true age. Liposuction is often used to remove excess fat deposits and help sculpt this area.  The results are long lasting and help to restore facial balance.

Many Hollywood celebrities in their 60’s look 40ish. Many admit they have had work done all through the aging process in order to stay looking younger, healthier and more vibrant.  Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon & Morgan Fairchild look fabulous…just to name 3 of the many celebs.

Fillers vs. Surgery…this is of course the most common question.  I answer in my next blog.

Helping You Keep Your Best Face Forward,

Dr. Steven Davison

Age Defying Plan for Your 40’s

My last blog introduced you to the idea of “aging across the decades.”  Aging in your 40’s is the next decade I want to cover while listing today’s age defying options for this season of aging.

First: some benefits of starting anti aging treatments early:

  • You will heal better and faster with less downtime (if any)
  • Costs could be greatly reduced by avoiding surgery (for example)
  • Aging may actually be “halted” – doing surgery early preserves the facial structure before it would normally fall…
  • Support mechanisms for muscles and tissues…by doing early intervention…you’re supporting the structure that can change the lane of aging you were genetically set up to follow! 

AREAS of FACIAL AGING in YOUR 40’s & HOW to DELAY AGING

  • Eye Brows become sparse and thin, may descend causing the upper eyelids to appear “hooded.”
  • Eyelids change as puffiness in the upper and lower lids becomes visible and lines, wrinkles and bags appear and start to settle in.

AGE DEFYING OPTION #1: Lower lid blepharoplasty to correct hollows, under eye bags and volume loss. Under eye bags and bulges are a universal problem among women in their 40’s.  It shows up as as fat in the cheeks diminishes, bags develop and the eyelids look longer.  Blepharolplasty (lower) corrects the sagging, bagginess, and deep grooves that also form.  Fat can be used (a natural, long lasting volumizer) to replace volume and reverse those signs of deficient or displaced fat. Lower blepharolplasty can be equated with replacing old beams in your house.  You are actually placing new support systems and structure to your face while reversing aging and restoring youthfulness.

OPTION #2: Mini Facelift – If you have a mini facelift in your 40’s (as many are doing today), you will experience less invasiveness and better results that will keep you looking 5, 10, 15 years younger…always!  The mini focuses on the upper or lower 1/3 of the face and employs well hidden incisions. Underlying muscles, brows and cheeks get boosted to restore youthfulness and better structure to your face.  Results typically last 12 to 15 years.  The more elastic your skin is, the longer the results hold up.

Well, I’ll give more details on the procedures later on.  Now, I just want to work through the phases of aging and offer life changing and face changing options.  This info applies to men and women of all ages and stages.  It’s never too late to start.

Helping You Keep Your Best Face Forward is What I Do!

Dr. Steven Davison

What you can do now to Defy Future Aging

Aging is inevitable and beauty at any age is possible. But if the biological effects of aging are left unchecked, as we move through the decades, damage is done that probably could have been prevented or delayed.

This series of blogs deals with facial aging… and which interventions can help us keep looking young, fresh and beautiful without surgery.

It’s very important, that regardless of what you have done and at what age, you must choose a well qualified, experienced surgeon who has mastered the complex facial anatomy and who understands that “a single procedure does NOT fix-all.”  Do not be fooled by today’s advertising…every face is different and every single procedure must be matched correctly to the individual.

CAN YOU CHANGE HOW YOU WILL AGE?   YES! Hollywood Celebrities do it everyday by starting early (30’s) and maintaining with small procedures along the way. This often negates the need for surgery (best case scenario) or at least delays it. Nothing replaces good genes (they dictate how we age), but good interventions dramatically improve how we age.

TO DELAY AGING…START IN YOUR 30’S Botox, Dysport or other fillers can eliminate the very first lines and wrinkles, under eye bags and volume loss.  Cheek Augmentation keeps hollows, wrinkles and folds from becoming as severe.   Many people have Blepharoplasty to correct early aging around the eyes and to allow for more youthful aging. Aging will still occur but will be much less noticeable and less damaging.

Next Time I’ll blog on aging in the 40’s and what age defying options we’re using today including new amazing lasers.  Keep coming back! I love helping people put their best face forward!

Dr. Steven Davison

Schedule Your Consultation With Dr. Davison

The initial consultation with your surgeon is critical! It should always be face to face with your surgeon during which time he/she listens closely to your concerns. Dr. Davison believes this time spent with you is critical to both you and to him. It is during the consultation that he comes to fully understand your concerns, evaluates them correctly and is then able to make the recommendations and develop the treatment plan thats right for you. Dr. Davison invests the time to sit down and talk to you face-to-face.

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3301 New Mexico Ave. Suite 236

Washington D.C.

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