Category: Beautiful Skin Complexion

Even though the weather is still not as “Spring like” as we would prefer it to be…the warm weather season is upon us with Summer close behind.

Many people are getting their swimming pools ready for those end of school parties, family reunions, church socials and nightly family cookouts when the neighbors come over for “potluck” meals.  It’s a great time of the year for socialization and relaxation.  But…getting in a swimming pool involves wearing a swim suit and patients are booking appointments now in order to get their bodies back into “swimsuit” shape.

Men and women are coming in for my “Bikini Body Liposuction Body Sculpting.”  Liposuction gets rid of undesirable curves, lumps and rolls and puts desirable curves where they are wanted!  You have to act on this now in order to be ready for all the summer fun to come.

Is liposuction right for you? Whether it’s genetics or aging, some of those stubborn fat pouches just won’t come off with diet and exercise. If you are in healthy condition, liposuction can help sculpt and smooth them away. This procedure isn’t intended to be a complete body transformation surgery, but it is safer and more effective than ever if you’re in the right hands.

Liposuction for large and small areas… Advances in technology, specialized tools, and my expert techniques allow me to target large or very small localized areas with more precision and less trauma than with older techniques that still may be used by other surgeons.  Liposuction can be used to remove fat from the:
– tummy
– breasts & underarms
– hips & thighs
– buttocks
– back – love handles
– face – chin, under eye
– neck – rings

Liposuction is an ideal compliment to other body contouring procedures, such as a Butt Augmentation, Thigh Lift, and Tummy Tuck. Any of these could be part of a much desired Mommy Makeover to restore your body after all the changes that take place through childbearing and Daddy DoOvers to get back into shape and look the way you want to….because you want to!

MEN ARE IN … Today’s men are coming in for routine anti aging treatment options and “DoOvers” for career (job security), because they are all in on health maintenance and feeling/ looking great is part of that. They come in because they want to. They like the idea of “Youthful Aging.” 

HUSBANDS AND WIVES ARE IN TOGETHER …because they want to stay healthier, more active and looking good – they schedule appointments together for anti aging and age reversing treatments.  They have chosen Youthful Aging – to stay looking younger, longer.”

Start preparing your body now for Bikini Season.  Banish those stubborn bulges with advanced liposuction/liposculpture.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Cosmetic Surgeon

Visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Injectable Fillers are the number one cosmetic procedure performed in the US today. You may see them advertised as Liquid FaceLifts, Fillers FaceLifts or a title coined by a surgeon including his name. No matter, they all have a few things in common:
– they are non surgical
– no downtime is required
– they promise a more youthful appearance – absent lines and wrinkles
– they are injected under the skin to plump up and re-contour sagging skin

BOTOX – of course is a name everyone recognizes today and it is the most well known of all the fillers. It is the lead product with many uses of its own but is also used in combination with other fillers for more desirable, long lasting results.

A Brief Primer on Fillers:

JUVEDERM – is made from hyaluronic acid. HA (for short) is a natural body substance that attracts and retains 1,000 times its own weight in moisture. When injected under the skin it also binds with collagen and elastin thus transporting essential nutrients to the treatment area while plumping up and recontouring. It is not derived from animal sources.
Juvederm is effective in treating moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles.

RESTYLANE – is also made from hyaluronic acid (HA) and works well to correct moderate lines and wrinkles. It’s commonly used with Botox to enhance your desired results.

PERLANE – comes from the makers of Restylane but is a modified option using larger gel particles that are more effective in filling those deeper folds by increasing facial volume. Perlane is a top choice for “lip augmentation.”
SCULPTRA – was formulated specifically as a treatment option for facial lipoatrophy. Lipoatrophy is a condition that causes sunken cheeks, indentations and hollow eyes. Sculptra is poly-L-lactic acid and does not migrate or causes damage to surrounding tissues. Visible results from Sculptra injections appear gradually over a few months and from three to five treatments are needed for these results.

AUTOLOGOUS FAT – is one of my favorite filler options. This method uses your own body fat to treat lines, wrinkles, fat loss etc. in many body areas. Because we are using your own natural body fat – the risk of reaction and/or rejection is rare. It is reabsorbed by the body over time, so repeat treatments are needed for maintenance…but over time the body rallies and self corrects to make treatments longer lasting and more effective. Results also look so natural.
Are you ready to “put your best face forward” going into this Spring and Summer. Get started now to look refreshed, rested and more youthful.

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Cosmetic Surgeon

Spring is a time for “refreshment and renewal.”  Many women choose filler cheek lifts this time of year

to look and feel refreshed from a long winter by restoring the lost facial volume winter often causes, and to be ready to put their more youthful,  best face forward…subtly.

FILLER Mid – FACELIFTS fill in those cheeks that hollowed out during a long, cold winter causing the mid face to sag.  With a few precisely placed injections, hollows are filled, lines and wrinkles disappear and cheeks are lifted to that “more youthful” position.

CAUSES OF VOLUME LOSS:

1. One of the main causes of volume loss is ultraviolet ray damage to the cells that create collagen, a protein that is crucial to keeping skin full, firm, and youthful.
2. Also, as we age, we lose fat in the face. Fat usually isn’t thought of as our friend, but really is necessary for keeping the “cushion” in your face. Fat is important for youthful contouring around eyes, cheeks, and chin/jawline.
3. Up and down weight loss stretches the ligaments that hold up the facial tissue and can result in loss of elasticity and volume.
4. Hormonal changes affect facial volume. As estrogen levels fall, so does the amount and quality of facial fat.

FILLERS for FACIAL VOLUME LOSS:
A great way to restore facial face is with Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers. HA is a naturally occurring substance in the body that binds with water in the injected site…to plump up the area. It is great for filling in sunken facial areas experiencing volume loss, as well as wrinkles. Realize though, that all fillers aren’t the same in their viscosity and smoothness, and therefore work better when injected in different areas of the face.

FOUR PROBLEMATIC FACIAL AREAS:

EYE AREA : Drooping eyebrows, sagging under eyes and hollow temples all cause a worn down, aged eye area. Solution: RESTYLANE, JUVEDERM, VOLUMA etc. can all help fill in sunken tear troughs, crow’s feet, and hollowed temples.

MIDFACE:

Among the first areas where volume loss is noticed – as flattened, hollow cheeks, or marionette lines.

Solution: JUVEDERM VOLUMA – smooth flowing hyaluronic acid gel  is the most effective for contouring the midface. By restoring fullness to the midface (cheeks) the surrounding skin is tightened, giving a slight mini facelift.

MOUTH AREA/LIPS: Marionette lines, lip creases, and overall thinning of lips resulting from volume loss. Solution: JUVEDERM and RESTYLANE in the hands of an experienced injector like myself can smooth out lines and give you the perfect pout.

CHIN and JAWLINE: When volume decreases in the mid face and moves downward, the jowls become more prominent creating a more square shaped face rather than the desirable inverted triangle. Solution: RADIESSE can help reshape and restore volume.

What are your Spring Time concerns:  sagging, hollow face, Deflated cheeks, chin without definition or other any other “body area” rejuvenation concerns.  I can help.  Let’s talk!  See my website for complete procedure information: www.DAVinciPlasticSurgery.com.

Enjoy the beauty and renewal of Spring.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

One of the hardest situations in the plastic surgery industry is to have a patient’s results not go as expected. This may or may not be the fault of the physician, but the best results are directly correlated to the most credentialed, experienced surgeon. This is why it is crucial to only trust your face and body to an experienced, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon…someone like myself.
In my area, I’m the only triple Board certified plastic surgeon, a member of multiple prestigious medical societies, and a published professor at Georgetown University. Along with my many years of experience, compassion and patient care, these credentials have led to my ability to provide a very high level of patient satisfaction. As a result, I’m often called upon to correct the concerns that arise from unsatisfactory surgeries, at the hands of other physicians, and the unforeseen side effects that happen from improper healing.

For example, an occasional unwelcome side effect after beast augmentation surgery is Capsular Contracture. This occurs when the scar tissue that has formed around breast implants tightens and hardens around the implants to create an imbalanced external appearance. This means that the affected breast will look a different shape or be at a different height on the chest. While meticulous surgical precision can help prevent capsular contracture, as with any surgical procedure there will be scar tissue and there are factors outside of the physician’s control.
Here are some tips that can contribute to avoiding Capsular Contracture:

…Avoid smoking is one of the most predictable ways to reduce your chances, as you’re twice as likely to have Capsular contracture if you smoke.
…Two weeks prior to surgery, start taking Vitamin E and possibly Prednisone, a prescription corticosteroid drug.
…Breast implants in a submuscular position, or under the pectoral muscles, may be less likely to develop capsular contracture than when breast implants are placed in a subglandular position, or over the pectoral muscles.
…There’s a slightly higher percent of Capsular Contracture with silicone implants over saline.
…Upon the instruction of surgeon, massaging and compression of the breast implants can help keep the capsule flexible and loose.

Capsular contracture may develop at any time, but can occur as early as 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, and usually not later than 6 months. It can affect just one or both breasts. Fortunately, it can be corrected with Revision Breast Surgery.  There is a special art and skill to correct Capsular Contracture… because of the difficulty of working with scar tissue. It’s a puzzle figuring out what possibly went wrong and then to skillfully correct it.

Revision Breast Surgery to correct Capsular Contracture can involve a variety of ways for releasing the interior scar tissue. These ways may include capsulotomies, capsulectomies, implant exchange or placement behind the pectoral muscle. A Capsulotomy is a surgical procedure that releases scar tissue without removing it from the pocket. This gives room for the breast pocket to expand, relieving the scar tissue contraction that is squeezing the breast implant. A Capsulectomy is a more aggressive approach, as it completely removes the scar tissue surrounding a breast implant. This procedure is more often used when the scar tissue is very thick and calcified or when a silicone breast implant has ruptured.

If you’ve experienced the disappointment of your breast augmentation not going right and want to trust your body to one of the leading plastic surgeons to correct it, please set up a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Using my “quick squeeze” method means my patients lipomas are gone in about 30 seconds.

This is the time of year, with Spring upon us…well here anyway…people are thinking about summer vacations, school events, family reunions, corporate events and more.  For many women, this involves wearing sleeveless and or low cut tops, shorts and swim wear and elegant evening wear…and more relaxes open collar or collarless shirts and shorts for men. These styles, while comfortable and casual are often more revealing and can show off unwelcome defects on the body.

For most people these events are fun and looked forward to.  But, for people with lipomas…not so!

What are Lipomas?  Lipomas come in various shapes and sizes – they are soft tissue tumors that can pop up anywhere on the body.  Even though most are not painful, they can be if they are pressing on a nerve.  For most people they represent an inconvenient, unsightly lump, bump that is not cancerous but you don’t want it on your body!

Get Those Lumps and Bumps Checked Out!

Typical Signs of Lipomas:

• have a lump that is soft to touch and moveable (as opposed to a hard, stationary cyst)
• feel no pain or discomfort within the lump (although it can be pressing on a nerve to cause discomfort)
• are an adult between 40 to 60 years of age (it’s possible for children and young adults to have lipomas, although not as common)
• feel the mass is very large (lipomas can grow to 6 centimeters in diameter)

Plastic Surgeons are specially trained to deal with Lipomas surgically. I have for years.  But now, with my “quick squeeze removal method” – surgery is avoided more often than not – and leaves little to no scarring.

Typical Treatments for Lipomas:

1) endoscope assisted removal:

2) suction assisted removal,

3) minimal incision removal and

4) remote incision lipoma extraction.

These all work and have been used by surgeons for decades to remove lipomas of all types.  But, some of these techniques are tedious and require extra equipment (even though they are advanced treatments).

I helped pioneer a very simple, safe and effective method that involves a simple incision and a “quick squeeze” to remove lipomas without all the extra instruments used in other methods.

Quick Overview of Quick Squeeze Lipoma Removal:

1) the lipoma is identified by palpation and its margins are outlined.

2) The area is then infiltrated with local anesthesia and is prepared and draped in standard fashion.

3) An incision approximately one quarter to one third the diameter of the lipoma is made (carried down to the lipoma capsule).

4) The lipoma is then squeezed out through the incision…without any additional dissection.

Lipomas and Keloids should be treated only by medical experts, such as myself to avoid excess scarring and unnecessary discomfort.  See my website: www.DavinciPlasticSurgery.com for complete information.  Then come in and lets talk about the treatment best suited to your concerns.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified

Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

When you look at yourself in the mirror do you see dark circles, deep hollows, and tired looking eyes? If your hectic schedule puts extra stress on you and it’s showing, you can refresh one of the most underestimated areas of the face… to restore some youthfulness to your features: the tear troughs.

What are Tear Troughs?
The tear trough is the area under the eye that extends from the inner corner of the eye, arching down in a semicircle. The technical term is the nasojugal groove. When the tear troughs are sunken, they can cast shadows under the eyes that look like dark circles. This gives the face a worn out appearance. This sunkenness also ages the face by creating a visible separation from (this should be the smooth transition) the lower eyelid to the cheek.

What Causes Tear Troughs?
The skin under the eyes is very thin and delicate. It shows signs of distress more easily than thicker skin. It is also more prone to the aging effects of gravity. The tissue laxity and volume loss under the eyes, as we age, leads to the tear trough becoming more prominent. Also, as fat gets displaced from behind the eye, or possibly increases and bulges under the eye, this can accentuate the aging of the eye area.

How can the under eye be rejuvenated?
Try
get more rest
cut down on salty foods
minimize exposure to environmental pollutants

avoid rubbing your eyes so much

Options I offer to rejuvenate the eye area:
Rejuvenate with HA – Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
There are surgical options to reversing tear troughs, but more people prefer to try non invasive treatments first. This has led to the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, such as Restylane, Juvéderm. When injected on top of the orbital bone, the HA filler attracts water to restore volume. This gives the eyes a fresh, rested appearance – usually the next day after treatment. Results last 6 months to a year, and most people go right back to their daily routine with no downtime or recovery.

Side Effects? Some minor bruising or swelling is common with most injections. This can easily be lessened with an ice pack, and covered by Iredale mineral makeup.

Rejuvenate with HA – Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
There are surgical options to reversing tear troughs, but more people prefer to try non invasive treatments first. This has led to the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, such as Restylane, Juvéderm. When injected on top of the orbital bone, the HA filler attracts water to restore volume. This gives the eyes a fresh, rested appearance – usually the next day after treatment. Results last 6 months to a year, and most people go right back to their daily routine with no downtime or recovery.

Side Effects? Some minor bruising or swelling is common with most injections. This can easily be lessened with an ice pack, and covered by Iredale mineral makeup.

Subtle Solutions for Significant Youthfulness
Filling the Tear Trough is becoming more common as more patients are realizing that facial rejuvenation can happen from restoring volume loss in subtle areas such as the earlobes, temples, chin, melolabial folds and tear troughs.  One can definitely see a more rested, fresh, and youthful appearance for the whole face by applying HA fillers to rejuvenate the area under the eyes.
Ready to get your face refreshed for Spring. Call today to schedule a consultation to review your options now. Treatment now means you will be getting “rave reviews” from everyone you meet. Be ready for year end school event, work/career conventions, family reunions and more. They will all wonder…but no one will ever know…except you!

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified/Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

We are truly partners in your anti aging goals. While I can provide wonderful youth restoring results with plastic surgery and injectables, you need to take measures to protect and preserve your skin. Taking care of your skin will help you to have the best and longest lasting results from your procedures. Proper skin care strengthens the skin and slows down the signs of aging in between treatments.

Here are a few of the ways to maintain healthy skin:

• don’t smoke
• manage stress
• drink lots of water
• always use sunscreen
• eat healthful, antioxidant rich foods
• use high quality, science based skincare every day

PROTECTING SKIN WITH SKINCARE
It is crucial to take care of your skin in between treatments. With all of the environmental threats to your skin, you need to use some of the most cutting edge, scientifically based skin care to help protect and preserve your skin. SkinMedica is the brand I recommend and offer through my office.

WHY SKINMEDICA?
Advanced formulas with decades of scientific research and proven results behind them.
Many formulas contain the unique, patented complexes:
*APS Corrective Complex – a patented mixture of antioxidants, peptides and other innovative ingredients that synergistically improve the overall appearance of skin.
*TNS Recovery Complex – formulated from naturally occurring growth factors, antioxidants, soluble collagen, cytokines and matrix proteins (93.6% concentration.

*Does not conduct product testing on animals.*

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS
With all the skincare products on the market, it can be hard to know what you need. Who better to help you than a physician like myself? If I’ve performed any procedure on you, we’ve had a consultation. Because of this, I have a knowledge of your health, your anti aging goals and the condition of your skin, therefore I can make a “tailored” recommendation just for you.

These are some of my favorite SkinMedica products:

1. TNS Essential Serum … offers multi functional performance to lighten, tighten, and brighten skin. This all in one formula has clinical studies that demonstrate improvements to the appearance of skin tone, texture, coloration, fine lines and wrinkles. It combines SkinMedica’s renowned growth factor formula, TNS Recovery Complex and APS Corrective Complex.
2. TNS Eye Repair … provides both prevention and improvement to wrinkles and puffiness around the eyes. This product contains TNS, chelating agents, light diffusers, as well as vitamins C and E.
3.  Rejuvenative Moisturizer … hydrates and improves fine lines. It protects against free radical damage and keeps skin soft and supple with Hyaluronic Acid, vitamins C, E, and Retinyl Palmitate.

4.  Retinol Complex 0.5% … deep wrinkle treatment regenerates skin to diminish the appearance of fine lines. Retinol should be a part of most everyone’s skincare routine.
5. Lytera … addresses pigmentation, redness and dull skin. Look for a brighter more even skin tone in 4 weeks.
6. Vitamin C&E Complex … offers powerful protection against free radical damage and helps improve skin tone.
To learn more about which SkinMedica products would be best for you, schedule a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

February is known as the “Month of Love” with thoughts of pink hearts, chocolates, wine, flowers and… sweet kisses…but the weather this time of year can be rough on your lips. Harsh cold, windy and dry climate can make lips very uncomfortable. Whether you received a Davinci Plastic certificate for Valentine’s day or not, one of the easiest, fastest ways reverse the signs of aging is to choose kissable, full lips. Get those luscious lips by taking extra care of them and giving them that sexy boost of fullness with JUVÉDERM®. Here are some ideas for keeping your lips kissable for Valentine’s Day and through the rest of the winter weather.

Exfoliate

Dry lips can crack and get flakey. This is not only makes for a self conscious kisser, but can be very uncomfortable. A simple homemade honey sugar scrub can gently remove the rough skin. At the beginning of your lip repairing regimen, every night gently rub the mix on your lips then rinse. Once the damage is under control, this can be used once or twice a week for maintenance.

Here’s why you should use sugar as the exfoliator:

• It has rounder granules that are more gentle.
• Sugar is less drying than salt.
• It contains a natural form of glycolic acid, which is alpha hydroxy acid to help smooth the fresh new skin once the rough top layer is removed.

Restore and Protect

After exfoliating, you may still need to repair or reinforce the health of your lips. You do this many ways:

• Rest a green tea bag on your lips to revitalize your skin. Steep the bag in hot water, squeeze out the extra water, let it cool a little and then hold the warm bag against your lips for about three to five minutes. The high antioxidant levels in green tea make it a great choice.
• Use a vitamin enriched moisturizer on your lips. Moisturizers aren’t just for the rest of the body, they’re good for all skin. The essential vitamins A, B and E can help you retain moisture in your lips. As an alternative you can directly apply vitamin E to sore, cracked lips, but even though it has great healing power, be warned that it doesn’t taste or smell great. Alternatively, both almond and coconut oil can help moisturize your skin and they have a pleasant taste and smell.
• Staying hydrated is one of the best ongoing ways to restore and maintain the health of all your skin, including your lips. Pale and dry lips are often a tell tale sign of not drinking enough water.
• Protect your lips from sun and wind burn with an SPF and wind guarding clothes like a scarf. This can help maintain the daily preparations you’ve made to make sure you have soft, smooth lips.

Fill

Along with the environment, age can take its toll on your lips. Everyone wants full, plush, kissable lips. Fortunately, I can help with that part of the lip rejuvenation. JUVÉDERM® is an injectable filler that can replenish the fullness of your youthful lips or even add volume you’ve always wanted but never had. With an expert eye for lip proportion and facial balance, we can help give you gorgeous lips for sexy, confident kissers.

Let us help you love your kissable lips during this “Month of Love.” Contact our office by calling 202.966.9590 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your appointment today.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

With Valentine’s Day one week away, gift shopping is in full swing. But if you want to get one of the most desired gifts, you don’t need to brave the malls. Simply come in to DaVinci Plastic Surgery to get a gift certificate for your ‘someone special’ because surveys say that 78 percent of women would “be impressed” if they received this for Valentine’s Day gift. And what are they most likely to get? Most certificates are in the price range that is perfect for Botox or dermal fillers.

BOTOX® Cosmetic over chocolates and flowers…

There are certain women who’d be offended by the gift, but you can be sure that your lady would love the gift if she’s:

• Already a regular user of injectables
• Has asked for treatments as gifts for other holidays
• Had one treatment of BOTOX® Cosmetic or filler and expressed happiness with the results
• Ever mentioned that she’s considered getting injectable treatment to address her aging concerns.

Why women want injectables as gifts…

Injectables such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, JUVÉDERM®, JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC, Sculptra® Aesthetic, and RADIESSE® can directly affect the confidence and satisfaction one has with their looks. This goes much further than that designer purse or shoes. Every time they look in the mirror they’ll see the rejuvenated face and think of you in appreciation.

Which injectables to choose…

There is a benefit to giving a gift certificate since it eliminates the guess work as to which treatment to choose. Your Valentine’s sweetheart can select from a variety of the safe, effective treatments to address the area that she wants most. Here are some common choices:

• BOTOX® Cosmetic is perfect to smooth out those two vertical lines between the brows, crow’s feet around the eyes, smoker’s lines above the lips, nose furrows, and thick lines in the neck. In a quick treatment session of about 10 minutes, there is a noticeable improvement that increases for optimal results within 7 to 14 days post treatment. These relaxed lines will last for several months.
• JUVÉDERM® is a smooth hyaluronic acid filler to instantly smooth out those lines on the side of your nose and mouth.  This is also a popular treatment used to create luscious lips. Juvederm’s natural looking results can last up to a year.
• JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC is the only FDA-approved filler to instantly add volume to the cheek area. By replacing lost volume, JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC creates a non surgical mini facelift that can rejuvenate the midface and lessen marionette lines around the mouth. Results can last up to two years.
• Sculptra® Aesthetic is the only facial injectable with gradual, subtle results that can last two years or longer. It adds youthful volume to the face while stimulating collagen renewal.
• RADIESSE® is a semi-permanent filler that uses unique, calcium-based microspheres to create scaffolding for your own collagen to grown around. Long after the RADIESSE® breaks down, the collagen it encouraged will help keep your face more youthful longer.

Take the guesswork out of Valentine’s Day gift giving and get something that your sweetheart would love…a certificate to choose their rejuvenation treatment at DaVinci Plastic Surgery. Contact our office today by calling 202.966.9590 to schedule your consultation, or fill out our online contact form for more information.

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Cold, dry winter weather can really cause irritation, discomfort and can age the skin if proper care isn’t taken. You invest in your skin with cosmetic surgery and non invasive procedures, so it is important to take extra care of your skin, when the weather is extreme, to help those age defying effects last. Here are some tips to help you keep your skin healthy and feeling great.

Conserve Moisture

There are many habits that can strip out the moisture from your skin. This dryness can be painful, itchy and contributes to skin-aging by stripping moisture. So you need to work on replenishing this lost moisture using a few simple steps to do so.

First…some habits to avoid – some to do:

• Taking hot showers or baths removes the natural lubrication and oil on the skin. Although a hot shower always feel good after coming in from the cold, try to keep it short or not too hot.
• Using cleansers and toners, containing harsh ingredients, strips your skin of natural oil. Real sudsy cleansers usually have a surfactant like sodium laurel sulfate and the acetone in many toners can be too harsh along with already dry conditions. Use mild cream or gel cleansers and toner with no alcohol this time of year.
• Sipping hot coffee and tea is so comforting when it’s cold out, but beware the dehydrating effects they can have. – Most people only think to drink lots of water when they’re sweating and hot, but cold, windy air can be just as dehydrating for your skin. So, drink lots of pure water everyday!

Moisture Reinforcement

Not only do you need to be on the defensive when it comes to protecting your skin (during the winter) by not participating in certain drying habits, but you need to be on the offense to add the extra help it needs this time of year. Here are some ways to add moisture reinforcement for your skin:

• Running the heat in a home strips the air of any moisture, so you can counter this by adding a little water vapor back to your home’s air with a humidifier.
• Diligently use moisturizer morning and night. Never miss moisturizing your face and hands since they’re exposed to the elements the most, but don’t neglect the rest of your body.
• Exfoliate gently to remove the dull dead skin that builds up, but don’t forget that you must moisturize that fresh new skin to keep it healthy and glowing.
• Continue using sunscreen. Snow can actually reflect up to 80 percent UV rays. As skiers and snow sports enthusiasts know, you can skill get a sunburn in the winter.
• Eat foods that encourage your skin to retain and build healthy moisture, such as those rich in essential fatty acids like salmon and other “healthy fats” found in avocados and coconut oil.

I hope these tips help you save your skin this winter. We also offer medical grade, physician prescribed skincare SkinMedica®, which effectively addresses many skin issues and is essential for healthy skin maintenance. Contact our office to schedule your consultation. Call us at 202.966.9590, or fill out our online contact form for more information.

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

The past year was filled with nude lips and scaled back lashes. The no make up look reigned supreme in 2015. But makeup lovers will be excited for 2016, as the trends have changed and the nude make up look is out. Bright bold red and sultry deep colored lips are en vogue. Create a flirty feminine look with bronze highlights to your cheeks and feminine pinks or peaches for the eyes.

Lovely Full Lips
More attention than ever will be brought to your lips this year. If you’re going to be on trend with the bright candy apple reds and sultry plum hues, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got full, luscious lips to show off. We can help you with Juvederm injections to proportionately plump and femininely fill your lips. These bright colors aren’t forgiving if you’ve over filled your lips, so go with clean lines and an expert injector, like myself, who knows how to create the perfect lips for a harmonious face.

Bronze Goddess
A bronze glow looks healthy and youthful. This bronzer trend can save your skin from sun damage. Use bronzer to get that sun kissed look instead of worshipping the sun, which results in sun spots and an older looking complexion. Also, you can give your cheeks a little help with a liquid facelift. Voluma expertly injected into the cheeks replaces lost volume so your cheek color and contour pops even more. It also results in a slight lift to the mid to lower face that can result in lightening the nasolabial folds and smile parenthesis lines.

Bright Eyes
In the spring you’ll be seeing lots of sunset hues of pink and peach. These flirty and feminine colors complement many skin tones and eye colors. You’ll also see bright blue eye shadows, liners and even mascaras that are playful and certainly can make a statement. If you’re attracting attention to your eyes with bold blues, you’ll want to be sure to smooth out crows feet. Since these wrinkles are cause by muscle movement, it’s best to first relax the muscles with Botox. Then if you want an even greater smoothing out of this area, you can add filler, such as Juvederm.

Makeup as Skincare
While you can’t replace good skincare, such as moisturizers, retinol and other powerful antioxidants, with makeup, I do encourage women to look at makeup as part of their skincare. Throughout the day, before it comes off at bedtime every night, it should be adding to the health of your skin, not taking away from it. This is why I recommend the Jane Iredale makeup line, especially to any of my patients who want to cover bruising or redness after procedures. Here are some highlights of this outstanding cosmetics line:
-uses the highest quality ingredients available to ensure satisfaction with performance, coverage, application and texture
-high performance mineral based formulas that don’t run, crease or smear
non comedogenic…does not block pores

-earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation, showing evidence that its products sufficiently and safely aid in the prevention of sun damage to the skin
-products are clinically and dermatologist tested for safety and allergies
-includes anti irritant, soothing ingredients to contribute to skin health
-uses a combination of natural preservatives, never parabens
-product guaranteed to be 100 percent free of animal testing
-no measurable amount of heavy metals in any product including lead and mercury

Being on trend with make up is great, but looking young and healthy is timeless. To schedule a consultation on how we can help you look your best in 2016, visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Happy New Year! While breast implants and liposuction are steadily on top of the list for most requested procedures, some trendy treatments gained in popularity during 2015 and are sure to grow more in 2016. Our culture helps to shape the desires for what is considered beautiful… and technology is offering more innovative options than ever.  These are the trends to look for in 2016:

Non Surgical Fat Removal
Kybella was introduced to the mainstream in 2015 and immediately gained a momentous following. As word has spread about the benefits of Kybella, 2016 is going to be an even bigger year for this non surgical fat reducing procedure. Who wouldn’t want to melt the double chin away without having the downtime or discomfort of surgery? Less invasive procedures will continue trending in 2016 making Kybella a winner.

Injectables for Millennials
No downtime, minimal recovery injectables steadily entice millennials into the world of cosmetic treatments. Millennials are very busy with full social calendars … so making time for surgery/recovery is challenging. Millennials grew up during the dawn and dominance of social media. It’s no wonder that Facebook and Instagram spur on more and more of an image conscious population. With their image sent out to hundreds of people everyday… they, simply put, want to look good.

Millennials are including injectables, like Botox and Juvederm, in their anti aging, routine health care regimen. So, while prevention is very good, know that it is just as important to only trust your face to an experienced, knowledgeable practitioner. Injectables, if not done correctly, can give an over “done” appearance… making you look older. This overdone look, such as over filled lips or paralyzed forehead (e.g. for someone in their 20s or 30s) can cause distortion or the perception of an aged face thus defeating your goal of trying to look younger.

Rise in the FemGen Rejuvenation Trend
The sexual revolution of plastic surgery includes an increased interest in surgeries to improve aesthetics, comfort and sexual pleasure of the female genitalia. Growing in popularity is Labiaplasty, which can minimize stretched, imbalanced or interferingly large labia. This can increase comfort and pleasure during sex, as well as eliminate embarrassment or discomfort when wearing tight workout clothes or bathing suits. Commonly desired after the changes that come from aging and the childbearing years, genetics also plays a part in the appearance and function of the FemGen area. While the topic is still a sensitive one, ( to be handled with care and confidentiality), fortunately, there’s no embarrassment these days about the surgeries that can help you feel confident about what you look like “down there.”

With A steady increase in male clientele, it’s definitely safe to say that most men aren’t feeling embarrassed about getting cosmetic procedures either. They’re viewing plastic surgery and non invasive cosmetic treatments as a normal way to keep their competitive edge in the work place. The rise of Brotox means that a tired or gruff appearance can be shaped into a more pleasant, happy, rested look, and is often done in our office during a lunch break. No missed work, no major change, just a tweak to improve confidence and perception that can pay dividends in work performance, self confidence…and simply because more men today want to stay younger and healthier looking as long as possible!

These treatments can help you reach your goals for looking and feeling great about yourself during 2016. If you’d like to take advantage of any of these rejuvenation trends, schedule a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon