Taking care of your skin is crucial for effective healing after sun exposure and after surgery success. Summer months mean that skin damage from sun exposure is at its height. As summer comes to a close, it’s time to check your skin because detecting melanoma as early as possible makes it treatable. It is the deadliest cancer, but it doesn’t have to be if it it’s caught early. Regular self checking is a key part of immediate diagnosis is to do a regular self check.

AFTER SUN

What are you looking for? You’re at higher risk for melanoma if you’ve been sunburned frequently, have fair skin or a large amount of moles, live in a tropical or have a family history of melanoma. When you’re self checking, there’s a common acronym to help us remember what to look for. This is called the ABCDEs of warning signs for melanoma. This stands for:

• Asymmetry: draw an imaginary line through the middle and it should look the same on both sides
• Border irregularity: ragged or blurred, undefined edges
• Color changes: a variety of colors within the same spot or mole
• Diameter: greater than .25 inch (6 millimeters)
• Evolving: changes over time

Where should you look? Important to look from head to toe, back and front. Using the angles from a hand mirror and a wall mirror to see the harder parts of the body from behind, literally start with the top of your scalp, especially if you haven’t worn hats to protect your head or have fine, thinning hair. Then move downward, examining the face, neck, shoulders, underarms, chest, torso, arms, hands, and nail beds. When checking the lower body, its easier to sit down, but don’t forget to check your buttocks, especially if you wear brazilian or thong bikinis. Look over your legs and feet, even the heels, soles of the feet and toenail beds.

AFTER SURGERY

What extra steps should I take? Whether your cosmetic procedure is invasive or non invasive, you should take some special care of your skin to promote healing and longevity of the effects of the procedure. Here are some simple tips to care for your skin after a cosmetic treatment:

• Follow physicians directions. Each procedure has a unique protocol for optimal healing. This may include salves and the herbal supplement or cream version of Arnica Montana to reduce bruising.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is good practice in general, but will help flush the area of toxins and empower healing. Avoiding alcohol and other dehydrating beverages so you don’t work against your natural healing processes.
• Protect yourself from the sun. The skin is more vulnerable after a procedure. UV rays darken scars and this is what you want to prevent, so stay out of the sun.
• Leave the recovery site alone. This means no picking or poking of the area. Disturbing the area could cause infection or unwanted scarring.
• Use gentle skin care products. Make the extra effort during this time to pamper your skin while it’s healing. Use only mild, no fragrance skincare.

Help me to help you have beautiful, youthful skin by taking these precautions. From beginning to end, I look forward to helping you in the rejuvenation process. To schedule your consultation, visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

The Mini treatments idea was born about 20 years ago based upon the needs of younger patients (40ish) who wanted the benefits of cosmetic procedures, who didn’t need full blown treatments such as facelifts, and whose schedule demanded less downtime etc. These are younger Boomers, Generation X and now also includes the Millennials. What we learned back then was:  1) that aging occurs in stages,   2) that younger people usually need less invasive treatments, and that  3) “mini” options could work very well as long as they started early enough (at the first signs of aging) and maintained the results.  Http://www.davinciplastic.com.

Modified versions of traditional procedures being done today are much more refined, than those offered 20 years ago, by virtue of more advanced precision instruments that enable us in achieving totally natural looking results with increased longevitiy.  Yes, smaller surgeries are right for many people, usually those in their 40’s and early 50’s who are seeing visible age related changes.

Here’s the Bottom Line for today’s Mini Treatments chosen by our patients: 1)  look younger faster,  2) less downtime/ shorter recovery,  3) quicker results, 4) smaller incisions, 5) permanent results when possible.

There are many, many people who qualify for and benefit from these  mini procedures.  What surgeons expect from their patients is this:  realistic expectations.

For the next few blogs I want to cover “mini” procedures:  who they’re for and the many benefits.  This will include the Face, nose, eyes, and neck procedures.  So, look for these blogs.  I also want to do a “primer” on injectables to get you up to speed on what’s really involved there today.

MINI PROCEDURES ARE MAINSTREAM TODAY and are as much in demand as Botox, Dysport, Juvederm and our other great fillers.  Let’s start with the face:

Mini Facelifts “refresh” the face by addressing the most common signs of aging like sagging skin in the lower 1/3rd of the face and possibly the upper neck during one procedure. The Benefits include shorter recovery time, shorter incisions/nearly invisible scars and permanent yet subtle improvement.  Limitations include:  inability to effectively correct excessively slack skin and large areas of wrinkles. Longer incisions are required to deal with excessive skin laxity.  True Mini Facelifts correct the underlying structure and loose skin.  Beware of “fake” mini lifts that are superficial only; that claim to be done in under an hour and without anesthesia.  This is not a true facelift and will not achieve desirable results especially in older patients who may need more work than the mini can offer.

BOTTOM LINE:  the Mini Facelift is terrific for many people who opt for it soon enough and who choose a board certified plastic surgeon who is fully trained and experienced in performing facial surgeries.

MINI FACELIFT OVERVIEW:   1) WHO IT’S FOR…those in late 30’s, 40’s or early 50’s with fairly good skin laxity and the first signs of aging in the mid and lower face.  Younger patients have fewer signs.    2) ANESTHESIA:  Local or sedation   3)  LENGTH OF SURGERY:  2-4 hours,   4)  RECOVERY:  some swelling, bruising and general discomfort for a few days.  Resolves on it’s own with rest and oral pain medication.  5) RESULTS: usually last for 5 to 10 years with maintenance.

Hope your summer is going well.  Let’s talk about your concerns and help you get your best face forward!

Best to you and yours,

Steven Davison M.D.

“DAVinci…where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.”